Tad's Life

Jonathan turned 12 on Saturday. Friday after school he had 15 of his friends over for the night. They played capture the flag and ate pizza and drank punch. They watched a boy movie (Three Ninjas) and had a bonfire out back. Finally we spread foam mattresses from the dormitory over the living room floor and they slept like puppies snuggled all over the place. I don't know what time the last ones went to sleep, but the cartoons ended around 1 AM, we think. I wasn't conscious by that point, though I did sleep in the guest bed with the door open too listen for trouble!


The next morning I made crepes for them all. I started with a double batch and the half-batch I had left in the fridge. Eventually I had to make four more batches to satisfy. Jane had dealt with that same bottomless pit when she made pizzas and punch. Thursday night and then when they came home from school Friday, she was immersed in the kitchen cooking up a storm.

Fortunately they gorged on the pizza, so one Texas sheet cake was sufficient.

Saturday morning, with mattresses all over the entire living room floor, you can imagine the wrestling match and karate demonstration that took place! Eventually for the sake of the furniture and light fixtures, we chased them outside. They commenced to play military games. I didn't catch whether we were doing sci-fi, Star Wars type stuff or something more current. Eventually they came in and the PS/2 was finally fired up for a bit.

I was actually quite proud of Jonathan. He organized the activities and made a point of keeping the video game stuff off since only one or two could play at a time.

They are great kids, these friends of Jonathan's. Several times Jonathan had them vote about what to do next. And they did. There are boys with all types of personalities: loud and bossy, quiet and mild, absent-minded and all the rest. Some love sports; others prefer reading. Some are entertained by the scatological; others wanted to watch Jane cook or play with the bonfire. In spite of all the difference, they got along great. I didn't hear a word of conflict the whole time they were here.

Saturday evening, Gretchen joined us for a birthday meal of steak and fries and nems (Vietnamese spring rolls). And some of that Texas sheet cake as Jonathan opened presents. We also had phone conversations with Grammy and Grandpa and with Allison. We'd already talked to Anna on Friday for an hour!

So, Jonathan now has a new football, basketball, soccer ball, baseball and glove. He also has a new computer game to occupy him during these next two weeks of spring break, along with various toys and fireworks and goodies. Not a bad haul, eh?

Happy birthday, son!