Every day when Annie gets home, the first thing she has to do is read. She has been reading her first real "chapter book." I've just been informed that she only has four more pages to go. Well, her reading time is not spent alone. Lilo follows along with her. I guess reading isn't the first thing she does when she gets home. The first thing she does is hunt Lilo down and remove him from whatever spot he has chosen to sleep in her absence. He has to store up energy for being hauled around like a rag doll once Annie returns. He has a lot of patience, though, and seems to enjoy snuggling with her as she reads...

It's a hard knock life, for Lilo...

This morning as Annie and I went through the morning ritual of encouraging her to get out of bed, I reminded her that it was time to get up, go to school, and then go to vaulting lessons.

Annie: I want to go to vaulting, but I don't want to go to school.
Daddy: But you have to go to school so you can get smart.
Annie: I'm already smart. You mean get smarter.
Daddy: You are very smart. Why do you think you are so smart?
Annie: Because I have a smart daddy...

Twisting me a little tighter around her finger...

I was a little late leaving to go get the Pickle today. I spent too much time working on the backerboard for the floor. "Late" only means that I couldn't run through Home Depot or Lowe's like I wanted to. I made a quick run through Safeway, and wanted to stop to get diesel fuel. The pump I stopped at was pitiful. I was there for fifteen minutes, and it only gave me five gallons. I gave up, and was further irritated that it couldn't give me a receipt at the pump. I got to Annie's maternal grandparents, and started the process of getting her ready to go while I talked with Nana and Papa. I think it's been a year since this has happened, but Annie was almost in tears wanting to stay with Mommy. It breaks my heart, but I know she doesn't mean it personally. Mommy talked to her. Thank goodness Mommy has an extended weekend with her in five days. By the time we were ready to get in the truck, she seemed ok. She told me about her weekend, and politely asked me about mine. We've been working on that: showing interest in others' lives. After about fifteen minutes on the road (it doesn't take long to recap the weekend), she was asleep.

She slept all the way home. Sometimes, when I pull in the driveway I can leave the truck running and she will sleep through the hauling of the groceries. Half the time, she wakes up the moment the truck comes to an extended stop, and that's what she did today. Her tired eyes opened, and she said she was ready to go in the house. While I moved the groceries, she went into the house and crawled into the blue chair. I returned with two bags of food to find her crying. I sat with her in the chair, curled in my arms telling me how much she missed Mommy. It's so hard when she does this, but I realize it is harder on her than me. I told her that I was happy she was home, and she said she was, too. After a few minutes, she stopped crying, and I told her if she wanted she could watch TV, although I reminded her that school starts back tomorrow, and we go back to reading when we get home. I went to get the last of the groceries and returned to find her watching the Disney channel dressed in one of my long-sleeved shirts. Apparently, that gave her some comfort, as her attitude had changed to one that was more the Pickle that I know on a day to day basis.

It's just one of those things that has to be discussed and dealt with in a family that is like ours. She's learning to deal, and I'm glad that she is willing to discuss it with me. She continues to learn, and that's what is important...

Dual-role parent...

I sat in the driveway and punched away on the computer finishing a board review while Annie had vaulting lessons. They finished the lesson a little early, and were going in to the house so the instructor could show them some videos of vaulting. I was invited in, and watched the on-line videos. It dawned on me that I was totally ignorant on what vaulting entailed. The first time the instructor started encouraging Annie to try vaulting, I had no idea what it was or what was involved. Just in case some of you are also unfamiliar with vaulting, or are familiar but would like to see some more, I'm giving some links to some vaulting videos... No, Annie isn't quite up to this level... yet...

This link leads one to a bunch of videos of the selected class...

Here is a team-vaulting video, which is linked at the bottom of the previous page. Freakin' amazing...


Proud of my little Equestrian Acrobat...

Tonight was a stellar night in the Hockanson household. Annie walked up to me this evening and had a napkin in her hand. Her mouth was bleeding slightly behind her loose tooth. I asked her if I could check the tooth, and with her permission found it to be as loose as ripe fruit that was ready to fall to the ground. I informed her that it was so loose that it would come out with a slight pull, if she was able to do it. She reached in, and gave it a tug. Her eyes scrunched up in pain. "It will only hurt for a little while, angel. Give it a big pull." She tried it again. "I can't do it!" "Honey, I know it hurts, but it will be over very soon." She tugged again. No luck, and she was about to give up. One more tug... Her eyes got big. I wasn't sure what had happened until she reached out with the napkin, and buried in it was a small tooth. At 5:27 pm today, Annie took out her first baby tooth. We danced around the room for a while, and then had to call people to tell them that Annie had lost her first tooth (or toof, now).

She is so excited...

Standing with a shotgun to watch the Tooth Fairy...

When I was a kid, I loved technology. Go figure. I guess things don't change much over thirty years. When I was a kid, technology was changing so rapidly that I dare say that the generation that included my parents were feeling a little out of touch with the change. My father used to get fairly upset when he picked up the phone and heard my crappy 300 baud modem beeping on the phone. Given my involvement in technology, I don't have the same response, but feel no frustration towards my father's reaction. In fact, he wasn't as right as much as he thought, but yeah, I was at times using my understanding of technology in ways that wouldn't be considered ethical. Sorry.

At any rate, I'm amazed at Annie's use, adoption, and acceptance of technology. She finished dinner, homework, and chores, and had time to watch a show before bed. I was sitting next to the fire, and Annie was sprawled out on the floor under the Harley blanket with Lilo nesting on her legs. Her show (recorded on TiVo) hit a commercial, which we just can't have... She lazily stretched out a hand to find the remote. It was facing the wrong way, but apparently there was a good bounce going off of something because it worked precisely as she wanted it to. She never even looked at the remote. She fast forwarded through the commercials, and hit play. She missed the mark by a little, and her thumb deftly went to the button that rewinded by eight seconds. She hit it a few times, and then the show resumed where she wanted it. That freakin' rocked.

She is of the generation that when a picture is taken, she wants to see what it looks like right away. Wait for developing? What the heck is that? Slide shows? Can't it be just put in the DVD player? Didn't you put the pictures/movie on a DVD? I crack up at some of the words and phrases that get passed down as typical. I don't think Annie has ever been in a vehicle that requires the windows to be 'rolled' down, but that's what she calls it. Even Rusty, the beat up rust bucket truck that blew up on the freeway had power windows. Dial a phone? She's never seen a phone dial.

Technology develops so fast, and we work so hard to make it go faster and faster. Cell phones that are smaller than a wallet can now play music, take pictures, even take video. Sometimes it's scary, but mostly it's just amazing. The best part? Can you imagine what technology will be like for her kids? Jules Verne had no idea...
I want a teleporter...

One of those things that I had foolishly not prepared myself for: my seven year-old would create rules for me. Tonight, I gave her my Santa hat to wear. She took it with a big smile. When it was time for her to brush her teeth and go to bed, I got it back. I jokingly asked her if I could wear it to school. Her response? Yes, but there are some rules... Really? It shouldn't have been a surprise, really. I've been told these before, but somehow this made it more formal. I am not allowed to dance on the walk to the classroom. I am not allowed to sing on the way to the classroom. I am not even allowed to hum on the way to the classroom. I am only allowed to sing in my head. I told her that I wasn't sure that I could meet those demands. She immediately replied, "then you're fired." I'm not sure what I'm fired from, and was afraid to ask. The conversation ended with her being tickled until she begged me to stop. I have to check the law, but I don't think she can fire me from being her dad, and since I drive her to school, she can't fire me from that. We'll have to see what I'm fired from the next time I dance and sing my way to class with either the Rolling Stones' "Honkey Tonk Blues", or Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer"... Maybe I should do Little Big Town's "Boondocks"... Come on, it could be worse...

"I feel no shame, I'm proud of where I came from..."

Yesterday morning, I got up early and was on the road by eight. I ran by work, and well, abused the dumpster, then ran by a mechanical engineer's office to pick up a prototype for me to work on. I ran my Home Depot, they didn't have what I wanted, and hit a second one to get the supplies I wanted. I picked up Annie and rushed back to the mountains. We went down to pick up Sarah in Brookdale. Well, both kids had spent the Thanksgiving Holidays with the "other" parent. I don't mean that to be mean, I just don't know how to describe "them." At any rate, they were both exhausted. Well, we went up the scary road to the top of the ridge that protects us from high winds (thank you). We got to the tree farm just when it started to sprinkle a bit. We parked the beast of a truck as best we could, and began our adventure. We walked up to a 10 year old kid, and I asked him if he worked there. I had a suspicion because he was wearing a santa hat. I realized that this might be a wrong assumption given that I was wearing one myself. He did work there, though. I told him I needed a twelve foot tree, and before we scouted all over the place, would he have a suggestion. He conferred with his father and took us to the Expensive section. Hmmm.... I'd have to see. We found a tree, but it had a bald spot. It would have worked in our house, but I couldn't agree to that kind of money for a bald spot. Across the fence, I spotted it. Tall, beautiful shape, it was perfect. We walked all the way around and stood next to it with our faithful 10 year old helper. It wasn't quite as tall as I wanted, but it was beautiful. I asked Annie if this was the one, or should we look some more. She looked at the tree, and at the increasing rain, and decided that this was it. The whole thing took about a half hour. It might have been the shortest Christmas Tree hunt I've ever been on.

On the way back down the mountain, Annie leaned over onto Sarah's lap, and Sarah leaned over Annie. The rain increased, and they were almost asleep by the time we got home. I made a hot lunch for the girls, and hauled the massive tree down to the house. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get it straight by myself. I mounted the tree stand, and stood it up. With cautious hands, I released the tree, expecting it to fall over. It didn't. Ok, that was a start. I stood back. I walked around the tree. I looked from every angle. It was not possible. I put the stand on while the tree was lying horizontal on the floor, and it was almost perfect. Well, it was close enough that I wasn't going to mess with it anymore.

While the girls finished their big lunch, I figured we'd watch a Christmas show, or listen to Christmas music. No such luck. I guess traditions are meant to be changed. I suffered through a Hannah Montana marathon while I put on the lights and garland... and it took me almost two hours to get the lights and garland on. Finally, it was time. The girls attacked the tree with vigor. They had (against my wishes, but what the heck) pulled out all the ornaments, and Annie explained to Sarah what every one was. I was on standby for ornaments that had to be placed higher than they could reach, which is why there are 80 percent of the ornaments lower than five feet on the tree. I still managed to place some ornaments high up at their request, though. I finally got the point where we weren't going to be able to see the tree through the ornaments, and all the "special" ones had been hung so called a halt. They were not pleased but finally agreed to let it go. We finished cleaning up, and the girls played. I busied myself with such chores as bathing Tolkien... don't think that's not a chore. Immediately after Sarah's mom showed up with pizza, the tired meltdown took place. They left without us eating together, but were kind enough to leave us some pizza. Annie ate it, and was asleep by seven. Let me say that again: Annie was asleep by seven. I believe her last words were, "Daddy, I'm not sure if I'm ready to go to sleep.... snore..."

It was a rough ending, but still a good day.

It didn’t reach the ceiling, but it’s still about ten feet tall…

Holly, jolly...

Annie and I had a good morning, and will hopefully continue that this afternoon! On the way to school, the radio was playing some slow songs, and I noticed Annie sliding into a daze. That usually makes her sluggish when we get to school, so I changed to a CD that I knew would cause her to show some "funk." The song started and her eyes got big. I was dancing in my seat, but she was unwilling to do more than move her head, and sometimes her shoulders to the music. Sometimes, I wonder who her real parents are... Then I played the meanest of parental cards: embarrassment. I really didn't have this problem as a kid, but I know that a lot of kids are concerned about their parents' behavior in locations where "others" may see them. Yeah, I know, I'm a turd. I couldn't help it. I told her I was going to "have my groove on" all the way to the classroom. I was told in no uncertain terms that that was totally unacceptable. What if someone saw me? She almost wouldn't get out of the truck. I promised to behave, but at one point started humming the 'Stones song we were listening to. "Daddy, no humming, either." Geez. I'm embarrassing to a seven year old. She certainly had no concern for my pride when I used to have to wipe poop off her butt... in public... Well, I behaved myself for her, although I whispered the lyrics to her right before I left and received an ear-splitting "STOP!"

I came home and worked on the drywall mud until it was time to go to the conference with the teacher. Have I mentioned I'm terrible at drywall work? I can cut it and hang it all day long, but really, there are some things I should just not be allowed to do, and drywall mud is one of them. The principal joined us to discuss Annie's behavioral difficulties, but we spent very little time on it. I'm hoping that was because Annie has shown vast improvement over the past few weeks. However, the principal is going to set up a time when Annie's mother and I can talk to the school counselor regarding my concerns.

The report card went quite well, though. Annie got low marks in the areas that referenced her behavior that had gotten her in trouble early in the school year, but everything else was quite good. In fact her reading is already beyond the second-grade reading level. Everything else (academically) is well on track, and in many cases exceeding the "track." I was very pleased. I think we are finally getting in tune with second-grade life, and Annie is going to end with everything going great for her to go to third grade. We have some things to work on, but frankly, everything that was listed as "needs improvement" I had already identified, and we are working on it. She is an incredible little girl, and I'm very proud of her. It was not surprising to see her get in Outstanding mark in things like Organizational Skills. Granted, her mother was always very good at that, but I'm no slouch. There seems to be some differences in her work done at home and work done in the classroom, and it appears that it is more a "working under pressure" thing as opposed to being easily distracted, which is what I was concerned about before. We'll have to work on the pressure thing... as soon as I figure out how to help her with it...


Proud Peacock Daddy...

Annie and I just got back from horseback riding class. There was a change in schedule, and the trainer invited Annie to go to the vaulting class today. I think Annie was nervous about it all day. Not because she didn't want to do vaulting, but because she didn't want to have to work with the "boy" assistant trainer. In her own words, Annie is "shy around boys." Not a bad thing, really... It was a two hour lesson, although I didn't realize that when it started. I busied myself with computer work until the battery died, and then watched her on the horse and barrels. The "boy" wasn't there today, and Annie had a blast creating routines with the other five girls. She especially likes the trainer's daughter, who is a spectacular little girl. Like at least half of the girls Annie knows, she's older, but smaller than Annie. Vaulting is done with special shoes, normally, but the girls either go barefoot or in socks during the lessons, as far as I can tell. Annie went in a pair of socks. Those socks are now in the trash. Oddly enough, she asked me at one point if she should just take her socks off and go barefoot like some of the other girls. The damage was done, so I suggested she just leave them on. She ran around the arena, bounced around the training barrels, and ran across the yard all in her socks. Ironically, when we got home she wanted me to carry her so she didn't have to walk on the driveway or deck without shoes.

Vaulting was great. She had a blast, and it is really something to see my little girl balancing and doing basic moves (for now) on the back of a rather large draft horse. She was ecstatic about cantering on Buddy. From twenty yards away, I could swear the ground was shaking as he pounded his way around the arena. When we left, Annie informed me that she would like to do vaulting every week. She had apparently spent time thinking about whether or not she could work with the "boy," and decided she could. I told her that would mean no more English riding lessons (I'm not freakin' made of money!), and she said that was fine. She thinks she is about ready to stand on Buddy's back while he is moving, but not trotting... I agree. She can turn completely around, swinging her legs over Buddy's back, stretch her arms out, lay on her stomack with her legs out, lay on her back with her legs out... it's really cool. I'm still looking for a fifty gallon drum that I can convert into a practice dummy.

Now for the memories... I know that I have written about this before, but I couldn't find where I had done it, so thought I'd do a reprise. On our way up the road from Highway 9, we saw one of our neighbors, and I said, "there goes so-n-so." Annie didn't remember the name, so I told her where they lived, and reminded her that we had been to neighborhood parties there, and we helped them put in their new septic tank a few years ago. That made me laugh, so I had to tell her the story. They needed a new tank, and the bids for having it installed were astronomical considering the location and the slope of the mountain. What do you do when these things happen? You call your friends and neighbors and ask for help. We were a little late getting there because I had to pick Annie up from over the mountain. Nevertheless, we were there. Annie busied herself playing in the dirt near the house while I went down to help the wonderful people who had shown up to put the tank in. By the way, there is an inherent danger in inviting a bunch of engineering types to help with a project. It's far worse than too many cooks in a kitchen. However, we worked well together, and with very few death-defying risks, we got the tank in. I was the only one that got hurt. Go figure. It was just a little blood, and it christened the project. Well, we'd been at it for a while, and fortunately most of us could go behind a tree, because there was one thing that everybody knows not to do when exchanging a septic tank. Well, almost everyone.

We had the tank in, and the pipe access was pretty close to perfect. We took a break. It was then that I wiped the grime off of my face, and looked up at the house. Where was Annie. I had barely asked the question out loud when a rush of water (mostly) came out of the sewar pipe and into the hole. Apparently, Annie had done what Annie always done, and taken responsibility for meeting most of her needs. I was mortified, but could help but bust out laughing. Annie walked out to find a bunch of people staring at her. The look on her face was simply, "what? I had to go to the bathroom..."

Personally, I think that one incident made the whole venture worth while...

By the way, I suck at applying drywall mud...