Category: Big Brother

Mundane is Good

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It’s only Thursday, and this week we’ve already been treated to several stories of celebrity family life gone bad….
Astronaut
Anna Nicole Smith
Andy Reid’s Kids

Fame does strange things to people. The (linked above) story about the astronaut has interesting insights of the pressures that astronauts and their families face. I imagine that the same is true for media celebrities’ families, and sports figures as well.

So today, I thank God for my run-of-the-mill suburban life, for my husband who is sweet and smart and has a good job, for my children who (so far) haven’t done anything tabloid-worthy.

I heard a new song on the radio yesterday that really sums up how I feel:
“Isn’t That Everything” by Danielle Peck

I might not have a million dollars in the bank
But I’ve got food on my table and gas in my tank
I might not have designer sheets on a king size bed
But I lay down at night with a roof over my head

Yeah, I’ve got friends that love me
A big blue sky above me
And your two arms around me baby every night

Isn’t that everything
I don’t need anything
It’s only the simple things I believe
That matter most in life
I’m more than satisfied
All that I have is all I need
Isn’t that everything

Now I’m not saying I don’t dream from time to time
Every girl I know likes the way a diamond shines
But when the party’s over and the glitter starts to fade
It’s all about your piece of mind at the end every day

I know Jesus loves me
Up in that sky above me
I see that morning sun again and feel alive

Isn’t that everything
I don’t need anything
It’s only the simple things I believe
That matter most in life
I’m more than satisfied
All that I have is all I need
Isn’t that everything

Yeah, I’ve got friends that love me
A big blue sky above me
And your two arms around me baby every night
I know Jesus loves me
Up in that sky above me
I see that morning sun again and feel alive

Isn’t that everything
I don’t need anything
It’s only the simple things I believe
That matter most in life
I’m more than satisfied
All that I have is all I need
Isn’t that everything

Isn’t that everything
Isn’t that everything

Sigh….Big Brother is standing here listening to the song and commented, “I think it’s funny that these people sing about only needing the simple things in life and they’re making a ton of money from it.” (That, my son, is a good example of IRONY.)

Living Room Bunker

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Here’s what the males in my house do when the females aren’t feeling up to par, and don’t feel like stopping them:

Big Brother and Little Brother built this to ambush TheDad as he came in from work today.

The toy box is on its way out to the garage, because Middle Sister thinks she’s too big for it. We’ll be giving it away–but it was just too cold to haul it out there! So the boys are taking advantage of its strategic possibilities.

Saint Blaise

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This morning at church we all had our throats blessed in honor of the feast of Saint Blaise (celebrated yesterday, but it’s practical to reach everyone on Sunday for maximum blessings).

We heard the familiar words: “Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil.”

Little Brother couldn’t figure out why we were forming another line so soon after Communion, and I told him that Father would bless him with the two candles. He was pretty alarmed: “With FIRE on them?”

“No, buddy, not those candles. The ones Father has in his hand. See, no fire.”

After dinner I found the Whispers in the Loggia post about Saint Blaise. Besides the terrific title, there’s lots of good information in there, including this bit:

Another account says that, in the end, his body was eaten by wild dogs. It’s unknown whether they choked.

I was reading the post to Big Brother, who interrupted me at that point to comment: “They wouldn’t have choked. That would have been revenge, and we’re against that.”

Distraction

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Just when you think you have a foolproof plan for Evening Prayer, someone throws you a curveball.

Everybody was busy. TheDad and Little Brother were playing a video game. Middle Sister was at the computer. Big Brother was studying for his history midterm.

I took out my MP3, cued up my favorite Brandenburg Concerto, and opened my book for prayers, in the living room, where no one else was sitting.

Big Brother decided that it would be a good time to put Little Brother’s radio-control monster truck through its paces. Since everyone else was in the family room, he needed floor space–so he headed for the living room.

I did my best to ignore the black pickup as it nudged Middle Sister’s abandoned lunchbox toward a corner and then unsuccessfully attempted to park under a child-size rocker. The music didn’t block out the noise entirely, and only the fact that I’ve got the “Magnificat” memorized, so I could close my eyes, saved me from losing it completely. Fortunately I finished everything before Big Brother began parallel-parking the truck between the rockers of the large rocking chair.

When it comes to distractions, my kids’ creativity knows no bounds. So I guess I am left to thank God that I have children, and that they have imaginations–and know how to use them. They may be distracting sometimes, but they’re always a blessing.

Morning Madness

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For some reason, the Big Kids were wide awake and very chatty this morning at breakfast. Usually they grunt their way through the meal.

Big Brother made himself some egg and cheese sandwiches.

Middle Sister: “How do they know there aren’t chickens in those eggs?”

Big Brother: “Because they scan them before they put them in the package.”

Me: “Grandpa has found chickens in eggs more than once.”

Kids: “REALLY?”

Me: “Yes. They used to have a chicken coop in their yard when he was growing up. It was his job to gather the eggs every day.”

Middle Sister: “That’s so MEAN! Taking a chicken’s eggs….”

Big Brother: “I smell a future member of PETA here.”

Middle Sister: “What’s that?”

Big Brother: “People Eating Tasty Animals.”

Why 14-Year-Old Boys Should Not Be Parents

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Big Brother has a friend visiting. This friend has a younger brother a little older than Little Brother, so he’s used to being around small children.

Teenage boys who are used to being around little boys develop interesting strategies for dealing with them.

Friend: “Hey Little Brother, do you want $1.00?”

Little Brother: “Yes!”

Friend: “Go bother Big Brother.”

Big Brother: “Little Brother, do you want $2.00?”

Friend: “A bribable child is a controllable child.”