Ancient Pokemon Secret

Who knew there was an ancient Pokemon secret - passed down from young man to young man over the ages - that promised extra evolutionary powers, training techniques and energy enhancers if only the players built their decks and played their battles shirtless?

Well, my boys have uncovered the secret!

Pokemon players worldwide, beware of the Plummer Pikachus!

Oh yeah, and the Beaver Hat!

Calling all Beavers!

One of the longest-running, silliest - and most fun - traditions for the Pansing/Plummer/Brooks crowd on Pelican Lake involves torturing other lake residents and a poor helpless beaver.

Legend has it that long ago in Shamino Bay there lived a beaver. He built a dam and lived peacefully among the fish, birds and other wildlife. One day a pontoon boat full of happy, loud, drinking people came into the bay and spotted the beaver.

Well, much excitement arose and the family insisted upon visiting that beaver every day - right at cocktail time - to pay its respects. Loving that beaver as the family did, a song was composed to be serenaded (again, loudly) to the beaver upon every visit.

Time went by, and while we may never know exactly why, the beaver went away. Some legends say that that beaver packed his most precious itmes and took off toward Gooseberry Island, never to seen or heard from again.

Loving the beaver as the family did, they maintained their nightly pilgrimage for many years. Some have claimed to see a muscrat now living in the beaver's abandoned dam, but that just doesn't sound as good in song.

So, hope burns eternal in the Plummer/Pansing/Brooks family that one day they will again be reunited with the Shamino Bay beaver. And until that day, they will continue to float into the bay, drinks in hand, a sing with full hearts in honor of their friend.

Why do I tell you this story, you ask? Well, little Parker Brooks Plummer (age 3 1/2) has spent 4 summers being indoctrinated into the ways of the beaver clan. So what a surprise when he went to preschool the other day and as part of his classwork, he made a Beaver Hat! Wow! A Beaver Hat! Why, that almost makes no sense.

Well, Parker was naturally thrilled with his beaver hat, and the spirit of the lake came upon him! Right there in his classroom he broke into song and dance (did I mention there is a dance, too?)

Now, as Parker is young and still learning in the ways of the beaver, he doesn't always get the words correct. Perhaps that's why he was looked upon with crooked heads and puzzling looks.

And, perhaps that was why he came home and announced - quite bewildered:

"Mommy, I sang the Beaver Song at school, but none of my friends sang it too. I had to sing it all by myself!"

Yes, young Beaver, the secret ways of the family may not always be understood or appreciated - as with the nearby residents. Maintain the faith and continue rejoicing in song, young believer.

One day, our beaver will return.

Ode to the Otoscope

While Parker and I were enjoying a Moe's lunch with Jennifer, Olivia, Zach, Liz and Danny today, we were completely unaware of the trauma that was unfolding at St. Benedict's Episcopal Day School. We were pleasantly munching on our chips and salsa while Brady was eating his ham roll-up only 2 miles away.

After lunch and on our way to the town square fountain, we waited patiently for the bathroom. Checking my phone I noticed I missed a call from our PTA President. As I have been volunteering at school with various communications projects, I did not react with concern but simply listened to the voicemail.

Well, it sure wasn't what I expected!

Brady, it seems, was happily chatting away and eating his lunch when all of a sudden he started to cry ("scream", I think was actually said.) He was crying that his ear hurt, and he was immediately removed and sent to Nurse Burson's office. Upon examination it was discovered that he had a small pool of blood in his right ear. The call was made to me more than a half hour ago... while I was I happily munching on my aforementioned chips and salsa.

So, we hurried down Atlanta Road to school and found Brady cheerfully wandering about with Nurse Burson. No fever. No headache. No lung tightness (with his asthma, she checked this immediately.) Only a little stuffiness that may be attributed to his earlier crying jag. As Nurse Burson does not have an otoscope, we decided to head back to the town square to see if the nurse at the CVS clinic could determine if he had an ear infection.

When we arrived at CVS, the Library Dragon Lady's long lost sister was working. For those of you who frequent the children's section of the Smyrna library, you know who I'm talking about. For those who don't, use your imagination. There were two people ahead of me, but she addressed me when we arrived (probably because I was towing two loud children.)

I explained our situation, and she quickly shut me down with, "If there is blood then he needs to be seen by an urgent care facility. I do not do blood."

I stammered a reply of, "But it isn't actually bleeding Miss Dragon Lady Nurse. There are some dried remnants of a small amount of blood, and I just want to see with an otoscope if he might have an ear infection. I have placed a call into my pediatrician, but the office is closed for lunch."

To this, I received a Huff, a Puff, a "fine. Have a seat" and a door closed in my face.

It was now after 1:00, so I called the pediatrician again and was told I could be seen by Dr. Ellerine at 2:00. Great!

What they actually meant was that I could arrive at 2:00 for my appointment and not be seen by Dr. Ellerine until sometime after 3:15. By that time, Parker and Brady are both overjoyed at this whole situation (as is Mommy) and we have all jumped off the cliff.

So what, pray tell, was the catastrophe that struck young Braden's ear?

A small cut, most likely created by his own fingernail scratching his ear.

The detailed medical plan as explained to us in Dr. E's gorgeous South African accent?

After tonight's bath, place a small amount of Neosporin in his ear using a Q-Tip. Oh, and cut his fingernails. Here's a lollipop. See you soon!

Plummer Family Triathlon

Last weekend we embarked upon a new outdoor adventure - the Plummer Family Triathlon!

After church we changed into "exercise clothes," laced up our shoes (or fastened the velcro straps), packed up the kids' bikes, filled our water bottles and headed for the Silver Comet Trail.

While Brady is well aware of the trail's existence - Mommy and Parker have been walking there for years and Daddy runs there with his running buddies - he had never had the opportunity to check it out for himself.

Well this was his BIG DAY. When we got there Bill promptly unloaded the bikes and took the wrench to Brady's bike - - - removing his training wheels for the very first time!

We chose to set up shop along a slightly inclined stretch of trail, and the boys took off. With only a few minor tips and spills, Brady caught on really well, though turning around in the tight space of the trail proved a little challenging. The best part was watching Bill run up and back, up and back, up and back, alongside Brady. Daddy was sweating before it was all over, too!

A three year old whom shall remain nameless threw a tantrum because he wanted HIS training wheels off, too. We promised we would do it when he turned 4, and he finally relented to waiting a few more months. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if Parker could do it. One thing at a time, big boy!

After a much needed water break we packed the kids and bikes back into the van and headed to the track at Campbell Middle School for the second phase of the triathlon. The boys, Bill and I are all going to run a .5k race on the Saturday of Labor Day, and the boys are in training. The distance is 1 lap + 1 dash on the track - which is a great way for the kids to visualize how far they have to run during the real race.

We stood at the starting line and sounded the gun! While we generally paced each other for 3/4 of the race, Brady decided he wanted to sprint the final 100 meters, so he and I took off at lightning speed, leaving slow Daddy in our dust!

After all that exercise it was time for phase 3. We headed home, changed our clothes and headed for the pool. We have been trying to get every last bit of pool time in before it closes for the year, and this was a great way to treat ourselves after all that hard work! The boys did a few free-style laps back and forth across the pool to make the triathlon day complete.

After that, it was all fun in the sun floating!

Parker storms the B-Hive!

Yes, Parker also started school last week! While we have been so happy over the years at VCLC, we decided that it was silly to keep Parker in one school and Brady in another, if the need wasn't there. So, last week Parker started preschool at the St. Benedict's Preschool B-Hive!

He attends Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9-1:00 (though in reality he gets dropped off during carpool at 8:30 with his brother and gets to play in his room for a bit before "school" starts in earnest.)

From what I can gather from him, he is happy and having fun, though for the first few days he insisted he had no crayons in his classroom (until Friday.) According to my interview with Parker, his favorite things about school are:

1. Parker loves his new friends named Ryan, Cooper and Michael
2. Parker loves the playground, especially climbing
3. Parker loves to color with the new crayons
4. Parker loves doing Spanish with his teachers

On the first day of school - as Brady sat hugging the trash can, about ready to throw up in the backseat - Parker announced "I not nervous!" And he truly wasn't. He has announced proudly each day that he has had "not one tear at all!"

Where Brady clearly channels the Mershon/Durst genes in some of his personality traits, Parker is all Pansing! Parker generally tackles new situations and new people with ease, trusting that he will be happy and safe. His ability to relax and fold effortlessly into new situations will undoubtedly bolster his success throughout his life.

It's such a gift to be so confident in the world, and speaking as his Mommy, that gift is priceless.

P.S. I apologize to Parker now for the wet-hair look on his first day of school... that was Daddy's doing, Baby Love!

It seems like only yesterday

A striped shirt, with snap closures on the bottom. A little backpack that held his change in diaper and clothes. A nervous tummy. Silly hair and a huge grin. Seems like only yesterday...

The striped onesey has been replaced by a dapper uniform, complete with belt and laced-up shoes. The nervous tummy remains. The silly hair has been temporarily contained by a fresh haircut, and the smile is still that of my little boy.

Brady entered Kindergarten at St. Benedict's Episcopal Day School this week with equal amounts trepidation and excitement. No tears were let loose (from Brady anyway - only Mommy!) despite feeling queasy and nauseous the entire 7-minute drive to school.

When I picked him up at 2:30 on that first day, he skipped across the parking lot holding hands with a teacher and yelled, "I don't want to leave! I want to stay! I want to come back tomorrow!" Lucky for him, state law dictates that he gets to come back tomorrow, and the day after, and the day, and the day after. Lucky for me, he wants to.

Wednesday is Chapel Day at St. B's, and I stopped in to see how the first one would go. While it was a little noisy and some of the kids were clearly lost, most of the kids lit up with some of the familiar routines. Led by Reverends Lang and Stuart the kids sang "This Little Light of Mine" (a favorite of Brady's), they listened to a Gospel story, they recited the Lord's Prayer, they sang "Jesus Loves Me" and they had a ceremonial Blessing of the Backpacks. Lang told the children that just as they bring their backpacks each day to school, God brings them love in their lives each day. They held up their packs for Lang and Stuart to bless, "zapping the love into them like a fire bolt," as Brady would later recount at the dinner table.

Brady's highlights from Week One of Kindergarten:

1. He gets to eat lunch in a real cafeteria! (Also known as a multi-purpose room in the basement of the church.)
2. He gets to have PE everyday except Wednesday with "Coach" and her helper Mr. Charlie, who is really a tennis ball with a face drawn on it! (When asked what PE stands for, Brady answered, "Exercise!")
3. He gets to be a real scientist and do experiments with Mrs. Ahmed! (She is extra cool because she has a hanging mobile of the solar system in her room.)
4. He gets to play on the new playground that was installed the weekend before school started!
5. He has lots of new friends!

St. B's follows a non-traditional style of learning, where kids are broken into small groups that physically move in pods throughout the day. He has a half dozen teachers each day, and he is taught in a combination of both English and Spanish, so as to further envelope kids in a multi-language environment without complete sink-or-swim immersion.

I will post more details on how his day works, and what he's learning soon. On Friday we received a folder full of papers and information, including a welcome letter from all his teachers, his phonics paperwork from the week, a weekly teacher newsletter recap/reminder sheet and his weekend homework.

While the school is brand new this year and growing pains are certainly being felt, Brady is clearly being nurtured, loved, protected, and most of all engaged with new ideas, new friends, new learning and lots of fun.

He believes he belongs there, and I believe he's right.

Also in his Friday Folder was a poem that reminded me to stop looking for his day in his backpack each afternoon. His day didn't occur on paper that fits in his pack. It occurred in his mind, in his heart and through his experiences. For posterity, I have copied the poem below:

There's Nothing in My Bag Today

Today I did my math and science. I toasted bread.

I halved and quartered.

I counted, measured, used my eyes and ears and head.

I added and subtracted on the way,

I used a magnet, blocks and memory tray.

I learnt about a rainbow and how to weigh.

So please don't say, "Anything in your bag today?"

You see I'm sharing as I play.

I learned to listen and speak clearly when I talk,

to wait my turn and when inside to walk.

To put my thoughts into a phrase, to guide my crayon through a maze.

To find my name and write it down,

to do it with a smile and not a frown.

To put my pasting brush away,

So please don't say, "What, nothing in your bag today?"

I've learnt about a snail and a worm,

remembering how to take my turn.

I helped a friend when he was stuck,

learnt that water runs off a duck.

I looked at words from left to right,

agreed to differ, not to fight.

So please don't say, "Did you only play today?"