Hope to get to a family-dressing room without having to wait, today...
YES, we got one!
Strip these stringy little bodies of their wet duds and into the shower for a good scrub down.
Singing commences, as it usually does these days when these two are together and happy. ;)
First is Gray, water pouring over his laughing eyes as he croons away... initially the 'Sing a song' tune from Sesame Street, then yet another Psalty tune turned shower-descriptive aria.
Struggling stubbornly to remove his own clothes, Lincy's attention is caught and he quickly joins in,
trying hard to anticipate Bo-Bo's next improvisational lyric about lathering.
As every Tuesday and Thursday summer-evening, post swim, I hurriedly scrub each babe down, spouting mom-things as I go...trying to 'beat the clock' so the next poor parent/kid pairing can have a turn in this room. They TOO want to go home, I fully empathize.
Dressed, hair 'combed' (with my fingers, anyway), shoes on, all crap gathered as far as I can tell...
off we go!
'Yes, Gray...for the last time...it is brother's turn to push the button (the handicap door opener) but pleeeeease WALK' I spout off.
Dejavu here. :P
Digging through my bag-o-crap...feels square, hard, Apple-button.
YES, found it.
No messages, perfect time to check in with daddy, though~
Text: 'Just getting done with swim lessons. You running today?'
Immediate text back: 'At RHS now.'
'BOOOYS!' You need to be within arm-length of me, you know this.'
Re-gather my hyper children.
'Look left than right than left again, Lincoln,' Gray instructs... reminding his baby-brother of the parking-lot/street-crossing rules.
Lincoln huffs a big puff of air and rolls his eyes as to say 'I know, brudder.'
Seat-belts click.
Gray, right on cue 'Where are we going now, mama?!'
'Wanna go meet daddy' I ask. He's running at a schoo---'YEEEEAH!!!!' (boys interrupt excitedly)
Arrive and park next to daddy. 'Hey, there's daddy's car,' both exclaim simultaneously.
Skipping through the courtyard of the school...anticipation of seeing daddy builds and brings on
another impromptu jingle. 'We're going to meet daddy' to the tune of Happy Birthday this time.
'Shhh, shhhhhhh,' I hush my babes as we approach, having just envisioned surprising him with fan-cheers from the bleachers--watching his face, though flushed from exercise, light up with shock.
I let my kiddos in on the plan. They comply.
We sneak onto the bleachers just in time. Daddy approaches and we count down... 3-2-1...
GOOOO DAAA-DDY!!!
Aaron cracks out a grin, runs passed and slows down.
He takes a minute to catch his breath and starts walking back our way.
Gray smiles like he just had a thought and within seconds blurts out 'Hey, I gotta great idea! We should go run with daddy! Isn't that a great idea?!' Yes, another of his daily-quotes...usually inserted a good 4 to 5 times each day in context of various events. ;)
Daddy greets us and is greeted by giddy kiddos with hugs and kisses and of course, requests to be 'running partners.'
'Ok', he says, obliging out of love. 'But I have to go finish my last lap and then we'll go, ok?!'
Only slightly disheartened the boys agree and their eagerness quickly turns into focused anticipation.
EAGLE EYES watch daddy as he finishes his last lap.
As he rounds the corner to the 'finish line' (a rubber mat laid across the track) the boys are already at the fence, waiting rather impatiently for their official invite.
Daddy gathers his breath again, greets me, marvels at his little mini-me's for a minute or two and lovingly grants their wish.
Watching as my three take off down the track, I realize...photo op!
Little specks in pictures of a big track is initially captured... they are remarkably fast~
I watch. I wait... when are they going to run out of steam?
Linc is the first to stop. I turn my eyes back to Gray, expecting to see the same. Not so.
As he approaches the finish-line, I keep waiting for the collapse... at least some exhaustion... ANY sign of fatigue?
Nope. None.
'Mom! Hi!' he exclaims with a teeth-filled smile. I snap a couple more shots.
Are you kidding me?! 5 1/2. Ran the whole length of the track with not one missing breath?!
No wonder this kid has a million words a day for my ears and another million actions a day for my nerves. :P
'I gotta go another one, mom,' as he runs by and off for a second lap.
Seems maybe I'M the one who's going to be collapsing. From SHOCK! Wow.
Two laps later--THREE LAPS TOTAL...
my eldest is 'spent' and ready to go home and eat.
Like a happy panting dog out a car window, he offers a hug for daddy for the 'victory'
and the opportunity.
He skips over to the bleachers where I am still sitting in awe.
Couldn't help but think back to my own track story (though probably at age 7 or 8 for me) when I pulled the same copy-cat routine with my dad... only I was in excruciating PAIN by the end of just one lap.Yeah, not a runner.
This guy, though??!
One things for sure...looks like daddy has a running-partner. ;)
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