Today we did 'splits'. That's where one lucky twin (Kyle today) gets to spend the day with Jay and go where he goes, eat pitiful homemade sandwichs for lunch when he does, see a rather large portion of the state from the back seat of Jay's car and have an all 'round good time with Dad.
Mark, on the other hand, gets to have me all to himself, or rather, I get to have Mark all to myself. We made our 'plan' as we went. It became a red letter day - the day Mark first beat me fair and square in chess. I've noticed him and Kyle going at it a bit lately. I should have not begun the game over anxious to 'show' him a lot of woulduvs, coulduvs. By the time I realized I must not be so careless with my own moves, he still had both his rooks (they call them crooks and refuse to correct themselves) and queen. Before I knew it I had one pawn and a check-mated king. Ouch. But I'm also proud. Aren't peoples' prodgeny supposed to be better than they are? But already? In chess? I think I'll challenge again. This time I'll ask him for mercy.
Other red letter things for the day:
*Played 'pooh sticks' off the Pioneer Park bridge.
*Made a new friend there, instead of the planned frisbee throw. Mark was such a little gentleman. She is Jean, a 94 yr old resident of the Golden Skyline. Her body is old, but her mind is brilliant and we had such a nice chat about books and her life. Then we walked her home and she showed us her lovely room and pictures and art she had created.
*Mark passed off all his Bear requirements for cub scouts to Akela (me)
*Read a chapter of CS Lewis' The Silver Chair
*Got a 'small' icecream cone from the Malt Shop we couldn't finish.
*Drove by the new Ephraim Elementary school where the T's will be going next year and marveled at its beauty and play ground power. (I marveled at the beauty, Mark marveled at the play ground)
*Went to the library and checked out another pile of books, mostly about Greeks and other ancient peoples the boys love to learn about.
*Made a Pioneer Woman recipe for dinner - Beef and Broccoli.
*Sat on the front porch playing I spy to see who would see Jay's car coming home first. Twins don't like to be apart too long it seems.
Gosh, it was a great day. I hope we do splits again soon.
The mighty Mark very pleased with his first legitimate chess victory over Mom.
My men.
Kyle loved the new library books Mark picked out for him today.
