Life on Looney Lane...

For weeks now, my dad has been pestering the owner of this house, Don Jenks to let us mow the lawn with his rider lawn mower. Each time Mr. Jenks says he is only getting him started and that he can do it later. This week it has been borderline begging and finally he agreed. He promised my dad he could try it out on Saturday in the late afternoon...
So, today our family is in the middle of an educational conversation about my mom and dad's dating life when we hear the soft hum of a lawn mower fill the yard. My dad panics, wolfs down his pasta salad and becomes determined to not let him get away with it this time. "I've gotta go get him!" he says, "he's doing our lawn again!" "No, no wait!" Claire says, "I've got a great idea. Why don't we all go outside and wait for him and when he comes around we can just hold up our hands with this 'what are you doing?' look."
"Go, dad, go!" "Well, you know, maybe you should just let him do it if he likes doing it so much." my mom suggests. "Yeah, maybe you're right." he sighs and slumps into his chair. Then he jumps up again. "But I really want to ride that mower!"
"Yeah, so do I." "No, Cade, you will be pushing our old manual lawn mower, while I ride the other mower. It'll be good for you." My dad makes a quick decision. "I've gotta go stop him." He jumps up and jogs outside. "Don, Don wait!"

My whole family runs outside. Yeah, the city folks are all outside to watch their first experience with a riding lawn mower. (Yes, we did bring the camera.) Mr. Jenks is saying, "Here, I'm going to give you a little demonstration on this little patch of grass. Back and forth. Back and forth.
"Yeah, yeah okay I got it."
My dad mounts the lawn mower and drives off as Mr. Jenks watches, his arms crossed, his dark sunglasses hiding his expression like a father watching his sixteen year old take his first drive. Occasionally he calls my dad over for lawn mower tips. All of us kids take a turn on it. When it's Emily's turn she gives us all a parade float worthy wave. Ashley pushes my dad's hand off the steering wheel and he lets her crazily drive on the grass.

So that's our excitement for the day. Riding lawn mowers. It doesn't get much better than that.

Quotes of the Week

"I hate the smell of grass because it reminds me of work!"
-Cade
"Have we ever had a black president?"
-Claire

*"Amtrack? I thought that was the stuff that a bunch of people sell and you always give them a bad time about it?"
-Kailyn

"I've noticed, Jesus that on your resume you don't have much formal education. Of course omnipotence will suffice but still..."
-My dad during his sermon illustration

(Emily signs...)
"Can I have some more chicken?"
My mom, "Well, actually it's ham. (She signs "pig")
Emily waits a few seconds, "Can I have some more chicken-pig?"

Legends from Looney Lane.

It was 8:00 on a peaceful Saturday evening, we were sitting around with a family from Spokane, the Kerrs. The adults were drinking tea, and talking while the rest of us hung out enjoying the evening. All of a sudden the calm was shattered by their nine-year-old's cry. "Dad, I can't get the bathroom door open!" The statement was punctuated by the rattling of a 100 year old doorknob. Well, Abagail is now stuck in a 4' by 4' bathroom or as her dad put it, 'A closet with a toilet and sink.'
Instantly, her dad and Aidan are at the door and discover that Abagail is indeed stuck. Mr. Kerr's first method is to ask Abagail, "What did you do?"
"I locked it." To which he responded, "Unlock it." "Dad, I can't turn it." "Turn it the other way."
At this point Claire appears, "I have a key." she announces and proceeds to produce an ancient, rusted key. After jiggling the key in the door we discovered that it doesn't work.
Abagail's little brother, Aidan is pacing around frantically, "Please tell me Sissy's going to be okay." he said dramatically.
My dad enters the office, "Wow, you really did it to yourself this time." He announces, then leaves
"How about an axe?"
"You might want to remember that we are only renting this house."
"Hey, Roland do you have any tools?"
"Ooh, sorry, they're all packed away."
"Oh, no."
"Hey," Mrs. Kerr whips out a purple Swiss Army Knife, "Maybe this would work."
"Give it to me, hurry."
Meanwhile helpful comments are floating in...
"Well, at least she has a toilet in there, so she'll be able to "go" whenever she needs to."
"But what about food?"
"Well, we'll only be able to slide flat food under the door."
"Yeah, like pancakes, tortillas, and ham slices."
Using the flat-head screw driver (in case you ever get locked in a bathroom) Mr. Kerr disables the doorknob and takes it off. Abagail is freed from the bathroom and everything ends happily!
To his credit, Mr. Kerr managed to complete the whole operation in the small office with a giant air mattress taking up most of the room. I do have to say that Abagail was very brave and there was no drama on her part.
The first picture is of Mr. Kerr taking off the doorknob, while the second is of him putting it back on from inside the bathroom.
Well, as the old saying says 'All's well that ends well' :)
As we all sit around the living room discussing the events I conclude with,
"You do know this is going on my blog, right..."