{"id":2130,"date":"2013-07-23T22:59:33","date_gmt":"2013-07-24T03:59:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/?p=2130"},"modified":"2013-07-24T06:38:14","modified_gmt":"2013-07-24T11:38:14","slug":"day-1-hostage-negotiations-begin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/?p=2130","title":{"rendered":"Day 1: Hostage Negotiations Begin"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Rich first suggested to me that he ask Vanessa to keep her kids for a week, I had some thoughts about what that meant.\u00a0 Three kids under the age of 7 for several days.\u00a0 I hadn\u2019t been had to work with small kids on a voluntary basis in a while.\u00a0 It was always easier to stand back and let their parents do the heavy lifting.\u00a0 But then, it might be an opportunity to see if I could still take it.\u00a0 I would have grandkids one day, if I got lucky.\u00a0 Why not.\u00a0 Vanessa deserved a break bigger than overnight.We jokingly referred to this as taking the hostages.\u00a0 We would treat it as a covert operation to exert our will and influence on Vanessa\u2019s kids.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t work when we tried it on Alex\u2019s kids.\u00a0 It might work this time.\u00a0 Negotiations began between Rich and Vanessa.<\/p>\n

Rich extended the offer to his sister, Vanessa.\u00a0 I think she was hesitant to believe her ears that someone wanted to take her kids off her hands for a few days.\u00a0 Then, it was her older brother in Illinois.\u00a0 We thought she could come and hang out with Chris while he was in the Romeoville office for the week.\u00a0 They could have the week to themselves and it wouldn\u2019t be at home.\u00a0 When she realized it was a genuine offer, she accepted.\u00a0 I thought she sounded a little too pleased once the shock wore off.<\/p>\n

So on Monday, Vanessa drove to our house.\u00a0 We went out to dinner and I took advantage of this opportunity to share the Pink Margarita with her.\u00a0 I think she liked them.\u00a0 Somehow, they tasted better this time than when we took Rose with us.\u00a0 The kids did very well at the restaurant. Vanessa then chose to spend the night to ease them over the fact that she was dumping them for a few days.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, we went to breakfast at The Windhill Pancake House and sat at the breakfast bar so the train could deliver our food.\u00a0 It\u2019s kind of a kitschy sort of thing.\u00a0 I have had an excuse to do with someone small, so it was a reason.\u00a0 The troupe dropped me off at home to continue working.\u00a0 They all headed out to the Illinois Train Museum in Union to explore the train and ride the trolley.\u00a0 Then it was lunch at Chi Dog, where the kids got chicken fingers.\u00a0 What?\u00a0 No hot dogs!\u00a0 Bel finally lost one of her upper teeth that had been extremely loose.\u00a0 Guess who gets the tooth fairy to visit\u00a0tonight?\u00a0 Hope she got the memo on the change of address.<\/p>\n

After lunch, Rich got them back to the house.\u00a0 Vanessa packed up and slid out the door.\u00a0 She packed her things into our Honda and headed out to meet with Chris in Romeoville.\u00a0 I saw that secret smile on her face as she headed down the road.\u00a0 I think I heard her whisper something about a nap.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, we rounded up the kids and headed down to the river to check out the fishing action.\u00a0 Rich had managed to get three rod and reel setups for the kids.\u00a0 That in itself is a good story I\u2019ll have to write up sometime.\u00a0 With a fresh pack of worms and carp bait, we loaded up the wagon and started the walk to the lake.<\/p>\n

Everything was new to them.\u00a0 They asked questions about the neighborhood, the channel, the birds, the dogs, and finally the road taking them to the fishing hole.\u00a0 I do believe the entire neighborhood heard that we were going fishing.\u00a0 We got to the banks of the Fox River, set up our spot, and dropped lines into the water.\u00a0 Cael didn\u2019t last too long.\u00a0 A couple of times with worms and he was done.\u00a0 He was more interested in what he could find in the dirt and the sand.\u00a0 The sun was warm and he just wanted shade.<\/p>\n

Sofia caught the first fish of the day right off the bat.\u00a0 It was a small bass and not really a keeper.\u00a0 She was excited to have landed him though.\u00a0 We took pictures and then threw him back to join his brothers and sisters.\u00a0 She soon gave up trying and joined Cael in the hunt for rocks and whatever else they could find along the edge of the river.<\/p>\n

Now Bel it turns out is an enthusiastic fisherwoman.\u00a0 She has a very good arm for casting and gets quite a distance out there for such a small person.\u00a0 She pulled up my chair and got settled in for the long wait as she focused on casting for that big fish.\u00a0 She sat near Rich and asked a lot of questions.\u00a0 I think they were amicable fishing pals out there enjoying the late afternoon.<\/p>\n

I missed her big haul of the day while I made a trip back to the house with Cael.\u00a0 Rich managed to get some pictures and Bel took some with her own camera.\u00a0 It looked like a good sized fish.\u00a0 Bel was more than happy with the outcome and was busily fishing for more when I returned.<\/p>\n

Rich finally got a good sized carp in his attempt of the afternoon.\u00a0 We cleared the beach as he was expecting the fish to struggle in its fight to stop progress to the sand.\u00a0 Just as he got to the beach, it slipped the hook and was free.\u00a0 Rich had to grab it and pick it up to prevent its escape.\u00a0 We got a picture of everyone standing around the fish before it was allowed to slip back into the river.<\/p>\n

Now that just excited Bel to more dreams of bigger fish.\u00a0 She promptly cast her line into the water and settled in for the wait.\u00a0 Cael and Sophia had been struggling to stay interested in their surroundings.\u00a0 I packed up some of the things and we walked the road back to the house.\u00a0 Cael saw a crane and was very excited to learn about what this bird was. Sascha was glad to see us again.<\/p>\n

I was afraid how Sascha might treat the kids.\u00a0 Would they be playmates or just a nuance?\u00a0 Turns out, she loves kids.\u00a0 She was gentle in her own way and liked to hang out wherever they were.\u00a0 The girls were coloring at the kitchen table and Sascha planted herself next to them.\u00a0 She seemed to like Cael the best and wanted to try and clean up all the time.<\/p>\n

It was getting later and later without Rich and Bel showing up.\u00a0 Finally, they appeared around 5:30.\u00a0 There was no further luck with the fishing after we left them.\u00a0 After getting things settled down, we put in to fix dinner.\u00a0 Hamburgers straight from the grill were on the menu.\u00a0 With salads, chips, and all the dressings for the burgers.\u00a0 Everyone did a good job of finding something they liked.\u00a0 Conversation flowed pretty well.\u00a0 Bel was very entertaining with her stories and questions.<\/p>\n

After dinner, the kids had a Flavor Ice a piece.\u00a0 Then we took Sascha for a walk.\u00a0 Cael was a little bit tired and having trouble keeping up.\u00a0 That prompted a shoulder ride back to the house.\u00a0 Sophia came with us.\u00a0 Bel opted to join Rich and Sascha for a continued walk toward the lake and back around to the house.\u00a0 I think Bel enjoys talking to Rich.\u00a0 They seem to be similar in their outlooks on life.<\/p>\n

Back at the home place, we put in for baths.\u00a0 There was enough sand everywhere to warrant this.\u00a0 Besides, most of the feet had had a lot of river exposure.\u00a0 Bel took a shower in our bathroom while Sophia and Cael dove into the tub in Rick\u2019s bathroom.\u00a0 There was some disappointment that the water wasn\u2019t deep enough to require oxygen tanks, but it was enough to take care of business.<\/p>\n

After getting dried and dressed, the kids settled down on the living room floor to watch a movie.\u00a0 I think they picked out something appropriate from the streaming Netflix offerings I showed them.\u00a0 Cael feel asleep really quick.\u00a0 Bel enjoyed an orange and wasn\u2019t accosted too much by Sascha wanting her share.\u00a0 As they wind down to sleep tonight, there is hope they sleep in.\u00a0 But probably not.\u00a0 They are just kids after all.<\/p>\n

Bel announced early one that we would be fishing right after breakfast.\u00a0 The mighty and powerful Bel has spoken.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Cael<\/a><\/dt>\n
Cael enjoying a romp on the girls’ bed.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n
\"Is<\/a>
Is this a dining room table or an art center?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Waving<\/a>
Waving good bye to Mom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Up<\/a>
Up close and personal with Cael.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Cael<\/a>
Cael claimed the big rock as his spot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Checking<\/a>
Checking all the lines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sophia<\/a>
Sophia with her catch of the day. This was the first fish.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Bel<\/a>
Bel showing off the fish she caught.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"True<\/a>
True fishermen. Make that Fisherman and girl<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>
This is how the afternoon went for us.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Bel,<\/a>
Bel, Rich, Sophia, and Cael with the big catch of the day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Cael<\/a>
Cael and Sophia were more interested in rock collecting than fishing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Evening<\/a>
Evening entertainment on the first night. We lost one early to exhaustion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Rich first suggested to me that he ask Vanessa to keep her kids for a week, I had some thoughts about what that meant.\u00a0 Three kids under the age of 7 for several days.\u00a0 I hadn\u2019t been had to work with small kids on a voluntary basis in a while.\u00a0 It was always easier […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2130"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2130"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2154,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2130\/revisions\/2154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}