All Parents Fight

Posted on 2018/07/30 by circuskitchen

Monday, July 30th 2018

After a whole morning of the kind of communication breakdowns I’m convinced only first world privileged white people could have on vacation in Minnesota, we finally arrive at coffee and breakfast.

In a gesture of magnanimous reconciliation I hand this cartoon to Dear Hubsand.

“Guess why I didn’t try this this morning?” I say.

 

He looks at me. Those crystal blue forgivable eyes.

“Because I didn’t think of it,” I confess.

Thankfully we both laugh, our marriage survives another day, and the coffee is bottomless.

Posted in comedy, domestic life, faith, family, fight, food, forgiveness, Friendship, health, love, marriage, mental health, patience, travel | Tagged , | Leave a comment

At Rise: Whatever Your Name Is, Uncle

Posted on 2018/07/29 by circuskitchen

Sunday, July 29th 2018

At Rise: Clayton is by the straw shed on Century Grandview Farm in Iowa, demonstrating the finer points of *oats* to his young cousins Zachary, Gavin, ClaraJane and Niece Cora Beth as Dad/Uncle Anthony and Mom/Aunt Jenny look on. Brother Knute is out stacking straw bales on the rack behind Papa Troy’s tractor in the field.

Clayton: So if you rub it between your hands like this…

Cora Beth: Knute!!

Clayton: …you’ll end up with the raw oats.

Cora Beth: Knute!!!

Clayton: And if you taste it, it tastes just like the oatmeal you have for breakfast.

Cora Beth: KNUTE!!!

Clayton: My name is Clayton.

Cora Beth: CLAYTON!!

Clayton: Yes?

Cora Beth: I know ALMOST EVERYTHING!!!

Jenny: [Hugging Cora Beth’s dad Anthony in bliss] That is totally going on my blog!

Scene.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

At Rise: Trash Car

Posted on 2018/07/29 by circuskitchen

Sunday, July 29th 2018

At Rise: The Oberhauser four and Cousin Zachary are driving in Grandpa Pops’ car on their way back to Minneapolis from Iowa.

Mom: Hey you guys I have an idea.

Gavin; What?

Mom: You know all the wrappers and trash from all the snacks we’ve had on this trip?

Zachary: Um, yeah…

Mom: So, how about we throw that stuff all over Grandpa Pops’ car and just leave it for him to find and deal with?

ClaraJane: No. I don’t want his car to end up like ours.

Dad: [Guffaws]

Mom: [Mouth drops open in stunned awe.]

Scene.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

ClaraJane, Great Aunt Judy & the Flute

Posted on 2018/07/28 by circuskitchen

Saturday, July 28th 2018

In Clear Lake, Iowa; Great Aunt Judy gives ClaraJane a first lesson and the flute she had received from her parents as a little girl.

2018-07-28 ClaraJane, Great Aunt Judy & the Flute [20 seconds]:

 

Nice work ClaraJane.  Thank you Aunt Judy!

♥♥

Posted in art, childhood, education, faith, family, health, history, learning, love, making art, music, patience, travel | Leave a comment

Beach Bunny Getaway

Posted on 2018/07/27 by circuskitchen

June 27th 2018

2018-06-27 15.09.54 CJ @ BEACH.jpg

 

On this day we sneak away to the beach between mommy’s gigs and ClaraJane has parents all to herself.

2018-06-27 Beach Bunny Getaway [1:15]: 

 

♥

Posted in animals, childhood, comedy, family, health, love, mental health, nature, parenthood, patience, Performing Life, Secret Juggler, travel, work-life balance | Leave a comment

At Rise: Not For Your Health

Posted on 2018/07/25 by circuskitchen

Wednesday, July 25th 2018

[Image: One or two cartoon bellies protruding from behind a pole.]

At Rise: Mom and Dad Oberhauser are riding the escalator down towards the Minneapolis Airport Baggage Claim Area while Gavin, ClaraJane and Zachary ride down an adjacent escalator. Mom and Dad are in the lead.

Mom: Quick! This is our chance to ditch the kids!

[Mom runs down the last few steps followed by Dad as they dart through the doorway around a corner and “hide” behind a big pole. The kids are in hot pursuit. ClaraJane comes upon them first.]

CJ: BWAHAHAAA! YOU GUYS ARE TOO FAT TO HIDE!!

End Scene One.

Scene Two.

At Rise: Mom is on the couch at Grandpa Pops’ Place, finishing up proofreading the above scene out loud to the kids.

CJ: Delete! Delete Mamma!

Mom: Why?

CJ: Just delete it Mamma!

Mom: Why honey? It’s funny!

CJ: Delete the part where I call you guys fat!

Gavin: CJ, it’s funny. It’s also a wise and true statement.

Mom: Wait. What’d you say?

Gavin: I said it’s also a wise and true statement!

Mom: Not for your health it isn’t.

End Scene Two.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

At Rise: Accurate Face

Posted on 2018/07/20 by circuskitchen

Friday, July 20th 2018…

This is how it went down…

 

AT RISE:  The Oberhauser four have just returned to the hotel room for a little break from all the people, activity and sunshine incurred from a juggling convention in and around downtown Springfield, Mass.   BOY emerges from the bathroom after a much needed visit.

GAVIN:  That toilet is so funny.  When you flush it the water spins so your poop twirls around before it finally goes down.

MOM:  So, it’s like this [spinning in the desk chair, excitedly waving];  BYYYYYYYYEE!

GAVIN:  [blank sarcastic stare of disapproval.]

MOM:  What.  I’m impersonating your poop.  How’d I do?

GAVIN:  Bad.

MOM:  Well, ok, that’s good I guess.

GAVIN:  The only accurate part was your face.

MOM:  Wow.  You’re lucky you’re funny.  That was actually funny.

GAVIN:  That’s right.  I just dissed your face.  Really bad.  [Flops down on bed with book.]

MOM:  Yes you did.  Congratulations son.

GAVIN:  Can you even diss a face?

MOM:  Apparently.

SCENE.  

♥♥

Posted in childhood, comedy, domestic life, family, fight, Friendship, health, making art, mental health, nature, parenthood, patience, travel, work-life balance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

At Rise: Go to the Gym Mom

Posted on 2018/07/19 by circuskitchen

Thursday, July 19th 2018

Busy black woman and mother multitask between work and baby

AT RISE:  The Oberhauser four are in their hotel room before dinner and a juggling show.   The kids are delightfully sharing a craft activity on the floor while Daddy plays Clash on his phone from bed and Mom checks the wifi from her laptop at the desk.

CLARAJANE:  Mom YOU should go to the GYM!

MOM:  I should work out huh?

CJ:  Yeah!  There’s a GYM here, so you can GO to it!

MOM:  Yeah there’s a gym near our house too, but I have the same problem there as I have here.

CJ:  TOO BUSY!  TOO BUSY!

MOM:  Um…

CJ:  TOO BUSY!  TOO BUSY!

MOM:  Well yeah that’s one way to put it.  Busy…

GAVIN:  Busy supplying us with…

CJ:  With ABUNDANCE!

DLOVE:  [A sort of low gutteral giggle grunt.].

SCENE.  

♥♥

Posted in animals, childhood, comedy, domestic life, faith, family, health, love, parenthood, patience, siblings, travel, work, work-life balance | Leave a comment

At Rise: Big Airplane

Posted on 2018/07/19 by circuskitchen

Thursday, July 19th 2018

delete big airplane.png

AT RISE:  The Oberhauser four are on the highway to glamorous Springfield, MA.  DLove is driving and Mamma is feeding him some Trader Joe’s shrimp tempura sushi.  In the backseat seven year-old Girl is sleeping and ten year-old Boy is reading.

MOM [to BOY]:  Do you want to try some Boy?

BOY: Um… what’s in it?

MOM:  Shrimp.  And some sweet tempura sauce.  It’s not too spicy.

BOY:  OK.

MOM [to DLOVE]:   He’s been asking some really good questions about food lately.

DLOVE:  Yes he’s been adventurous in trying new foods.  Like the onions.

MOM:  What onions?

BOY:  The white onions that Daddy’s had lately?  Mmmm…

MOM:  Oh yeah, Vidalia.  Yum.

BOY:  Yeah and the purple onions that usually come with salad?  I’m going to order those with sandwiches now. 

MOM:   Nice.  Alright, here you go.

BOY:  [leans forward to eat as Mamma is twisting sideways holding out loaded chopsticks from the front seat.]    Can’t… reach it!

MOM:  C’mon.  Come get it Boy.  [Sarcastic baby voice:] Here comes the big airplane!! 

[Food makes it to Boy’s mouth and he is now chewing and giggling at the same time.]

MOM:  Ooh!  He likes it!   Cool.  OK well there’s one left.  Who wants the last one?

BOY [swallows and claps once with his hands]:  C’mon!  Where’s the Big Airplane?

SCENE. 

delete big airplane spoon

♥♥♥♥

Posted in childhood, comedy, family, food, love, parenthood, travel | Leave a comment

At Rise: Go Create

Posted on 2018/07/10 by circuskitchen

Tuesday, July 10th 2018

Part of our kids’ “Non-School Morning Routine” includes the directive to “GO CREATE!”
CircusKitchen NON-SCHOOL MORNING ROUTINE JPG

AT RISE:   The two kids come up to mommy working at the computer at the dining room table.

Gavin:  Um Mamma?  For “Go Create” today is it okay if CJ and I work on something together?

Mom:  Sure honey, that sounds great.

[Gavin and ClaraJane are head down the hallway together, giggling.

Mom:  Hey!  What are you two giggling about?

Them:  [Continuing down the hall.]  (Giggle giggle.)

Mom:  Hey!  What’s so funny!

Them:  [Disappearing around the corner.] (Giggle giggle!)

Mom: [Hollering down the hallway]  I’m more scared than happy about you working on this together you know! 

Them:  (Giggle giggle!)

[Later:  Gavin and ClaraJane reappear.]

Gavin:  OK for our “Go Create” today we made up names for you and Daddy.  [Turns to his sister.]  You say it.

CJ:  No you say it!

Gavin:  OK, Mamma; you are GROUCHO MARXIMUS.  Because you’re grouchy, but you’re funny!

Them:  Ha ha ha!

CJ:  And Dadda you are SIR TALL STINKS-A-LOT!

delete groucho marx

Them:  Hee hee hee.

Mom:   Gee thanks kids.  That’s just.  Great.

SCENE.

 

 

 

 

♥♥

Posted in art, childhood, comedy, domestic life, evidence they get along, family, forgiveness, Friendship, health, learning, love, making art, mental health, parenthood, siblings, work, work-life balance | Leave a comment