.....Five
Posted by Zoe's Dad at Monday, May 19, 2008 8:42 AM and is filed under counting,Good times,five,children laughing,zoo 
One, two, three, four.....
Zoë, where's Zia?
I don't know?
Here I am.
Five. Good. OK Zia, I was just checking.
Two minutes later.
One, two, three...Zander. Get back here! four.....
Zane. Have you seen Zoë?
No.
There she is. Five.
Zella. Get back over here. No, Zander. You need to stay in this area with Zella. Zoë. Help Zia. She's stuck again.
A woman who had been watching me frantically try to keep my five scurrying dervishes within eyesight amongst the maze of climbing chambers and hordes of other children in the play area finally asked, "How many are you trying to watch?"
"Five," I sighed and tried to force a smile. She just laughed, I think at me, and walked away.
The kids had a relaxing day at the zoo yesterday. I counted to five.......a lot! I still have a headache this morning!
Zoë, where's Zia?
I don't know?
Here I am.
Five. Good. OK Zia, I was just checking.
Two minutes later.
One, two, three...Zander. Get back here! four.....
Zane. Have you seen Zoë?
No.
There she is. Five.
Zella. Get back over here. No, Zander. You need to stay in this area with Zella. Zoë. Help Zia. She's stuck again.
A woman who had been watching me frantically try to keep my five scurrying dervishes within eyesight amongst the maze of climbing chambers and hordes of other children in the play area finally asked, "How many are you trying to watch?"
"Five," I sighed and tried to force a smile. She just laughed, I think at me, and walked away.
The kids had a relaxing day at the zoo yesterday. I counted to five.......a lot! I still have a headache this morning!
It looks like you had your own little 5K! Advil works for the headache too.
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Oh, I counted five of those, too.
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I LOVE it! Because I am always counting my kids too and my husband just laughs at me.
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We lost one at Christmas. In the mall. Code Adam and everything. He was just browsing in the womens dept. Yeah, I count!
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Have you considered tying them together?
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My kids view rope as a weapon. I had better look for another method.
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That's great. I'm a little stressed just thinking about it. At least that lady didn't start throwing random numbers out at you. That would have just been mean.
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I'm sure she thought about it. I know I would have.
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I'd run some kind of rotational system, where only 1 can leave the house with you at a time.
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If I left my kids alone in the house I wouldn't have a home to return to. They can do some serious damage in no time at all.
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If I were you, I'd dress them all in the same color. Something like neon green so they're easy to spot.
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My luck, I'd show up on school field trip day in the exact color chosen by three of the schools represented and have them all lost before we ever got to the gate.
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Just think though, in 60 years time they'll all be taking you to the zoo and all five of them will be saying, "One...wheres he gone ?"
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I only pray I've enough of a mind left to really enjoy messing with them.
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Haha - you are a great father!
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Or crazy--it's a very fine line.
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I still find is amazing that you found 5 names that start with Z! And they are great names too
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Thank you. We even had a couple more on standby just in case.
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Yeah...that lady at the zoo? The one laughing? That was me. I tend to do that when I see a parent struggling with more than two small children at one time. It's partly out of amusement because I can half-relate and partly because quite honestly I really just CAN'T imagine it (my TWO kick my butt some days) and partly because it's dang funny when it isn't me doing the counting and chasing (times 2.5)!
Sounds like a good time was had by all!
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Thanks for the help!
And yes, we all had a really good time. We all needed a change of scenery and the zoo fit the bill.
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Hey, Ed, that was so funny, you crack me right up. My heart is always in my throat when my two, only two, are in those play areas. You are my hero with your ability to count to FIVE!!!
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I try to stay out of the play area when it's too crowded but my kids had been asking about it since breakfast when I told them we were going to the zoo. I was pretty much obligated.
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I am reading this and I am just laughing saying over and over "I can not believe this is ED". I brought my 16 year old to the computer and she has spent an hour reading your blogs and she thinks it funny that I really know you. LIfe with many children is great and it's fun to read of your exploits and laugh now that mine are older and those days are but a blur for me. I do remember them fondly as you will and somedays I miss them. I just have to say that I am so excited for you and all your children as it sounds like you are an awesome Dad, (I never doubted you would be as you and Jeff always wanted to stay kids yourselves)
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