In the dark

When you live near a city, you never really experience true dark. Except for the few times they have gone camping with their dad, my kids have lived with light. More often than not, when I check on them before I go to bed, they are asleep in their rooms with their lights on. So this week in Wyoming has been a learning experience for them. We are in the middle of nowhere, and when the lights go off, it is dark. You can't see your hand in front of your face. We gave the kids flashlights to keep beside their beds in case they had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Sabrina decided very shortly after the lights went out that she needed to go, but she was having trouble finding her flashlight.

Sabrina: Dad! Dad! Help me! I can't find my flashlight! What should I do?

David: It's right on your bedside table. Just pick it up.

S: But I can't find it. I can't see! How am I supposed to find it when I can't see?

D: You need to use your other senses.

Calvin: Taste?

Me: Yeah, you'll need to lick your way to the bathroom.

S: That is not funny, guys.

(a little bit later)

C: Dad, is it true that when you can't see, your other senses get sharper?

D: Yes, that is true.

Rose: Is that why I can smell someone's fart?

Ah, the joys of communal living.

Raisin' Them There Girls Right

So, it turns out Sabrina and Rose LOOOOVE “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood. I guess I could blame their Aunt Rebecca since she introduced the song to me, but it's off of my play list that the girls have heard it, so mea culpa. They don’t know the words to any of the verses other than, “Right now . . .” But when the chorus comes, boy, do those girls rock it.

The family was in the car yesterday, and I had my iPod play list running, and sure enough that song comes on. At the chorus, the girls start singing at the top of their lungs. For those of you who are not familiar with this song, to wit:

And he don't know . . .
That I dug my keys into the side of his pretty little souped-up four-wheel drive,
Carved my name into his leather seats.
I took a Louisville slugger to both headlights,
Slashed a hole in all four tires.
And maybe next time he'll think before he cheats.

David turns and looks at me, horrified. I can’t tell if it’s because they know the lyrics to the song or the fact they’re listening to (and enjoying) country. But my guess is that he’s a bit concerned that his little girls are singing about messing up some guy’s ride. I just shrug and say it’s healthy for a girl to learn that she shouldn’t let any man walk all over her. Then I laugh hysterically. He just shakes his head, but he’s one to talk. He introduced them to Lady Gaga.