and just like that, they're leaving.

when the kids came, my father used the word 'permanent' which i, at least, interpreted to be a year. aaron and kan, however, took him at his word, so when an email came from my dad, out of the clear blue, saying the kids were going back, the bottom dropped out of our world. and they're going... to him. or their mother. or him. well, they're really not sure. but the kids are going somewhere. when? in december sometime. the truth is that neither parent has exhibited stellar child-rearing skills, and that this is the latest move in a chess match between two people who are using the kids as pawns while v. heatedly disputing joint possessions. all pretty revolting.

there's really no way to make this funny. they're sad and scared, and i'm thinking i'd rather have kids dumped on me by the truckload rather than give them up. overall though, they're handling it with the kind of courage and gallantry and humor that i could never muster. but it's totally typical of them, and why they're just so much cooler than most adults i know. waiting for the school bus this morning, i tell the other parents about it, and they say, Oh, how exciting! kan tugs frantically on my jacket, says: Tell us a joke, please Hannah, so we can laugh or else it will be a sad moment.

bah. clearly, the only thing left is to do christmas like crazy before they go: ornaments! cookies! ice skating!! reindeer costumes for the cat!!!!