Seth will turn fourteen next month. He still has the face of a baby, but sometimes I think he has the mind of a sixty-five year old retiree.
He’s started the count down to his birthday and informed me yesterday of how many more days until we celebrate. I decided I should probably ask him what he wants for his big day. I was totally expecting him to list off; Phone with texting, video games, books, comics and a host of other electronic gadgetry. So, you can imagine how surprised I was when, in all seriousness, he said, “I want a twin bag collection system for the mower.”
Yes, my friends…this is what my soon to be fourteen year-old son wants for his birthday.
Why?
“I’m serious Mom, that’s all I want. I wanted one all last summer, our neighbor has one and his lawn looks so nice after he’s done mowing. I’m tired of raking up all the grass after I mow in the back. I want the yard to look nice.”
So, you’re only desire for a gift is a twin bag collection system for the mower?
“Yes, I’m totally serious.”
Nothing else?
“No.”
The next day he did say, “Well, if you can’t get me the twin bag collection system then I’ll take a phone….with unlimited texting. Or a camera. Or a laptop.”
Good thing he doesn’t ask for anything BIG or EXPENSIVE!!!
And just to end this so you know he’s a fairly normal kid, he just called me and said, “Mom, I need a black and white cookie for my book report. Sorry, I forgot. I need it here in twenty minutes. Okay, thanks.”
1. We live twenty minutes from school.
2. I don’t know where to find a black and white cookie…this is Kansas, not New York!
3. I want to kill him.
Need a Chicken Doctor?
Contact 
This is tooooo funny!
I say get him the twin powered bag thingsmajig for the mower… that will teach him
Hey… he asked for it right?
Black and white cookie?? OREO!!!
Yep – take him an oreo!
A lawn mower bag. Well, clearly he’s one smart cookie (no pun intended). He’s thinking of how to make his mowing life easier. Pretty amazing, though, that that is his FIRST choice for birthday gifts! I’d say you’ve got a keeper there!
love it!!
He IS growing up – lawn mower bag today, power tools tomorrow!
Number one, happy birthday coming up, to your Seth. I have a Seth, third son of four boys. My Seth who is now 31, would have chosen that too, or a drill, any tool would have done. He grew up to own a framing company. Your son may have a landscape company some day. Good for him!
He is totally and completly wonderful (but you already knew that). My son will be 14 next month too and his list is pretty much the same. He lives for the thinkgeek.com web site.
He is totally and completely wonderful (but you already knew that). My son will be 14 next month too and his list is pretty much the same. He lives for the thinkgeek.com web site.
Oreos are black and white.
Or I’m sure a little Sharpie on a sugar cookie wouldn’t kill anyone.
Would Seth mow at my house? In Texas? Weekly? After all I did solve his cookie problem.
My kids are totally going about this wrong. They are always trying to get out of chores, not make the chores easier. Does you son do classes or anything?
Black and white cookie! That is hilarious!
What a cutey! You are blessed!
Susan
PS. Oreos are black and white cookies. Do they count?
I am thinking that may be a 14 year old country boy thing. One of the happiest days of my younger brothers life was the day my parents got a ride on lawnmower. He had been wanting one for a while, and after than it was not uncommon for the lawn to be mowed more than once a week. Luckily for him Mum had convinced Dad to convert part of the paddock next to the house into a grass tennis court. HAPPY DAYS INDEED! In later years he asked for a ride on lawnmower as a wedding present. To his credit – he does have a very nice lawn.
Love it.
Wait, why does he need a cookie for a book report? Is there any other right answer besides OREO? (I think not!)
When Caleb was a little younger than that he asked for a lawnmower for his birthday. We lived in town and he wanted a way to make money. He ended up buying a used mower at a garage sale before his birthday came around though.
And as for strange birthday requests, have I ever told you why we have a goat? Josh wanted one so he could milk it and make cheese. Once I found out how stinky and nasty billy goats are and pondered (for 30 seconds) getting Sheba bred or AI, I offered to buy him a cheese making kit instead. He declined the offer. Yup, I killed his dream.
He sounds like my neighbor who is so mature (in a good way) that it’s scary. One time his parents gave him $50 for earning an award at school and he bought himself a leaf blower.
Lady, this is one of the best blogs I have ever read. No, I think it really is the best. I was in the hospital for a few days because my innards do not belong to my 35 year old body, but an 80 year old named Esther. Anyhoo, I was surfing around, most miserable when I found your site. I hit on the “need a cackle” section and lost my mind. I have spent the last few days reading everything you have. You are seriously, insanely funny. The “locked in the coop” story made me gasp and wheeze…I just ordered chickens two weeks ago. Your family is lovely and your husband is a hoot…The dance videos are hysterical! Keep it up…You have a new number one fan!
Love this blog. I work for Fastline Publications and Wellington Implement is one of our advertisers and also near the town where I grew up in Ohio. Hope he gets the twin bag collection for the mower.
That’s what I should ask for for my birthday. The only thing is, I’d have to ask for the mower too.
Bagging system for lawnmower. A bit scary! Sounds like a great kid. Better keep Oreo’s stocked in kitchen!
I’m thinking your son and my nephew could be BFF’s. He asked for Pomegranate Juice for Christmas. Yep. That’s it. Pom Juice. He’s weird. But I love him. =)
Mindy
http://www.thesuburbanlife.com
Oh my! That is too funny. I am so glad I am not alone….with the cookie thing and the 20 minute drive, My daughter still has yet to remember to take her dishes to the sink unpromted, never mind actually thinking ahead to make her life easier.
Definitively, I LOVE the way you tell daily stories !!!
))
And I like your number 3 !!!
Anytime you have a child who wants to make your yard look nice, get him whatever it takes. And once he starts, don’t ever let him quit. Also if you rent him out during lawn-mowing season, that twin-bagger will pay for itself. Think about it: you’re gettin’ off cheap, M’delite.
Holy Smokes! They don’t allow Oreos in Kansas?!
My son will be the same way – he’s been asking for a mower since he was 4!
I love the boot holder in the picture. Did you make that? Will you post a picture of it? We also have chickens about 35 right now. We have goats up there as well. There are 5 of us, so that makes at least 10 boots. Some days I swear there are 30 in my garage. Our dogs love to take off with them. They don’t chew them, just carry them around. We could really use a boot holder like that.
That’s hilarious! Well, I’m anxious to hear if he gets it.
I have visited you a couple of times and have yet to leave a comment. Finally, I followed through! I loved this story-I had a cousin at age 5 that wanted a chainsaw…We still call him ‘Chainsaw’ to this day!
I just found your site and I am so glad…I think we live on the same planet. I only read your Deli post…hilarious! I think if someone were to take a pic of our family in a deli we would look the same bewildered and lost…too many choices. But this post about your oldest son and the cookie is classic..my oldes Noah is 13…I get what you are sayin”!
http://luvstrawberrycake.blogspot.com/2010/03/projects.html
Oh My Gosh !! What a great kid ! I’ll take him !!! Pray he stays that sweet and innocent !!
May you live all the days of your life.One of my favorite birthday quote.