Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas. Ours was wonderful and low key and fun with lots of quality time together. Yesterday we had a playdate with Chubalicious' best friend Colten. They had a blast.

 

MRA in notorious fashion, ran his car over our friends landscaping and spun his tires while stuck on a rock then he ran ovr my foot. He can't wait to go back. I can.

Not so Wordless Wendesday

and probably a little long if you are not related to these two whack-a-doodles by blood.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year I spent Thanksgiving with several families. We met in a hospital group for new Mamas just a little over two years ago, right after Chubalicious was born. Its true to say that our children have grown up together (at least to date.)

They, like their Mamas, have formed good friendships and I am thankful for each one of them for many and various reasons.

 

They are not my oldest friends but they are dear friends and we had an AMAZING Thanksgiving!

Its Me and George W.

Do you remember, oh, I dunno, maybe seven years ago or so., that time when George W. was still president and during a press conference a reporter threw a shoe at him?

I know how he feels. Sort of.

Of late, Chubalicious has decided to remove his shoes and socks whenever he is in the car. It started with a shoe then both, then the socks. And now, now, he chucks them at me while I am driving.

So there I am. minding my own business, trying to get him to school or wherever safely and BAM out of no where a sock flies into the front seat. Presently, I am grateful that its usually the socks but on occasion it is the shoes.

Now, unlike the disgruntled reporter in the George W. episode, Chubalicious does not seem to be at all upset. In fact when I ask him why he does this, he giggles like a madman. There are times, as well, when his aim is not so good and I go to get him out of the car seat only to realize he is barefoot. At these moments, when I ask where his socks are, he points to exactly where they landed (usually somewhere in the front console) and says, "Right there, Mama" like its the most natural thing in the world.

I am not offended by this at all although, sometimes, when I am in a hurry, it is quite annoying. I actually have begun to find the whole thing rather funny. And I am quite certain that on years to come, I will remember these moments endearingly or use them in some way to totally embarrass Chubalicious in front of his friends.

I have no idea how George W. remembers his incident.

Have a wonderful weekend, y'all!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

"There is no truth. There is only perception."

So said Gustav Flaubert.

If you asked me to describe my husband, it would be quite different from the description the Notorious MRA gives in the video snippet. I am not sure if my husband is all that happy with the verbals, particularly the wrinkly skin part, but...  the picture part of it is rather nice.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy #4, Notorious MRA

Happy Birthday to my Notorious MRA,

Oh yes, MRA, you made four years old (which means your Daddy and I also have survived four  years of parenthood. (Don't think we didn't crack open a bottle of champagne over that little feat!)

You are definitely our child as you wanted to CELEBRATE! Probably for different reasons, though. In any event, celebrate we did - with a super-fun pirate themed birthday party.

 

 

 

The setting was perfect under the trees and on the beach. The weather was amazing! We did have to chase off a pack (seriously, a pack, like five or seven) of raccoons that were eyeing down our set up. But those raccoons were no match for our pirate crew.

 

 

It took some doing, but we got the place set up, and you were a perfect swashbuckelin' pirate - Captain Mad Dog MRA, they called you. Chubalicious, aka Rum Runner ASA, was a great sidekick... if not always the most attentive.



There was food and there was cake - you and your gangly crew couldn't keep your raggedy paws out of the cake (you get that from your father.)

 

 

You and your motley band of pirates were rather fearsome. I dare say that any ship full of popinjays sailing by our party who caught sight of you and your crew (or heard the screeching and wailing coming from shore) would nary a stepped foot on our little key.

 

 

 

Of course it helped to have some real pirates there to entertain you and your gang. They painted your faces, twisted balloons, provided magic and candy and treasure. You were so unbelievably happy.

 

 

 

And seeing you so happy made your Daddy and I unbelievably happy. Of course we were exceptionally happy when you and your brother went to bed at a reasonable hour that night, as well.

 

 

 

 

It was a very merry and happy day had by all. However, as fun as the pirates were, I would like you to consider perhaps taking five friends to a movie next year for your 5th birthday? Mama and Daddy will still have champagne! Yay or nay?

 



Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Mondays

The weekend before last was so much fun. I started the week with an idea for a blog post. It was just a bunch of random bits of funny things I thought I would want to remember years from now, but things that are so small you tend to forget them quickly.

Well, the week got busy. I mean B.U.S.Y. BUSY! and as it kept getting busier, it also kept getting lousier. I would say the low point was when I ended up in the ER with ASA, because not only did he inherit his Daddy's looks but also is tremendously scary allergy to ants, (fire ants in particular) but no that was not the low point.

The picture was taken after the meds kicked in and doesn't really do the hives and swelling justice. Let me put it this way, the doctor said, "I am prescribing a couple of epi-pen jr.s. Keep one in you house and one in your purse, or glove compartment, or taped to his back."

No, the low point, I think, was a few days after the meds kicked in  (extreme moodiness, temper tantrums, an insatiable appetite and no desire to sleep) as this coincided with a full moon, and my husband being out of town - this just about sent me to the dark side.

So this morning, I am hoping that things slowly start to return to normal with the completion of the medicine and the waning of the moon. And I really want to go back and think of all those random cute things they did two weeks ago but, as I suspected, those moments are already gone.

I am left only these two thoughts:

The boys LOVE pumpkin egg nog (only if I leave out the egg in the name thus calling it pumpkin nog). The way MRA says NOG is so adorable - he sounds English.

If ASA tells you to coodabit, he wants you to move over. It took a while to decipher but literally he is saying Scoot A Bit.

Oh, and last night, MRA was watching a movie. I leaned in to give him a hug which he returned and then promptly told me to "Get out of the way." At least I got the hug, though.

Hope you have a great week!

Wrdless Wednesday

Wordless Wenesday on Thursday

I think Wordless Wednesday on Thursday means I can use a few words. Its just a limited number of words. So with this in mind, I say:

Halloween costumes.
Pirate invsion.
So excited.
AAArgh (all the time).
Did I mention excited?
Not putting on other clothes.
Great Pumpkin had to come and hide said costumes.
So much fun, I'm loving it!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

And Sometimes, There Is a Time to Look Down

A few weeks ago, I wrote about times in your parental life when you just have to look up. Well, conversely, as a parent, there are times when you also need to look down.

Case in point, the return from our vacation in Hilton Head. the drive went relatively smoothly. That is, until we got about an hour from home. It is at that point that the skies opened up and let loose such a volatile rain that I was scared to speak lest I brake Jonathan's concentration on the road.

Of course, this didn't stop MRA from speaking (ASA had FINALLY fallen asleep, I think). MRA jibber jabbered on and on peppering me with questions about rain. Finally, I told him that because the rain was so heavy, we needed to be quite so that Daddy could concentrate on driving. To which he asked, "Why does he have to concentrate on driving?"
The rest of the conversation went something like this:

Me: "Because the rain is making the roads slippery and its very hard to see and we don't want to have an accident."

MRA: "No, Mama. That's not right. Tell me again."

Me: "MRA, I just told you the rain is making the road wet and when its wet its slippery. The rain is also making it hard to see. We have to be quite so Daddy can drive."

MRA (Beginning to melt down): "No Mama, that's not it. You tell me! YOU TELL ME NOW!"

ME: "I don't know what to tell you. Ask Daddy, if you want."

MRA: "No Mama. Now I'm mad at YOU!"

Daddy: "Bud, Mama just told you the rain makes it hard to drive. Its wet and slippery and the car could slide off the road. We need to be quiet so that I can concentrate."

MRA: "That's not right eider DADDY! Now I'm mad at boat of you!"

The only think we could do was look at each other. And with our lips quivering up into a smile, we both broke out laughing. To which MRA yelled, "STOP LAUGHING AT ME!"

And that my friends, is precisely when it is time to look down. Shoulders shaking with our silent laughter and all.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday on Thursday

The Benefits of Planking

Last weekend, I took both Notorious and Chubalicious to the gym with me. I have been so diligent about my workouts lately in preparation for the Life's A Beach Triathlon I signed up for (don't be too impressed, its an easy one and billed as the Triathlon For Slackards.)The boys have mostly been good in the play room there but I know, we would all rather be some where else.

Prior to heading out, MRA asked when he could start exercising. To which I responded by saying that he could begin exercising anytime he wanted and I offered to show him a few moves. He readily agreed. We did not have a ton of time nor do we have a ton of space so I quickly dropped to the floor and showed him how to plank. He did well. I explained he had to keep his belly and knees off the floor so in reality, it looked like something somewhere between a plank and Downward Dog (for my Yoga following friends).

I explained that this particular exercise would make his belly strong, and his back, and his arms and legs, too. He liked that idea.

We went on to the gym and all proceeded as typical.

Until later.

While running errands throughout the weekend, I noticed that prior to opening a door to go into a store, MRA would drop to the ground and plank. He did this at Target and Old Navy. At Dairy Queen, he must have forgotten because he got outside on that filthy exit ramp, stained with grease and gum and God-knows-what-else and planked. The whole time I am fussing away to, "Get up!" Sanitize your hands". "It's dirty down there." "People need to get by." He even did this going into Saks Fifth Avenue at which point I tried to explain that we don't plank going into stores, we only plank at the gym. All my fussing went in one ear and out the other.

The next day I went to his school to pick him and Chubalicious up... and low and behold, walking out the door (with a stream of other parents and children behind us), MRA stops at the door and drops into plank position (really more like Cobra Pose.)

He holds it long enough for me to scold him and say, "MRA, WHAT? ARE? YOU? DOING? Why do you keep doing that right here?"

He looked up at me with his huge grey eyes and an even bigger smile and said, "Mama, I'm getting strong so I can open the door for you!"

Plank away, MRA. Plank often and plank well. You bring the most unexpected moments of joy into my life!

Wordless Wednesday

Worth Looking Up For

No one tells you that you likely won't remember your child's first step. I thought I would. Both times. And in reality, I don't remember either.

I do remember thinking that MRA would probably start walking while I was in Spain and my parents were watching him. And I think, think, he started walking right after I returned. I am sure I talked about in the letters I write to him. But his first step. The actual first step. I don't remember.

ASA, same thing.

Its funny the things you do remember, though. Or at least what I remember. The most vivid images I have of both MRA and ASA are sometimes doing the most regular things. Sometimes, it is merely their reaction to something that is what creates the strongest memory for me.

We just returned from a week long vacation in which the pool was a VERY important part of the trip and provided hours of entertainment, as it does for most children.

Now if you have been following this blog for a while, you are probably aware that MRA has been taking some form of swimming lesson since he was about 18 months old. The pool is not such a new thing for him. (ASA has had the same lessons, although he is not as fond of the water as MRA is.)

But, back to the Notorious MRA. His most recent swim teach introduced us to this thing called a swim jogger. It is apparently they only floatation device recommended by the Red Cross. You see, the swimmer must still engage their core and can use their arms and legs to practice their strokes, as opposed to the float-y wing things that go on your arms that keep a child afloat at the shoulder level.

We bought one from the teacher and brought it with us.

Back story: Jonathan and I decided we would alternate going to the gym in the mornings. This meant whoever was not at the gym, getting fit in peace and quiet, had both Notorious and Chubalicious in the pool... ALONE.

One of us, and I am not saying who, chose to put the swim jogger on MRA. He fought it at first. However, with in minutes, he realized he could swim. And swim some more. And then when he was a little tired, he could doggie paddle around instead of hanging off me. It was a break through moment for both if us.

I'm telling you, harps were playing and the Angels were literally singing in praise. This meant I only had to hold one baby in the pool.

MRA figured out, very quickly, how to maneuver. HE. WAS. A. SHARK. Within the hour, HE WAS UNSTOPPABLE. And he was having the time of his life.

Enter Daddy.

Jonathan comes strolling into the pool area post work out, spots our things and proceeds to take his shirt off. The three of us are about halfway across the pool.

I'm not sure I will ever forget what happened next.

MRA begins beaming... and screaming, "DADDY LOOK AT ME!, LOOK AT ME DADDY, DADDY LOOK!!!! DADDY LOOK!" And as most of us parents so frequently do, he continued with what he was doing, being so used to hearing "LOOK AT ME!". (I should add here, that if the situation was reversed, I would likely have done the same thing.)

MRA was frantically swimming towards the pool edge closest to Jonathan. I took off after him. I just kept thinking, "Look up. Please look up." I was willing my husband to look up to no avail. I thought, "Should I scream across the pool to get his attention. No, I can't do that. My voice won't carry enough for him to hear me and I will just annoy everyone within earshot."

MRA continued his yelling. Right about then, I got close enough to say, "Look at MRA. He's swimming by himself." And just as the words were coming out Jonathan looked up on his own and praised MRA. (In real time, this all went down in probably 30 seconds.)

The excitement that MRA felt to show off his newly found independence and the joy that spread across that child's face when his Daddy saw him and praised him will be forever burned into my mind.

Later, when the children had fallen asleep, Jonathan and I were talking about what happened. It was such a great reminder to stop and pay attention because that moment, was just that, a moment. We will never get it back. And it was so worth looking up for.

Happy Labor Day weekend, to all!

Wordless Wednesday

Whose Who?

One of these is Chubalicious (ASA) and the other is my husband? Guess who is who. Ok, I know, the hair is a giveaway. But if you can mentally place those curly blond locks on the photo below....

Wordless Wednesday

Shiny, Sparkley Things and A Green Ballon.

MRA is a Scorpio. I am not a big follower of astrology but I think Scorpio's tend to be a bit on the selfish side. MRA is no exception. Part of this is his age, at three and half, it's typical to be egocentric; but, part of it is him. Most definitely.

Now just because he is selfish does not mean he isn't thoughtful. I think sometimes those things can be confused, but MRA is definitely thoughtful. But the thoughtfulness is not consistent... yet. It happens in spurts.

Like this weekend.

On Sunday, while at the grocery store. The man bagging our groceries asked if MRA wanted a balloon. Well, yeah. There was no way he was turning down a balloon and immediately asked if he could have a green one. So, with the groceries bagged, we pushed our race car shaped cart over to the helium tank to wait for the prized green balloon.

The man attached the balloon to a white ribbon, tied a loop at the end and slid it onto MRA's little hand. I had prompted him to say thank you and was waiting for him to show a little graciousness. But instead, instead, MRA said, "Can I have another one, a blue one, for my brother?"

ASA was at home with Daddy. Out of sight, out of mind... or so I thought. MRA's thoughtfulness struck me hard and I felt a well of pride in him.

It didn't end there though. I had also taken MRA to the store to make a return. On the way, I may have been a little side tracked by another store. And, I may have walked in. My intention was just a quick peek but I ended up in the dressing room.

MRA spotted a display of necklaces and pulled off several of the biggest, chunkiest, most colorful and sparkly necklaces there and brought them to me insisting that I put them on. All of them. At the same time.

I did and then tried to explain to him that I was not going to buy them and asked if he would put them back. He stared down at the twinkling, sparkling faux jewels in his hand and returned all but one. Then he ran off to hide in the racks. I checked out and was about to leave when he came bouncing out and said, "Mama, what about this one?"

I tried to explain that I had already paid and since he was busy playing he missed his opportunity to pay for the necklace. This discussion went on for several minutes and he became more and more upset. I could sense the melt down coming. Choosing my battles, I returned to the checkout counter with MRA still clutching the necklace and asked the sales lady the price. It was on clearance and came to a total of $8.48. So we bought it.

MRA was so very proud and carried it in the little bag out of the store. But first he explained to me and the sales lady (and the sales lady in the next store). That the necklace was for me. To wear when I have been good. To wear to work. And when I did, my boss would think I'm pretty.

Oh, the sweetness (and thoughtfulness). Never mind that he has no clue whether my boss is a man or a woman or whether my boss would care about my necklace. He just wanted me to be pretty.

To MRA, I say good thinking, little MRA. Sparkly shiny things, especially jewelry, often make us feel pretty. But so do kindness and thoughtfulness and showing that you care about others. Please remember that when you are in your twenties.

And I don't mind the necklace one bit!

Wordless Wednesday

Its Wendesday - time for a car story.

I know today is supposed to be wordless, but lately, everyday has been wordless and for the most part photo-less. There has been quite a lot going on over the last few weeks. I would venture to say that things have finally settled but... I have learned not to jinx myself that way.

The biggest news is that after seven long years we were forced to make the decision to send Poca (aka my lil' Civic) to the great big auction house where ever it may be. After having the old girl in the shop four times in 10 days (not to mention more than $2,000 later) and without a solid answer on the issue, we decided to trade her in. The frustration of Poca's problems were confounded after the third visit to the shop when we piled into our truck to pick up the supposedly now fixed vehicle only to find that the brakes were completely out in that vehicle. I am very thankful, however, that we discovered this in our neighborhood and not on the Interstate. So, another call to the tow truck, another visit to another shop, and another $1,000 later we found ourselves test driving Toyotas.

I am now the proud new owner of a Camry. Quite honestly its the nicest car I have driven (as my primary vehicle) since I bought my first new car in 1994. The boys love that it has four doors (and quite frankly so do I - car seats and two door cars are a royal pain in the...).

We have always had names for our cars. Maybe not the most creative names but names none the less. There has been The Tank (the Blazer), the Little Red Bird (the Integra), Fred (the Altima), Poca (the Civic), and the Beast (the Maxima).

So after a few days, we asked the Notorious MRA what he thought we ought to name the new car. He thought for a mere few seconds and said "Cupcake!". He also told us that the lady who tells us where to go inside the car's name should be Sprinkles.

So there ya go, my primary vehicles since 1994 have been The Tank, Poca, and now Cupcake. How can a car that feels so right, sound so wrong?

Woedless Wendesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

The Notorious Putt Putter

If you want to play putt putt, you need to play with this Notorious little dude.

This was his first time on the greens and while he did not quite master the game, he certainly mastered the art of direction. MRA was excellant at directing the order of play at each hole. But my favorite thing about playing putt putt with him is this: after my first putt, no matter where my ball ended up, MRA would find it and say, "No Mama, don't hit it yet. I'll get it closer for you," and then he would move my ball to within an inch or two of the hole and say, "Ok, now you can hit it into the hole."

Now I could get used to playing like that!

Happy Monday!

The Dichotomy of Motherhood

I think the following video illustrates it best. You see, as I was videoing, I was thinking;

Aaaaaaw, isn't he cute. I need to get this singing on video before he stops singing in public and I can't remember what he sounded like. Chubalicious is pure sugar. I love him.

and at the EXACT same time, I was also thinking;

PLEASE! Sit the ^&*% down and eat your dinner. I am OUTSIDE! IN FLORIDA! IN JUNE! I. AM. MELTING! I just felt sweat trickle down the back of my knee. THE BACK OF MY KNEE. JUST effing eat so we can go inside. GAAAAAAHHHHHH.

This may also just mean that I need meds.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Emeril, Bobby, Wolfgagng,Thomas Keller - is this how it starts?

About six weeks ago, the kid's school decided to upgrade their kitchen toys and offered the old ones to any parents who could haul it away. Luckily I was one of the first to respond and so I scored a very nice wooden kitchen. You remember what I am talking about, right? It has a little sink and two faux burners and some knobs and some shelves. A faux little kitchen.

So I get it home and realize that, although we have some wooden faux food, we don't have much and we don't have any toy utensils or pots or kitchen stuff. I thought for a few minutes about going to buy some but decided that it would induce creativity if they didn't have these things and had to really pretend.

What it actually did was induce them to play elsewhere.

Sooooo, I started looking, just barely, when I was at various stores for kitchen-y things. By this I mean, if I remembered as I was in Target, I would keep an eye out. But I NEVER saw any kitchen toys. After a while I started to think it really odd.

Then, two weeks ago, I went down the toy aisle with all the dolls because I was trying to short cut to another department and there, there with all the dolls was kitchen stuff. Kitchen sets even! Whole boxed sets of pots and pans and spatulas and egg beaters and cookie cutters. These were right next to the sets of hair curlers and most of it was PINK!

Now, I grew up in house where my Dad did most of the cooking, and so many famous chefs are men, and all kids play in the kitchen center so it never occurred to me that kitchen toys had a gender bias. I wonder, if Wolfgang, Emeril, Thomas Keller, Bobby Flay and John Besh all started with a little pink sauce pan?

Wordless Wednesday