What a weekend…

Friday:

Ears

Birthday dinner out with jewels from Erika.

Saturday:
First Communion #1

The Spring Sheering

First Communion #2

Sunday:

Half Marathon

PJ’s 6th Birthday Party

And then…and then I slept really well.  Only to be woken up by PJ’s new hamster in the middle of the night running and running and running on it’s little squeaky wheel FOR HOURS.

The story of the hamster to come later.

Sibling love

Every week CT and his classmates have a handful of Independent Work that the teacher gives out to fill some time. In this packet of papers there is always a Top Ten List.

This weeks list was, The Top 10 List: Things that make you feel mad.

CT wrote:

1. PJ

2. PJ sleeping

3. PJ playing

4. PJ looking

5. PJ playing her radeo

The teacher’s response, in red pen…REALLY?

First Kiss

I’m not one to like “goodie bags” from birthday parties. So instead of handing out a ton of candy or a bunch of plastic crap I decided to get one large (oh about the size of an adult females fist) Jaw Breaker for the small handful of boys CT had to his birthday party.

After his friends had gone home and the house was quiet, I found CT hanging out with his jaw breaker in the basement. He broke the wonderful silence by yelling out, “Hey mom!”

Me: What?

CT: I’m making out with my jaw breaker.

Me: You’re whaaaaat?

CT: I’m making out with my jaw breaker.

Me: What does that mean?

CT: Uummmm, I don’t know…something about love?????

Making Lunch

Yesterday at the breakfast table I posed this question to the kids: “How old do you think you should be to make your own lunch?”

Hands went flying into the air with reckless abandon.

Me: Ok CT, what do you think?

CT: I think you should be seven.

Me: PJ, what do you think?

PJ: I think you should be five.

Me: I think you’re both right. Do you both want to start making your own lunches from here on out?

PJ: Yes, yes, can I start today?

CT: Me too, I want to start today.

Me thinking…what the hell just happened here?  That was way too easy!

First inkling of things to come

At some point in time your kid’s friends have more influence over your kid than you do as a parent.  I am officially here to document that today is the day for CT.

We are not a boxer wearing family.  We’ve got nothing against boxers.  We just choose briefs, even the little ones (not little in size or width in the back end, little as in for the little kids, for those of you who need clarification).

About a month ago, CT came home from school and asked if the next time I bought him underwear if it could be boxers.  I nodded a dismissing yes and then went on with the line of questioning that follows when one said child or household for that matter doesn’t even own or wear boxers.  How, who, where, are you really going to disturb the force Luke?  BUT YOUR FATHER? 

His best friend…his best friend wears boxers, that is the answer.  And now he wants to too.

And today, donning his first pair of Hanna Andersson boxer briefs, he looked at me with a smile on his face as he strode across the kitchen floor and said, “Mom, I feel cool today!”

House Rule: One must read the book before you see the movie

Over the past few weeks we have been reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to CT.  It is the first really BIG BOY book he has experienced.

In the past we have read picture books, short chapter books and books that are at his level and he can read easily (the Henry and Mudge type). 

All of these books are fine by me, but none of them have taken him to another time or transported him to an amazing place or held his interest to the point were he would talk ad nauseam about what was going on with the characters and the plot line.

And now, now I have seen it.  He has gone to the other side. Over the past three weeks, CT has experienced for the first time that he indeed loves books.  I have seen the twinkle in his eye, the longing desire to have more, the wonderful ability to go somewhere else through the written word.  He has found it.

For a boy who has struggled with words and books, to see this kind of love for a story is exciting for me.  I love reading, I love books, I love the paper books are written on, I love every piece of the experience.  If I could pass that appreciation on to my kids, that would make me very happy.

So we finished the book and last night he got to watch the movie.  He says he liked the movie better.  But at least he read the book first.

Onward to book number two.

Introduced by the 7 year old

I went to CT’s school this afternoon to read stories to his class. 

His teacher (Mr. D) had me sit in the “teacher” chair and had CT stand by my side.   Mr. D asked CT to introduce me and then tell the class two things that he would know about me that they wouldn’t.

CT put one hand on my shoulder and the other hand up to his mouth with his pointer finger tapping on his lips (showing he was really thinking on this one). 

He said, “Hmmmm let’s see…her name is Mary and she is really, REALLY good at sports.  But, she is NOT good at ball sports, NONE, no ball sports AT ALL. Oh and let’s see, she’s nice.

So close to not hearing Santa’s bell

Historically in my kids young lives we have celebrated Christmas at our house, my In-Law’s house and at my parent’s house.  At each stop there seems to be gifts from Santa.

Yesterday CT asked me if I thought Santa actually went to Nana and Papa’s house too.  I looked at him, knowing the power I had in my hand to dash all belief he may still cling to and asked him what he thought.

He said, “Well, I don’t think he does.  Their gifts are always in Creative Kidstuff wrapping paper.”

Boo

Boo

Happy Halloween!

Heritage

Last night, as CT stood brushing his teeth and looking at himself in the mirror, he called me up and proceeded to tell me…

“Mom, I know I came from both sides of the family because I take a LONG time on the toilet and I can’t always remember my right from my left.”