The Week In Review

And, oh, what a week it's been! This is for you, Momo and Papa! (They are off gallivanting across the country, so they've missed out on the day-to-day.) Here's a not-so-quick recap:

Thursday, June 18th
The gallery that is featuring some of Dave's photos opened tonight. It was fun and, well, interesting. The gallery is downtown and actually getting out into some of the city night life made me feel old and out of it. I guess I am, but I think I'm happy that way. As Debbie T. put it, while we were standing in the gallery, "I think we might be a little white bread for this place." It was true, but oh well. One of Dave's pictures (in his cool, custom metal frame) was auctioned off and it went for the highest bid out of all the auctioned pieces! Yay, Dave!

Friday, June 19th
I'd promised Caleb that we'd go to a local water park ("sprayground") for him to play, but he brought a cough home from VBS last week. That put our water plans on hold, temporarily. I felt bad, though, so...this evening we broke out the Slip 'n Slide!!!

We were pretty curious to see what the boys would do. But, it was kind-of a non-event. At least for the boys, that is. Owen didn't want anything to do with it. Caleb was coaxed to go up and down it a few times, but only with me holding his hands and dragging him up and down and back and forth. Every time he did it on his own, I think he was scared to dive down onto his tummy, so he'd just try to run the entire length of the thing. Needless to say, that didn't work. So, it looked like the Slip 'n Slide was going to be a dud...until Chris, Jane and Haven drove up. By the look in her eye, you could tell that Jane wanted to give it a whirl the second she laid eyes on that slippery, yellow stretch of plastic. And she did herself proud! By the end of the evening Zach and I had both tried it too, but not with as much finesse and skill as Jane had managed. That girl can slip AND slide.

Saturday, June 20th
The boys and I helped Faerl shop for shoes for her wedding while Zach went for a day-long mountain bike ride. Zach came away from his endeavors happy and tired, but with scratches, scars and mud all over. The boys and I had a great time and we helped Faerl find a great pair of shoes. Although, as Momo can attest, Caleb's style is a little extreme. During the course of the morning, he suggested about 20 pairs of shoes that were much more along the lines of "street walker" rather than "wedding chic". What can I say? My boy's sense of style is a bit on the wild side. (More on that in a minute...)

Sunday, June 21st
Happy Father's Day! We missed you, Papa! The day was wonderful, but definitely not complete without a hug from my Daddy. I took a raincheck, so you'll have to pay up as soon as you get home.

Monday, June 22nd
Laundry...ick. Although, I think I'm on to something. I just started a new bottle of fabric softener and this time, instead of buying the cheap-o Suavitelle that has all the writing on the bottle in Spanish, I splurged the extra $2 and got a bottle of Downy. A bulk-sized, 150 load bottle of Downy, mind you. It smells SO much better! I think it may actually make doing the laundry a more pleasurable task. It's still a chore, for sure, but at least a little more enjoyable with the new softener. Now if I could only figure out how to get the laundry to march itself Fantasia-style off to its respective drawer/hanger/closet/etc, now THAT would be something! (I told Zach I was just going to build a huge bin in the middle of the house and throw all the clean laundry in there and it'd stay there until someone pulled it out to wear it. He wasn't too keen on the idea, but I swear I might just try it someday.)

Tuesday, June 23rd
Picnic with Zach @ the park during his lunch break. It was nice, as usual, to get to have time with him during the work day. We got home just in time...there was a massive thunder and rain storm right after I got the boys laid down for their afternoon naps. I'm surprised they were able to sleep, though. The thunder was so loud that it was setting off all the neighborhood car alarms!

Wednesday, June 24th
Another massive rain storm. Yay! Zach rode his bike to work in the morning and then we picked him up so we could go to church together. Good thing we did, too, because he would have been soaked in the downpour! (PS - Momo and Papa, I have no idea if it's been raining at your house.)

Thursday, June 25th
This evening we had our monthly Book Club meeting. (The Book Club that doesn't read books.) We had a picnic at a park and it was lovely. A little soggy, but not bad. Everyone had a great time. We missed you, Mom!

And, while I was at Book Club, Zach and Caleb had what has come to be known as "Guy Night". A few days prior, Zach asked Caleb what he wanted for dinner for their guy night. He said, "Sushi." Good grief. Who needs a 4-year-old that likes sushi?!? But, it turns out that maybe it wasn't meant to be. When I got home, I found out that he'd been puking his poor little guts out all evening. Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, in that his guts didn't actually come out. I'm pretty convinced, though, that they would have if they weren't so well attached. The poor little guy heaved into the middle of the night! Poor thing! He had been fine until dinner. So, we're thinking we just discovered that Caleb is allergic to shell fish!

Oh, and one more thing. Earlier I mentioned Caleb's fashion sense. Well, this is what he chose to wear today:

Yes, those are black tights under his shorts. He thinks they're running pants (like mine), so he wants to wear them. They're actually black tights that he wore for his Harvest Party costume when he was 2! The crotch is barely above his knees, but he apparently thinks the discomfort is a small price to pay in the name of being a true fashion icon!

Friday, June 26th
We finally made it to the sprayground! As I suspected would happen, neither of the boys really cared much for the water. Owen was plenty excited to watch it and yell, "Wattie, wattie!" But, he definitely didn't like getting sprayed. Caleb did okay, in that there were no accidental dousings and subsequent meltdowns. But he really didn't get all that wet. I was actually the wettest out of all three of us, and all I was trying to do was get them into the water. Good grief. The only pictures I got were during lunch time, but there were a few good ones. Oh, and I had to keep a close eye on Owen, he kept walking up to other kids' shoes, slipping his feet in and walking off! And, when he wasn't stealing shoes he was busy flirting with all the little ladies. I think he felt extra confident in his lizard trunks!


And, the grande finale...Wiggle Bootie!
This video is actually from Friday evening when we were doing Slip 'n Slide. I chose not to include it under any specific day, however, because Wiggle Bootie is more the result of an evolution of skill and excitement. I think you (Momo and Papa) had even seen it once or twice before you left. But, each time he does it the wiggle gets better and better. I think this boy lives to perform! So, without further ado, I give you Wiggle Bootie:

Puzzle

If I were a puzzle piece, I'd want to be the one that gets to snuggle right up next to you. Actually, that's the only way I'd have it. I insist. Because, you're the one for me.

If life was a puzzle (which oftentimes it is), I'd want to work it out with you. If I've learned anything over the last 9 years, it's been that life with you, whether in good times or bad, really is something to treasure. There's no one else I'd rather have by my side as we maneuver our way through the maze. (Plus your survival savvy and always-turn-right logic are sure to get us through any sticky situation. But, even if we get lost for a while, I have also learned that there's no one better to have an adventure with, than you.)

If you were a puzzle...wait a minute. You are a puzzle. Not so much in the manner of:

1.	a toy, problem, or other contrivance designed to amuse by presenting difficulties to be solved by ingenuity or patient effort.

But, sort of. You definitely amuse. You can be difficult and you have certainly required some patient effort. (And so have I.) But, look at what an incredible result has come of that patient effort, on both our parts. And, I know the best is still yet to come. I am SO excited about growing old with you. Bring on the wrinkles and gray hair, as long as you're with me and getting them, too. I look forward to the future - our future. It's so very bright. Thank you for being my shining light.

Happy Anniversary, my dear Zach. I love you!

What happens?

What happens when you gush mashed potatoes into your hair?

A super cool hair-do.

I might just try it sometime.

The Crazy Lady at the Gas Station

Okay. Everybody ready? Here we go...SNL cheerleaders style:

Who's-the-crazy-lady-at-the-gas-station? It's me! It's me!

Sorry for that. I just couldn't resist.

So, really. I came to the realization the other day that most people that see me fill my car with gas must thing I'm absolutely nuts. Why? Because I've discovered it's prime time for evoking some serious laughs from the boys.

One of Caleb's favorite games is when I stand right outside his window and whistle, staring off into the sky. He bangs his fist against the window and I jump and startle. He thinks it's hilarious. Owen's favorite is when I do the classic comedic illusion of pretending to walk down stairs until I'm out of sight. Then I pop back up and surprise them both. I'm sure I don't do the trick well, but how hard is it to please a not-quite-two-year-old? Not too hard. There's also a plethora of funny faces, growls and peek-a-boos, all of which lead to uncontrolled peals of laughter.

I think that's probably what led me to realize just how ridiculous I must look. I was in the middle of sticking out my tongue at the boys, complete with thumbs in ears and wiggling fingers, when I saw my reflection in the window. At that point, I also realized just how dark the tint is on my windows. I can see the boys, because I'm right up close. But, to the average station patron, I'm sure I look like a lunatic. I can hear it now. "Mom, why is that lady popping up and down and making faces at her car?" "I don't know Sweetie. Try not to stare. Let's go somewhere else."

Oh well. Will I stop? Heck no. Just one of those great belly laughs makes it all worth while, even if the cost is my dignity. This certainly isn't the first time it's been sacrificed in the name of motherhood, and I'm sure it won't be the last.

I'm SO Green.

Okay, maybe not that green, at least not the kind you're thinking. (Although, in my mind, it's definitely something to which we should all aspire.)

No. I'm talking green. Seriously. I've recently become aware of how sometimes favorites sneak up on a person. It almost feels like maybe they chose you, rather than the other way around. Know what I mean?

I think it started slowly. A green purse a few years back. No particular reason why, other than it was a nice size, had all the right pockets and I figured it'd go with just about everything. (You know, that fabulous match by not matching thing.) Anyways. Then it was a green phone. Then it was a green kitchen. (A little bit too green, but whatever. It's paint. It's easy to fix.) Then it was time for a new purse. Didn't really see any that I liked. They were all pink and orange and weird. I realized what it was I was looking for...something green. (And later I found it, bought it and love it!) It wasn't until today, though, that the weight of the obsession hit me, and really made me laugh. Walking into the library with my green purse, wearing my green scarf and carrying my green tote bag, I started to wonder... "Hmm. Is this too much green?" (I probably would have been wearing my green shoes, too - thank you, Faerl - if it wasn't flip flop season...got to take advantage of every second!)

And that's where the choosing ME part comes into play. If you asked me what my favorite color is, I wouldn't say green. (Not that I don't like it, I just feel like I'd be cheating on all the other fabulous colors out there if I were to specify a single one.) But for some reason that's completely unbeknownst to me, I just keep gravitating towards all things green.

I know my sister has experienced this same phenomenon. She took an objective look at the clothes in her closet one day and realized that the vast majority of her tops were all variations of the same thing...blue stripes. And even after making the discovery, she was still drawn to that very same thing every time she went shopping. Weird!

So, I'm curious. Has anyone else experienced this, or are we just the only two? If we are, it wouldn't surprise me. We're both a bit odd, but we'd love some company...please? I'd love to know if we're not alone and I'd love to know what kind of obsessions have taken you by surprise.

Do tell!

P.S. Fun fact: I just found a web site that gives the meanings of colors. It says that "...green is life. Abundant in nature, green signifies growth, renewal, health, and environment. On the flip side, green is jealousy or envy (green-eyed monster) and inexperience." Hmm. Interesting. (If I am jealous, it's probably because you have something green that I like!)

Laser Therapy, Here I Come!

You know how the truth hurts? Well, somehow children have an uncanny ability to speak the truth...mostly because they don't know that it CAN hurt.

Caleb was looking at my legs last night and he spotted a little patch of veins that were peeking through my fair skin. "Mom!" He was incredulous... "Do you have a tattoo of little purple squiggles on your leg?"

Yeow. (I really should be flattered, though. I knew they were there, so it wasn't any surprise to me. And, in actuality, I bet Caleb would LOVE to get a tattoo just like mine.) Oh well...

Where did it go?

Can someone please help me? I've lost something, and can't even imagine where it might have gone...

Where? Oh where, has the time gone?

Today is the last day of Caleb's first year in school. Okay, so it was only preschool, but still. That part doesn't worry me. The part that takes my breath away is how fast it went. If every year goes as quickly as this one did, he'll be graduating from high school before I can even turn around.

Here's a picture of my little Caleb in August, on his first day of school:

And here's my little rock star now:


Note: In case you're concerned, he doesn't normally sport blue hair and tattoos. Although, maybe you should be, because, given the opportunity, he'd jump at the chance.

His preschool put on an end of the year rock performance a few weeks ago and my guy was definitely in his element. He didn't actually sing along to any of the songs. But, you'd better believe that his leg was bouncing, keeping time, and he was strumming his inflatable guitar through the whole show. (When he wasn't turned around backwards talking to his friends, that is, or blowing kisses to his mommy from the stage.) Aagh, my Caleb. I love him.

And, if that change and growth doesn't knock your socks off, check out "Tank", as Uncle Dave ("Un Da", in Owen-speak) has taken to calling him:

A year ago he was drooly and just learning to stand.

Baby, just look at you now. He's running, playing, talking. He's got dirt smeared on his face and he wishes with all his might that he was one of the big boys already. Before I know it, he will be.