Taking flight

I really enjoy the azalea plants in our front yard.  They are really resilient little flora.  I love the way they keep their leaves all year long and are so expressive.  When it is dry they wilt slightly, when it is nice and they are well watered they are plump and lovely, when it is biter cold outside they curl up as if to ward off the elements.

On one particularly cold morning I pointed the curled up leaves to PJ.  She said, “They look just like dragon flies.”

And at that moment I realized, yet again, how differently adults see the world.  I simply saw leaves in their varying shapes, PJ made it come to life.  I just love that about kids!

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!”

It’s hard to go back

Today I overheard a woman say to her friend:

So I asked Jack what he wanted for breakfast this morning and he said, I want a big’ol bowl of I DON’T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL!

Laying still

During the past couple weeks the kids have been home there has been a lot of outside play time.  This play time has consisted of time trudging through the snow, time sledding, and time making and throwing large snow balls. 

Every so often I’ll catch one of them just laying there, arms out, legs out, face up, looking at the sky.  Just being still.  Laying perfectly still.

I remember those moments in childhood, those moments of stillness.  They were always fleeting but so vivid.  There was always something to see, the leaves in the trees that actually made noise if you were still enough to listen, the clouds that made pictures in the sky if you didn’t avert your eyes, the tiniest of snow flakes that would kiss your nose if you waited long enough.

And then, just as quick as they came, they were gone. And in my case, the stillness was usually destroyed by my brother pelting me in the head with a snow ball.

Happy New Year!

May you find happiness in the simple things this year.

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.

Winter White

Winter White

Originally uploaded by sellke

Perfect timing!

Where the hell’s your Mama?

I called Jen this afternoon just to chat and her 5 year old son answered the phone, here is how the conversation went:

Me: Hi Mattymagoo, is your mom there?

Matty:  She is, but but but I can’t get her.  I’m in a time out.

Me:  Can you get your sister to bring the phone to her?

Matty:  Sure…LAAUUUURRRREEEENNNNNN, here take this.

Me:  Hi Lauren.

Laruen:  Hi.

Me:  Can you get your mommy for me?

Lauren:  I can’t, I’m on the potty going poop.

Me:  Ok Lauren, just start yelling that you need a wipe, I bet that will get her.

Lauren:  Ok…MOM I NEED A WIPE, MOM I’M POOPING AND MOOOOOOOMMMMM  I NEED A WIPE.

Me:  (now laughing uncontrollably)  Lauren, just keep yelling.

Etched Ivory

Yesterday KP and I went on a walk.  I was trying to find something, something I remembered from many years ago.  I wanted to know if it was still there. 

The third week of August, 1988 Adam and I took an easy strolling hike through the woods. 

It would be the last time we would see each other until Thanksgiving.  We were heading off to start our freshman year in college.  Adam was the lucky one to leave town first.

We were saying good bye.  Neither of us knew what was in store.  All we knew was that it would be amazing and life changing and Lord knows what else.  We’d hoped we could make it.

I remember packing up his going away gift.  It was a little kid’s pencil box.  Inside the box was a (big boy) pen with his name on it, stationary with stamped envelopes pre-addressed to me, and the rest was filled in with root beer barrels and butterscotch candies.  

As we walked we came upon this bridge.  We dangled our feet over the side, talked, cried and kissed.  And right before we left Adam took his key and etched a heart into the wood and in the heart wrote MT + AS.

Adam left that afternoon.  I spent the rest of the afternoon and night sobbing into my pillow not knowing what the future held.

KP and I went back yesterday to see if our heart was still there.  It wasn’t, but so many others were.  And as I looked at the planks of wood that had been replaced and the other names that there the memories came flooding back. 

So many years ago, so young, so innocent, so fragile…so lucky.  We are so lucky to have each other and so many wonderful and crazy and absolutely amazing memories already.  Thank you for those and for all those that are yet to come.

I love you Adam.

Happy 14th!

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.