The Big Day

There seemed to be just a moment of hesitation in him on this big day of change and new experience. Otherwise, he was excited and curious and ready to dive in at school. He wanted us to stay, of course, and hang out; but, he was more than fine when we said we couldn't.

It was me that lost it just a little bit as he hugged me and kissed my cheek.

Sunday

We had a busy day, this last day before a new school starts. A play date, professional pics done, and a few over tired tantrums. How is it that kids can go from deliriously happy to a puddle of tears in 60 seconds?

A highlight of the day had to be when E completed his first homework assignment - decorate a paper house and be prepared to describe your home during Monday's Show and Share.

E's house is full of garages, windows, his red night-light and one of our three dogs. He doesn't seem to live there. Nor do I or T.

Ditch Day

E's not even in Kindergarten yet, but today he had his first ditch day. It was to be his last day of daycare before starting Pre-K on Monday and I kept him out for a family day. He and I ventured downtown for breakfast at Matt's Big Breakfast, a quaint and oh so tiny restaurant that makes you feel like you aren't just one of millions, but one in a million. A place where they would remember you and know your name if you had the luxury of time and proximity to be a regular. It's just simple food prepared really well.

After breakfast, we swung back by the house to pick up T and take E to his first-ever water park experience. He LOVED it. I had my camera for a few shots, but had to put it away and enjoy the slides myself. He surprised us both after riding a few of the slides with the protection of a raft and one of us, with his request to brave the body slide (read: no raft, no parent to hold onto) by himself. I was thrilled he was willing to do it.

I watched my baby step into the pool of water and hoist himself up and look to the lifeguard for the go-ahead. He pushed off and it was me saying in my head, "WAIT! I am not ready for this! What if he flies off the slide? What if something HORRIBLE happens?"

And then I saw him bonk his head on the side of the slide at the first turn and then the water whisked him out of sight.

"Oh my God!" I thought to myself. "He's got a concussion and will drown in the wave pool!"

Let's not forget the wave pool is probably 15 feet long and 10 feet wide and there's a lifeguard in the middle of it. But I was crazed right now and all I could do was take my turn and get to the bottom of this thing as soon as possible.

I lay myself down, crossing my arms over my chest and free fell (or slid, I guess) down this monster slide. For a moment, I forgot my fear and just felt suspended, both quiet and chaotic, and yet completely relaxed. Then 8 one-hundredths of a second later the slide took it's last turn into a straight-away and I swear, I started sliding 300 mph. I crashed into the pool and struggled to pull myself up, catch my breath and make sure my bathing suit was still covering all the important parts.

It was then that I looked up and saw his gap-toothed grin and heard, "Let's go again Mommy!"

Them Boots Was Made for Wearing

It's not raining. It's not winter. In fact, it's hovered close to 110 degrees this week. Yet, E insisted on wearing his new Lightening McQueen galoshes from Gramma Kathy to school two days this week. All day, both days.

Sweet and Spicy

Transitions

In a couple of weeks we are starting a new chapter. E is going to Pre-Kindergarten. Seeing that he's been at the same daycare since he was 12 weeks old, this is kind of a big deal. We've been doing all the right things in talking it up to him, taking him to the school to check it out, driving by it every day as I drive out of my way to take him to daycare and chatting up all the new possibilities, friends, teachers and experiences. The pre-K will be where he meets the friends he will spend his elementary, middle, and possibly even some high school years with. It's a change that brings - for all of us - a lot of excitement.

It's also bittersweet.

At daycare, he met some of his very first friends. Friends he's been with for four years. It was in daycare that he started learning the social graces of sharing and not knocking your friend over because they took your Lego even though you wrote on their arm after you pulled their hair. It's where he started learning respect for others and how to paper mache a planet. It's where he became fully potty trained (and all the money we've paid for daycare makes that worth it!) and learned to take turns and that it's not okay to moon your friends or show everyone your penis while standing on top of the jungle gym.

It's also where I met other moms, who like me are working to balance (or juggle is more like it) a career and family, and could commiserate over the totally over-abundance of the words 'fart', 'poop' and 'booger' in our young boys' vocabulary. One of these mothers and her son, who became one of these first friends for E delighted me today with a very wonderful note - a walk down memory lane - of our two boys and their friendship over the past four years. It's been a whirlwind for them, for us too, I was reminded. The time goes by so very fast. While I can't recapture four years here in a few paragraphs or a few pictures, it can't hurt to try. Eand D have had a friendship full of laughter, birthday cakes, zoo encounters, train adventures, pool parties, park outings, and tears and hurt feelings and back to laughter. A friendship that undoubtedly has had positive impacts for both of them.

Nectar Sweet

Today we underwent Emerson's bazillionth swallow study down at the Children's hospital. Actually, this was probably his 7th study and his last one was so long ago that he certainly wasn't saying poopy-farted-head and laughing said potty-mouthed head off every time he says it. Amazing where nine months will take you in a toddler's life. Nonetheless, we were there at the hospital to test him after 9 months of challenging him with thickened liquids in the hopes of making it one step closer to removing his G-tube and one step closer to drinking normalcy. His last two studies yielded no change so the past several months of testing him with slimy thickened Kool-Aid and juice and milk and the like had T and I intrigued by the potential outcome or, dare we dream, improvement.

Well, it pays to dream.

Emerson improved an entire level, meaning we can now serve him liquids thickened to the consistency of nectar (previously it was the thicker honey variety). This means there's just one more level to pass before he can tolerate plain old liquids in their au naturel state. He also showed improvement when they tested him drinking milk without thickener -- it's just not totally safe for him to drink yet as he almost aspirated it into his airway.

After four years, we finally feel like this kid might actually outgrow this thing.

A Summer Sunday

Happy Fourth!

Top Chef

I guess my once-in-a-blue-moon cooking stint inspired Emerson. He helped me prepare dinner tonight and did an outstanding job. If Bravo is still airing Top Chef in 16 years, here's your winner.

My Stint as a Gourmet

We had some friends over this weekend - their first time to our place. Our kiddos swam and I decided to show up like a grown up and prepare a nice meal. No ordering out or taking them out. I would cook.

I had spotted some good looking recipes in the new Cooking Light that seemed easy, even for the meal prepping challenged like me. Not only were they easy, the were dee-lish. The kiddos were happy and the adults were happy. Here's what I served:

Sirloin Sliders with Shallot-Dijon dressing:



Grilled Peaches and Proscuitto over Arugla with Goat Cheese and a Honey Basalmic Reduction Drizzle:



The pics above are from the Cooking Light Web site, but I have witnesses who can confirm I made these and that they were divine. I can confirm it was easy cheesy. I also served some roasted red potatoes and all were a hit.

I may have to give this cooking thing a try...

Jump Into Summer

This Never Happens

But it happened to me.

I am on my lunch hour today, running into a store to see if I can find a swimsuit for my upcoming annual gal pal trip to Mexico. I figure if I confine the swimsuit shopping experience to a limited timeframe (under one hour) the pain will be shorter and the whole process can go from start to finish in a blur.

I walk into the store, admittedly not paying attention because I am annoyingly talking on my cell phone and trying to put my shades in their hard, protective case before tossing them in my bag. I hear, out in the periphery...

"Miss?, Miss? MISS!"

"WHAT?" I say startled at the angry tone I assume a sales clerk is directing toward me.

"Take this. I bet you can use it." Her lips scowl as she shoves a mangled piece of paper into my hand. She then storms out of the store.

It's a coupon. For the store I am entering. And it's 40% off a single item. Hmmmmm. I hang up the phone and dart for the swimsuit rack.

Only one looks moderately appealing off the rack, so I find my size and take it.

Miraculously, it looks good on even in the horribly lit dressing room. Hey that's good enough for me. I look at the price tag and it's $90. NINETY FREAKING DOLLARS.

I grab the coupon and start deciphering the fine print. Surely, the suit won't be covered. It will fall under one of the caveat categories as a special edition item. So, I walk up to the register and ask.

"I don't know if it's covered under the coupon," The so-pregnant-she's-about-to-burst sales clerk says.

"The suits are already discounted right now, so it probably won't take, but we can see."

I figure that's good protecting-herself language.

So, the initial ring up knocks $26.00 off the price which accounts for the discount the suits are currently under. I then hand her the coupon and as the red light glows over the coupon's bar code, she smiles. Another $25.00 comes off. Reducing the swimsuit by $51.00!! NO WAY!

Way.

I said to the clerk, "What's even more crazy, is I walked into the store 35 minutes ago without that coupon. Some lady shoved it in my face, forcing me to take it!"

"Oh yeah," said the girl. "She was pretty pissed off that we wouldn't discount the capris over here. But you know, they are a red star item and the coupon clearly excludes red star items."

When does the coupon ever include the items you are wanting to buy?

Today.

Today, it includeded them.

The New New Thing

It's little. You have to wait in line for 30 minutes in a small chic shop that's West facing (and we were waiting at 4 p.m. with the hot sun glaring down - God help them all in August) and you will pay $3.25 a piece. What are they you ask? Cupcakes.

That's right. Flour, sugar, eggs and butter and an oven and some buzz. They are all over the news now - Sprinkles Cupcake shop has done so well in the 90210 ZIP Code that they have come to try their luck just across from Fashion Square Mall.

I will tell you they are cute as a... cupcake. And moist. And tasty. And probably worth the experience once. But only once. Our girlfriend Betty (Crocker) can make up a pretty mean one too, for a lot less money and hassle.

But they are cute...see?

First Official Swim

We've been warm-tubbing in our hot tub the last few weekends; it's fun for us and Emerson sleeps like a dream for the night. But today, the boys officially took to the big pool in our first swim of the season and it's not even June!

Furbabies

Our doggies don't get much Web time or exposure, but they have been with us since just about the beginning. Sophie was our first Boxer, through rescue and as it turns out, she rescued us. We had just suffered a fire at our apartment building and were scheduled to pick her up the first weekend we were displaced and living with rental furniture. We debated calling the rescue group and saying we couldn't take her, but something told us we had to bring this girl some stability, despite being in transition ourselves. A few months later, we got Sidney through a coworker who's dog had just had a litter. At 12 weeks, she and Sophie bonded and they were like mom and daughter.

Sammy was unplanned. He was up for adoption at a local shelter and actually went to another family in the shelter's adoption lottery. But T stayed around after the adoption only to learn that the recipients other dog was not taking well to Sammy and that the owner said Sammy would be outside all day. T jumped in, offering a more loving environment and the guy gladly gave Sammy up.

Sophie's loyal to the end and the family protector. Sidney is the silly girl who likes to play like a puppy even though her 12-year old legs are starting to wimp out on her. And Sammy is the social king, buddy boy, at your heels and in your business 24/7. They have been wonderful dogs, welcoming friends and family and our very own two-legged child with wags and licks. I guess I am feeling nostalgic as they have entered their senior years. We aren't sure how much more time we have with them, but are sure enjoying the time we have.

Mother's Day

This year Emerson was really crafty, making ceramic plates for his Gramma Kathy (pictured) and Gramma Lynn (in OK). He had a lot of fun making a mess with his friend Lauren who made plates for her Grammas too.

I made out pretty good too with some designer shades and my first-ever toaster oven.

Driving Home Today

"I can snap Mommy!"

"You can?" I ask.

"Yes!"

"When did you learn to do that?"

"Well, I am all growed up. I ate all my good foods."

Bubble Boy

Silly School Daze

This week Emerson had dress up days at school all week. I remembered to capture the two best on film:

Crazy Hair Day:


Sports Day:


Although I actually like the vintage-y look I did for this one in photoshop better...