Boo 2008

For all the sweet treats my sweet treat likes to eat, you would have thought for certain he would have canvassed the neighborhood three or four times and been ticketed with a cruising violation. But as it turns out, our little Darth Vader wanted to hand it out rather than take a handout. Maybe the first sign of a generous spirit or of being in charge. He took candy distribution seriously, following the one piece per person rule and refused to pass candy over to Uncle Scott who kept trying to sneak a mini Snickers or Twix bar.

We continued to be amazed by the number of kids who failed to say trick or treat or even thank you, and by those who did.

Or the number of adults not in costume expecting candy.

Or the number of tweens dressed far to sexily for their age. A gaggle of girls as trampy versions of Minnie Mouse, Cinderella, Dorothy and Sleeping Beauty were too much.

The highlight of the night had to be when a 7 foot Elmo came up the drive (which E loved) or when Scott confused a teenage boy for a girl (and no, the boy wasn't in drag or dressed up as a female character).

We ran out of candy by 7:45, ran inside, shut off all the lights and folks continued to knock and ring the bell!

The neighborhood was still teeming with residents and folks from subdivisions afar. E changed into his supercool Halloween t-shirt courtesy of Papa Jim and Gramma Lynn and we all escaped for some tasty Mexican food at our new favorite spot - Carolinas.

Until next year...

It's only taken me a year

...to find a centerpiece for my dining room table (after having purchased it over 4 years ago). It's a long story.

Anyway, after looking for countless hours at countless sites and storefronts. I have settled on something without actually settling and that feels good.

It also feels good to have something bright and fresh looking as we go into winter. Sure, it's winter in the desert, but it's winter, nonetheless.

Another Year

I am closer to 40 than I am to 30, closer to 50 than I am to 20. The time is going by fast, but I am so fortunate to have the people I have in my life and the experiences I am having - even the more challenging ones. They make a day at the spa and a night at a new favorite restaurant with some of my favorite people all the more enjoyable. The truffle fries don't hurt either.

Peek-a-boo Pumpkin

Gramma Kathy planned a fun day of holiday crafts for her and her favorite grandson. After purchasing all the supplies and setting everything up, his truly only wanted to play peek-a-boo. Gramma, on the other hand, made some pretty cute and festive pumpkins.

Getting Buzzed

Last night, or less than one week before E will be participating in a super cool underwater photo adventure (that only happens once a year and has been booked for almost a month), he decided in complete cold blood to cut off all of his bangs.

Do boys even have bangs?

As nice as a bang-less, jacked up receding hairline could be on a 4-1/2 year old, I had to intervene and bring some semblance or attempt at a straight line to his hair line.

After sleeping on it, I decided the only thing we could do was shave all of his hair off. I also decided to document his version of an extreme makeover and my version - courtesy of a trained professional (my hairdresser was kind enough to buzz his head for free). As typical, the before pictures resemble a mug shot and the after, well, better than a mugshot.


I guess the Before version isn't THAT bad. Just reminiscent of MadTV's Stuart. And the After shows that this could be a great look for him in the summer when the temp starts heating up. Or if he wants to reprise River Phoenix's role in Stand by Me.

Sweet Sophie Girl (1995* - 2008)

Friday afternoon we had to say goodbye to a dear friend. Sophie Girl was our first pet, our first four-legged child. We didn't know her background, hence the asterisk for her birth year. She found us in 1996 right before a fire at our apartment complex would leave us displaced the night before we were to adopt her. She was a rescue dog, abandoned twice before. Her coat was ratty and her bones jutted through at odd and awkward angles. But she had a smile and a spirit in her that told us she just needed love. We brought her into our temporary housing while we sorted through smoke damaged tupperwear and clothing and started sorting out our life.

She had some definite spooks, which we think came from her prior life. She didn't like the rattle pans made when coming out of cabinets. Overhead movement - like when we would repeatedly bump into the low-hanging light fixture of our temporary apartment - freaked her out. And when we decided it was time to get a house and not go back to apartment living post-fire, she was certain she would be of the items left behind. Like she had been before.

She started to learn that she would never be left behind, she was too special, too important. She became a Daddy's girl and a Momma's girl and took to her new sister Sidney really well, her new brother Sammy a year later not so well at first and her first human sibling E (almost 8 years later) tremendously well. Sophie was patient, loyal to the end, happy, well loved and a lover herself.

We will miss you Sweet Sophie Girl.

Batter Up!

Today we took E to his first ball game. It was the Dbacks vs. LA and it was an eventful day at the old ball game:

- E asked for his food the second we sat down.
- The Dodgers scored 3 runs in the first inning, the Dbacks didn't score.
- E asked for his ice cream the second he finished his corn dog and popcorn.
- The Dbacks scored one in the 3rd inning. The Dodgers were up by 4.
- A presumably drunk fan jumped the wall and attempted to run across the outfield waving his Beat L.A. sign. He was tackled and forceably removed before making it across.
- T took E to the play area as a diversion for the kiddo who wasn't really into the game. The play area had a line wrapped around it ensuring entry after at least a half hour wait.
- Returning to the seats, I was presented with a teary toddler who was angry at his dad, "I WANTED TO WAIT IN LINE. I WANTED TO GO TO THE PLAY AREA. DADDY WOULDN'T LET ME GO!" I have never known this child to wait for anything.
- After sulking into his seat, kicking his feet and continued rants about the play area, we left the ballpark in style.
- Dodgers won, 8-1.

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.