The Good, The Bad

Apparently the my questioning abilities are doing down hill, or the non-verbal teenage grunting has set in a little prematurely.

THE GOOD: Ah nothing.
THE BAD: I don't know.

"It was just a normal day, mom"

The Good, The Bad

THE GOOD: We got to go out to recess today and the playground had monkey bars that if you fell down there was this thing that would lift you up, and I made it all the way across but I had to use the lifter once. 

THE BAD: There was no prize for the 5 Star Awards I got, you have to be in second grade to get a prize.  (What kind of ridiculous rule is that........give my kid Stars and the hope of a bigger prize when he gets 5, then say just kidding you don't get a prize, you are not old enough.)

The Good, The Bad

THE GOOD: "I got my 5th Super STAR award today"
THE BAD: "There was this boy that got sent to the Principal's office"

Aint She a Beaut?

Katherine made Brooks the most beautiful quilt when he was born, and I never wanted to use it cause it was just too beautiful for spit up.  So, she's finally found a permanent home.....it totally makes the room come alive.  And I can finally say that the room is done!  Thank you Katherine, we LOVE IT!

And Little Man thanks you too!

The Good, The Bad

And hopefully not the Ugly.  I'm going to try my darndest to ask Chance daily one good thing and one bad from his day at school.  We'll capture it here.......and you can find a new link to them all in the left hand column.

Best thing about school is.....riding the REAL school bus 

THE GOOD: I made 2 new friends today.
THE BAD: It was raining at recess so we couldn't go outside.

UH-HUH

The human brain is a piece of work, more like a masterpiece.  And it's amazing to watch it in action, somehow REPEATING things is a needed instinct to brain development.  Like, drop your special bear out of your bed, and watch mommy come back in the room 5 thousand times to pick it up off the floor here.  I think there's a case of the kettle calling the pot black here, cause you'd think I'd learn as well.  Today after the umpteen time of getting that damn bear so the never-sleeping child would fall asleep, I found him standing, leaning his chin against the bed rail, arm over it and pointing at Special Bear while the kid was half asleep. 

So after the one short sleepy time of the day, little man wants some of my yogurt.  He's standing in front of me as I am sitting on the floor watching the super high quality show The Bachelor Pad......good thing Brooks isn't old enough to comprehend the trash unfolding before him (and I'll also throw in there that Ryan probably will be jealous that I finished this week's episode without him).......Brooks is standing over me begging for yogurt.  At some level I felt like I was telling a dog to get out of my face.  DOWN BOY.  After each bite it was this satisfied UH-HUH.  UH-HUH.  Over and over. 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Chance and I were talking about him riding the bus home.  I mentioned to him that I remember riding the bus home, and my mom being there after school.  He said,

"You must have had a REALLY GOOD mom, cause it was Mimi"

Off to First Grade

Today was the big start of school.  I never understood what all the hoolala was about when I'd get asked the question.........did you cry when you dropped him off on the first day?  In Zurich I never had these emotions, probably cause the school was much smaller and intimate and I felt like my kiddo was in just the right place.  We chose the school and so there was some level confidence and buy in that a paying customer has.  Here, the school chooses you and it was so much bigger.  I didn't cry at drop off this morning, but I have to say I had a small lump in my throat as Brooks and I drove out of the parking lot.  My kid that seems so big at home just turned into a tiny little toddler for a moment as I said my goodbyes.  I left and threw him to the wolves.  I had to remind myself he's repeating 1st so that he's back on par age-wise with his peers.  His teacher seems great, and yes, I am somewhat confident that they will help him find the bus this afternoon.  He did seem so comfortable this morning when I left him, I am so proud of him for tackling things with an open mind and eagerness.

Well, back at home, I am over it now.  I don't have to argue over MY computer and there's a nice peace and quiet I haven't experienced since April of this year.  I am going to enjoy my new found freedom.  Brooks won't know what to do without his constant entertainment around but we'll make do.  I think some routines will help us get back in to the swing of things and I am eager for baseball to start.

Should be a good year! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN

Last Friday morning Ryan lay half awake in bed thinking to himself bitterly, "why on earth has she not wished me happy birthday yet.........today IS my birthday".  Some moments later still without birthday acknowledgements I think the birthday boy came to and realized that his birthday was actually NEXT Friday.  Wives never forget important dates you know.  Husbands apparently have a hard time keeping their own straight.

So a week later the REAL day came.  Chance was so distressed that morning, "Mom, WHY do they MAKE adults go to work on their birthdays?"  We spent the day wrapping gifts and blowing up balloons.  I think Chance called Ryan 500 times on his commute home, asking for the traffic play by play to see just when he'd walk in the door.  Of course, never trust a 6 year old with your secrets.  On the last call, Ryan said he was just around the corner and before hanging up the phone, Chance yells out "QUICK MOM, get your balloons and let's hide behind the couch"!  So we had a low key Friday evening full of birthday wishes and present unwrapping.

We held off having cake until the family party on Sunday.  Here's the birthday boy getting ready for the festivities next to the balloon sculpture Chance made him.  My favorite part was the old man socks he threw on just for good measure.

So the whole fam came over Sunday afternoon to have some cake and celebrate a little.  Happy Birthday, honey, I'm so glad your finally almost as old as me.

Guilt Trip to My Readership

Chance and I walked to the mailbox to get the mail.  "I'll get it, mom, maybe there'll be something in there for me!!" 

There was nothing in there for him.  Shoulders drooped, long face hung as he disappointingly went inside.

"Ever since we moved to Texas no one writes me letters anymore".

Any takers???