A Note From My Son

Carter Appleseed

Over the last couple of weeks Kindergarten has been working on the theme of apples.  Every student brought in an apple, which they graphed (how many red v. yellow v. green), they stamped with apples, they tasted apples, and they learned about Johnny Appleseed.

I always love it when the kids come out at dismissal with their special hats they made in class.  Bunny resented the heck out of what she fully knew to be a humiliating hat, but Carter… well, he doesn’t love the silly hats either, but at least he doesn’t look like he might prefer to be on the Bataan Death March.

The Beast

My daughter and I love to watch Glee, and last night as we watched I kept thinking one thing: I hope Cole never wants to cross-dress. If that was his choice, then sure, we’d support him, but seeing Coach Biest… I kept thinking that was really close to how unfeminine Cole would look as an adult transgender.

He loves to clickety-clack around in my shoes, like many kids do, and it’s hysterical because it usually means singing and dancing… maybe I should call Glee and see if they need a 2.5 year old!

Summer’s End (Kinda)

So, today is the traditional end of summer, I suppose. However, we’re having mini heat waves and it only feels a little like fall at the extreme ends of the day… those ends of the day are not as early and late as we’re used to, though. Dinner time surprises me daily, it seems. We are accustomed to playing outside in the pool until well after 7:00, and I am not in the habit of thinking about making dinner until about then, too. Suddenly, BAM, we’re eating in the dark, forced to turn on artificial lights (which I hate, ugh).
There is a lot I’ll miss about summer as we grasp at its final bits. For now, I’m thinking I’ll miss coming in to find this.

Cole often decides he wants to go back inside while we’re in the pool in the first afternoon swim, often because it’s nearing his quiet time, but also sometimes because he wants to play, or because he would like a snack… having a decently well childproofed house means I can let him do that and stay out at the one place I always supervise the kids—poolside. It also means King Cole has a bit of freedom. Generally he stays in his bathing suit, but sometimes…
It always makes me laugh to walk in and see him au naturel eating at the counter, white butt and all.

My Two Sons

Sometimes I look at these stinkers and just laugh. They’re like twins separated by two years, right?

No? Well, they are nearly the same height and weight, at least. In most other ways they’re mirror opposites, which amuses me to no end.

I mean, look. In spite of an active toddler life, and an abundance of energy, Cole can only be described as burly. Ample. I remain confident that his healthy diet and all the time he spends playing outdoors, as well as systematically dismantling the house will pay off, and that he will always be a big, healthy boy, but with less baby fat. In the meantime, I mostly marvel at the differences between these two.

When Carter turns sideways, he very nearly disappears. Cole is there no matter how you turn him. He’s also determined to be involved in everything his older siblings do. He’s there, that way, too.

The big kids were jumping off the water feature into a large puddle they made in the sand area at the park yesterday. Over and over they jumped, hooting and whooping. Cole seemed busy doing his own thing…

…but eventually the little dude had to see what all the fuss was about. Ironically, he’s not nearly as brave as you might expect. In fact, he has a couple oddball phobias that I’ve never had to deal with before. He has this thing about his face being covered--or even wipe--that makes cleaning him and changing shirts particularly difficult. You’d think I’m killing the boy when I approach him with a washcloth!

So, he spent a lot of time mentally preparing for the big jump. I understand – I hate heights. :)

Ultimately he decided for the slide approach. It’s not going to win him any style points, but it works.

It works a LOT better than his hiding technique!

In fact, he may well be the world’s worst hider. :)

Not So Big, in Some Ways

My big toddler with a little voice… it’s easy to forget how young he is sometimes. He’s so tall and large, and verbally, he’s also miles ahead of where Carter was at the same age. He keeps up with his older siblings perfectly fine, too, running, whooping, and displaying glee in most situations that might intimidate some children.

However, sometimes the evidence is overwhelming: he’s a little guy.

The other day we stopped to admire the snails as they marched back from the lawn to shady areas, and I could not resist snapping a few shots.

I like a lot about this photo, but the detail I love most is Cole’s chin. All jokes about his robust appetite aside, the drool bespeaks of one thing to me. He’s still so little that, when fascinated by something, he forgets to swallow and a stream of drool makes its way on out.

Cole had a great time with this, and the three other snails slowly making their way under the bushes, touching the shell, exclaiming when its owner recoiled, and marveling at their tennas. It was but a moment, but one I am glad I caught on camera.

Splashin’ Good Fun

We’re in the midst of what looks like a multiWEEK rain here.  The best day in the forecast is Sunday, when there is only a 20% chance of rain in between big systems.

We need the rain.  We need the rain.  Better than a drought.  Better than a drought.  These are my mantras I repeat over and over, and perhaps at some point in February you will find my manuscript of that typed over and over again, putting that last nail in the coffin that was my sanity, haha…..  All rain and no sun makes Kris a batty girl….

I really should not complain (yet).  We’ve had little breaks that allow the puddles to recede, we have good foul weather gear, and an array of options to keep the little ones entertained during these long days.

However, we’re used to spending a good amount of time outside, and we already miss it.  Sometimes the rain is coming down in sheets, and even with raincoats and boots, we’re soaked just going to and from the car—and guess who gets wettest?  I’ll give you a hint: it’s the person who stands outside buckling seat belts and car seats…. ;)  I do not want to go full on Gorton’s fisherman, so my pants are pretty soaked from mid thigh to top of the boots.

I should take a note from my youngest.  He fell face first in a puddle yesterday, but he didn’t mind.  Since he was already as wet as he was going to get, I let him play in the rain for a while.

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I may have even more laundry than normal from the three full outfits he soaked through yesterday, but it’s just laundry.  Sometimes you just have to jump in puddles.

Fish Out of Water

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

This is what happens when a boy who hates getting sand on his hands falls while walking on the beach. He cracks me up.

My Tiggers

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Remorse

July 2009 019, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Sometimes you get to get ice cream from the ice cream man. Sometimes you drop it. If you're lucky, you have someone to console you.

I doubt I'll do any baking on Father's Day

Brownie Burger Cupcakes & Cookie Fries, originally uploaded by Bakerella.

Since I'll be in an unfamiliar, and probably not so well equipped kitchen -- oh, and on vacation, I don't think baking is in the cards. But, this is cute! Cupcake buns, brownie burgers, cookie 'fries'. :)

Hello, Corn Cupcakes!

"Corn" Cupcakes, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

My friend Laura gave me the book, "Hello, Cupcake" last week. It was a delightful surprise, as I'd eyed this book hard a few times, but always decided it was too silly to buy. Well, clearly I am meant to have it, as it came to me. :) There are so many amazing ideas, but this one was just aching to be made for our BBQ here yesterday.

One thing, should you decide to make these -- these take a LOT of jelly beans. More than you think, and then more than that. I think there was a pound just on the 9 I did, and I thought I'd have enough to decorate twice that many.

Oh, and I got kind of tired of chewing when eating one. There must be a good 30 jelly beans on it! (And no, I did not count, that's my sister's bag. I bet she's counting them now, hahaha!)

I forgot to show off this beauty!

Mother's Day 2009, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Bunny's school has a kiln. So a few times a year the classes make wonderful, multi-day project pieces. This year her class made this for Mother's Day. I LOVE IT. It's brightening a little bit of wall by the door out to the pool. I thought the lilies and what I *think* are lily pads went well. :)

Don't tell, but I heard a rumor we may get one final piece coming home to give as a Father's Day present...

Nap spot?

Nap spot?, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Carter fell asleep having 'quiet time' watching Max & Ruby yesterday, and appeared to wake while I was making dinner. He demanded I help him find his lost 'thing', and, upon my asking what his 'thing' looked like, he said, "I don't knoooowwwww," and whined his way down the hall. About 30 minutes later I found him here. I think he was dreaming. :)

Count Chocola as a Boy

Chocolate Vampire, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Motherly Monikers

When Bunny was one, she started to call me Mama. When Carter was one, he started to call me Mama. They still call me that, though I don’t have any ‘rules’ about it. If they want to call me Mom someday, then that’s just skippy.

This one?

He calls me Ma. Yesterday I had a vision of him as a big boy, opening the fridge, hollering, “Ma! What’s there to eat?”

Does anything need to be said?

2008-05-20 005, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

I think not.

In the Footsteps

Q: When faced with what obviously must be the shoes of a now barefoot giant, what do you do?

You try them on for size, of course!

Conversation with Carter

Yesterday as we were going to pick up Bunny from school.

Carter: Mama, next time can I drive my own little car behind you?
Me: Your toy car? I think you’d get scared on the road in that. Grown up cars are fast and noisy.
C: No! (laughs as if I am SO STUPID) I want my own tiny REAL car!
Me: Oh! I’m sorry honey, but you’re not old enough to drive a real car.
C: Please? I can do it! I can do it, mom! Please?
Me: Carter, I am sorry, but it’s against the rules. People have to be SIXTEEN years old to drive.
C: I’m three and a half! (said as if this is clearly old enough, not despairingly at all)
Me: I didn’t make this rule. The police won’t let little boys drive.
C: I’m a big boy!
Me: You’re right, you are a big boy. But you have to be older to drive.
C: You’re poo poo. Stinky poo poo diaper baby.

Can’t help it…

I was straightening Bunny’s desk this morning when I spied her ‘journal’, open to a page. Normally I just close it and put it aside while I corral her crayons, markers, and pencils, trying to sort the gum wrappers and debris from the nontrash.

But this entry from a couple of months ago is hysterical, so I had to scurry off and scan it. Sorry, Bunny!

For those not accustomed to reading phonetic spelling:

4-13-09

My brothers are borthering (bothering) me a lot. the bad news is I had to do a lot of homework. even worse my brother wacked me in the fais (face) with a snacke (snake) and it was ruber (rubber). what a dummy. Oh hel (he’ll) get it. Hel (He’ll) get a big nuckl (knuckle) sandwich! and Cole he ran into my room 10000 times. p.s. dummy!

I think I remember this day. She was in the WORST mood that afternoon. It was spring break, but she had a week’s worth of makeup work piled up, and I forced her to do some that day. Good times.