Maaaaassssson!

Is this sweet, or simply a sweaty handful of my geraniums? Grrrr.


When I screamed, "Mason those are my flowers!"

He cooed, "Oh, I love flowers." And then sniffed them.

Mrs. Green Jeans

Today Coop stopped me to ask, "Mommy are you going golfing today?"

"Sadly, no. Why do you ask?"

"Because you's pants match the green grass."

Oh of course. I'll remember that.

This from the same kid who -- on a day when I hadn't showered in three days and was wearing a ball cap, wife-beater tank top, and work out pants -- said, "Mom, you look really good."

He was serious. When I thanked him he said, "You know, because you's wearing all black. I like black."


PS -- I don't actually beat wives. Except upon request and on the 6th hole.

Alluring

I've mentioned before how Mason fell in love with the bait. Wanted to show off a few more pictures of his love affair with the creepy-crawlies. (Thanks to Scats for buying him such a wonderful toy.)





PS -- I also wanted to mention the mere fact that Mason is in this life jacket is miraculous. It is the result of an hour long negotiation. But once he had it on, he enjoyed his water activities. Sometimes the first step is the hardest, but worth the struggle.

Oh, I Get It

You know that agitated, prancing-dancing, wiggly jig that children (and some adults) do when they need to use a bathroom? Well I'd been watching Coop do that for about an hour during our flight when I finally couldn't take it anymore and asked him if he needed to use the restroom. He declined three times before he realized HE just couldn't take it anymore. So, he looked at me and said, "So what do we do, tell the pilot?"

He thought the pilot had to land the plane to let him use the facilities and was actually desperate enough to consider this a real and reasonable possibility. It IS all about him.

What Do You Do In The Summertime?

I dream of tiled bathrooms, fresh paint, and sewing projects. Yes, sad to admit but the entire time I was on vacation I was thinking about work. More specifically, my rest and relaxation made for perfect quietude in which to mull over the many projects left undone, not yet started, and screaming for attention. If you're wondering why I get obsessed with projects right around The Fourth (such a funny way to refer to a holiday), join the club. And that would be the "My wife is crazy" club. But I've always been that way, want proof?Visit 2007's entry.

The synopsis of my vacation goes something like this.

While I was envisioning what could be done with the upstairs bathroom I...

boarded a plane headed to Indiana and listened to Mason hum Raiders March the entire way. As soon as we settled into our seat belts we realized our entire row had broken T.V.s -- so we busted out the coloring books before tears set in.

When I started brooding over where to transplant the much-too-big sage bush up front I...

watched as Cooper struck up a friendship/hero worship with a new friend. I have to say, this little 10-year-old was a very gracious host and shared all his toys with my son. All of them. So darling, so sweet, so kind. I can only hope my children will act this way when they are 10.

As I chawed on ideas for new items for my etsy shop I...

attended to a much needed kiss on my little Mason's rosy cheeks. Boy he's cute. But grrr... he completely regressed on the toilet training front. Completely. Which forced me to go to Wal-Mart during our trip. Where I found white wine in the baby items aisle. Only in Indy, or Wal-Mart.

Because I couldn't stop thinking over my plans for Mason's birthday party I...

examined his intensity. He colored and colored and colored. Be it Indy or home, that boy needs a crayon in hand. Perhaps he should have an art party?!?!?!?

Of course my thoughts turned to the loads of laundry I would have when I got home so I...

enjoyed the fact that none of us did any laundry at all. Especially the jokers in the hammock. Was funny to see Cooper do a 360 flip in this thing, not once, but twice. I'm such a good mom.


For only a fleeting moment I deliberated the upcoming deadlines for sports registrations and concluded I don't know what we should enroll in, but ...

swimming was, is and always will be on the agenda. Cooper loved his nervously exhilarating ride in the tube.

I tried to tell myself I wasn't sweating over the messy rooms back home as I...

purchased another set of LEGOs. It had to be done. All I'm saying is sans LEGOs, my boys go through withdrawals.

Drapery rod choices hung heavy in my thoughts as I...

watched Cooper cast a fishing rod and catch three fish. Or the same fish three times. Not sure about those little fish. I also extracted my first fish hook, while grasping onto that quickly expiring fishy. Blech. I predict more of that in my future and I have mixed feelings.

As I tried to arouse ambition in myself to return to a regime of gym time (on account of Italian Beef, Elephant Ears, and Funnel Cakes) I...

laughed my butt off watching Mason fall in love with these be-moths (or big fat grubs). He was advised not to name bait.

Inspiration for new projects and longer lists crept up on me at every turn and so did...

the end of our trip. It seemed it was coming to an end from the moment we set out. Time really does zip along when you're having fun. Well, except for that little part when Mason took a hiatus from toilet training and pooped on a dinning room chair. That was agonizing. But other than that, we enjoyed ourselves immensely.

Bye Indiana, until next time. Which, I might add will be here -- we want to return the unending hospitality.

We're Home

Essentially Nonessential

I just completed a marathon session of packing for an upcoming Independence Day holiday. There's nothing like packing for holiday to point out to you your faults.

1. I'm NOT organized.
2. My house is a wreck.
3. I hoard. (Not like, call Oprah I live next to a hoarder, but like I like my stuff.)

So here's what I've concluded. There are a few essential non essentials that we'll be taking with us. I'm may regret these items, but then again....

The Potette
This is a collapsible, portable, potty chair with disposable liners that catch the... well, you get it. A must have for germ-a-phobe moms and kids who are in the midst of toilet training.

6 Leapster games
Even though my children tend to only play the Batman and the Star Wars games, I think I should take all of them -- including two new ones. Because, you just never know (please see afore mentioned note on hoarding).

Goldfish and Trail Mix
This is in the carry-on for the plane. The flight is quite short, surely my kids can go without carbs for a few hours. But, I'm packing it.

12 Golf Balls
First of all, let me just say that technically I'm not supposed to be golfing. Next let me just say that the last time I went golfing I didn't loose any balls and I actually found two. But oh I fear not having enough -- six for him, and six for me.

There you have it... the essential, non-essentials. Now for the non-negotiable essentials that take up a lot of room.

The Nebulizer
I was hoping that Cooper would be able to live without it for the week. He hasn't had a respiratory event in at least two months. But at our most recent appointment we (his specialist and me) decided that he wasn't ready. It's the right choice, but it's still a pain in the neck. (Wouldn't you know it the morning after his appointment, he started having trouble.)

Something like 28 pairs of underpants (which aren't really pairs, but you know what I mean)
I don't think I really need to explain this one. But let me just remind you that Cooper is a 4-year-old boy and Mason is new to underpants in general. Enough said.

Alllllllll right then. If you haven't caught on, we're going on vacation. I'll update the blog, but probably without pictures. I will post pictures on Facebook.