Misunderstood

I excitedly told my four year old tonight that if he can stay up until midnight tomorrow we will toast to the New Year and watch the ball drop together. He is now thrilled that I will be making him toast with extra butter tomorrow at midnight. Might have just created an odd new tradition for our odd little family.

The Best Deals

I love a bargain. I can squeeze a nickel out of two pennies, I am that frugal. And I stumbled upon a couple of really good sales this week. Nothing makes me happier than buying something I really love for 80% off. Look at me...spending more money after Christmas. I am such a good consumer. Heh.

Anyhow, we have survived the holidays once again. Lucas was thrilled with all of his gifts and he kept exclaiming over and over and over "I must have been the best boy this year to get all of these gifts!" And he's right. He's been pretty darn good. Every gift he received from "Santa" that wasn't something he specifically wished for confused him, however. And he kept asking me time and time again, "How did Santa know I wanted this so bad when I didn't even wish for it?! Did you wish for this for me?" Not knowing what to say, I just agreed with him, so he told me that I'm the best mom he's ever had. He's made of mighty cute stuff, that one.

Merry Christmas!

I have achieved a level of procrastination this year normally reserved for professionals. In true slacker mommy fashion, I left everything for tonight. Some of the shopping happened today before we went to the movies and all of the wrapping...every last stitch...occurred after Lucas went to bed. Or maybe I should say after he fell asleep since he put himself to bed at 7pm, but didn't actually fall asleep until 9pm because he was just so excited! But it's before midnight, and I'm done, so my reward is a yummy bowl of Ben and Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream and Sex and the City reruns on TBS...mmmmm.

(Didn't even bother to wrap this one...too cumbersome. Or maybe I'm just lazy.)

I Need to Buy a Video Camera

I was standing at the sink yesterday and I heard my son singing at the top of his lungs, which is not at all uncommon since vocally he only has one setting on the old volume control: full blast.

All the single ladies, all the single ladies! All the single ladies, all the single ladies!

I rounded the corner from the kitchen to the living room and got an eyeful...there was my son, stripped down to his little boxer briefs, iPod shuffle clipped to the waistband of his unders, rocking out to Beyonce.

If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it!

It's possible that image might be burned into my brain for the rest of all eternity. I certainly hope so.

Possibly the Funniest Thing I've Ever Read:

Possibly because I am in the EXACT same boat right now...

Best Day Ever

(Photos taken with a cell phone may appear blurrier ((totally a word)) than they actually are.)

Luke's 15 year old Uncle Ben (my little brother) pulled out just a wee tiny bit of his massive Lego collection this week for Lucas to only gaze upon play with gently, and according to Lucas, it was his Best Day Ever. Nothing is as surreal as gazing into your own boy's future simply by seeing your brother's very recent past sprawled out across your mother's carpet.

Magical

I went to Walmart this evening with my son, against my better judgement but wanting to make peanut butter balls, and as I suspected, it was packed. Navigating weary shoppers leaning heavily on their carts, hearing tired children crying in every isle. It was not the funnest trip.

My mom had made the most delicious baklava in the world and she gave us an entire tray that we snacked on on the way, and Lucas, all hopped up on sugar and honey, could only speak in his MOST LOUDEST VOICE EVER! It was like he had a bullhorn attached to his mouth. Deafening.

We gathered up everything on my list, except all of the things I needed that they didn't have, and headed for the car. As I was unloading the cart my Mom said to me, "Quick, look!" I turned around in time to see my son, light up by the street lamps, with his face turned to the silent sky watching the snow swirl down around him. It made me stop everything, the peacefulness of it after the chaos of the store. He caught us watching and gave a big smile. "I thought I was about to fly," he said, "It was like magic." Oh! I hugged him so hard he told me I was "squishin' his belly." What an excellent way to end my night.