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.

A Few Words of Wisdom From Me to You, Son.

Dear Lucas,

If there are only just the two of us living in this house and you decide to do something that might be considered "naughty" and you would prefer not to get caught, then do not leave incriminating evidence at the crime scene, all the while insisting that you were, in fact, no where near the mozzarella when a hole mysteriously got dug from it's center, as it is highly unlikely that the Star Wars action figures belong to your mother. This sort of wisdom is priceless, and should be remembered for the future. Your Welcome.

Love, Your Mother.

And the Oscar Goes To...

I'm sitting on the couch trying to get through all the unread emails in my inbox and my kid is sitting beside me building cabins with Lincoln Logs and half watching cartoons. He gets the great idea to ask me for an ice pop. Which I quickly say no to. It's almost lunch time, and one ice pop always leads to begging for just one more, just one more...

Always the bargainer, he starts right in: I'll love you and kiss you and hug you all up! But it's so special to me! It's my favorite treat! I can't resist it! (Cue panic stricken voice.) I can't resist my favorite ice pops! It's my most specialist treat in the world! (Cue tears) I have room in my belly for it! I swear! Please please please please please!

Now, I've only just gotten out of work a few hours ago, and we are already back up for the day, and I'm just about to cave in and hand him a fistful of ice pops to just make the noise stop when he gets distracted by cartoons. Ahhh...the sweet sound of silence...some days that silence is my most specialist treat in the world.

And just when I think he's been successfully sidetracked, he glances over his shoulder at me and very calmly announces that he's going to need that ice pop as soon as possible. I'm not sure any Hollywood actor could have put forth a more convincing performance. Time to dust off a space on the mantle for that Oscar.

Poor Old Stroller

The only way to shop...although I have to give props to that poor umbrella stroller. It was free with purchase a few years ago, and I'm quite positive it had no knowledge then of the great load it would someday carry...and carry, and carry, and carry...

Where Did I Find This Kid?

It's bedtime and my son is pleading pleading pleading for just one more thing. Just one more ice pop, just one bowl of ice cream, just one fruit roll up, just one more glass of milk. And of course he gets none of these things because I'm mean. And it's bedtime. And I've had enough. In a last ditch effort to get me to pay just a tiny bit more attention to him before he's finally willing to close his eyes for the night he tells me he loves me 101. One hundred and one...because 100 is the biggest number he knows, so 101 is just beyond big. So very sweet, this boy who has managed to be put in time out for rotten behavior and praised by a stranger for his impeccable manners all in the same day. And then he offered me cold hard cash to rub his feet. "I'll pay you, Mommy...I'll pay you actual money...real money to rub my feet, what do you say?" I said yes but I've yet to see the cash.

Finally!

I threw aside my slacker ways this evening and put up our tree. In true me fashion I decided I didn't have any place to put the tree without it getting in the way. So before I could get the tree up I first had to move a couch. And then another couch. And then all the toys that came tumbling out from underneath the couches when I moved them needed to be dusted off and put away. And then the carpet needed to be vacuumed, because gross! So basically, a hundred hours after I started putting up the tree we finally finished. After all that effort I might as well just leave it up until next year. It would really be so much easier.

Didn't Happen

Who wants to take a guess about whether or not I got the tree up? Oh...I might of outed myself in the title up there...yeah...it's not up. BUT TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY! And so is the day ofter that, and the day after that...I guess as long as I get it up by Christmas, all will be fine.

We did get a lot done today however, including but not limited to: Christmas shopping with the masses, dishes, laundry, dishes, wrapping, dishes and of course facebook and twitter, which I can't seem to stay away from this week. If you're on twitter and you don't mind me stalking you a little following you let me know! The WantNot updates alone could keep me busy...

There's Always Tomorrow...

I have a To Do List a mile long and absolutely no desire to get started on it. I am embarrassed to admit how late I slept in this morning while my kid ran around our home in his birthday suit scarfing down fruit-by-the-foot in record numbers. Because he's a lovely little boy who wants his mama to get her rest.

I know it's just like with exercise, in that I'll feel better after I get started, but oh! The getting started is the hard part!

But! Tomorrow is a new day...albeit with a very long list of things to do, and if I can get through a load of laundry and setting up the tree I'll be a happy camper. I have half a mind to post my phone number here so you can all call me every 5 minutes beginning at 9am and tell me to get my lazy behind off the most comfortable couch in the world. (I'm lazy, but not crazy...I'd like to get a little sleep! If you do know my number please don't call me before 9am...I'll be sleeping.) ;)

Winter Wonderland

It's snowing so hard that it's a total whiteout. First whiteout of the year. Feels much more like Christmas now. Off to start wrapping presents...

It Always SEEMS Like a Good Idea at the Time...

Cutting my punk's hair is akin to bathing an alley cat with one hand tied behind your back. There is much thrashing about and even more ear splitting wails about the unfairness of it all. However, he is in desperate need of a haircut, and he HATES HATES HATES going to the hairdresser. He's been begging me to cut it myself, and like a moron I thought, of course! I can totally cut his hair on my own, how hard can it be? His really thick, somewhat unruly, double cow lick sporting hair. Did I mention how much he hates going to the hairdresser? Heh.

I did it. I went to good old Walmart and bought a nice set of clippers (why not get the nice ones, right...I'm sure I'll be really good at this!) and brought them home to start the clippin'. My home is now covered in enough microscopic scratchy hair pieces to knit a 8x11' HAIR CARPET. Argh! Keep your fingers crossed that the haircut came out okay...I wouldn't know since he fell asleep immediately after his life-threatening trim and currently all of his hair is sticking straight up on his pillow. Yikes.

udated: Yeah...turns out I'm not real good at cutting hair. Back to the drawing board...

400

This is my 400th post. So that means I've been underwhelming tens of people for the last couple of years with stories of my kid and a good portion of you have stuck with me through all 400 entries. Thank you. I started blogging after I found this website and fell in love with 7 kids that aren't mine because they're just so darn cute. I still check her every day looking for new posts. I've discovered some awesome bloggin' ladies like her, her, her and her. Some kick ass single mamas like this one, this one, this one, this one, and definitely this one.

I don't blog all that much about myself, it's mostly just a chronicle of Lucas and our life together, so that he'll know when he's older that I tried my best. It's not easy being a solo parent but I'm working hard everyday to make sure he never feels like he's missed out on anything. That he never feels he had less than his little buddies with a mom and a dad in the picture. So, thanks for sticking with us...you'll never know how much it means to me.

And hey! If you're a regular lurker but never a commenter? Let me know you're here! I'm always curious... ;)

Misquoted

I guess it's probably no secret by now that my son watches (perhaps too much) Spongebob and a lot of zany yellow-sponge-related quotes make their way into the house, and maybe more importantly into our daily conversation. And I'm guilty of it, too. I yell BARNACLES! when I stub my toe or get a paper cut. Both of us say OH MY ACHIN' TENTACLES! when we're sore or tired. But a new quote has made it's way in and sort of got distorted over the course of a couple of days. What started out as "Oh fish paste!" somehow morphed into "Penis paste" (huh?) and then straight into just "PENIS!" Errrg.

So weren't we out shopping and the little darling was checking out Legos and just touching touching touching everything in the toy isle and big box of Star Wars Legos fell off the shelf. A lovely (albeit chatty) lady kept going on and on about which Lego set she would recommend for my child. Yeah...thanks lady, but I'm not dropping a hundred dollars on a Lego set aimed at kids 7 years old and up...three weeks before Christmas. Unless she would like to buy it for him, in which case, be my guest, any of them would be lovely, thanks! So, the box hits the floor and doesn't Lucas yell out "OH PENIS!" Let me tell you, it is a perfect way to get someone to leave you alone. That lady looked plain shocked, turned on her heel, and off she went. Now comes the hard part. Deprogramming a four year old. Someone give me a new catch phrase, quick! We need to nip this one in the bum before it sticks.

Dusting: A Full Contact Sport

I'm warming up leftovers in the kitchen and talking to my friend on the phone at the same time when I hear an ear splitting wail from the living room. I run in to see what's wrong and there's my son, sitting on the floor in his birthday suit with a feather duster in his left hand and his right pointer finger raised high. He was apparently dusting, well, who knows what, when the telescoping handle on the duster retracted and pinched his finger. I would say, considering his state of undress, that he was lucky to have only pinched his finger. It also might be the first time in the history of the world that someone injured themselves while dusting.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, we've successfully stuffed ourselves to the gills at my mom's house, and now we're back home resting up for round two at the home of a friend. We are indeed lucky and blessed. And also very full. Hope you're all having a wonderful day with family and friends! If you need us, we'll be the two sacked out on the couch in the corner...

Awwwww....He's No Dummy

Lucas and I were sitting in the car waiting to pick up my mom from work (on my way to work) (doesn't it seem like a lot of my stories start out that way?) and I handed him a toy catalog and pen and told him to have at it. Go wild. Start making Your List. And then he sent the world crashing down around me by announcing that THERE IS NO SANTA CLAUS. I'm sorry, but 4 is simply too young to be so jaded. So I started gushing about how OF COURSE there's a Santa Claus if only you BELIEVE! I begged him to tell me what he wanted for Christmas. I offered to write his letter myself, so sure was I that Santa was REAL and that he NEEDED that letter. He said all he wanted was an xBox360 but Grandma was going to get it for him. There was nothing he was willing to ask Santa for. And also? If you say your wish out loud it won't come true.

It was like being on the losers team during a major debate. Not fun.

"Okay, we won't talk about it anymore for right now", I told him, "but Santa most definitely is real but only if you believe...and also, he's not a mind reader so we should just play it safe and make a list." I faced front and pulled out a magazine and turned up the radio a little so he'd know I was done pestering him about for the time being. It was then I heard a tiny little whisper from the back. "I believe. I believe." And that, my friends, is how you melt your mother into a puddle of goo with just four little words.

"Did you just hear me say anything?" he demanded from the back seat.

"What sweetie? Were you talking to me?" I replied, all nonchalant.

"Nope...I didn't say anything...but you can help me make a list, if you want."

Help Me Out With Some Advice

I have a Nikon D40 that I LOVE and I'm in the process of looking for a new lens. I think I'm looking for a macro lens? Something that takes extreme closeups? I'm hoping one of you out there knows exactly what I'm talking about (even though I, myself, do not) or can point me in a good direction on the web for information. I can't seem to find a website that's very helpful to me. I have a two lens kit that I bought with the camera, and I love them both, but I want something that can get clooooooser.

I've had my eye on this lens...anybody have an opinion? And how compatible are Sigma lenses with Nikon cameras? Anyone have either?

Anyone out there know what I'm talking about?

Admitting it is the First Step...

Hello, my name is Anna and my son is addicted to the slot machine games on facebook.

There, we got that out of the way.

Now that we've outed ourselves, I can tell you. I just watched my kid kiss both biceps before diving into this morning's round of slot machine fun. I had to slap my hand over my mouth to keep from spraying my morning diet Pepsi straight across the room.

Same Old

I tweaked my back yesterday...again. Because apparently I'm old and decrepit and I have a completely unconditioned core. It happens to me every few months and can be brought on by any number of things like hauling the boy around or turning quickly or breathing. It stinks because I finally get a few days off and I'm couch bound and without good snacks or diet Pepsi. Grrr.

However, Lucas has been keeping me entertained by working on his Oscar nomination. He walks around the house bellowing "Just ask me, Mom! I'll do anything for you! ANYTHING!" Unfortunately all I want from him are BBQ chips and ice cold soda, but since we have neither in house and there's no way I'm going to the store, I'm sort of out of luck. By morning I should be suffering from caffeine withdrawals and it won't be pretty. Pray for me, would 'ya?
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SWEET!!! The second I posted this my friend Becky showed up on my doorstep with cheesecake. That's what you call an awesome snack...and an answered prayer! Thanks Becky! My mouth is full of strawberry cheescake as we speak type.

Just When You Think That You're Surely Smarter Than Your Four Year Old

We spent the morning playing computer games on the new laptop. I thought for sure that I'd have to buy Lucas a kid friendly mouse so that he could work his way around NickJr with ease, but no. Turns out that cute little chubby four year fingers are just exactly right for navigating the cursor pad. Is that even what's it called? That little pad you swirl your finger around on in order to move the mouse? I should ask Lucas...he probably knows.

Barnacles!!

I took the BEST pictures today of the kid playing in our first snowstorm and they came out SO GOOD. Except, I experimented shooting in RAW and now I can't get the [bleepin'] pictures to download. That is frustration at it's finest...a few of those pictures were in the running to grace this year's Christmas cards. Bah-hum-bug!

If any of you out there know what I'm doing wrong...LET ME KNOW! Otherwise...just feel bad for me. Heh.

edited:
I still haven't figured out the whole shooting in raw...but I did manage to switch a couple of my favorite pictures to a jpeg. file...yay!

Late Breaking News

Gas is now being sold for the low low price of just $2.25 a gallon. They're practically giving it away!

That is all...I couldn't keep it in...I was just that giddy.

Out of the Mouths...

So I was back at Target this week (because I'm weak in the knees for that store and the mere fact that I have to travel to another state via an overpriced ferry ride cannot keep us apart!!) Sorry, that was overly dramatic, I apologize.

Anywho.

I was shopping for a new purse while I was there because my coworkers seem to think the one I'm carrying around now is akin to a "murse" aka man-purse and should be burned. They are a tough crowd, indeed. I was browsing in the handbag section and told Lucas to sit on the floor beside me so that I could concentrate on the inventory without having to worry that he might wander off on me. He was chopping on ice cubes and more than happy to plop on the carpet and chew on his ice.

"I want to 'rake up with you, Mom."

Huh? "You want to wake up with me? You want to sleep in my bed tonight?

"No...I want to 'rake UP with you."

"I still don't get it, buddy...swallow what's in your mouth and then tell me again."

"I want to break up with you, MOM!"

"Well, I'm sorry, you can't break up with me...like or not we're together forever. I'm gonna be your Mama for the rest of all time. No breaking up aloud."

"Well, then, I want to date you 'cause I love you so much!"

That's better...still not quite right, but better. I think he's been eavesdropping on my brother's conversations with his buddies...people forget that for the most part he understands everything he hears. And his ears? They are big.

It's a Toss Up

I can either play the drums...or my flute.

Lucas is starting a rock band. A song came on the radio this afternoon on my way to work and Lucas declared it the "most perfect song for my little kids rock band". I was offered a spot in the band and he told me to pick an instrument to play.

Him: You can play whatever you want Mommy...you chose!
Me: Anything? Wow...I think I'd like to play the electric guitar.
Him: Uh, no...you can't play that...pick something else.
Me: Okay, then I'd like to play the keyboard.
Him: Uh, no...you can't play that either.
Me: Well, you just told me that I could pick anything I want...so that means I should be able to pick anything.
Him: Well, you can play the drums...or the flute.

I bet Jethro Tull would be proud that a little four year old boy in 2008 is hoping to score a flute player for his rock band...but it'd probably still be cooler to play the drums...doncha' think? And Grandma was invited to play in the rock band as well...but he charged her a dollar to join. As least I didn't have to pay, even if I end up having to play the flute.

Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Parenting...

Just when I start getting good and stressed about my kid's recent behavior issues he ups and acts like a sweet little angel boy. All opening doors for me and planting wet kisses on my hands and telling me "I love you 100 Mommy!" like a good son should.

I surely have the patience of a saint (don't most single moms?), but when I finally hit a wall, I hit it hard and the fall out is not pretty. So anyway, we're back to being fun and happy, and we'll just see how long that lasts...let's hope it lasts longer than just today though, okay?

I Call UNCLE!

This has been kind of a crappy week, behavior wise. And I mean both Lucas's behavior and also my reaction to it. I am so sick of the sassy backtalk and the disrespectful tone AND THE WHINING AND THE CRYING! I don't know what I'm doing wrong these days, I really don't. A big part of me thinks I making too big a deal out of the past couple of weeks of constant sass and all the tears about absolutely nothing, because honestly, he's usually a very chill kid and our days are easy. I am praying that the good times have not fallen by the wayside and I am praying even harder that this miserable attitude is just a phase. Someone please tell me this is just a phase.

I understand that "four" is all about exerting one's independence, and yup...we're there. Every time we go to Costco he flips out in line because I won't just hand him the money to pay and go wait by the door. Because he wants to DO IT HIMSELF! He's been removed (by me) from several stores lately for inappropriate behavior, and just yesterday barked at a store clerk to "stop following him through the store!" (I did make him apologize, but jeez, how embarrassing.)

Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill? Am I expecting too much from him? He is only four but I refuse to let him be disrespectful, no matter the age. And also? How do I make the whining stop? That has been thorn in my side from day one...

A Vote for Luke Skywalker is a Vote for Change

We went to the polls this morning, and as always, it was an adventure. And maybe also a lesson in using your indoor voice.

I may not have mentioned it here before but Lucas is OBSESSED with Star Wars right now. We were in GapKids not long ago and they had these awesome long sleeved tees that said "Darth Vader for President" on them, except that Lucas took them very literally and started getting worried that Darth Vader much actually become the next Leader of the Free World. Long talks followed about how Darth Vader shouldn't get to be president because he's EVIL and also NOT HUMAN so we should just CHOP OFF HIS HEAD and vote for Luke Skywalker instead! And he retold his theories to anyone who would listen today at the voting polls. Good times.

Once we were checked in and handed our ballots we chose the next available super secret voting box (is that what you call a grey plastic suitcase with cardboard sides?) It was pretty shaky and the long line of them would shimmy back and forth as all of us voters tried to color in the lines. Lucas, forgetting his library voice for a moment, yells out, "Boy! This thing is piece of junk!". It was probably less of a yell and more of a regular voice but in a roomful of silent and serious voters he might as well have been shouting it out on a bullhorn. Again, good times.

Hope you all had a happy and successful trip to the polls today! And remember...just because Luke Skywalker isn't offically on the ballot doesn't mean you can't enter him as a write-in.

Help Me Out

Someone made a comment to me the other day that I must have ALL KINDS of single mom friends that I hang out with. Even as I started nodding my head yes and mentally flipping through my Rolodex of good buddies I was realizing that, in fact, I have no single mom friends in real life. Not a single person that parents their child(ren) alone. None. And it surprised me. All my friends (with very few exceptions) have husbands and houses and children. How I ended up as a solo parent in a sea of partnered-off friends, I have no idea. Not that I would trade in any of them...not at all, but it would be nice to have someone around in the same boat as I am. Even if by "around" I mean someone I've never met but who's URL I stalk know...

So here's my plea...if any of you has a favorite blog on your blogroll that's written not just by a single mama but by a solo parent (mom or dad), let me know.

Thanks!

I Cannot Wait to Cast My Vote...

and this is the first election since I've been able to vote where I didn't feel like I could just skip it altogether.

“I am not a perfect man…I will not be a perfect president. But I can promise you this…I will always tell you what I think and where I stand. I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you when we disagree. And most importantly I will open the doors of governement and ask you to be involved in your own democracy again.”

-Barack Obama

It's about time.

Post Halloween

Well, we didn't actually go trick or treating last night. Lucas decided (and was very vocal about) not going "door to door". I tried to convince him to change his mind, but as usual, he won the war.

Whatever.

We had a grand old time sitting on my mother's front porch steps handing out candy to the "customers" and snacking on Steakum sandwiches. Seriously, those were GOOD sandwiches. Not going trick or treating was a bummer, because now I have no good chocolate stash to hold me over til Christmas. It's also a blessing however, because now I have no good chocolate stash before the holidays.

It'd be sweet to post a picture here...you know...of my kid in his costume. But we didn't really get that far...so you (like me) will have to pretend he was the cutest little Thomas the Tank Engine you ever did see!

There's Really No Way to Give this a Title

Well, now that Lucas has announced that he's "shy", if we make it to a single house on Halloween it'll be a miracle, and that single house might only be Grandma's, but that's okay.
*****
I get to babysit the sweetest little baby tomorrow night which will satisfy my baby cravings for the next long while. They are heaven to hold and cuddle and then heaven to return to their mamas. Not that I'm actually craving another baby. They smell so darn good but I am a woman who enjoys my sleep.
*****
I made a batch of butterscotch cream cheese pecan bars for a friend's birthday that came out so good that I'm planning on whipping up another batch tomorrow all for me mostly for me.
*****
I can't wait to see Halloween pics of all my favorite mama-blogger's cute kids...post 'em when you've got 'em, 'cause I don't know if I'll even get my kid in his.

The Backyard Has Never Looked So Good...

It's Not All Fun and Games 'Round Here.

I gladly would've traded my kid for a pack of gum yesterday. Gladly.

I got him all dressed up in his costume and drove two towns away and fought the masses at the mall to bring him trick or treating. It was supposed to be followed by a kids' costume parade, but we didn't make it that far. This child of mine that chats up strangers every where we go burst into tears at the first store. "I'm shyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!" he wailed, head in arm, leaning against the wall, working on his Oscar. "I can't dooooooooooooo it!" "I want my costume ooooooooooffff!"

Well, that was fun. No amount of convincing worked and when I hissed into his ear that he needed to pull it together or we were going home, he gladly took my hand and started pulling me to the door. "Good. I just want to be in my own home." he says. What four year old doesn't want free candy? I don't get it. He's lucky Grandma rescued him from his evil free-candy-offering mother for the afternoon...I mean, who knows what I might have offered to do next?

Brrrrr

It's only October 22nd, and it's snowing here. Hardly seems fair.

Decision '08

Nope. Not talking about the presidential election...I'm talking about my kid's Halloween costume. A decision has been made (allegedly), and it looks a little something like this:

Disclaimer: That is not my kid. And My, what big feet he has.

How We Spend the Day Without Spending Any Money:

Open the door and send the kid out to play...post mosquitoes and pre-snow. I love fall. No sun screen to apply to a whining kid. No bug spray to torment that same whining kid. No snow pants to struggle with and no boots to find. No wet mittens and no wind stung cheeks. Is there a better season in New England? I think not.

I Am.

When you teach your son, you teach your son's son. ~The Talmud

"Are you proud of me?" He asks me dozens of times every day, his face so hopeful. Are you proud of me for brushing my teeth? Are proud of me for putting my shoes away? For washing my hands? For picking up my toys? For finishing my lunch? For finishing your lunch? For peeing standing up?

And the answer, of course, of course, is always YES! For all those things and a million others.

On his best day, every request is followed by a please and a thank you. Every door is opened for me if his little four year body is strong enough to push it wide and his sweet little voice says "After YOU, Mommy". On his worst day a raised eyebrow will produce the forgotten thank you and a pause before a closed door will cause him leap forward to help push it open. I was walking into work tonight behind a man who knew I was only a footstep behind but who let every door slap back in my face...door after door after door. Was it his job to hold the door open for me? No, absolutely not, although I've been in that position hundreds of times and I've always held the door for the person behind me, be it man or woman. Wouldn't it have just been common courtesy? I certainly think so. Guys People like that are why I never waiver in teaching Lucas manners and chivalry. There seems to be so few gentleman left in this world...I'm trying my hardest to strengthen their numbers.

Weekend Update:

I've made an appointment for a trim and highlights. Very exciting stuff, I know. I'm not willing to give up the old ponytail just yet, but maybe some warm, carmel-y highlights will do the trick. I used to get a cut and color every six weeks...you know, back in my previous life when my paycheck was my own. Awww...those were the days.

I cleaned off the kitchen table and chairs this week. They've been piled high with junk for some time now, but after cleaning it all up, I served Lucas his lunch at the table instead of the coffee table (where we usually eat). His reaction when I told him lunch was ready was to sail right past the table with his food and plop down at the bare coffee table. I laughed and called him back to the kitchen. "We're eating here?! How fancy!" That is how good my parenting skills are...eating at the table requires an exclamation of surprise on my kid's part.

The Long and the Short of It...

I know I don't usually ever post pictures of myself here, but it's time to use your imagination. My hair has grown long enough to touch my shoulders but I don't ever wear it down. It's always in a ponytail from morning til night and it drives me batty to feel it on my neck. However, it's finally starting to look healthy (and after the birth of my boy, it basically all fell out) and maybe even on a good day marginally shiny, so I'm stumped. It's time for a cut or a trim. Do I chop it off at the ears and have to style it everyday, perhaps even looking like I didn't just roll out of bed and throw it in a ponytail? Or leave it long, because realistically I'll go stark raving mad not being able to pull it up?

To cut or not to cut...that is the question.

Trying it Out...

Going with a new theme for the season...like it?

If I was to pull a theme from our life to spruce up the 'ole blog? It would be Star Wars with a menacing Darth Vader face and multiple space ships I don't know the names of. We are all about the Star Wars right now. Elaborate "movies" made with a four year old narrator and two sets of chubby fingers characters racing along edges of couches and coffee tables. Old Star Wars VHS tapes watched in bed wearing Star Wars unders and pajamas. Pasta dinners on plastic Luke Skywalker plates. This is what I've been waiting for...this change from toddler to boy. It's been right around the corner for months now, but it's finally upon us, and I hope I'm ready. But since I'm already saturated with all things outer space and other worldly, I guess we'll stick with a pumpkin theme until the snow falls.

Mmmmmm...Target

My new "local" Target didn't let me down. By "local" I mean the next state over, which is still 100 miles closer than my previous "local" Target, although it is plus one ferry ride. It technically doesn't open until tomorrow, but like a chain-store junkie I gave them a call to see if they were opening earlier, and wouldn't you know it?! They were. So I loaded the family up for a road trip. And what a trip it was, easily a one hour car ride split up nicely in 20 minutes chunks: 20 minutes to the ferry, 20 minutes over, 20 minutes on the other side. Also split up nicely by the DHL delivery truck that went up in flames at the ferry dock, easily chopping 10 years off my life, but also giving me something engaging to talk to my (miserable) 15 year old brother about...so it's almost an even trade.

I got this lovely little beauty, which is now nestled in happy harmony next to my cherry red Kitchen Aid, along with some really cool graphic snow pants for the kid. We totally raided the $1 dollar section and the Halloween stuff. In the end, we ended up fitting 4 people, 3 microwaves and various (multiple) other bags in a Honda Civic and drove home. Not a bad trip (minus the terrifying near-death truck fire)!

Up for Debate

So I mentioned a while ago that I bought new running sneakers for myself and my kid, hoping that we might take up running, thereby finding an exercise we both enjoy and maybe even losing a pound or two in the process. Today we strapped on our new sneaks and headed out the door. I was the team cheerleader belting out inspirational phrases like "exercise is good for the body" and "fresh air is good for the lungs" and "we must, we must, we must decrease our booties". And he was the albatross hollering back "I don't even know what that MEANS!" and "I don't 'fink exercise IS good for my body!" We didn't burn many calories. We did manage to at least get the mail from the mail box. It was all bills.

If Only This Season Lasted for Longer Than a Minute...

Attention Leaf Peepers:

If you want to catch the New England foliage, come quickly! Lucas and I took a lovely drive on Thursday to a nearby resort town and the colors were just amazing. I did take a ton of photos that I should post, but, meh...maybe later. The very best part of our drive? Ben and Jerry's ice cream and an awesome resale shop where I picked the kid up a LL Bean squall jacket and matching snow pants for $20 bucks. I got home and tossed them right in the washer with some Tide and splash of fabric softener and now they're as good as new! Who knew you could find such a bargain in a pricey resort town?


AND...it's my dear, sweet Mom's birthday today and we made a yummy big brunch for her and her friends. Lucas spent the morning telling all who would listen that each one of her presents was his plan, that the cake was his plan, that the cards were his plan for her big day. He did actually make her cake himself (German chocolate with caramel coconut pecan frosting...YUM), save putting it in the oven and taking it out, which is a big deal for a four year old and he was proud as a peacock, as can only be expected. I got a big fat piece of that cake to bring for dinner...best dinner I've eaten all week, if you ask me.

Running Like the Wind...

...Or maybe just like a very, very mild breeze from having the window open a crack.

Lucas and I have taken up running, in the most liberal sense of the word. We both got new running sneakers, and one of us just bought a new pair of black yoga pants that I thought would be perfect for running due to their completely awesome feature of being virtually tag-less and seamless, which in reality just means there's no drawstring to hold them up if and when I manage to go faster than standing still. We only manage to make it around the block to the apartment unit's mailbox before we have to walk it out a bit, which means we are both out of shape and that I have the endurance of a four year old that's totally not on board with running just for runnings' sake.

Which is to all to say, I dream of running with the wind whipping through my hair and heart pumping, but the reality is that I don't burn enough calories to eat a popsicle by the time we're done.

I need help...any suggestions on how to make this running thing stick? I want Lucas to get some exercise, too, so I don't want to throw him in his jogger, but we need to get further than our apartment complex. My big booty is depending on your good ideas... ;-)

X Marks the Spot

We took a trip through our local farm's corn maze yesterday and it was loooooooooong. Even the smaller half of the maze was loooooooooong, so when we came upon this X drawn in the dirt I exclaimed that "X MARKS THE SPOT! We won! We finished the maze!!"

And all the little kids bought it and headed for the exit and the cider donuts. And fudge. Ummmm...fudge.

Road Trip!

Shot Gun! What? Wait a minute...I'm always the only adult on road trips...guess that guarantees me a front seat. Oh well! Good enough!

We, the boy and I, are going to visit a friend tomorrow in another state. And while we're there we'll also visit my best-buddy Target and my BFF Coldstone. For the record, it is HIGHLY unfair that I need to travel out of state to see any of them: Jenn, Target OR Coldstone. But, that's okay, it gives us a good reason to get out dodge for a day or two.

ALSO? I'm looking for ideas on a birthday gift for my mom. Throw me anything ya' got...I'm at a loss and she does SO MUCH FOR ME (and even the words SO MUCH FOR ME are an understatement...trust me.) She's not into girlie things...no spa days for her. She loves to garden but I get her a gift card to our local greenhouse for every holiday so I'd like to try for something else this time around. Any ideas? Anyone?

Awwww

I just got this lovely badge for my blog from Ms. Single Mama. My very first one! Thanks a million!

Single Parent Blogs Kick Butt

Yesterday's Post in Pictures

Oh, what a beautiful day to snap a photo or fifty.



Too bad the bottom branches of this tree were almost five feet from the ground. I could barely get near those beauties.
Oh look! Something purple! How pretty!

There's my little helper, now. That apple in his hand will be the only one he picks that day.

Still munching...

Looking down because I asked him to look up...and smile. You'll notice he's not so good at following my high-pitched commands.

He's lucky he's cute.

The ill-fated bag of apples that will soon meet their maker on my car's unforgiving floor mat. They did taste mighty delicious in that apple crisp, though.

Yummmm...Apples...

So. Wednesday I dressed us in fall colors and cute mud boots and grabbed my camera and off we headed to the apple orchard. Because apple orchards are prime real estate for picture taking, not just for picking apples. Lucas and I chose the very biggest bag and the nice little old lady at the register explained to us where to pick and why all the apples had funny looking spots on them, which honestly made me want to chose a smaller bag but it was too late...we were committed to the 1/2 bushel. Off we trucked through the orchard to the far end to find the very best apples. The little old lady was right, every apple was damaged from a hail storm early in the season. Lucas was helpful for about a millisecond, long enough only to pick an apple for himself to eat. But not with the the skin on, heaven forbid he might choke on the skin, and so I (gross) peeled off the skin with my teeth (which of course lodged the apple skin in between my teeth, even more gross). So while he gazed off into the sunshine whining about how HE WANTED TO GO HOME NOOOOW!! I very gently picked the most perfect apples from the center of each tree, hoping they would be less damaged than the ones on the outside. Once our ginormous bag was full and I had snapped a few pictures of Lucas eating his apple and swatting at gnatty-bugs, we headed back towards the farm stand to pay; me carefully balancing our precious bag of apples and my camera equipment, him complaining that the WALK WAS TOO FAAAAAR!!

Ah! But the fun doesn't end, because the nice little old lady told me we couldn't pay there, we had to drive down the road to another stand to pay, and if I were a dishonest person, I would have taken that as my cue to head straight home. But no. We schlepped over to the next farm stand to pay there, and wouldn't you know it!? They also had a TRAIN TABLE! Which means I was stuck there for another twenty minutes while Lucas flitted around a dusty broken train table that is ever so much more interesting than his own fully loaded train table at home, don't you know? We were finally back on the road again grooving to the Jonas Brothers (don't make fun...we're hooked) and we were about a block from our apartment when the garbage truck ahead of us slammed on it's brakes, which in turn made me slam on my brakes, which in turn made all those apples that I had just lovingly picked fall to the floor of my car in a sad bruised heap, which in turn made me swear.

All that is the very long version of: We went apple picking and Lucas got to play on a train table and I now have Macintosh apples growing out my ears. Pictures to follow.

If Only Every Day Could Be This Easy

• *We woke up at 9:55am. It turns out I am a much happier person in general when I've woken up at 9:55am.
  
• *Went to Walmart where my son didn't beg for anything and didn't insist on riding in/on/under their filthy carts. Got everything on my list including a valance for over the kitchen sink which I decided had to be hung before I left for work so I grabbed a chair and hung it up dressed only in my underwear which wouldn't have been a big deal if my neighbor wasn't out smoking on his back deck. Oops. And also, why wasn't he at work.


• *Went to Toys R Us because I'm the best mommy ever and realized all their Halloween costumes were out on display. We started trying them all on and Lucas decided for the billionth time what he wants to be for Halloween...drum roll please...
I think it suits him, don't you? Fortunately for me Unfortunately for him, all the registers were down at Toys R Us so we couldn't make any purchases...so he still has time to change his mind. HA!

*We drove home from Walmart with the sounds of the Jonas Brothers blasting from the car stereo. If you're rolling your eyes at me now I dare you pop over to You Tube and watch their VMA performance. They are cute as a button and wholesome as can be. The boy also ROCKED OUT on the air guitar during the entire song, which, if you haven't seen it in person, is pretty damn cute. Also? The bullet feature on blogger doesn't seem to work...guess I'll have to bullet this thing myself.

*And finally, my mom bought him a harmonica and he's been playing me a wide variety of lovely ballads on it ever since. I say wide variety because no two songs sound the same. On the way home from all our fun he put the harmonica down long enough to remind me how lucky I am to have him, and you know what? He couldn't be more right.

Take THAT, Wikipedia...

Lucas wanted my mom to "colorate" his chalk train drawing today. I'm guessing the word is a mish-mash of color and decorate, but we're going to try to start using it in a sentence...kind of like the phrase Super Gum DOER! we picked up a while ago.

In other news, (and MAN I WISH I GOT A PICTURE!) Lucas and I spend most of our Fridays at our friend Wendy's house. She has two kids about Luke's age and the three of them get along really well. Hanging out with them is the perfect way to pass a morning/afternoon. Yesterday, after the rained stopped, the boys were playing outside and we (okay...mostly Wendy...I was quite comfy on the couch) kept peering out the windows to make sure they were fine in the yard. At one point she peered out and starting laughing. There they were: Two little boys with their pants down "watering" the tree, buns to the wind. Now, her little boy is very thin and when he pulled his pants back up they shot almost to his armpits. Lucas on the other hand was trapped with his pants and unders stuck around his knees. He is built like a little root beer barrel, and the combination of his belly and the wetness of his play clothes trapped his pants halfway up. Up the driveway he came, waddling like a penguin and hollering for help. I'm wondering when he's finally going to master the Pulling Up of Your Own Pants. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it happens before he starts kindergarten, because I can absolutely see him bellowing from the school bathroom for HELP WITH HIS UNDERS!, and that will ruin his rep with the cool kids.

Halloween Countdown

Today my son would like to be this for Halloween...

That brings the costume count to 5 so far:

Gorilla

Fireman

Banana

Spiderman

Black Venom Spiderman

Each new request finds me furiously scouring Ebay for a deal, let's just be thankful I keep getting outbid in the final seconds by other mothers who have fallen into the same trap.

I will chalk this year up to a rookie mistake, and next year, I will not mention Halloween until the night before Halloween. Consider me schooled.

Wishin'

I told my son that every day this week was going to be a Grandma Day because I was working a bunch of overtime. He wanted to know what the word "overtime" meant, and I explained that my work would pay me extra extra money to show up and work on my days off.

"I'm gonna miss you when you're gone Mom [sweet, huh?]...how much money is extra extra? [That's more like it...]

"It's pretty good money, hon...and I'm working a bunch of overtime so it'll be a nice fat check!"

"Oh, yeah! Now I don't have to wish upon a star for the Lego set I wanted...you can just buy it for me! Isn't that a great idea?!"

Oh sure...I'm not dragging my butt to work for 12 nights in a row just so he can have more toys to trip over. I think it's best he keep wishing on that star, don't you? [Although we all know I'm gonna cave and buy him those very expensive Legos...]

I Went, Even Though I'm Not a Fan of Nature...'Cause it Was Free, and I AM a Fan of Free!

Lucas and I frequent our little little town's library at least a couple of times a week, and the last time we were there I overheard another mother asking about a season's pass. Maybe you know me...maybe you can figure it out just by reading, but I'm, um, cheap frugal. And I loves me a free pass to, well...anywhere. Turns out our sweet little library offers family passes to just about everywhere in the county, and so I signed us up, and today we went here:

A real working farm about 20 minutes from our apartment.
Pretty majestic, for a farm...doncha' think?
I'm not ashamed to admit that this little beast got introduced to my foot when it bit the hand of one of the kids in our party. He was a mean little rotter...but man he takes a nice picture, huh?
Of all the things to do at this place...the boys where drawn like magnets to this table...of course.
Wild turkeys running from our tractor-pulled wagon ride from the farm.

My own sweet boy, waiting for the tractor.
"Look Mom! I can hop like this! Like THIS! LIKE THIS! Look at me look at me look at me!!!" There...now you feel like you've been there with us. Tractor Sam at the helm.

The very best part of the day? Ben and Jerry's at the cheese makers shop. Made all the rest totally worth it. Heh.