More than you wanted to know

Holy upcoming growth spurt Batman!

Malcolm and I were at the doctor yesterday for a well visit and learned that he has officially hit 5 feet tall.  So let's see, he grew 3 inches from 8 to 9, so he'll be taller than me when he's roughly 10 and a half.  Yikes.  I better get all my disciplining in now while I can still take him.

The doctor ran through a formula that gave us a height predictor (much more specific than the "double his height at 2 years old" one that I've heard before...this one used my and V's current height as part of the formula).  The result?  By age 16 he may be standing 6ft 4.5in, plus or minus 2 inches.  PLUS 2 inches?  Shit. I guess I should quit whining about buying pants now since it's not stopping anytime soon.

As I've said before, I do get a kick out of all of my guy's heights, despite my complaining.  I know V has a hard time fitting in cars and on airplanes and finding shoes to wear and all that.  But it's sure handy to be with him when we are in a crowded place.  Not to mention who else would replace the hallway lightbulbs?  Besides, personally, I think it's better to be tall than short in today's world.  Especially for a male.  So drink your milk boys, you've got some growing to do!

It was bound to happen sooner or later

I guess 9 is the age where they become all picky and judgmentally and stuff, huh?  As you may have heard, today is Malcolm's birthday.  Apparently it was not the best for him. 

Here was our day:

They woke up and went to basketball with dad as they do most Sunday's. After basketball we met Grandma and Papa for a late lunch about an hour away (half the drive for each of us). Came home from lunch around 4, Malcolm got to play the Wii for awhile. Then the neighbors came over and shared some cake and singing. After they left, he opened his presents (nothing major, a couple of books, a couple of games, two small lego sets and a Rubik's cube), then we hustled them up to bed, skipping showers as it was past our normal bedtime despite school starting again tomorrow.

How bad could it have been?  Well, for starters, it was just a normal day, according to the birthday boy.  I suppose you could say that, if normal days included getting to play in the arcade at the restaurant (I never allow that, but today I did), getting soda at lunch (I'm so mean I usually make the kids get water to drink) and being allowed to play the Wii for nearly 2 hours (I have been trying to limit computer/video/tv time).  If all that happens regularly, then yea, I guess today was just a normal day.  He pointed out that he didn't even get to choose what was for dinner.  I replied that since we ate lunch at 2:30, no one was hungry for dinner and I will make his chose meal tomorrow (note to Amy...wagon wheel pasta, are you flattered?).  Add to it that I got (gasp) the wrong birthday cake.  He didn't want a grocery store cake.  He wanted an ice cream cake. Or cupcakes. Or a home made cake.  What was I thinking?  And you know he got crappy presents.  There's already been talk of returning the Lego sets and finding something else.

Granted, I think a big part of his letdown is that he's not looking forward to school starting again tomorrow.  God knows I'm dreading the routine of getting out the door with everyone dressed, eaten, lunches made, homework done, etc.  But I admit to feeling like I let him down.  I believe birthday's should be special and I hate that I didn't make him feel special (enough) today.

Take away my tiara and plaque.  I'm definitely not going to make mother of the year this year.  My poor deprived children.  At least we got in 9 good years. 

edited to add: I forgot to mention I even used the wrong candles.  He wanted the sparkly ones that relight. I had the audacity to use other ones.  Sigh.

Happy Birthday Malcolm

 

Lincoln is working on his reading, the little lamb

Two recent stories, both true.

Malcolm was playing Wii and discovered he can play online with people all over the world.  He noticed that someone he was playing with had named their Wii character a naughty word.  So he asked me if he could say the word so he could tell it to me. I said no. Then he asked if he could spell it, I figured, sure, why not. At least then I don't have to worry about Lincoln repeating it a hundred times.  So Malcolm tells me it's spelled a-s-s.  Next thing I know, Lincoln is saying to himself "aaahh-sssss-ssss.  Ahss."  "Hey mom! That spells Ass!"

Second story, we were at Purdue earlier this week for the Purdue/Illinois basketball game.  It was a great game, despite the refs being blind, but whatever. Purdue was down by 1 point with 1.9 seconds left and a Purdue player missed a shot. He ended up getting fouled, so he had free throws to shoot, but before that was evident, I exclaimed "Son of a bitch!" and of course I was holding Lincoln on my lap, so it was pretty much shouted into his ear.  I know, I know...it's going to come back and bite me later.  Anyway, the game went into overtime (the dummy only made one free throw...don't get me started) and after a few minutes, Lincoln came to me and said something. It was so loud I couldn't hear him, so I had him repeat it.  What he was saying was this: "Hey mom!  Bitch has the ch chunk!"

That's my boy, learning how to read. I was very proud.

Santa's not the only one with a list

Granted, mine doesn't involve naughty boys and girls.  But I've made my list, checked it a bajillion times and I'm crossing things off right and left.

The list is necessitated by my having brilliantly scheduled surgery for a week before Christmas.  No time like the present (HA!) I suppose. But since I will not have use of my left hand after this Thursday, I must do everything before Thursday. And I mean everything:

• make cookie dough (made 3 double batches of HK dough. will that be enough?)
• plop cookies
• wrap gifts
• order Christmas cards
• pick up Christmas cards at Target since it's way cheaper than having Shutterfly do it
• figure out where I put the Christmas card list from last year (probably on one of my 2 dead computers)
• stuff, label and mail Christmas cards (don't go to the mailbox just yet, they're gonna be late)
• pick up a gift that the store ordered for me
• get a birthday present for a last minute birthday party this coming weekend
• Cub Scout pack meeting (I'm in charge of agenda, logistics and everything else) this past Friday
• buy groceries to make appetizer for neighbor party this weekend
• make appetizer for neighbor party this weekend
• beg and plead to find new babysitter for this weekend since original sitter bailed
• buy grab bag gift for neighbor party this weekend
• wrap grab bag gift for neighbor party this weekend
• go to neighbor party this weekend
• charge cameras for Kindergarten Christmas program and Orchestra concert both on Monday
• pick up treat to be served at Kindergarten Christmas program (was notified of this one late Sunday)
• coerce Lincoln into wearing nice clothes for his program tomorrow (I'm not above bribery)
• put together memory tray game for Malcolm class party Friday
• make snowflake cookies for Lincoln class party Friday
• take pictures of 25 5/6 year olds tomorrow so they can be put into a craft that will be completed on Friday
• finish two projects that I've been working on for Christmas presents (to be revealed later)
• procure one last gift, I know what it is, just have to make the stop
• order food stuffs for family coming over this weekend
• did I mention wrap the gifts?
• can't forget to call on Wednesday to find out my surgery time on Thursday

And of course this doesn't include day to day stuff and homework and laundry and cleaning and and and.  And now my hand is killing me, so that's it for me.  Wanna guess why I'm having surgery this Thursday?  = )

edited to add...I can't believe I forgot to include that we need to see Santa. That's also on my list. Although we were at a store today and they had a Santa so we took a fast picture, so worst case scenario that can qualify!

You must pay the rent

When we were growing up, there was this thing we used to do with a folded up napkin.  Put it above your lip as a mustache and say in a threatening voice "You must pay the rent." Then put it on top of your head and say in a girly voice "I can't pay the rent." Back to your 'stache "You must pay the rent." Back to the head "I can't pay the rent" etc etc.  Until finally you put it at your neck like a bow tie and in a dashingly handsome voice declare "I'll pay the rent."  At this point the girly voice says "My hero." and Mr. Mean says "Curses, foiled again."  I could not even begin to guess where this came from, but oh the fun we had!

Fast forward to these days and I know I've performed it for the boys once or twice. They think it's hilarious and do it themselves.  Well, tonight in the shower, I hear Lincoln going through the motions:

"You must pay the tax"
"I can't pay the tax"

"You must pay the tax"
"I can't pay the tax"

"I'll pay the tax"
"My hero"

"Darn it, I'm spoiled again"

All he wants for Christmas

Well, he really only wants the one front tooth.  And frankly, it has already been coming in behind the baby tooth.  But good news!  As of today Lincoln is down one tooth.  YAY!  He is thrilled!  And best of all, daddy had to pull it with the pliers (you may recall that this is how Malcolm's first tooth was also helped along).  No tears here though, Lincoln giggled the entire time.  Boy is he proud. We got out our special tooth pillow and he wrote a note to the Tooth Fairy asking if he could keep the tooh.

I'd post pictures, but right now I have two dead computers on my desk and am posting this from the kid's computer which isn't connected to the scanner.  Such is life.

Funny things

When Lincoln is irritated with me, he's taken to saying "What makes you so bossy today mom?"  Little does he know it's not just today.  I'm all bossy all the time.

As we got out our Christmas decorations, Lincoln declared that we needed to find our "God thing."  God thing?  What God thing?  As he helped me go through stuff, he found the Little People nativity set and joyfully declared "Here it is!" Oh, that God thing.

God made a good decision

As we were walking over to a friend's house to see if they could play in the snow, Lincoln made this statement.  I asked what he meant and he said "God made a good decision and gave us good snow today."

Excellent point kiddo.

Greetings from Vail

Somehow, I allowed myself to be talked into going to Colorado again for Thanksgiving this year.  You know, it's sort of like returning to the scene of the crime.  Yes, yes, I know it wasn't a crime, per se.  But still, it's not like I ever had any interest in going back.  I made it clear that there was no way I'd be skiing again, ever, and V was ok with that.  So last Friday we packed the car and headed west. 

Let's be perfectly clear.  I was not looking forward to this trip.  Not the 13 hour drive to CO. Not the 2 hour drive into the mountains. Not the acclimating to the elevation.  Not the potential issues that might arise when the boys learned that mommy would be all by her lonesome during the day. Nothing about this trip was interesting as far as I was concerned. 

So fast forward to today and I've decided that perhaps my skepticism was for naught.  Dare I say I'm even enjoying myself. Shhhh, don't tell V. I hate having to admit I was wrong.  Let's instead focus on how I'm making lemonade out of lemons. We're staying in a condo in East Vail Village.  We definitely didn't want to do a hotel again as it's just too hard and expensive to eat out for every single meal.  However, I was apprehensive about this place as the pictures on the website left a lot to be desired.  They gave us absolutely no information about what to expect in terms of supplies.  Would there be a fully stocked kitchen?  If the answer is yes, what exactly does that include?  We planned out all of our meals pretty well, but we weren't sure if there would be, say, a large stock pot to cook noodles for spaghetti. 

I'm here to tell you....it's fabulous.  The condo is perfect. The kitchen is so well stocked there's not one, but two can openers.  There's a blender, a coffee machine, even espresso cups (which serves us well since we brought the espresso machine).  As far as I can tell, the only thing the kitchen lacks is a pizza cutter.  It could be worse!

I have to interrupt this fascinating tale to go meet Malcolm and Vince for lunch. They are skiing together today and I can't wait to hear how Malcolm is doing following his 3 days of lessons.  More later.