Saturday, June 28, 2008

today. . .

Sam and Luke went into Greensburg to watch the Tour of Pennsylvania. A very cool experience from what I hear. We love to watch the Tour de France every year in July. . .so when he read that a smaller scale tour was coming close to home, he was very excited.

Unfortunately, Jack came down with a case of the stomach flu this morning, so he and I stayed home (to play Legos Indiana Jones on our system. . .ps2).



Lots of movement.
He and Luke waited 45 minutes to watch them come through. . .







And little Luke slept through it all (I suppose that's what happens when you stay up past midnight).



At home, Max decided to spend the afternoon at his personal beach club.



Feeling the faux Pennsylvania sun warming his yellow dog fur. . .





While I was capturing our local wildlife. . . so national geographic of me. . .





guess who. . .

Pulled a box of raisens out of the goodie drawer. . .

Open, Mama.

Want candy.

And is eating them happily (while dancing on his little tippy toes).

Maybe I should put carrots in that drawer too. . .

friday night. . .

Ever since Disney, the boys have been intrigued by the Wall E commercials. . . especially Luke. Every (well, almost every) bus we rode to and from the park had a Wall E ad picture up. He looked for it every time (and was quite indignant if he didn't see one).

So, we thought it would be a great night to take the boys to the drive in. Lukey's first time. And the first time that Jack would remember (I think the last time we went, I was pregnant with Luke. . .and got eaten alive by mosquitoes).

We loaded up the Jeep with chairs and blanets and popcorn (and a few boy cars as well), and headed to the Evergreen in Mt. Pleasant.


Good thing we headed out early, it was a full house. . . And even saw Jacob, a friend of Jack's from Kindergarten (and fellow Lego connoisseur).

The boys played with glow sticks and chased lightning bugs. . .while waiting for the darkness. . .

And had a wonderful first official drive in for the season. Everybody loved the movie (robot!). And we even stayed to watch Get Smart, the second feature. A certain somebody did not fall asleep until 12:30 (Lukey, you're such a night owl), so not all of us saw the full second feature. But we had a great time.
And looking forward to more trips this season.


Friday, June 27, 2008

dressing a toddler

is like dressing a squirrel . . .

flipping
and
flopping
and flooping

all around. A jumpy, crazy, darth-vader speaking squirrel.

And then shoes. . .

Left foot.
No right foot.
Left foot.
Last time foot.
Now right foot.
Last time foot. (giggling)

All while Max is eating my hair while I'm bent down.

Joyous adventures in motherhood.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

in the zeli dog tradition. . .

Have I told you the story of jumpskunk?

In the first few years of living in our home. . .and I was working at Holy Cross. . .our morning rituals included Sam getting up and letting the dogs out while I tried to wake up and jump in the shower.

One fall morning, I remember hearing screams from the backyard. . . Dude was in trouble for something. . . So I jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs. . . greeted by the distinct smell of skunk as I ran down the steps.

Sam greeted me with a sorrowful looking Dude. . .

He let her out the back door that morning, and watched her take off into the shadows. She jumped on top of something. . .and Sam watched as the white of the tail flipped up into the air.

Yep. . .she jumped right on the skunk's back. . .

We spent the next 30 minutes (Sam in his work clothes) bathing her. For lack of tomato juice (or anything else those old wives tell you to use), we used some old Suave shampoo we found under the sink, buried in the back.

Amazed. . .it worked! And, we both made it to work on time. . . With a story that we have laughed about for a long time. . . Never dreaming that history could repeat itself. . .

Yesterday morning, our little Maxie decided that a skunk would make a fun playmate. He didn't do the Dude jump on the back thing. . . but followed it happily through the backyard (and almost into the brush). . .all while I'm screaming Max! loud enough for the neighbors on the North side of town to hear. I could smell it's chemical aroma. . .so close my eyes were tearing. . .and yet he didn't seem to notice. I was holding a paperback book (I was hoping to do a little Photoshop reading on the porch when the little yellow guy disappeared down the hillside into the back). . . so I slammed it as hard as I could on the camper, hoping to distract him from his playmate (and so I wouldn't have to get any closer than I was).

Luckily, the second slam got his attention enough to bring him over to me. A sniff test failed me, because the whole world around me reeked. . .

So, Max got his first bath. . . With Lukey's baby shampoo (no Suave available this time). . . I think he only got it in the face, a bit. . . So I guess he hung back just enough not to drown in the stink. . .

Ah well. . . A Zeli dog tradition upheld. . . And another story to keep us laughing. . .

Friday, June 13, 2008

tonight, he sleeps. . .

[a little boy nap yesterday. . .5 pm. . .after a day full of too much little boy fun]



falling asleep (sans nap today) at 10 pm ish. . . with a Lightning McQueen in each hand. . .





and when I crept in to peek at my little elf, I found him pushed to the bottom of his bed. . . with six Lighneen Queens all lined up at the bottom of his pillow. . .





Goodnight, Queen. . .





Goodnight, Duke. . .

Thursday, June 12, 2008

the gift of a day. . .

My body clock is urging me that today is Friday. . .although the calendar insists it is still only Thursday. Anxious for vacation? Ready for a different pace of our days. . . I'm not sure. The only thing I know is that it remains Thursday, no matter how much I am convinced otherwise.


As I sat on the porch with Max (who was supposed to be going outside. . .but instead lay in the warm sand watching the world go by. . .), I happened to catch a peek at the sky. . . so deeply blue. . . Bluer than my memories hold. . .

Awe. . . Moved by the beauty and simplicity of a summer's day.

A gift of a whole day. A day more than my body thinks it has. . . A day to embrace nature's beauty. Feel the summer's breeze. Delight in the boy's laughter. . .and silliness. . .

I called Jack outside to see this blue. And we watched it together. . . so still. . . only the sounds of little blackbeard in the neighbor's tree. . . He who sang to us every morning as we waited for the school bus together. . .

And he decided to stay outside for a while. Joining Max in the warm sand. Embracing our extra day, I relented. . .and he played outside in his pj's. . .JJs we called them as he grew. . .

Luke joined us minutes later. Happy to leave his beloved Super Readers and join his brother outside in the sand. . . Our little taste of the seaside.




So, I will pack a little more. . .and clean up a bit. . .
But, mostly:
I will feel the breeze as it blows in the windows. . .listen to the birds sing as they balance the wires outside our home. . . I will pause with Max outside just a little longer. . .smelling our summer blooms. . . and greet this gift of a day. . .

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

new puppies. . .

A trip out shopping with the boys yesterday. . . for Father's Day cards and final trip details.

We stopped by Hallmark and could not resist buying a Webkinz when we saw one that looked exactly like our buddy, Max. Jack, of course (being his usual Mr. Obvious in the naming department) dubbed him Max.

Luke, after much deliberation, chose a chihuahua. . .naming him Woof.

They have gotten in all sorts of trouble together already. . .mostly of the throwing kind.

Here they are spending the morning in time out for various throwing infractions.


Sunday, June 8, 2008

family moments. . .

Another hot day. . . so, we packed up the boys and Max and headed to Ohiopyle. . .

Found our favorite picnic spot. . . And spent the day splashing in the stream . . .


throwing sticks (for Max to fetch). . . and rocks (a favorite boy passtime: kabloom!). . . finding salamanders. . .



eating hot dogs, homemade chicken nuggets, and smores. . . talking about Disney. . . and enjoying time together. . . without distractions. . .
Lovely.



The air was filled with all kinds of bugs. . .happy about the warm weather, I suppose. . . and butterflies. . . Favorite moments: this little black and blue butterfly took a fancy to Max. . . And kept landing on his back. . . Driving Max crazy. It would land, and he would turn around to try and catch it. . . The butterfly would fly away, circle back, and land on his back again. . . Too cute.




Luke had a great time counting rocks in his little blue bucket. Then dumping them out on the ground at his feet. And then throwing them one by one into the stream. [He still has quite an arm. . .and quite an aim. . .]




Jack has had a thing for giant walking sticks. . .since birth, I suppose. He found another. . . Quite solid. . . And carried it around the whole time. Which became an oar to row a boat. . . And, when swung, it could create a giant splashing circle.

Perfect moments together. . . Filling my box of memories. . . overflowing. . .

Friday, June 6, 2008

many tears were shed. . . .


during this morning's Sodor Reconstruction . . .

resulting in a hill to nowhere. . .

Thursday, June 5, 2008

day 1: summer vacation


He's delighted to have his brother home to play with. . .

We woke early to have breakfast with PapPap. . . (a little boy delight for sure). . .
And returned home to play (while Mama does dishes and laundry and pouring over Disney details). . . Trying to tackle some potty training. . .
But, the absolute best time this morning has been the little boy adventures. Back packs on. . . Running through the house chattering. . . laughing. . . having a buddy to play with.




[Hi, buddy Jack. . . he says coming down the stairs]

last day of school. . .

I cannot believe that 180 days ago we were here. . .waiting for the bus to come for the very first time. . . And how nervous I was about letting my little boy go. . . All alone into a big public school world. . . Without me. . . Without any ideas of how he would be spending those hours away. . . Who he was meeting. . . And that he would be beyond my protection and in the hands of someone that I didn't know. . .

180 mornings have gone by. . .

Little conversations. . . Observing the world around us. . . Little stories shared. . . Discussing our dreams. . . Jokes. . . Running to catch the bus. . . Missing the bus. . .

So many mornings. . .

And here we are. . . Waiting for the bus for the very last time. . .

Feeling a little nostalgic. . . And trying to grasp the idea that my little boy took Kindergarten in stride. . . And bloomed so beautifully. . . Into a boy who knows the rules of school: what's expected of him and how to behave. . . About different people he will meet during his life's journey. . . Sight words and sounding out letters and reading!. . . And addition. . . And counting by 2's and 5's and 10's. . . Delightedly counting under his breath as he plays (often to 200). . .

So very proud. . .

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

magic. . .

Mama. . . didn't you know I can do magic for Luke.

I took his tongue out

[! ! ! ? ? ?]

in my dream (ah-ha). And it was hopping all around. And I had to run and catch it. Then I put it back in.

That boy loves magic. His Dada amazes him with the magic of the finger that slides apart all the time. Love the open mouth. . .wide eyes. . .look each time. Childhood magic. And disappearing coins. Reappearing behind an ear. Love it.

Not quite with the ease of Chris Angel.

But with enough ease to mystify a five year old.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

happy morning. . .

He slept through the night! And. . .

A little face greeted me at 6:55 at the top of the steps. . . peeking out of his doorway. . .

He popped out of his door. . .

A backpack! he said, smiling. . . hopping out of his door, and closing it behind him.

He took my hand, a morning, mama. . .

And we walked down the steps. . .

It's going to be a good day.

Monday, June 2, 2008

summer garden. . .


Our garden this year. . .

full of yummy herbs: mint, basil, and oregano. . .

too many returning strawberry plants (relocated to the side of the garden. . .much to Max's delight. . .note to self: get a new fence to keep out the strawberry-happy dog. . .)

roma tomatoes. . .cucumbers. . .peppers. . .and lots of different kinds of lettuce (new to try this year). . .


Dada and Jack planting his little boy garden: tomatoes. He absolutely adores tomatoes. . . and eats them right off the plant all summer long (much like my Pap. . .story: my Great Grandma Smith would put my Pap in his high chair as a small boy. . .and give him a tomato. . .which he would happily munch away at. . .like an apple. . .as she worked away in the kitchen. . .love family stories). . .

Jack has had his own little garden every summer since he was two. . . The first year he had a marigold to care for. . . We would water it daily with his little green watering can. . . The next summer we upgraded to a tomato plant. Which he loved. . . And have planted one every year since.


This year Lukey got his own tomato plant as well. . . Not sure if he will be a fan of tomatoes or not. . . But thought he would love having his own plant to water as well.



He stood by watching Dada plant it. . . And when we asked him to pat the dirt down when he got it in, Luke happily pat patted the leaves. Kinda like petting a dog?
Looking forward to lots of garden goodies this summer. . . Home grown goodies are the best. . .


good morning, monday. . .

We may have been premature on the sleeping through the night thing. . . Back to the drawing board. . .

New Tactic #552: The morning walk. aka: Tire him out so he takes an afternoon nap.

Anyway. Luke, Max, and I had a wonderful morning walk. So tired after a long night, I didn't take the dogs out for the morning walk. Max was not pleased. I decided to combine the boys' exercise. A longish walk through town. It's so nice this morning, so it was a perfect walk.

We walked (slowly) for about 45 minutes. Stopping along the way at every stop sign (do you know how many stop signs there are in town? . . . A lot. . .). Learning about no parking signs, do not enter signs (which Luke insisted were U-turn signs. . .laughing in his silly way), and one way signs.

Yesterday we made it to the nursery for some garden plants and flowers. Spent the late afternoon clearning the side of the house for seeds (sunflowers. . .more pumpkins, since they did so well last year. . .and gourds: new this year, and very excited about them). . .planting the flowers. . .moving strawberries to their own little patch (which Max insisted on digging up. . .over and over and over. . .).

Sam planted the garden. . .and reminisced about his PupPup. . .and my Grandma Smith. . . Gardening makes us feel so much closer to these important people (avid gardeners) we miss so very much. . .

Then helped Jack and Luke plant their mini gardens. Hoping to help them grow (ahhhh!) to love fresh goodies as well.