"We Own Halloween"

It was another fabulous Halloween trek through the neighborhood.


Aunt Celine had the most impressive makeup of the night, this one will go down in history right along with her leopard face.


We had the pleasure of the Goldstein Newmans join us for the festivities--a tradition I hope continues.


Halloween has quickly become my favorite holiday. Not only are the skeletons and pirates out in the crisp night, but also this very special kid who becomes a typical, carefree, happy six year old.


There's also running and being the leader of the pack. I'm so pleased for him to experience that side of himself.


The running is the best.



He may disagree.

Hmmm...

When asked what surprised him most about humanity, the Dalai Lama said:

“Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.
And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

Quotes of the Day

On putting his toy box back together:
"I'm better at electronic things and building things than you, because I'm a man and I've been practicing my whole life."

On parenting:
"Just say it once, then ignore, ignore, ignore, finally I might do what you said."

More on parenting:
"You scream at me and don't even treat me with care." Ouch

On the movie "A Dolphin Tale":
"I emailed them and told them their movie changed my life."


First Day ~ First Grade ~ Sept 6, 2011

Gone Fishin'

"Mom, Mom, we're going fishing!"

"Great, are you and Daddy going to have a father and son day fishing on the lake?"

"No, you get to go too, and you and me will share a fishing pole, and we're getting a motor boat! Are you willing to cook the fish for dinner?"

"Sure, no problem," I said, scheming my way to the fish market. No worries, quick, easy, no problem.

Shaun, was not happy, such schemes are not in his repertoire and I'm sure he finds me derelict in my parenting duties by even considering such things. There was sighing and eyes were rolling. He was in favor of the catch and release program, while Nate was planning a full on fish fry. I quietly questioned whether this was all really a necessary conversation because wasn't it highly unlikely any fish would be in our custody anyway? More eye rolling. My lackadaisical way of going about certain things annoys him; I think because he figures he'll have to pay the price for it later. So not true, well usually not, but who's counting anyway?

The closest thing either of us has come to cleaning a fish was the hack job that Grayson and he committed against a trout with a dull ax on the shore of Mammoth Lake a decade ago. It didn't end well, and we didn't have fish for dinner that night.

I decided to give it one last shot with Nate in an attempt to appease Shaun. "So Nate, we're trying to figure out a plan with the fish we might catch. We have a couple of choices. We could catch them and then release them so they can live the rest of their lives swimming happily in the lake, (I almost made a fish mommy and daddy reference, but restrained myself) or we can catch them and do our best to clean and cook them, but I've never done it before so it may not go too well."

No hesitation from the little fisherman whatsoever, "We'll kill them and eat them for dinner." Period, end of story. I liked his decisiveness and while I wasn't surprised, it still seemed slightly out of character since he likes to discuss things at length and also tends to be quite sensitive. Just this past spring we harvested the compost from our worm bin and the task was made even more tedious by Nate's need to console each and every worm he came in contact with. Thankfully, Scooby Doo is always on the ready to save me from a difficult situation.

We gathered our supplies and made our way to the lake. We decided to take Cooper too, so I was given a reprieve from the full on fishing experience.


And so they were off.


And we were off too, it was nearly noon and hot.


The lake was beautiful as ever.


We chose a new path and made our way around.


We found the boys on the other side--fishless, thank goodness I wouldn't be learning to gut a fish on this particular day.


Finally, we found some shade.

Another first done and gone.

Financier

Sentimental kid that he is, the first three teeth he lost are in a tiny jar next to the wine glasses in a cupboard. I should clarify, by his own choice, he wanted to save the teeth rather than give them up to the tooth fairy. It's not all sentiment though, there was some mistrust that said tooth fairy might just take his teeth and give him nothing in return.

This time, he had big plans and went for the cash. You see, at school the kids have the opportunity to open a bank account with Mission Federal with no fees and no minimum deposit requirements. Nate already has a bank account, but recently decided that he needs another one, you know--a business account for his lemonade and ice cream stands. He figured the Tooth Fairy would be as good a venture capitalist as any.

He carefully placed the tiny tooth in an envelope and made his request, politely even, and with perfect spelling.


my fourth tooth
Dear tooth fairy, please Give 5 Dollars to me please, nate

He checked that envelope under his pillow at least a kajillion times, telling me during book time how nervous he was that the tooth would break through the envelope and get lost, rendering him toothless and penniless. We wondered what the tooth fairy looked like, the extent of her magical abilities, if she could defend herself against Shelby, Tesla, and Cooper; and if she was actually powered by teeth.

At precisely 3:30am we got the news bulletin--bedside--that the tooth fairy did in fact come and she gave him exactly what he asked for.

"Next time, I'm asking for five thoooooouuuuuuuusand dollars!"

Hello Bright Eyes

Harper Rey ~ July 5, 2011

One Sunday Afternoon

We were fighting the new school year cold, but it was just too beautiful a day to stay inside. Neither of us had energy for much so we decided to head down to Target--I had intentions of adding something fun to our excursion but decided to measure both of our moods for what turned out to be a very short amount of time, before sharing that thought.

We drove south and a black laquered corvette rumbled passed us. I asked Nate if he liked it.

"Yeah, but do you want to know what my favorite car is?"

I half expected him to say a Ford Fairlane, or some other of his dad's favorites, but no...it's "a taxi cab".

"Huh? Really?"

Of course, he's a practical child and named such a vehicle as his favorite because we need taxi cabs, you see, "for when people make bad choices and need to get home". While I wondered who had been talking to him about drinking and driving, he clarified the bad choices to be bad parking choices. Such as the one I apparently made when I chose to park in front of someone's second driveway that has a huge locked gate across it and a humongous covered RV right on the other side. That gate hasn't been opened once in the last five years, plus I was only going to be there for five minutes, officer...

Whatever, I needed a diversion, and fast. Instead of exiting to buy a coffee pot at Target, we headed downtown. Seaport Village to be exact, where I found a proper and legal parking spot. I'm sure the merry-go-round would have been great, but this afternoon, I was pulling out the big guns. He jumped up and down the entire way. Given his propensity to explain things to me, pure six year old excitement is a real treat.


We were in luck, we twirled through the front revolving door a time or ten and entered the elevator for our first ride at 3:12pm. The Top of the Hyatt opens at 3:00pm. Also lucky that on Sunday afternoon the hotel was relatively empty, I truly don't think we disturbed anyone with our shenanigans. But then, I'm the scofflaw in the family.


The doors opened on the 40th floor and we exited to views of San Diego in all her glory. He ran ahead calling, "Mom, Mom, hurry, LOOK!"


"They have phones!! Let's call Daddy!!"


After a thorough tour of the hotel including each elevator car, several escalators, and the rotating front door; we took a quick stroll through Seaport Village for some jelly bellies and cheap sunglasses, then our mission was complete.

Karate Kid

Of all the activities he's tried, this is the one he's been most excited about.

Zen Master or Thief?

La Famille


Le Chien


Le fils qui veut apprendre au fil chaud une voiture


"Mom, you have to believe and trust that you can catch the lizard, otherwise you never will."

Run, Faster!

Yesterday, I had the sweet pleasure of some quiet time. Quiet time around here often involves Scooby Doo, so the sweetness is not guilt free--but not this time. This time, Nate decided to make good use out of the reams of scratch paper he acquired when Grandpa cleaned out his office. What does one do with a ream of paper, several glue sticks, scissors, ribbon, straws and miscellaneous other scrap and construction paper? One builds a kite, of course.

I declined his offers to let me help with the design and construction of the kite. I simply disallowed the use of super glue, and promptly left him to his devices.

An hour or so later, he emerged with what he said was a dinosaur kite complete with cutout spots and a lovely red ribbon. Shaun had concerns about how to handle the impending request to now fly the kite down at the bay. We decided to encourage a test run in the alley. I also decided I wanted nothing to do with it given his proclivity to blame me for all sorts of circumstances I had no idea I had control over.

He was easily convinced to give it a try in the alley, but there was no escaping my participation so I braced myself for a meltdown and asked for explicit instruction on how I could assist. Another hour later we were running down the alley and the kite was "flying", a testament to speed rather than construction, but whatever, that pile of papers was flying. A few more times down the alley and papers were flying in many directions.

Happily, Nate reported that each time the kite fell apart, he would simply glue it back together...and he did.


Construction has started on the house at the end of the alley and between kite runs he decided to sneak a use of the port-a-potty on the premises...but don't tell Daddy...what a forbidden thrill!


The next morning I was up with the puppy playing fetch in the backyard when Nate woke and joined us, holding himself. I asked, did he need to use the bathroom and he said, "Yes, but first I have to get my shoes on", (to go down the alley to the port-a-potty).

I wonder how that's going to work with the middle of the night trips to the loo.

"Believe Me"

I can't believe I had never been.


We'll definitely be back.


When we left Nate confirmed that the $5 entrance fee was worth it, "I will be happy to pay next time Mom, it's beautiful there."


Such a sweet kid, so willing to share his allowance. Too bad, on the way into the park he suggested that we "trick" the attendant and say we lived in the neighborhood so we wouldn't have to pay. There's a whole lotta "trickery" going on in these parts lately.

Saturday Morning Art

Losing your tv privilege for a week isn't all bad!


There was art, a much awaited trip to the bank to procure an ATM card, the library, PetCo and Fiesta Island. I'm a real disciplinarian. Maybe next time he loses his TV privilege, I'll take him to Disneyland too, that'll teach him!

Kinder Jog-a-Thon

Today I am grateful for the Jog-a-Thon at school, Nate's enthusiasm for it, his teacher and Shaun who made time to cheer him on when my schedule went haywire. There was some of this:


I'm guessing a fair amount of this:


And then,


with an orange slice and a goal met, it was over.