This and that

The kids went back to school. Averson and Eli are thrilled. Syd is... less so. We had her anxiety pretty dialed in but the last half of the quarantine has been tougher. She's doing okay and for her at least, I'm grateful that school is only 2 hours/ 2 days a week. Eli is back to wrestling practice and next week they're back on the mat. I have mixed feelings, but they're all getting tested weekly so I think it's as safe as it can be. And with half of the house vaccinated I feel a bit more risk tolerant. 

Literally the only picture I took of Easter and you'd never know what it was. Our baskets were ON POINT this year. New swimsuits, a new pool toy (from the "pool toys for teens" list on Amazon), a paper airplane kit, a new book, and a bunch of candy. I snuck an anime action figure into Eli's basket and he played with it all afternoon :) 

I had Cesar Chavez day off and the weather was gorgeous, so we ventured to find this bridge and tree that everyone's been posting pictures of. I did not take a picture (SMH). Then we realized that one of my favorite little pubs was across said bridge and decided to stop for lunch. Which Eli had to pay for because C and I had forgotten our wallets in the car. 

Ahh! Here's the tree! But you can't tell that it's cool from this angle. Trust me. It's cool. 

We celebrated my mom's birthday by going out to an actual restaurant! It was so fun and exactly what we all needed. We even got dressed up(ish)

Birthday donuts. She'll be so mad that I posted this picture, but I love it

There are about 700 pictures of braids on my phone because I bribe the girls with tv if they'll play with my hair. Most are kind of a mess but Syd gave me a bubble braid the other night and I really like it! Also, my hair has gotten ridiculous. 

In other, quiet announcement news, I sort of got a new job and will be leaving prison work at the end of the month. It feels SUPER weird and I'll dedicate a better post to it later. In true Corey fashion I 100% tripped into it. It's totally different from what I'm doing now (back to direct patient care!) I'm excited and nervous and also having a very hard time continuing to make my heinous commute. So more on that soon! 

 

Happy Birthday Eli!

Can we just take a moment to appreciate that this tiny little person used to seem SO OLD? I had no idea

I measured Eli on the growth chart this week and realized that he’s been taller than me for almost two years. I had to special order the shoes he asked for because his feet are enormous. 12/13 nearly broke me. Now he’s super chill and funny and awesome to be around. I’ve always thought he was an adult waiting for his body to catch up and I think I was right. 

We celebrated in typical quarantine fashion. Traditional birthday donuts, his favorite dinner of tortellini, ice cream cake, and permission to stay up all night playing video games. I even bought him energy drinks since I obviously don’t need to worry about stunting his growth. 

My time left with him as a kid is feeling very real and very precious. He’s quick to remind me how long he has before he gets a job, drives, goes to college... I’d love to keep him to myself, but man, the world is going to be so lucky to have him out there

Six!

It all started with an ice cream sundae for breakfast

 

We folded and got him the DS he so desperately wanted. Totally worth it.

 

Pretty sure he always eats his birthday cake half-naked

 

Pretty sure this is the coolest kid ever.

Not pictured is our playdate where the kids got all hopped up on IceBreakers, the trip to see the Avengers, and the kid's dinner of choice, a McDonald's Happy Meal (which he didn't eat. They never eat them but beg for them nonetheless. I should just put toys in bags of broccoli.)

And then the next day, he got on a train with my dad so he could spend a week at their house. He was so jazzed. And in true kid fashion, he packed his backpack with comic books, his DS, and his SpiderMan wallet. He grabbed his PillowPet as an afterthought. He strapped his golf clubs to his back (so cute!) and navigated the train station like he owned it. He was so busy on the train that he forgot to wave to me as the train pulled out of the station. Everytime I talk to him on the phone he sounds like he's having the best time. It kills me and I love it. As a friend wrote on Facebook, "Isn't it funny how the best thing we do as parents is teach them to live without us. And by funny, I mean torturous." So, so true. As I waited for his train to leave, I realized that he doesn't need me to hold his hand or remind him to say, "Thank you" anymore. I couldn't be prouder, but sometimes, just a teeny bit, I miss when he did. 

The Graduate

He was so excited about all the songs he was going to sing, and then SO serious through the entire program. Seriously, not a single smile. 

Later he realized that the scroll was blank and was all, "WTF Mom?" I assured him that's how it was done. He got the adorable kindergarten diploma later. (Maybe they had to wait for finals grades?)

Finally a smile on his way to the cupcakes

Hot, post cupcake, and ready to go spend his graduation money and hit Jamba Juice.

Now he tells anyone that will listen that he's in First Grade. And as a first grader, he's decided that he reads chapters, cooks, and does chores (!) He's also decided that he's a bit of a daredevil, so there's been a lot of blood this week. If we survive summer, he is going to ROCK first grade.
 I just love this kid. He is turning into the coolest person. I'm so proud of him. 

Check him out!

Eli's had a bike since we lived in Oregon and a kid literally left it broken on our front lawn. He's always had training wheels on it, and much to C's (and my) disbelief, he never really cared about taking the training wheels off. Eli's a cautious kid, and he gets even more so at even the slightest hint of pressure. We finally had to stop trying to teach him because it was driving us crazy. Then he bought himself a scooter at a garage sale and took to it like a fish to water. Seriously, two days later and the kid was slaloming down hills. So we figured maybe he was just a scooter kid. Whatevs

Then two days ago, Eli goes out to the garage and sits on his bike. He thinks for a second, and then tells C that he can ride his bike. And shit you not, he did. 

Check this kid out...

Model notsomuch

These were the easiest school pictures to return, ever. The "art investment" is already paying for itself.

No work

Sydney says "I love you" and "Love you too, Mama." The other day I helped her put her baby in her stroller, and she turned around and said, " 'Ank you Mama. Very nice to help Sydney!" She dances randomly. She's OBSESSED with this show called "The Wheels on the Bus". Her two favorite places are Trader Joes and the carousel at the zoo. She wears stacks and stacks of necklaces and her brother's old hats. She runs, and then yells back "Sydney FAST!"

Eli's still all about Power Rangers, ninjas, and karate. We had our picture taken last week and Eli was sure that our photographer was the Green Ranger. He kept asking him if he liked forests. He is sweet and kind and wants to have triplets (named Silly, Billy, and Jilly. Or Sweet Love Child and Flower.) He jumps off and over everything and I currently have 12 gray hairs that are directly related to the odds that he's going to break his face open. Lately he's been asking me to tell him stories about times I've had to be rescued or been in accidents. He says it's because they're funny (and most are) but I think he likes that they're adventures. (Also, I'm sorry, Mom. Turns out I have a lot of those stories.)


This is our first Spring Break, and I was able to take the week off too. This morning both babies crawled in bed with us and Syd looked over at me and said with a smile, "Mama, no work?" C and I had a good ol' histrionic fight and then made up last night, so we're starting off on a good foot. I cannot wait to spend a week with these crazy people.

This Kid

It's not very often that I get the chance to just observe this one when he's doing his own thing. Too often there are chores to do, butts to wipe, calls to make. I get busy and it gets loud and chaotic and I miss these little moments. The other day though, I had the chance to just watch The Kid be a kid. He spent hours on the front steps, playing with his superheroes, reading comic books (OMG. How cute is that?), and even invited his sister to join him when she woke up from her nap. He's just so damn cool.

Sibling gifts

Eli and Sydney got in on homemade Christmas too. It was pretty awesome to see Eli especially put thought and effort into Syd's gift. He came up with the idea, and did most of the execution. So adorable!

Syd made Eli a t-shirt

(the tie originally said "Best Brother Ever" but the sentiment got lost in the art)

Eli asked to make Syd "a little skirt. Like a ballerina. A red one."

They both worked together on C's (idea from Pinterest). The road is on the back, so when they drive on it he gets a back rub :)

So freaking cute. I can't wait until Christmas.

Why shrinks have weird kids

Eli: Mama, are you frustrated?

Me: No, buddy, I'm okay

Eli: Mama, are you mad?

Me: No, Bud, I'm fine.

What is it about the backseat that makes kids so freaking conversant?

Eli: Mama, are sad?

Me: Nope

Eli: What are you feeling Mama?

Me: Bud, I'm fine! I'm just trying to concentrate so I can find this place.

Eli: No, Mama. That's a thought. I asked how you were feeling.

My husband and hundreds of clients are right, that is obnoxious.

I think he liked it

This is the face he made in the car as we pulled up to the studio

I couldn't get a decent picture without other people's kids in it, but just imagine him and six other little kids with crazy focus shouting "Yes Sir!"

Loosely-karate related accident. He bumped his knee on his mouth as he was running back to his circle. I think it counts.

Before we went we came up with a code, because Eli was worried that it wouldn't be fun or that it would be a "baby class." If he said "elephants" it meant that he liked it and if he said "peanuts" it meant he wanted to try somewhere else. At the end of the class, despite the bonk, he came running up to me whisper-yelling "Elephants! Elephants!" I'll have to work something out at work so I can get him to the one weekday class, but for now we're signed up. Twice a week he gets to put on his uniform, run like animals, and "show respect. It's very important, Mama."

He is so freaking in love with this uniform, and completely fascinated with the fact that he has to earn his belt.

Go go power rangers

On the advice of a friend I went ahead and signed Eli up for karate (though I chose the cheaper, less time commitment class). Well, technically we're going to "try it out" but let's be honest, like he'll get to yell and kick for 30 minutes with a bunch of other little kids and then say, "Eh. Mama, you know, I think I'd rather stay home and quietly color." He is so freaking excited. He keeps telling people, "I'm going to karate and we didn't even sign up yet." Like we've gotten something over on the universe. I'm a little concerned that he'll be disappointed that he won't be able to fly across the room and tackle battle zorgs, but I'm thinking he's going to love it. He'd better, because the only class his working mom (which, BTW, is a whole other post. Why do they do all these kids activities at 3:00 or 3:30?) could take him to is on Saturday morning, aka my ONE sleeping in day.

"Things I Like" by Eli

Eli's class was working on a unit about things they liked, and they each put together a collage that illustrated their interests. Most were pretty predictable: cake, sports, toys, cartoons. But of course, my kid's never quite as predictable. He came up with this

Me: Wow, Buddy! That's quite a picture. What do you like about her?

Eli: Mama, she's in her *underwear*

Me: I know! Is that why you picked her?

Eli: No Mama, she reminds me to exercise!

Yep, pretty sure that's what the photographer was aiming for

It was bound to happen

C and I were laying in bed this morning, squeezing out those last few precious minutes before you have to choose between dragging yourself out of bed or being negligent to the two unkempt heathens currently running amok in your bedroom. Eli and Syd had found their way into our bathroom and were playing nicely, so we weren't too eager to interrupt and remind them of their need for breakfast/cartoons/"that lego guy I had that one time that has suddenly become the only toy that will satisfy me!" As we were laying there we realized that it had gotten very quiet. Too quiet. So C calmly calls out "Eli? What are you guys doing in there?" "I'm reading a book to Sydney!" "Oh, that's great Bud! What a nice thing to do! What are you reading her?" "Puh, puh, Playboy?" Yep. That got our attention. Apparently the kid can read better than we thought. So C went in to find more "appropriate" reading material and Eli got upset that his magazine was being taken away. And I swear, he yelled at C, "But Daddy! I was reading the article!"

Gratitude

I am realizing that The Crazy is likely going to be something that I always go back to when my stress reaches critical mass. The fact is, we will never have "enough" money. Just like I will never have enough time, be ready for another kid, be stable enough to buy a house. There's always another rung to climb. When I was in graduate school there was a time when C and I were financially stretched thinner than thin. We were on food stamps, and our monthly budget was less than we pay now for one week of daycare. Tonight I'm grateful that 1) we can afford awesome insurance 2) we can afford a co-pay when one of the kids complains of a stomach ache and spikes a 102+ fever 3) we're secure enough that I don't resent paying the co-pay when he's diagnosed with a "stomach bug" and of course, miraculously recovers an hour later. And above all that I am grateful that my instincts were wrong and he doesn't have appendicitis. AND I'm really grateful that he's fully toilet trained and apparently can wipe his own butt now.

Party Time! Excellent!

Today was Eli's school friend party at a local bounce house place. The only party I ever had outside of the house was at McDonalds (remember when they used to do that?) and so I wasn't sure how it was going to work out, especially given that it was a bit more than I'm used to spending for two hours of entertainment. It was TOTALLY worth it.

So proud of this kid! I looked over and he was flying down the big slide he's avoided every other time we've come here.

The joust was pretty popular. Like American Gladiators: Preschool Edition

The kids had a blast, I didn't have to clean anything, and someone else made sure everyone was where they were supposed to be. For a socially awkward control freak like myself, it was perfect. And the adults had just as much fun as the kids.

I flew right off the end of this slide. It was pretty impressive.