What my son sees...

It's funny how you can forget that your child witnesses everything you do and say.  Today Littleman and I walked to the playground.  I was pulling him in his wagon.  It was 68 and sunny, and there were lots of people out jogging, dog walking, etc.  As we entered the playground I said, "hello," to a mom and her child on their way out.  I turned to take Littleman out of the wagon and he said, "Mommy, you say hello to EVERYONE." 

I do, don't I?  It didn't even occur to me that I'd said, "hello" to every one we passed.

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New Discoveries...

Silly

I started composing this blog entry six hours ago. To make a long story short, I had family obligations that required my attention and now it is after 9 pm here in Texas.  This blog was going to be filled with all sorts of wonderful musings about wonderful discoveries...like how every day my two year old gets cuter and cuter.

And then demon-boy appeared.  The last four hours with him have been...well...DEMONIC.  I want to fill this space with what a miserable failure I am as a mother.  But, I will spare you all the gory details.  Instead, I will post the pictures that inspired me to believe he was cute earlier today.  If you can believe it, I cannot remember a SINGLE one of the other "discoveries" I was going to write about...

So, here is my cute demon boy who nearly lost his voice from crying so hard because I made him brush his teeth and insisted on helping him put on his pajamas.

 

Amcowboy

Perhaps tomorrow my discoveries will rediscover ME.

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A toothpick and a Texas cop...

So I am driving home from a VERY long morning playing and grocery shopping with Liam.  All I can think about is his upcoming nap...and the fancy dinner I have planned that needs preparing, the dishwasher that needs emptying, etc.  Out of nowhere I feel a sharp stab in my upper right thigh.  What the !&%$???  I do a little digging near my pocket and feel the toothpick from the piece of cheese I let Liam have at the grocery store.  (YOU have no idea how desparately hungry and tired he was, it was necessary to let him eat that cheese, I tell you!)  Anyway, I start digging away at my pocket to get this toothpick that has broken through the material and is piercing my skin.

Less than a mile from my house, getting off the highway, I'm still digging when I see a police officer on a motorcycle on the side of the rode and seconds later he is in my rearview mirror.  I pull into the nearest parking lot.

LITTLEMAN: Mommy, where are we?

ME: Honey, Mommy is in a little bit of trouble.  A police man is coming to tell mommy she was driving too fast. Then we'll go right home.

(roll down window, heart racing, watch ginormous mustached officer amble to my side, sweating (me, not the officer)..)

ME: I am SO sorry...

OFFICER: M'amn, I'm Officer so-and-so, you were doing 74 in a 60.

ME: You, see (squirming), there's this toothpick (earnest digging), and it's digging in my leg, I had no idea (VOILA, the toothpick emerges from my pocket with great flourish), you see? I was just trying to get this toothpick out of my pocket. I am so sorry.

OFFICER: (mouth opens...an incredulous look washes over his face, he shakes his head a little) Ouch.

ME: I know, I need to get my license. (fumbling through wallet)

OFFICER: Your insurance, as well.

ME: (really starting to sweat) Oh sure...(open glove compartment, pull out endless junk, hand over insurance).

OFFICER: Do you still live in *****?

ME: Oh yes.  We just moved here.  I'm really sorry.  It was just this toothpick in my pocket...

OFFICER: Alright, I'm going to let you go with a warning.  Slow down.

ME: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

LITTLEMAN: Mommy, you gonna drive safe now? 

 

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358

358 is the number of "Library Skills Line Up" games Highsmith has sold since it became available in November!  They have made $8517.30 in net sales.  I am (approximately) 59 games away from getting royalty checks!!! (They advanced me, so that money has to be made back before I get more $$$.)

I am working on a postcard to send to all the elementary school librarians in the Capital District and surrounding areas.  Many of them might recognize my name from grad school (where I was a grad assistant) or from conferences.  Highsmith sends me a "royalties report" twice a year - it only lists the numbers...I wish I knew WHERE all of those sales were made.  Either way, I am targeting that area first, then, since there are SO many schools popping up in my new "hometown,"  I'll send them to librarians here, as well.  Hopefully that and the website might drum up some more business.  Basically, in case your math isn't so hot, if Highsmith can sell around 400 games a year, I could see about $1000.  Not too shabby...now, if only they'd buy more games!  I'm working on it, folks.

In other news, I took Littleman "StrollerSkating" the other day .  It was literally COSMIC.  It was like stepping back into the 80's.  I swear the owners have not updated! (http://www.thunderbirdskatecenter.com/strollerskate.php)  It was awesome.  All these moms just whipping around the rink, pushing strollers!  Disco balls turning, Diana Ross blaring through the speakers, rental skates rubbing blisters into our feet.  It was special, let me tell you.  They did have tiny size 7 skates for Littleman.  The wheels are skrewed tight so little ones can't go rolling very far, but he was able to get out on the rink and try a "round."  Once was enough.  It was exhausting, for both of us...and not to mention a little tricky with my skates still on.  He LOVED flying around the rink in the stroller, though.  My inner thighs are SCREAMING right now just thinking of it.  I was sweating buckets after about six minutes...how on EARTH did we manage to skate for so long back then???  I remember my parents coming out for a few spins around the rink and then sitting out while my brother and I kept on for what seemed like an eternity. 

Anyway, I say, if there is a roller rink in your vicinity and you have not been for a while, take a spin.  A ridiculous little thrill will go through you, sending you momentarily back to your early teen years, making the trip worth your while.  While I'm thinking of it, if any of you have roller skates OR roller blades (size 7 or 8 womens) that you are no longer using, I will pay for shipping. I am definitely going back to strollerskate!

Oh, I apologize for not having pictures.  I promise to bring the camera next time!

If you like doing these things, copy and fill it out in a comment. They are fun, if you are in the mood.

1) Are you currently in a serious relationship?

2) What was your dream growing up?

3) What talent do you wish you had?

4) If I bought you a drink what would it be?

5) Favorite vegetable?

6) What was the last book you read?

7) What zodiac sign are you?

8) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.

9) Worst Habit?

10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?

11) What is your favorite sport?

12) Do you have a Negative or Optimistic attitude?

13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?

14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?

15) Tell me one weird fact about you.

16) Do you have any pets?

17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?

18) What was your first impression of me? (hmmm...careful!)

19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?

20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?

21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?

22) What color eyes do you have?

23) Ever been arrested?

24) Bottle or can soda?

25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?

27) What's your favorite place to hang at?

28) Do you believe in ghosts?

29) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?

30) Do you swear a lot?

31) Biggest pet peeve?

32) In one word, how would you describe yourself?

33) Do you believe/appreciate romance?

34) If you could live anywhere in the world where would you chose?

35) Do you believe in God?

36) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

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Yee-Haw, the RODEO!

Rodeo

So we took Littleman to the Fort Worth rodeo on Wednesday.  He loved it (and not just because he had popcorn).  The cowboys were amazing.  Littleman's favorite parts were just watching the horses gallop around the arena at top speed.  They were mighty impressive.

Afterwards, we walked around the grounds to look at the hundreds and hundreds AND HUNDREDS of "show" cattle.  These cows were being groomed for the prom, or so it seemed.  They were in stalls in these enormous barns (they resembled airplane hangars, really).  Their owners were combing, brushing, hair drying, and trimming their gleaming coats.  I had no idea that this even occurred.  I was reminded of the dog shows my family would go to when we owned a "champion" wheaton-terrier many moons ago...except the participants here were the size of Volkswagens!

I thought we'd be filling our faces with all that wonderful, but horrid fair food.  The smell of corn dogs and funnel cake did bring a smile to my face.  However, the peanuts and popcorn during the show and all the sights saved us from filling our bodies with all that nonsense.  

Cattle

It was another wonderful day together as a family.  I have to say, that even though I am so many miles from the rest of my family, I have never felt more complete.  Our little unit, our trio, me, Papabear, and Littleman...brings me such joy.  And I can't say enough about Papabear.  Even though he is working like a madman to get his PA license and all the necessary paperwork done so he can start work on Monday, he still takes the time to sit and color or do puzzles with Littleman.  The three of us played a sort of Pictionary-type game for almost an hour yesterday, right in the middle of the day!  I love how we just ARE when we're together.

Well, Littleman has discovered that I am at the computer and will not get off my lap.  I will add two more photos from our day at the rodeo and the off to the gym we go.

Rodeo2

Pet

  

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