seven?

Is this precious angel really SEVEN today? So hard to believe I almost don't want to. But at least he's still an angel. Most of the time.  

More birthday blogging to come.  Once the celebration has subsided...

My Face

My Face

By Gage Duchon

My hair

My hair is as bright as a pencil

And it is as shiny as a star

In the night

And as curly as an elephant's trunk

Swaying in the air

My eyes

My eyes are as blue as the world

Spinning and spinning

My mouth

My mouth is as red as the sun

In the galaxy

Spin, spin, spinnnnnnn!

My nose

My nose is as big as the world

Wowowow!

My ears are sooo good hearing

That they can hear a cricket

Hopping in the night

Where I live

That's my face

2nd Grade Poetry Class

October, 2010.

uno and one broken remote

Gage had just grabbed his camera to photograph Zuzu's reaction to losing at Uno for the second time in a row when he captured more than any of us had bargained for.  Fortunately mom is not only crafty.  But apparently she's handy too.  That and I've already had to repair this ridiculously expensive remote about a dozen times...

heigh-ho, heigh-ho...

I don't know why, but every time I look at this photo of our little boy trekking off to the field with his ginormous soccer bag that song repeats over and over in my head.  

Is that bad?

age is just a number...

...except when you have to pick up the m n' m and hold it 18 inches in front of your face to actually read what it says.  Seriously folks.  This is what happened.  Turns out they read, "Kristi's 40th!!!". I have the best friends ever.  And I am NOT old. Just blind.

in honor of labor day...

Might I explain why I have not been laboring on this blog...

1. The athletic son was recruited from his leisurely soccer camp to play in the local competitive league.  Somehow, after watching him play for two days, the coach managed to sneak him onto the team three months after tryouts... and two days before practice started. That was a fun scramble to get paperwork, uniforms, and schedules organized.  Oh, and it might have been nice if they'd been a little more up front about the amount of travel required.  He's six and now playing in tournaments that overtake our entire weekend... and require over night hotel stays?  WTH?  Too late now. He loves it.  And he's good. Or (since they lost 3 out of 3 games this weekend) maybe I should say, he has extreme potential.

2. The soccer player also entered second grade. Still in shock. And after attending "meet the teacher night" I'm now also a little overwhelmed.  Felt like I needed to take notes so that I could come home and google some of her lesson plans.  Between his soccer calendar and the new homework schedule I think I might have found my full time job.  Or the incentive to rush out and find a nanny to take this one while I get one that pays in cash.  I jest of course.  I think.

3. The dog almost died.  That was a shitty week.  She ate something toxic, her liver nearly failed and her blood stopped clotting.  Quick response, good doctors and an extremely willful dog were all on our side.  Several too many thousand dollars later she's back home and still a scavenger.

4. The daring daughter bought herself some plastic surgery after a run in with her scooter handle bars.  Fortunately she waited long enough for the dog's blood to begin clotting properly, but soon enough so that Grandma was still here to take her big brother.  And Dad & I had the common sense to make the drive to the pediatric ER in the city where she got top notch care.  We haven't received that bill yet.  Should be a fun one.

5. I'm busily closing the shop.  I finished my last outstanding wholesale order last night.  I'm waiting for an already agreed upon custom order to come through tomorrow and then I'm done manufacturing any new goods.  I'm completely heartbroken and question the decision hourly but I just can't justify the time that goes in vs. the money that comes out.  Heartbroken I tell you.  Enough said.  Except that if there is anything you want... come and get it while it's still there. Don't wait for me to mark it down.  That's not happening.

6. I bought a bike and became seriously addicted to paddle boarding. Both good things. Both great stress reducers. But neither is appropriate for winter in Northern California.  Trying to squeeze as much cycling and paddling in as possible now... before it starts pouring on us. I don't bike in the rain and I certainly don't paddle in the cold. I'm just picky like that.

7. I'm too tired for seven.  Kids are still adorable but at the moment Gage has a simultaneous stomach ache and a head ache and Zuzu is relentlessly asking for her dessert.  See you in another month or so...  Maybe.

post script:
After I published this post I went and sat with headachey, stomachachey son to ask him what was wrong.  He told me, in far more words than I can reiterate here, that "there was just so much going on his head that he was feeling like he really just needed to turn off for a while."  I didn't know whether to hug him or give him a valium. 

and I quote.

zuzu: (at 7am on a Saturday morning) c'mon mommy, let's go play in my room!
mom: I think I might need to make some coffee first.
zuzu: oh, right coffee. and that will rev you up?!

so long April...

It's 8pm and Gage decides he wants to organize the bulletin board in his bedroom. Mind you, his "bulletin board" is comprised of nine Ikea magnetic boards hung side by side and they span the entire wall. But, his mind is set and I absolutely detest the clutter that is up there now so I agree to do some quick purging.

The two of us (both obsessive compulsive and openly non-tolerant of disorganization) stand speechless in front of the vast expanse of two year old art projects, team photos, torn sports illustrated pages, used ticket stubs, autographs & tooth fairy notes. I honestly have no clue where to begin. Then he looks at me, dead serious, and says, "well, I'd like to start by taking down April".

He is referring to a handmade month of April calendar that is hanging in prime location at the bottom of the board. On August 10th. The boy's got smarts I tell you. Mad smarts.

how to cure the hiccups

I had nothing to do with this.  You can actually see me and my mom entering from the garage after the documentary had already begun.  I do wish it were a little more in focus, but considering the director/videographer is only six I think it's a pretty good start.  

Betcha can't guess what finally does the trick...

beeja beeja

If you knew me when I was three you will most likely find this absolutely hysterical.  But if you aren't one of those four blog readers you might just find this absolutely absurd.  Either way.  Here it is.

old maid

Gage: but I really don't want to play old maid.  Can we play go fish, or uno, or crazy eights, or war instead please???

Mom: sure but I really wish it wouldn't upset you so much to lose at old maid.  It's truly not that bad to be stuck with the old maid card.  It doesn't bother me a bit.  I kind of think it's fun!

Grandma: I know! I like getting the old maid card.

Gage: but you two are so much older and have had so much more time to deal with this issue.

religion 101. again. sort of?

Mom: I can't believe I have to put on my winter coat to take out the garbage. In July.

Zuzu: winter is my favorite because it's Christmas

Our guest for dinner, David: why do you love Christmas?

Zuzu: because I love all the presents

David: is that the only time you get presents? (sarcastically, knowing damn well it's not)

Zuzu: no, I got presents on my birthday

Gage: and we get presents for Hanukah too

Zuzu: yeah, all three are my favorites!

David: you celebrate Hanukah?

Gage: yeah, we celebrate Christmas because of my mom but my dad is Jewish...

and I am Jewish too because I've been to that place...  you know... for...

stinky foot in mouth

This morning as we're loading up into the car for pre-school our just turned four year old, Zuzu, takes a quick look at my face. 

"What's that on your chin, Mommy?" 

Great.  Like I wasn't self conscience enough.  

Mommy has a "boo-boo" on her chin, I tell her (because I'm thinking the words "zit" or "pimple" might just perpetuate the conversation).  And then, clearly without thinking at all I say, "I know, it's ugly isn't it?"

I fasten her seat belt and get into the front seat.  I start the car.

"Mommy, what does ugly mean?"

The world stops.  Really?  I just taught our four year old the word "ugly" and now I need to define it for her? At 9am on a Monday?  When I am already preparing to face the gloomy morning with more than one large "boo-boo" on my face? What have I done and how could I be such a terrible influence???

So I attempt to explain that ugly is not a very nice word.  I shouldn't have said it... but sometimes people use the word to define something that is not at all pretty.  Just like sometimes people use the word stupid to describe something a little annoying when they shouldn't.

"So ugly is like Shrek, right?  Because he's an Ogre.  So he is ugly."

But is he?

Four.

and I quote.

gage: knock knock

mom: who's there?

gage: zu

mom: zu who?

gage: no, silly! her name is zuzu not zuhu!

zuzu: knock knock

mom: who's there?

zuzu: zu

mom: zu who?

zuzu: no, silly! my name is harry not zuhu!

and I quote.

zuzu: I'm done (with dinner)

mom: You need to eat your last strawberry.  A corndog, four grapes and two strawberries is hardly enough dinner.  Especially since I know you're going to want an ice cream cone later.

zuzu: (ponders last strawberry on plate for a brief second)
And ice cream!

and I quote.

mom: well let's see when dad is available

zuzu: when dad is available?! we can buy dad on line!

the maiden voyage

Next time I hope to venture further from shore.  

But it's definitely a start!
And I was able to be incredibly helpful by gathering sand toys (ok, one toy) that had unsuspectingly swept out into the bay.

and I quote.

zuzu: c'mon mommy, come in my room and let's put babies in our tummies.

mom: zuzu, I've already had two babies in my tummy and I really don't want any more.

zuzu: no mommy!  this one doesn't kick.  it's FAKE!

and let the dog days begin...

the beach.  it does a body good.  and it's far cheaper than therapy.

warning.

Warning: Random Thursday afternoon trips to Toys R Us my cause seriously ecstatic behavior in children.  Proceed with caution. And a Grandma with a camera.