made with love (and like)

Like most, Elian's kindergarten class will be doing the whole Valentine exchange thing. When I asked him if he wanted me to buy some valentines to distribute, he said he wanted to make them by hand. To expedite the process, I let him choose a font that he liked, then I printed out the list of kids in his class. He painstakingly cut out lovely hearts in pink, red, purple and orange, then glued on each child's name and wrote "From Elian" on all of them. He decided he needed a much-deserved break after all of this labor-intensive art before moving on to the decorating-with-stickers phase. But before plopping down in front of Word Girl, he decided to write personal messages on a few of him. First to his best friend Solveig whom he often proclaims to love and has once proposed marriage to. Here's what he wrote:

Side 1:


Side 2:



He then said he wanted to write a message on another girl's valentine. Thinking he might proclaim his love for her as well, I waited patiently as his marker slowly scrawled out the message:

Side 1:


Side 2:

a very special message for mr. and mrs. rodgers

ho, ho, holy cow, the boy loves santa

So I showed the little man the video from Santa (see previous post) and he was just blown away. "How does he know that?!?!" He said, shaking his head in disbelief. "UNBELIEVABLE." When I plugged the images into the video, I wasn't sure if he was really going to buy into it. But he totally ate it up and loved it. Which is why this probably happened.

Friday night we had a long-overdue appointment scheduled downtown. His haircuts are sort of a big deal -- it happened by default. We used to take him to Kids' Hair. But then, Ed thought it would be fun to schedule their haircuts together at a place that had a pool table, and they could play pool together while they waited for their appointment. They did that for a while and really enjoyed it until the place got more popular and had to make room for more chairs -- goodbye pool table. Also, Ed realized he could save $30 a month and cut his hair at home. Hello #2 razor (and hairy bathroom floor)!

But since the little man had developed a relationship with his stylist (hehe), and we liked the job she was doing, we continue to get his hair cut there, even if it means paying for parking downtown. So we usually schedule it at about 5 or 6, we drive down there, call Papa when we get to his building, walk over to the barber shop, then dine on sushi, macaroni and cheese and salad at the Macy's cafeteria. Friday's haircut was no different only this time we asked Elian if he might want to see Santa (shot down last year and I think the year before that). But this year he said yes, and I had to do everything in my power not to do a little jig. I LOVE SANTA! and it just crushed me that my little boy didn't feel the same way.

Luckily, we cruised through the Santa line like nobody's business while the Holidazzle Parade suckers were watching the parade. There was a part of me that thought the little man might have second thoughts and want to turn around. After all, this appreciation for Santa was very new. Before Ed and I could even round the corner after the magic velvet curtain was parted, the boy was running to Santa with open arms. He jumped on his lap and was very quick to tell him that he got Santa's email. And began to chat up Santa complete with expressive hand gestures for a good few minutes. It's times like these that I wish I had a video camera built in to my brain, but we didn't even know we'd be seeing Santa. Hell, otherwise he would of worn his fancy Christmas sweater (wait, he doesn't own a fancy Christmas sweater).

Of course, the over-saturated Macy's photo doesn't do it justice, but as soon as my lovely assistant gets it scanned I will be sure to post it. As poor as my memory is these days, this was a Christmas memory that will definitely stay with me forever.

test, test, is this thing on?!?

A few weeks ago, the little man had an opportunity to record a little ditty for Hormel. Can you say "Free Talent?"

When we got to the studio, he seemed a wee on the nervous side. And who could blame him? There were a lot of people involved in the production, both of the adult and children variety.

When it was his turn to record, I got totally nervous for him. He was sitting at the mic alone with big headphones on. One of the sound engineer dudes was in there helping him with timing. After a few practice shots, he seemed less nervous and did a fantastic job. About six or seven kids total recorded including two professionals and they ended up using our boy and the two professionals. Eat your heart out Justin Bieber!

Sadly, I don't think this is going to mean early retirement for us. Afterwards we asked him how he liked doing it and he said it wasn't as much fun as he thought it was going to be. I wish I could attach a sound file to this blog so you could hear it. But you're just going to have to settle for the pictures.

betsy ross junior

Lately the little man has been into creating flags -- and countries. Here are two of his latest pieces. One for the country of Macaluia (sounds a little Hawaiian, no?) and Cueblae. Now accepting applications for residency.

you're a good sport, charlie brown

For the past few months, we've been having a few issues with the little man's sportsmanship conduct. He's always been a bit on the competitive side, but lately, he's really been having a hard time with losing. A really hard time.

According to him, he does just fine when he plays with other kids. Somehow he manages to keep it together. But when he plays with us, there's a lot of "IT'S NOT FAIR!!!" a little cheating if he can get away with it, pleas to not count something that worked against him and an all out fit of tears when he loses. After a few ugly games of Sorry, we decided to put competitive games on hold for a while.

Each day he would ask to play Sorry, Skipbo or something else. And each day we would tell him we were taking some time off. We went a good three or four days of telling him we weren't ready to play games with him until he could be a better sport. Then this weekend we gave it a try. I must say the boy learned his lesson (at least for now). He was the ultimate good sport saying "Congratulations" each time he lost and even making jokes about his bad luck. I had to rig the Candyland deck after I won three times in a row -- c'mon, the poor dude can only take so much.

He did really well all weekend. There was one pretty intense game of Blockus when Papa won and the tears started flowing. He tried so hard to keep it together with deep breaths. It was hard to watch but I'm so proud of him for trying so hard. Let's cross our fingers that it lasts.

quote of the day

PAPA: Mmmm, that smells good, what are you making?

MAMA: Vegetable stir fry with peanuts.

ELIAN: (From the other room) Did you say vegetable stir fry with PENIS?

movie night

Last night we had movie night and watched Toy Story 3 (again). If you have not seen it, I can't recommend it enough.

The little man and I were in total snuggle mode on the couch. We got to the end of the movie when before heading off to college, Andy gives his toys away to a little girl (SOMEBODY GET MAMA A TISSUE!). I said to Elian, "So when you go off to college, do you think you might give Target to a little boy or girl?"

He responds, "I don't know. I'm not at that point yet." And there was more reflection and maturity in his response than I ever would've imagined. And I knew I wasn't blubbering because Andy was headed off to college, but that in about 12 fast years my little man will be.

(Unless he goes to the University of Minnesota and lives with Mama and Papa forever. I mean, not that I'm planning that...)

tick or treat

Every year my sweet friend Amy sends the little man a stash of Halloween treats in the mail. She knows he's like his mother and has a soft spot for "disgusting but good" sweets. And every year her selection gets a little bit more daring. It started with Pop Rocks, Razzles and the like. But then she ventured into the EXTREME sour category, the fun dips and the Hot Tamales Fire.

Well, this year she has completely outdone herself. Yes, this year my boy received a box in the mail with a skull and cross bones that said, "I Dare You: hot, sour and just plain nasty confectionary treats." How do you define "just plain nasty?" you ask. Well, you might think it's the Toxic Waste Hazardously Sour Candy. Or maybe it's the Pet Tarantula gummi candy. Or could it be the War Heads Super Sour Double Drops. No, my friends it would not. Because this box contained (wait for it, wait for it)....


Mexican Spice LARVETS - the original worm snax and lest you think they are real, the first ingredient listed is larva.

But wait, that's not all. Inside the box there were also some chocolate-covered insects which lists insect larva or crickets in the ingredients. And finally, and orange-flavored lollipop with a worm inside. We will be saving these goodies for Thanksgiving in Janesville where we will host a Thanksgiving Fear Factor with the boy and his cousins.

Part of the reason I get out of a groove with this blog, is that the little dude says so many funny things that it's hard to remember them all. Like when it came time to call my friend Amy and tell her thank you for the tasty Halloween treats. I just gave him the phone and let him say whatever he wanted. He said a pleasant thank you and ended the call with this:

"I'm going to save a chocolate-covered insect for you. WITHOUT THE CHOCOLATE!!!!"

Thanks Amy! You're the best. (Those are my words, not his, but I know he'd agree.)

encyclopedia brown and the case of the missing orange ball

This post goes out to my friend Amy who gave my little man one of his favorite toys: The Ball Pounder.

I think she gave him this gift when he was around two year's old, but he's consistently played with it (along with another ball pounder given to him by my brother and his family) up to this day. Sadly, (and I never told Amy this) we lost one of the balls to the ball pounder probably just a few months after getting it.

That didn't stop the little man from playing with it. He would add things like marbles and various other items to try to get everything stuck and then marvel as they got loose and came down the path. But we always wondered where that orange ball went. I knew it had to be in the house. But I checked all of the possible places I thought it could be and could never find it. I checked EVERYWHERE. And then checked again.

Then a few days ago, the little dude was playing with a quarter when it rolled under the couch. We both looked under the couch with a flashlight and way back in the corner under the heat register, there it was. The orange ball. I can't tell you how many times I looked in the exact spot and never found it. I grabbed the flashlight, pointing it directly at the ball and said, "Look buddy!" and we just looked at each other and laughed and laughed.

Needless to say there was much play with the ball pounder after that. Marbles and all.

@#$%! where'd i park?!?!?

the great treat debate

Today, while pondering what treat I should put in his lunch box, the little man convinced me he should get not one, but two Hershey nuggets, arguing since whenever I put Dove chocolates in his lunch, he gets two of those. However, I told him, the Dove chocolates are much THINNER than the Hershey nuggets. These are NUGGETS after all. He then showed me with his hands that if you folded a Dove chocolate, it would be about the size of a Hershey Nugget and rested his case with a few kisses and hugs for good measure.

Let the records show, the boy got two Hershey Nuggets in his lunch.

double double toil and trouble

Last weekend the little man had a Halloween-themed birthday party. About a week before, he had told me he wanted to be a witch for Halloween. Apparently his friend Estella was going to be a Candy Corn Witch and I guess my little lemming thought being a witch was where it's at.

While I have no problem dressing him in a girly costume if that is his wish, I wasn't sure if he knew that it's typically girls who dress as witches. And considering he had already been teased at pre-school for playing with dolls, I didn't want him to be unprepared to face the macho five-year-old wrath who would undoubtedly be dressed as super heroes.

With the party fast approaching, Ed gave him a casual warning telling him there was a possibility that one of the boys might tease him since usually girls dress up as witches. And I'm proud to say, he didn't care. To quote him exactly, "Who cares what people think!" I think he was mostly excited to put green makeup on his face and to wear one of my black shirts.

After cobbling the costume together with a $3 hat purchase, one of my shirts and a recycled super-hero cape given to him at a party last year, he ended up looking a little creepy (maybe it was the botched makeup job). I don't think the kids knew exactly what to think of him. He came home from the party and proudly exclaimed, "No one called me a girl!"

Victory! Or is it?

leafy goodness

quote of the day

"Adam doesn't know how to whistle. Instead of whistling, he goes, (makes high-pitched noise). It's really annoying."

early bird

So the little man's been wanting to get to school early so he can be the first one there. Why? So he can get the fake money in the Housekeeping Area (my little capitalist). Apparently, there are only a few bills to go around and usually one or two kids hog them. If he gets there early enough, HE gets the money and can SHARE with whomever he'd like. So for the past four or five days, Ed's been taking him to school a little earlier and thus, getting to work earlier himself.

This morning, he crawled into our bed and once again proclaimed his desire to get to school early. And then said, "Today. I'm going for the wheels." (Apparently the lego wheels are hard to come by as well.) And then he added, "If I can't get those, I'm going for the money."

quote of the day (or conversation with my little hoarder)

Elian: (Looking into recycling bin) Mama, you don't have to recycle those cardboard tubes. I'll take them!

2010 the summer of bravery

I suppose I should do a very quick re-cap of the summer since I have been absent to the blogging scene. It went as followed:

Work was slow, very, very slow. Do you see those tumbleweeds? But on the bright side, (besides the bright side of not working) I got to spend gobs of time with one of my favorite boys (my other favorite being Norman -- HA! I kid). We hung out at the pool by our house a lot and the little man learned to swim. Like a fish. Not only that, but he got brave enough to go down the yellow slide at the water park. And a few weeks before the pool closed for the season, he started going down the red slide. Yes, the red slide.

At the beginning of summer, he learned to ride a bike! Now he's like a two-wheelin' fool and there's no stopping him. With the patience of a saint and a stronger lower back than mine, Ed took on the responsibility of teaching him how to ride. They practiced in the water-park parking lot before the pool opened for the year. Baby step, by baby step, he got braver and braver. Before you know it, he's going off curbs and threatening to do wheelies and Evil Kenevil-style jumps.

We had our trip to Lake Tahoe which included a visit with old college friends and an emergency-room visit for the boy. And of course, our visit to the North Shore. I'd show you pictures but the Hernan-dos resident photographer has retired. He's all about the movies now. Nobody wants to see those boring ol' non-moving images. Ahem.

That about sums it up. I'm sure I've left out a "few" details here and there.

In other news, I just ate way too many homemade graham crackers from the farmers' market.

kindergartner extraordinaire

My little man is a kindergartner. Not just a kindergartner, but a very enthusiastic kindergartner. Never in a million years would I have expected this.

In the months leading up to the start of kindergarten, he was far from enthusiastic. Adults would smile at him and ask in their high-pitched voices, "Are you getting excited about kindergarten!?!?" He would fake a smile and say, yes, but his heart wasn't in it. I knew he was dreading it.

But then something happened. Maybe it was the pep talk he got from his cousin Isabelle, how much she LOVED kindergarten. Or it was the fact that we had finally decided which school he would actually be attending. Or, and I think this was the clincher, it was the kindergarten supply list that came in the mail requesting about 10 glue sticks, crayons, colored pencils and did I mention, glue sticks. As soon as he saw that, c'mon GLUE STICKS, he realized that kindergarten may actually be fun.

But even though his enthusiasm was growing, I was still a little nervous. He would be at kindergarten all day. Every day. Away from his Mama. And although I knew it would be good for him, I wasn't so sure he would feel the same way. In the end, we had decided he'd go to the larger K-8 public school. This going against everything the boy was about. He's never been one for crowds, chaos or play with large groups of children (hmm, I wonder where he gets that). I pictured him lost in the hallways, tears streaming down his eyes. I questioned our decision to take him out of his comfort zone and put him in this school.

But I'm pleased to report, ladies and gentleman (or lady and gentleman in the case of this blog), that he LOVES it. He has not once complained about the large class size, which surprisingly turned out to be not as large as I had thought at 24. And holy cow, you guys, you should've seen him confidently strut through the crowded hallways during the open house and lead me to the gym (taking the "shortcut"). He loves gym, he loves art and he loves science. We marvel every day how his brain has opened up to art. Not a day goes by that he wants to sit down and draw -- or practice letters. And it's not like I wasn't encouraging that in the past. I don't know what this art teacher said to this boy, but there's no stopping him now. Hooray, teachers!

And get this, he's now taking chess after school. So not only has he never complained about the long day, but he wants to go longer. When presented with a few options for after-school classes, he chose chess. My little nerd chose chess. And apparently he learned enough on the first day that he played another little boy a few times. His story about how many he won is forever evolving.

I am not convinced this enthusiasm is going to last forever. I know there will come a day when he doesn't want to go to school. They've been doing kindergarten assessment recently and Elian's teacher informed Ed that Elian was reading at a 2nd grade level. Add to this the fact that when he goes to bed at night he wants Ed and I to quiz him in math problems. The harder the better (shut up Ed). He's already getting division and negatives. So I'm a little concerned he may soon get bored at school going over what sounds letters make and 1 + 1, but I'm hoping he continues to revel in his mastery of it instead.

Holy crap, my boy's in kindergarten.

facebook killed the blogging star

I've been trying to figure out why the big ol' fat blogging rut? I blame Facebook. It's so much easier to post photos and one-sentence snippets about all of the amazing things my boy has been doing. Lazy? Maybe.

But if I didn't have to pick the little man up in a few minutes, I'd tell you all about the start of kindergarten. Maybe I'll get to that tomorrow.