Bubbles

To say that my son can be focused...it's putting mildly really. Since he was a baby, he has shown a tendency to, well, obsess. His current obsessions? Outside and Bubbles. This child would live entirely outside if we would let him. And the bubbles...Dinner Will? No, that's ok. I've got my bubbles, I'm all good. Time for bed? No mom, I think I'm just going to hang out here with my bubbles. See, bubbles and me, we've got a good thing going here and I don't think I really want to ruin that with sleep. At least that's kind of what I think he means when he starts the purple-faced yelling with some more yelling when we try to convince him that maybe some food, drink or sleep might be needed in order to keep blowing the bubbles.

That is one of the reasons this memorial day was so perfect. We spent in Kari and Andrew's backyard, which is the perfect backyard for hanging out with Will in its fenced-in, perfect lawn-ness. Our wonderful hosts fired up the grill, we all drank some beer and let our son blow bubbles all day long. Here are a couple of Will with some of his favorite people in the world on an absolutely wonderful day:







And one where I caught a bubble and get all artsy:

It's a slippery slope my friend

"So, I did something yesterday I never thought I would find myself doing. Ever. I can't even believe I am going to tell you about it."

"Oh Em, what'd you do?"

"I was at the grocery store with Will...and I sang the entire Elmo Potty song to him...outloud...twice."

"EMILY!"

"I know, I know! I am like a perm and a pair of mom jeans away from changing my screen name to ~~i*heart*being*will's*mama~~ aren't I?"

"It is a fine line..."

"At least it the grocery store was almost empty, I mean it's not like a lot of people could hear me..."

"The Elmo Potty song Emily?"

"I know."

Thursday Nights

We have been doing Thursday Nights for more than three years...maybe four? I don't remember when it started exactly, but it was before I was pregnant with Will. Sarah and I used to get together when the guys were playing darts and go to the gym and then go back to my house to watch The O.C. Then we would meet up with the guys at the bar and drink too much Hair of the Dog Fred. We were the Dart Widows.

When I was pregnant we kept the gym part up for a little while (not that long though in all honesty) and even the meeting up with guys part (again, not for that long and there was no more Fred). Somewhere early on in there Andrew started playing darts and Kari started joining us. After Will was born Sarah and Kari still came every Thursday and cheered me on in those early scary days of being a new mother, and kept me from feeling isolated when leaving the baby with Dan and going out and meeting up with them at a bar seemed far too overwhelming. Thursday nights were my nights to always be home, but they didn’t have to. They have made it important to them for 2 1/2 years to forgo being out and about and be on my front patio instead.

Over time it became less and less about getting together to watch the OC and more and more about sitting outside (even in the winter) and having a few cigarettes and a few glasses of wine. It became less about talking about what was happening with Summer and Seth and more about sharing what was happening in our lives...our fears, our successes, our pain, our joys. Thursday nights have seen us through 3 Master's programs, multiple job changes, moves into our first homes, inexplicable sadness, innumerable joys, countless tears and endless laughter...and many, many bottles of wine.

We have had other people join us from time to time, which is always so nice. Recently, someone has been joining us who very quickly has become one of My People. I am so thankful for that and so bummed that this Thursday was her last Thursday before she leaves on her great adventure. I know I speak for the other two of us when I say congratulations on being done (DONE!) with your thesis and for defending it so successfully. We cannot wait to hear and read all about your upcoming journey, but we will miss you too.

These Thursday nights, they have been such a gift to me. I am still amazed sometimes that such wonderful women have let me collect them to my home, once a week, for so many years. Thank you.

Future Streaker

So last night I was sitting out on the porch with the girls, doing our typical Thursday night thing (more on that in another post, promise!). Will had had some difficulty going down to bed in that he would rather live outside and play with balls and KICK! than eat or sleep. So his little voice kept coming over then monitor "Mama, need water!" or "Mama, Buzz needs new Diaper!". Things were quiet for a while and then there was this "MAMA! ASDIUYOAUISD" I looked at Kari and told her I had no idea what he was talking about but it didn't sound urgent and it was already an hour past his bedtime.

About 5 minutes later, again, "MAMA! ITOKJSCLOTHOF!!"
Still didn't sound urgent, just informative. Still no idea what he was actually saying.

Another 5 minutes passes and "MAMA! I took ALL my Clothes off!!"

huh?

I go in and sure enough, there is my little man stripped of all his clothes and half of his diaper off. He looks up at me from his bed, biggest smile you can imagine. SO proud of himself.

"Hey Mama, I took ALL my clothes off. Fun!"

You know, if he's got that concept down now, he is going to be a lot of fun at a kegger some day.

He really is my child

Dan: Will, you need to stay focused on what you are doing. You only have two stairs left then we are at the top

Will: meh...Bye-Bye Focus!

Trailers - Recut

Oh my good lord. Dan showed me these tonight and I realize that I am probably behind the times a little on this, but these are awesome. Best. Things. Ever. Please check out all three (I think Top Gun might be my favorite):

The Shining:



When Harry Met Sally:



Top Gun: