Kitchen Update

The kitchen funtimes continue.  We are SO CLOSE to being done! I spent yesterday doing painting (The walls look really sunny! I got a color called "wheat," which looked beige-y in the can, but turned out pretty yellow.  Initially, I wasn't sure, but I decided I really like it!  On top of the white, textured walls, it gives it an "old world" sort of look.  And is still super bright!) and cleaning/organizing the sideboard (and the rest of the kitchen, since it was DESTROYED.)

Cleaned and organized sideboard!

Steve spent yesterday evening finishing the tiling on the floor.  It just needs to be grouted now and the floor is officially DONE!

Before bed shot of the nearly done floor!

Before he went up to bed, Steve noticed he forgot one tile. See it hiding back there in the corner? So tonight he has to do one tile and the grouting.

Sneaky tile

Hopefully, the above picture is also the last you will see of that fridge. It is grimy and crappy.  It wasn't in great shape when we moved in nearly 5½ years ago and has only gotten worse.  We picked out a really awesome retro-looking fridge online that we are hoping to go buy today and have delivered tomorrow.  If Steve can finish the grouting tonight, once the fridge is delivered tomorrow, we will be DONE!

Meanwhile, Wm is loving the heck out of this project because we are not monitoring how long he's on the computer with the same vigilance.  He has gained lots of extra Minecraft time!

Wm Wants to Ride His Bicycle

Wm got his big kid bike from Mimi this past weekend.  Of course, he wanted to take it out for a spin!

Hell on wheels

Then, I moved on to annoying Steve...

Steve: "don't take my picture!"

Me: "too late." Steve: [hiding]

BUT, he is doing a GREAT job on the new tile flooring! He just has a few left to do that need complicated cutting - and, of course, the grouting!  While he does that, I am in charge of doing some kind of fancy paint affect on the walls (a compromise since Steve is not a fan of the white-on-white look and I refuse to repaint AGAIN) and fixing up/organizing the sideboard. We are hoping to have everything done by Wm's birthday!

Steve's fancy tile work nearing completion! 

Progress

Steve worked all day yesterday.  I decided I would surprise him by having the kitchen painted by the time he got home.  However, I did not think through this plan and ran into a hiccup when I realized I needed to move the fridge and it was VERY heavy. Using my super human strength, I moved it all by myself! The other hiccup is that Steve came home and didn't like my white kitchen and was all crabby about it.  When I told him he's welcome to repaint it himself, he decided it was fine. ha!  Steve has started work on the floor.  It is a TEDIOUS job since under the tiles was horrific linoleum flooring that some evil demon glued to the subfloor. Steve has been suuuuuper bitchy all day.

Thank god he at least has Schroeder's help

Obligatory butt shot

We went to our second, and last, Path 2 Membership class at the UU church today.  Wm refused to stay in the kid room (it was populated by 3 other kids, all under 2).  So he spent the entire time hunched in the corner of the class with Steve's cell phone playing Minecraft. At least 3 people came in and told Wm there was a kid's room and tried to helpfully show him where to go.  He was not having it.  That kid can be STUBBORN.  To his credit, he was completely silent and good the entire time.

As Steve was driving home from work, he called to give me his ETA.  I looked over as he was talking and saw this happening:

Me: STEVE. I HAVE TO GO. 

Steve: Wha-

Me: EMERGENCY. [click]

[1 minute later]

Me: [calling Steve back] Sorry about that.

Steve: Aaaaanyway, are we going to have lunch before we go to church?

Me: Yeah, of course. But…you don't care about the emergency?

Steve: No.

Me: Wow. It could have been a huge deal!

Steve: [laughs] I'm sure it wasn't. I know you. You probably freaked out and had to go because the cat was doing something cute and you wanted to take a picture of it and you don't know how to do that while you're on the phone.

Me: Damnit.

Kitchen Reno

I was standing in our kitchen the other day and thought, "something must be done." It is way too dark for such a small space and just looked raggedy.  So I told Steve we need to renovate the kitchen.  He was super excited, he loves planning (not actually doing) projects.  He started planning a complete tear-out and re-build.  However, after hours on 3-D kitchen planners he discovered that not only is that crazy expensive, but our kitchen is set up in a such a way that it is currently in the only configuration that works for the space.  So then we scaled back and decided to just paint the existing cabinets and do everything else we planned (new hardwood floor, tile backsplash, fridge, and sideboard).  After watching a couple YouTube videos on how to paint wood cabinets correctly (so that the paint looks good and doesn't chip or bubble), that looked super intense.  Plus, it seemed a shame to paint (at least) 75 year old wood cabinets - even if I wanted to lighten things up. Once again the plan has changed.  We went to Lowe's yesterday and got inexpensive new flooring Steve is going to install himself, I am going to pain the walls white (bright!), we will eventually get a new fridge…and may tile the backsplash at some point.  And that's pretty much it.  So…light kitchen renovation.  Quite a change from the complete demo and rebuild we first thought about!  I still took some before pictures:

Floor and orange are going!

Sideboard will just be organized, not replaced…maybe

New fridge…soonish?

While we were standing in Lowe's getting the paint and flooring, a woman came up and went on and on about what an adorable family we are - she was especially enamored with Wm, of course. She kept saying how much Wm looked like both of us and how cute we all were. She was super nice and made all our days!  Yay for nice strangers!

Growing Up!

Welcome to Willie the Wonderkid's new layout!  Now that Wm is nearly 8, I thought it was time to ditch the little kid themed look and give him a more grown up aesthetic. I can't believe Wm is almost 8 years old, in 3rd grade, and halfway done with elementary school!!

It really hit me last night.  Wm was playing Minecraft on the computer, I told him it was time to go take a shower and get his jammies on.  Without a word, he shut the computer, went upstairs, turned on the water and took his shower.  Then he put his jammies on, returned downstairs, got himself a bowl and a cup, and fixed himself a snack.  He sat down at the dining room table with a book and ate and read until I told him it was bedtime.  He asked if he could take his book in bed and finish it up, which was fine.  When we got upstairs he goes, "You know, I'm pretty tired, I'm just going to go to sleep.  Good night!" He is a little man now!!  Just handles his biz like a champ.  The only thing he refuses to do all on his own is pick out his own clothes because he "doesn't know what looks good together." So I have to lay out a little outfit for him every morning so he "looks good." Adorbs.

Wm has even outgrown his little kid bike, so we are going to go shopping this weekend with Mimi to get him a BIG kid bike!

This cracked me up…
Wm: Where will I go when I'm done with elementary school?
Steve: Middle school.
Wm: What grade is that?
Steve: 6-7-8
Me: Then high school is 9-10-11-12.
Wm: Then work?
Me: Then college.
Wm: How many years is college?
Steve: 4.
Wm: Then work?
Me: Then grad school!
Wm: How many years is that?
Me: If you're getting your Ph.D., it will be at least 4 more.
Wm: THEN work?
Steve: Yeah.
Wm: What if I don't want to work?
Me: You can stay in college and teach.
Wm: What if I just want to stay at home?
Me: And do what?
Wm: Lay around.
Me: Then you won't have a home to lay around IN.
Wm: Why not?
Me: How are you going to pay for it?
Wm: Hm.
Me: But you don't have to work in an office like me. You could be a writer or an artist or baseball player or something else where you are out and about. Daddy is out and about a lot!
Wm: Can I play video games?
Steve: You can invent new video games.
Wm: YES!

Workin' Kid

Wm came to work with me on Monday.  I usually set him up in "his" office when he comes in.  It's basically the reception area/waiting room where students flow in to see me and my student assistants usually sit.  When Wm is here, I keep the door closed to that office and just open my door that goes directly into the hallway (I have a font door and a back door).  Here is a picture of Wm hanging out in his office:

My office attaches to the waiting room by a door that I keep open when Wm is in there, but is always closed otherwise (so no one sneaks up behind me).  So yesterday, the hall door to the waiting room was open (my student assistant left and didn't close it behind him) and my office door to the hallway was closed (but my adjoining door was open so I could hear everything happening in the waiting room).  And then this happened…

Random Student: Uhhhhh.

Wm: [silence]

RS: Hello?

Wm: Hello.

RS: Is…uhhhh…Cory here?

Wm: Yes.

RS: Ummmm.  Can I see her?

Wm: I don't know.

RS: Uhhhh…mmmmm….

Me: [popping my head in] Oh, you met my new secretary.  C'mon in.

RS: Haaa…uhhhh…OK. Should I come through the…uhhhh…this door?

Me: Yeah, that's fine.

RS: [clearly very uncomfortable]

Wm: Bye!

RS: Um. Bye?

It's finals week and seniors are graduating and going off into the Real World.  So another student stopped by to thank me and brought me these:

Wm was very confused about why a boy brought me flowers.  I told him the boy just brought the flowers as a way to thank me for helping him for 4 years since he was leaving and it was probably the last time I'd ever see him.  Wm goes, "Hmph. They don't even smell good." I told Steve that Wm has his back.  He's on the lookout for possible interlopers. 

Easter Festivities

Wm was on spring break last week.  He spent most of the week at the place where he goes to Summer Clubhouse, but Friday he went to work with Steve (tomorrow he goes with me!) Steve texted me a couple pictures of Wm at Soccer First! 

Taking over Daddy's office

Biggest hemorrhoid ever

Wm also colored eggs!  I told him I wrote a surprise message on an egg that would only show up once it was dyed.  I wrote "fart" in the invisible crayon that they included so Wm had a Fart Egg.  I thought he was going to pee his pants he laughed so hard.  I know my audience. Comedy gold.

Drying

Finished product!

Fart egg being born. BEST MOM EVER.

Easter basket form Grandma & Grandpa.  Schroeder was very curious.

Wm did the Easter egg hunt at church, then Mimi and Guy came over for a late Easter lunch and we had our own hunt in the backyard.  Wm found all the eggs!!  (With only a bit of help - we did super sneaky hiding this year!)

Found eggs!

Jackpot!

The hunt is on...

Hidden IN the tree! 

Misson: Accomplished

It was a super busy weekend, but it could not have been more gorgeous and we had a great time!

Weird

Me: Hey, Wm, FYI, next week me and Daddy are going to 2 Path to Membership classes at church.  For the first one you are going to go to Mimi's to hang out, and during the 2nd one you will just stay at church in the Sunday School room.
Wm: I am OK with that.
Me: Really? Hm. Did I mention they will be sticking you with needles?
Wm: [sigh] Mommy. Church does not do achu-puncture.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wm: [singing loudly in falsetto] BRRRRAAAAHHHHH…TRAAAAA LAAAAAA!!!!
Me: You're weird.
Wm: You're weird-[pause]-er than me.

New Kicks

Wm has never outgrown a pair of shoes.  He destroys them long before that happens.  His latest pair of sneakers developed large, gaping holes along the sides from where he drags them to break his scooter (despite repeated reminders to use the actual break ON the scooter!) So, the Great Shoe Hunt began again.  Wm, like his dad, is very particular about what shoes he will wear.

I caved and let Wm get tie shoes this time.  It takes him (what seems like) hours to get those things tied. Because of the "time suck" issue, the last time I just got him velcro so we could get out the door in a decent amount of time.  Wm wasn't pleased (they were "baby shoes") and I realized that if I don't give in, he'll still be wearing velcro in college. However, the timing is bad because now Schroeder attacks the hell out of Wm's laces as he painstakingly ties and double knots his shoes.  It took nearly 10 minutes for the whole thing to get done this morning - and ended with me holding an evil, squirmy cat who was trying to lunge at Wm's shoes for the zillionth time and Wm screaming, "GOOOOO AAAAAWAY, CAT!!!!!"

BUT - how cute is he in his new fancy kicks?

Poodle Someone

Steve has worked his butt off all weekend - and he is exhausted.  He came home from work today and immediately fell asleep on the couch.  I was sitting nearby reading and he suddenly says, "poodle someone." I go, "uhhh…what?" And he again goes, "POODLE SOMEONE." I asked, "do you know what you're saying right now?" And Steve said, "could be." HAHA!  I just ignored him and he continued snoozing.  Once he woke up, he had no memory of this conversation at all.  Good times.

During Steve's absence, Wm and I have also been busy.  Wm has been a SUPER big help!!  After breakfast, he folded his laundry with minimal reminders.  Then, we went grocery shopping and Wm pushed the cart for me the whole time, helped me load up the groceries onto the conveyor, and even bagged one ("like a puzzle") bag himself before the bagger came and took over (Wm did a better job, actually).  Then, he helped me load the groceries into the car and carried them into the house and helped me put them away.  I was so impressed with him, I go, "let me take a picture of you to send to Daddy so he can see what a big help you are!" Wm goes, "DO NOT TAKE MY PICTURE IN THE STORE."  Needless to say, I didn't listen.  Wm's embarrassment does not faze me.  So this is the picture Steve got:

Humiliated by Mom in public

In my constant quest to get Wm to eat food of any kind, I signed us up for this service that delivers 5 healthy snacks every month.  This month, we got: "lemon zinger" pistachios, dried berry blend - blueberries, cherries, and cranberries, vanilla almond granola, sesame sticks and "pretzel balls." Wm discovered he loves pistachios!  Success!!!   Interestingly, the only thing he didn't care for were the pretzel snacks, which was the one thing I was sure he'd love. Here he is pointing out the granola, which he was very interested in trying (and devoured!)

We had the shower tiles professionally regrouted, sealed, and bathtub caulked last week.  We haven't been able to take a shower for over a week.  Baths do not cut it.  We have all felt sticky, smelly, and gross for a week.  FINALLY, tonight we all took looooong showers.  As we were tucking Wm into bed, I go, "doesn't everyone feel awesome after a shower?" Steve agreed, then Wm goes, "I ALWAYS feel awesome. Because I AM awesome." Truer words...

Cake Disaster

We are going to friends' for dinner tonight and I was in charge of bringing dessert.  Steve works all weekend, so Wm and I walked to the store and got all the stuff to make the vegan chocolate cake that Wm LOVES.  We walked home and painstakingly made the cake.  It was all done, I was taking it out of the oven, then this happened...

Yup. I dropped it. 

I was quite sad - and Wm thought it was hilarious.  So I then decided to invent "Cory's Mudslide Cake." The frosting is melted chocolate chips and coconut cream - when it's melty it's totally liquid.  Then it sort of solidifies into a mousse-like consistency.  So I salvaged what cake I could, roughly chunked it up, and mixed it with the liquid frosting.  When it sets, it should be like a mousse-y cake-coction. It won't be pretty…but it will be delicious.  And I am totally pretending like I did the whole thing on purpose when I arrive with it this evening.

Cory's Mudslide Cake

Wm and I also went to Target because his lunch bag is disintegrating.  He is currently OBSESSED with Minecraft (just like every other boy between the ages of 6 and 11).  We found a Minecraft lunchbox and he found some weird Minecraft folding paper thing.  He so sadly set it back on the shelf, I couldn't resist giving him an Easter Sophie's Choice.  I told him he gets a present for Easter, but then the candy haul will be next to nil (he isn't really into sweets anyway) - so he could choose an early Easter present or candy on Easter.  Of course, Wm chose present.  I don't think he regrets it….

Very pleased.

It is GORGEOUS outside - sunny and 72.  Next on the agenda is riding the scooter to the playground and running around like a wild man.  

Staying Put

Wm is responsible for feeding and watering the cat.  He sometimes forgets the poor Feline Menace before bed, so when we wake up, the cat is all "MMMMMRRRRROOOOOWWWW!" The cat is not starving, trust me.  He is fat and happy.  But, I took this picture of him to show Wm that when he forgets, the cat can't even move:

No really hungry.  Promise. Just resting after destroying something.

It's a shame the picture didn't come out better, because the cat's face is literally smashed, nose down, against the carpet.  And he is just laying there in the middle of the floor for no apparent reason.  When I saw him, I go, "is the cat dead?" Then we heard his kitty snores.  Wm has taken to carrying Schroeder around the house "like a baby." The cats makes weird soft squeaking noises and pleads at us with his eyes while this is going on…but tolerates it like a champ.  When we tell Wm to put him down, Wm goes, "he likes it!" Not so much, buddy…

Then, I have good news and bad news.  To sum up a fairly long and stressful school sitch - a VERY vocal group of parents whose ECLIPSE programs were closed basically shut down all the changes for the coming year completely.  And, since one of the changes was extending ECLIPSE to include 3rd grade, that means that is out.  Wm is suuuuper disappointed.  I went in and talked with the principal at Wm's school and she was very positive and reassuring about what his current school can do to help him.  So, we're all feeling much better.  Still disappointing (and none of us can believe how poorly this was handled by the district!), but not the end of the world.  So, Wm will stay where he is for 3rd grade and then the invitation stands for 4th grade - so it's just postponing ECLIPSE for a year.  So, bad news is that a vocal minority of parents ruined a good thing for Wm - but the good news is that he seems OK staying where he is for one more year! 

Friends!

There have always been a lot of kids on our street.  But they were either girls (gross…girl cooties!) or much younger or older than Wm.  But, a few doors down some new folks moved in with a boy just one year older than Wm!  Yesterday evening, for the first time ever, a boy came and rang our doorbell and asked, "can Wm come out and play?" And he did!  By himself!  I couldn't resist sneaking a picture of Wm out engaging in his first neighborhood solo playing (not a some lame "play date" arranged and supervised by an adult - which seems to be the new normal these days).  I should mention that Wm does often play with some of the girls his age and they do come over and ask him to play, but he's never really thrilled with it.  He sort of begrudgingly goes out to play (and never goes over to ask them to play).  He's not a weird hermit or anything. But, this was the first time he had a great time and will likely reciprocate!!

Wm is the tiny speck in a red shirt

We also took Wm to the playground at, what will likely be, his new school.  He was not at all excited about changing schools and had said he didn't want to do ECLIPSE.  After playing on the playground, he declared it "awesome," and was very gung-ho about ECLIPSE.  So I teased him about making up his mind based on a sweet playground and he goes, "No, Mommy, I thought about it last night in bed.  I had lots of thoughts.  I thought of all the positives and negatives. And there were lots of positives and only one negative."  So I asked him what the one negative was and he goes, "leaving all my friends." Then I asked him what the all the positives were and he goes, "awesome playground." We have to send in our acceptance of his ECLIPSE placement by Friday.  I figure we'll wait until the deadline just to make sure everyone is on the same page - but, for now, it seems 99.99% that Wm will be changing schools! 

Medium Evil

Teeth continue to fall out of Wm's head.  He now has that 2nd grade scraggly smile with missing teeth, new teeth coming in all at different rates, and all kinds of weird things going on.  Good times...

I call Wm "Tiny Evil" all the time.  So the other day I was talking to Steve and called him Big Evil.  Yesterday, Wm says to me, "Hey, Medium Evil, can I have a snack?"  

Then, I was trying to reach the box of tissues Steve put on top of the kitchen cabinets and I'm almost a foot too short to even get close.  I go, "Hey, Longshanks, can you come get me the tissues?" Wm says, "What?" I go, "I'm talking to Daddy.  You're Shortshanks." And he goes, "Oh…right."  Haha!!

ECLIPSE

BIG news on the Super Genius front.  We got a letter in the mail today that Wm has been invited to participate in the ECLIPSE Program for gifted kids (or, as they call them in the letter "Superior Cognitive Ability" children). This is the first time ever that it has been extended to kids going into 3rd grade (it has historically been 4th and 5th grade only).  The reason this is a big deal is that Wm would have to leave his current school and go to a different school - leaving all his friends and familiar things behind.  He would be with the same small class of ECLIPSE kids for grades 3, 4, 5 at his new "home school."  The new school is still in The Ville - but a few miles away.  Where he goes to Before School would still drop him off there, but I would have to pick him up.  No more walking! The craziest part is that we have ONE WEEK to make up our minds.  Since Wm is one of the first 2nd grade invitees, we were not included in any tours or info sessions in February - like other parents.  So we are going on very limited info. I have set up a meeting with the principal and called the G&T Program to see if we can tour the ECLIPSE classroom he has been assigned to in order to help us decide.  This could be very big for Wm!!  No matter what - it's super exciting!!  Wm has been feeling increasingly bored and isolated in his current class, so this could be just what the doctor ordered!

Blew It

I have totally failed at April Fool's Day so far.  I woke up and planned to scream at Steve, "OH MY GOD, IT'S 7:30 YOU ARE LATE LATE LATE LATE!" and watch him freeeeeak out.  Then I woke up and totally forgot because it was very early and I was very sleepy.  I was then going to tell Wm that his school burned down so they just decided to start summer break early.  Then I got busy making his breakfast and forgot.  I remembered when I got to work, tried to call Steve quickly so that he could do it, but he had just dropped Wm off.  DISAPPOINTED.  Now everyone will be on guard and I will have to think of something epic in order to fool them. Let the games begin!

Also, this cracked me up.  Steve has very specific ideas on all things…
Me: What do you think of my dress?
Steve: Very cute.!! Wait. Why do you look weirdly tall?
Me: I have on heels.
Steve: Don't like it.
Me: Dude, they are like 2 inch heels.  That catapults me from 5'3" to a towering 5"5.  Maybe 2.5" max.
Steve: It's creeping me out. You've never worn heels.  You look weird like that. No heels.
Me: I think it will be nice.  You are annoyingly taller than me and it makes dancing awkward.  Now I can reach you! You are still at least 6" taller than me, even in these heels. My head will actually reach your shoulder! Nice, right?
Steve: NOPE.
Me: I'm wearing them!!!
Steve: Well, I'm not gonna like it.
Me: Fine.
Steve: Fine.
(I'm sure I will have the heels on for about 30 minutes before I can't take it anymore and change into my chucks - which will, of course, be in the car on standby.)

Also, Wm loves himself some natural disasters.  So we picked up Twister from the library last night.  Wm loooooved it.  Except the end.  Where there were smooches. I go, "uh oh, Wm…it looks like there may be kissy face coming." He goes, "nah…they are getting a divorce." Sure enough, big, fat kiss.  I go, "looks like the divorce is off." Wm yelled, "WHY DO THEY RUIN ALL THESE MOVIES WITH KISSING?!?!"