Picture Roundup

Now that Christmas presents have been distributed, I can show off the rest of the family pictures we got. The one we got for ourselves is mounted in a 3 picture frame thing, so it can't be scanned. So, unfortunately, these are pictures of pictures. But...you get the idea:

Family pic

Cutest.

Steve actually smiling naturally!!!

What it looks like on our wall

Steve and I are painting the downstairs trim in the house today (upstairs tomorrow!) so we are covered in paint and smelly and (Steve, anyway) very grumpy. Steve hates painting so he has something of a bad attitude about the whole business. But, it REALLY needed it - especially if we are  going to put the house on the market soon!! I let him get pizza for lunch and now he's singing along happily with Pandora. Grease/Coke is the secret to Steve's happiness. 

Wm goes to the eye doctor the day after tomorrow. Guy let him try on his glasses and it was pretty much the cutest thing in the whole world. I want him to get these exact frames in kid size. I am so excited!!! Wm...not as much.

Christmas Conclusion

Christmas celebrations have officially ended!! We went to Papa & Donna's house yesterday and had a super nice visit - and, of course, Wm got amazing presents! He got special nerf gun shooting glasses that he wore to Holiday Clubhouse today. Apparently they were very popular. As we walked home, 2 different people called out, "nice shades, bud!" Wm was happy as a clam!!

Wm: [running around like a psycho and trying to shoot me with his new nerf gun]

Me: Wm, please don't point that gun at my face.

Wm: It's a nerf gun! It won't hurt you!

Me: You should never point any sort of weapon, toy or not, at any person or animal.

Wm: What about the cat?

Me: NO! Do not shoot the cat.

Wm: Hmph. Fine. AYE AYE AYE AYE!!!! [insane shrieking and tearing around]

Me: WM! Listen, man, I am REALLY hungry right now and I'm feeling very cranky. Daddy is picking up some food right now. And until I eat, my fuse is going to be really short. I realize you're not doing anything bad, but if you could just quiet down and be nice and calm, it would really help me out. I don't want to yell at you or be mean just because I'm hungry and crabby.

Wm: [Immediately stopping] Thank you for telling me that so nicely. I will go play quietly in my room until dinner. [pause] You know, I get crabby when I am hungry too. I will try to remember how to be nice when I'm hungry next time!

#WINNING

(Also, that is what Wm said verbatim, which made me laugh A LOT and I was in a much better mood until dinner! I loved the "thank you for telling me that so nicely." HA! Wm is a laugh riot.)

Happy Themes

We went hiking today to enjoy yet another unseasonably warm day. I have been reading an interesting book, so I decided the hike would be a good time to ensnare the unsuspecting boys in a book discussion (unbeknownst to them!) So I asked them what the happiest moments of their lives were. After we all talked about the happiest moments, I told them they were then supposed to look at the commonalities in those moments and try to think of what the themes of their happiness are. Wm's was easy. Getting stuff makes Wm happy. I told him he is a "tiny consumer" and he goes, "what's that?" And I said, "A consumer is someone who just wants to get more and more and more and more stuff they think they need...but that they really don't NEED." His response: "But I need it." I rest my case.

Another problem arose when Steve and I discovered our themes are, somewhat, in conflict. We each identified 2 themes - and, luckily, "family" was a common theme! But, Steve's other happiness theme was "travel," while mine was "home." BUM BUM BUUUUUM.

The idea is to decrease the time and energy you spend working towards things that aren't part of your happiness themes and to use the extra time you then have to spend more time concentrating on what make you truly happy. When I told them that, Wm was like, "I will have to concentrate on making a lot of money." I was like, "THAT IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE POINT OF THIS WAS."

In other news, Wm was mad at me yesterday because we finished Where the Red Fern Grows. SPOILER ALERT: the dogs both die incredibly sad deaths at the end saving the boy from a mountain lion. Wm was like, "Uhhhhh...can you stop picking books that have terrible endings?!?" He still hasn't forgiven me for Charlotte's Web. We started The Call of the Wild - and, so far, it's pretty gruesome. I don't remember what happens at the end...but I am REALLY hoping things turn out well!! Otherwise, Wm may mutiny.

The Day After

We had a GREAT Christmas! We were so exhausted after we got everything put away and cleaned up last night that I fell asleep and didn't have time to post about the rest of the day. We had a great visit with Grandma & Grandpa and Mimi & Guy and ate so much we could barely stand (and then Steve and I hit the fridge for a late night leftover binge and did it to ourselves again!) As we put Wm to bed, he kept repeating, "this was the best Christmas EVER!"

This was how he spent his day

Fancy new slippers and hat!

Today is in the 50's and has bright blue skies! (Right after I finished saying we never have bright blue skies in the winter!) So I took a long walk and soaked up some of the mid-winter gorgeous weather while Wm played on his new computer and Steve fixed the demon light in the kitchen (YAY Steve!) The boys are getting ready to go outside and play with Wm's new helicopter while I brave Kohl's.

Wm hurt his knee at Holiday Clubhouse on Tuesday and it has been bothering him the last couple days. But, last night, as he was going to sleep, he goes, "Hey - I just realized that my knee doesn't hurt anymore. Maybe Jesus Christ cured my knee in honor of his birthday. HA!" He was very proud of his joke and laughed his butt off at his own hilarity. 

And now we are going to take down the Christmas tree so Steve will no longer be tempted to kill the cat. Speaking of...

Christmas Morning

We had a great Christmas Eve. We ate a ton of pig products and pie. Wm really enjoyed the Christmas Eve service at church - and, for the big finale, the power actually went out at the exact moment we were lighting the candles to sing Silent Night!! I think that's the first thunderstorm warning we've ever had on Christmas Eve! It was nearly 60 degrees! Then Mimi and Guy came back here after church to eat some pie - and we got to open presents from Uncle Drew and Aunt Jess. Wm loved his flickering Medieval torch! Wm went to bed and fell asleep after only a little bit of excitement insomnia. Then Steve and I wrapped presents while we watched Love Actually. And then I crashed hard.

Wm is such a weirdo. He sleeps like a log. For yet another year, Steve and I were up and waiting for him in bed when he finally woke up and came in. Then, just teasing, I said, "hey, let's snuggle for a while before we open presents." Wm goes, "OK!" Unbelievable!!  Of course, I told him we could go right down and open presents...

Pre-opening anticipation. And the ever-present Schroeder tail.

The opening begins!

Stocking goodies! Schroeder supervising.

For The Big Opening, I had to video tape it. And Wm's excitement has only grown exponentially as it sunk it exactly what he got!

After we sat around eating warm cinnamon rolls, Wm was taking his plate into the kitchen and grabbed Steve's and took it in as well. When Steve thanked him, he goes, "It's Christmas!!!" He is one happy little man!

There is much more Christmas excitement to come, so I will update as things progress!!

Christmas Eve Eve

The school nurse called me last week and scared me half to death. She needs to open with "your kid is fine." She was just calling to tell me Wm needs glasses. Again. They sent a form home so I am well aware. Wm goes to the eye doctor on January 2 (the earliest day I could get him in with the holidays). When Wm got home, I told him the nurse called and he was like, "Jeez - she stopped me the in the hall and I TOLD her I am going to the eye doctor January 2!" Ha! He was very disgruntled that she didn't take his word for it. I have been looking at all sorts of kids frames online and getting more and more excited about the fun hipster glasses I am going to get him! The only problem is that Wm has ideas of his own and is proving stubborn. I showed him the glasses I liked and was all, "and I can get you one of those awesome bow ties from Wholly Craft and you will be the cutest human alive!" Wm goes, "NO NERD!" So….he may be raining on my parade.

Wm has been at Holiday Clubhouse yesterday and today. Then the whole family is off together the rest of the week - even Steve! Yay!!! Wm is sooooo excited for Christmas! Tomorrow, we are planning to have a big dinner at around 3pm and then head to the family service at church at 5:30. When we get home, we will turn on some Christmas music, have light finger foods, hot chocolate, and each open one present. Then we'll watch a Christmas movie and hit the sack. (Or, Wm will  - and Steve and I will be gift wrapping fools!) On Christmas morning, Wm gets to open his BIG present. He has been pleading for his own computer, but he's 8 years old and those things are expensive!! BUT, they were having a crazy sale at Office Max and Steve had accumulated a TON of "points" there, so we managed to get him his own laptop for not too much money! Wm has NO idea - I can't wait to see his face when he opens it Christmas morning!!

Last Day!

Today is Wm's last day of school before winter break. He is SOOOO excited. One of his fair fish finally croaked and Wm had a very short and very tear-free fish funeral in front of the toilet. His excitement over Christmas totally overshadowed the loss of a fish. And, two more are still kicking anyway! He was amazed that we just flushed the fish corpse. I don't know if he expected a burial or what. But he was like, "You just threw it in the potty??????"

The Wm&Cory Book Club has moved on to a new common read. We are about halfway through Where the Red Fern Grows now and Wm is really liking it! At first, he was having a hard time figuring out why the kid was weeping and wailing over 23 cents. And why the entire family was AMAZED that the kid could save $50 in 2 years. I had to explain that back then, that was big, BIG money. I said, "Did you see how hard he worked to reach his goal? How he saved and saved? And was so dedicated? Then he was SO happy when he reached his goal? That is what hard work and perseverance will do, Wm! You should take note!" He was all, "Meh."

Random

They do cup stacking in gym (for some reason) and Wm insanely loves it. Here he is with his amigos, celebrating their stacking victory.

Our neighbor sent a card out that said if Wm decorated it and we posted it on Facebook, he will donate to charity. Wm's turned out super cute!!

X-treme close up

And, lastly, here is what it's like to live with Wm. Notice he is completely alone at the table (painting). Talking to himself. Avidly. Having a fabulous time. And bouncing. As usual. 

Happy Birthday, Steve!

Steve is 38 years old today!!! I told him we should take the day off and party down, but he said he needed to go to work. Every party has a pooper. Steve pooped his own birthday. But we partied it up this weekend. Suzanne came over on Saturday and I made him a feast: beer brisket, mushroom rice, asparagus, and a chocolate lava cake for dessert. When I asked Steve what he wanted to do for his birthday weekend, the weirdo wanted to make a wreath. Takes all kinds, I guess. So…he made a wreath:

It actually lights up…you can't tell in the pic. Fancy.

Wm also said he "wants to be a sketch artist," so we got him fancy art paper and some fancy art pencils and he's been drawing away. When I left for covenant group last night, Wm was crafting and watching a documentary on Stephen Hawking. He's an odd kid. 

We were watching a movie last night and Wm says to Steve, "he's like you - always worried about what COULD happen instead of what IS happening." SNaP. 

Now that I know Wm can do a pretty good accent, I have been feeding him fun lines. Here's my favorite. I told him to try and look "sad and hungry," but he lost it near the end:

Good times

Wm is full of good times...

Me: [to Steve] I read an article about how Ferraris aren't really good cars to drive. It said that if people want the best driving experience they should get a Porsche.
Wm: What's a Porsche?
Steve: My favorite kind of car. It's my dream car.
Wm: Are they good in the snow?
Practical.

Wm: Can I play on the iPad?
Me: Sure.
Wm: They should call it the iPal.
Me: Why?
Wm: Because it's my BFF.
Sigh.

Wm also has been painstakingly working on a picture for Steve for his birthday.

Kinda creepy. But whatevs.

But, my favorite part is the letter he wrote to go with it:

I love you lots, and I hope you have 

a GREAT birthday. It took a long

time to draw that, so please

don't be mean or tease. It would 

disappoint me to hear.

Love you forever,

Your son William

I asked why he would think someone would be mean or tease him about his pictures and he was like, "Because I don't think it looks good. I was disappointed with how it turned out." He is a temperamental artist.

We are going to the school musical tomorrow (in which Wm refused to participate). It should be fun! We're going to go out for pizza, go the pre-show party, and watch then watch show. Wm is majorly excited!!

Bragging

I wasn't going to post this, and then I figured...the whole purpose of this blog is to pretty much brag on my kid. So, check it out! We got Wm's state-wide OAA test results today (the kids have to get a certain score to pass on to 4th grade so they made a big deal out of them). The key thing you want to look at is the giant orange triangle/arrow thing pointing to Wm's score on the bar.  Which is...off the freakin' charts.

Wm walked in the door after school...

Me: Your OAA results came. We need to talk about them.

Wm: What? Did I rush and miss some?

Me: No. Remember you need to pass to go on to 4th grade?

Wm: Well, now I know you're messing with me because I did awesome.

Me: Oh yeah, you did! Look at your score!

Wm: [fist pump]

Me: BUT - this is troubling.

Wm: Why?

Me: You never want to read with me!!!! 

Wm: Still don't. 

Me: [sigh] Well, you should be a writer! You could be the next Great American Author! 

Wm: Nah.

Me: You're killing me, man.

Wm: I want to code and do math.

Me: Gross.

Wm: Reading is boring.

Me: DAGGER! In my heart!

Wm: Can I get on the computer?

Also, Wm has been refining his "British."

Snack

Wm came home from school yesterday and wanted a snack…

Wm: Can I have a snack?

Me: Sure.

[pause]

Wm: Are you going to get it?

Me: No.

Wm: Why not?

Me: Because I'm not your servant and you are old enough to get your own snack.

Wm: Ugh. Pleeeeeease? 

Me: Get your own snack, man. There's a ton of stuff in there - go look.

Wm: PLEEEEEASE!!! 

Me: [ignore]

Wm: MOOOOOOOM!

Me: There are some cherries in the kitchen. Go get some of those. Or an apple.

Wm: NOTHING HEALTHY.

And then the little bugger starved until dinner rather than get his own snack or eat fruit. It was taco night, so he was then pleased as punch and cleaned his plate (and even ate his carrots). Tacos are a favorite Wm dinner. 

We went to Mimi's for a belated Thanksgiving/Steve's birthday celebration and Guy let Wm (and Steve!) play his accordion. Wm LOVES the accordion. 

Also, Mimi and Guy's cat, Winston, lays hilariously - with his back legs splayed out behind him (Mimi said he does this when he's exhausted, which makes sense, since we ran him ragged).

He even let Wm pet him!!

Kill the Cat

Schroeder seems to believe we put up the Christmas tree for his sole enjoyment. And he most enjoys destroying it. He has a vendetta against an ornament of a snowman skiing - no matter how high we put it, he gets it and attacks the crap out of it. We eventually just had to take it down. When I got home from work yesterday, I texted Steve (who has Schroeder firmly on his Naughty List):

Schroeder had a very traumatic morning - it was time for his annual checkup and shots. Steve took him to the vet and said when he pulled him out of his box, he had puffed up his fur so he looked twice his size and kept mournfully yowling throughout the entire ordeal. And, also, he's fat. Official confirmation. The vet said he needs to go on a cat diet. BUT - the best part of all of everything is that it led to this (and, yes, that is me snorting with the force of trying to hold in my laughter):

Tough Conversation

Wm came home from school today and asked what's happening with the "police controversy." Apparently some boy at school brought it up and Wm had questions. So we explained, in general terms, what's been happening. We told him that many people, including us, are very upset because they think the police, and society, treats black people differently than white people - and we used that as a jumping off point to move the conversation over to racism and intolerance. (We also made sure that he still feels safe around police if he needs help!! And also made sure he knew that police are there to help/protect him and that most of them are very good people - which is an easy thing to do since he immediately said, "I know most police are good guys...Uncle Drew is definitely good.")

We told him that if see/hears someone being racist or intolerant, it is imperative that he not ignore it - that racism is never to be tolerated (and that silence is not acceptable). We were talking about ways to address racism in different scenarios and I asked what he could say if he heard someone say something mean about being Jewish and he goes, "I'd say, 'KNOCK IT OFF, HITLER!'"

Wm seemed satisfied with that, asked a couple more questions, and then changed gears by asked me what my favorite element was. When I said, "plutonium," he goes, "THAT'S MY FAVORITE ELEMENT TOO! We have the same favorite element!!" Which he seemed weirdly excited about.

Thinkin' thoughts

Christmas Readiness

It was in the 60's on Sunday, so it felt weird to be getting ready for Christmas - but it was the perfect day to put up the outside lights!! We are now ready for the holidays…and hoping for a better Christmas season than we had Thanksgiving season!

Putting the star on top!

And, some much needed good news!! The dishwasher broke nearly a week ago and Steve took the whole thing apart - so there were tools and dishwasher pieces all over the kitchen (and dirty dishes!) But, the part he thought he needed came yesterday, so he could finally finish it off!! Apparently there was some controversy about whether that was, indeed, the problem, so he was very nervous this was all for nothing. He clanked around in there for about an hour and then we crossed our fingers and started to run it. A leak. Not good. More clanking. We ran it again. SUCCESS!!! Steve found the correct burnt out part, fixed it, fixed the leak, and now the dishwasher is once again running!! YAY!!!! I cleaned the whole kitchen yesterday evening after Steve was done and it looks normal again. We needed a win!  And now that I know Steve is capable of doing these things, I told him he has to fix the finicky kitchen light next. 

While we were making bags of bean soup mix at church, Wm's table ran out of beans and Wm yelled to me, "We're out of beans!!! HASHTAG MORE BEANS!"