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?!?!"