Over five years ago, we were shopping for an inexpensive, lightweight stroller to take on a trip to NYC. Hotwheel Hubs had a business trip there, and I had never been before. Neither had Finn, in all of his four months, but he had never been anywhere so he didn't count.
We had a great time. The stroller was perfect - not too bulky, and it had a handy shoulder strap that you could sling across your back when it was folded up. We've put some mileage on that stroller since. The zoo, the botanical gardens, the beach.
Pretty soon, we're taking it somewhere else...
Something tells me this stroller just isn't going to cut it.
Well, at least 2 out of 5 days of the week there will be none. Until after lunch. Then there will be one... until 2:30. Then there will be two again. Who can keep up??
It's the first day of Kindergarten, and Finn is at least three inches taller than everyone in his class. This morning we had to make "three pancakes with bacon on the side and a scrambled egg on top", just like his favorite Little Critter book.
His buddy/hero, James, came by last week and gave Finn some special lucky charms for school. "Frank" is a Frankenstein Robot charm that Finn put on his backpack.
Eli starts a new preschool class two days a week. Open House is this morning.
Finn had to learn his student number and teacher's name.
In the car line, we had just enough time to drop him off and snap a picture before Finn pulled away and headed inside. He was so excited!
I recently conducted interviews with each beastie boy to record the things they hold most dear at the moment. Their answers were pretty straightforward, and I tried to quote them as much as possible here.
Finn's Favs:
Color - Red
Animal - Cheetah, "because they are so yellow and I can run like one."
Food - Strawberries and cheese pizza
Book - The Wizard of Oz
Song - Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show. We have to sing it to him every night before he goes to sleep.
Hobby - collecting robots of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Holiday - Halloween!
Career Choice - "I love to cook. I want to be a Chef and open 'Finn's Diner' in Disney World."
Super Hero - Link (from Zelda)
Movies - Edward Scissorhands, Howl's Moving Castle, Wizard of Oz, Nightmare Before Christmas
Eli's Favs:
Color - Blue
Animal - Puppies
Food - "Ovals" (deviled eggs - he will eat 7-8 of them at a time. NOT pretty.) Grapes, spaghetti, black olives, supreme pizza, mac & cheese, pad thai, tacos, anything with bacon in it, Berry Berry Kix, mangoes, apples with peanut butter, ravioli, ABC soup, "Ponyo noodles" (ramen with ham), hot dogs, pancakes, chips & salsa.
He's an eater.
Book - Whatever we're reading at the moment. He's not picky when it comes to literature.
Song - Anything White Stripes or ACDC. Especially this song:
Hobby - Dressing up in various & sundry super hero garb. Toy sword collecting... he has 9 at last count.
Holiday - His own birthday, of course!
Career Choice - Ninja
Super Hero - Batman, Spiderman, Iron Man, Wolverine, Link, Samurai Jack.
Me: "Now when we get to tap class, I want you guys to listen to your teacher and not horse around... Deal?"
Finn: "..... Ummm, Mom, I'm going to have to stop making so many deals with you all the time. We have so many deals my head is going to 'splode."
Eli (without hesitation): "Then we'll have to get you a robot head."
Finn: "Oh. Well. OK!"
Finn, to his dance teacher -
"My mom said if we do something hard or if I get tired I can sit down and watch."
(I so did not say that.)
Finn, at least 3 times a week -
"This is the most awesome day EVER!"
Both -
"When can we spend the night with Nana/Papa/Grandmother/Grandaddy/Abby/Anna Grace/Kieran-and-Connery???"
Eli, after watching Finn's tooth fall out -
"I'm not going to get big teeth in my mouth. I'll just keep these little teeth. And all my blood."
Not a quote but an awfully good piece of art -
The boys have spent part of the summer ganging up on me during my morning computer time. They are the warriors and I am the evil monster. Specifically, Medusa with the snake hair and the gaze that turns men to stone.
I did something pretty big a few weeks ago. I quit my job.
You know, that Job That Defined Me.
In a nutshell, the situation just wasn't working out anymore - not for me, not for them, not for our budget, and especially not for my family. But I'm proud of the work that I did there, and a part of me will miss it.
So that puts me squarely in a place I never anticipated being - CDG of The Hotwheel Hacienda, SAHMomdom. And DUDE... I am tired. It's only been one little week and I fall into bed and sleep like a dead rock. This new position is about twelve times more physical than my previous one, probably because this is a sample of what we do at 8:00 AM:
I'm not kidding about 8:00 AM...
I'm embracing this new job. There are gardens to tend, a house to organize, pools to swim, cookies to bake, books to read, games to play, skinned knees to smooch, and tears to dry. They are only this little once, and soon enough they will push us away, struggle from our embrace, and retreat to other people and places.
I will stay sane thanks to my husband, my friends, and my derby sisters.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit scared. I've NEVER not been employed, at least not in the past 17 years. I'm banking on staying busy so I can stay out of trouble.
Summer is on its way and the Hotwheel Hacienda's residents are making their plans. Finn finishes preschool and we've got him registered for Kindergarden this Fall, while we took a chance and signed Eli up for the local public preschool lottery. We probably won't get in, but will know for sure soon.
We've got a beach trip planned in the next few weeks, swimming lessons, Fantasy Playhouse summer theater classes, and soccer camp. That's in-between trips to the botanical gardens and the usual day-to-day activities, such as taking care of our veggie garden at home. I'm hoping it will be a full summer - since it's the last one before Finn becomes a real student!
In other news, I survived my first roller derby bout as Bettie PageTurner...
Love child of Melville Dewey and Bettie Page, BPT abandoned her kitten heels for roller skates...
She now employs her generous backside via knocking girls down on the track!
A Reluctant Blog detailing the lives of the Wild W. Boys. A digital babybook of sorts. A place for their book-loving mom to rant, rave, and gush as well as sob, gnash, and dote. Those uninterested need not trouble themselves... family & friends welcome!
