Happy Halloween

Today was my son's Halloween party. The kids were all dressed up in their make-believe finery...princesses to super heroes. They were all very excited because not only did they have a party planned, but they also got to go Trick-or-Treating at the homes of their teacher's relatives and at the classroom next door. The children had been memorizing and practicing a poem which they recited with the mask you see below (the one Zorro made).

Here is Zorro as they finished their Treating. For the third year in a row he is a fireman... (his choice) wearing the exact same costume (I bought it big 3 years ago). I think this may be his last year in it. My, he's growing up.

I know you'd think he would want to be a firefighter when he grows up. But, you'd be wrong. He wants to be a race car.

Uh, no typo there. No, not a race car driver. A race car. I asked. I say, be the best race car you can be, son. I think his aspirations are growing too. It's better than his previous answer... a stop sign. =)

You May Love the Nightlife

Mornings alone with my son are one of our most treasured times. I would go to his room to wake him up for the day and he would ask, "Mom? Do you want to snuggle?"

Do I want to snuggle?!

I get into bed with him and under the covers.

Somedays he is "Copycub" {from Richard Edwards' "Copy me, Copycub"}and I am his mommy bear...we are huddled in our warm, safe cave, ready to hibernate as the snow falls outside the entrance. Sometimes he is an egg and I am a mommy duck. He tells me to sit on him and from beneath me I hear a "crack." Then my fuzzy little duckling emerges in a flurry, amidst the down of the comforter.

Mornings are our time. It's our time to bond over hugs, tickles and lots of pretending, but always with a very real love.

I wonder who I'll be tomorrow.

Not just Fine

Me: "How are you feeling today?"

Zorro: "Quite well."

Not just "fine" or "good." "Quite well." Where does he get these from?!

Not So Hot Stuff

The California Wild Fires are insane. Thankfully, we are far enough away that we aren't in any danger. Unfortunately we are close enough to receive the fallout. The past few days the skies have been a hazy gray. Smoke has thickened the air, surrounding us with a faint stagnanting smell of burning tobacco. It has been steadily raining white ash like Californian snow.

I've been trying to keep Zorro indoors as much as possible, forgoing the park and pumpkin patch. Luckily he has caught a cold which gives me more ammunition as to why he should be playing inside and not outside.

We're doing okay. Hopefully all the fires will be contained and out soon. Until then, we're sitting tight.

My son the Know It All

"Dad? Did you know there is lots of sand at the beach?"

Got Rice?

Talk about addictions!

Thanks to Tanya, I am hooked! For free, you can play a game, test your vocabulary skills, learn a new word, AND donate to a good cause. www.freerice.com Check it out!

My Horror-scope

I try to keep an open mind about most everything... with what I consider to be a healthy dose of skepticism since I do tend to be rather naive and gullible. I shy away from fortune tellers and their ilk... not so much because I'm afraid they might be wrong or right, but because I'm too cheap to spend the money on what will be anyhow. (Yeah, I do believe in fate...but then I also believe in making my own---see how f'ed-up I am.)

But I just so happen to read my forecase yesterday and it struck me dead on with it's seemingly clear and concise insight into the core of my current situation. Here's how it begins:

"You are not one who particularly likes structure, dear Capricorn, but know that you probably need it more than anyone else."

Have I mentioned I hate...loathed...detest conformity?! I hate the little uniformed townhomes and rebel against couture. Hence the no make-up, short Fantastic Sam's hair cut, and Goodwill clothes (but I draw the line at the European no-frills armpits...armpits must be shaved!).

But knowing I intend to homeschool may have given you some clue to my views on the matter. Anyhoo, I also hated to have to account for my time at home. If I did 5 loads of laundry, took care of my son from sun up to sun down, did the grocery shopping, cleaned 1 and 1/2 bathrooms, cleaned the kitchen, had the dishes washed, vacuumed, and fed the dog (and cleaned after the dog), does it really matter how much time I spend on the compter in the meantime?!

Am I digressing? Sorry, venting they say is good.

Back to the horror-scope topic, I'm nonchalant, I've been told. I know what I have to do and will see to it that it gets done but please don't tell me how to do it or I may just have to take drastic measures like...tune you out.

But, it is clear I recognize my own need to organization...hence my revamping of my books and files, reorganizing the house, creating and printing many forms to help keep my life in order. So, that being said, it was refreshing to see it in black and white. It helped to hit home.k

"Today would be a good one to take an honest look at your life and see what kind of adjustmenst need to be made in order for you to keep it all in control."

Kinda sends shivers up the spine, don't it?!

"Discipline is a key element to this day. Try to stay focused and not get distracted by your fluctuating emotions."

Wow.

So, I'm taking a step back and taking a closer look at my life.

• I'm not perfect.
• I don't have to be perfect.
• I need to listen to others' "good intentions."
• Other people may be right some of the time.
• I don't have to get defensive or offended.
• I don't have to do things the "right" way.
• It's okay to do things "my" way.
• I need to speak out loud what is screaming in my heart.

I've decided I have to worry less about how other people may react to what I am doing. I have to not internalize their anger or disapproval. Easier said than done but at least I have a somewhat working plan. I have to know what I am doing is right for me.

Fire Safety Month

We went to our first kids craft day at Home Depot last Saturday and made this cool fire truck (crayon holder) with a bit of help from a very nice Home Depot employee.

It is Fire Safety Month so those with kids may want to check out these two sites:

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/kids/flash.shtm
http://www.sparky.org/index.html

New Truck

Zorro has been wanting a Power Wheels for a long time now. He'll admire them in the stores, sitting in the ones he can, pretending to drive.

We've held off purchasing one since they are a rather pricey toy and storage is a problem.

But, last Friday, we decided the price was right. He'd made it 1 whole week dry in bed sans diapers or pullups. He'd been doing his paperwork without fussing. We'd give him the Power Wheels as a reward and figure out the minor details later.

So my husband tucked the box into our bedroom closet, waiting till after Zorro's bed time to assemble it. The battery took 18 hours to charge so we kept mum (and kept him out of the closet) until it was ready.

We surprise him with the F-150 truck. He is thrilled and amazed, hopping into it immediately. Then he pauses.

"But, there's no cup holder..." he says.

Oy vey! Kids nowadays!

No More

DIAPERS!!

As of Saturday, September 29, 2007, Zorro slept in his underwear.