Wally and the Beav

I had this moment on Sunday when I thought I really might be living in some sort of idyllic family sitcom. Actually, several moments.

I was making a casserole (or "hotdish" as we call it in Minnesota). Ryker was in his high chair having a snack while Jack was helping Chuck in the garage. Then Jack went over to the new neighbor's house and it hit me - I could step onto our deck and yell into the neighbor's yard "Jackson - come wash up for dinner!" Of course, to really look like June Cleaver I would have to change out of my sweats, shower, curl my hair, put on makeup and (buy and) don an apron. But still, my kid was over at the neighbor's. Maybe all of you have already experienced that, but I hadn't. Jack's always in our yard, playing with us.

It really was a surreal moment for me. I put the hotdish on a timer, bundled Ryker up and walked over there to meet them myself (Chuck already had so we knew they were safe and all). I was still unshowered and in sweats and Ryker had mashed potatoes in his hair, but I thought it was more important to go meet them than to look pretty.

As if we weren't already living in some fantasy-neighborhood-world, two more neighbor kids came to join the fun, so we ended up with eight kids and six parents in the yard watching the kids play in a leaf pile, throw a football, ride on the tireswing, and be pushed around in a wheelbarrow. It was SO FUN. And when it got dark we walked back to our house, unbundled and sat down for Tator Tot Hotdish warm from the oven.

I think I've mentioned this before, but when I was a freshman in high school my English teacher berated me for an essay I wrote about my dream life. I said I wanted a white house with a white picket fence - the "American Dream." I really did want it, only at that time I didn't know the house would be a beige rambler in Minnesota with hotdish in the oven. And I forgot to add the part about the awesome neighbor kids.

Live and In Person

I've been getting some flack for not having enough videos up, so here is one I took today.

This is Ryker dancing and walking backwards. (Walking backwards was only accomplished today, so this is the first anyone has seen it.)

Try to contain your excitement. This sort of thing is REALLY entertaining when you've been home with him on and off all week. We need to get out.

Baby Book Type Things

Thought I'd better do a post to chronicle what the kids are up to at their current ages.

Ryker - 16 months

Likes: Dipping his socked-feet into Tug's water; walking around carrying things; being chased by Jackson; eating; pushing his lion around; blowing his nose; dancing; rocking on his rocking-cow; rearranging our kitchen drawers; helping to shut the dishwasher; the theme song from CBS Sunday Morning

Dislikes: Being fed the wrong food; getting stuck somewhere; diaper changes; when we tickle Jack; being kept away from the big kid toys

Jackson - 4 years

Likes: spaghetti with butter, Parmesan cheese and corn; sharpening pencils; using a three-hole-punch; drawing octopuses; cutting paper into very small pieces; saying "do you know who I am? I'm J-A-C-K-S-O-N - Jackson"; riding his bike; pumpkins; helping Daddy

Dislikes: Mommy working late; any food that's green; gatherings that don't include kids; going to bed

Birthday Presents

Today was my birthday. Here's how it went down.

I awoke to Jack whispering Happy Birthday to me. Then he went away and I faded back into sleep. I awoke again to him pushing a card into my face and turning on the light on my nightstand. The card had princesses on it and said Happy Birthday to the Prettiest Princess in the Land (it's at work so I can't remember the exact phrase, but that's pretty close). He had written his numbers in it. And it had glitter.

I went to work and figured my coworkers would forget my birthday because it's a CRAZY busy time right now. So I was prepared. But I got in and they immediately swarmed and brought in pastries and sang to me. They fed me lunch as well, and a cupcake for dessert. Several tried to boost my immune system as well, which is sweet (several packets of Emer-gen-c, cough drops, etc.). I think they really don't want me bailing on our big Gala this weekend.

On my way out of the museum I stopped by the event that was going on and was toasted by a few colleagues and given a sip of Vodka (hard-core coworkers).

Then I came home and Jack made me a few art projects and talked about my birthday a lot. Ryker fell asleep while I was putting him to bed, so I got to rock him and hold him and cuddle.

I just ordered some yummy Italian food and am watching reality TV and am, in general, a happy happy camper.

Thanks to all for making my day a great one.

Ummmm....

So I asked Jack what he wants to be for Halloween. I wasn't sure what I expected him to say, but it definitely wasn't this:

"A FLOWER!"

Ummm, okay. That's really sweet. The only problem with that, I'm finding, is that they only make them them for girls - complete with tutu bottoms and sequined tops.

And I really want to be the mom that lets her boy wear that to school and off to Trick or Treat. But I know the kids at his school, and they'd make fun of him. He's taken some ribbing recently for sucking his thumb, so I can only imagine what the kids would say to him if he came to school in a tutu.

--Filed under Moral Dilemmas of a Liberal Mom

Things I Learned At Work on Friday

1) People aren't nearly as surprised to have you deliver champagne to their doors as you might anticipate.

2) If you overrun an address, you're likely to end up driving straight onto a golf course.

3) Finding the house is only half the battle - finding the door is the other half.

4) An iPod and TomTom can solve most any problem.

5) Your need to pee is in direct proportion to the availability of a bathroom.

6) Some people will have no time for you - some will invite you in for coffee, a coke and chocolate and want your opinion on the upcoming exhibition, their grandchildren, and Vermeer's career. You will only have opinions on two of those.

7) Some neighborhoods will confuse you and label two houses as 6501 - and they will be across the street from one another.

You Know You're a Parent When...

...you try to take a moment for yourself in the bathroom, only to have your 4 year old stand outside the door cheering "Come out now! Come out now!" with a megaphone and pompoms.

Do You Ever...

...feel like you are being chased around by a highchair?

No?....No one?...Just me?

Well, it's because I AM BEING CHASED BY A HIGHCHAIR - every time Ryker is hungry. He can't verbally communicate as well as he wants, so he finds other methods. Like pushing his highchair into whatever room I am in and then RAMMING it into me. Over and over and over. And the whole time he is repeating "want DEEESE!!!"