Sun in Your Eyes

The temps are up and and the sun is out in full effect.

 

 

You can do it, Henry!

Wild Man

What must the yW think of us?

Last week, while Henry's class was studying airplanes, airports, helicopters, etc..., they discussed people who work at the airport and on airplanes.  Mrs. Hannah asked the class what flight attendants can bring you on a plane.  One kid said snacks, one kid said drinks, and Henry shouted out, "She can bring you beer!"

Yesterday, Henry went to the potty and re-entered the classroom without wearing underwear, pants, or shoes.  He didn't just walk in.  He ran around the room.  The teacher (stifling her giggles) told Cory about it, and Cory said, "Henry!  You're not supposed to run around nudie tudie at school!"  And Henry yelled back, "I wasn't nudie tudie!  I was wearing a shirt!"

Good Idea/ Good Day

Last Saturday, Daddy thought it would be a good idea to skip Artistphere, housework, and yardwork.  Instead, he and the boy bought a slip n slide and put on lots of unnecessary gear and pulled out our cheap blow up whale pool.

It was a good idea and a good day.  And those of you familiar with Penny's penchant for water drops know that she was quite satisfied with small sprays of water that landed all over the front yard.

I should note that Daddy did clean out a portion of the garage later on.

You Raise Them to Leave You

It's the circle of life.  In so many ways.

We opted to let the butterflies fly free on Friday evening.  Henry was excited about their departure.  

One of them even flew to the garden, and according to Daddy, when they went to water the garden later, it actually landed on H's shirt and stayed there for a little while.

Not all of the ladies, a term I use loosely, left, though.  It seems that a couple of our younguns opted for a honeymoon.  

They grow up so fast, I guess?  We let them have another night together.  The next day, we let them go, but one didn't make it out unassisted.  It was dead.  What does it all mean?????  (It means that we shouldn't have left the net on the deck since it contained fermenting fruit that attracted a small colony of ants who just might be a Painted Lady predator.  I'm considering using it for a sex ed illustration later, though.  Henry, it will kill you!)

Henry made quick work of dissecting the dead lady.  C'est la vie!  

Super's Theory

When I was preparing for my comprehensive exams for my graduate program, I chose to focus on Super's Theory of Career Development and just incorporate other rehabilitation counseling theories, which fits my brain's need for an outline when under pressure.  It just so happened that I was able to incorporate the theory into one of the exhaustive essay questions.  (Lucky!)  The main reason I chose it, though, was because it really makes sense to me--focusing on personal development, environment, education, and the flux of influence and experience that leads to change and discovery as individuals search for meaningful work.  It was also an uncanny fit for and validation of my own career about-face.

I now find it fascinating that I am not working when my main employment is all about helping people return to the wold of work.  My current job is centered around keeping my baby safe, and my family is of utmost importance to me, but I struggle every single day with the idea that I am stuck at home.  Even here, I contribute very little to our household's daily functioning.  I also wonder how this bed and couch time will influence my eventual return to work since I am losing stamina at a rapid rate.  It will certainly be an adjustment with a mixed bag of emotions.  But, then, very little about being a working mom is without ambiguity.  Heck, nothing about parenting is a sure thing!  As hard as it is to admit, we are just doing the best we can and hoping for happy and responsible adults that will follow their own path towards meaningful living.

My sanity likely hinges on knowing that my husband is amazing--an almost unbelievable source of round the clock uncomplaining support.  In the back of my mind, I also sometimes worry how my apparent laziness will influence Henry's view of work.  Henry sees Daddy work hard, but I think it's important that he sees that I value work, too, not just through appreciation of Cory's employment, but also through my current attitude towards my job as a mother since I am not working right now.  Occasionally, and, admittedly, rarely,  I remind myself to speak about the opportunity to work as opposed to the drudgery of it.

There is a great deal of comfort, though, in that he does talk about what he wants to be when he grows up.  Ironically, it usually encompasses a "Super" Hero.  And I love that his career goals change all the time, and, in keeping with Donald Super's theory, the influences are very obvious.

Most recently, he told us that he wants to be both Spiderman and Batman and grow up to be Spider-Bat.  I happen to think that, not only does he like popular super heroes, but he has a Super Dad to boot.  Cory set the bar for husband and daddy very high and still manages to make it look fun.

So, if there was such a thing as a constant career, here's what H's would look like:

As long as he is happy and self sufficient, it "works" for us!  

But, wait.  Should I be discussing his secret identity?  Will he say, "Oh, mom... you blew my cover!"  Oh, well.  Part of my job as a mom is to embarrass him.  And you know that I'll insist that he wear a helmet.

Mother's Day

For my mother's day treat, Cory said that I could lie around all day while he did all the work.  Where in the world would we be without his sense of humor regarding his heavy load of responsibility?  Cory fed us well, of course, and included my parents and sister.

I think this pose is the only one I have done in order to get a belly shot this time around.  Lying in bed all day for the past ten weeks does not bode well for my figure.  In fact, I have a feeling that I am carrying this boy in both my uterus and my thighs.  

I was feeling pretty, though, for Mother's Day--soft and smooth, thanks to my Sugar Scrub gift from Henry.

He was so excited to give it to me that he asked me on Friday afternoon, "Do you want to see something?  It's a surprise!"  I asked him if it was supposed to be my mother's day gift, and he confessed that it was, but he wanted to give it to me now.  He came back and was so proud to hand me the "sugar scrub!  I put vanilla in it!"  I used it Sunday morning, and I have to say, it's an excellent product.

We spent some time on the deck on Sunday evening, and when the daily thunderstorm started, H wanted to try to stick it out.

My brave boy lasted a few minutes before coming inside.  And notice the blue in the background?  It's the color of my new lounge chair meant for resting on the deck.  I am a very lucky Mama who has a husband and son who make me glad to be a Mama every single day, sometimes even all day.  It's going to be fun to add Baby Cocks to the mix.

Healthy Social Life

My boys had a busy Saturday last weekend, which I adore.  They do a good job with their social schedules, and this time they opted to attend Advent's Festival at Five Forks for a mid-morning to mid-afternoon day of driving a fire truck, listening to some live music, refueling while avoiding all fruits and veggies, and just chilling with some friends.  Thanks, Sarah, for the photos!

Here was H's menu for the day.  Breakfast: cereal; Mid-Morning Snack: popcorn and a snack mix consisting of Cheerios, m&m's, and white chocolate chips; Lunch: cheese quesadilla and a brownie; Afternoon Snack: more snack mix

Dinner...

Corn Dog on the deck.  Not a fruit or veggie in sight.  He was in a great mood all day, so I don't know.  Maybe fruits and vegetables aren't all that good for us?

They missed out on the neighborhood picnic since they opted to spread pine straw and do some shopping, but I was glad that I got to dine with my health nuts.