Rock Star

You know that part of the blog over there to the left that says "About" in which we lay out our hopes and dreams for our son?  You know the part about the first ever well-educated, well-adjusted rock star?  Well, the rock star part may be the first one checked off that list.  Who knew?  Watch this:

Overheard 2/26/08

The scene:  Breakfast, where Walt is dawdling over his waffle and banana, as usual.  Several warnings have already been made about hurrying up so that we're not late for school/work.

Mommy:  Walt, eat your food right now so we can go get dressed.

Walt:  I am!  (He says, as he drapes his body over the stool in a most dramatic fashion, while dangling a piece of waffle on a fork perilously near Evie's waiting snout.)

Mommy:  You are not!  Now hurry up . . . I'm setting a five minute timer.

Walt:  Mommy, you're killing me.

I'm killing you?  Really, now.

All Figured Out

There are times as parents when we think we have something figured out.  Usually, these moments turn out to be brief flashes of misguided confidence instead.  Like today, for example.  After recently experiencing the equivalent of Walt hosting a nightly talk show with his lovies for as many as two hours after bedtime, we decided that maybe the poor kid was ready to skip a nap occasionally.  After all, he doesn't nap at school much anymore, and even though he's not always the most pleasant after-school three-year old on those days, he's generally manageable.  So today we launched the big experiment.  A controlled setting, if you will, to determine how acute our parenting senses have become.   Results pictured below:

Trip to the 'Ville

Supposedly the trip to Louisville was all about meeting our new nephew/cousin "Kewen" (Walt's still having a teensy bit of trouble with his L's -- we'll have Gram look into that next time we see her) . . .

. . . but I'm not sure that Walt actually noticed him besides the one time he stopped playing with Collier long enough to "check on" Kellen, which basically involved standing there looking at him for two seconds before running off to find Kellen's big bro.

It really is a shame that these two don't live closer because I think they could get into a lot of trouble have a lot of fun together.  Unfortunately, Collier and Kellen's momma was not feeling too hot (Come on, Kim -- can't let childbirth, surgery, illness, a newborn, and a three-year old get you down!).  We were sad for her, but it did mean that Aunt Gigi got lots of uninterrupted baby-holding time, which made for a very happy Aunt Gigi.  Kellen was a perfect little angel -- slept right through drumming, basketball games, and even enthusiastic preschooler kisses.  He definitely gets our seal of approval!

Overheard 2/8/08

Walt and Meredith are finishing up dinner.  Walt has just been given the last of the mac and cheese and Mer is not happy about it.  (The following, excluding the last line, is a condensed, paraphrased version of the actual conversation.  The last line we definitely remember!)

Mer:  Walty, can I have some of your mac and cheese?

Walt:  No, it's mine.

Mer:  Walty, can I have some mac and cheese?

Walt:  No, Mer.

Mer:  Walty, can I please have some mac and cheese?

Walt: (Shoving bowl toward her) If you'll be quiet!

We'll just go ahead and schedule the wedding now.

Whiling Away the Winter

Yeah, I know it's been awhile.  But it seems that most of our winter pastimes aren't particularly great photo opps . . . working puzzles, playing games, have (pre)"tend" monster truck shows.  All fun, but they just don't seem to motivate me to get the camera out.  But to satisfy our viewers, I did make an effort to capture a few scenes from everyday life as of late. 

Here Walt and Meredith follow Father Goose's instructions to "all fall down" during one of our many Dan Zanes Dance Parties (aka, wear out the kids before naptime).  Mer's been a frequent visitor as of late, as her mom puts in a little OT consulting for her previous employer.  Yes, I know what you're all thinking . . . how sweet of me to volunteer to watch the little tyke, but in reality it is totally self-serving.  I've discovered that on days when it's too cold and wet to go anywhere anyway, it really is easier to entertain two preschoolers than just one.  Sure, I have to referee the occasional mine-no-mine match, but all in all, everyone has more fun.  After boogieing to Dan Zanes for a while, we moved the show to Walt's room where the kids practiced their karaoke skills.

Looks like Walt could use some more practice.  (Also please note the lineup of cars to the right of Mer's leg.  Even though Walt was not a fan of actually being at the monster truck show, he has spent countless hours since then recreating it with his meticulously lined-up cars and rumbling trucks.)

Later that afternoon, in yet another selfless offering of my precious time, we invited Mason (from across the street) over to play while his parents closed on their refi mortgage (which means they're staying in the 'hood. . . yippee!!).  Yet again, my generosity was rewarded with approximately 20 minutes of uninterrupted magazine-flipping time while Walt gave Mason a lesson in the proper identification of letters and their corresponding sounds using the refrigerator magnets as teaching aids.  Mason was a very willing pupil and Walt a very bossy instructor . . . I have no idea where he gets that.  (No comments from the peanut gallery, please.)  But they both seemed happy and I got some new decorating ideas.  See, everybody wins!