Life With Jekyll & Hyde

You never know what you’re going to get with Samuel and, OK, maybe the title is an overstatement. He doesn’t exactly turn into a terrible monster, maybe more like Oscar the Grouch.

But when this kid is ‘on’ he really knows how to charm and entertain. Take tonight when I was putting him to bed for example. We went from stories about daycare and singing do-re-mi “like music teacher” to crying because he wants just “one more” story – one more on top of the 5 “one mores” he has just had. Still, listening to him tonight was easily the best part of my day and even the crying didn’t spoil it.

A few other things I am enjoying right now:

Finally being able to give Thomas a bath without having to tape a plastic bag around his arm.
Sitting down to dinner each night and having Samuel begin to tell me about his day without even waiting for me to ask because he knows that dinner time is the time when we catch up. (“well today I played with…”).
The red peppers (capsicums) that are finally growing in our vegetable garden – although not sure two peppers were worth waiting four months for.
Thomas laughing uncontrollably while watching America’s Funniest Home Videos – while I tell him over and over that these are examples of what NOT to do. His laugh is easily one of my favourite sounds.
Samuel’s endless trips around the house on his “mini bike” while singing the Goodbye song from Yo Gabba Gabba – complete with Jack Black rock screeching at the very end.
Seeing some light (and a vacation) at the end of the tunnel, along with the promise of a little photographic inspiration. Feeling the need to break out the camera again after a short self-induced hiatus, and…
Little boys in kimonos.

It doesn’t get much better than that. (photo taken with iphone)

Wordless Wednesday: Early Morning Discoveries

Cover The Childrens’ Ears

Today’s I Heart Faces challenge is “Chalk.” I have so many photographs of chalk drawings and chalky hands and chalky hands drawing chalk drawings, but very few with faces in them. I did find this one. It was taken during our visit to Australia when the boys made full use of the big slab of concrete in the driveway and decorated the space with their temporary artwork. This is one of the only photos with a face in it. If you look closely you’ll see that he is holding a piece of chalk in his right hand. That counts, right?

I doubt that pic will win me any awards, either for photography or for motherhood. Just look at the state of that shirt!

THIS, however, should win an award. I’m not sure what delights me more – the word that comes out of Thomas’ mouth, or the moment of shocked silence from my brother who is filming. It’s worth making it through to the end. You won’t be disappointed.

Big Brothers are Hilarious.

Lucky to capture this quick moment at the school harvest festival on possibly one of the last days of Portland sunshine – and between the whining and complaining.

It’s a new favourite.

Wordless Wednesday: Hooded Runner

Growing Pains

For this week’s I Heart Faces photo challenge of “smirk” I chose a little photo I found hidden on my hard drive. I just love that this picture shows Thomas enjoying his favorite drink – hot chocolate, of course – while we spent a few moments together, just the two of us. We’ve been doing a lot of talking lately and this photo is the perfect reminder of how calm those moments can be without the distraction of toys and TV and little brothers.

We are now back in the full swing of preschool with rushed mornings of trying to get out the door in time to avoid the dreaded “tardy slip”. Thomas is in a new class with a new teacher this year. About a third of his class is returning for their second year of preschool while the rest are new. Despite the fact that I thought this might make the transition back to school a little easier, it seems to be the returning kids who are having the most difficult time adjusting. On one day early last week, I found myself standing at the back of the classroom with four other parents who were trying to peel their crying children from their legs and I realized that we were all here for our second year – the first year kids were quietly sitting on the mat listening to the teacher. I suppose the effect of having a bunch of new four year olds invading your space can’t be underestimated.

I was offered another glimpse into Thomas’ mind while we were talking over dinner late last week. He said to me “Mummy, do you worry?” and I said “Yes, sometimes. Do you worry?” “Yes, I worry that no one will want to sit with me at school and that I’ll be all on my own.” So then we went into a conversation about how the other kids are probably worrying about the exact same thing and waiting for him to come and sit next to them.

I love it that he’s growing up and becoming more and more able to express his thoughts and feelings, but I hate it that he has to start worrying about things already. Shouldn’t you at least be able to make it to first grade without these stresses? I supposed I assumed that we would have a few more years of that childlike innocence that everyone talks about.