August 24, 2005

it’s 12:07 and the school hasn’t called me yet!

As we were heading out the door this morning, I said to Henry, ‘Let me take your picture. Say something happy.’

He thought for a second and then said, ‘HOORAY! IT’S MY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!’

And I swear to you that this was the resulting picture:
God I love that kid so much.

August 23, 2005

and I still have nothing to wear tonight!

Busy Mom asked for the full report of what everyone was wearing at the preschool open house. Peasant skirts. With sparkly things. And big faux ethnic jewelery.

Of course, I am wearing jeans and a t-shirt. And I don’t own a peasant skirt because every single one I’ve ever tried on has made me look like a Winnebago. With sparkly things.

The thing is that today, all the mommies still had their little darlings with them, so they were dressed like, well, mommies toting little darlings. TOMORROW, on the other hand, they will all DROP the little darlings and go off to be kid-free. And I am sure they will break out the capris and kitten heels. I’ll let you know. I will, of course, be wearing–something kid-friendly. And probably not kitten heels.

Henry’s classroom is lovely, his teacher is lovely, the other children are lovely–I am feeling much better about the whole thing, frankly. At lunch, in the middle of a conversation about something totally unrelated to school or food, Henry said, ‘If they offer me something to eat at school that I don’t like, I can just say, No, thank you! I don’t have to eat it. And I can have a snack later.’ I think his daddy has been coaching him. God I love my husband.

And I love you, too, Internet, for all the support and kind words you have flung my way lately. I’m going to bake you a cake. Come on over and have a slice. Would you like some ice cream with that? Or maybe a cup of coffee?

Now I want you all to cross your fingers and hope that Mrs. M doesn’t call me for AT LEAST a week. Please.

a whole post! about absolutely nothing!

Today is going to be a big day at Friday Playdate. This afternoon we’re going to the open house at Henry’s new school, and tonight I’m going to an Arbonne party with Leslie. And of course, I have NO IDEA what to wear to either of these events.

I’m a little nervous about the school open house. I’ve met Henry’s teacher, at the parent orientation, and I really liked her, although I’m sure she thinks I’m a nut case as I spent most of the meeting trying not to hyperventillated once I learned that Henry COULD NOT bring his own lunch to school. Oh, and that the pre-K classes go on field trips! My child, who CAN NOT remember not to run, will be out and about in OKC! Where is my paper bag???

Anyway, I am looking forward to a close e-mail relationship with Mrs. M, but I’m still struggling with what exactly to tell her about Henry. We’re really trying to steer clear of the lables (can you imagine anything more horrific than the parent who announces, ‘My son has ADHD! And he’s not on ANY medication! And he acts a little like a child with Asperger’s syndrome! Which is a form of autism! And he may–or may not–have some sensory integration issues! Let’s keep in touch!’) and just describe the most salient behavior: Henry is easily distracted. He is very energetic. He is most successful when he has substantial positive reinforcement. Okay, so, have a nice year! And can we plan to talk, oh, once a week or so? PLEASE?

I’m thinking of just putting one of the following t-shirts on him, as an ice breaker:

I Do All My Own Stunts

My Mom Is Glad I’m Not Twins

I Am A Complicated Child

No, not really, but how funny would that be?

And then there is this Arbonne party. My friend M asked, ‘Is this a cult?’ I am tempted to say yes, as I always suspect anything that is spread by word of party to be on the cultish side of things, but I think it is really more like Avon was when we were kids (remember the Avon Lady?). In any case, I won’t be coming home with a whole new line of skin care, mostly because I like what I have, and also because my friend Caroline is ALSO an Arbonne ‘consultant’ (I think that’s the proper title) and if I’m going to buy, I’d better buy from her. No, I’m going to this party tonight solely to see Leslie’s friend’s house. Is that shallow?

Compensating for my shallowness (or maybe just deepening it, I’m not sure anymore) is the fact that the hostess, Leslie’s friend, is in a completely different social class from me, and is TOTALLY HOTT. Like supermodel hot. She always looks like she just walked away from her Vogue cover shoot, I swear to you, even when she’s schlepping her beautiful and perfectly behaved children around town. And despite the fact that I know you are waiting for me to say that I don’t like her, I really do. Because she’s so nice! I mean really really NICE. And beautiful. And well dressed. Damn it.

So now I have to go stand in front of my closet and figure out what the hell I’m going to wear today. I think I need a drink. (I just said that for effect, you know. Mostly. I mean, it’s really a little too early to start drinking, isn’t it? Yes, it is. Damn it.)

August 22, 2005

now I’m down to counting the HOURS until school starts

Today is the last unscheduled day of summer; Henry has his school orientation tomorrow, and on Wednesday I will drop him in the carpool line and be home free for six hours! Or as home free as I can be with Charlie in tow all day. And with the worry about Henry not eating and not listening and jumping off the furniture and . . . but you know what I mean.

I wanted to do something special with the boys today, to mark this last day and to celebrate that WE SURVIVED THE SUMMER, but instead we will be lingering at home this morning, waiting for the plumber who is coming to fix the hot water in the boys’ bathroom. And in some freak of nature, it is still raining, so we will be lingering IN THE HOUSE waiting for the plumber. Would it be in bad form to watch a movie first thing in the morning?

Because the hot water hasn’t been working in their bathroom, the boys had showers this weekend in the big shower in our room. They LOVED it. Charlie made what can only be described as happy dinosaur noises the entire time he was in the water; Henry got out and announced, ‘Mommy, I am NEVER taking a bath AGAIN.’ And then yesterday, when I reminded everyone as cheerfully as I could, as though it were an adventure and not the total inconvienience it really is, that the plumber was coming today, Henry said, ‘He doesn’t need to come, we’re going to take showers.’ Which is fine until we have house guests and THEY also have to use my shower.

That’s it. Aside from the rain and the plumber and the fact that in 49 hours I will drop Henry for his first day of school, I’ve got nothin’. Fortunately, if you are really looking for something to read, the New York Times has this, about school supplies and backpacks. Henry picked out a $30.00 backpack at Target the other day, the kind with wheels and a telescoping handle. I made him put it back; I figured for preschool, we didn’t really need anything that heavy duty. I hope I’m right.

August 21, 2005

I heart Oklahoma

Hey, remember a while back when I insulted Mike, the REALLY REALLY NICE guy at OkieDokie? (Let me say again how sorry I am about that. Honestly.) Well how’s this for a happy ending? This site has been nominated for an Okie Blog Award for Best Family Blog, and I suspect it’s by one of the wonderful people who found me through Mike’s blog. Isn’t that fun? Whoever you are, thank you–I’m so very flattered.

Whew–now I’m feeling the pressure to write something fabulous about my family. And maybe to stop swearing so much. And to stop talking about my drinking. This is hard.

Now go away and let me think.

August 20, 2005

clip, clip, buzz, buzz

We had haircuts today (well, not me, I already had mine and you’ve already seen the pictures). Henry giggled the whole way through his buzz cut, which was cute until he couldn’t hold still long enough for the poor lady to trim around his ears with the clippers. She had to break out the scissors, which scared the bejesus out of me as he was whipping his head from side to side in a frenzy of laughter. It was only 8:15 in the morning and I needed a drink. Fortunately no eyes were poked out and his hair is soft and velvety. I like to rub his head and call him the Velveteen Boy. He objects, for some reason.

Tragically, there are no cute pictures of Charlie getting his hair cut; he insisted on sitting in Wade’s lap and hid his head in Wade’s chest for most of the cut. Wade was a good sport and donned a lovely child-size plastic cape with lions and tigers on it (sadly, he has threatened to divorce me if I publish pictures of it). I was glad that he was there, as I was done in from holding Henry’s head still for the trimming part of his cut.Once Charlie got to Starbucks and had some cow milk and a scone, he was much happier and agreed to show of his new ‘do. It was a full morning.

And the craziest part? We were all done by 9:30. AM. With the whole day left to fill. So we did some other really exciting things, like take my car for an oil change and shop for school supplies. And nap. But at least we all have good hair now!

How was YOUR Saturday?