Getty Museum explained by a 9 year old

Take a virtual tour of the Getty Museum guided by Presley when he was nine years old.

Work hard, play harder

Eighth grade Grad Night, a private ticketed event exclusively for thousands of middle school kids allowed to let loose without parents or guardians yet deemed "safe", is a rite of passage unlike any other.  Culmination is near.  And high school is on the horizon.  

Current mood

Started the year off with hope and promise.

My best friend turned 12

That's right.  We are 34 years apart.  And Presley understands me better than anyone else.  I am 46 and he is 12.  I am just as unsure about life as he might be about his.  So technically, we are experiencing the same things!  

#FBF

...or flash back Friday to two years ago when I conducted one of my infamous back door photo seshes.  

Presley used to give me the most back lash because he couldn't stand posing for pictures.  I don't blame him.  It's tormenting for all parties involved.  But I've taught them that suffering together helps the greater good of preserving memories.  

He seemed to follow the same pattern of emotions laid out in ten phases without fail - every time.  

Phase 1: The Almighty Attitude

Little Boy Wolf

This is a tale of a werewolf named Little Boy Wolf.

2nd grade pumpkin math

It's that time of the year again for Pumpkin Math.  I had so much fun doing this activity with Presley.  We spent the morning dissecting our pumpkin (postmortem!), logging our mathematical predictions and forming scientific conclusions.  It was surprisingly mess free...but my dorky self wore an apron anyway.

Happy mother's day

There are only two days out of the year that are guaranteed just about me, my birthday and Mother's day...yep, one whole day just for being a Mom.  How awesome is that because even if you're a crappy Mom you could still get the royal, red carpet treatment.  But I wouldn't know anything about being a crappy mom.

Seven is here

Seems like two years ago, o.k. maybe two weeks ago that my sweet, sweet toothless, already fitting into his big brother's clothes Presley turned SEVEN.

Golden child

I'm not ashamed to admit I have a favorite...of the month, a week, or even a day.

It's been Presley for a while now.  He is such a sunshine, my ray of light.  He's like the puffy cloud at the end of a rainbow...soft and pure.

He should be awarded the Newbery and Caldecott medals of love letters:

He's been filling up my heart with gummy bears and I haven't been able to suck just one:

Presley is the nice guy who I hope will finish first:

Expressing how he feels is one of his greatest qualities.  Presley has a way with words that makes me gain back hope when at times I feel lost in this whole motherhood thing.

"Mommy, I've been watering your plant so it will grow big and beautiful like you."

"Your chicken is so yummy I can't stop eating it."

"Your nails are so pretty."

"My heart broke in a million pieces.  Portia called me Stupid Presley."

"Your food is so delicious."

"I'm going to build you the most giant beach house in the world."

"You're beautiful. I like your make-up."

The other two are gaining popularity but they have lots of work to do if they want to compete with the golden child.

Four weeks of art

O.K., it was really supposed to be six weeks of art.  Presley missed one class because he was at Legoland. And the other landed on the first day of school.  The community center offers creative and fun classes at affordable prices that you don't feel so bad when you miss one or two.

A tutorial on how to make a PB&J sandwich

Step 1.  Spread peanut butter on BOTH sides:

Step 2.  Pause.  Lick.  This is a crucial step to ensure the yummiest sandwich ever made.  Any chef knows that:

Step 3.  Spread jelly on one side:

Step 4.  Plate.  Oh wait! Always taste your food first:

Step 5.  Say out loud, "This is the BEST peanut butter and jelly sandwich!!!!"

Step 6.  Now you're ready to plate:

"Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a chef and on my day off I'm going to take you to the movies.  Then I'm going to get you a housekeeper."

Presley knows me too well.

Click here to read Presley's tutorial on how to eat a hot dog.

Ingredients:
Laura Scudder's Unsalted peanut butter.  Peanuts is the only ingredient!
Welch's Natural Strawberry Spread. No high fructose corn syrup!
F&E Veggie, Sticks, & Chips.

A tutorial on how to eat a hot dog

Step 1. Make sure you find a bun that's wider than your face:

Step 2. Be generous on condiments.  If it doesn't drip down your mouth and onto your shirt you haven't put enough on.  You're ready now so wolf it down:

Step 3. You are victorious:

Never a good time to potty train

One of my guys is under the weather today. He's feeling lousy and all I keep thinking is I hope he doesn't regress from all the hard work we put in these last 2 weeks of potty training. Today would have been his first day wearing undies at school. My poor guy is sick but yet I'm thinking of only clean underwear and please don't wet the couch.

Presley's sugar high

One birthday preschool cupcake,


One birthday dinner cheesecake,


And one birthday homemade cake later,


the birthday boy was high on sugar and high on 3 years of life!

Fleeing the nest

Today my second baby fled the nest starting his first day of preschool. The experience was similar to Truman's first day of preschool in that there were no fears or tears, only mine. I guess I should pat myself on the back that I've done a pretty good job raising confident and independent kids to be able to go out into the world with ease. At the same time, a part of me wishes for the "don't go, I need you."

Presley is eagerly waiting for the gate to open:


Only 1 1/2 hrs of fun for his transitional first day:


And this is where I left my baby to learn the ways of the world using play doh...


When I picked up Presley I knew he would not be the same. This was the beginning of his life long adventure of growth and experience. I am so proud of this 2 1/2 year old boy.

Pup Pup Puuray!

All the new baby transitions in the home are becoming the norm now and preschool obligations, breast feeding round-the-clock, numerous dr. appointments for the kids, and just trying to keep 2 little active boys happy have kept me away from journaling. In the midst of all the semi-calm chaos we celebrated a very special birthday for a very special 2 year old.

My Meant-To-Be

Presley was born with the art of speaking, without saying a word. Also known as: smiling. He army crawls through life smiling while life just smiles back at him. Here are just a few stages of his smiling life:

Sun bathing in the backyard smile:

Happiest on his tummy smile:

Love to be with the family BIG smile:

Tickle-tickle chest smile:

Parachute peek-a-boo wa-hoo smile:

And the Piggy-back smile:

One day he will know just how much his smiles rescued me from days of exhaustion, feelings of self doubt as a mother, and always feeling guilty that my best could've been better than best. Presley is my blessing and my "meant-to-be". The world is a better and happier place with you in it. I love you...Mommy

Just Like Daddy

I was surprised to hear that David actually reads my blogs at work during his free time and no time. I'm sure hearing my voice through my words and seeing pictures of Truman and Presley is a comfort to his stressful day, a reminder why he works 30 miles away, and gives much reason to make it home for dinner. So, I dedicate this blog to you my Honey for taking time out to read this today, tomorrow, or whenever you get a chance at work.

   

I love this picture I took of you and Truman at your office. It is a glimpse into the future of the kind of man I know Truman will grow up to be: an independent thinker, strong-willed, responsible, and accountable. He will have a fiery heart full of passion for his beliefs, values and views on the world. I know all this to be true because I see how much he is and wants to be just like Daddy.

It's too early to sense if Presley will have more of me or you in him but looks likes he takes after me in having a good sense of fashion for stripes:

This is all I have time to write for today. I hear both your boys waking up. I love you and can't wait to see you home for dinner. I'm making your favorite: schnitzel.

Presley + Boppy

This is my first blog about Presley since he's been home from the hospital 11 long weeks ago. It's long overdue but I've been stressed, tired, and busy. It's been a juggling act trying to keep the house from becoming a dust disaster, answering to curious and intuitive Truman, trying to bond with Presley, making time for my friends, and all the while hoping David still finds me desirable after two kids.

My temporary emotional and physical downfall was partly due to Presley's sleeping patterns. He cluster fed (every hour) all night and only took 20 minute afternoon naps. Presley didn't like sleeping in his bassinet, in the car seat or especially in the hand-me-down crib. He was fussy, gassy, and not so easy going.

There was finally light at the end of the tunnel when I discovered how to get Presley to sleep through the night...a whopping 6 hours last night. I am now even able to put him down awake but drowsy and watch him fall asleep during his afternoon naps. The lovely, terry covered Boppy to the rescue. It must be the smell of Mommy's milk and plush feel that soothes him.

Here he is sound asleep at 7 weeks on the Boppy:


The major cutie & his Boppy just days ago:


Despite all the warnings about putting pillows and blankets in the bed, I had to take control of my life...to have some relief, just to have a good nights sleep. I caved in and let him have his Boppy in the bassinet. Here are the inseparable pair:


Presley's charming smile and adorable giggle has made up for all the sleepless nights. Transitioning him to his crib without the Boppy in a couple of weeks will be a struggle but for now I am sleeping, I am happy, and I will soon be back in bed with David.