I was careful not to be too silly around my children.

( Once upon a time... )

SO. The story. The story of when Cai, my 6 year old crazy son, had to put the breaks on me. Yesterday.

I get dressed for school, get the kids up and dressed and fed, and leave at the same time they do: them to walk to school, me to drive to the bus. Yesterday it was typical Colorado fall weather - winter in the morning, summer during the day, and cool fall at night. So dressing for school, we all wear layers and modular clothes. My favorite changeable item of clothing this season is my long knit socks - and by socks, I mean two to-my-butt almost-tights. The great Fall thing about them is they turn into knee-high socks with a few rolls down, then slouch socks for mid-day, or they're warm and snug as tights, all the way up, when I'm headed home at 10pm. I <3 long socks!

ANYWAY (and I realize I've lost all the boys already), yesterday morning I was telling Maddie and Syd and Cai how I had on AMAZING INCREDIBLE SOCK TIGHTS.

"Let's see!" said Maddie, and Syd added, "Let's see! Let's see!"

I wouldn't have if Paris had been around - a 13 year-old does not need to see his mother's underwear. But since it was just the girls, and Cai's still a baby and doesn't hardly even care about that whole boy-girl difference...

( Oh yeah. I showed them. )

Cai snickered. "You have Picachu on your underwear..." he snorted, and turned to go up the stairs, yelling, "PARIS! GUESS WHAT MOMMERS DID..."

Oooooooh dear; Now I was in BIG trouble!

I went to a gallery reception: Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Prints and Objects. The whole exhibit is over here from their museum in the Netherlands - it's not a traveling exhibit. His Wrapped Woman was excellent, as were his 3-d sketches (he wrapped the sketches! See the pic on the right in that link, above) Generally, though - eh. Met some fun people, had some wine - it's enough. I have SO much more to talk about, conceptually, but I'll chatter about it in my art student lj 'cause it's navel-gazing and only interesting to those who are interested in it, so to speak.

Basically I am working hard. I have a bunch of art projects that went in this week (4 more Friday and Saturday) and I am satisfied with them all. Art History debate and 3D discussion were both awesome - as you can imagine, I have little trouble talking. In fact I made it to finals and I'll debate Painting vs. Sculpture: Leonardo vs Michaelangelo next Thursday. Working every spare minute and some which aren't spare at all. Everyone's being very understanding. I go to bed late each night - crap, I did it again tonight, didn't I? Well, I had to clean house for The Switchover (ch4rm comes in, lives in this house and has the children each weekend while I'm at the apartment) and make my lunch for tomorrow's 8-hour class.

Oh, one sweet story! I picked Paris up after his play practice and he was very late so I didn't get a chance to do much for dinner except roast the ham and get the other stuff together on the counter - biscuits and such - before I had to leave for my night class. "I'll cook the rest of dinner," Paris said, "I've been practicing in Family Science class."

"All right if you're sure - that would be great! Everything's laid out on the counter ready to go. OH NO - I won't have time to fix MYSELF a dinner," I whined, "well, I can't help it. I've got to go get ready and run..."

"Don't worry about it mom," Paris said, pushing me up the stairs, "go get ready and I'll take care of it."

And so as I walked out the door, Paris placed my Hello Kitty lunchsac into my hands.

"Have a good night at school! Try your best!" he said, doing a passable imitation of me.

But the best part came when I looked inside and saw not just my favorite sandwich OR my favorite chips (Sun Chips) AND Oreo cookies but a napkin, folded in half neatly, with a little happy face and the words "LOVE YA!" written in cursive.

MY BOY WROTE ME A LUNCH LOVE-LETTER ON MY NAPKIN.

*squee!* That speaks of such unbelievable kindness and personal love tailored just for me that I could just die, to be a mother to and have raised a boy like that.


PS Guess who contacted me out of the blue today? JINN. Yes, him. Wow, random universe flashback machine. He's very the same 'ol Jinn, so I'm not sure if it was a serious "Let's be friends again" guesture or an "I'm a little drunk and lonely" overture. Cross your fingers for the former - we had some good times together and I could use the male friend companionship. We'll see if he follows up, eh?

Dear ch4rm,

Picking the kids up from the first day of a week-long afternoon soccer camp, the first thing I noticed is they were BEAT. Tired and red-faced and dirty beyond belief. Walking slow and with a slump, they shuffled to the car... and Paris didn't stop to hug me, which just doesn't happen. Cai had been crying - I saw him on the field with his coach - but he likes to talk about things in his own time (and then he likes no not STOP talking, but that's another story) so I left him alone. Maddie was snarling sub-vocally, almost.

I could see they had HAD IT so I pulled the 'ol "Let's go get chocolate shakes!" which had a tiny effect - still, Paris wasn't talking, Cai was tearing up sometimes and Maddie was downright cranky. After 15 minutes of me chattering about funny things and some tasty shakes later, everyone was cooling off and I got some stories.

( Anyone remember community organized sports? Yeah. Under here, with pics. )

Wish us luck,

-S

Today was all about the bean and bacon soup.

See we had the soup last night with dinner, but I put in too much Lawrey's Salt with Tabasco and I was the only one who liked it. So I put it in the refrigerator after dinner and Maddie off-handedly said, "mommers, why are you even putting that in there? No one's going to eat it!" and A Thought was born.
__________

I wake my children up with a backscratch and a little light talk about the day - what it's like outside, what to wear, what breakfast is, what's going on at school, what the plans are for snack or afterschool or that evening. This morning I made sure to talk about it being April Fools Day - tricky, and full of jokes and silly things. A pretend sort of day. Believe me, for a child as young as Syd and Cai the world is still a surprising place with new things happening all the time and new rules about how to live popping up all over. A bit of advance notice does little to mediate the shock of the new, as you will soon see.

So everyone clear on that, up and dressed, the padawans came down to a breakfast... of bean and bacon soup.

( Oh em GEE, WAT?!? )

I am fairly certain that one or two dreams tonight will involve horrible scary soup. Also, I will not be able to serve bean and bacon soup for a great long while.

(TOTALLY worth it!)


PS. Best Internet April Fools Joke: World of Warcraft: The Molten Core. Watch the trailer - and then scroll down for concept vs. ACTUAL screenshots. Hahahahaha!!

So we are halfway through Spring Break, and let me just say - MAN, my alt!family is FUNNY! I'm very glad I took off this week to be with them. :)

For instance, we were all walking past a Harley store and I stopped to see the motorcycles inside. I chose my favorite and then turned to Paris.

"Look at that one, Paris - it has a built-in seat on the back so TWO people can ride!"

He looked at me and said, dryly, "Oh yay; so TWO people can die at the same time."

Sarcastic little bugger, he is - how'd he learn THAT?!?



OK - brb goin to Denver on the bus!

People kept asking me, today at the coffeehsop, if I was ok.

"Yeah, I feel fine. Why?"
"You're... quiet. Withdrawn."
"Hmm. I feel fine. Maybe tired?"
"Maaayebee - you just don't seem well."

I discounted this, attributing it to the fact that I'm not often just 'normal' like other people - I'm almost always excited and enthusiastic if not playful and silly. I have events in the next couple days that weigh on my mind, so I thought maybe I was just distracted and think-y.

I picked up Paris from school and as he got in the car he touched my arms with his chilled hand.

"How are you, mommers?"
"I'm doing great, little guy! ...oooooh, would you put your hand on the back of my neck? I'm a little hot and your hands feel great!"

As soon as I said it, I realized I undoubtedly had a fever. Because normally it is IMMEDIATE DEATH for anyone to put cold hands on the back of my neck!

Came home - totally I have a fever - took some meds, canceled all my appointments and now I'm ensconced in bed and 'resting', at my son's insistence. Paris is trading me his day to make dinner with today and the babies keep bringing me cards and water and My Little Ponies, to play with me. Maddie is playing board games with Cai and I am cutting heart chains with Syd.

I worried about what would happen if I got sick, being a single mom - though I've been alone before when ch4rming traveled, there was always the option to call and be rescued by him coming home. But the more I live this life the more I realize how much this little alt!family works together, how the kids all pull a little more weight than they're used to (and we would bring in outside friends, if we needed to) and we go along quite well. It's a boon and a blessing alike, this little family. I sort of feel like a pioneer, all of us doing what has to be done regardless of tender age or personal preference, singing and encouraging each other to make the work light.

I still don't feel bad-sick or anything; I'm probably just fighting off a little something and I'll be ok tomorrow, undoubtedly. But I'm glad I got to experience the synergy of our family pulling together to take care of each other. It's beautiful, and worth a night in bed for sure.



ETA My coworker from the coffeeshop just called to check up on me. Aaaw, sweet!

TODAY IS ROCKIN'.

Got plenty of sleep last night, going to bed at 11:30 - early for me. It's not even I have too much to do, it's that there is so much I WANT to do. I get lost in the no-time silence of darktime. Add to that the always-on interwebs and I am lost lost lost.

But not last night. Last night I kept a clock tick-tick-tick in my sights and I slept for sleeping time, yes brothah. Felt good and I dreamt strong dreams which I've half forgotten since but none of which were stressful. ( All of this made much more sense right when I woke up, but it gets more silly the longer from morning I am today )

You can see that I am still processing that "haven't gone out for 3 months" thing I realized recently. Well, I'm sure you can see more than that but this is the thing I see.

BUT I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT MY DAY! Which is screaming along, thankyouverymuch!

( I am at work today while you have a weekend; is that strange to you? )

Hello! I have come to bring you the happy-cutie-cute that we all have been watching and reading each night before bedtime:




This is Japan's interpretation of the USA's popular show Powerpuff Girls. While Powerpuff Girls was not watched in this house, I LOVE the look of Powerpuff Girls Z! Each episode of PGZ is two little mini-shows and I must tell you a first EVER for me: I actually like the Magical Girl transformation sequence! The dancing! The skirt-swishing! The FOOT STOMPING! So cuuuuute!

Yes, I realize most children get read fairy tales and puppy stories from books before bed - my children read the subtitles on anime. But it's READING, it's snuggled together on mommer's big bed, it's happy, bonding and feel-good* and in the end everyone's ready for bed. Which, I think, is the POINT.



*Except the ending arcs of Sailor Moon where it's inevitably "ROCKS FALL EVERYONE DIES" and I end up not being able to read the subtitles because I'm bawling (even though I know what happens already!).

On Tuesday Paris slunk into the kitchen, bonelessly slumping against the counter and surrounded with a miasma of world-weariness that only a pre-adolescent can generate.

"Moooooom," he wailed, "I can't STAND this week. It shouuuld be Thursday tomorrow! Can't you make it Thursday tomooooorrow?"

Stopping in the middle of drying off the plethora of pots and pans I had washed, I raised my eyebrow at his posture and plaintive tone. Wordlessly I handed him my towel and a wet pan and said,

"Paris, I'm a little busy right now and I've got a lot of work to do by Thursday. But I'll tell you what; you wait until tomorrow and I promise to make it 'Thursday tomorrow'. Now dry these pans while I load the dishwasher, villain." I added, mock-scornfully.

His eyes clouded with thought for a second, and then he let out a bark of surprised laughter.

"That's a GOOD ONE, mom!" he said, giggling and straightening up to dry the pan with vigor.

We finished the dishes together and he even wiped down the table while I did the counters, chatting and singing to the kitchen radio. I didn't hear any more complaints about the week going too slow, so I assume he's satisfied with how I kept my promise. ;)

__________

( And then there's the matter of my 120 new best friends, all of whom only come to my knees )

Hey there flist, random glee for you!

( Behind the cut because YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE GLEE!! )

Pictoral Glee! ( There is so much cute behind this you may spontaneously get cavities just looking at it )

"You can't eat the kitty, Cai."

"Maddie, sit down and finish your frosting butterfly."

"Sorry Syd's late. We got stuck in the shower for 2 hours. Yes, well, we were playing soccer."

"Oh, you like the new oatmeal cookies better? I crushed the oats and added more chocolate chips!"

"L has his coffee exactly like mine; four cream, four sugar!" (*tsubame_gaeshi stares at me in mild repulsion*)
"OH MY GOSH HE'S TURNED HER INTO HIS UNHOLY ACOLYTE!!!"
"I think that the Shiningami (Death God) won't be able to kill L because L has no name!!!"*

"Don't lick the kitty, Cai."

Syd came to my bedroom where I was reading and said, distraught, "I CAN'T FIND MY BLANKIE! I'VE LOOKED ALL OVER THE HOUSE!" So I reached beside me and, petting her blanket, said, "Really, Syd? You know where you might want to look next? MY BED." She fell over laughing ^_^

[Received text: "I don't believe in LOLcats"] Sent txt: "That's ok - they believe in you."

"...but then the post office lost the whole DDR arcade machine in the mail somewhere on the way to takumi's house..."

"I would certainly not ever sing "#1 Crush" at karaoke no way absolutely not. Or I would definitely sing that, actually."

"The kitty doesn't like it when you put it's paw in your mouth, Cai."

"If you babysit I will make you a delicious smoooooothie..."

"Cai, if you touch that kitten again I will make you eat her catfood."



*I haven't seen past episode 13 of Death Note. I know nothing except I love L

We were in the ocean, Paris and Cai and I, in the water up to Paris' chest. Paris was holding Cai like a baby, horizontal on the surface of the water, teaching him to float. Cai was being strangely compliant, for Cai: floating calls for relaxing, though, so I was proud both of Cai for letting go and Paris for trying to help him.

The water level dipped a little and I saw that there was a wave-swell coming - a smallish one, a California swell about two feet high, but big enough that at this level of water it was not a go-over but a dive-under. I realized with rising alarm that it was too late to hand Cai over to me so I could hold him above the wave while I planted myself and let the wave smash into me. (Cai likes that part, the way I sway backwards and then forwards, as I right myself, emerging from the water, spraying breath out like a whale.) I looked at Paris, concerned, but he was already leaning over Cai's prone form and whispering softly,

"You have to hold your breath, brother. Take a deep breath and we'll go under and then come out and I'll wipe your face and we'll breath again. Ssssh, just lay there, just like this, I've got you and you just hold your breath, ok?"

I looked at Cai, laying on the water with Paris' hands around his waist, and I didn't see any change in Cai's face or chest: no indrawn breath, no filled cheeks. He doesn't understand, he's too relaxed, he's not prepared! I thought, and started to force my way through the water over to them.

Too late, My mind gasped as the wave loomed in front of me and I instinctively dived into it, angling in and then up so as to emerge out the backside as soon as possible without being too close to the top swell (so as not to be sucked over the crest when it broke). I had one last flash of Paris maneuvering Cai like a surfboard into the heart of the wave before everything was not-breathing and this-way-up and air-breathing instinct took over.

( I am accustomed to sleep and in my dreams to imagine the same things that lunatics imagine when awake.  ~Rene Descartes, 'Meditations on First Philosophy' )

Today I went to a Winter Dance at the Elementary School, held during the last hour of the day. My date was a very unsure 8 year old girl and her best friend who doesn't dance At. All. And a 5 year old boy who had already triple-booked dates for this (with "my girlfriends who really like my cute hair"), AND a 4 year old who wanted to dance to Depeche Mode and ONLY Depeche Mode or so help me: she was going to bawl. I like dancing so I was cautiously happy, but this all seemed a little too much sitcom setup to me: chaos reigns and in the end someone learns a lesson. That someone, for those unfamiliar with my life, is always ME.

It was worse than I imagined. meyerlemon and anyone who may over-relate to myself, you should not read this for lo, it is not Of The Glee. Also there is ATTEMPTED VERY BADLY DONE LINE DANCING AGAINST MINORS. You have been warned. ( Cut for gratuituos misuse of the Electric Slide and the suggestion that popular radio isn't all crap and a Lord of the Flies reference that only 2 people will get because you read that in Jr. High and even then, we only read the Cliffnotes anyway kthx Ms. Skye Diane Chambers. )

Finally, mercifully, the teachers gave up. They sent the classes back to the rooms, chalked it up to experience and shrugged shoulders.

The kindergarteners, among themselves, agreed it was the best Winter Dance EVER and resolved to do it again tomorrow.