Finally - my long parental nightmare is over

My two very active, fairly athletic boys, ages 11 and 8 1/2 really didn't know how to ride their bikes till this week. To be fair I taught my very cautious son Teddy (over his very strident protests) a couple of years ago when he was 8ish so he's been capable of it for a while - but every single time I've convinced him to actually get on the bike it has taken every bit of his concentration to stay upright and make it from here to there and back so it's never been remotely fun for him. It's just hard and stupid - end of story.

And then there's Jackson who is so much more physically self aware - for whom biking should be second nature - but sadly believes in his heart of hearts that he is not capable of doing anything until 2 years after his brother does it, since he's 2 years younger. It's like a law of nature or physics or something - it's just true. So I couldn't get Jack to even sit on a bike - not even one with training wheels (which we took off a few years ago). Brad still says I'm more stubborn than Jackson, but I find that hard to believe.

It's been in the back of my mind that this fall was not going to pass without Jackson learning how at least as well as Ted. It's been two years and frankly it's embarrassing that my kids don't have this skill. I always figured they'd want to ride with their friends and that would push them on, but .. eh Ted's too lazy to be spurred on by a potentially physically taxing version of peer pressure and Jack's just not familiar with the concept (bonus for him). Our neighborhood is really not good for learning - it's all hills. The only place remotely flat is from our house to the end of the cul-de-sac but even that is a slight hill and not a huge distance - on every other inch of street in our neighborhood you are either going up or down at a fairly steep grade. So again to be fair to them - I've not pushed it as hard as I should have and not taken them up to the school or whatever to help them out and Brad's not been at all interested in getting involved with this project over the years - I was the only one horrified by their lack of ability here.

Now cut to this weekend

Ted comes in and says: "hey I'm really good at riding my bike"
Me: ... duh.. what.. uh... wow honey that's great! Can I see?
T: yeah come on out and see - he was really excited
And there he is - on the bike he learned on, his old bike, the one that's too small for Jackson, but sure enough he's riding up and down the street just like he knows what he's doing. He's actually enjoying himself, not to mention thinking he's the bomb (he didn't notice he looked like one of those clowns riding on a tiny little bike.) I'm thinking - BRILLIANT!!! If he will just keep playing around on that little bike we can easily translate that onto his bigger bike.

AND THEN..... I am outside doing something else and Jackson hops on the little bike and starts gliding down the little hill to the cul-de-sac. He's got the balance thing down with no problem. I sneak up behind him and give him some pointers and push while he gets peddling and pretty soon he's doing it on his own. And on the next day he wants to go out again and Brad actually went out with him. He said he did better with Brad - whatever! He spent 10-15 minutes each day and then on day three he just went out and practiced on his own. All Brad could say was... "he is SO not his brother".

But now, Ted's riding Ted's bike and Jack's riding Jack's bike and we can't get either of them off of them which is just exactly how it's supposed to be.

phew!
Camela

A mini Brad's away story

Picture this... It's two days before vacation. It's packing day. Tomorrow is pack the car day. It's a long story, but both kids are at home this week with Brad who is trying to also work. There's intermittent help, but mostly he's dealing with them and well... you can just imagine how sweet and loving his mood is.

So I come home from work where I've been running around like a lunatic trying to get ready to be gone for a week and Brad's being all sweet and loving as I described above, but luckily he's on his way out to take the kids over to a friend's house where they're going to spend some time while we pack. They leave, I go upstairs to change my clothes and no sooner than I get my shorts on do I hear Bandit going absolutely ballistic in the back yard. This is not the ordinary ballistic state the Bandit is almost always in, this is serious I'm going to rip you limb from limb ballistic. I'm assuming there's either some deer in the field behind the house or much more likely a turtle in the yard. I grab a shirt and run down the stairs and outside so I can bring Bandit in.

I make it down to the landing of the deck stairs before I find out what Bandit's barking at. Deer? nope. Turtle? not so much. It's a badger. A badger who's the same size as Bandit. The poor badger, I'll call Fred, is backed into the corner of the fence and Bandit is about 8 inches from him barking his head off and periodically lunging for him. Shit! Of course Brad just left. Of course I just saw my neighbor who might have been alerted by Bandit's barking just driving away. I'm screaming my head off at Bandit who has no idea anything in the world except poor old Fred exists.

At every opportunity he can find Fred tries to duck under the fence to freedom but Bandit's not having any of that and takes that same opportunity to pounce on poor old Fred. Fred turns back and hisses and bears his huge teeth but mostly he's just sitting there with the fence to his back and ballistic Bandit to his front.

There's no way I'm going down there getting near a wild animal.... let alone the badger... ba dum bum... I decide to get the hose and spray water on Bandit hoping to distract him long enough to let Fred escape. I get the hose and start spraying and it doesn't exactly distract him, but it does bring an extra layer of chaos to the scene until they are literally rolling around in the mud I've just created - one big pile of paws and claws and teeth and barking (because let's not kid ourselves, Bandit never once stopped barking - even while he was biting Fred he managed to keep the barking up).

They look like a small fury version of a street fight where two people are rolling around trying to get the upper hand. Holy Shit what have I just done. Now they're both going to end up some awful bloody mess and there's still no way I'm going near them. Maybe Fred will kill Bandit:) What will I tell the kids? When will Brad be back? What should I do now? But then Fred makes a break for it; diving under the fence (a side note here - if Fred can fit under the fence so can Bandit, but luckily he doesn't know that).

Fred gets about half way to freedom before Bandit clamps onto his ... uh.. shall we say.. posterior.. and is not planning on letting go any time soon. So now the tug of war is on. Fred gains a few inches. Bandit pulls him back. Back and forth, back and forth. I'm still screaming and so pissed off I can't begin to tell you. I'm trying to get the water in Bandit's eyes. The seconds tick by, oh how I wish it was caught on film. Finally Fred breaks free and darts into the forest. I saw no blood on his retreating butt or anywhere on Bandit. Bandit is a nice shade of brown instead of his normal white, but luckily he's heading to the country club for pets tomorrow where they can deal with him.

Okay, now I'm really going to go pack now.
Camela

2 cute pictures of the boys

Our friend Kevin turns 11 on Thursday; 8 days after Teddy turned 11. Teddy and Kevin met for the first time the day Kevin was born. The hospital where Kevin was born assumed Teddy was just on his way home and didn't bat an eye at us walking around with such a little infant. Kevin had a Lego themed party and here are pictures of my boys showing off their creations - and they are so cute I just had to show them off.

Teddy and his fire truck

Jackson and his space police hovercraft

Holy Canoli my baby's getting older

Teddy turns 11 tomorrow!!!!


I can't stand it. It's too much. How in God's name did this happen. He's heart stoppingly beautiful (at this moment especially when his mouth is shut) and just keeps getting more grown up every day. There are still things he's working on - like remembering to use utensils, and being able to find the shoes on his feet - but I figure he'll get them some day, or maybe he won't but he won't be living with me any more so I just won't care as much.

This is one of my favorite pictures, taken a year ago in the Outer Banks.

The Carolla lighthouse is in the background if you look closely.

He's lovely and sweeet and very empathetic to everyone except his brother. He's very responsible with things outside of the home, extremely assertive, yet also shy and unsure (this he get's from his mother). He's wildly analytical and extremely curious; asking thoughtful and thought provoking questions of just about everyone on just about any topic (he gets this from his father). He spends a great deal of time trying to figure out how to make or build the next cool and intricate thing or on trying to figure out how things work. He is a consumate debater. He will debate with anyone on anything at anytime; happy to take whichever side you didn't. His teachers think he's amazing, his parents are not as certain this is a good quality - though certainly think he'll follow in his grandpa's and aunt's and uncle's footsteps and be a lawyer - really anything else would be wasting some serious innate talent.

-

He is a wonderful son and brother though this pre-teen time has not been my favorite. I'm guessing I've got a few more years of this less than wonderful time with him, but am confident it'll all be worth it in the end. We are very lucky to have him in our lives; they are richer every day for his existance.

-

Camela

The mystery date

Brad asked if he could take me on a mystery date the day before we went to pick up the kids - the catch was I had to leave work early on Thursday afternoon.... uh... Oh the hardship - yeah I think I can arrange that.

He wouldn't tell me where we were going only that I had to wear a dress and he had to approve it. I truly like just following his lead, it's such a calm and oddly close place to be, so I left work at the appointed time and found out what he was going to wear... a suit (his big boy clothes as he calls them). I went through a few choices before settling on a nice summer dress and before long we were off. He drove south and at some point I guessed we were headed to DC (I'm not mentioning the many other guesses that I had along the way - we didn't stop in Columbia, nor did we head to the Olney Ale House).

I expected to be sort of antsy not knowing where we were going, but instead I felt completely relaxed - I knew just hanging out with him would be fun so it just didn't matter where we were headed. But then after a while I saw a sign for The Kennedy Center. I got a little chill of excitement. I've lived here all my life, within an hour of DC and all it has to offer and I've never been to The Kennedy Center - so this was going to be extra fun. We were going to dinner first and on the way there I got him to tell me what we were going to see.... The Color Purple.

I almost teared up right there. The Color Purple is my all time favorite movie not to mention one of the best books I've ever read. A few years ago when it first came to Broadway he got me tickets for Christmas. We were going to to to NYC for the weekend, watch the show and play a bit. Unfortunately that's when Brad hurt his neck and started the long odyssey that ended with his successful neck surgery. Of course it was not an issue that we were unable to go back then, I was disappointed but never gave it a second thought and really had put it totally out of my mind. I had no idea the show was traveling, much less that it was close by. What a truly wonderful surprise.

We started with dinner at Sequoia a restaurant with an amazing view a short walk from The Kennedy Center. Brad asked the waitress what dish they were known for... this question totally stumped her. Um... we're not known for anything in particular - I guess we're known for the view. It was a great view, right on a bend in the Potomac River. But being known for the view and not for any particular dish spoke volumes about the food and we both adjusted our choices to things it's harder to screw up and even with that the food wasn't anything to write home about - but... the view really was wonderful and the company wasn't bad either.

On the way there I updated my FB status that I was on a mystery date asking for guesses to where we were headed and once we got to the restaurant I posted a few pictures; first of the view, then of the Hall of Nations in the Kennedy Center (and someone totally recognized all the flags - I was impressed) and then of a souvenir stand selling stuff from The Color Purple. I got a few guesses ranging from Taco Bell (thanks Sue) to the UN. It was a little side note that totally amused me and reminded me again that I LOVE MY IPHONE!

The show was absolutely fabulous! I wasn't sure how it would translate to musical, but it was done exceptionally well. The lead was played by the former American Idol winner Fantasia and I was skeptical at how well she'd do, but she was absolutely wonderful. I can no longer watch the movie because ever single scene is leading to one of the two climactic points in the movie that just either rip my heart out or put it back together and so I end up sobbing for the whole movie and well... I sobbed (though silently) for the whole play too - it was just so good. When it was over, I went into the bathroom to get myself together and I don't think I've ever seen my eyes to completely red. I put on my sunglasses at eleven o'clock at night so as not to scare anyone.

It was the best surprise I've ever had. I love my husband!

Camela

Kidless for nearly a week!

Well... we sent Jackson off to camp for the first time yesterday. We'll pick him up along with Teddy on Friday afternoon. I'm not sure which one of us was more nervous as the time got closer for him to leave, but he handled it well enough and I'm here waiting anxiously for them to post some pictures of his activities on their website so I can see how he looks.

Brad and I had a lovely dinner out last night - we went to Bonefish which we love if anyone gets the chance - with no thoughts of ... quick we've got to get home to relieve the babysitter. Tomorrow morning at the butt crack of dawn Brad is heading down to NC, his second home, for a short trip. At first I was not too amused by this trip, but upon further reflection, the idea of some time at home totally alone doesn't sound too bad!

The pictures we've been able to see of Teddy at camp have been wonderful, particularly their morning meeting times at "the flagpole". Each morning it's a differnt theme, Geek Monday was one, Topless Tuesday was another. It's the first thing the campers do each morning and I'm sure it's designed to get them up and out and energized; ready for the day ahead. My two favorite pictures have been flagpole pictures. From Topless Tuesday was a picture of his entire cabin of boys and counselors sans shirts flexing their muscles (what there are of them at age 10/11). But the funny part was they all had abs drawn in and it was hilarious. But by far the best picture was from another morning where again his whole cabin is featured and they are all wearing dresses - 10ish 10 year old boys and a counselor all in dresses. No idea what the theme was, and it seems as though only their cabin was in dresses, but OMG it is hysterical... seriously funny. Teddy is front and center (as he somehow manages to be for everything) in a blue, knee length, sleeveless dress, posing with hands on hips, looking right at the camera with a serious "I dare you" face. His best friend Matthew is right next to him in a more prarie style white dress with both hands framing his face and his mouth open as if he's making a girly scream. We'll be ordering some of these pictures when all is said and done and I am so completely looking forward to showing that picture to his future girlfriends (especially the ones I don't like).

Once we get the pictures, I'll post some here, but that won't be for a couple of weeks. Wish me luck not fretting too much about Jackson this week!

Camela

What's going on with us

We've already had a busy July and it's only the 5th. On the 2nd we had a lovely evening at our friend Doug and Angel's house with their brand new adorable baby Charlotte and their 4 Yorkshire terriers (also very adorable). Doug cooked which always means fantastic food, though really it's Angel's guacamole that's to die for. I don't like guacamole or avocados at all and yet, I can't seem to stay away from her guac - go figure.

On the 3rd we went to an annual event at our friends Sherry and Gregory's house. They live on the water and right across the river from their house is an annual July 3rd fireworks display - it's our yearly fireworks without the crowds. We got to hang out with Doug, Angel, and Charlotte there as well and this year there were something like 25 kids so our kids had an absolute blast. Of course I didn't think to take pictures at any of these things, but oh well.

Then on the 4th we went to our neighbor's house (his name is Ted Jackson - isn't that funny) for their annual event and he's an amazing cook as well - so the moral to the weekend was WAY WAY WAY too much food. Also tons of kids at this event and they all had a wild crazy fun time playing some sort of football game led by Jackson and an old neighbor Cameron (both flag football players) - though this game had 2 balls and I just couldn't figure it out - but they all had fun and that's all that matters.

We were supposed to have a swim meet on July 4th as well for Teddy, where we were to leave the house at 6am. Unfortunately for Teddy the events of the 2nd and 3rd kept him out way too late and he was fighting exhaustion on some level. He was shaking when we put him to bed at 11 on the 3rd and so so so upset about the prospect of another night of not enough sleep and he was about to head off to camp so Brad and I decided to not go to the swim meet (well it was only going to me and Teddy that went, but Brad was in on the decision not to go)... our worst fear was that Teddy would get sick and not be able to go to camp.

So that brings us to today (the 5th) - and Teddy heading off to camp for two weeks. Last year he went for one week and had a great time, this year it's for two and during the middle weekend they go roller skating and bowling and to an amusement park - he's so excited!

Brad took Ted up to camp and from there continued north up to visit his mom to buy her a new bed and clean out her room to make room and ... boy oh boy do I not envy him that job. Luckily his sister Dawn has agreed to help with that. It's lovely of him to help her like that and she'll really appreciate it but I'm going to miss him until he gets back on Wednesday night. But Jack and I will have a nice mommy son time.

Next Sunday Jackson will join him Teddy the same camp for one week. I'm totally worried that he's too young so I'm not going to say much about it until he comes home - hopefully it'll go just fine. I will say that the day before we go and get both boys, which is a week from Friday, Brad has planned something for us to do, but I'm not allowed to know what it is - only that I have to leave work about an hour early - how fun.

And of course the day after they get back Teddy has his final swim meet - maybe forever. I required him to do swim team for 3 years so he could become a strong swimmer and well this is his third year and he is a strong swimmer. I need to work to convince him how much he likes it so he'll do it again next year, but I won't make him and I think he'll be thrilled he survived all three years and be totally done. I need to make it his idea to continue - we'll see how that goes.

Okay so that's our July - I can't think about August yet, it's just too far away.