What's your record...?

On the way to Hayley's soccer game with the boys and my parents, Mom receives a text that a new family member, Wesley, is on the way.  The following conversation ensues with Flynn.

Flynn:  Mommy, what's a Wesley?
Me: He's your new...uh...cousin... we'll go with that.  [Second cousin?  Third cousin twice removed?  Not sure.  I'll figure it out someday.]
F:  What's a cousin?
M: A cousin is a relative.
F: What's a relative?
M: Members of your family.
F: What's a family?
M: A group of people connected by blood that are a great source of stress.
F: What's stress?
M: What's your record for consecutive questions?
F: What's a record?
M: Gaaah!

The secret cat language

Drake: Mommy, we need to put a sign in our yard that says, "No cats allowed.  Stop pooping in our yard."
Me: Really?  OK.  But, how will the cats read it?
D:  We'll write it in Meows.  It will say, "Meow meow meow meow meow meow."

Pre-K Popularity

By now, I just assume that Drake will turn out like me socially: one or two really close friends and that is all.  There's nothing wrong with that, and I don't want him to think there is anything wrong with that.  I'd rather have one or two close, loyal, awesome friends than many false ones.  Today, I was able to witness the interaction between him and some others boys in his class which made me smile and be hopeful for his sociability.

For Christmas, Flynn gave Drake a Lego Star Wars Darth Vader key chain flashlight.  As soon as Drake walked into the social hall this morning (after a two week break), he went directly to a small group of boys and showed them his key chain.  I have never seen three boys so in awe of an item.  I heard Oohs and Aahs and Cools.  They grew more excited when Drake turned on the flashlight part.  I was all smiles on the way home to a quiet house.  What a fantastic way to return from break, for all of us.

Things that really need to be invented

1.  A self-cleaning house, with a bonus laundry function
2.  Lysol Disinfecting House Bomb.  Perfect when illness runs rampant in the house
3.  Pot Roast scented candles.  For when I'm too lazy to cook.
4.  Volume control for other people (but mostly when the children are whining)

The First Report Card

I knew, intellectually, that Drake would be receiving a report card.  It's only Pre-K, but the school has standards and communicates those standards to the parents.  I wasn't expecting the report card to be in Drake's folder yesterday.  After all of the issues and the four trips to the Principal's office, I felt a catch in my throat.  I was pleasantly surprised (and relieved) to read that "Drake is a sweet boy and a pleasure to have in class."  Whew!

The behavior is starting to turn toward the better, but there are still some set backs.  Two weeks ago, Drake shoved another boy to the ground.  Thankfully, the boy wasn't hurt.  When we were getting in the car that day, Drake said to me, "I don't want to send Frank a Christmas card."  (He has been making cards for all the kids in his class to mail out.)  "Why not?" I asked.  "Because Frank is mean," he replied.  Knowing that Frank was the boy Drake shoved, I had to dig deeper.  "Drake, what happened with Frank today?"

And then it all spilled out.  "Frank was pushing me and I told him to stop and he wouldn't stop so I pushed him."

"Did you tell your teachers that he pushed you first?"  (In the report from the teachers, when asked why Drake pushed Frank, Drake's response was "Because I felt like it.")

"No."

I felt two unusual sources of pride in my boy.  First, he didn't tattle.  We've been working on that with him, and even though both would have been in trouble, Drake's punishment would have been less severe.  Second, he didn't start the fracas, but by golly, he finished it.  I've been worried that Drake will become the target for bullies because he can be really sensitive.  I felt relief and pride, knowing that he will stand up for himself and not take any crap.  Should I be proud about that?

Mr. Independent

Scene: 5:30 am.  The house is dark and quiet.


Flynn wakes up.  He slaps his feet into the kitchen and gets himself a glass of water.  He goes back to the bathroom to take care of business.  He returns to the kitchen.  He opens the refrigerator, takes out a cup of yogurt, and sits at the table.  He remembers that he needs a spoon, so he goes and opens the drawer to get one.  He likes the big spoons.  He returns to the table, looking at the lid, wondering how he is going to open it.

Why do I have the feeling that he would make himself a cup of coffee if he could a) see over the counter, and b) liked coffee?

Feast Day

I am really enjoying of the holidays this year.  The boys are getting into the spirit and have an unnatural attachment to "Jingle Bells".  Yesterday, the 6th, was the Feast Day of St. Nicolas.  At school, Drake and his classmates had their "shoes" filled with goodies.  (Shoes being the paper ones they had colored the day before.  Something about a health code violation to place treats in their actual shoes.  :P )  In the evening, I took the boys to Bruno's European Cafe for good schnitzel and to meet St. Nicolas, all decked out in his traditional bishops' robes. I decided to have the boys eat first, since an unfed boy is a grumpy boy.  While waiting for the food, Drake wanted to write a letter to St. Nicolas on his place mat.  This is what he wanted to write:

Dear St. Nicolas,
I really like your dress.
Thank you.
Drake


The boys ate their adults size meals and made their way to the big man.  Flynn was skittish, but Drake walked right up to him.  They received chocolates, oranges, pfeffernusse, and coloring books.  Most of the chocolate was gone before we returned home.  And the boys bounced off the walls into the night.

Drake- chatting with St. Nicolas

Flynn wanted to start coloring RIGHT NOW!
(Sorry the pic is sideways.  Still trying to figure out that glitch.)