Some Like It Hot!
So my son loves spicy foods. He eats salsa, BBQ sauce, and now… Banana Peppers! (Incidentally, mama happens to have a new love for banana peppers on her pizza and sandwiches!).
Check out his reaction:
Do your kids eat spicy foods?
Dad’s Log: Man vs … Metropolis!
There are oh so many literary themes regarding man: man vs. nature, man vs. society, man vs. machine, to name a few. Maybe you are thinking this Dad’s Log is going a little high-brow … please… exactly who do you think I am?
Instead of literary, I’m thinking literally! One of my favorite shows is Man vs. Food! What a great show idea. The host, Adam Richman, takes on a gastrointestinal challenge… just him vs. food. Wonder what sort of health benefits he gets?
Anyway this past week there was a challenge of sorts in my castle called Man vs. Metropolis Train Table Set with Trundle. Pretty catchy… actually sort of a mouth full… not sure it would sell to a T.V executive…but it turned out to be a big hit with the local focus group!
This monster has been sitting in the black hole storage room sewing room craft room third bedroom for a few weeks. Yes, I was intimidated… maybe even scared when I first sighted the monstrosity taking up the landing of our front door. You see, any box or package left on the landing that my DW has not pulled into the house, torn apart and set aside for recycling usually means there is something a little more ominous in store for me.
So with Number 1 turning 2 it was time for the challenge! Box out, tools at the ready, coffee, set the clock…3…2…1..go!
SHOCK and AWE as I opened the box. I think the number of pieces in this box was equal to the national debt! How do they get all that in there?! Was I scared… yes I was, not the same scared I get when confronted by fast spiders… but scared nonetheless.
The slow and steady approach pays dividends with these construction projects. Especially since the instructions are wordless! Good thing I have minor in hieroglyphics. Slowly but surely the Metropolis Train Table Set with Trundle took shape. My only concern was my son seemed more interested in the box than the actual table. When not playing with the box or styrofoam packing or trundle he played the role of supervisor. “Daddee fix it” was his mantra. Yeah..workin’ on it, how about some coffee? “No tank you.”
With the table and trundle done the icing on the cake was the actual train set itself. Once again slow and steady wins the race. It is a pretty complex system.. but it went pretty smoothly. Although there were a few incidents involving Gigantic Son mercilessly re-fitting some roads and trying to fit through the double bridge tunnel. Love it when he thinks outside the box… no, seriously, get out of the box!
When the dust had settled on this one…I would have to say that this project went smoother than I had anticipated and most importantly the joy and smiles exhibited by my son and DW are proof positive that in Man vs. Metropolis Train Table Set with Trundle…
Man wins!!!!
Dads, (or Moms!) any triumphs or defeats when it comes to projects such as this? Please share!
The First Story My Son Told
*Previously published at A Writer Within for NaBloPoMo
I’ve been working with my son to teach him to clean up his toys after he’s done using them.
This morning, he was coloring and dropped a lot of crayons on the floor. My mom (“Nonna”) was on her way over, so I told him, “We need to clean up before Nonna comes.”
As young ones do he toddled around, pushed crayons further under his Learning Tower because he’s not that adept yet, and was still searching for crayons when my mom knocked on the door. Which totally distracted him of course!
I said, “Hurry! Hurry! Nonna’s here! Get the crayons before she comes in!” the excitement almost won out, but the idea of seeing Nonna motivated him to grab a few crayons a bit faster…
Later that night at supper, he said in his cute toddler voice: “Car happen.”
I didn’t know what this could mean, so I said, “Car happen?”
He said, “Nonna come!”
“Oh, yes! Nonna came over.”
He smiled, and said, “Knock, knock!”
“Knock, knock! Who’s at the door?”
“Nonna!” he shouted.
“Yes, Nonna was at the door!”
And then he said, “Hurry!”
Me: “Hurry?”
“Hurry! Keen-up!” (clean up).
I nearly fell off my seat laughing that he remembered the scenario. But I was so proud of him, because it was the first story my son has ever told!
He’s going to be a humor writer!
How do you record funny and memorable moments and stories about your children?
My Doodle-Bug
Ay-yi-yi. It was mommy-baptism-by-Sharpie this week!
My son, it turns out, loves to color. And, also: the world is his canvas. Especially my world. More specifically, my couch!
These pictures do not even do it justice – I had to send my digital camera in for repairs so I had to take these with a cell phone so it’s hard to see. But here are the 3 couch cushions:
Yes, after 19 months of nearly-pristine living (minus dirty laundry), I have at last had a major Disaster a lá Toddler!
Since there’s always two sides to every story…
How it transpired (My Version):
Sunday, I was not feeling well at all. I had been battling back a sore, scratchy throat for about four days at that point. It was just getting worse, so I decided to stay home from the evening service at church to rest (and not spread germs). My husband offered to take our son, but I said I’d just put him to bed a little early and then lay down myself.
However… my son was on a hunger strike, and I didn’t want to put him to bed without feeding him. So my plan was to let him play for 45 more minutes and then feed him. I closed off the entire house and settled us in the living room. I lay on the couch to watch him playing… and, you guessed it, I somehow zonked out.
I awoke 10 minutes or so later, feeling something shoved in my face. I assumed it was my son driving his cars across my face, but when I opened my eyes, I saw him brandishing an open, navy blue Sharpie marker! I leapt off the couch, gasping in horror, as I saw his handiwork scrawled from stem to stern on our sage green couch. Every cushion, top and sides, scribbled in Sharpie!
My reaction, unfortunately, surprised my budding Picasso, and he started crying, so I spent the next fifteen minutes calming him, while berating myself for falling asleep. And wondering where in the WORLD had he found the Sharpie!?
I waited with dread for hubby to come home, sure he’d be so upset. However, when he saw the disaster, he laughed! He said it reminded him of when he was a child, and drew an elaborate illustration across an entire wall of his parent’s house. I’m glad it was funny to him, but I was having a hard time seeing the humor! Until…. Matthew turned to my son and said sternly, ”Did you color on the couch?”
My son innocently pointed at me and said: “SLEEP!”
Never too early to learn blame-shifting!
***
How it transpired (Baby’s Version):
So full of energy, I can barely eat. There is so much to explore. Every day, I discover words, books, toys. I try to open things, climb, sing. And there’s this cool thing called “Coloring!”
Mama says I am a leftie, which I have no idea what that means, but I like to make marks on the papers she gives me. Everything is green! She calls it orange, and red, and blue, but to me they are all green. Green is my favorite color!
It’s quiet tonight, Daddy went away in the car, now it’s just Mama and me. She’s taking up the whole couch so I can’t climb on it. I like driving my cars all over her face! Shh,..she’s sleeping…. hey, what’s that?
Oh, Mama must have left me coloring to do. I’ve seen her color with this before! Look, I opened it! Coloring! Coloring!
I’m drawing a car. My hand. Letters. Here’s a new spot to color! I’m so good at this! Mama, look! I can color on your shirt! …
WHAT? You’re upset? Don’t you see my lovely drawings? I bet Picasso’s mom framed his first work of art! Now you’re making me sad too!
Daddy! I was coloring! Mama sleep!
See, Mama, Daddy thinks it’s funny! I’m a good artist, just like Daddy!
What’s your Toddler Disaster story? (And wait till you hear how I removed the Sharpie marks on my couch! You will be AMAZED!)
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