Tag: Mario

22 minutes

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Mario and I showing our dukes before heading out for a muffin

Mario and I enjoyed a mother/son night tonight while Jon and Maria went hunting (Jon had resolved that he was 99% sure he would not shoot a turkey if he saw one with Maria – luckily, he did not see one).  

Before I picked Mario up from daycare, I grabbed two Spiderman movies at the library.  Mario eats, sleeps, and dreams Spiderman.  If he see anything Spiderman anywhere – store, magazine, newspaper, tv, he goes hyper.  If Spiderman walked into our house tomorrow, I think he would faint at the sight of him.  he worships him.  He also is in love with MJ, Spiderman’s girlfriend.  Last night, he acted like we was on the phone with MJ, calling her up by dialing “1,2,3,4,5” and coyly introducing himself.

“Hi, MJ, this is Spiderman.”

“Yes.  Uh-huh.  Ok.  Sure.”

“Ok, bye.”

And he hung up.  He looked over at Jon and I and smiled.  

While we were watching Spiderman tonight, MJ came on the screen.  Mario jumped up off the couch and yelled “MaryJane!”  Then he looked me in the eyes and said matter of fact “I want to go into the tv to see her.”  That is one romantic fella.  

My Superhero

After watching two Spiderman episodes, Mario was up for some action.  He asked me to be the “bad guy” and he would be Spiderman.  He made me sit on the floor.  He grabbed a couch pillow and swung it my way grunting the entire way.  I picked it up and swung it lightly back at him and he flew to the floor faking his demise.  When I rejoiced in beating Spiderman, he leapt up from the floor and threw that pillow back at me.  I threw it back at him and he karate chopped it in mid-air.  He climbed all over the couch and chair evading my reach.  After about 7 minutes of engaging in these antics, I started to tire.  I was ready to hit Stauf’s for a midnight muffin.  However, I kept reminding myself that this was our time together, and although I wanted to be at Stauf’s or drawing a picture or playing Memory – anything different than play-fighting – that was what my superhero son wanted to play.  I kept an eye on the clock, nonetheless, to see how long it would be before he started to tire.  Throwing the pillow and running across the couch had to tire him out eventually. 

22 minutes later, it hit him.  “Mom, let’s go to Stauf’s.  I want a muffin and cream cheese.”  Ahh, my gift for hanging in there with him.  And for him, 22 minutes is pretty good!  I thought I may be going at it for at least an hour.  It must be the three-year-old attention span.  Whatever it is, I will take it.  We headed to Stauf’s in his Spiderman nightie, his red socks, his red hat and his Spiderman gloves and got our muffin and cream cheese packet. Yum!

We give up.

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Mario in his new bed

We just spent a nice chunk fo change on a cool loft bed for Mario with the hopes that he would stop sleeping in Maria’s bed and stop being so scared to go to sleep at night.  Spiderman sheet and pillow and comforter.  Steps to climb up into the bed.  Play area under the bed to hide, play with toys, read books.   Mario came home from school and we led him upstairs with eyes closed to see it.  He loved it.  He climbed up the steps and sat up in his bed beaming.  Maria tried to climb up and he screamed “No, Maria. My bed!” 

Maria enjoying her book in bed

We talked it up all night.  Maria even helped us out (“Mario, that is the coolest bed in the world – you are so lucky!).  Maria’s assistance was all the more impressive because she was so jealous of Mario’s new bed.  She laid in it while he played in her room with Jon.  When we made her come into her room, she walked in with a pout.  “My bed is so boring – Mario gets everything.”  We had to have a talk with her about how much she has compared to others on this earth, and how we drooled and gushed over her bed when we got it when she was four years old.  I told her that I used to lay in my bed and read books, draw, and talk on the phone with girlfriends!  She cooled off, and we hopped into her bed and read a book. 

Eventually, the moment of truth came.  It was time to go to bed.  Maria laid down in her bed like she always does – exhausted from her day in Kindergarten.  Mario reluctantly got into his bed.  I affirmed how lucky he was to have this new bed and how Spiderman sleeps in a bed like his and gets all of his strength by sleeping through the night.  I gave him a kiss, Jon gave him a kiss, and we walked out.  I went back into Maria’s room to read her one last book, and within 5 minutes, there was Mario peeking through her door. 

“Ok, Mario, you can read one book with Ri and I and then you have to go to bed.”

“Ok, Mom.”

We read two more books.  I was hoping that he had overheard me reading to Ri and that is what brought him into her room.  I walked him back into his room, and tucked him under his comforter.  I gave him his binkies (yeah, that is a while other post!) and his blankie and told him he had to stay in bed and sleep.  I again affirmed how cool his bed was and how we all wished we had one.  I went downstairs.

Mario taking over Maria's bed

I responded to some emails, looked over volunteer opportunities, thought about activities for the weekend, and walked back upstairs to check on Mario about an hour later.  I had not heard anything while downstairs, which was a miracle since he or Maria typically come downstairs at least twice after being put to bed.  I went into Maria’s room first with the hope and belief that I would just see her sleeping body.  Shattered.  There lay our three-year old stubborn son, head right next to Maria’s, snoring away.  Maybe they are just meant to sleep together in the same room?  It would free up a much-needed room for Jon and I….

Come on 40 – bring it on!

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Ri singing me happy birthday!

Really, did November 5 come again this year?  Maybe we skipped over the 5th straight to the 6th?  No, I feel one year away from 40 – November 5 hit for sure.  The legs are tight when I wake up, the knees creak a bit when I stand, I have to adjust my eyes for a few minutes to focus, and by the time the sun rises, I would have gone to the bathroom at least twice.  Ugh.

Riding in the Pelotonia

But I also have an incredible cadre of friends, two crazy spastic kids, one hilarious hubby, a heckuva cool family and good health.  Speaking of health, my birthday day started off with a long run and morning at the gym to lift weights (yeah, my hubby can think of about 1000 different activities that he would rather engage in on his birthday morning!).  I came home to a kiss from my girl even though I was sweaty (typically she makes me shower before coming near me) and a “hello” from my boy who did not change his position of refusing to touch me before I showered. 

I walked Maria to school (riding her almost the entire way on my shoulders since we were running late – a daily occurence).  After dropping Ri off, I headed into work to be greeted by brownies from my assistant and happy birthday greetings from my Facebook friends.  Man, you can start to get a big head when you see all of the FB birthday wishes on your birthday.  I started bragging to my young cousin about all my birthday greetings, and she quickly informed me that all people have to do is hit a button in order to get an automatic happy birthday wish to “friends” of theirs.  Ahh, well, keep me humble.   

Maria presenting me the gifts she wrapped.

I picked up Mario from school.  When I walked in his classroom, I got that gigantic Mario smile and that wonderful scream “Mama!”  When Mario and I stepped in the house, Maria was wrapping my gift with Jon.  Jon looked at me amazed.  “Do you know that your daughter is Martha Stewart? I wrapped your gift and reached down for tape and she had already tore a piece off and stuck it on her arm for me to use.” She LOVES to prepare gifts for people.  She loves cutting the wrapping paper, wrapping the gift, taping the paper, drawing designs on the paper, and presenting it.  She could not wait to give me my gifts.  She also asked Jon to buy my a card that she thought was hilarious.  It was a picture of a woman with gigantic boobs caught in metal traps on the ground.  Her husband is yelling “I told you to watch out for the booby traps!”  She sees that card with me when we are in Giant Eagle and she always takes a look at it.  I guess all along she has been secretly wanting to get it for my birthday.  Gotta love her humor.  She had Mario give me a card with a girl lifting weights since I love to workout.  She is precious.  

Sweet angel sleeping away.

We had Jon’s family over for cake and ice cream.  My favorite – sheet cake and chocolate chip ice cream.  Heaven on earth.  Everyone took off around 9 pm (including Mario who headed home with Grandma and Grandpa with no resevations – he LOVES heading north to be with them), and Maria and I played for a while.  She started to get tired around 10 and I took her up to lay with her in my bed.  I don’t think five minutes passed before we were both snoring away.  My dad came over at 10:30 after watching my brother play in his concert, but I had already passed out.  Pretty bad when your old man can party it up later than you.  But, hey, I gotta cut myself a break – my dad is a frickin’ machine. 

Ri came back into our bed at 5 am, and snuggled against me to get warm.  There are not many other things that I can think of that bring me as much comfort as my girl’s arms wrapped around me and feet warm under my side (except for Mario on my other side doing the same).  The sun rose a few hours later, and I opened my eyes to my first day at age 39.  Bring it on, baby – 40 is still a whole year away!

Halloween with the Superheroes

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Superheroes!

Maria and Mario love Halloween as much as their mama loved Halloween as a kid.  Our Halloween was held on Sunday, the 31st.  Most other neighborhoods held their Halloween on Thursday, the 28th.  When I realized this, I immediately came up with a plan to stroller to the adjacent neighborhood and hit a few homes on Thursday.  Jon stopped that nonsense.  “Mary, give me a break – they will get too much candy on Halloween night – you do not need to go out Thursday, too.”  In my heart, I knew that.  However, in my competitive head, I didn’t care.  It wasn’t that I thought we really needed the candy (that is the farthest thing from what this family needs) or that I would eat it all up (which I would if in front of me – another farthest thing from what mom needs!) – it was simply that we had the opportunity to go out and collect free things (candy in this instance, and an occasional set of fangs) and I wanted to take advantage of it!  I was the same way as a young girl dressed up in my crayola crayon costume or my ghost costume.  I would walk around the neighborhood until my legs felt like they were encased in cement – tired, heavy and slowwww.  But when I got home and flipped over my pillow case – heaven on earth.  Reese’s, Snickers, Heath, Milky Way, KitKat….

Ready for the Haunted Hayride and festivities...

Rather than head to the adjacent neighborhood, we went to our neighborhood park for a Haunted Hayride and Halloween goodies.  They had four large card tables full of chocolate candy, cookies, chips and cheetos, and hot dogs.  My children could not get enough.  Maria dived into the cookies like they were being discontinued, and Mario ripped into Kit Kat bars like he had never eaten in his life.  It was impossible to monitor the two of them, also, because each of them had me at different places at different times (part of their plan).  Of course, here I am spouting off about how much candy they are eating and telling them to stop as I rip open my third snickers and take a big bite.  Like mother like daughter and son.  Neither superhero won the costume contest.  My girlfriend’s daughter won as a pink flamingo and a boy we didn’t know won as a Mad

Returning from the hayride (Mario is still shaken by ax-wielding boys!)

Hatter.  Maria was upset – Mario could have cared less unless it meant he would be forbidden from the candy.  Maria could care less about winning in sports but when it comes to contests related to costumes, drawings, guessing games, she is serious.  We took a hayride around the park, which was not too scary (there were two little guys at the end holding fake axes that scared Mario a bit) but provided great entertainment for me because Maria sat next to her Kindergarten buddy, Jason, and bugged him the whole time by sitting close to him, getting in his face, and snuggling with him. 

Maria’s Halloween night left her with a basket full of treats and some good times with her friends and cousin.  In past years, I have held her hand and we have gone to a dozen houses before she looks at me and pleads “let’s go home and eat our candy, mom.” This year, a completely different girl emerged.  She walked over ten blocks, saw friends from school that she embraced and talked to, walked up to houses by herself and said “thank you” after getting a treat, and acted goofy with her cousin during the entire trick-or-treat event.  I even caught her looking at people differently than she has in the past.  She really studies them now.  Both girls and boys.  She will catch something on them or about them that fascinates her, and she will just stare.  She looks to be in deep thought processing why the person is acting a

Maria and her cousin

 certain way or looks a certain way.  It is much more penetrating and more sophisticated than her stares in the past.  I walked the last block home holding her hand and her cousin’s hand thinking about how lucky I am to be able to experience the excitement and raw pleasure that these two five-year-old girls have for this holiday. 

Mario just wanted to eat his candy.  We went to about ten houses before he looked at me and demanded to eat a piece of candy.  I told him he had to wait until we got home and without hesitation, he was ready for home.  It was as if he knew that after he ate his candy that night, he would likely never see his basket again (Jon wants it out of the house so I stash t in secret hiding places for me and to calm the kiddies when I need to do so).  He got just the amount

Spiderman playing it cool

 he could eat that night with a few extras for the grandparents (he knew his mom and dad would require him to give a few away to family).  Calculated little fella.

So, another Halloween over.  Maria brought home a craft from Daisies this afternoon.  It was a paper turkey for Thanksgiving.  Hard to believe that it is only three weeks away.  I catch myself saying that every year but every year it seems even harder to believe how the time flies.

M&M getting ready for bed after a night of Halloween fun!

Boo at the Zoo

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Maria and her goat

I had heard from a few friends that the zoo has a fun “Boo at the Zoo” event in honor of the Halloween season.  I thought Maria and Mario would enjoy it since we had not been to the zoo for a year and they would be able to not only see the animals but gather treats at all of the treat stations.  I was right. 

Mario and his goat

We got to the zoo at 10:30 in the morning thinking that we would leave by 1 or so in order to get a nap later in the afternoon.  We left at 5:30 pm.  The kids had a blast in their costumes (especially Mario who strutted up to anyone who glanced at him and shouted “Spiderman!”).  The weather could not have been nicer.  We got the treat of seeing a polar bear dive into the water right in front of us.  A mama and baby elephant fed on hay together.  A huge rhino walked by us.  The kids petted a snake (they could not wait to come home and describe the event to dad who is not fond of snakes)!  We even found the barn and petting zoo.  The petting zoo had a score of baby goats for the kids to pet and comb.  Maria loved combing and brushing the babes.  She has got the most gentle demeanor around babies – human or animal.  Mario liked their tiny poop pebbles thinking they “looked cool.”

Maria and her baby elephant

We watched the bats being fed in the bat cage (bananas and apples) and my observant Maria noticed three little white bats at the corner of the room that looked like newborn babies (or it could have been a different species of bat).  Nonetheless, Maria again proves that she is like her father – able to see the tiniest of things that most people overlook in their hurried lives.  She makes me breathe and slow down.  Unfortunately, we went to the reptile house next so I slowed down to see the snakes and lizards. 

We ate a healthy lunch of zoo pizza, hot dog and french fries at the Zoo Eatery.  While we were eating, they played a clip about Africa and Mario perked up “That is where mom wants to go, Ria!”  I have dreamed of Africa since seeing “Out of Africa” with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford years ago.  The land reeks of beauty and depth and richness.  I love Alexandra Fuller’s books of her childhood in Africa.  Something about that country penetrates me.

Spiderman heading down the slide

After filling ourselves to the brim with grease, we headed off to the zoo playland, which both kids surprisingly enjoyed (usually one of them gets bored quickly).  Maria played mother hen to Mario watching his every step and guiding him in the correct direction when he veered awry.  At one point, some older boy began to push his way by Mario to get through a tunnel, and I saw Maria take the boy’s arm and thrust him back.  Little does Mario know how his sister protects him and has his back.  I have a feeling this protective sister will remain throughout his life (watch out girls). 

Super Girl heading down the slide

We ended our visit by petting a rat and hugging Biscuit and Gravy from Bob Evans (yes, the kids knew who they were – that is a bad sign!).   I allowed each of them to get something little from the gift shop – Maria got a stuffed animal penguin that we named Pipi and Mario got two plastic cheetahs.  On the drive home, Maria wrapped Pipi up in her Super Girl cape and told Pipi how happy she would be at her new home.  Mario smashed his new cheetahs together and made them kill each other the entire way home. 

I got home and sat on the couch.  M&M soon huddled over to me wanting to continue to play.  As I tickled their feet and smothered them with kisses, I thought to myself “this is a perfect day.”  I wish I could bottle that feeling up and open it up when I need it (like tonight when I am fighting a bunch of deadlines and trying to get everything together).   I am working hard on changing my thinking when I start to go down this path of worry and anxiousness.   This weekend, I could have been in a worried, anxious, irritable state based on some situations at work.  But I knew I needed to change my thinking from worried/anxious to grateful in order to keep me up on the mood elevator, and keep me enjoying the weekend with my family. 

Maria was not lcosing her eyes because she was scared of the snake!

There were times I slipped and started down the worrisome path, but each time I caught myself and guided my thinking back to grateful (look at these awesome kids of mine, look at my kind hubby, look at my great family and network of friends…).  When I can find grateful, I can find stability and peace.  And I can go to bed at night just a little more uplifted and hopeful of what is to come (which tomorrow is more Halloween candy so yippee!!!).

Mario braving it!

My Spiderman

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Supergirl and Spiderman in the house!

I loved Wonder Woman when I was a little girl.  I don’t remember why I loved her so much – whether it was her power to do good, her awesome attire, her good looks….  I just remember emulating her with my gold bracelets and my headband and my belt and lasso.  

Mario loves Spiderman.  He adores him.  He wants to do everything he does.  He tries to climb the walls.  He jumps from the bed.  He flexes his wrist down to shoot a web.  He turns his head back and forth to determine where evil is lurking.  It is a pretty recent phenomena. 

We went to the costume store to pick out Halloween outfits a few weeks ago and nothing was particularly on the minds of Maria or Mario when we walked into the store.  Maria picked out five different outfits all fairly slutty and horrific (for pre-teens even!) but we finally compromised on Super Girl (which I am sure Maria agreed to because of her red shiny thigh high boots – oh, my!). 

Mario, on the other hand, could not decide on anything.  He liked Batman and Scooby and Frankenstein.  The Spiderman costume hit me as cool because it had one of those inflated chest and arms to it that I thought would be hilarious on Mario since he is so tiny.  It also had a mask that did not go all the way over his face like the others (and I knew he would hate one like that – what kid wouldn’t – why do they do that?).  I mentioned Spiderman as a costume and he agreed to it and that was that.  We tried it on in the bathroom and I held him up in the mirror.  He smiled.  He wiggled out of my arms and chirped “Let’s get it mom!” 

Shooting us with his web

We bought it.  He never mentioned it again except on the occasions when a neighbor or relative would ask him what he was going to be for Halloween.  He dutifully responded “Spiderman!”  A week or so ago, he found some Spiderman books and movies at the library and he wanted to read and watch them.  Then, two nights ago, out of the blue, he begged to put on his Spiderman costume.  I agreed not knowing that he would never want to take it off until he was 20.  He became Peter Parker/Spiderman.  Coincidentally, Spiderman (with Tobey Maguire) was on HBO that same night and Mario and Jon watched it.  I believe that is when the deal was sealed.  He watched the entire movie with Jon asking questions, biting his nails, getting excited. 

When I came home from dropping Maria off at a friend’s house, the movie had just ended.  Mario asked me to act like I was drowning in wet sand.  I threw on my acting hat and started crying “I am in wet sand – I wish someone could help me!”  “Spiderman” jumps off the couch and runs to me, pulls off his mask, and stares as me.  I learn that this means I should say “Oh, are you Peter Parker, Spiderman?”  To which he responds “Yes, I am.”  Then he grabs my arm and pulls me out of the wet sand.  He slips on his mask and runs off to which I learned I am supposed to say “I won’t tell anyone your identity, Spiderman.” 

He even wore it to the zoo to pose with the goats!

He played the “wet sand’ game with me at least 30 times over the last two days.  He wrestled with Jon during the times he was not playing the game with me.  Jon played the bad guy and Mario took him on as Spiderman.  He could have played all night long.  He loved checking himself out in the mirror while he was slipping on his mask.  He stood on our bed, staring at himself in his costume and mask, for minutes.  He even posed a few times without noticing that we were watching him.  When we went outside in it, and he had to put on shoes and socks, he made sure he chose his red socks to match the costume and his red and black gym shoes.  Thank god we had those around because he freaked at first at the thought of having to wear shoes that did not match his outfit. 

When I put him to bed (for the fourth time – he got out three different times providing a new excuse every time) he stopped me before I left.  “Come here mom.”  I walked over to him and he pulled my hand to him so that my face was close to his face.  “Mom, Spiderman helps people.  He is a good hero.  He kills bad guys because they are mean.  Spiderman will protect you.” 

Those words cradled me all night.  What a lover-boy.  It is hard to believe that the kid can make me want to drive off a cliff many a days after he says something like that to me.  When I went to bed later that night, I went to check on him in Maria’s bed.  There he was with his mask by his side (the neurotic mother told him he could not wear it to bed because he may suffocate) and his spider on his chest, ready to take on the bad guys to protect his mama.

Thinking fo those kids again….

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One of Mario's dress decisions

Mario enjoys dressing himself.  Actually, I think it is more accurate to state that Mario hates others to dress him.  He knows what works for him (which lately has been an old pair of black sweats and some plain colored long-sleeved shirt) and he wants to hear no different from a mom who wants him to wear a trendy, new short-sleeved polo shirt that she bought him months ago and he still has not worn (summer is over soon, buddy!).  Mario is 3. 

One of Maria's more "conservative" outfits

If Maria had a choice, Maria would allow her mom to dress her everyday.  She wants to have the right to overrule any clothes selection made by me, but she wants me to ultimately put the clothes on her body.  All the way down to her socks and undies.  Maria is 5. 

Maria enjoys being pampered.  If we were living in 18th century France, she would surely be the Queen.  She has no qualms demanding things from me, her father, her grandparents, her brother (to her credit, she will typically put a “please” on the end of a demand if that makes it any better).  She likes massages.  She loves fancy dinners.  She wants a stroller to pick her up when she steps outside the house. 

Yet, Maria is also gritty and bombastic and attentive.  She senses emotions and feelings in people before most adults.  She acts hawkish with her family always ready to protect them by any means.  If Mario is crying, she will search all over the house to find his binkie and if she cannot locate it, she will think about what else would calm him down (“give him candy, mom, now!”).  If Jon is having a stressful day, she will sit him on the couch and massage his shoulders (“It’s ok, dad, calmmm down.”).  If I get hurt (typically by Mario’s kick in the face or punch in the gut), she swoops me up and immediately applies a band-aid (bleeding or not) while asking me how I feel every ten seconds and rubbing my head. 

Maria and Mario at the pumpkin fest "corn swim" - Maria did not take her eyes off of Mario and pushed anyone who got close away

She cleans like a wild woman when in the mood.  I can put her in charge of washing the floors, scrubbing the cabinets, beautifying the windows – she will do it all (except her own room).  However, there is always one prerequisite – we have to play Cinderella while she is cleaning.

“Mom, act like you are my stepmother and you are making me clean – but you are a nice stepmother.”

“Cinderella, you better be cleaning so you can get to the ball and dance your tail off!”

“No, mom, so I can get to the ball and meet my prince.”

“You can meet a prince, darlin’ but you also need to have fun on your own and not be dependent on a man.”

“Oh, mom, just say it!”

Yeah, as much as I try to take the “fairy tale” out of the “fairy tale”, it does not work too well.  “It is her age”, other mothers tell me, “she will have no desire to talk about boys in a few years.”   Yeah, and I will turn 20 next year.  We’ll see.

Maria is also one heck of a singer.  We learned this fact during my sister’s reception at my parents’ farm in September.  My uncle Jack played with his band for a couple of hours while people ate and hung out.  After about a half of an hour, Maria walked over to the band, grabbed the microphone, and started singing.  No inhibitions.  Her cousin, Alana, stood by her side, a little shy and overwhelmed.  And Maria not only sang, she sang with such passion and force.  She held that microphone and swayed, moved it around her mouth, switched hands while continuing her tribute – a little budding Beyonce.   

Mario posing after taking 20 minutes to put his socks on "correctly"

And then there is Mario – the second born.  The “crazy little monkey” as we call him because it fits so well.  He is a typical second born child – trying to get all the attention and spoiled (although as I think about it, Maria is just as spoiled being the first-born – I guess we are equal opportunity spoilers!).  He will talk over Maria while she is trying to sing just to irritate her and have the audience focus on him rather than her.  He will cry and flail is arms and scream with the hope of getting his way (typically done when he wants chocolate or candy before dinner and is told no).  In addition to being a crazy little monkey, he  is also an independent little stubborn mule.  If he cannot get his sock on the way he likes it (he inherited from his Aunt Sarah an obsession for making the line on his sock lay directly over all of his toes) then he continues to try and try and try for however long it takes to get it right.  On the weekends, so be it.  Gives Jon and I more time to read the paper.  But on weekdays it is maddening as we are trying to get out the door for Kindergarten and work. 

He is the child that will go outside for an hour and find things to keep him busy without ever needing us to go out and play (Maria would not last five minutes).  He loves to dig and play any kind of ball (he could throw a baseball or shoot baskets for hours) and throw plastic toys around the yard.  He loves his golf but you cannot ever try to put a tee in the ground for him; you will have thought that you just encountered the Incredible Hulk with his explosive reaction.  He wants to do it all himself.  The same applies to breakfast.  He wants to take the waffle out of the package, put it in the toaster, and put the syrup on it.  He will only let me cut it and that is because I scared him by telling him if I don’t cut it he will choke to death from the huge pieces. 

M&M in the fall leaves

But, as much as Mario loves his independence, he still needs his family around him.  He hates the thought of anyone but mommy taking him out of the car, putting him to bed, finding his bink, getting his food (although he did ask for dad to get his cereal the other morning which may be a minor breakthrough), sleeping with him.  Maria left the other week for a couple of days and he continued to ask “Where is Ria? I miss her.”  When she is home, he watches her like a hawk and repeats almost all she does and says (she used to always whine that she did not want to talk about what she did at preschool and when I ask him at dinner what he did, he responds: “I don’t want to talk about that right now, mom!”).  When Jon went out of town for a few days, he cried on the way home one night for his daddy to come home.  Both he and Maria are like pack dogs – they like to see the entire pack together.

Hopefully, that desire will stick around when they are 17 years old.  However, somehow I see Maria dashing out the door to sing at the local bar and Mario darting out to play his fourth game of basketball for the day.

Pups, Hamsters, and Guinea Pigs, Oh My…

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Maria with her "duster" pup

The other night Maria and Mario and I were brainstorming on what to do for the evening since it was raining and chilly.

“Let’s go to the zoo, mommy” Mario pleaded.

The zoo is closed and it’s raining, nut-ball” I joked back to him.  That led to ten minutes of pummeling from the two monsters who laughed as they tackled me for call ing Mario a “nut-ball.”  They will find any excuse to tackle me or Jon.  They have our rambunctious genes. 

“How about the pet store?” I ask (knowing that the strip mall with the pet store had a Halloween store and bike store – two places I had to get to in order to get costumes for the kids and get my bike geared up to ride them around before winter strikes). 

They were all over it especially because this pet store holds pets in open-aired cages so that you can easily pick them up and hold them.  Hamsters, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and even rats (which we are told by the pet store supervisor are actually very sweet animals who like to be held – yeah, and Attila the Hun was really a darling sweet guy).  Maria darted straight to the pups when we arrived.  And, oh, were there pups!  Some fluffy and round, others pointy-eared and hyper.  Maria found one that was tiny, fluffy, and white like a little duster, and she cradled that pup in her arms like she was its long-lost momma.  Little did Ri know how much I wanted to take him home – he was about the cutest little pumpkin ever but I knew that Cy (our 12-year-old Chesapeake) would not be too excited about that little pumpkin coming into his abode. 

Mario and his hamster

Mario found a furry, light brown mutt who was just as hyper as Mario, and who dragged him around the entire store.   Mario quickly lost interest in the pup when he saw all of the hamsters scurrying around their cage.  He became fascinated with the little plastic “homes” that the hamsters slept under in their cages.  He tortured these poor hamsters by lifting the plastic home constantly – making the hamsters scurry to the next home – and then lifting that home up.  He begged to take home one of the hamsters.  I firmly believe the hamster would have firmly protested against such an idea because whenever Mario picked one up, he squeezed its belly so tight that I thought the hamster’s eyes may pop out. 

The rabbits were another favorite of Maria’s – she enjoyed trying to pick them up and petting their soft, long ears.  Mario also liked the birds and finally got up the courage to feed one some bird seed.  He beamed with pride as the bird nibbled away from his palm.

So, there you go folks, an inexpensive fun night for the entire family (although you do smell like a combination of rodent waste and dog dander when you walk out of the store….).

Another save by Anne Lamott

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Maria and Mario enjoying the slide on one of our routine park trips!

Anne Lamott deserves eternal grace and love.  She continues to pull me through rough times and ground me on this Earth, feet flat, eyes ahead, mouth situated upwards.  Not even my hubby or my kids can take me to the place she leads me where I feel a deep comfort and appreciation for all I have and who I am.  No matter if I just had a wreck of work day, a blowout with my kids, a frantic eating frenzy of chocolate and pizza – her stories penetrate. 

I read her story about her friend David Roche tonight ( http://www.davidroche.com/anne-lamott/).  I have read it at least ten times before but I specifically hunted it down on the internet tonight because I knew it would lift me up.  David is a humorist.  He happens to have a facial deformity, too.  He uses it to lift people out of their house of fear and to open up their mind to the beauty in their world.  He talks about the fleeting moments of true happiness and bliss. 

…[E]veryone has come to understand that unconditional love is a reality, but with a shelf life of about eight to ten seconds. Instead of beating yourself up because you feel it only fleetingly, you should savor those moments when it appears. As David puts it, “We might say to our beloved, ‘Honey, I’ve been having these feelings of unconditional love for you for the last eight to ten seconds.’ Or, ‘Darling, I’ll love you till the very end of dinner.'”

Mario's tenth silly face

Oh, how true.  I have been beating myself up lately because of my irritation with not feeling more of these incredible, awe-inspiring moments on a routine basis but this brings me back to reality.  Stop wishing for more of these moments and instead relish in the moments that do come my way.  I am quite sure that Maria’s raucous laugh or Mario’s silly faces or Jon’s adoring comments could produce an unconditional love-filled moment or two but I often brush it aside as I try to plan for the next day or the upcoming meal or bath time.  I will try to let it wash over me from now on and live in that moment of bliss. 

Maria laughing it up after diving in the pool with her clothes on!

I took Maria and Mario to the park tonight to play in the sand volley ball court and run around the jungle gym.  A group of parents were in the park with their kids watching them play soccer.  I stood talking with another mom who was holding one of her newborn twins.  As I stood with her, I occasionally glanced over at M&M who were skipping through the sand and dragging sticks behind them.  I watched them as they ran together to the jungle gym and Maria teased Mario all the way up the stairs to the slide and then helped him situate himself to go down feet first.  They giggled together and yelled for each other.  I look back on those moments this evening as I sit at this computer and I smile.  What more to wish for at this time in life than a pair of kids who find humor in each other and enjoy the outdoors and nature and fresh air and fall nights.  We are blessed by someone or something to be able to take in all of the smells of Fall, all of the energy of young kids, all of the beauty of a falling sun. 

M&M hanging tight on the ride home

Thanks, Anne, for letting me mediate on this tonight.

Happy Birthday, Little Man

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Baby Mario

 Mario turned three today. 

It was right about the time I am writing this post that I was pushing him out with such intensity I swore that I was going to split in half on the birthing table.  Yeah, after him, I swore I would never go through the birthing process again without drugs.  

Yet, here we are today laughing hysterically as he sings “I like to Move It, Move It.  I like to Shake It, Shake It” while he lifts his right leg in the air and shakes his booty.  

Mario enjoying the heat and the pool.

 Here we are basking in the sun as Mario runs around the back yard with Maria goofing off in his new “cool pool.”

Here we are today listening to him explain how his new plastic sharp tooth dinosaur has sharp teeth but his arms are too small for his body.  

Mario playing dinosaur with Maria (roaring like the sharptooth roar!)

Here we are today smiling as we see the thrill he gets from tossing big boulders into the river and making a SPLASH! 

Mario waiting to throw his boulder in the river

Here we are today laying with him in Maria’s bed because he continues to jump out of his crib and run downstairs or in Maria’s room to play and the only way to get him down is to lay with him in Maria’s room and rub his back.  

Here we are today patiently waiting for him to get dressed and put his sock on with the line perfectly across his toes.  

Water Mario!

Here we are today playing in the pool with him and watching him go underwater for the first time this summer!

The next rock star drummer!

Here we are today cringing as he cries hysterically because he does not want to eat his breakfast but rather, he wants to eat M&Ms or brownies.  

Mario trying to cajole me for M&Ms

 Here we are today holding our ears as he bangs on the drums at the local arts festival impressing the drummer enough to be given his drumsticks.  

Here we are today hearing him beg his sister to read Pocahontas to him for the fifth time in a row. 

"Please read Pocohontas, Maria!"

Here we are today watching him cuddle up with his three-year old blue blankie and his trusted binkie.  

Here we are today amazed at how he recites his ABC’s and sings “Baby Bumblebee.” 

Here we are today anticipating Maria’s exasperation as Mario begs Maria, after five previous “tricks” to “watch one more trick, Ria.” 

Sleeping beauties

 Here we are today sighing as we go upstairs to bed and see that Mario has climbed into Maria’s bed to fall asleep. 

Here we are today pleased when Mario looks up while playing and says “I love my grandma.  I want to see her.” 

Here we are today cautious and hesitant when Mario yells “Watch mom and dad, I can fly” and leaps off the couch onto the floor.  

Here we are today shaking our heads as he strips off his clothes and runs around the house free and naked screaming “I naked everyone!” 

Mario's "girl outfit" as Maria calls it - he is a trooper, too!

 Here we are today impressed and slightly taken aback with Mario’s “new look” after a makeup session with Maria and her girl cousins.  

Here we are today commending Mario for saying “thank you” after retrieving his ball for him and chuckling with him after he divulges that “Maggie told me I needed manners.”      

Here we are today watching him swing a golf club almost as well as Tiger Woods, and hitting the ball over the fence.  

Mario and Cy

Here we are today apologizing to him after we held the neighbor baby without his permission: “You don’t hold the baby!” 

Here we are today relishing the moment he throws his arms around our necks and says “I love you to the moon and stars and to poopyhead!” 

Here we are today singing him Happy Birthday as he stares into the three candles on his brownie.  

Thinking hard about a wish!

 Here we are today telling him to make a wish and tearing up when he whispers “I wish I could go fishing.” 

To our Mario:  You, my love, continue to make us not only laugh but laugh hysterically and with such great gusto.  You are a gem to us all.  Happy 3rd Birthday, my little man! 

Here's looking at you, kid!