JAMES DEAN HAS NOTHING ON ME

Anastasia (Spencer's Mom) captured these photos last week.  Luke was brooding about something which he often does these days.  When he is upset or just acting he will find a corner and get himself a little alone time.  Since I think he is a bit young to make the cover of GQ I thought I would post them on here instead!!

TWO BOYS, THREE BALLS AND ONE FRIENDSHIP

Sounds like the title of an NBC pilot.  I think these pictures speak for themselves.  Luke is obsessed with basketball this week so this is his new ball that he picked out all by himself.  Who doesn't like pink or purple..honestly!!

DATE NIGHT

First I will impress her with my physical strength and agility!

Next I will show her how I can fly solo.

Then I will take her for a ride in my "copter"

I definitely think I won her over!!

SO TOP GUN!

OH CHRISTMAS TREE

This year is really the first year that Luke has understood Christmas which makes it sooo much more exciting for all of us.  Nothing says Christmas like the smell of the tree, the beautiful lights, and the pretty ornaments.  Said by a good jewish girl.  Last year Michael wanted a plastic tree thinking it was better for the environment, less wasteful, less hassle, etc.  This year he did not even bring it up.  I think it was because last year ever so calmly I explained to him that well.."I married him for the tree!" 

So on Saturday we went for a little shopping, a trip to see Santa and then to pick out our wonderous tree.  Though it was probably 78 degrees outside we bundled up because it just does not feel like Christmas without a little chill in the air.  So even though there wasn't one..well hey..we are all actors.  Luke is the best actor I know.  He played his part swimmingly!

ALL "COOP-ED" UP

This post is quintessentially esoteric in that only a few members of my readers will truly understand the humor of my title.  But for the rest of you..namely my mother and mother-in-law I will try to explain.  Luke and I met some of our friends, Anastasia and Spencer at an indoor playground last week-The Coop.  Much buzz has been circling around this new indoor space mainly amongst our fellow Children's Circle community.  Since it is located right around the corner from our house we decided we would give The Coop a try.  I spent the morning stalling until its 10 am open time and showed Luke some photos of the indoor space on the internet.  BIG BIG BIG mistake.  Luke wanted to go to the Coop IMMEDIATELY.   I managed to stall and we met Anastasia and Spencer at the Coop promptly at 10.   I was busy paying when I returned to find my son already following Spencer up a very steep rope ladder tube (see photo) which looked quite shall we say intense particularly for someone with vertigo.  Anyways I was excited to see that he was already enjoying the space.

Moments later I look up to see that Luke has now made it to the top but does not want to slide down the large tube slide into the ball pit and is instead standing behind the glass very calmly but CLEARLY asking for his mother.  Being a wonderful friend Anastasia offered to go up instead of making me (with vertigo) attempt what looked like a pretty tremendous feat..  I should also mention that upon initially ascending the ladder Anastasia too found herself a bit nauseous.  Just let the record show.  Moments later I watched (but could not hear due to the blaring music) as Anastasia tried to talk my son off the ledge so to speak.  He was calm, no tears, but very clear that the slide (an enclosed tube) was just too scary for him.  She offered to put him on her lap or help him climb back down which he almost did but lost momentum due to the people coming up the ladder at the same time.   I just can't resist the lovely shot of my dear friend trying to save me from having to go up the ladder and attempting to help Luke down.

Though she was quite good at talking with Luke..it was a job for MOM.  I found myself bravely ascending the ladder and encouraging him to slide back down the slide (on my lap).  We followed  Anastasia who slid down herself while grasping the sides of the tunnel.  Once down we all happily played in the ball pit.  ALL of us.  It was quite deep and I must say pretty relaxing.  

Though Anastasia and I spent most of our time at the Coop discussing its misuse of space and how we would redesign it if we had the structure, our sons LOVED it.  They found things to do and happily entertained themselves.  Luke and Spencer particularly loved the costumes.  And when it was time for snack they equally enjoyed a nice rest.   All and all another fun outing.  Luke has already asked to go back.  Glad that he was not traumatized!!  In fact he recounted the story of climbing up and finding it too scary NUMEROUS times.  I feel happy that I have a child who can clearly express how he feels with out being panicked and is secure in his expression.  Whew.  Guess we are doing SOMETHING right.

Luke as Ladybug

Masterpiece Theatre!

A

BAD BAD MOMMY

This is just a post totally flogging myself for the lapse in blogging.  I thought that if I did so publicly (again for my three followers) it might motivate me to never allow such time to lapse between posts.  What have I been doing with all of my free time you ask?  Oh lets see...making calendars, writing children's books, taking photos, RAISING a small toddler deeply entrenched in his "tremendous twos" (as I like to call them)..you know basically nothing.  Never the less..I apologize.  As if my fan base was not small to begin with this temporary cessation I am sure didi not help.  Please please I beg of thee do forgive me.  We will now return to our regularly scheduled blogging.  Tonight I am staying up late playing catch up sacrificing much needed sleep for the sake of my readers (yes all three of you)!

DENNIS THE MENACE CAME TO THANKSGIVING

Today's blog title was inspired by none other than Grandma Debs.  She is also responsible for our featured photos today.  I had so intended to bring my camera down to San Diego for the holiday however with a toddler, two bags, a diaper bag, and a car seat on a train the day before Thanksgiving, the thought of carrying one more item was not so desirable.   So for this holiday many of my "photos" will have to remain in my memory.  My apologies to all of those wonderful relatives (Rita, Jamie, Pops, Uncle Bob, etc.) who pictures I do not have to share with everyone.  Please know you all made Luke's trip to San Diego just fabulous.  

Luke is still talking about his trip to Sea World which we intended to video but realized way too late that the camera was not charged.   Shamu and feeding the dolphins made quite an impression.  Well we will be back.  For now it will have to do that we have photos of Luke and his BFF..GRACIE.  

Thanksgiving was full of playing with cousin Jamie, cuddling with Gracie, chasing with Pops, pretend baseball with the whole family and of course SHAMU.  

Luke was a dream on the train..thank goodness because it was almost a disaster on the way down.  No reserved seating, people standing in the aisles, and over an hour delay...but hey its the holidays what can one expect.  Thank goodness for DVDs!!  

All in all a wonderful holiday.  Not to mention Luke even requested to wear is dress shirt and if I do say so myself I think he looks quite handsome.  He is much cuter than Dennis the Menace..though I will admit Grandma Debs that I do see the resemblance.!

A BIT OF FALL IN CALIFORNIA

     First I must apologize for my lapse in blogging.  I am sure my readers (all three) will forgive me.   Without photos it just is not as much fun to blog.  But really there are no excuses.  Anyways.  As usual we have been spending our days quite busy with parks and playdates.  I showed up to Weddington park on Thursday and was immediately drawn to this beautiful area where the leaves had fallen neatly under a tree.  I would have turned around to go home and grab my camera but being that Luke got up at 4:30 that morning neither one of us had that kind of energy.  Instead I did what any resourceful person would do: I called my girlfriend Anastasia (who have I mentioned has a better lense) and asked her to bring her camera.  She too was quite impressed with the beautiful leaves and she even managed to get her son Spencer to play in them.  Luke took a bit of coaxing.  It was the closest thing to having a bit of fall here in California.  It would maybe even look like back east if it were not for the fact that my son is wearing shorts and its the middle of November!

I could not resist including these photos since they are an honest depiction of some of the other things that Luke and I are dealing with these days.  

Fortunately we are not the only ones going through it!!  They are learning a lot from one another.