French Toast Man

What I attempt to do to redeem myself when I've offered up pancakes and there is no bisquick to make pancakes with.

... and on the 6th day she created French Toast Man.

One, two skip a few, 99 - 100!

My dad likes to tell the story about when I was little and I proudly declared I could count to 100.

"Well, lets hear it" he said.

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 a bunch more 100!" I replied.

That pretty much sums up my relationship with math - avoiding all non-essential numbers and cutting corners where I could.

Math permanently scarred me in my high school and college years. Countless nights I stayed awake studying, getting tutorial lessons from my dad over the phone while he worked night shift and I desperately tread number frenzied water trying to keep my head afloat.

In college one of the last classes I had to conquer before graduating at the end of that year was College Trig. To this day I can still vividly remember frantically dialing Shaun under the eaves in the pouring rain, bawling hysterically because I had found out my professor didn't allow the use of any calculators in his class - my one lifeline. We had to learn all formulas and theories by hand and head alone. And in a panic I saw two things happening - I would be 40 still trying to pass those final math credits or I would pass, but my GPA would take a nose dive in the process. Yes, I was that girl.

In the end I passed with a B, thanks to my dad and Shaun spending countless nights helping me study - and numerous tutorial sessions and office hour visits with my teacher. But to this day, I couldn't explain the differences between Sin, Cos or Tan if I tried. I'm pretty sure I've blocked out that 5 month period of my life to save myself from any further permanent damage.

Needless to say, my son doesn't get the math gene from me.

From his father.

From his Papa.

Not not much from the lady who still counts on her fingers.

Sully has been able to count almost up to twenty for a long time now, sometimes with a few helpful hints, but more than not completely unassisted. We've started with the twenties now, which is hit or miss. We work with numbers at home. We count whenever we cook and measure. We write numbers and listen to number songs. We read number books. But up until recently, aside from the counting, it was take it in and spit it back out verbatim like some kind of mathematical parrot.

A few days ago we were at Target, and he said "10. Number 10!" and pointed to the 1o flashing the aisle over from us. Shaun started pointing and asking him what numbers aisles were, and without missing a beat he would shout "FIVE! THREE! ONE! Look, theres a FOOOOOOUR."

He's also realized he can count backwards. He'll count from 10 to 1 on his own. And recently he's been trying to put numbers together, like when he saw a 155 and said "Fifteen five" - or something to that effect. He's also started understanding the basic fundamentals of adding, like when I have one of something and another one of something I now have 2 of that something. Oh, and telling time and the difference between big and small, less and more- that's something we've been doing a lot of too.

I'm pretty sure his mathematical abilities are going to soon surpass mine.

And since I'm currently riding the SS Brag Boat - he's also been interested and currently learning phonics (Daddy, Daddy Duh-duh Daddy), knows and sings over 30 songs (he plays a mean Itsy Bitsy Spider on his ukulele), can navigate his way around a computer and camera solo and plays Mario Kart with his daddy. (We start them young in this house.) He's also been dressing himself lately, can use kid scissors fairly accurately and has been speaking using full, clear complex sentences for awhile now. No more guessing what this kid wants, like ever. My favorite though is that he's become very self aware and has learned that he's funny - and can get a response out of people or use it to avoid trouble. (That, he definitely gets from me.)

But he also laughs at his own farts and thinks guinea pigs are small dogs, so - you know. I take what I can get.

Free fun.

Oh the things you can do with toilet and paper towel rolls.

These kept us busy for a good hour or so and cost me nothing.

We also keep them on hand for car tunnels and building pillars. I think we'll make shakers out of the next batch we keep.

And its free. Me likely.

Streamer

Pirate Binoculars. (Did they use binoculars? Telescope, whatever.)

I remember why I go to Starbucks

Coffee attempt #1- Sully wants toast.

Coffee attempt #2 - Sully steps in poop. Clean the kid and the yard.

Coffee attempt #3 - Trash truck appears. Run outside. Wave to trash man.

Make coffee - Break up fight between screaming child and barking dog. Feed dogs. Pick up pretzels scattered all over kitchen floor from "train collision" that occurred moments prior despite protests. Trash truck number two appears. Run back outside. Wave. Repeat. Go inside to throw recycle out.

Reheat coffee #1 - Sully needs diaper change. Recycle truck shows up. Run ... you get the picture. Rescue Zhu zhu pet from clutches of ravenous toy-hamster-killing dog. Place safely back with panicked screaming dog-threatening child.

Reheat coffee #2 - Laundry. Clean out fridge. Frick, remember coffee. No creamer. Double frick. Put hamster run together. Get juice. Dogs water. Remove child off of kitchen table. Currently drinking cold coffee with whip cream while being used as make-shift train obstacle.

Good morning Thursday.

Nine

Nine years ago today I said I do.

We said, I do.

And true to our words, through sickness and health,

for richer or poorer,

through the good times and the bad ....

we've stuck it through -

together.

Its truly an amazing thing to find that one person -

the one who will have your back, no matter the situation.

Who will support you through all your rights,

and even your wrongs.

Who will love you unconditionally -

through various dress sizes -

makeup-less faced mornings -

bad hair days

and wardrobe malfunctions.

Who allows you to chase starry-eyed dreams,

believe in glitter and rainbows and unicorns

and all that can be possible and good in this world -

and can reel you back in from all it all and tie you down to reality when need be.

The one who reminds you to never take yourself too seriously,

keeps you sane in all of the insanity,

and smiling always.

The one who says ...

he loves to hear your laugh above anything else.

Nine years, countless adventures, two dogs and a son later -

as he said so eloquently -

we're still kicking ass and taking names.

Indeed Mr. Curtis, indeed.

Nine years ... and I still love you like a fat kid loves candy.

And you know how this kid loves her candy.

I wouldn't trade this life for anything -

not even for a real, bona fide pony.

Even it traveled on a rainbow.

Even if it left a trail of glitter in its path.

Even if it was Paul Rudd in a glittery tux,

riding on a pony, that was on a rainbow (of course) -

and he happened to be holding a peanut butter and chocolate ice cream cone.

With sprinkles.

You're the best. Nobody else.

Nobody.

(Note to self, scan wedding pictures by next years anniversary!)

Utah 2000

Ireland 2008

2 months before we found out I was pregnant (One of my all time favorite pics)

"Humor is mankind's greatest blessing" - Mark Twain

My kid's been pretty blessed then.

Today Sully asked me to take picture's of his different "faces".

What followed has me still laughing.

I freakin' love this kid.

Sully's first real hike

Last Sunday we went for a hike with Yaya and Uncle B.

This little guy hiked over 2 miles (uphill) on his own before he decided to get a ride in the pack with Uncle B for the last 2 miles.

He was enamored with the butterflies. He also saw a lizard, birds and giraffes.

I think he's lying about that last one or he was exposed to the sun a lot longer than we thought.

Can you see how dirty he is?! I love it.