Facebook Archive - November 2013

Nov 2, 2013 - Rich taught Ian that the trees turn orange for his birthday and I kind of don't want him to ever stop believing that. Nov 10, 2013 - Sunday morning at Panera and the young ladies at the table next to us are reading scripture to each other. Ian turns to me and at maximum volume asks, "Hey, Mommy, why did you say 'God dammit!' the other day?"

Nov 18, 2013 - Ian, singing his heart out: "Come on ring those bells! Light the Christmas tree. Jesus is the King. Born for you and me! Hey ... is *Jesus* the King?" I didn't bring up Ragnarr Blackhammer or William Thomas, though I'm sure they have their own songs.

Nov 19, 2013 - Ian: "Hey, Daddy! Motorcycles sound a little like they're farting."

Nov 26, 2013 - My 4yo doesn't sleep through the night. At 3am he stands next to the bed and drunk whispers, "HEY MOMMY. I PEED SO I CAN COME SNUGGLE WITH YOU."

Nov 29, 2013 - Ian declared that I'm the "fluffiest mommy ever" with "snugly nipples". Get this boy a job at Hallmark.

Facebook Archive - October 2013

Oct 9, 2013 - Ian is grumpy with me: "Why have you never taken *me* to Funkytown?!" #literallyrics Oct 10, 2013 - Ian was annoyed we didn't bring bedtime books for him so he's flipping through the Bible from the hotel nightstand and telling us the stories from inside.

Oct 13, 2013 - Sitting on the edge of the tub keeping Ian company in the bathroom per his request. Ian: "Mommy, when I'm done do *you* need to go potty?" Me: "No, I think I'm good." Ian: "Just try." Sigh. Touché dude. And so I'm typing this from the toilet.

Oct 18, 2013 - We left work at 3. It's almost 5 and we just emerged from the tunnel. Two hours to go 12 miles. As we came out of the tunnel into the sunlight, Ian said from the back seat, "Well, that was fun."

Oct 20, 2013 - Ian toured a fire truck today and the biggest mystery to him was the hand crank for the windows.

Oct 22, 2013 - Ian woke up excited that today is his BIRTHDAY! I asked him how he felt and he started rubbing his arms quizzically. Ninja turtle cookies have been delivered to school and Ian has already asked when he's going to turn 5. It seems 4 is the year we learn about patience.

Oct 28, 2013 - Ian has zero interest in carving jack-o-lanterns but desperately wants to pick out pumpkins to make pumpkin pie. George Powell and Rich Stryker would be proud.

Oct 28, 2013 - Ian, mourning our leaving the playground: "I wanna watch a movie on my iPad when we get home." Me: "Do you want to take a wagon ride?" Ian: "Yes. I want my iPad in the wagon." Me: "There's no wifi in the neighborhood so that won't work." Ian: "I WISH EVERYWHERE HAD WIFI!!" Me: "You and me both, bud."

Facebook Archive - Sept 2013

Aug 31, 2013 - Listening to Jonathan Coulton with Ian: "Mommy, why would a monkey go to a boring meeting?" I can't wait til they cover presidents in school. Sept 5, 2013 - Rich (to me in the car): "I feel bad about Eirikr ..." Ian: "What did you do to Eric?" Rich: "I told him we could drive him to the SCA meeting this weekend but then forgot and made other plans. So now he can't ride with us." Ian: "Well, that sounds awful." Rich: "Thanks, dude. That really makes me feel better."

Sept 6, 2013 - Ian had to complete an assignment where he listed his favorite book, food, song etc. He declared his favorite song as "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" by the Politics. Thankfully, we've convinced him the "you're just f#ckin' killin' me" lyric should be "why you always tickle me?" Which really is much more up his alley. And having watched the video, this is even more the anthem of every jacked up preschooler. He already tries impromptu parkour on any available surface.

Sept 9, 2013 - Ian: "Why don't we have ninja turtles in our city? I guess that's how God made the Earth with his magic." And here I was prepared for a whole discussion on the properties of ooze but God has answered all turtle mysteries.

Sept 19, 2013 - We toured the Kempsville Presbyterian Day School this morning and saw a dinosaur hugging a ballerina. I'm in love.

Sept 19, 2013 - Ian is officially enrolled at Kempsville Presbyterian Church Day School (KPC). His first day is Monday. I called the Catholic school and "dis-enrolled" him (if that's a word). I'm waiting to talk to the business office about getting out of our contract there, but that will most likely be Friday or Monday and honestly I'm not worried about it right now. We are keeping Ian home with us tomorrow to take a much deserved and needed day off as a family. Maybe we'll go to the zoo. And we will all be IN THE GREEN ALL DAY. I may hand out stickers to him at the top of each hour just because I can. Thank you all for your passionate and heartfelt comments about Ian's situation at school. It can be hard at times to open up one's family's struggles to the Internet, but you all are definitely on our team. Go team!

Sept 20, 2013 - Last night we stopped to pet a neighbor's cat and I got him to come over by making the "tch tch tch" noise and wiggling my fingers. So today at the zoo Ian reached out his fingers and "tch tch tch"ed at the lions.

Sept 20, 2013 - We were discussing how Ian can wear whatever he wants to the new school including his Cornell t-shirt with a bear face on the front and a bear butt on the back. Ian then got all serious and said, "Mommy, can I say butt at my new school?" I'll add that to his student profile.

Sept 23, 2013 - Ian: "Miss Cindy is my favorite teacher! If you listen and share and are kind, you get to put a gem in the jar and I GOT A GEM! Am I gonna go to this school every day? Cause I love my teacher!" My heart is full today.

Sept 25, 2013 - Me: "Looks like you got another sticker today." Ian: "Yeah. That says I had a good day today. But I have a good day every day at school."

Sept 30, 2013 - Ian: "Is today a school day?" Me: "Yep." Ian (dubiously): "Am I going to the school where Miss Cindy is my teacher?" Me: "Yep." Ian: "Yay! I love school! I'm gonna get so many gems!" This marks the first pleasant Monday morning we've had in a long time.