Dating at 4? NOOOOOO!!!!

As I dropped J off at school this morning, J blindsided me.

Totally stumped me.

"Did you know Jo Jo was Michael's girlfriend?  Yep.  They are dating"

At 4?

"Um, No.  That's nice.  Let's go..."  I changed the topic and redirected so quickly, that I didn't have to address the fact a classmate had a girlfriend. 

I'm just not ready for this... Seriously not ready.

Sigh.

In a fun, but semi-serious tone, I emailed J's teacher to see if this was (as Miss Cheryl would ask) a *real* or *fake* story of my imaginative little boy, who slays alligators by punching them in the face.

Sadly she did not respond that it was all fake, instead she queried my knowledge of J's own fling.

A picture of the happy couple.

Thankfully, dating at 4 = being buddies and wanting to sit, play & eat together.  Oh, and hugs.  Lots & lots of hugs.

Note to self:  Reiterate repeatedly - no kissing any girls, but Mommy, Miss Cheryl & Grandma's until you are 30. 

Last week of School...

How did this week arrive so quickly?  I'm quite dumbfounded.

Nevertheless, J is LOVIN' it!  He had crazy hair / PJ Monday...

Spiderman (Super Hero / Princess) Tuesday...

Sports Thursday...

And with that, Friday is the last day.  I cannot believe how much J has grown this past year.  It has just flown so quick, and with that, we are ready for summer.

Last weekend, we tried roller skating outside.  OhMyGoodness my poor ankles.   The fun & laughter, some how wiped away the pain.

Memorial Day Weekend

9 years ago I married my best friend & the love of my life.  Crazy how I recall that day like it was yesterday.  The excitement and anticipation for our future having zero idea how exciting and fulfilling it would become. 

Unfortunately Matt has to work this weekend, so J and I are on our own. 

J did school today.  Only 1 week left until summer fun starts!  He's so looking forward to summer school & not having to wear a uniform.

I on the other hand, kicked off my Holiday Weekend early with staying home to meet the pool guys to replace our liner & get our pool set for the summer.  Then we are headed to Michigan to spend the weekend with my Dad.

This is what we did last Saturday after dinner.  They even caught 2 small mouth bass.  (1 8 inch & 1 10 inch)  We threw them both back, but J was so proud of himself.  Dad & I were impressed at how confident he was.  He had no fear of the fish like last year.

Boating, Fishing, Family...  The keys to a great summer weekend!

And the case of wonky email has been resolved...

Lately I've been having email issues on my phone, and it's been making me a bit nutty.  Seriously feeling like I'm losing my mind.  I'd know emails were there, but I'd go to find them and they'd be gone.  Vanished.

I knew I needed to figure it out, but that would entail actually stopping to take time to figure it out, and I just wasn't that inclined yet.

Yesterday I asked J to please grab my phone on our way out to the kitchen for breakfast & he loves to play music so when I saw him pushing buttons it did not phase me.

See where this is going?

J shows me an email from his tball game line up & position rotation and said, "This is done.  Trash."  He looked up so proud.

WAIT!!!! 

Sure enough, the emails I'd been 'losing' were all in my trash bin.

Sigh.

Glad my email issues have been resolved...

Such a little helper my Monkey.

Mother's Day

Whether you are a mom, have a mom, or just know a mom, I hope you had a delightful Mother's Day.  It was beautiful here in Chicago.

We celebrated Mother's Day a little different this year, as Matt's brother and future sister-in-law wanted us to celebrate together with both immediate families.  The neutral location chosen was a White Sox game.  With our connections, the couple reserved a box for us, that allowed the kiddos to have some room to move & play.  It allowed (encouraged even) us all to breathe & mingle in a way the stands would never have permitted.

J will be the ring bearer, in addition to the bride's niece & nephew.  This will be his second wedding this summer, but definately the one with a more serious tone, as my best friend from high school's will be in her dad's back yard...

Exciting times, and it was such a pleasure to spend the day getting to know them.  The kids had a blast, which is always delightful.

Knowing how crazy Sunday would be, Matt had my flowers sent on Saturday.  Such a lovely surprise. 

Although, J was rather distressed that they were mine, and the balloon was mine.  He was quite certain they were his.  He may have even screamed suggested "Mommy, you have to share!!!!"

These pictures were taken today, if that tells you how beautiful they were a week ago.

I'm many things, a daughter, wife, mother, employee, etc, etc, but the title I love most, the one I take the most pride in is "Mommy".

Thank you Matt for making me a mom & Jacob for being such a wonderful child.  You are so special, we only needed one to be complete.  We are so blessed.

Boys Day!

As crazy as my schedule can be, I'm blessed that for the most part - I get a good amount of time off with J.  Matt's crazy work schedule does not allow for dinners or lazy Saturdays.  His lazy day is Wednesday, which is a school day.

Well, usually.

This week, J played hooky from school to have a boys' day.  I was bummed when I learned J did in fact miss performing for the school & teachers, but knowing how crucial these stolen boys' moments are, I'm letting go of my neurotic tendencies.  Instead I'm celebrating the memories for them.

And really, who can disagree with a day that ends with a little boy who just wants to snuggle his mommy after dinner & ends up like this before bed time?

If I'm not odd, then I'm the mean mom

Tonight, as J & I enjoyed a taco dinner, I sat amazed by some of my neighbors. A complete 180 from Tuesday night's appreciation of another neighbor.

The kids next door are in middle school, super well behaved & simply great with J. They are helpful & community focused. Goals to follow, as I mother Jacob.

Tonight, however, the kiddos around J's age were all out & they all congregated at our neighbors swing set. Only, our neighbor was not apart of the mix. I.was.shocked.

Maybe it is because J is my only, or maybe because I grew up in the boonies, but I cannot imagine just turning my kid loose on the neighborhood. He is a great kid, but he is only 4. He still thinks playing in the street is the best thing since sliced bread because we tell him no. He would bee line for those swings as well, but instead Miss Cheryl, Matt & I all reiterate how inappropriate it is for him to play on the swing set when Skye is not hosting us, even though Miss Wendy has invited us to do so...

I'm not sure if I'm odd, or if I'm just setting myself up for being the mom all the kids love to hate because I know what needs to be known & J will get away with very little.

I don't want to be controlling, but involved with the goal of teaching him respect of himself, our property, and that other people deserve the same if not more respectful actions & I want for it to come naturally to him by the time he is in middle school. If I do it right, J will think I'm odd, but if not then he'll know right from wrong & believe I'm the meanest mom ever!

Sigh.