Celebrate

You had your Kindergarten Celebration today and man that was cute. Since you guys didn't get to have your winter program (due to misbehavior - not on your part), you had lot's of time to practice those songs. My favorite was the Jelly Bean song when you all bee-bopped up and down like jumping beans. Man, that was cute. You, being one of the tallest, got stuck in the back and I was in the back too, so the pictures I got are grainy at best. That's ok, I have it etched in my memory.

I could see you looking around, trying not to be disappointed if you didn't see me there, but you spotted me and remembered that I'm a mom of my word. I wouldn't have missed that for the world, kiddo.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

You got the new Super Mario Galaxy 2 this weekend. These games never get old and you enjoy letting me win all of the levels and then you can go back through and have fun.

This week is a fun week filled with books, games, blankets and pizza parties and I'm getting that same sense of nostalgia that I did when I first step foot in your classroom last July. It's easy for adults to tell you to enjoy it, but we secretly know that it's impossible to enjoy any age for at least ten years after you've actually been it.

Turtwig

Yesterday was a sick day

You brought home a field trip permission slip today for the zoo and since I promised you I would chaperon a field trip this school year, I'm going to make good on that promise by volunteering. It's not set in stone yet, but I'm making the effort. I haven't been involved in much this school year, I admit; and I'm still working on getting my gold star in parental involvement.

That tooth of yours - the one that was pretty loose on February 2nd - is still holding on by a few threads. You were such a brave kid tonight; you took an apple and bit into it about fifty times trying to get that stubborn thing out of your mouth. I am particularly impressed because you won't even let me put peroxide on a tiny scrape. You bled, you winced, and you kept on going, but eventually the tooth won and you fell asleep on your bed with the apple in your hand. Really, after all this effort, I think an extra Tooth Fairy reward is in order, don't you?

Glameow

You thought you weren't ready for Spring Break to end, but I knew you were ready by the way you clung onto my every move. You were bored. You missed your friends and today ended up being a marvelous day because you got a "BRAVO!" which meant a trip to the prize box. You picked out a small Slinky, but when I got home, you walked up to my car with a forlorn look on your face and showed me your formerly slinky SLINKY that had, in the space of two hours, become a rather warped slinky. Of course I promised to buy you another, you worked hard for that.

You are Student of the Week this week and I got the notice on Friday, March 12th on what we needed to do to prepare. It was simple - get a brown paper bag, put three things that fit in there for "Show and Tell" and make a poster with pictures and interests. We had plenty of time to do that stuff over Spring Break, so I tucked the note back in your folder.

You know what that means; I found the note this last Sunday afternoon and rushed out to the store for poster board, forgetting all about the paper bags and made a half-rate version of the story of your life. I'm not sure how I'm going to teach you about time-management if I am a horrible example of it myself.

Kirby

100 percent on your first spelling test! You remembered "b, bat at ball" and didn't get the b's and the d's mixed up. Of course I'm proud of you!

Pikachu

Your foot is a little better today, but you are still a little limpy. Poor guy. It's not stopping you from playing outside with your light sabers though. You *almost* have enough to provide each neighborhood kid with their own every time you play.

Bowser - Part Two

Another incarnation of Bowser for you.

Luigi, Trains and Bubblegum Ice Cream

Mario and Luigi have struck again, obviously. We are 20 hours into "Bowser's Inside Story", but at least I can report that it took us about two months to get there; so it's not like you are spending a ton of time on it. If anybody is spending too much time on it, it's me. You usually play it while I'm sweating my tail off on the treadmill and then move onto other things when we get home. I don't know why I feel the need to explain this, except that it's entirely possible that I have a guilty conscience because I KNOW that I've let you spend too much time on multimedia type things recently. I am sure your teachers, and the experts, would not approve. That's why we had a spontaneous picnic the weekend before last. It was a glorious day, the weather was perfect, and that railroad park was calling our name. We ate on the grass under the shade of a tree, and then we had ice cream (bubblegum for you, because childhood isn't childhood without bubblegum ice cream), took a ride on the train and marvelled at the model train club's miniature worlds. It was breezy and sunny and for a few hours, we forgot what Arizona summer's are like. We spent a lot more time at that park when we lived closer, and you were never quite into all that train-y stuff. I bought you tons of wooden Thomas stuff, you even have a real model train collection that grandma started for you, but your interest was passing at best.

And then we went to the train park after a long absence and your interest is no longer just passing. You marvelled at those miniature worlds right alongside me, noticing the tiny details like the scuba diver and suckling piglets (separate scenes, of course) and grandma got excited at the opportunity to add to your model train collection this Christmas.

It was so much more satisfying than a day at home playing Bowser's Inside Story and cleaning.

But this is Arizona, and last weekend we were back up into the 90's and my move motivation was at an all time low, so what did we do? Played too much Nintendo, that's what.

Love,

Your cool (because I ROCK at video games) Mom

I am not a poet

I'm feeling rather waxy, in the poetical sense this week, but I am not a poet, so you get a string of words from your mom that may or may not have life lessons in them. I am not old, but I have a lot of experiences, and I think that qualifies me for some sort of wisdom.

We move a lot. A LOT. You know this, and I am painfully aware of it. I don't like switching up your routine, or forcing the "new kid" role on you, but it has been a necessary part of your life; not because we are running from anything, but because such is the life of an apartment dweller. When I gave our 60-day notice to the office, Asika the office lady lamented because we had lived there for "so long". We have lived there for two years and in two different units. Apartments are for transient people. People on the go. People who crave change and abhor stability.

That was me ten years ago, that is not me now.

This move should feel no different than any other. I shouldn't feel like such a big change is on the horizon. I'm welcoming it, anticipating it, but it's also making me anxious.

See, I'm taking a leap of faith here. I'm taking the chance that we'll be better off in two years than we are now, so that when grandma moves out, we can stay in that little townhouse that someone else owns, without another forbearance on my student loans. I am trying not to feel like I'm making a stupid move, because it is NOT a stupid move at all, I am just an overly cautious person. It is in my nature to imagine the worst, but this is me, imagining the best.

And I'm knocking on wood more than once a day.

I'm learning, slowly, that success doesn't come from caution, that risks must be taken to move forward. Change doesn't come easy and it doesn't come with a price tag. Perhaps a recession is the wrong time to adopt such optimism; but I'm motivated and I need to take advantage of it. Choosing the wrong time to lose weight is how I dropped it; so I'm hoping this will be no different.

And there you go, kiddo; a life lesson all wrapped up in a moving box and tied nicely with a bow. I love you.

Love,

Your cautiously (knock on wood!) optimistic Mom

More Mario

I know, I know. MORE MARIO. At least I made it educational, right? You told me that you and your friend L read the words at lunch today; which was exactly what I had hoped for. I wish I had better penmanship, but at least the words are legible.

This week marks my very first parent/teacher conference. I have no idea how these things really go, but I suspect I will hear all about what a great example you are for the other students and about how sad your teachers are that you will be leaving the school soon. Man, I never thought moving five miles could have such an impact, but your sudden attachment to your stuffed monkey is very telling. You see, you've never had a binky, bankie, or any other security item. You don't attach yourself to material possessions like a lot of kids do; and right now, that monkey is your best friend, imaginary friend and security blanket all rolled into one. It is sweet, but a little sad at the same time. Every time you ask if "monkey" can go somewhere with us, I think about all the changes I am putting you through. I know they are all for the best, so I try not to dwell, and I hope you understand that I have your best interests at heart.

At least lunch was good

This was a picture of one of those winged red question marked boxes in that New Super Mario Bros game we just can't seem to get enough of. I know I said we were DONE with the theme and we were DONE giving our thumbs a workout, but as you've undoubtedly figured out, I am a big sucker when it comes to video games that take me back and an even bigger sucker when it comes to you. As long as you still prefer to run around outside, I think the video games are a-ok.

But, this picture, ah, well...It pretty much is a perfect representation of today. The bright spot is that THIS time, when the school said they were serving breakfast for lunch, they actually DID serve breakfast for lunch and you loved it. It was the first thumbs up that cafeteria has received.

You've taken your lunch all but six days of the school year, so on the days you choose to eat a hot lunch, I put your "note" in a plastic zippy bag and put it in your pocket (it's the only way you'll agree to buy your lunch, you really love these notes). I always take a picture of the picture because I know poop happens and since I am actually saving all of these, I can at least print it out if it gets lost or...washed.

Heh. Well, mom's aren't perfect and I somehow neglected to take a picture of this particular picture, and I was so flustered by the end of the day, that when I stuck your uniform in the wash, I neglected to check your pockets; which shouldn't be surprising, I suck at checking pockets regardless of mood. I have a very strong feeling you are going to learn early on to empty your pockets before you give your clothes to me. Either that, or you are going to start doing your own laundry at a young age and wouldn't that be fun? I think so.

The baggie wasn't Ziploc, it was knock off brand and that crumpled mess is all that's left of your picture. Sorry dude. I'm sure it didn't help that I got snippy and rude with you over something trivial just prior to pulling the soggy mess out of the washer. Don't worry though, I got my just desserts. While looking online for something to draw for you for September 24th, I stumbled across a pretty nasty virus which is going to be an absolute PLEASURE to clean up. You think I'm the bees knees when it comes to computer stuff, so you have full confidence I'll have it fixed in no time flat. I'm thinking that the destroyed Mario Bros picture is a sign that I need to stick to my "no Mario theme" promise, and the virus from trying to plagiarize an online picture is a sign that I need to start drawing from my imagination. Oh, and also? I should probably try to be less snippy over trivial things.

Love,

Your mom, who sounds like a scientist (according to you)

Power Up

You got another Mario game for your DS today and even though I know we have spent slightly too much time giving our thumbs a workout this week, I also know that it's okay every once in a while. Next week will be more productive.

You came home with a parent/teacher conference sign-up sheet AND a field trip permission form on Tuesday and it kind of hit home again that yes, you really are in school and those people want to take you places that will be completely out of my control. Also, there is a slight chance you won't even be at this school when either of those things happen and my heart sinks a little each time I think about that. No matter how many times I tell myself it is the right thing to do, I am always uncertain. I am always afraid I am going to make some decision that I am going to regret, something that will have such an impact on your childhood that you'll find it hard to forgive me. I really do know best, I just need to convince you. And myself.

I Couldn't Resist Drawing You at Least ONE Princess

At least she's relevant. If not a little...crooked? Off center?

Anyway, it's Princess Peach from Mario Bros.

And do you know what an awesome, secure kid you are?

I purposely didn't color her, because I was afraid you would be embarrassed to open up this big, pink princess at lunch; but when I told you that, you told me you wouldn't have cared.

And that's how I know that you value these little pictures from home and that's why I manage a little bit of time every night to make them for you. I know they will be an integral part of the upheaval I am about to force upon you and I hope they will make the transition a little easier.

Koopa Troopa

It seems I have competition in the note department now, your little "girl" friend brought you a note today, too. Her note was a picture of a dog? I think? But when we opened it up, out came this:

I know her parents approved the note, but I don't know if they knew she stuck that in.

Ah, puppy love.

Bowser

In keeping with this week's theme, I present to you, Bowser.

Theme of the Week

Honestly, I think I'm enjoying your "New" Super Mario Bros. game more than you are. It's taking me waaaay back and I'm finding myself spending too much time on your Nintendo DS listening to coins clink and catching mushrooms that pop out of bricks. That old frustration with boss levels is giving me a funny sense of nostalgia. Suddenly, I feel like an adolescent in front of a tiny TV, playing as many levels I can in what can only be described as a marathon.

You are getting the biggest kick out of it all. You love to watch me play the game more than you like to play it yourself. If you happen to have a friend over, the both of you will gather 'round and watch yours truly kick some Goomba butt.

I still despise water levels. I still despise boss levels. But I keep on truckin'. You bought the game with YOUR birthday money, but I've got the most use out of it. The next game is on me, OK?

Luigi

I imagine this is what "Zombie Luigi" might look like.

Mario

Do you know what today is, other than Tuesday, August 25th? It is your due date, which doesn't mean much because you were actually evicted by order of Pitocin eight days later, but it was the day you were due to come out of my tummy and that discussion ALWAYS opens up the wrong can of worms. You know, the can that contains the conversation that inevitably ends with you asking me what the doctors do with babies after they are born in the toilet?

Oh, look at the butterflies over there, aren't they pretty?

I am just not prepared for this type of conversation. Yet. (I suspect I will never feel prepared).

I look at you and your long legs and nimbly arms and it is just so amazing to see you grow. It's hard to believe that six short years ago, I was wondering what kind of person you would be, because now I know and it seems that I have always known you. It's hard to believe that I actually lived before you were born.

And here you are, writing your LONG name in almost cursive and doing a fine job of it and suddenly you don't need my help like you used to. You've got it covered, kiddo, and I am so very proud of you.