Dude!

Oh my dear. This picture almost didn't get done. In fact, not much in the way of productivity is getting done this week, including your homework and your turkey lurkey feather, both due tomorrow. I realize I am not setting a great example by oh, I dunno, choosing to get settled into our new place while trying to get the old place in tip top shape so that the apartment complex doesn't charge me an arm and a leg for dirty drip pans; but it is what it is. You love homework, you'll get it done and we got your feather got halfway done last night (it could really pass for all the way done if need be - there's something to be said for winging it).

I asked you to look at the picture before school, not at lunch, because it is so lame and I didn't want your little fan club to laugh. Turns out, you thought it was "soooo cool" and it looks like Astro Boy. Not what I was going for (I'm not sure what I was going for), but I'm ever so pleased that you like my 30 second scribble because dude, I just don't have the energy for much more.

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

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)