Can you believe that our Spiderman is turning 6?! I can't.

 

It has been an amazing 6 years - so many accomplishments! And we feel so lucky to have him in our lives.

 

He is a miracle and to this day I wonder how it happened. The only explanation is that he was meant for us!

 

"We love you, no matter what. Never forget it." - your parental unit.

 

He thinks he is having a "Ben 10" party... I have no idea what that is... what he is having is dinner at Red Robin with a friend!!

 

   3 days old! One of my favorite pictures - Daddy's Hand.

 

  1 year old! My little munchkin!

 

  2 years old! My little rebel!

 

  3 years old!

 

   4 years old. Ma boyz...

 

 5 years old! Time flies when you're having fun!

 

 I'll post a 6 year old picture a little later!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week-end we went to a wedding.

 

Spiderman was given the honors to be the Ring Bearer! He took his job very seriously and could not wait for the big day. I think he was just as excited as the bride.

 

"Mom, can I wear my Marine uniform?" he would plead.

 

Me: "no, we need to keep nice and clean for the wedding."

 

"Please, please, I promise I won't mess it up!"

 

Me: "still no."

 

And finally the big day came. We were all very nervous but Spiderman kept his cool and did a really good job. We are so proud of you!

 

"No thank you, I am going to ask them if they want to exercise with me. Do push ups or sit ups."

 

Us: "oh, ok, that sounds like fun..."

 

And on he went, very sure of himself and very proud as well.

 

 Aaahhhhhh! Love.

 

We've noticed Spiderman has a style... yes, all the girls he really likes have a darker complexion and are usually brunettes and most of the time are much older than him!!

 

 Yes, even Spiderman joined the single guys, hoping to catch the garter!

 

 

We went to a Nationals Baseball game yesterday.

 

We met up with family, which was really nice! Luckily for Spiderman  some of his cousins were there.

 

Die Hard Phillies' Fans!

 

 Nice Picture T.!

 

 

 Dread Pirate would be appalled by this picture. How can Spiderman mix the Phillies with the Nats... "this boy needs therapy." T is wearing an Eagles cap... that's ok at least you are for the Phillies!

 

 

 C.J. did not want to get in the picture with the other boys, but he did not know I took one anyway!

 

Last night during dinner Spiderman was talking about the teenagers he knows who babysit him and proclaimed:

 

"Mom, you know I can babysit?"

 

No, I had no idea. Do you think you can babysit Master M.?

 

"Yes, of course I can!"

 

Oh, so what do you do if Master M. cries?

 

Dread Pirate yells across the room: "I wanna Rock!"

 

"I rock him or pick him up and walk around."

 

What kind of food does he eat?

 

"He drinks some kind of liquid, milk."

 

Can you change his diaper?

 

"Yes, I can. You just open his diaper and wipe."

 

Have you watched Ms. C. do it?

 

"Yes, I have. That's how I know how to do it."

 

Very good...

 

So, C. looks like Spiderman knows what he is doing!!

The trials and tribulations of a 5 1/2 almost 6 year old boy.

 

Spiderman and I were at a birthday party tonight.

 

He was being rude and impolite almost the entire time.

 

Finally I had had enough, it was time to come home.

 

All of sudden the sweet Spiderman that I know turned into Black Spiderman right in front of my eyes. I could not believe it!

 

There is a dark side to every superhero.

 

So when we cam home I politely asked Black Spiderman to pack his bag and find a new home - I lost the Real Spiderman, I tell him. The black one needs to go.

 

"No mom, no, I don't want to go. The Black one was just a ghost, the Real one came back. I am sorry I was so rude and I am sorry for talking back. I just want to go back to the party." 

 

 

I am sick and tired of Neighborhood Politics.

 

 

For the last year I have been thinking "what is that Facebook all about??"

 

Really, do I have to join it to be like everyone else and connect with people I don't even know?

 

Have to create another sign in account?

 

What happened to meeting people face to face?

 

And now there is a business version of Facebook, namely Linked In. 

 

 

I made the plunge and created my Facebook account.

 

Let's see how many "friends" I will find!

So, yesterday we decided to go to the mall.

 

While I was shopping in one of my favorite stores, Lucy, Spiderman and Dread Pirate went... where else but the Disney Store!!

 

Spiderman had $3.00 in his wallet and wanted to spend it.

 

When I joined them, Spiderman looked sad, and so I asked what was going on when Spiderman said:" I can't find anything for $3.00."

 

And he kept looking, turning over all the toys to check for their price and everytime it was more than what he had.

 

A really nice store helper came over and asked if she could help us when Spiderman decided to tell her what he thought of their prices...

 

"You know, I am having a really hard time in your store. Everything is more than $3.00. Can you lower your prices to $3.00 so I can buy something?"

 

The lady was really nice and just smiled at him and said: "Well, we have the sunglasses that are for $2.99, do you think that will work?"

 

"No, I already have sunglasses." He did not have any luck at the Disney Store, so we left.

 

Right across was a nice candy store. Surely, we will find something for $3.00!

 

And we did! He found a push pop for $.99. And I asked him if he wanted another one or something else since he still had some money left and he said:"No, I just want that one thing, I'll keep the rest of my money."

 

He still has that push pop today, only taking a few licks at a time! If it were me, I would have finished that thing in an hour!!

 

Not to worry though I got my sugar fix as well!!

We took a lot of photos. I am going to post them in 4 seperate albums.

 

All you have to do is click on the album you want to see.

 

The albums will be: Michie's Tavern, Monticello and of course Ash-Lawn and U.V.A.

 

 

So I did not have a lot guesses. A. came really close, if you travel 70 miles west of Williamsburg you'll get to Charlottesville, VA.

 

Where 2 of our Founding Fathers have lived: Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe.

 

We visited Jefferson's Monticello and Monroe's Ash-Lawn Highland.

 

It was a great experience and very humbling to be where 2 great minds have once stood. The architecture and design of Monticello is just splendid. It took Jefferson 40 years to design it and build it. It sits at the top of a little mountain, hence the Italian word Monticello. While driving there we wondered why anyone would want to live so so remotely. But once you get there you understand why. It really was beautiful and the views left us breathless.

 

Jefferson at one point owned 5,000 acres of land! A lot of the wood that was cut down was used in his house. While Monroe at one point owned about 3,000 acres! It is said that Monroe bought 1,000 acres for $1,000!

 

We also went to Michie's Tavern. A tavern of the time where you get a tour of the actual tavern and where you get to eat great food from the period. Nothing better than BBQ pork and mashed potatoes!

 

During the tour we got to dance like it was once done! Although noone was serenading us, we listened to music through speakers... yep, very authentic!

And the ladies once used to look at mens' calves. If you had a good looking calf your chances were good you'd find a lady!

 

Spiderman's calves must have looked good as he ended up with a really pretty girl who was about 10 years older. At this age a teenage girl is a great catch!

This is the face he gave her.

 

 

This week-end I am taking Dread Pirate away for the week-end.

 

But he has no idea where we are going. These are the hints I gave him:

 

It's somewhere we've never been before.

 

It is a historic town.

 

It is 2 hours away by car.

 

Someone we know has lived there.

 

We will be hiking if the weather permits.

 

And Spiderman is coming along!

 

Happy guessing!

The other day we celebrated a special Birthday.

 

I decided to make a special dinner for that special someone.

 

And this was our special dinner conversation.

 

Happy Birthday Dad!

 

We hope you enjoy your dinner!

 

I could not keep Spiderman away from the dessert. He has been harassing me all day.

 

Wow mom, the salmon is really good! I love it. You are a great cook, you're even better than Chef Boyardee!

 

Our cats have some serious thrill issues.

 

I don't know if it's because they like getting yelled at or pushed off, yet they continue to ignore us.

 

This is Tigger's latest stunt:

 

I mean look at him, he looks so frail and neglected. No wonder he is drinking out of the faucet.

For the last couple of weeks we have been dealing with a loose tooth.

 

I am sure you all know about that. We even tried to use Dread Pirate's tools on that darn tooth, but nothing worked.

 

He would not let us near it.

 

So after countless tugging and pulling the tooth fell out.

 

But only after he got hit with a tennis ball! Today is a beautiful day, worth spending outside. So on we went to the tennis courts.

 

There we met a friend of his from school who also wanted to play tennis. She, yes he has been hit by a girl, is bigger than him and her balls would leave her racqet at 100 miles per hour - at least!

 

Well, one of her balls went directly for Spiderman's teeth. His lower lip started bleeding and when I looked at his teeth, the loose one was hanging on by a thread.

 

But still he would not touch it.

 

Finally, about an hour later, he pulled it out, only because it was bothering him.

 

He was very excited and almost started crying out of joy! He ran back to the playground to show everyone he had pulled it out! And when he came back up he shouted: "Mom, I am bleeding but I don't mind! This is great!" and then in a low whisper for only mommys to hear he said: "I hope the Tooth Fairy comes tonight."

 

 Tooth Number 1!

 

 

 

But that someone is grumpy.

 

He has refused his gifts, although he does not know what they are.

 

He says, "you are doing too much for me."

 

He does not realize how much he does for us.

 

He does not realize how much we love him.

 

He does not realize we would do anything for him.

 

 

                                                     

Soon to be 6!

I love you to pieces and yes, I wished for you, we both wished for you just the way you are.

 

 

In 6 years we moved 5 times and lived in 2 states

Went to Florida 3 times

Our very first time to Key West and decided that's where we will retire

Drove to Cinicinnati from Aldie, VA and back

Went to NYC 3 times

Went to France 4 times

And this winter we drove across 3 states every week-end to go skiing!

My relationship with my dad improved and now I call him because I want to talk  to him

I have a sister, although it is not by blood

And I am listening to the latest Britney

 

Sweet Dreams all.

 

  A fish made out of music sheets.

 

"What are you lookin' at?"

 

"Come on lady, at least get my good side."

 

"I am da king and you know it."

We have a set of chores for Spiderman to do everyday - we actually track his progress with a chart.

 

There is also a rule at the table, that if you either don't finish your food (which I don't expect him to) or at least try to eat more, then there is no dessert. As you can imagine this can be a problem sometimes.

 

The other night, he refused to eat any more and so we told him there would be nothing else until breakfast the next morning.

 

"It's ok, I am full and my belly hurts." he says in a painstakingly low voice. Hmm, like I can't see what you are doing.

"ok, well then, clean up the table and you may go." we both (Dread Pirate and I) tell him in unison.

 

A little later, as we are watching "Herbie, Fully Loaded" for the 3rd time now, I get some ice cream for myself. And wouldn't you know, Spiderman's belly is all of sudden feeling great! "Oh, I would love some ice cream mom!" he exclaims with happiness.

 

"Well, as we told you before, you cannot have ice cream as you did not want to eat and said your belly hurt." we explain.

"But, my belly is fine now and I am hungry for ice cream." he begs us.

"This is your consequence for not eating or even trying to eat. You made a choice and that's your consequence. Next time think about the consequence." we continue.

 

When I take him up to bed that night, he is pouting and refuses to get changed. "All right," I said "Good night." and I turned the light off and walked away.

His favorite time of day is our night time routine. He loves his stories, and the cuddles and the special things I tell him. So I know this will work.

 

I wait about 15 minutes and go back up. I look in his bed and he is in his jammies and tucked in. I walk over and kiss him on the forehead when he continues being a little brat. Once again I say: "Good night." and walk away.

 

The next morning when I wake him at 6:45am I am surprised to see he is already awake. And he says with sadness: "Mom, I am so sorry I was mean and rude to you last night."

And I say: "Thank you, you learned your lesson. I love you."

And as we go down for breakfast he turns to me and adds: "You know mom, even though I was a bit angry last night I still loved you."

 

"I love you no matter what, I will always love you no matter what." I say reassuringly.

Some of our experiments:

 

                    

 

No, you are not seeing things, there is glitter in there somwhere. I should have put more! It's really easy... a little vinegar, baking soda, and detergent with some glitter for some sparkles and you have yourself a volcano! You can add food coloring for some real effects but we were out.

For some reason Spiderman likes Thomas Jefferson. He came down the stairs the other day and said very proudly: "Mom, I just called Thomas Jefferson!"

Oh really, that's exciting and what did he say?

S: "I don't really remember."

Me: "Oh, that's a shame, I would have loved to know what he was thinking. You know that Jefferson has passed away, right? He lived a long, long time ago."

S: "How do you know all the presidents who have passed away?"

Me: "Well, I did not know them personally. I know of them, through history classes and different studies. The ones still living today are." And I proceded to tell him their names. Then he thought for a while, went to his room and came back a few minutes later.

S: "Mom, you are not going to believe this! (I probably won't) I just spoke to President Bush, Sr.! And then I called President Clinton!'

Me: "Wow! You get to speak to really important people today. What did they say?"

S: "It's a secret, I can't tell you." And he went on about his business, feeling very important himself.

 

It just so happens that last Sunday we decided to go to DC for the afternoon. We intended to go to the zoo, but the zoo was full and so we headed for the Jefferson Memorial, which was much less crowded. Spiderman could not believe he was standing face to face with Thomas Jefferson! So we walked around, and read the quotes carved into the stone and sat down to take it all in, almost meditating about what it meant to live during that time.

It is always sobering to visit the memorials of the great Presidents who have put their lives on the line to form such a beautiful country. Just to think what they must have gone through to create a place where everyone is welcomed and a part of the governement is unbelievable. What I admire most is that in times of crisis and war they believed in themsleves and the people, and that the GOOD would always prevail.

Thank you for making it possible for me to live here and have a better future for myself and my family. Without forgetting to thank Dread Pirate and all the other soldiers for defending our freedom which in the end is never free.