The Sorting Hat Has Spoken

It's Official

Bob's Godmother, Aunt Jen, has made Bob's Halloween costumes every year with the exception of the lost year of Han Solo '10.
She created The Pumpkin.
The Cowboy.
The Triceratops.
And of course, The Bee.
And now... this year:
Harry Potter.

Happy Halloween.

Smacksy Sunday Links

photo

Bob's kind of Jack O'Lanterns.

Are you guys on Pinterest? I am. Too much. Too often. Follow me there, if you'd like. I'm probably there right now.

Thanks to my friend Jen for sharing this with me. It's just fun.

Spooky Sunday to you.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: A Great Pumpkin

(It's all about picking the best one.)

Another Good Idea

When we told Bob that we would have to get up at 4:30am to go to the airport, he replied that he would be sleeping in his clothes. He wasn't kidding.

Just Smile and Keep Moving

photo

Our neighbor Miss Olga was outside turning on her sprinklers as Bob and I rounded the corner. I waved.

"Hey, Mom? She's a very, very, very old lady and she can still walk!"

"She can still hear too, Bob."

"Oh yeah. Hi Miss Olga!"

Sound Advice

photo

"Mom? The other guys weren't being nice to Jason at school today."

"What happened?"

"They said they didn't want to play with him and then he looked sad like he was going to cry."

"Then what happened?"

"I went over to Jason and I said, 'Walk away, Jason. Just walk away.'"

"That's good advice honey."

"Yeah, he walked away. We played. There was no crying."

Big Ideas

photo

"Mom? When are we leaving for Las Vegas?"

"Were not going to Las Vegas, Bob. We're going to Texas."

"When?"

"Friday."

"What about Las Vegas?"

"What about it?"

"When are we going there?'

"We're not."

"Never?"

"I don't know about never but not this week."

"Why?"

"We never said anything about Las Vegas. We're going to Texas. We've always been going to Texas. "

"Mom?"

"Yeah?"

"You should consider Las Vegas."

About Hearts

photo

"Is Great Uncle Abe still in the hospital, Mom?"

"He's living in a nursing home now where he can have people take care of him all the time."

"Can he still walk?"

"Not by himself anymore. He has something called congestive heart failure and he's 97 so his body is weaker and isn't working as well as the last time we saw him."

"Mom? Is his heart breaking?"

"A little at a time."

"I think it helps him if I think about him. I'm going to think about him."

Smacksy Sunday Links

photo

I loved Elvis Costello and then I loved him a little more.

My friend Marinka wrote this brilliant little book. The perfect Christmas and Hanukkah gift for all the kids you know.

And the funny and touching How We Met Your M Word by Jerry Mahoney from Listen To Your Mother LA.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Pumpkin Run

Happy Jack O'lanterns to you.

Wherein I Sprint Back Into the Directing World

My ridiculously talented pal, Anna Lefler, has written a funny new book called The CHICKtionary. I had the great pleasure of directing her official book trailer. Watch! Comment! Share! And of course, buy the book!

(It's just this type of bossiness that lends itself to directing.)

Three Words x One Billion

"So, Mom? I was thinking. You know how you tell me you love me about one billion times a day?"

"I do."

"And I always tell you too, a lot? I mean a lot."

"Yes. Can we continue that? I'd like to."

"Well, okay. Yep, yep, yeppers."

"That's good."

"Love you, Mom."

Guess

photo

"Hey, Mom. Guess my favorite color."

"Blue."

"That's my old favorite color. I have a new one."

"Okay. Green?"

"Nope. That's your favorite. My new favorite isn't pretty, it's cool."

"Tell me."

"Silver! It sparkles but not like a princess, like a space ship."

"Cool."

"I know. I told you."

A Big Day

"Mom! I did two wheels!"

"I saw!"

"First two wheels with four hands and then I did two wheels with only two hands."

"I don't get the four hands part."

"Two of the hands were dads and then he let go."

The Career

photo

"Mom? I'm going to need a new Lego set."

"I don't think so. You need to play with all of those Legos you have already."

"I do need more. Let's face it, Mom. Legos is my job. I gotta do my job."

Smacksy Sunday Links

photo

First I read this in the NY Times. The whole thing fascinates me.

And then I read this from one of my very favorite bloggers and it just sat so right on top.

Here's the funny and moving Cocktail Playdate Drop-Out by Stefanie Wilder Taylor at Listen To Your Mother LA.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Corn Maze

'Tis the season.

Good Morning, Gramps

photo

"Here's your oatmeal, Honey."

"No, thanks."

"Bob, you have to eat some breakfast before school."

"No oatmeal though, please. I'm feeling more toast."

The Commute

This morning, like every weekday morning, Bob rode his scooter to school and I skip-ran behind him. I never quite catch him but my voice always does.

"Careful, Bob! That's a driveway! Look out for the alley! Careful, Honey! Wait for me at the curb! Doing great! Bob! Bob! Bob! Just look out for that blue car! Careful now! Stay away from the sprinkler! Driveway! Driveway! Those pine needles are slippery! Wait for me!

Today Bob waited for me at the cross-walk, "Mom? You don't need to yell so much. I do this everyday and Mom? My other name is 'Careful.'"

My Assistant

photo

Bob and I were at Von's. He helped me load our groceries onto the conveyor belt at the check out.

"I've got to remember to call Shelley back," I whispered under my breath.

A few hours later I sat at the dining room table working on the computer. Bob was playing quietly in his room. He stuck his head out of the doorway, "Mom? Don't forget to call Shelley back."

And then I hired him to keep track of my schedule.

The Pool Is Closed

photo

"Hey, Dad? I couldn't do my swim class today."

"Why not?"

"The pool was con-tam-in-ated."

"Oh?"

(whispers) "This time someone poo-ed it."

What Counts

"Bob! Home run! That was amazing!"

"Yeah! I had a home run! I had three home runs!"

"Well, no. You ran to the three bases and got one home run. One home run is great!"

"I ran to a million bases!"

"Three bases. The truth is plenty. The truth is enough."

"I had one home run."

"And it was beautiful."

Smacksy Sunday Links

For those of you with children (or those of you who hang out with adults who act like children) my friend, parenting expert, Dr. Tina Bryson has co-authored a fabulous new book with Dr. Dan Siegel - The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind, Survive Everyday Parenting Struggles, and Help Your Family Thrive. It's a great read that explains how brain development science can inform how we parent and relate to our kids. The book is filled with terrific real-life examples and tips. It's a must-have for every family.

Even more reasons to love my secret boyfriend, Mr. Rogers.

And Stories We Make Up About Our Cats.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Anne Frank

photo

So beautiful.

A Waxing Moon

photo

"Mom! Look out my window at the moon!"

"I've got to keep my eyes on the road. Tell me about the moon."

"I think it might be full soon. You know if I was Harry Potter and you were Hermione and Professor Lupin was with us and there was a full moon he would turn into a werewolf and it would be bad for us. Thank goodness we're just mom and me in the car instead."

"Thank goodness."

Rainy Day

"This puddle is giant, Mom."

"It is. Didn't the rain make it smell good out here?"

"Yeah."

"It smells like the forest doesn't it, Honey?"

"Or like hand sanitizer."

Best

"Did you hear they already canceled the show that premiered on Sunday?" I asked.

"After one show? That's rough," said Jeff

Bob walked into the kitchen, "Mom? They're canceling Sunday? Can they even do that?"

"No, Babe. No one can cancel Sunday."

"That's good because Sunday is one of my best days."

When He's Right, He's Right

photo

"Morning, Mom."

"Good morning, Honey."

"Mom?"

"Yeah, Baby?"

"Your hair looks like a tarantula."

Speed

photo

"Mom! You're driving too fast!"

"No I'm not. We're way under the speed limit."

"It feels too fast. Hey, Mom? Did you just use the brakes?"

"Yes I did."

"Two points for Gryffindor."

Smacksy Sunday Links

If I had a veranda, I would SO be sitting on it right now. Since I live in Southern CA instead of the actual south, the front porch will do fine.

One minute and fifteen seconds of dogs jumping rope.

And Tisha Berg reading her piece, And One More Thing Before I Go To Sleep from Listen To Your Mother LA.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Autumn

I didn't take this photo. I found it on Pinterest. But I love it. It looks like fall and makes me think of Pearl. I love fall. I miss Pearl.