A Wedding in the Woods

We traveled to my cousin Tom’s wedding over the weekend. Like any true family gathering, there were tears and laughter, music, heartbreak, joy, dancing, expectations, drama, tortillas and an open bar.

Babies cried and were tended by their grandfathers. My son ignored lunch but ate four stolen cupcakes from the back of the wedding dessert display. It was hot and there was shade. Jeff played guitar and cousin Grat played the piano. There were funny toasts and blessings and sombreros. My mother and I took turns dancing with my cousin Dan and mom and I both realized that he danced just like my dad used to. Two families were joined together.


The bride’s gorgeous 97 year-old grandmother danced with my cousin’s son Max. He leaves in a few months to serve with the Marines in Afghanistan. Max’s mother, Theresa, and I took a turn dancing with Grandmother. She commanded us to show her our “moves.” Theresa lightly did the bump with her a few times. Grandmother then leaned over to me and said, “I think you’ll need to do that on the other side to put my hip back in place.”

It was beautiful. All of it. Families are my favorite operas.

Grandes felicitaciones and mazel tov, Tom and Lisa.

Smacksy Sunday Links

Nancy is smart. Nancy is funny. Nancy is pretty. I don't hate Nancy because she's awesome. I hate Nancy because she lives in Utah instead of next door to me where I could squeeze her more easily. Nancy has a blog that is like a visit with your favorite girlfriend. Nancy also has a new blog where she reviews books. Nancy has four kids, a husband, a full time job as a school counselor and still makes time to read books and then write about them on her book review blog and then stand in line at the post office to send a free book to one of her commenters. I'm pretty sure Nancy doesn't sleep. Don't let her tan fool you. Nancy is a vampire. Follow Nancy's blogs or sleep wearing a garlic necklace. The choice is yours.

More linky goodness:

For $10.00 Alicia will draw something lovely just for you on the back of a used Trader Joe's bag.

I can't stop watching this. It's 4:47 in heaven.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Cuddly

Teddy Bear? No thanks. I insist on clutching these delightful Star Wars bandages to keep me company.

Apple/Tree

Jeff and I sat in the living room. We could hear Bob in his bedroom playing with his action figures.

"I am Darth Vader and you should wear a sweater," Bob said in a low voice.

"But I'm hot," Bob answered himself in a high voice.

"Luke, I am your dad and you need a sweater. Quickly into the pods!" Bob said in his Darth voice.

Jeff and I exchanged looks.

"The Star Wars guys are his dollies," Jeff whispered to me.

"Yep. Just like they were your dollies, " I said.

"They weren't my dollies, I just collected them."

"And acted out the stories?"

"I had dollies."

"Yep."

Super Mensch

"Mama? Is Superman Batman's assistant?"

"No. Superman is a separate superhero."

"Then who is Batman's assistant?"

"He doesn't have an assistant but he has a sidekick guy named Robin."

"A sidekick? So Robin is the assistant?"

"He's like a junior Batman. He's the Boy Wonder."

"Assistant."

"Okay."

"Who is Superman's assistant?"

"He doesn't have one. He works alone."

"I think he does have one. His name is Jewbin."

"Jewbin?"

"Yes. He's the Superman helper."

"Is Jewbin Jewish?"

"I don't know. His name is just Jewbin."

"Does Jewbin celebrate Hanukkah?"

"Maybe? He's the assistant though and Jewbin has assistant powers."

"Like filing and rolling calls?"

"What's a filing?"

"I think I need a Jewbin."

Bed Time Vernacular: A One Act

BED TIME VERNACULAR

JEFF and I are tucking BOB in for the night.

JEFF

Sweet dreams. Get some good sleep.

BOB

I don’t want to sleep, I want to live.

ME

Wow.

JEFF

Sleeping is living, Boo Boo.

ME

Sleeping is an important part of life.

BOB

Is music life?

JEFF

Yes.

BOB

Is supper life?

ME

If you are lucky, it’s a part of your life and you are very lucky. Now it's time to stop talking and get some sleep.

BOB

Okay but I just can’t do sleeping right now.

JEFF

Just try, Buddy. Mama will rub your back.

BOB

I can’t. I can’t sleep. I have a sleep ache.

ME

A sleep ache? I am totally stealing that.

JEFF

Me too. That’s so good.

BOB

Can I have a banana cut in pieces?


END SCENE

The Latest Move

In the last few months, I’ve been working a lot with Bob to recognize when I am on the phone and during that time to not interrupt me or make loud noises or follow me around playing a harmonica or activate the toy garbage truck that repeatedly yells, “Ew! What smells?” So far, it’s going okay about 30% of the time.

I was on the phone on Thursday afternoon. A friend was relaying some serious information and I was concentrating on the conversation. I was proud that Bob was playing quietly in his room and this time had not translated the ringing of the phone as an invitation to lay down a drum solo.

A few minutes into my call, Bob appeared at my side and whispered, “Pardon me, Mama.” He then picked up my hand and set something lightly inside my palm. I excused myself from my call and looked into my hand. I was holding what appeared to be one sugar cube sized turd.

“Bob? What is this?”

“A poop.”

“Why do I have it now?”

“I didn’t have time to make it to the potty and I didn’t want to poop in my pants so I pooped into my hand. Now you have it.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Are you off the phone now?”

“Yes, I am."

"Now can we play with the Star Wars Lego guys?"

"Well played, Bob Rosenberg. Well played.”