Thursday, November 15, 2012

Teaching Moments

Tonight on our drive home from a dinner with friends, I asked Mae what she was thankful for. I figured since it is the month of thanks we should maybe discuss it a little bit.

Here is the excerpt of our conversation.

Me: What are you thankful for? 
Mae: I would like 2 rings and a princess music book.
Me: Mae that is what you want for Christmas. Being thankful is what you are happy to have in your life. For example, I am thankful for you and Whit.
Mae: I am thankful for you Mommy.
Me: Awww, Mae that is sweet. Aren't you thankful for Whitaker?
Mae: No, I have you and Whit has Daddy.
Me: You can be thankful for all of us.
Mae: No I just want you and Daddy and Whit will be together.

I guess one of out three ain't bad but looks like tomorrow we will have to continue the lesson of thanks. 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

New Dos

Whitaker's hair was getting a little too long for what we favor on our boys in the Cummings household so we decided it was time for haircut #2 for him. We were planning on doing it over this past weekend but some how or some one never got around to it. Read between the lines: I tasked Pearson with finding a place to get it done. I figured since Whitaker is a boy and he is a boy he should figure out a salon which doesn't cost $36 [the cost of Whitaker's last hair cut]. 

On Monday with Whitaker still looking a little ragged, I took it upon myself to get er' done. When I walked by the barber shop in our neighborhood and it was closed, I knew I had to come up with a Plan B fast. Pearson has said I can be impulsive, which is in fact accurate, and this was a perfect example of that. I decided to get Whit's hair cut at a place called Rudy's - a hipster salon that bills itself as a barber shop. They have various locations throughout town but I landed on the one that is closet to our house in Capitol Hill - uber hipsters central. And this post falls into the category of "what was I thinking?" 

When I mentioned to Mae that we were going to get Whit's hair cut, she insisted she also wanted to get her hair cut. I told her repeatedly that if she got it cut she wouldn't ever be able to wear it up, which she doesn't anyways so that was a futile argument to throw out. Honestly, I just didn't want to deal with the hassle of getting both kids' hair cut at once. Call me lazy. 

So we entered Rudy's, and maybe I am being a little sensitive, but everyone looked at us like we were CCCCCRRAZYYYY, which we are. I had called ahead so they had us on the list and were ready for us but since this isn't a kid's salon they only have only one booster seat. I decided to have Whit go first. The guy that cut Whit's hair was thoroughly annoyed to be cutting his hair. When we entered I inquired what it would cost I was told by the receptionist she didn't know but when I said "I hope not $30." She said, "Probably not." So Whitaker hops into the chair. The hairdresser dude asks me what I want, "I say I want him to look like a little boy." With Whitaker in the chair the receptionist comes up and says, "She wanted to know the cost." The hair dresser looked at her and says, "$28 [as if]." What? But since Whit was already in the chair with the cape over him, I wasn't going to say no and walk out. I figured I just saved myself a whopping $2 (must add tip in to all of this). Everything started fine but the dude kept saying to me in the most annoying voice, "he needs to stop moving." I gave Whitaker a lollipop in hopes that would slow the constant head moving. It did for a little bit but just a little bit. After about 10 minutes in, I told hair dresser dude it looked fine and we were done. 

Mae was up next and charmed the whole salon, ok, not the whole salon only the receptionist. All the other people in the salon were completely annoyed that I brought my kids in to their ultra hipster nirvana. Mae hopped in to the chair and was thrilled. She had been waiting for this for 20 minutes. She had a running dialogue with the hairdresser telling her "I was Cinderella for Halloween...I am going to Disneyland... My brother's name is Whitaker..." She also complained when the hair dresser cut the back of her hair saying it hurt. The hair dresser lady was also annoyed and told Mae it only tickled. 

You live and learn. Lesson learned: Paying for a place that likes kids is worth it. Not only because the hairdresser like kids (or at least tolerate them) but there are also other parents that are in the same boat that you are in.  

Anyway, here are pictures of their new hair dos. Mae's pictures are from today. I was a little sad about getting her hair trimmed but today she looked so adorable and sassy in her new bob that I couldn't even be disappointed that we could put her hair in a pony tail anymore. Whit's hair is fine but not nearly as good as the original hair cut.






Monday, November 12, 2012

The Truth

Mae has been saying some real zingers recently. For instance, the other day, she said "Mom, you are the best. Daddy, you are not the best."

There you have it the truth spoken by a three year old.

On another note, Whitaker doesn't speak any truths. At 17 months Whitaker has a very limited vocabulary. Whitaker just points and grunts/screams for what he wants. Although, he does know the word up, milk, and no, he can't articulate what he wants unless he wants picked up, more milk, and or he doesn't want something or to do something. I know this is simplifying his level of speech but it is become more and more frustrating by the day. Here is to hoping that Whit discovers the truth soon. 

Sunday, November 11, 2012

38

I am starting to sound like a broken record over here. Another event, another late post. 

November 1st was Pearson's 38th Birthday. Although I could gush on and on about how in only 38 years Pearson has developed and refined the qualities that make a loving husband, a patient father, and a constant companion, I won't. Instead let me tell you about the great night we had with great friends to celebrate him. 

Since I generally never do anything special for my main man's birthday, I decided this would be the year that I would attempt to throw him a little party. That was a little difficult to do because our house is too small to host folks, Pearson doesn't ever want to do anything to celebrate him, and our budget was limited. What did I come up with...head up to Snoqualmie Casino for a night of gambling and general debauchery. In an effort to make sure that no one had to drive and to make sure we were all together I decided to rent a party bus, and just not any party bus but a good ol' fashioned yellow school bus! Thanks to all our wonderful friends for joining us and making this a night to never forget. And what was the icing on the cake? The birthday boy had a fantastic time despite losing money. 

Pearson and I might be unlucky in cards but we hit the jackpot with our wonderful, kind, and loving friends. 

As for Pearson's actual birthday we weren't really even able to celebrate with him since he had to attend a work dinner and didn't get home till 9:30. The kids did get cake and bought him balloons but that was more for their entertainment value then Pearson's. 


Matt Taylor and the birthday boy at Madrona Ale House waiting for the bus to arrive. 
Ted, Ash, Pearson, and Pete
Kate, Ash, and Nora. They met us at the Ale House prior to the bus arriving. They weren't able to join us at the casino because what you can't tell from this photo is that Kate is uber pregnant and delivered Baby Eloise three days after this night. 
Our bus and Kathy, our driver for the night. 
Loading up! 
Ready for a good time! 


Ted Ladd and Rosie
Jevon and Jessica
Lesley and Julie
Nick and I. 
Chad and Kristi
On the bus. 
Chad ready to hit the casino with his player's badge on! 
All laughs. 
The crew (sans me).  



Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Halloween Recap

Even though it is Election Night and there is probably more important things to write about, I wanted to post some photos of the kids on Halloween. Yes, I am a little far behind - refer back to post about the longest week ever in my life. 

A few months ago, I showed Mae a costume that was a cookie and milk. I said, "Mae, how cute is this. This is what you will be for Halloween." Mae emphatically replied, "No. I am going to be Cinderella." I was a little confused because Mae has never seen Cinderella, although, we do have a book of it. I continuously asked her again over the next two weeks of what she wanted to be and her answer never changed and also included, "Whitaker will be Snow White." I knew I would never change her mind so I knew I had to get on figuring out how my girl was going to be Cinderella. I decided against buying a costume and decided to try to throw something together, mind you I don't know how to sew. I knew I was going to buy a blue leotard for the top and I figured I could maybe make a [no sew] tutu that would make her look enough like the princess. I talked to my mom the ultimate sewer what she thought and my mom being as awesome as she is, she agreed to make the skirt for me. 

My mom came through and made the best costume, complete with head band and necklace. As I have reported it was a struggle to get it back here. I left Alexandria at 1:30 am in the morning to drive to Charlottesville, VA to get on a 5:20 am flight to Charlotte to Seattle so that my daughter could be Cinderella for Halloween. What we do for our children! Not to be outdid by Mae (but he was), Whitaker was a dragon. He wore the costume that Mae wore last year, although, he refused to wear the hood the entire time. 

We did what we have done for the last three years and hit up the celebration and shops in Madrona. It was a grand time all around. Mae refused to take her costume off Halloween night and slept in it that night and wore it all the next day and wore it again the next day until I accidentally tore one of the flaps - it can be fixed, phew! Even almost a week later, when I ask Mae what she would like to wear for the day she says her blue sparkly skirt. What can I say but the girl just wants to be a princess. 

A big THANK YOU to Grandma K for making a girl's dream come true. 















Monday, November 5, 2012

Marathon Recap

Two Sundays ago on October 28th, I was able to run my seventh marathon with my two best friends - my sisters. It was such an awesome experience to run the Marine Corps Marathon again and more importantly it was beyond amazing to run it with BOTH of them. Heather [my older sister] and I have run 4 marathons together but haven't run one since kids so it has been many, many years for both of us. This was Julie's [my youngest sisters] first marathon and on her bucket list. After turning 30, she decided this was the year to make it happen. Heather [my older sister] and I decided to join her on this endeavor. 

As for time, I was hoping to break 4 hours. I ran in 4:01 and was pleased as punch. I ran 4 minutes faster in the second half then the first half and felt pretty damn good the whole race. It was a total blast and I might even consider running another. 

Before the race. 
Of course, we were waiting in line for the bathroom. 
Realizing we didn't snap a picture together until we were all looking for a way home. 

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Longest Week Ever

As you can see I haven't posted in almost a week. This past week has seemed like the longest week ever. I ran the marathon last Sunday (more on that tomorrow). I was supposed to return to Seattle on Monday, however, Hurricane Sandy had different plans for me. My flight was canceled. I was able to get on a flight on Wednesday [Halloween] morning after waking up at 1:00 am to drive from DC to Charlottesville, VA. I got back here at 10:30 am, just in time for Halloween. Then Thursday was Pearson's birthday and Saturday was his birthday celebration. It has felt like a for a very, very, very long week and I am beat.