Not every day, but a lot of days, I put a note on a napkin in Baylor and Auggie’s lunches. Sometimes they’re funny, but mostly they’re just little love notes and wishes for a good day.
Yesterday, I got a note back. It was so simple, but it touched me so much that B would keep her napkin until she was back in her classroom and then remember to write a love note to me.
I need it on my desk forever – especially on the days I’m not feeling so awesome ❤
The lady that we normally ask to board the Mac Attack is gearing up for her first baby so was unavailable. I decided I would just keep life easy and board Mac at a fancy pants place near our house. We took Bear and Travis there a hundred years ago, but that was back when it was just a nicer place than the vet’s office. I learned while booking his “reservation” that things have changed a bit…
“Thank you for calling, how can I help you?”
“Hi, yes, I just need to board our dog for a few days?”
“Of course. I show we have a reservation available for your fur baby that weekend.”
“Huh. Fur baby. Interesting. Ok, what is the daily rate?”
“Well that depends on the room. What size room were you looking for?”
“Ummm, what are my options?”
“Well based on his size, I would not go smaller than a medium room. We also have a large room that is about two feet larger in each direction. And then we have a suite that has a bed in it and interior lighting. Then a junior suite that has a full size bed along with some other comforts of home. And lastly we have the large suite that has 24 hour access to a private yard along with the bed, bedding and other comforts of the smaller suites.”
“…….”
“Are you still there??”
“Wow. Yes. Here. Ok. Well I think I’m probably looking at the medium room. Unless there’s a dorm option. Then he would prefer that.”
“Dorm option?”
“Yes. Like if he could share a really tiny room with a dog he didn’t know but they would become fast friends because they’re sharing a small space. I think we’re in that category, he’s a social guy. But if that’s not an option, then I think we’ll go with medium.”
“Excellent. Then you’ll need to bring his food and feeding instructions. And you’re welcome to bring water as well.”
“Wait, you don’t give him water?”
“No, no. We do. But if you would prefer to bring water from home – so that he’s more comfortable – you’re welcome to.”
“Interesting. My preschooler isn’t even allowed to bring a water bottle to school….well, since Mac is just as happy to drink out of the toilet – any toilet – as a bowl, we’ll stick with whatever you have.”
“Great. Is there anything else I can book for you?”
“Yes, I’d like to have him groomed the day we pick him up.”
“Oh of course. We’ll be able to book that along with the social engagements you would like when you drop him off.”
“Super. We’ll talk then. I’ll make sure that I fully understand Mac’s expectations prior to then.”
“That’s usually the best plan. See you soon!”
“Gurl. As long as they’re cool with this? I’m down.”
On a particularly slow Friday afternoon, I had the ingenious idea to set up a lemonade stand with the kids. Our neighbors were having their biannual enormous yard sale (wooo….) so there was lots of foot traffic on our street.
Baylor kills me. She insisted on tongs for the food and asked if we had plastic gloves for “safe food handling”.
We were doing well, until Peter got a look at our stand. “I can build them something better” he said. And build he did.
In one day we went from this:
To this:
Complete with a hidden shelf for extra supplies and their money box. Between the foot traffic to the yard sale and the social media outreach, they made about $5! But the fun of decorating and using their new stand was priceless.
I snapped this picture during the building process…
I always get the credit for the kids. I’ve had parents I don’t know spot Baylor across the playground and know she was mine just by looking at her. But this picture is so perfect because Auggie is a dead ringer for a little PW. Peter’s a little older in this picture, but those cheeks are the giveaway.
Apparently, the word it out that I make some rockin’ good pancakes….
Baylor’s end of the year packet from school contained a self portrait she created in January. There was a note from her teachers on it – apparently she drew her picture from the feet up. They said all the years they’ve been teaching, they’ve never seen a kid start at the bottom.
PW and I didn’t know what to make of the comment – does that mean she’s creative? Thinks outside the box? Or is she destined to be a crazy cat lady?
Leave it to Noni to put it into perspective. When I showed my mom, her response was “She’s clearly one of us – her heart is in her stomach!”
So from the feet up to the head, down – at least her heart is in the right place 🙂
Baylor’s end of the year packet from school contained a self portrait she created in January. There was a note from her teachers on it – apparently she drew her picture from the feet up. They said all the years they’ve been teaching, they’ve never seen a kid start at the bottom.
PW and I didn’t know what to make of the comment – does that mean she’s creative? Thinks outside the box? Or is she destined to be a crazy cat lady?
Leave it to Noni to put it into perspective. When I showed my mom, her response was “She’s clearly one of us – her heart is in her stomach!”
So from the feet up to the head, down – at least her heart is in the right place 🙂
I think every mom hid some attention getting, melt down averting, stomach rumble stopping tricks in her bag. I certainly do. Which means I carry a bag that would make a sherpa strain to lift and looks like this when you peak inside:
Peanut butter Ritz Bitz? Check.
Tissues? Check
Face and antibacterial wipes? Check.
Other forms of disinfection? Check.
Suckers? Check.
Diapers, wipes, rash cream? Check. Check. Check.
Dinosaurs? Check.
It should be noted that the only things in this bag that are mine are the wallet and sunglasses case.
When I was a kid, I used to look at the American Girl catalog for hours. I loved day dreaming about which doll I wanted and all the accessories that you could get for them. Baylor has now taken on the tradition of pouring over the catalog for days – she cuts out the things she likes and she circles the pictures of Shirley (who is the baby version of the American Girl dolls). And if I thought the accessories were fun when I was little, the things the dolls have now are nuts. They have everything including a bike hot dog cart for the dolls. Totally nuts…and yet adorable.
It’s my own fault really. I was encouraging her by buying her the stationary…nothing like a homemade birthday card! And this is also what I get when I don’t “Mason proof” prior to that little hurricane’s arrival. He apparently needed to sign the card too – alll over.
I was desperate for an hour’s worth of work time late yesterday. I asked B if she could work on her computer too so I could get a few things done. She agreed so I dialed in and tuned out anything that wasn’t a “I’ve critically injured myself!!” scream.
An hour of work, dinner, bath, dinner for PW and I, another 1.5 hours of work and I caught a glimpse of this in the mirror:
I knew she had been playing with my shirt, I just didn’t know I was a canvas for her new stickers. And I like that PW never asked why I had 100+ stickers across my back. When I pointed out this fact his response was “it’s impressive how straight she made the line”.
The Goon Room 