giving thanks for cake & cousins

Jack is notorious for being an amazing eater. He's known to eat both Josh and I under the table on numerous occasions, and has amazed many with his super-toddler gastronomic capabilities. At restaurants he slams "kids" meals and eats circles around seven- and eight-year olds at neighboring tables.

Enter Thanksgiving 2009. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, glazed carrots, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, Cool Whip salads, seven-layered jellos--none of these classic Midwestern standards can capture the attention of the toddler-on-the-run. The toddler-on-the-run only requires simple prison fare: bread and water. Food that can be gripped in one's tightly clenched fist while climbing, running, cavorting and competing with cousins.

However, the toddler-on-the-run is never too busy for a bite of dessert. And as his sugar-loving-mama, I made sure to hijack us some carrot cake in case we started to have the sugar shakes when we got home. And, we did.
Enjoy.

Fall time (Rake up the Leaves)

I finally finished my kid's song about fall. I've only been trying to write it for about eight years. Here are the lyrics at least. Maybe I can try to get a recording of it on here somehow.


Fall time rake up the leaves
before it starts to snow

Red brown leaves on the ground
put them in a pile

Black bag put them right in
and set them on the curb

Big truck pick them right up
and take them far away

Uh oh the leaves are all gone
there's no more on the lawn

What are we gonna do?
I guess we'll shovel snow

Fall time rake up the leaves
before it starts to snow

Copyright 2009 Josh Larson

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precious metal

Who knew how frightful our plumbing was until my eyes were opened to the glistening copper tubing which now bejewels the laundry.

Drifters take 3rd

Well, my band,"The Blue Drifters" took third in a bluegrass contest this weekend. It was "The Harvest Jamboree" over at the Mariott in St. Louis Park. We received a nice little plaque for our efforts. I've also been working on "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" for The Minnesota Jewish Theatre. And no, there is no bluegrass music in the show. There is a little music though. There's also puppetry and live sound effects. I did the show last year as well but am doing different parts this year. We open Dec. 5.

Jack is sleeping right now. I could never type something like this when he's awake. I gave him one time out today when he repeatedly abused myself and my guitar with his bare hands and his "magical" wand from the Renaissance festival. I put him down for a nap after that. We also walked to the park on the trail. He was on the swing forever. Then we watched some crows for awhile. I carried him home because he didn't want to walk.

Put me in the zoo!

At the Como Zoo a couple weekends ago. We were not impressed by the lush foliage as much as we were impressed by the many water features in which to dip our grubby hands in. Our apologies to the Koi.

Are you my mother?

Does it count as potty training if Jack stands in his frog potty while using it as a step stool, pees down the dresser and leaves a puddle on the floor that is everywhere but in the frog potty? "Messy!", Jack says. "Yes, Messy!" I say as I mop it up with baby wipes. At least we may be starting to connect the act of peeing with the potty, but it is more likely we just got excited that we discovered a new climbing tool.

I also tried to fulfill the fantasy that Jack might sit still for a haircut. The fantasy that we might bring a handsome, cleanly clipped boy to our Thanksgiving festivities. Jack does not share my dream as he repeatedly told me he might "fall" out of the chair and therefore desperately tried to escape as I more desperately tried to shear his baby mullet. Probably was a little too optimistic on my part for a Thursday night with no sidekick to distract him. He may have to wear a paper bag now.

We ended the night right by sharing some strawberry ice cream and books. My favorite part was reading "Are You My Mother?" At the end Jack always points at me and says "Mommy!" He is letting me know that he knows I am his mother. He is much smarter than that half-wit baby bird.

To Lost Love from Lonely Heart

I have decided to utilize the blog format today to keep in touch my husband as we pass by each other in the 10 minutes between bus stop and drop off. Here goes...

1. Fixed the CD player! Contrary to your belief that Jack had finally destroyed it, he only maimed it by shutting the CD tray with 2 CDs stacked into a tray meant for one. Maybe he was trying to create a mash-up. He is an experimental D.J., no doubt.

2. I realize now that every object Jack drags out: e.g. pots, pans, toy drum, pillows, are all for the sole purpose of getting around our "no climbing on chairs" rule. He makes himself anywhere from 2-5 inches taller with these objects, allowing him to reach knives, the coffeemaker and of course, the CD player (in above para).

3. Jack was a super bed time boy and thanks to no late afternoon nap and went to bed with no complaint! This allowed more time for me to catch up on my reading. HA! I mean wash dishes for 1.5 hours to make up for my laziness yesterday on my birthday.

P.S. My parents are coming on Saturday to finish fixing the plumbing. I know I haven't told you yet even though I have known since Monday. Hence the blogging.

:X -K