Sum Sum Summertime

As of Sunday, I am once again "between gigs." Such is the (fantastic) life of a freelance artist.  This hiatus in income was planned--once again, I'll get to enjoy a summer off with my guys.  Marcus was slated to teach in the second summer term, but not enough people registered for his class, so he'll also be blissfully unemployed. He will be doing a show in Birmingham in July and August, so that should keep him out of trouble. 

Next week, we'll head to our nation's capitol to visit the rest of the Lane clan.  We have a new nephew to meet, trains to ride, parks to visit and delicious meals to eat.  And Dean's G-Mama says she's got some spoiling to do, God help us.

This is Dean's last week of "School."  They are learning the number 9 and doing crafts about rain. They're also having a party every day at lunchtime. Today they are having McDonald's.  One day is chicken nugget day which you KNOW means Dean will take his own lunch (Seriously, what is up with this kid and chicken?), but Friday is pizza day.   I'll have to send Dean a baggie of veggies to go with his pizza, but that's ok.

The boy is obsessed with the outdoors lately, much to his dad's and my delight.  Yesterday he spent an hour in his little pool on our deck.  We finally made him come in after he stripped off his swim diaper, lest his little delicate bum-bum get sunburned.  Last night we kicked off our favorite summertime activity--going to the park after dinner.  Dean ran around collecting rocks and picking flowers, then caught a catfish with his Daddy.  He stuck his finger in the fish's mouth and tried to kiss it.  He's all boy, that one.

Something is eating my garden.  I thought it was slugs, but now I'm thinking it's some other type of bug.  The pepper plants have holes in the leaves, which makes me mucho unhappy.  Some big thing, maybe a cat or possum, is coming by each night, taking ONE BITE out of our red strawberries and then leaving.  We're going to have to take some better preventative measures, I say.  I'm considering hiring an overnight security guard and arming him with a water pistol.

I've started my regular weekly menu plans again, or at least I did it this week. It makes shopping SO much easier, as we can actually follow a list and get exactly what we need.  We only came home with 2 things that weren't on our list, both of which will be used for lunches this week.  I should use this time to admit that there is a bag containing about 3 pounds of candy on my kitchen counter.  The night my mom was flown to the hospital in Birmingham, her friends bought her a huge bag of chocolate and Marcus got me a ginormous bag of mini gummy bears.  We're slowly making our way through it, the "slowly" being the most surprising part of that sentence.

Tonight is the last new episode of LOST before the epic series finale event.  I'm trying very hard to be strong, y'all.  I may write an entire post about my favorite show in the coming days, so just prepare yourselves.  I know these people will understand.

We've started to realize that Dean is totally holding out on us.  I told you about his sudden backwards counting.  Here we were, worried he didn't know his numbers, then that happens.  The same has been true of the ABC's. We've been working on them and singing them since he was, oh, BORN, but he only sings them or says them when he thinks we're not paying attention. I guess he's shy about it, I dunno.  Yesterday, we pulled out his new flashcards and he said every single word on them that he knew (he was stumped on "umpire," because really, what 2 year old knows what an umpire is??) and recited every letter, upper and lower-case.  Then he gave us this grin like "Yeah, that's right, suckas, I know my ABC's. Now gimme blueberries."

I love summertime. I love that Marcus and I are lucky enough to have jobs that allow us a break like this to visit family and friends and just generally chill out a bit.  And I love Chick-Fil-A peach milkshakes.  Amen.

Comments

[Kat]

I'm so jealous. We just mapped out my department's summer yesterday and it takes up an entire wall sized wipe off board. There was a great deal of hyperventilating on my part. I so need a clone, or a mini me - is that the same thing? We must get together for hiking, barbecuing and homemade ice cream. Soon, really, really soon.

BTW, did you get the book?

Oh, and write more, please. Your blog is the first thing I check every morning and a new post always makes me smile. (That's not demanding is it? :))

[andifoo]

I think your boy needs to have a chat with my girl about veggies. She avoids them like the plague. I have to sneak grated carrot in her pb&j, for crying out loud. I am totally jealous of your veggie lovin' kid!!

Enjoy your time off! If Dean is anything at all like Fin, I'm sure he will keep you hoppin' this summer. :) Looking forward to hearing the fun (and child-exhaustion-inducing) activities you come up with - I always need ideas for something new!

Oh, and about the asparagus... Things have definitely been odiferous for me lately. :P I am obsessed though and cannot get enough!

[rkmama]

That boy with the fishing pole is killing me. And Holy Cow on the numbers and letters thing, especially the lower case- most pre-K kids still have trouble with those! Keaton has NO INTEREST, to put it lightly.
And YES we need to plan a Lost debreifing chat. Bill and I had a heart to heart about the direction we want our marriage to go after it is over. (and I'm only kind of kidding!)

[J]

I love the idea of a security guard weilding a water pistol. Take THAT, you strawberry-tasting critter! LOL! Enjoy your time at the park. I'm so happy that Dean loves fishing with his Daddy. They make a great team! Can't wait to see y'all Sunday night.

[AJU5's Mom]

Don't you love how they "hide" their knowledge? I wonder if AJU5 knows more colors than she is letting on...

And your summer sounds wonderful! I am still teaching all summer, so now rest for us.