Wow. I just opened a new post screen, then closed it quickly because I was intimidated. By my blog. Which I own. Just because I haven't written in a while. How silly.
I never know how much to say or keep to myself on here. My family reads this, and some friends, some strangers do, too. How much is too much? Will something I say upset my parents? Will people think I'm a bad mom? Do I care?
Our summer ended right on cue, with Dean and Marcus returning to school and work. Dean was VERY ready to go back to preschool, even though he told me the morning he was to go back that he quit. Once he walked in, saw his cubby and hugged his friends, I didn't even get a goodbye. He's having a blast in the four-year-old class. One of the big kids. His days consist of play, play and more play. They are so great at his school. They make collages and doctor kits and play with blocks and climb on things and sing songs. Dean is slowly but surely accepting the fact that yes, child, you do have to learn to write. He will tolerate writing his name now, which is an improvement. I've never met a kid who hated coloring more than this one, though. But there are plenty of other things to do at school. I mean, they have an entire table devoted to Play-Doh. I'm always amazed at the sheer amount of stuff they do each day. No wonder he'll nap for them.
I started, ran and finished a show that I loved this summer. The cast was a dream--one of those special groups you get to work with far too infrequently. When the show was over and they all went back to NYC, I didn't delete a single one of them from my phone. That's a big deal. I broke in a new assistant. She's not just any assistant, though, she's one of our "kids," as Marcus and I call them. She was my student when I was an adjunct professor and she's been in Marcus's classes for the past four years. She graduated and I hired her. To say she's doing well would be the understatement of the century. She is SOARING. I'm so proud.
I have another new assistant, too, one I enjoyed working with so much in 2008 that I brought her to Alabama for a whole year. It's fun to have her back in my life and great to have her working with us. She and I are very much cut from the same cloth and I think she's going to be a fantastic fit here.
Dean continues to blow my mind. His imagination, his vocabulary, his sense of humor...they are the greatest. My favorite thing he says right now is, "last day," which means yesterday. For a while, I corrected him, but then I left it alone, if for no other reason than the fact that it's adorable. He'll figure it out soon enough. He passed his language, speech and hearing evaluations done at school this week. He is begging to go to the airport so we can go back to the beach. He is working on being gentler with our cat.
We bought Dean a big boy bed this summer, a real full-sized deal. He chose Buzz and Woody bedding and asked for wall stickers. Then he asked for more wall stickers. And more. When we started to put the new ones up, I was going to take down the Curious George ones that adorned his nursery walls. He refused, which secretly thrilled me. His walls are now a hodge-podge of Curious George, Buzz Lightyear, Superhero Squad and Angry Birds. It's very busy, but very fun.
My mind is extra-swirly lately with thoughts of this and that. I've already managed to freak myself out about kindergarten several times, even though it's a year away. I miss my grandma. Fall always brings a huge wave of nostalgia and this year is no different. I need to lose some weight. I have taken control of my health and, at my doctor's urging, put some new preventative practices into play, including eliminating caffeine. (I'll hold for a second until you've revived yourselves because I know several of you just fainted.) I'm down to one cup of coffee a day and an occassional iced tea or Coke Zero. I drink 96 ounces of water a day and I feel really good. The headaches have finally stopped and I like knowing I'm doing something good for myself.
I'm enjoying a little breather from work til mid-October when I begin rehearsals for A CHRISTMAS CAROL. How I have lived this long and worked in theatre for this many years and NEVER done a production of this show is beyond me. But now I shall. And it shall be epic. Until then, I intend to enjoy football season, play with my family, cook like crazy and maybe even attend a college reunion.
But now I have to hit publish because my cat is staring at me wanting to be petted and it's starting to freak me out.
Love the new look~ I've missed you {and Dean, and of course Chutney}. The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis has does A Christmas Carol every year since forever and going to it was one of my very favorite things when I was little- I can't wait to hear about your production!
Posted by: rkmama | September 06, 2012 at 11:27 PM
So glad you posted! Love the post and pictures. :)
Posted by: J | September 07, 2012 at 03:40 PM
Welcome back! Thanks for the update! Those face-cover-y masks kind of freak ME out. So does the thought of our kids writing their names. Isn't that a truly big-kid skill???
Posted by: eva | September 10, 2012 at 11:50 PM
Great post!! I especially love how you resisted the urge to correct Dean. I am the same way with Sedona. The funny things she comes up with are just too creatively adorable to correct. They'll get it eventually. For now, I embrace it.
Posted by: Kelli @ Momma Needs a Beer | September 11, 2012 at 05:47 PM