This afternoon Full Speed will test for his black belt. He had the option to break boards (which a majority of graduates choose) or do a solo weapons demonstration. He chose the latter therefore I’m choosing to freak out. I feel as nervous for him as if I had to do the demo myself (granted my flying high kick is superb but no one needs to see that). As for him? He is as cool as can be. I think I have more to learn from this kid than I will ever be able to teach him. He is fearless, he lives in the moment and when he wants something he fights for it.
Good luck, Full Speed!
Full Speed breaking a board for a graduation long ago at the age of 3.
When you find the perfect gift for someone, it almost feels like a gift to yourself because it makes someone you love so happy. A few weeks ago Mad Dog ordered a Brutus the Buckeye winter cap for T.Puzzle’s 5th birthday. As soon as T.Puzzle opened it up, he placed it on his head and could barely be convinced to remove it for the 80 degree day we were having.
The compromise we reached to avoid the most conflict on this milestone birthday, was to let me bring the cap in with his cupcakes in the afternoon. He happily wore it as soon as I walked in his classroom’s door.
T.Puzzle proudly posing with his cupcakes
Who knew Brutus the Buckeye was capable of bringing so much joy to one little (or dare I say big) five year old?
Happy Birthday, T.Puzzle! We love you as much as much as you love Brutus!
We had ‘Breakfast with Santa’ at Full Speed’s school. The key is to go early and get your Santa photo before the cinnamon rolls and pancakes. As we exited the photo area with our pictures, Full Speed spotted his principal. He called out to her and proudly showed off his Santa photo (he later told me he KNEW Santa was the school custodian which I neither confirmed nor denied). As she politely commented on how my boys were adorable beyond all measure and Full Speed was extraordinary in every possible way (or something like that), T.Puzzle chose this moment to take the photo, use it as a sword and try to behead Full Speed.
I’m pretty sure my boys are now a permanent part of the school’s ‘watch list’. I’m proud to say that at least T.Puzzle showed some brilliant and precise sword maneuverings. It’s always good to play to your strengths.
T.Puzzle’s class drew pictures of their families. When asked to identify the people in his picture T.Puzzle said his teacher was one of the figures. I happily welcomed her to our family and am pleased to give her custody of T.Puzzle (and Full Speed) every other Saturday and days I feel like sleeping late.
The turkey is gone, thanks has been given and now it’s time for more holiday cheer. The positive to living in a warmer climate is that there is no snow for Christmas. The negative is that there is no snow for Christmas. It is awfully hard to drum up Christmas spirit when you’ve sent your boys to school in shorts all year.
I saw an ad on television where there were mounds and mounds of snow. It brought back many midwestern memories and I was reminded of how much Full Speed hated snow as a little one. When I would pick him up from preschool during winter the reports from teachers, besides the obvious won’t-sit-still-for-a-moment ones, were how he would cry in misery when it was time for outside recess. If Mad Dog and I would attempt to pull him on a small sled around our yard, he would yelp in frustration as tears would freeze on his tiny, unhappy face. Looking back I can actually say that the memory of it is kind of sweet. Living through it was awful and yet time has dulled the sharp edges of Full Speed’s snow-covered tantrums.
What I realized is that if I can finally find the humor in Full Speed’s snow experience, maybe whatever challenges I face with him today will have the same result.
I guess into each life a little snow must fall and it’s up to us to find a way to shape it into something lighthearted…eventually.
