Hey, Hey, Hey, We're the Buccaneers

Happy Gasparilla Parade in Tampa!

Catching Up - Tis the Season

Merry Merry times as we celebrate Christmas in our new house. You'll note our temporary dining table (yep, all 4 of us around that one) and dance party speakers from 1982.

... seriously in those bean bag chairs. 2 1/2 and 5 ... or 21 and 23 and hung over watching football? The Santa hangover is clearly training for something in the future.

Catching Up - December 1st ... Good-bye Accenture

"Enough is enough" is the best way to put it. I really enjoy my job, but there are only so many things one can do at a time. I didn't quit, but I am taking a leave of absence for the next 6 to 12 months. This gives me some time to do things I've really wanted to do, but haven't had time for ... time for shorter school days for the kids and time for a MUCH less stressful end of the day for our family.

I miss my big girl shoes, but I'm sure they will be put to good use soon enough.

Catching Up - Tail end of November

We had a birthday and now have a FIVE year old running our household.

#1 has always been a bit of a child going on his mid-twenties. He speaks in a deep voice and likes to use phrases that in my mind don't belong in a body this size.

"Well ... that is interesting."

"Actually, I think we should ..."

"If you didn't want me to eat the cookies, why are they on a shelf where I can reach them?"

Many days I feel like most of these statements are followed with a "you dumb ass," but he knows that would retire all batman toys in about 10 seconds so he uses the little bit of self control he has.

Since I'm getting to this post 6 weeks after his birthday ... we seem to have made it through the toughest part of the move and the general angst and confusion that comes with the holidays, and my FIVE year old guy is all of a sudden, a guy. He shows a desire for more and more independence every day. This morning he asked me if he could walk to school by himself. When I was 5, I would have walked to school with my 8 year old sister, but when he asked me that question I started to panic. I didn't want to say he was too young, but I also didn't want to say, "not a chance." Thankfully I still have 2 drop-offs in the morning so we all just piled into the car and I promised to walk in the afternoon to pick him up so we could walk home together. And you better believe I held his hand on the way home ... not really for safety, but totally for my security blanket and the limited number of days I have left of hand holding in public.

But I still have some good moments of a little guy, not really going on his mid-twenties. The move has brought a rediscovered appreciation for snuggle time in the morning. Ever since he could dress himself, #1 has been very proud to hop out of bed in the morning and get himself dressed. But the post-move hangover that came with rotten sleep and stress has given new meaning to morning snuggles. Unfortunately they are only about 2 minutes long before a wrestling match breaks out between the boys - sharp elbows and hard heads are all I need to bolt from the bed. But I take what I can get.

#1 continues to be a thinker. As he gets older and learns more about life and people in general his imagination just rocks. He comes up with some of the most intricate and wild creations -- all things made (crafts, blocks, forts, whatever) have an accompanying story. For him, anything is possible and I love, love, love that!

There is a *special* (use all connotations) mix of thoughtfulness and caring for others, and pure testosterone ready to destroy anything in his path. I'm often scratching my head when he tweaks his voice up super high and asks his brother to play something with him ... 5 minutes in he is pummeling his brother ... then follows the pummeling up with "Are you OK? What can I do to make it better?" #1 ... I have warned you before and I'll do it again ... you may not always be bigger than your brother ... and he's going to start remembering this stuff.

Stats: 45 lbs. and tall ... haven't measured him, but into a size 6 pants. Hopefully tall enough to go on a fun ride at Disney. Favorites: Steak, peas, french fries, singing/music/dance party, Spiderman, Batman and Star Wars ("but not the super scary stuff").