End of October

This picture was taken on the way to make our first trick or treat stop at my friend Kristen's house. Drew was a much happier elephant this time around. David wanted to be his favorite stuffed animal, "Blue Hank," for Halloween. My friend Jayme, found a Blue's Clues costume at a consignment store. And David was one very happy blue dog. Who wouldn't be?

Maybe on Halloween Eve I dressed up as Superwoman and had a really good time at a party while my boys slept and my fourteen year old cousin played video games back at the house. Nope, won't post any pictures of that, but I will say that I like to dress up as well. Even in borrowed costumes that reveal slightly more than I like.

But it's a toss up on which night was more fun. October 30th or 31st. Because two Super girls and two happy animals make for a pretty good time as well.

Sad Elephant, Macho Man

Just as I have been thinking of posting about how great Drew is doing at school and how we have worked to overcome his fears, he had the saddest day at school. I had several people at the boys' school come and tell me that he had been crying most of the day. He didn't touch his lunch so he must have been miserable. We can hope that he is getting sick and this is the reason for the change in behavior. That is way preferable to thinking that this reluctance to have fun is going to be the trend.
We read stories about going to school, sing songs on the way, repeat the mantra, "Mommy always comes back," and play who can spot the playground first on the way to school every Tuesday and Thursday. Today, I let my guard down, talked on the phone to my mom on the way, and assumed he was going to be happy. After all, he was wearing an elephant costume. Who wouldn't be thrilled? The director had to drag a sobbing pachyderm out of my car and when I went in to the costume parade to take pictures he became despondent again when his class left the auditorium.
I am going to give it a little while longer, but I may end up trying the whole school thing again when he's three. Not sure if days like this are worth it.

You'll get to see David's real Halloween costume in a few days. This is a stand in because there is no way he could go to the bathroom in the one I purchased for him. Trust me that this thrown together construction worker is the much manlier than the one he will be wearing on October 31. Poor little worker. All his success in school and good behavior has been overshadowed by Drew's drama.

Four walls

A few years ago we visited some friends who had a toddler. This was before we had kids, so, of course we thought their little boy was the best thing ever. He would run up to us and lift up his shirt and say, "eat corn on cob." Our friend quickly and sheepishly explained that he wanted us to eat his belly like a piece of corn on the cob because that is what they did. We politely declined his offer of corn and just laughed. We weren't about to slobber on his pudgy belly.
Now we have lots of little things we do that probably is best reserved for our house. Case in point, as I put on my make-up every morning, Drew likes to play the Bum Bum drums. And while I think it's both funny and a relief that he is occupied so I can do my face, I wouldn't want him to try the same with someone else. Can you imagine if Drew went to school and started messing with teacher's fannys saying, "Bum diddy bum bum bum!" You can only slap mommy's rear Drew. And there is a cut off age.
David has all the openness of a four year old. He's pretty used to just telling it how it is. But I doubt that the people at the store wanted to see him walking around with his hands stuffed in the back of his britches. "David, do you have to go poop?" I didn't even realize as I said it that this is a phrase that is best whispered. David was equally loud in his response of, "No Mom, my bottom just itches." Lovely.