Summer Do's

As you can probably tell, I'm not so up on blogging anymore. In fact I've been using a different writing/memory app that seems to be working better for me...though not necessarily better for anyone who's wanted to get an update on the Schuster's recently.  Maybe more to come on if/how I can share posts/pics from my new app once I have a moment to figure that out. 

Anyway, I jumped onto blogger right now to jot down a few cute things Otto said that I don't want to forget.  ...And, I came across the below post (pics, only) from 4-6 weeks ago when we gave Max and Otto their summer haircuts.

Funny thing; it's about time for both of their hair to be cut again!  Max's isn't really "buzzed" anymore - he can spike it and when he comes home from camp it's all sweaty and mussed up.  

Otto's?  I'm utterly in love w/ his little cut that I gave him.  I'm thinking of going to beauty school and starting up a new career. I think Otto's going to single handedly bring the "side rat tail" into pop culture.  Yes, I meant to go back and trim off his long 2 inch straggeling piece of hair when I noticed I'd missed a piece, but I never did and now I think it's going to be his new thing with every hair cut from here on out.  

Enjoy...summer transformations!

Max has so.much.hair.  Such.thick.hair.  It took forever to get the clippers through his hair!

Max's Pre-K Graduation

Last week Max graduated from his Pre-K class. He's moved on to summer camp until Kindergarden begins in the Fall.  Except for Friday's.  Most of those this summer I've decided to keep Max home for a home-day with me and Wren, while Otto goes to pre-school.  I can't believe he's off to Kindergarden so soon.  We're going to being soaking up summer!  

Max (in the middle, holding a red stuffed animal) walking onto the stage for his graduation

The graduating class recited a poem about "When I grow up, I will be..."  Max's "solo" was acting out "I will be a bubble gum popper."  He was the best damn bubble gum popper ever.  He puffed out his cheeks pretending to blow an enormous bubble, all the while cupping the invisible, growing bubble with his hands until they were as wide as possible.  Then...POP!  He clapped his hands together quickly over his invisible bubble and popped it.  And then his mouth gaped open wide for the remainder of the poem.

And here Max is, crawling across the stage to get his diploma.  Yes. Yes.  Crawling...  

Not sure exactly why.  Maybe it had something to do with his artistic flair, the fact the he did it because he could, a mild case of immaturity, seeking a reaction.  All these great things that come with being my 5 year old boy, Max!  

Instead of showing any ounce of shock or disappointment, I gushed to him for being so "him." For uniquely accepting his diploma. For not worrying about conforming (I've met a very successful marketer/consultant who only gives presentations while barefoot and drops the F-bomb no less than every four sentences). My Max isn't doomed. I firmly believe he's well on his way to a great life, lived just in his way. But I also know he's not making it easier on himself or me or Joe.  I'm pleased (and more than just a little afraid), that he is not a kid that will need to be reminded to break the rules once in awhile.  And I truly wonder, daily, all that he's going to be while growing older.  

Picasso maybe?  Check out his self portrait (left most piece of artwork above him).  He knows how to draw a more "traditional" face, we've seen it in plenty of pieces of artwork sent home from school, but apparently that's not what he was in the mood to create the day they did portraits.

Max with Grandma Diane and Papa John

Max & Grams

Max & Auntie Jamie

Just pretending...  After the ceremony, Max (with his friends Phoenix and Max H.) pretending to use the microphone

Happy 5th Birthday, Max

I remember thinking, before I had my own kids, how 5 years old was soooooo old.  I'd hear of colleagues who had 5 year olds and I'd immediately get the same feeling I had while in my teen years thinking that 30 years was so old.  That I'd never be that old.  And that my kids would never be 5 years old.  The idea of it was too fuzzy.  It seemed way too far off in the distance to even grasp it.  It was for someone else's life, but not my own. 

And here we are.  

Welcoming Max to the age of five.  Welcoming our family to "school-age."

It's such an exciting time. Seeing personality traits and interests deepening and becoming an even more important part of who Max is.  Making me realize that his traits that have been here since birth are here to stay.  

Max has always been, and I'm guessing always will be incredibly expressive. He's emotive and animated and articulate.  He's quick to get worked up, but usually pretty quick to calm back down.  He's got conviction.  Man does he have conviction.  At times we need to agree to disagree as he likes to toss around "Actually, I KNOW..."  He KNOWS a lot for a five year old:)  And then their are those "Because I'm the Mom, that's why" (eeek! yikes!) times.

He's so curious in a listening and learning and wants to find out kind of way.  He has an attention span.  Although he's "all boy" we've never had a problem or heard from teachers that he can't sit still.  As long as he's engaged he'll sit for hours and listen to books or watch something being built.  

He likes his alone time.  Which is odd to grasp, because when he's with other people he doesn't stop talking and trying to get their attention...yet as quick as he's trying to get everyone to pay attention to him, he's telling us he wants to be by himself.  That there are too many people around (specifically in his school classroom).  

On this note, he tried soccer a couple times, and quickly gave up on it both times.  He hated the masses of kids on the team and spectators in the gym.  For a year he's been asking to take violin lessons because "There are just a couple kids in the violin lessons and I like that better."  Finally I got my act together - violin lessons start Saturday.  We'll see if the solo/small group setting is any better for Max's extracurriculars.

At five years Max seems to be getting ready for Kindergarten. He's asking for more "curriculum" at school.  Free Play time is when he gets into trouble...trolling for trouble I always think when it's free time without having a project/challenge/goal.  He's working on building up his self control/self policing of his behavior in these environments.  He loves his enrichment classes. He loves Hebrew, and that teacher tells us he is so well behaved, engaged, learning and smiling.  He loves his "Master Chef" class where he cooks.  He wishes his teachers would bring his class outside more in the winter (I agree).  

He's enjoying practicing writing words and learning to read.  I'm pretty sure his favorite thing all day is reading out of chapter books (listening to Mom and Dad read to him out of chapter books).  It's also become my favorite part of the day.  We have been devouring books - every night my throat is dry from reading aloud for an hour.  We have a list a mile long of classic kid's books I read when younger and it's a blast re-reading them and experiencing them through Max's imagination.  The other day we read Roald Dahl's "Fantastic Mr Fox" which is both of our current favorite.  When we need to separate him and Otto if they're getting on each other's nerves, Max can't wait to put on headphones and listen to books on the iphone. 

The older Max gets, the more I can't wait to see what the next day brings.  What the next years will bring.  At this age, when I watch him sleep, he is definitely a 5 year old. I can still see his baby face, while catching a glimpse of what he'll look like as a teenager.  I like it. 

Happy Five Years, Max!!!

Max with his friends Owen and Max H at his party.  The two Maxes are BFFs at school, so it was only fitting Max H showed up to Max S's party wearing the same shirt.  His party was at an indoor playground and I must say it was the easiest party we've ever hosted. Everyone played and then came together for dirt cake and some presents!

Max with a couple birthday balloons.  This is the best picture I have of him from his 5th Birthday.  If he sees the camera he runs away or makes goofy, forced smiles:)

Grandma Diane and Papa John came over for pizza delivery dinner and cupcakes

Time-Outs

Since last December Joe and I have been scheduling special 1:1 time with the kids each week.  So, every weekend Joe gets 1:1 time with one of the kids, then the next weekend I get 1:1 with one of the kids.  It's a cycle ensuring that every 6 weeks both of us have had 1:1 time with each child. 

As I write this I know it does not sound like a lot of "special" time, but trust me, it's already made a world of difference. Part of it is just knowing I will have a special date I get to plan every other weekend for one of the kids.  A chance to reconnect and meet the child where he or she is at rather than having to try and make everyone happy.  Plus, having only two kids while Joe's on a date with one kid is also a very nice treat.  When all is said and done, both Joe and I are getting a chance to experience the kids in a variety of different "combinations" from solo to Max&Otto, Max&Wren, Otto&Wren.

Earlier this week I was driving the kids to school and my conversation with Max went something like this:


Max:  "Mom, you know when you and Daddy have your time outs?"

Me:  "I'm not sure I know what you mean.  Are you asking if Daddy and I have to take time-outs (every parent wishes they could!)?

Max:  "No, I mean when Daddy and I have a time out.  When we take our time-outs together.  When will Daddy and I have our next time out together?"


I love it.  From now on they are not 1:1's.  They are Time-Outs!

At my last Time-Out with Max.  Paint your own pottery

Followed by Yogurt[lab], which I highly recommend! 

It's so much fun to spoil each kid with something they want to do!!

As luck would have it,

yesterday was Max's four and a half Birthday. And National Ice Cream Sandwich Day.

Cute Things They Say: Backwards Underwear

"Write it down." The advice for so many things.

Goals you want to attain; write it down.

Foods you want to cut out of your diet; write it down.

Groceries you need to remember to get; write it down.

Cute things kids say you don't want to forget; write it down.

There have been times my kids say something so funny or cute or memorable that I can't imagine ever forgetting their quip. But then again, they say so many remarkable things, that I assume it's just funny to me, or their dad or close in relatives...so why write it down?

Why? Because these entries are my memories. An extension of my kid's baby books. My mental post-it note that helps contain the thoughts my mind is overflowing with. Tidbits of our life. I better write them down.

Max said something awhile back. Something, at the time, that I thought was so hilarious I'd never forget it. And yet I forgot about it. This fleeting story bounced back into my memory a week ago while reading this post (you'll have to read to the end to see the connection).

************

I'm in the bathroom with Max as he's going to the bathroom (pee, standing up). I, again, notice that he has his underwear on backwards. I've noticed this trend for at least a week now but haven't asked him about it.

Either my curiosity was killing me, or the synapses in my brain finally starting connecting, and I just had to know.

"Max, I've noticed you've been wearing your underwear backwards recently."

"Yeah!" (a bit too excited of a "Yeah!" than I was expecting. Uh, oh.)

"Well, why are you wearing them backwards?"

"Oh, because I can scratch my bottom easier (pulling up his underwear to show me). See, my finger can go right in the penis hole when they're on backwards and I can scratch my bottom."