Some Silly Happenings

The last couple weeks have been full of priceless little moments that I haven't had a chance to share...for instance, Grandpa setting his juice down on the dinner table last night and Aiden methodically waiting til his back was turned to take off with it.

Or his insistence on going to the park even at 9:00 at night, and my giving in so that he might sleep a little longer in the morning.

And finally watching all of "Monster House" - even though some of us did it mostly from the kitchen...

And dancing around in Mommy's slippers...

And Mommy has been wrangled in some major afternoon construction projects:

Most importantly, we have been doing all-out-evening dance sessions together every evening.

Aiden's moves are pretty sweet.

Magic at Midnight

I usually hold my tongue tightly after seeing a Woody Allen movie, as I am part of a small percentage of people who enjoy them immensely. I think this is due in a large part to having the ability to succumb to suspension of disbelief rather easily. If you just stop asking why and go with it, Woody Allen is kinda freakin awesome!

So Midnight In Paris is about a couple, Gil and Inez, who are just kind of traipsing around Paris on the heels of Inez's father. The couple is engaged to be married and clearly don't belong together from the start - except that they are both absolutely beautiful. This is sort of why you forgive Rachel McAdams for being such a bitch - because she is over the top hot.

Anyway, Gil is of course a lost and philandering writer who wants to make a piece that is meaningful. He is very much so focused on the past and what he believes were "The Golden Years" or the roaring 20's if you prefer. While hitting tourist hot-spots around the city, they run into Inez's old flame, Paul.

Paul is a genius as luck would have it, he knows everything about everything. His wife follows him around like a puppy dog drooling over every word, and Inez does her one better by telling Gil to shut up so she can better listen to Paul at every turn.

Of course, Gil, makes a run for it when invited out dancing with Paul and his wife. As he gets himself lost in the city, wandering alone at midnight - magical things begin to happen...

Gil is transported to the 20s where he meets the Fitzgerald's, Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Picasso, and his lover Adriana. He has the time of his life, he puts his own writing in perspective, he suggests ideas to the great thinkers, and he falls in love.

Of course, the point is that we all have a golden era we wish to bask in, to help us forget our economy, our politics, etc. So nothing is ever eternally blissful enough. However, this movie is just great enough for a literary nerd to forget all that crap for a minute or two anyway.

Gil hears a translation (in the present) of a work written in French by a woman from the 20's about himself and the events of their meeting the night before.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Aiden was such a trooper this year, with all the confusing goings on I was worried he'd get a bit over whelmed for the holidays but he did great helping me get ready.

Of course it helped that he got to open some early presents - thanks to Aunt Rachel...

He got new, Christmas pajamas and of course hung them on the tree - he is so decorative!

And he was great about getting bundled up and bopping around town to help me shop too.

A couple days before Christmas, Steve and I took him to see Santa at Bass Pro Shops - which I highly recommend. The photo is free, they give you a "line up reservation" so that you don't have to stand there for 4 hours...you get to walk around the store, see the fish tanks, and they have a billion free, Santa's Workshop themed activities for the kids to do.

While we waiting in line, we rehearsed with Aiden what he would ask Santa for - How to Train Your Dragon, Race Cars, Books, etc. So of course when he sat in Santa's lap and asked for Rocket Man - I panicked. I didn't ever buy it and it was the one thing he had to ask Santa for...so the hunt was on for a Christmas miracle.

He also go to go see "Arthur Christmas" at the movie theater and LOVED it, it got him right in the mood for Santa and presents and it really helped him kinda piece together all the craziness that's been going on in the name of Holiday Spirit.

On Christmas Eve morning we had Choo-Choo, Airplane, and Christmas Tree shaped pancakes and considered ourselves ready for the big day!

Creepy Croup Monster

I would say Aiden's cough began maybe Thursday. It was slight and rare. On Friday evening it was more pronounced as we were both partaking in a game called "sleep even though you can't breathe." And by Saturday afternoon, the cookie project I had planned for us (stay tuned for that post) became "Ummm Aiden, maybe you should take your zombie germs in the other room and color and I will let you know when you can come wash your hands 8 times then cut them."

I made plans with one of me besties to FINALLY see Paranormal Activity 3 that night, and asked my sister to babysit -- as long as she was comfortable with Aiden's cough of course. So Aiden hung out with her for a couple hours while I went to the movie.

It was sooooo good. The last 20 minutes was just continual jaw-dropping. Special effects, as per usual, were small, understated, and INTENSE. There was a scene in which it appears one of the children is sneaking up on the babysitter dressed as a ghost - a la white sheet. When the babysitter turns around the sheet collapses on the floor - shnikkies!!

Anyway, Aiden had crashed hard just before I picked him up and so I took the sack of potatoes home. By the time we walked around the block, up 3 flights of stairs and got inside, I decided we were going to be stationary on the couch. He was breathing a little heavy and I was worried about his cough, so call me a creeper but I pretty much sat there listening to him breathe.

Around 4 am he woke up, very agitated, like I have never seen before. Whimpering and crying, and he said, "Help me, cant breathe."

I scooped him up and we sped all the way to Swedish Hospital.

Luckily, the admission people have a soft spot for blonde haired blue eyed babies and got us in to see a doctor right away. Aiden was very cooperative with the doctors and they diagnosed him with Croup -- little did they know Dave already did this, but they wanted to take credit for it.

So next he got a dose of steroids to reduce the swelling in his Larynx (it's viral so no antibiotics) and motrin for his fever, then we just had to sit and wait and see what happened.Unfortunately, Croup gets worse at night for whatever reason - and this steroid treatment isn't something that you can get over the counter so they told us we might have to bring him back.

We got to go home after a few short hours there and tried to get some rest. He did really well most of the day and even spent some time walking around the apartment covered in a white blanket, not saying a word, and creeping me out big time. But as it got closer to bed time he got worse and worse.

Kelly brought us some chicken noodle soup which was so helpful and thoughtful. Turns out, Croup is contagious and Mommies who get it, don't get to sit at home on the couch and watch movies so I got a nice warm meal and after a steam shower we were off to bed....

Boy was it a restless night. If I wasn't coughing Aiden was. We slept with the window open so Aiden could breathe the cold air like the doctor told us, and we spent a couple hours in the bathroom with the shower just running. We watched How to Train Your Dragon and Megamind and when the sun came up it was off to work for Mommy while Aiden when to snuggle up at Grandpa's. This is gonna be a long week for us.

Funny Thing About Plans

What happens when you make all sorts of wonderful plans for the weekend? Everything goes wrong...

Aiden and I had hopes to go see the cars from Cars 2 at the children's museum this weekend, but the line was so bad, we gave up.

Fortunately, the Denver Aquarium is right next door so we were able to adjust our plans a bit and still have a fun afternoon. The last time I went with Aiden to the aquarium was 10 months ago, and he loved everything. Now, he has a bigger vocabulary and is pointing things out, naming them, and also showing a bit more reservation toward the creatures he isn't so sure of...

Aiden had no problem with the duck - except that it was reddish which in his mental schema for "duck" (check out that devt. psych vocab!) makes no sense

So he had to get a little closer to inspect

He wasn't so sure about this guy - just in time for Halloween, he has been categorizing scary things as either "ghost" or "monster." This of course is a "monster" since part of being a "ghost" means living either in a tree or in water...??? I have no idea.

He was fine with the big green snake at first, partly because he couldn't see it.

Then not so much...oddly enough, even though it was living in a tree, it was categorized "a monster."

He still really likes the big blue aquarium tanks of fish, but won't get close to the glass like he used to. I think it makes kind of an optical illusion for him which makes him a little uncomfortable.

I liked that he got so close the big fish, even though he could fit in their bellies whole, he still really wanted to investigate them.

Tigers were no problem, he really likes big cats, though still calls them all "lions."

He had no problem with the sharks, but boy was he unhappy when he came face to face with a scuba diver at the window. It was peculiar the way he was saying "no!" to the diver - I don't know if he was worried that a person was in the tank, worried because the person looked so goofy, or if he even knew it was a person, but it really seemed to be messing with his mental processing of what he was looking at.

So that adventure was exciting, even though it wasn't what we planned on. 

Nothing ever is.

Point in case -- Frank (my car) blowing it's transmission on Sunday morning in Silverthorne.

Nothing is open on a Sunday, in case you were wondering. And also in case you were wondering, Allstate's 24-Hour Roadside Emergency Service, is the least helpful bunch of people EVER.

Thank God for nice guys in small towns.

We pulled over at an auto parts place and asked a couple of dirty messy men to help check the transmission fluid and fill it up.

Unfortunately, that did not do the trick. We got a tow from a nice guy who wasn't even open on Sundays and Mom drove to Silverthorne to get us then take us all the way home to Denver.

This blows.

My car is sitting in Silverthorne with a full tank of gas and a damn near new timing belt, and will probably be done for by the end of the week.

When we finally made it home, Kelly came over to watch a scary movie while Bubba ran around like a maniac after all the sitting still he had to do.

Thank goodness for good pals, helpful parents and a flexible kiddo.

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

I love Halloween. October is when all the scary movies come out. Being scared (while safely in my home and what ever monster is in the box) is a favorite pastime of mine. I crave really good scary books. Even B-rate horror movies do it for me -- don't judge me if I dare say they are my favorite genre.

Anyway, I found out this morning that one of my favorite Stephen King's is coming to TV - mini series style!!

If anyone is as nerdy as I...you will remember that last time this happened (not counting Nightmares & Dreamscapes) was Salem's Lot. Book gave me nightmare's for at least a month and the mini series did it a beautiful justice.

This has me so amped up for Halloween. I even asked my best friend if I could borrow the Salem's Lot mini series to get into the mood. Not that I really need it, because recently watched was 30 Days of Night and Dawn of The Dead...

Hottie Hartnett as a Vampire

Sara Polley fighting off the masses

While zombies are "the in-thing" right now, and I will admit, a personal obsession of mine...they will be around all year round, for years to come. So what I am looking forward to are some seriously chilling ghost stories. Those just don't come along as often.

Which is why I am so looking forward to...

the continued terrifying creepiness that is American Horror Story on FX

Paranormal Activity 3 which will be out in a couple days...

and as soon as I get a free minute I can't wait to catch up on the season 2 premier of Walking Dead

Then to tie me over for a bit, Bucket List Books is slated to read "The Woman In White" by Wilkie Collins for December - highly regarded as the first ever mystery novel.

Awesome sleepless nights ahead :)

If Audrey Hepburn and Norman Rockwell had a love affair...

If Audrey Hepburn

and Norman Rockwell

had a love affair....

They would live in a little one bed room apartment that is lit by afternoon sunlight.

It would be cozy in the winter by their fire place, whose mantel shows what is dear to them.

They would have their friends, like Elvis Presley, over on the weekends for martinis.

And they would collect their favorite adventures together on shelves.

And they would spend their evenings writing in books about far away places.

These Days Just Blow Right By

Yes, I realize it is Thursday, and in the world of ever quick updates and speedy technology - it seems irrelevant to tell you about Aiden's weekend (last weekend) at this point. But alas, here are the photos and silly captions:

Glenn and Maria have family in town from New York right now, who were just dying to meet Aiden (who wouldn't be??) so we went over for dinner Friday night and had spaghetti. Then Papa Deiker and Aiden played in the garage for a bit.

Papa's new golf cart

Taking Grandma for a ride

I know Aiden has been growing like a weed recently but looking at this picture, all I can see is his tremendously long legs - at least he gets something from his mom. But mind you, those legs, like over night, have gotten so hairy it is ridiculous - even the thing he gets from mom has dad all over it. Poor kid is going to be a warewolf by the time he is 12.

Silly Guys

After dinner we took a late drive out to the lake and didn't get there until nearly 10:30. Yes, I know I am lame, but if you think I did anything besides go right to bed you are seriously kidding yourself.

Since Aiden slept all the way there and all night, he was up at 6:30 ready to go. And what a busy morning we had...

While getting sunscreen and swim suit on before going outside I told Aiden he could ride his bike so he went looking for his helmet, and suddenly came running into the kitchen saying he had an owie. He is at the age where almost anything constitutes and owie, so I said, "You're fine, put on your helmet." But he kept insisting so I said, "show me where your owie is." And sure enough he had a nice little cut on his finger and it was bleeding.

Poor guy. 

And since I fix owies with peroxide, neosporin and bandaids - it is hard to get to steps two and three because he is never very trusting after step one. But by the time we were filling up the pool he totally forgot.

While digging in the shed for his pool toys he found his fully-functional fishing pole. Then he decided to practice fishing in the pool.

He really went at it for a bit, and soon discovered why many of the men he knows usually park their reel in the water then sit and wait.

So he dropped the hook in the pool and took a seat about 10 feet away on the deck.

The best things happen when you're just hanging out on the deck in the morning.

We spent most of the day on the boat, it was so hot that I didn't even mind the green water.

Aiden had his first lesson in why not to lean over the edge of the boat too! We went to get gas and I was standing in the water, about hip deep (5 feet for me I know hahaha) and holding the boat. To entertain himself, Aiden was tossing his floatie toys over the side and pulling them in. After the third time or so he decided he wanted to peer over the side to see the splash - so he leaned over the side of the boat, tossed his toy, didn't let go, and went right in with it.

It was soooooo funny. He didn't panic or make much noise, I think he was mostly startled. But his little life jacket floated him right side up and I walked around to grab him and set him on the back of the boat. He whimpered a little but not much, especially because I was laughing so hard. (A+ parenting??)

Anyway, after a hot day on the water we went to Josh's for dinner - so the boys could work on their boats mostly. Aiden and I were pretty bored so me made the rounds to near by houses and said hi to everyone. I think Josh noticed that Aiden was bored to he tried to keep him busy...

By loading him up with sugar

And teaching him about water guns

After dinner, we took Aiden home to crash and ended up crashing pretty hard ourselves. I only got about 15 minutes into Cloverfield and then passed out. 

Sunday we had a nice little surprise - Grandma and Grandpa Deiker called to say they were on their way. They came around lunch time and hung out with Bubba on the beach for the afternoon.

Papa Deiker and Aiden

Papa laughing at Aiden

Aiden also played in his pool a bit - in fact, I think he was doing his very best to pretend he was wake boarding. 

Aiden stayed over night with Grandma and Grandpa and we headed home around dinner time. When we got home I decided to give Cloverfield another go. I don't know why I am so fascinated with creature features but I love them. And I also don't know why everyone hated the movie, I loved it. I actually screamed out loud a couple times!

Thank God I crashed out early because it has be a rough week. I haven't left the office before 5:30 even once this week. It's so busy. I really am not complaining though. I love that I care about my job, I love that I feel like I am doing relatively important things and I love that I don't have homework to do when I go home right now.

Speaking of, I have decided I want to go to grad school. Pending the financial aid situation. I will definitely be doing so at CU and I am meeting with my academic adviser next week to ask all my questions and get sorted out. The idea is to hopefully get going immediately after graduation because really, if I quit now I may never go back and what am I going to do with myself when I have no homework??

As always good friends - push yourself as hard as you can and then maybe a little harder. Do what makes you happy. Get yourself so stressed out that you have no choice but to be brutally honest with everyone you know. I am getting to that point where every sentence begins with, "Want me to tell you the truth...." and I love it. Be brave. Today is your day, you're off to great places, you are off and away!

***

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.
And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.
Oh! The Places You’ll Go!
You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.
I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.
You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch.
You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.
And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And if you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.
No! That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!
Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.
Except when they don’t. Because, sometimes, they won’t.
I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.
All Alone!
Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.
But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.
You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)
Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!