Traveling Bean

23 Jul

Our Georgia-born Bean felt so at home and made so many memories during her two weeks of living where her mommy and daddy were born and raised. Her sweet, happy voice through the phone, (with some more detail given by grandparents) told us all about her West Virginia and Ohio adventures.

She used a shelf that held movies as a “hotel” for her Barbies at Lola and Papa’s.

She spent hours creating new stories with her Barbies in my old Barbie Dream House.

She got a mani/pedi from cousin Michayla while they talked about things they liked and what they would do after their nails dried.

She took a road trip with Honey to see her newly 16-year-old cousin Savannah march with her high school band in a parade. Carnival rides and games with cousin Gabbie, Aunt Sissy and Uncle Brian made for an extra special visit.

Big screen showings of “Zookeeper” with cousin Alexandra and “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” with Papa and Lola. “Gnomeo and Juliet” with Honey at her house. Popcorn for all three.

She watched, entertained, as her papa, uncles Anthony and Matthew, and cousin John Luke lead a stray goat back to its gated area at the Oglebay Zoo. Lola, Aunt Nancy, cousin Michayla and (soon-to-be Aunt) Cara all shared in the leaping goat fun.

She stayed up way past bedtime a few times – once until 1 in the morning watching a movie called “Aliens in the Attic” and another time doing who knows what but she sure was rubbing it in to me that it was 1:04 before she fell asleep.

She played Family Feud and Hang Man on her Grandma’s iPad and chased cats around a tree at Great-Grandma Nancy’s house.

Soaked with a garden hose when a threatening storm prevented a swim in Grandma’s pool. She got that swim the next day with Grandpa and cousin Alexandra.

Best friend necklaces with cousin Alexandra and shopping at Justice with Grandma.

Shopping spree to the extreme with Lola and Sandy – trying on clothes for an hour and loving everything your Lola bought for you.

Board games galore with Honey – along with a side or two of yummy spaghetti dinners.

Hugs and smiles for Great-Grandpa Domenick and Velma and Honey’s neighbors Callie and Jimmy.

Cookout with tons of family and good friends at Lola and Papa’s on your last night in West Virginia.

Squeezes good-bye and see you soon hopes for everyone after many sleepovers, snuggles, love and fun.

Hugs and kisses hello for us. We missed our Beanie Baby.

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What Color Is This?

21 Jul

Why do we keep asking him that? Like he’s suddenly going to know? As if one day Nate is just going to wake up and be able to show us what part of a tree is brown and what part is green? He’s tired of being quizzed. He tries to guess. He often gets it right. In fact, his preschool teachers said he would always win when they played the color map game. But it wasn’t because he saw the colors, it was because he memorized that certain things were supposed to be certain colors. He adapted. That’s amazing to me.

But I still can’t help but feel bad for our little buddy. Each time he said someone’s shirt was brown when it was clearly green to us, we would shrug it off. He’s just being silly. How awful I feel. He saw brown.

“The boy in the brown shirt, mommy.”
“I don’t see a boy in a brown shirt honey. I see a boy in a green shirt. Which one is he again?”
Nate would concede, “Yeah, he’s in the green shirt.”

It wasn’t until I took him to register for Kindergarten that the woman testing his vision called me into the room to show me how he was answering the color blindness test. He knows his shapes but he couldn’t see them in the dots. He guessed. He got frustrated when she asked him to trace the circle he saw where the square was actually camouflaged. “I think he’s having a hard time with his reds and greens, mom,” she softly told me. “He should be ok. It’s not until later in life, when he wants to choose a career, that it will matter. For example, the military and pilots.”

My mind blurred with thoughts of all the color confusion and worries about limitations it could cause him down the line. I came home and googled like crazy. Males more than females. Inherited from the mom. The green in stop lights look blue to them. Horizontal stop lights can cause an issue because a color blind person memorizes the color positions on a vertical one.

Questions flood in: what if he wants to be like his daddy and try to go to West Point? What if he can’t now because of this? Andrew mentioned some classmates had doctor approval. Then he hit me with more worry, “He’ll just have to be careful when working on electricity and stuff.” I started to cry. “You mean he won’t be able to safely do handy man work like you do for your family?” Andrew comforted me with, “I’m sure his wife will help point out the colors to him.” My humor came back. “Unless she’s mad at him.”

Apparently, color-blindness is fairly common. Our eye doctor reassured me about it during Nate’s first visit today. She didn’t make it seem like it was a big deal at all. She said his green is just different from our green and that they now have a contact he can wear for construction/electrical work that helps distinguish the color differences.

When I think about where life may take him, it seems a white baseball may suit him better than we thought. Especially since the doctor said his depth perception is excellent.

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Pet Peeve Vent

20 Jul

I’m not going to pretend I don’t have a lot of pet peeves. There are quite a few things that irk me. One of my favorite annoyances triggers my brain to automatically say to itself, “No. Lie to me…” when someone says, “To tell you the truth,” or “To be honest with you.” Why do you need to prepare me that you’re going to tell me the truth? Do you usually lie about things?

I could go on and on and sound way more persnickety and like I never say or do anything wrong but I don’t want to reveal all my peeves, imperfections and snarkiness in one post. The main peeve of this post involves a letter of the alphabet. It’s an innocent letter actually. I’m fairly certain that it never intended to inflame my nerves whenever I see it (mis)used in this certain way. It’s just a letter after all. A simple letter. The last letter. The letter Z.

Again, Z by itself is just peachy. It’s when people start adding it to words relating to educational facilities for children that makes me want to copy-edit their signs with a red pen.

I will never be able to comfortably choose a school that uses the Z instead of an S for one of the kids. They make their living/business off teaching young minds ABCs and how to spell. Also, I often wonder if they would hire a teacher who wrote a word on the application with a Z instead of an S? “My skillz include…” Why wouldn’t they hire that person? They set the standard with the giant sign out in front of the building.

I must add that I really don’t mind the use of Z instead of S in casual conversations/situations. In fact, I once called myself Nikki Sweetz when writing a sex column in college. (One of my cooler accomplishments in life.) This Z peeve solely surrounds educational facilities. You know, schoolz and stuff.

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In Between Seasons

19 Jul

Nate may not have a tee-ball practice or game to play in during these summer months but that doesn’t mean he’s not playing every chance he gets/invents. It’s been too hot outside to really quench his baseball thirst so he’s improvised. Some of has hold-him-over pastimes consist of:

  • Wii baseball. He will play that for as long as he can with us watching him like fans. Andrew doesn’t like him to play it too much though because Nate is changing his swing a bit because of it. Priorities, people. Priorities.
  • Toy baseball men that he has a field for and cards that tell you if the player singled, doubled, grounded out or crushed it for a home run. He even has a really cool, small, marble/skee-ball type baseball game that he continually wins.
  • Baseball books. Forget about reading anything other than a book with baseball as the subject matter. One in particular basically involves cartoon characters singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” which means you are signing it. Over and over again.
  • Trips to the stadium to see the pros play. We had some great times and I think we are all now hooked on our minor league team, the Gwinnett Braves.
  • Baseball on tv. He will watch it intensely but only for a few innings. After that, he feels the need to act it out and practice the plays the MLB players just did. After seeing some awesome dive and catch plays, he’s been requesting that we throw the ball to him out of his reach so he must dive to catch it. I was told I wasn’t doing it right because he never had to dive for mine. Fine. But if I can’t throw, I’ll capture it on video.

When are fall tee-ball sign ups? Not soon enough.

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The Usual at Table Two

17 Jul

We ordered our usual at our favorite diner and got a side of kindness from strangers. Although, the waitress/manager sure doesn’t treat you like a stranger. She has your coffee waiting on the table when she sees your car pull up outside. She sits down in the booth with you to take your order. That is, if it’s a new order because she’ll have your “usual” memorized.

Today, she was very busy because the diner was marking its second anniversary and she had to send the other server home because she came to work with purple and black striped hair and some on her skin. I love that she let us know this as she greeted us. What I love even more is that she too had a thin purple streak in her hair.

With or without the hair color obstacle, the celebration included a free blueberry pancake for customers and a whole lot of maneuvering chairs and tables to make way for the eager breakfast and coffee crowd. In one case, an older Navy veteran sitting at a table for three, gathered his coffee and mountain of individual serving creamers to move to the counter so that the family of 5 who just walked in could have a seat together. That same man soon generated giggles throughout the diner as his phone sounded a ringtone of an alien space ship.

Some customers helped clear the tables. Others made sure to let her know they were ok waiting, not to worry. They wished the diner’s staff a happy two years as they left to go about the rest of their Sunday, satisfied with full bellies and hearts.

See you next Sunday…

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Fish from the “Festibal”

17 Jul

Winning a bag-o-fish from a festival (or “festibal” like Nate will continue to pronounce it until someone other than me corrects him because I think it’s pure sweetness) is not really a rite of passage or milestone but it’s certainly a memory that sticks with a kid for many reasons.

There’s:

  • The fun of the game: Getting that ping-pong ball in a bowl filled with bright (toxic, toilet cleaner) blue water? Yeah, that’s awesome!
  • The reward: Having the game person (a really cool character with skull and cross-bones rings and tattoos who tells you every day above ground is a good day) scoop out some tiny fish from a dirty cooler and plop them into a clear bag just for you? Double awesome!

  • Three Fish and a Football

    The new stuff: Getting to go out and buy a new fish bowl/tank or at least special fish food? Triple awesome!
  • The thinking time: Naming each one after much thought and then trying to remember which one you named Goldie again. The one with the damaged fin? Still pretty awesome!
  • The discovery: Finding them floating lifeless in their new home days after they moved in and holding a flush funeral for them? Minus awesome times three.

Nia still remembers when she experienced that. Andrew told her he was going to swim with his other fish friends. Flush. Nate doesn’t have that same censoring though. He already knows what’s going to happen. Partly because Nia told him (because that’s what older siblings do) and partly because he discovered a dead fish on the ground near the festibal game. He now thinks his fish are going to get out of their tank. I had to assure him (better not happen) that they love their new tank home so they won’t want to leave.

That is, until we are forced to remove them. And I think Nate will be ok with that. He’s already asked if he can get new ones after his game fish die. Although, no fish will be able to replace the memory of the festibal fish.

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“Back Before You Know It”

11 Jul

Those were Nia’s words of wisdom and comfort during her phone call with Nate tonight. She also created a big smile on his face and an immediate thank you from his mouth when she told him she got lollipops for him on the trip to WV. Sweet Bean also picked out special souvenirs for mommy and daddy. I have a cross statue coming my way and Andrew will get to take a baseball guy statue to work with him. (Thanks to Lola and Papa for funding the souvenir purchase.)

She was also treated to her favorite Chinese food – Sweet and Sour Chicken and Wonton Soup. (Lucky!) Tomorrow, the plans call for a day at the Oglebay Zoo or a trip to a museum. It all sounds awesome to me. I can’t wait to hear about her next adventure during our nightly Nia report.

Little Brother Love

11 Jul

He got out if bed and didn’t walk, blankey in hand, to the living room to turn on baseball highlights like he usually does. Instead, he walked, blankey in hand, to his window. I know this because the blind was tilted, giving him a view of the driveway and Papa and Lola’s car.

Spying the car, he emerged sleepy-eyed from his room and headed straight to Nia’s room, asking with a sad voice, “Nia leaves for West Virginia today?” A just-awake Nia consoled him, “Don’t cry Na-Nate.” He leaned against her bed to hug her, her arms wrapped around his neck for a sweet minute. “I’ll be home soon. You’ll have fun with mommy and daddy, ok? I’ll call you before bed each night.” He rubbed his eyes and told her, all better, “Ok.”

They hugged a few more times before she left and even had one of their usual sibling squabbles (over a video game Nia is taking with her). I think Nate will miss the game almost as much as he’ll miss his big sis. Mostly because he now can’t lie next to her and watch her play it, giggling and cheering her on with each awesome move she makes on the screen. I suppose it will give them something to talk about on the phone. “What world are you on now? Did you beat such and such?”

We’ll soon see. That first phone call is only hours away.

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Our “American” Weekend

4 Jul

We practiced a few American traditions this July 4th weekend. We didn’t even have plans for most of it. We bought the tickets to the Braves vs. Orioles game a few months ago but other than that, it was all pretty loosey goosey.

  • There was baseball to watch live and baseball for Nate to play with Andrew.
  • We swam for a bit but Nate has a problem with swallowing too much water and then showing everyone what he ate. (All over the pool deck and some on me. Poor buddy.)
  • We took in two shows of fireworks. (The Atlanta Braves’ show was incredible. The Auburn show was hindered by a building in the way and some firecrackers in the parking lot. The kids still had a blast though.)
  • The kids experience and loved their first Independence Day Parade – complete with thrown candy.

  • Porch Swing!

    We contributed to the economy by spending money at a local furniture store. (After years of wanting one, we finally have a porch swing and our board game end table is no more!)
  • Andrew grilled and did some handy work (including mowing our neighbor’s grass and hanging the swing).
  • Nia and I baked a bundt pound cake and it turned out great!
  • Nate’s fear of sparklers has mellowed. He’s still a bit apprehensive but this year he actually wanted to hold them.

As you just read, through it all, there were high points and low points but in keeping with Nia’s positive attitude about it, “It was better than nothing.” Such wise words for a small child. Right after that though, she offered up a few complaints about not getting to be at the pool enough. There’s my American girl. A balance of sweet and sour, fair and unfair, positive and negative, watching her iCarly, dancing in her room to Katy Perry and listening to her Big Time Rush. (They played in the background as we drove to many of our 4th celebrations and the kids screamed and laughed as Andrew danced and made the car “dance” with him.)

Here’s some of our festive fun captured in photos:

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A House Divided

3 Jul

Daddy vs. Son

Andrew has loved the Baltimore Orioles since he was a little boy. Rooting for them through the thick and thin. Cheering and respecting his favorite player, Cal Ripken, Jr. – all without even stepping foot into Camden Yards to see the team play and barely getting to watch them on tv due to distance and programming.

Finally, after more than two decades of true fan support from a distance, Andrew got to see the Orioles play the Atlanta Braves live at Turner Field. But, it didn’t come without a little drama. You see, Nate loves the Braves. He probably loves the Braves like that young Andrew loved the Orioles. He knows the players. He knows how they’ve been playing. Which ones hit the home runs, which ones can “crush” the ball, which ones are hurt – he wants them to win every time and he wanted his daddy to want them to win too.

Andrew sweetly told him that he would really like to see the Orioles win (even though he knew they wouldn’t after seeing who was starting as pitcher that night) but that he would be fine if the Braves won because it would mean Nate was happy. That seemed to satisfy Nate. Until we got ready to go that night.

He saw his daddy all ready in his Ripken shirt and his O’s hat that he’s had for years and our little fan started to cry. You see, Nia was rooting for daddy’s team and I was being my wishy-washy self and said I’d like to see either team win. Well, to Nate, that was, “Nobody wants the Braves to win with me.” Through teary eyes he told me he didn’t want to wear his Braves jersey anymore, he wanted his Orioles gear. I gave him the choice and told him that I would cheer with him. I asked him if he could name any of the Orioles’ players. He told me no. He made his choice and came out ready for his team to win.

Yes, they won that night, but Nate then cheered for the Orioles with his daddy from the couch until Andrew got to see an O’s win on tv and hear his son tell him, “Oh yeah!” Something he’ll take any day of the week.

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Excited for the Game

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Ecstatic for his Favorite Players

Batter Up!

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Fantastic Fireworks


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