The REAL Demolition Derby!

Tuesday night I met up with a friend of mine and her two kids to take them all to the county fair and the Demolition Derby that was also being held there that night. The wutz was looking forward to the Derby and was already bellowing, "Derby!" back from his carseat as we traveled to the fairgrounds.


However, when we got there all was forgotten once we wove our way through the building where all the booths of vendors hawking their cheap wares were set up and we then arrived at the threshhold to the fair itself. Once the kids saw the lights and the rides the Derby was all but forgotten. So we gleefully tanked the Demolition Derby plans in exchange for $20 armbands for each child in attendance.


My friend and I followed the small tugging hands of each child, first to the flying Dumbo knockoffs. Then we made our way to the race cars that looked much like the vehicles I could hear being destroyed mid-Derby.




After the race cars we stood for about 15 minutes outside of a funhouse that had a plexiglass maze. We laughed so hard our sides hurt from watching each of our oh-so-graceful children bonk their heads repeatedly on the SAME pane of plexiglass each and every time they attempted to wander through the maze.






It was a grand time.

Until little dudes and the diva started getting tired around 10pm. Then we knew it was time to depart. So as we wandered back out the fair we then had to retrace oursteps through the gauntlet of vendors.

While trying to make our escape my friend's son kicked over a fairly large potted plant, sending it toppling onto its side. My friend and I both turned around and looked down at it and then each other, both faces mirroring the "I'm not bending over in these jeans to pick that up." So we all just walked past it and acted like nothing happened.



But then...


A little further down the gauntlet, so close to the end I could see the exit, the wutz walked up to a giant stuffed dog, stared at it for a moment then head butted it so that it went tumbling backward onto the floor. Fortunately a booth worker was there to retrieve it, because I can assure you none of us planned on it. Too much effort, you know.


On we continued toward the grand exit when a small group of teenagers stopped us and one said, "We just have to tell you, you two have the coolest kids EVER. They are awesome!" It was then that we cracked up and laughed all the way back to our cars.


Yes. Our own personal Demolition Derby. We were so very proud.

Wutz in Water - Summer Oh-Nine

Here are a few photos of the wutz from the beach trip last week. Once I recover I'll post more and go into further detail, but I'm going to be a lazy bum until I feel I'm back to normal, which could be... uhhhh... never.

Go Fly a Kite!

The wutz flew is first kite this evening. The sun was beginning to set and there was a little breeze, therefore he decided that he must fly his new kite. Because there was so little breeze, getting the kite off the ground required effort and lots of running. So I ran and he jogged after me holding the plastic spool with yards and yards of white string wound around it. As the kite flew higher and higher he struggled to get it unwound but he managed after a little practice. He ran and ran and ran to keep that kite afloat. Finally he looked at me mid-stride and said, "I'm tired." Which was enough to make me put the brakes on (gratefully, I might add) and reel in the rainbow colored kite.

It was exhausting. And awesome.

Four Days of School...

... That's how long it took before the wutz was up all night horking his wee brains out.

Gotta love the petri dish that is called preschool, right?

Second Day of School

I may never get him in another outfit this adorable, so I had to document it!

First Week of School - Artwork

First Day of School 2009-2010

Wow. It is hard to believe that we're entering another school year. The wutz is now in the wee-3 class and he is going half-days, five days a week. He's growing so fast!

Here are a few pictures from his first day:







Apple Art!


Blast from the Past - Last year's first day of school

Naptime Prayer

This is the prayer I now have the wutz saying at naptime:

Now I lay me
Down to nap
I pray the Lord
My mom won't snap
Hold me safe
While I rest
So when I wake
I'll be my best
Amen!

Meet our newest family member...

The best money I never spent...

Right before Christmas there was a toy that the wutz was totally and completely enamored with in the stores. Every time he saw it, we had to go up and push the button and make the thing walk and do its noisy thing. I thought it was a cool toy, but there was no way I was going to spend the $130-something bucks to purchase said toy. Even for Christmas.

However, my father apparently had no qualms about adding it to the never-ending list of purchases he made for the wutz.

And I am here to declare that this over-priced toy is absolutely the best thing since sliced bread. Better even. It has no equal.



What makes this toy so special?
It is the fact that, though the wutz loved it in the stores, he is totally and irreversibly terrified of this robotic dinosaur. He shakes like a leaf if he even hears it turned on. Even if he cannot see the damned thing he trembles and instantly begins screaming like a chick running up the stairs in a horror flick.

And this is a good thing... why??
I know, I know. I shouldn't make light of my son's true terror, but it really has been the best solution I couldn't think of! Now, if I want the wutz to do something... or stop doing something... all I have to say is, "Do you want me to go get the dinosaur???" BAM! Mommy gets exactly what she wants.

I can completely and absolutely turn my little menace into an obedient little darling with that simple question.

And I ask it often.


I have no shame.

The Wiz

While in Conneticut we spent an afternoon at a matinee of The Wiz, in which my nephew played the Scarecrow. He did a fabulous job. I got to see a side of him that I had never seen before. I am very proud of him. I had no clue he had such a lovely voice, too! Wow!

Afterward was a Q&A with William F. Brown, the playwright of The Wiz. It was interesting!

Here are some terrible pics snapped from my phone:

Our Conneticut Vacation!

Happy Birthday, Mr. C!

Happy Easter!

Yesterday, after baking the cake, I had some leftover batter in various colors. I decided not to waste it, and instead I made cupcakes. Below are pictures of the process, but please ignore the poor quality of the cupcakes in the end. I may be able to bake something that tastes good, but the whole 'pretty cupcakes' ability is beyond me. I cannot figure out how to make them look nice, so I have given up even trying. They do taste a heckuvalot better than they look. But you'll just have to trust me on that!

And here is the finished product of the rainbow cake!

After the day's chores were finished yesterday, we took some time to dye Easter eggs. The wutz considered it to be a very serious matter:

Rainbow Cake

I baked the wutz's birthday cake today. It was an exhausting process, but I am very pleased with the result.

Here are a few pictures of the batter before I baked it:

I'll post the results tomorrow. I'm exhausted.