Happy Bowling!

What a fun party! Hugo and his classmates and friends really enjoyed their time today. The bowling alley is surely used to a mess. Well, they got another one today. Kettle corn + 21 kids + their parents = mess. Add to that pizza and ice cream cake you get messsssssssssssss. Most importantly, though, we all had a ton of fun. With the added benefit that our house looked sparkly clean and tidy after the festivities had concluded.


























Day ended with my holding my angel's head, kissing his face all over, sparing no single millimeter, announcing: "Chach, just so you know, we'll be doing this until you're 99 years old." His reply? "Mama, you'll be dead by then. It's sad but true." Said very sweetly, but indeed matter-of-factly.

But, thankfully, not all hope is lost. He's sweeter than ever, and then says to me the following morning, while building one of his majorly elaborate Lego constructions: "Mama, can you watch me build so I feel encouraged?"

Six will be a great year, Hugo! So cute that for Portia a major focus is how quickly she can get to five. (Lest there be any doubt, I have her stuck at "four and a half" until the eve of Oct 9th.) The only hesitation for her about getting one number closer to Hugo's age is the possibility of needing a shot at her pediatric annual. I just calm her by telling her that five is WAAAAAY down the road. And it is, for real, right? May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct. But who's counting?

Cupcakes, Lasagna and Legos

If only every day were the 22nd of April. Hugo dined Hugo-style today and is now off in Dreamland undoubtedly reliving a day that started and ended with cupcakes. A PBJ sandwich thrown in for good health measure (like i always say, it's all relative), a few oranges slices that tragically wound up ground-laden (during earth day lunch eaten outside with ninth grade buddies) and were thus rendered inedible; the most highly praised culinary delight was the evening's finale, Hugo's fave lasagna. Three helpings. Three giant helpings. Topped off by a cupcake I thought would surely take the cake. Frosting (seven minute Martha Stewart frosting, by the by, is insanely good and unfortunately, though, shoots your blood glucose levels into the stratosphere which is utterly mysterious what with the 10 cups of sugar and one liter of corn syrup) was crazily well received. Chocolate buttermilk cupcakes got a thumbs down and were left for the poor baker herself to devour. No guilt here, though. I'm so not a taster during prep and was more than deserving of the additional treat. Hadn't been remotely tempted by that luscious frosting or that rich chocolate batter. I mean, batter? For real? Before it's all baked? Who does that?

Legos. Totally not a passing phase. Completely crazy for Legos. He received a generous supply of Legos as gifts- from Yeh Yeh and Nai Nai and Auntie Vivian and Denise. Hugo's now completely independently building Legos designated for 8-12 year-olds with no assistance. Could go with no food, no shelter, no communication for at least 2 days in build mode.

Everyone was so generous! Fabulous gifts include a beautiful globe from Ama and Boppa, cool new threads from Auntie Connie, Uncle Alex and Aunt Jane and Uncle Randy, lots of great games from Auntie Catherine, baseball gear from Aye Lynn and a beautiful new scooter from Peanut. Must not forget the Star Wars trilogy. That was Daddy's doing. Mommy's doing were a couple of Fable books. In retrospect I shouldn't have tried to outshine Marc like that.

It was a perfect day to celebrate six years of my sweetheart's life. Did I mention I'm crazy for you, Chachi? Just know that I am going to carry you to bed and cradle you like a newborn as long as my osteopenic bones permit!!!!!!!!!!!

Eve of

#6. How fortuitous that here I am, six years later, nearly to the hour, eating the same beef stew my mother-in-law made for Marc and me on the evening of April 21, 2004. (We are enjoying a visit from Marc's mom, and it just so happens that beef stew was on the menu tonight) Tonight I enjoyed an entire bowl; six years ago, I had one bite and realized that I had to call Dr Rebarber. Something was up, and one thing I knew for sure, I wasn't headed for a warm bath to relax, as advised by my doctor. Hopped on the FDR, and at 9:09 the next morning, my boy arrived.

Who knew love could be this intense? And since I am in the business of torturing myself, here's a very abbreviated look at some of the past few years.








Growing up a little...(oh, and good thing I can't find 99.9999% of early years pics in their original format on my hard drive or else this entry would take on computer-exploding properties)




So, we go from these years that seem like light years ago to his first day of preschool.




Cut to the first day of kindergarten (which depressingly has something like a mere 6 weeks left to it)



Baby, how we got from NYU Medical Center to the eve of your 6th birthday boggles my mind. Promise me the next six will creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

I LOVE YOU. Happy Birthday, my precious five-year-old. (I know, I'm working on it.)

2004-2010

would mean my baby is on the brink of six. Having a hard time digesting this. Having a hard time being okay with this. Loving that I am pretty sure he'll be this affectionate and amazingly into his mama forever.





Mama loves you, Chachi.

It's official, we have a biker!

On her third run down the grassy hill at Edgerton Park, she had it mastered. Third run!! A little reluctance on our way over to the park. But so sweet to see the beaming face and confidence that blossomed after that first awesome run. Each subsequent trip down the hill was announced with: "Let's make this a pink gummy run!" And then, "Mama, isn't it such a good thing that we came? I love biking!"

Once my blog mentor returns from FL and shows me how to post video, I'll post the footage.

Next step: graduating from grass to concrete so we can finally hit the Farmington Canal as a foursome!

Super job, Peanut!

Frohe Ostern!

Happy Easter 2010! A gorgeous day, with much-deserved sun. Record number of egg hunts this year. Have yet to determine an elegant way to field questions about the true existence of the Easter Bunny. Danced around the questions this year.

Back from a really great trip to Germany. Once I manage to download the 987 pictures, I'll get around to posting some of the footage from our journey. Easter pics will follow suit.

In the meantime, we have celebrated our home's 100 year birthday. Simultaneously, we will be celebrating the imminent completion of our house (we love you, dear Yellow House, despite the headaches your hundred years have brought us) decontamination project! Whoopee. Only 7 months in the making. I could probably run the CT Department of Health at this point.

Happy Easter!!

No gray yet but apparently plenty of wrinkles

So, as I put my sweet boy to bed, after the ridiculously adorable songs he sings to me in his angelic voice, after we do our ritualistic dream machine routine, after the 10-minute-much-too-short exchange of I love yous and I love you mores, he announces: "You know Mama, Colleen (gym teacher) just had her baby. He's really cute, and his name is Henry. And you know what, he has all these wrinkles on his forehead. Just like you, Mommy." Nothing like a truthful five-year-old to put you in your rightful place. Guess I should have listened to my mother after all and used the 15 instead of the 'but I'm only 20 and I'll look like this forever' zero oil.