Work

I had an interesting conversation with Gavin this week about work.

Me (to Gavin as he opened his bedroom door and walked out): "Gavin, where are you going?"

Gavin (turned, pausing for a moment): "To work!"

Me: "What will you do there?"

Gavin: "Play. Get money."

Me: "What time will you be home?

Gavin: "Seven. Bye."

Evidently we have this conversation a lot in our house if he's picked up all of this information. Funny, I don't remember the part about the money, though.

Away We Go

Okay, ya'll. I am so excited for the weekend since Joe and I are going on a semi-staycation for 48 hours. It happened like this. Once a year we are fortunate enough to go away with two other couples over MLK weekend; sort of a couple's retreat that has been going on for 12 years now with dear friends. Unfortunately, one of the couples has family obligations this year and at the last minute found out they can't fly up to Chicago, which is how Joe and I found ourselves with an entire weekend free. We had already lined up childcare and a Saturday off from work, so we're pretty much being forced to have fun. Bummer.

What will we do? Well, we have a few things planned between Friday evening at 5 p.m. and Sunday afternoon. IKEA run, fun meals out, movie, an overnight stay at the Affinia hotel, shopping, and a visit to the new contemporary wing at the Art Institute. Fun and, for the most part, free since we are using gifts/gift cards/student discounts for just about everything. We haven't had a night to ourselves since last Valentine's Day, so this should be a blast, and a much-needed break as we navigate the life of working parents, one of which is attending grad school! Hurray for breaks.

Observations on Life

I love Gavin's observations. They're just so...deep. No, I'm serious! For his age, I find them quite stunning. For instance:

Bored with plain Cheerios, I poured Gavin a bowl of Cheerios with milk this morning and let him eat them with a spoon. He loved it! His observation? "Cheerios are swimming." In the milk, that is.

Whenever I put a handful of blueberries in front of Gavs he says, "Hi, guys!"

We have a Mark Rothko-esque painting on our wall; interpretively, it could be an orange sunrise dawning over a sea of blue. It could be, if that's what you see. Gavin stared at it the other day, studying, studying, studying. Finally, he said, "Swimming pool."

One of my favorite quotes recently: "Mommy eats broccoli (yes! But, uh, not that often lately)...Daddy eats french fries...Daddy eats milkshakes."

I'll keep adding to the list.

Goodbye, Baby...Hello, Little Boy

Today I took Gavin to KidSnips for his first short haircut. He'd been once before for a trim to his baby curls, but those long, unmanageable locks were beginning to turn into a little mullet, making him look like a mini Billy Ray Cyrus. Or like a little monster truck driver. You get the picture.

So off to kiddie paradise we went. KidSnips is no hardship, believe me. It's filled with toys and kids get to select their own movie to watch as they sit in little race cars to have their hair "styled." Please. My mother just slapped a bowl on our heads and trimmed around it. I have the pictures to prove it.

At any rate, in ten minutes we rode the wave of tears ("No cut! Take bib off!") to happiness ("Wonder Pets!" "Drive car!" "Lollipop!"). I think Gavin enjoyed himself once the actual haircut was over, but when I asked him later if he had fun he said, very mournfully, "Gavin was crying."

Life is hard, kid.