Why I love being a mom...

...you get to embarrass your kids....

Case In Point:
It's been really lovely as far as the weather goes around here lately. And if you read my post in October about how to turn a car into a fishbowl, you know that I love, love, love having my little red car with the sunroof. Love it. So on nice days the windows are down, the sunroof is open, and my flavor-of-the-month cd is playing. Very loudly. And I'm singing along. Very loudly. So last night after karate class, I assume normal activity. Collin's in the backseat. And he's MORTIFIED. When I realize the mortification that is ensuing in my backseat, it tickles me. He says, "But Mom, other people have their windows down, and the music is making the car and the pavement shake!" And, being the mean, mean person that I am, I play it up. A lot. I turn the music up even louder, and sing even louder. I tell Collin that if he's that embarrassed to slouch back in his seat and put his head down. And when we get to the stoplight at our street, I tell him that if he doesn't sing along, I will drive really slowly around our neighborhood, still listening to the music, still singing to the top of my lungs. Of course I didn't do this to him. But to see him laugh and squirm was fodder for the best laughter that I've had in a long time.

Another Case In Point:
Have to write this one down before I forget about it. Because, I will forget, no matter how hard I try. And it's one of the cutest things I've heard in a long time. Griffin and Erin are talking to another boy at karate last night (no..they've not started yet..Aaron dropped off Collin because I beat a path there after work to help out). The boy, coincidentally, happens to be the boy I used to watch and the only daycare experience that ended very badly. Yes...I've FINALLY let go of the grudge! ANYWAY, I digress. They were talking and playing a bit, and all of a sudden, Griffin asks Aaron... "Daddy, where do we live?"...Aaron says, "Westfield"... Griffin goes back to the boy and says..."No, we don't live in Indiana...we live in Westfield." Love the singlemindedness of a five year old.

**** Updated to add.... the Born-Fucking-Losers title has been reinstated as my last name until further notice. Aaron's birthday dinner tonight might have to be postponed...again...all of the family is having a hard time staying healthy. And, due to strict tradition, everyone must be present to have dinner. Or, at least I would hope that everyone would be present. I feel badly for Aaron, but also for his dad, who's fallen ill with the flu. ACK! Plus...the furnace dude forgot about us in the mad dash of keeping apartment communities afloat on a skeleton crew. So, we're in danger of not having heat for the weekend...when it's 20 out. Here's hoping he can squeeze us in by Friday so that we don't go without heat.