Christmas Morning

Unlike last year, we managed to go to bed a little earlier (although, still after midnight) and slept in later. So, Mikie woke up ready to enjoy Christmas.

To list some of the gifts that he found under the tree, Mikie received:

A REAL hockey helmet from Grandma Pookie, to go with the RPI hockey jersey and hockey skates from Santa.

A birdfeeder with bird watching book from Grandma Kerrie and Grumpy Norm. Mikie is super excited to use this one. It is one of those squirrel-proof bird feeders with a cage to prevent squirrels from eating all the bird seed. Mikie doesn't quite understand that, so he keeps talking about catching the birds to keep in his cage.

Whack-a-Mole (aka "The Gopher Game") from Gram. This has proved a favorite of Mike's too, as he now holds the fastest record at 10 seconds.

Video games for his V-Smile from Grand Da. Evidently, Grand Da picks out better games than Mom and Dad, because Mikie refused to use the thing until he got his new games. One of them is an interactive story book that connects to the TV. The day after Christmas, you could hear him say "I can't go to bed, I have to read my books". What are you supposed to say to that? No more reading, go to bed!?!

And, the most anticipated present of all. . . Santa came through with Sock 'em Sock 'em Robots (or Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots as they are known to the rest of the world). Click on the picture below to view some video footage of Mikie and Mike playing his new favorite game. Since Mattel was kind enough to cheapen up the "improved" version, I edited the video down to a little over a minute so no one other than Mike had to live the eternity of playing.

Hope Santa brought you everything on your Christmas list.

Merry Christmas.

Love, The Trahans

The Christmas Story

Now that he is three, I have been trying to teach Mikie about the real story of Christmas: how Jesus was born. So far, attempts to read his children's Bible have been futile. The pictures are cartoonish and the stories don't seem to hold his interest. Usually, part way through, he starts running around yelling "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus", and I have to explain that we shouldn't just yell His name like we yell "Meatloaf".

So, I bought a pop-up book with beautiful illustrations just for Christmas. We have been reading it a few nights a week, emphasizing that it is a special story. Unfortunately, there are many words that he didn't quite understand, so I read the story in a more Mikie-friendly context. For example, "Hail, Mary" became "Hello, Mary" and "with child" became "going to have a baby".

So, on Christmas Eve, with pop-up book in hand, we headed off to meet our friends at their church's Christmas Eve Service. It was the children's service, and I thought it would be more Mikie friendly. As we waited for the service to start, Mikie sat on Auntie Katie's lap reading his special story. All of the sudden I hear a familiar voice announce "Look, Katie. This man says 'There's no room in the hotel!'" At least the story made an impression.

Before the service began, a woman came to the front to read some announcements. She started talking about the gifts people brought to the baby Jesus, and ended by talking about what gifts we could give Him today. Her intention was to plead for donations. However, Mikie heard "gifts" and told Auntie Katie, "Katie, I could give the baby Jesus 'Sock 'em Sock 'em Robots'." Being the one gift Mikie asked Santa for on THREE separate occasions, I am sure this is the only gift he could imagine anyone ever wanting.

Of course, a few days later, when I reminded him of what he said and asked if he was going to give Jesus his game, he looked at me like I was crazy.

It's the thought that counts, right?

Merry Christmas.

Love, The Trahans

Public Indecency

Let me start by saying that Mikie has been doing a great job of using the potty. So well, that, unless I see him doing a funny dance while watching TV, I don't bother harrassing him. So well that I frequently realize he left the room and used the potty only after I hear a flushing sound.

So, when Mikie told me that he didn't need to use the potty before we left the house for work, I didn't question him. Unfortunately, about 15 minutes from our house (at least 30 minutes from daycare), I heard a little voice saying, "Mom, I have to go pee-pee on the road." I have Mike to thank for teaching Mikie about going pee-pee on the road, but that's a whole other story.

It's December, we have had record amounts of snow which sits like a small mountain on either side of the one-lane road. Short of pulling in to someone's driveway, there is no good rest stop along this stretch of road. So, I drive as fast as I safely can (translation: as fast as the guy in front of me will travel) five minutes up the road to Home Depot.

As I raced into the parking lot, praying that Mikie wasn't peeing on my leather seats, I realized that Home Depot was open. Wonderful. We could use the bathroom like civilized people, rather than pee in the parking lot. So, I pull up as close as I can get to the front entrance. Unfortunately, Mikie had other plans. As I unbuckle his seat belt and inform him of my intention to use the bathroom, he yells, "No, I have to go pee pee NOW!" No sooner did I plant his feet on the ground than I see two bare cheeks facing me.

Even though he can urinate standing up (inside and "on the road"), Mikie has not even attempted "aiming" himself. Being that I was dressed for work (slacks, nice shoes, wool winter coat), and did not want to have to change his pants and underwear in the 16 degree weather, I felt it was in my best interest to help him direct his stream away from the two of us. Standing behind him and using the car door to block him to some degree, I helped Mikie melt the snow under the car. Only after I pulled his pants up did I notice two men get in their cars next to me.

And as if being caught in the act wasn't bad enough, I noticed the following signs as I got back in the driver's seat:
So, next time you are watching YouTube, if you see a 30-year old red-head helping her son urinate in the Home Depot parking lot, please remember that one day that could be you before you forward it on to your friends.

Love, the Trahans

College Bound

Obviously, he does not get this from me, having been the model student in college.

In early December, we went to our friends' Holiday party. What makes the story even funnier is that Andy & Jenny work and live at a retirement home, so the party was in one of the common rooms at the home.

Part way through the evening, Mikie told me he had to use the potty. As per usual, he waited to the last minute to tell me, and the bathroom was already occupied. He did an excellent job of holding his bladder, and managed to only get a tiny drop in his underpants before we got into the bathroom. However, being fanatical about certain aspects of cleanliness, he insisted on a new pair of underwear. Mike went out to the car to get the new underwear, but, in the interim, Mikie wanted to go back to the party. So, I put his pajamas on him, sans underwear, and let him go back to the party, figuring that when Mike returned we would put the clean underwear on.

Unfortunately, Mikie realized that it was kind of nice to not wear any underpants. And, when Mike returned, he refused to put them on.

Twenty minutes later, Mikie was seen running around with an empty case of beer on his head (picture Animal House except substitute a Sam Adams box for the lampshade). As everyone laughed at the cute little boy running around in PJs with a beer box on his head, all I could think was what a proud moment this was for me as a mom: my three year old going commando, running around like a drunk person with a beer box on his head.

Too bad I didn't have the camera.

Love, The Trahans

The Elevator Ride

I am very behind in my blogs, and before I start blogging some of our Christmas experiences, figured I should post some of the more humorous Mikie adventures before I forget them. Last month, we took Mikie to see a Providence Bruins game. We figured it was cheaper than paying for tickets to see the Boston Bruins, and he probably wouldn't know the difference.

When I was given the tickets (they were from a vendor), she said she got them for a 1:00 game, figuring that a 7:00 game would be late for a three year old. Unfortunately, I never looked at the tickets. So, at 12:30, we were sitting in our seats, waiting for the 4:00 game to start.

Rather than sit in a cold arena for 3 1/2 hours, we walked around the corner to Providence Place Mall to eat some lunch and kill time. If you haven't been to the Providence Place Mall, street level is three levels below the actual mall stores. So, we went inside and got on the first of three escalators.

No sooner had we all gotten on, when Mikie turns and announces, "This is a Dickless ride, Mom & Dad." I was stunned, and asked what he just said. Of course, he didn't repeat himself until we got on the second escalator. He turned again and said "This ride is Dickless, Mom." At this point, I was sure I heard him correctly, and in my confusion was trying to keep from laughing in his face.

When we got on the third escalator, I finally realized he was actually saying "This ride is RIDICULOUS" minus a few sylables.

He always keeps me on my toes, that's for sure.

Love,
The Trahans