Mikie-isms

When my child became such a smart alec, I don't know. He must get it from his father.

Mikie came out of the bathroom this evening, and I knew he hadn't flushed the toilet or washed his hands. I told him to turn around, go back into the bathroom, and wash his hands. Obviously, I must have been speaking in toungues, because Mikie didn't listen (what else is new). So, I pulled the ultimate threat: you have until the count of five to go back and wash your hands or you're going to bed right now. Usually, this works. This time, Mikie turned with a smirk on his face and yelled "One Two Three Four Five!"

After taking a minute to compose myself (I was trying not to laugh hysterically), I started counting. As soon as I said one, Mikie did run to the bathroom and wash his hands. Of course, when I went in to use the bathroom later, I found the seat up and the toilet bowl full of urine. I guess it was my own fault, since I didn't instruct him to flush the toilet or close the seat. Hindsight is twenty-twenty.

As if that wasn't funny enough, Mikie came up with a new reason not to go to sleep tonight. Mike had put him to bed, and 30 minutes later, I heard a door open. I went to the bottom of the stairs, and heard a little voice, sitting at the top of the stairs say "Hi, mom". When I got upstairs, Mikie looked up at me and said "Mom, I can't sleep." Before I could ask why, he said "If I keep sleeping all the time, I will turn into a bed." He should write a book of all the bedtime excuses he has come up with.

After explaining that your body needs sleep to build muscles and brain cells, he told me he wanted to sleep so he could be strong like a real hockey player. I am sure that won't work ever again, but at least he went to sleep tonight.

I can't wait to see what he comes up with tomorrow. . .

Love, The Trahans

The Favorite Toy

This weekend is Mikie's friend, Connor's, birthday party. Mike, being a male, insisted on doing the shopping because he "knows boys" better than I do. Forget the fact that I work with Connor's dad, talk with Connor's mom most mornings at daycare, and see Connor when I drop Mikie off in the morning. Not to mention I did give birth to a boy. None of this qualifies me for shopping for little boys.

So, Mike purchased two Transformers. Mikie was asleep when the shopping trip occurred, so he did not see what we bought. And, knowing that he likes Transformers (and most action figures), we didn't bother telling him what we bought.

Fast forward to this morning. I was trying to convince Mikie into putting on his jacket and leaving for school with me. He told me he had a new toy that was his favorite that he wanted to bring to school. The conversation continued like this:

Mikie: "Mom, I'm going to bring my new favorite toy to school because it's my favorite."

Mom: "What is it?"

Mikie: "It's my favorite 'cause its the best"

Mom: "Where is it so we can get it and leave for school."

Mikie: "It's my red Transformer."

Now, I am confused, because I know of only two Transformers that we own: a black one, and a cement mixer that Mike found from when he was a kid that, as far as I can tell, is not red. And so the conversation continues:

Mom: "You don't have a red Transformer."

Mikie: "Yes I do."

Mom: "Where is it?"

Mikie: "It's my red Transformer Car in your closet."

Okay, it's 7:30 in the morning, and my brain isn't completely awake. But, after a few seconds, I realize that he is talking about the birthday present for Connor that is hidden in my closet.

Mom: "Mikie, those aren't your cars. We bought those for Connor's birthday party. (Quickly realizing this could spoil any surprise. . . ) And it's a SURPRISE so you CAN'T tell him."

Mikie: whining "But I want them."

Somehow, I got his coat on him and forced him out the door. There may have been some vague promise about getting him a Transformer on another day. To which he responded, "Then I will have TWO red Transformer cars."

Note to self: put a keyed lock on the attic door before Christmas.

Love, The Trahans

SUGAR!!!!!

Different states have different festivities they are known for. In DC, April is the month of the Cherry Blossoms. In Massachusetts, March is Sugaring month.

Sugaring is the process of collecting and making maple syrup. And, after going to a sugar house this weekend, I have a renewed sense of appreciation for maple syrup.

To create maple syrup, you start with a maple tree. Evidently, you can use any maple tree, not just a sugar maple. At night, when the temperature drops, the sap freezes inside the trunk of the tree. During the day when the temperatures rise, the sap condenses and creates a presure inside the tree. If you tap the maple tree, you can collect the sap and use it to make maple syrup, and other yummy maple confections.

Sounds easy enough. But, it is the most labor intensive process. First of all, the sap doesn't exactly "flow" out of the tree. I would describe it as a faucet that has a slow drip when it is in the off position. Plus, because harvesting it is so temperature dependent, there are only about 4 weeks when you can harvest the sap. And, 100 gallons of sap only yields about 2 gallons of syrup!

The tour was very entertaining, even without Mikie's antics. The video included clips of adults and kids who run sugar houses. The first woman on the clip announced "Massachusetts is THE place for maple syrup. I mean, I know Vermont and New Hampshire make it too, but when I think of syrup, I think of Massachusetts." Ironic, since Vermont is the number one producer of maple syrup in the US with 250,000 gallons, followed by New York. Massachusetts produces less than 100,000 gallons annually. There were also some young men (12 going on 40) who produce about 2 gallons of maple syrup each season, but have long term plans to "take a few years off to relax, and then open some more sugar houses when they hit 20 or 30."

While the adults in the group (Mike, myself, and our friends, Josh & Kristin) enjoyed the tour and explanations of the process, Mikie was less enthusiastic. Before the 18 minute video, Mikie raised his hand to tell the guide that he saw flies in the barn window. At the end of the video, he told the same guide that he wanted popcorn (which was even more amusing since he had never eaten popcorn before). We convinced him to continue on the tour with us with the promise of maple sugar candy at the end.

In the next stage, where we learned how to drill and tap a tree. Mikie was more interested in the ladybug he found on the floor. He kept pointing to the ladybug, before finally determining (and announcing loudly enough for the whole room to hear) "This ladybug is DEAD, Mom."

Finally, we got to the kid friendly part, the tapping of the tree. Mikie was thrilled to join the bigger kids and use the hand drill. And, he was very careful to use the hammer to hit the tap, not the man holding it in place. He was even careful carrying his bucket of sap to the sugar house. However, after dumping the sap into the main tank of the sugar house, he was officially done with the tour. He put his bucket on his head, which left him a bit sugar coated. By the time we finished and were offered our maple sugar confections, Mikie announced that he wanted chocolate instead.

We left with some sugaring supplies: a tap and a helmet for Mikie, which doubles as a bucket to collect sap in when Mikie is willing to part with it.

The moral of the story: if you're three, maple syrup is better enjoyed at home on pancakes than in the woods.

Love, The Trahans

Life as a Hockey Mom

We have been taking Mikie ice skating for a while now. He is actually on his second pair of ice skates (although, it is purely because his feet grow too fast, not because he wore them out). After only a few time on the ice, we are able to loosely hold one hand and skate beside him while he walks in his skates. His biggest desire: to play hockey like a real hockey player, on ice skates, with a stick. And, while they do offer an intro to ice hockey class for kids three and up, you have to complete one of the learn to skate classes first.

How could I deny a three year old's dream? I couldn't. So, I searched every ice skating rink in the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island until I found the ONE and only rink that offered the learn to skate class for three year olds on the weekend (evidently, most hockey moms do not work and can take their kids ice skating at 11am on a Tuesday).

Luckily for Mike and I, the rink is only 45 minutes away. And, since they had a 10am class, we only have to wake up by 7:30am to get ready and get to class in time. Barring snow storms.

The first weekend, Mike got up, cleared the driveway of about a foot of snow, and we drove to class. Unfortunately, we got there only to find out that class didn't start until the following Saturday (something which should have been clarified in the registration paperwork).

The second weekend, Mike got up, cleared TWO driveways (ours and our neighbor who's husband was out of town and had just had surgery on her hand) of about six inches of snow. We drove to class in horrendous conditions (it was still snowing and the plows really weren't running yet) for a 25 minute lesson. If that isn't dedication, I don't know what is.

The class is quite entertaining. The first lesson was quite a challenge. The teacher made all the kids sit on the ice. Then, they had to sit on their knees. From there, they all put one leg up, and pushed off the ice into a standing position. If you're three, listening and following directions are challenging enough. Because he couldn't get himself back up, Mikie grabbed the teacher's hand for a lift. Unfortunately, once he had it, he was slow to let go.
By the end of the second lesson, Mikie managed to push himself up after falling, and took steps unassisted on the ice.

The verdict is still out if the 25 minutes of ice time is worth the money and the mileage. Hopefully, seeing his face when he gets out on the ice with a hockey stick will make it all worth while.

Love, The Trahans

The Distinguished Gentleman

Lately, Mikie has been obsessed with Scooby Doo. We have some Scooby Doo books. We make up pretend Scooby Doo adventures to solve the mystery. We have a Scooby Doo video game for our V-Smile. And, of course, we have some Scooby Doo movies.

When I picked up Mikie on Friday afternoon, he had been sharing his Scooby Doo book, and telling everyone that they could come to his house to watch his Scooby Doo movie. Before I left, his teacher came over to tell me an amusing Mikie anecdote. Evidently, Mikie told Ms. Kelly that she could drive home with him and watch Scooby Doo on the TVs in his car. She said thank you, but asked him how she was going to get back to her house if she drove home with him. His answer, "You can walk."

Knight in shining armour he is not.

Love, The Trahans

March Snow

Evidently, March snow is much better than other snow. We got about 8 inches on March 1st. After returning from Mikie's first ice skating lesson, Mike and Mikie decided to build a snowman. Since losing a boot in the two-foot snowstorm we had in December, Mikie has not been keen to do anything other than eat snow. So, I didn't expect them to be outside long. However, after finishing Frosty, Mikie decided that he wanted to go sledding. And, the sled run looked so much fun, Mike and I took turns sledding too. Click on the photo below to see some of the video:

Here is a picture of Mike and Mikie with Frosty. Without any carrots or coal on hand, we had to improvise, using a piece of candy cane for the nose and chocolate pieces for the eyes. If you click on the photo, you can view some video of the "construction".

While I admired their work, Mikie came over to tell me "the secret".

Mikie: "Mom, I have a secret, but you can't tell the snowman. He's going to melt."

He did last for a week, before the snow started to melt. Although, evidently other animals than Mikie like chocolate and candy canes, because the snowman was missing his eyes and nose by the next evening.

Happy sledding.

Love, The Trahans