A Good Grado Morning...

Graden: "Mom."
Me: "Yea, honey?"
Graden: "What?" 
Me: "You called my name. What's wrong?"
Graden: "Mom, I just said 'mom' but I wasn't asking for you."
Me: "Oh. Well okay. Sorry."
Graden: "It's alright, Mom. You were confused. Accidents happen."


:) And so my morning begins with the chocolate-covered face (Yes, I let him eat a chocolate Pop-Tart for breakfast today), big blue eyes, and a new buzz cut that makes my little boy look like the little kid I am not ready for him to become. 


He's so comical. Everyday it's something new. Like yesterday, he ran out of the bathroom, so I asked him if he flushed or washed his hands. Graden's astonished reply, "How did you know that?" I paused for a moment wondering if I should tell him the secrets to my mysterious ways (um, I didn't hear a flush or water running) or if I should play along with his surprised mind. "Moms know these things." Ha! I couldn't resist. He smiled at me, with hands on hips, stared straight into my eyes for a whole minute, and finally gave a brief "hmpf" before sauntering back to the bathroom. 


Now, as I walk around the house, picking up laundry, making beds, putting dishes away, preparing the bills I've ignored all week, and organizing my books for a day of work, I hear the boys playing the Wii. L is trying to teach G a thing or two about golf. I really should record the "good job, buddy" coming from L to G, who is - by far - the best big brother I have ever encountered, but I don't want to steal from "their time." Of course it's not all serious and loving; in fact, there is a heated competition going on... G keeps calling them boo-geys and L is trying to (very patiently) explain they are bo-geys. :) Never a dull moment around here.


The past few weeks have been crazy as I wrap the semester up. I can't believe my first semester of teaching and grad school has come and *almost* gone. (Two weeks left!) It has been everything I wanted it to be and then some. Honestly, this will go down as one of my best (favorite) semesters. I've gotten to know some of my co-teachers, classmates, and professors better, I successfully presented at my first teaching conference, I won an award for my department, I read a story I wrote about Graden at a Student Reading (this was a HUGE accomplishment for me on a personal level), and I had a great group of students in  my first class. I couldn't be luckier. Honestly, I had to overcome some hurdles, too. It's never easy with kids, but especially not with my kids. Landen missed several days of school with allergies/asthma and such (we think he's developing more), and, clearly, our journey with Grado is an ongoing ride. Still, we (not just me) keep going. We make it work. And, I *finally* feel like I am doing what I have waited to do. It is an amazing feeling. 


Of course, I still have projects. Goodness knows I love to keep busy, and somehow, it works for me. I am still keeping my promise to Grado, though -- Never too busy to play. So, off I go for a "Wii break" -- I'll show these boys who's boss. (In a friendly, educational way, of course.)