Thursday, July 29, 2010

Oh Yes We Have Tan Lines Now

Tayshaun, seriously, thinks he can swim now. I'm ok with his delusions because at least he's not afraid of the water.

He's one lesson from completing his first session of private lessons. He definitely needs to continue into the next session. This first was mainly to help him gain the confidence to save himself in case he were ever in a situation where he fell in deep water.

He's still cautious while in the deep - and I'm VERY glad about that. He does respect the water. He can flip from front to back and is swimming somewhat with his face in the water. He hasn't been taught to breath off to the side yet.

Last week when we took time off of work/preschool, I taught him to dive off the side of the pool from his knee. When he attempts to dive while standing, he jumps in, instead of going head first. I'm pretty certain that by the end of the summer, he'll be able to dive before he's able to swim, independently.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Tayshaun's first time at the Radio

Well, we decided to give the Rodeo a try. This morning, Tay woke and said, "Guess what Mom, today's the day we're going to the radio." I couldn't understand what he was trying to say and then it finally occurred to me that he was referring to the rodeo.
For some reason, he just couldn't remember rodeo most of the day. He really had to think about it before he said the word. It's kind of humorous.




We were kinda viewing some animal cruelty so we kept cringing and just remembering that these animals could be hamburger meat instead of being tossed and chased around. And it kind of made us feel a little better.

We'll probably forget to go the rodeo for the next few years. But it was good to give it a try.

Oh Where Oh Where Has My Little Cat Gone...

Oh Where Oh Where Has My Little Cat Gone.
Oh Where Oh Where Can she be?
This the third time Fergie Purr has been lost.
This little lovey is too curious for her own good. But she's a smart cookie. The other day I had a get together with the Bahama Mamas. When everyone had left, I called for Fergie but I couldn't find her anywhere. I searched the neighborhood, under the beds and in every hide-a-way that Fergie usually goes but couldn't find her. I had a sad hour of worry when all of a sudden she came prancing down the stairs when she felt good and ready.
The next time she was lost. Tayshaun and I had been outside in the backyard and at some point when one of us walked out the sliding glass door, she sneaked out. It was dark outside and, as you can see, she's a dark shadow so we didn't notice her. When we went in the house, I kept hearing her meow but I couldn't find her. Eventually, I realized that she was meowing from outside the front door. What a Relief...she loves her Mommie!!!!
This morning, I don't know when she got out. This time, I heard scratching at the front door and assumed that Diva had got out of the backyard. I anticipated Diva would run into the house when I opened the front door but instead Fergie Purr whipped inside, relieved to finally be indoors. I gotta get Fergie tagged soon!!!!!!!

Moped Road Rage

Ok, a funny thing happened to me the other day. I just have to share. I shouldn't laugh at people but I couldn't help myself.

Ok, what is wrong with this picture? We have a moped. We have swimming goggles. Well if you add a dimwit --- you get a DORK.
+ =
Seriously, I'm not being judgemental. I don't care what people wear, do, or say. But if what they wear, do, or say can possibly hurt me or them, well..... Let me just tell you the story.....

So it's a great, sunny, cooling-down evening and Tayshaun and I were driving back from the park with our windows down, talking about what flavor of snowie we felt like having. It's about 8pm and we're driving down Highland Drive. There's little traffic 'cause it's a weeknight. I notice there's some construction signs ahead and arrows instructing traffic on the right to merge into the left lane. So I glance out my side mirror and see that I'm plenty ahead of a moped in the left lane behind me so I turn on my left blinker to warn the driver just before I leisurely merge into the left lane. And I notice the mopeder is speeding up behind me. I kinda laugh to myself, thinking, "Oh, no he did not just speed up so I can squish that little moped under my CX7." I didn't even need to accelerate I just kept leisurely making my way into his lane but I saw that he immediately rushed up to my behind - not quite impacting me though. Afterall, my vehicle is A VEHICLE. Afterall, he's a little fly on a little bike.

So I kinda laugh at him and waved a "hello" and "Thanks" for letting me into his lane. But he obviously wasn't too happy with me. So he keeps tailgating me. So now we're in a one-lane only traffic with orange cones alongside our right and left lanes. So he keeps revving up his little bike in show of aggression. He must have been missing a muffler. Do motorcycles have tailpipes or mufflers? ---well whatever it is that makes mopeds sound puddery was missing. I think he must have tried to rig it to sound like a Harley and it just sounded more like CRAGGLE CRAGGLE CRAGGLE CRAGGLE, instead. Sorry, I guess you had to be there - to get the affect.

So anyways, there's no lane for me to move over for him to pass me. Now, he's on a little bike so he could have just easily gone around me if he wanted to. But, NO, he wanted to stay behind me and tailgate.

I started to get a little worried about him. He didn't have a helmet and the closer this little bug-a-boo got to me, the more convinced I became that he was going to ram into the back of my CX7 and roll up the hatchback and crash right onto my windshield -- and I WILL NOT GET A TICKET because this dumb dumb wants to show his ass. Oh yeah, and plus, I didn't want to see this dumb dumb get hurt and traumatize Tayshaun.

So when I stopped at a red light, I put my arm out the window and signaled for him to come up beside me so he could get ahead of me. He wouldn't scoot up though when the light turned green. So I didn't move for a second to see if he'd change his mind. When all of a sudden, I hear "peep peep peep peeep" from his little bike. So I'm really laughing now. And talking to myself..." that little dummy". And Tayshaun's like, "What Mom?" And I tell him, "I'm not talking to you Babe, there's this little bike behind me that's drivin' kinda crazy."

So I proceeded to drive but a little slower now because, again, I didn't want this dumb dumb ramming into me. So when we stopped at the next red light and he still didn't come around me, I decided to make his day. So when the light turned green, I drove through the intersection and into the coned lane so he could drive past me. He didn't even look at me when he drove passed. So I got back into the left lane and started driving again.

At the next red light, the coned lanes had cleared and we had a four lane street again. So I came up beside him as he was waiting at the light with my window down. That's when I noticed his swimming goggles, and his flipped up corny hair-do, and his tight basketball short shorts and I start busting up!!! Trying to keep a straight face I tell him, 'Dude, you're going to get hurt!....you don't even have a helmet and you're trying to drive aggressive!' And his response was "Have you ever heard of a speed limit?" I started laughing more, 'Are you kidding me? So you're mad because I wasn't driving fast enough or because I drove into your lane?' His face just kept getting redder and redder. I think I even saw some steam coming out of his swimming goggles. He just gritted his teeth and yelled at me as he drove away "Have you ever heard of a speed limit?!".

Well, at this point, I can't stop laughing! I'm hysterical! I think I even peed my pants a little. In the back, Tayshaun, of course, didn't understand a thing that had just happened. So he asked me, "Mom, what's a speed limit?". I'm sure he was thinking that if he just knew what a speed limit was, he'd get the joke too.

So, the mopeder drives ahead of me a few cars or so by now. I merge into the right lane to get onto the highway and as I turn, I hear this "peep peep peep peep peep". I'm sure that if I could have seen him from my rearview window, he would have probably been flipping me the bird. Darn it! I didn't get to see the farewell. The things I do to make your day, Dork.

Our Conversations....this Boy is a Crack Up

Yesterday, we went swimming. He was being so funny that I started jotting down some of the silly things he was saying.

T: Yea, Mom. I don't do the fighting, I do the loving!

I have no idea what he was thinking but these are the things he comes up with?!?!

*----------------------------------------------------------------------*
Just as I jump into the water....

T: Mom, will you tighten up these goggles.

Me: Just a minute, I just jumped in the water. When I get out, I'll tighten 'em.

T: Mooooommmm, my goggles are waiting. Come on!!!!

Me: Babe, give me a second to swim and cool off. When I get out I'll tighten 'em.

T: Mooooommmm, come over here and tighten up my goggles now!!!

Me: Tayshaun, you're not my Dad, you're not my husband, and you're not my boss! So don't tell me what to do!

T: Well then, that must mean I'm you're Mom. So baby Girl, get over here and tighten up my goggles!

I know I'm not supposed to laugh but I do!!! So I just went over there and tightened up his goggles. I did call him a "butthead" for good measure, though. Where does he learn these things!!!!!????

*-----------------------------------------------------------*
Tayshaun's been practicing his swimming strokes and was kinda rushing his arms and not getting anywhere.....

Me: You're rushing your arms a little, Babe. Slow down a bit. You're swimming kinda wild.

T: Mom, I'm a dude. I'm supposed to be wild.

WE LOVE SUMMERS BECAUSE.....play days!!!!

Tayshaun had a play day at Auntie Lisa's. When I went to pick him up, I had to get my camera out.

Adorable!!!! This is a priceless pic of Tayshaunie and Mick.
The S family had the slide out this weekend.
Lisa had her '90-days to fitness' book out so she was giving pointers to Paul. Paul lasted 10 seconds in this position. Benny outlasted Paul in this position so he sat down and ate some rice pudding that Todd made. Scrumptious!
Yes, there will be lots of basketball pics posted. Sorry I'm practicing. This was actually a game of HORSE.

Tayshaun was being his usual show-off self. He's such a dumb dumb - I can't help but giggle.
Dad was shooting me with his camera behind my back. Oh no you didn't!!!!
Thanks Auntie Lisa for another great play day!

Sushi with the Girls

Tayshaun and I had sushi at a new place the other day and since then I can't get sushi off my mind. So we invited the girls to Tepanyaki's for dinner 'cause we love to be entertained by the cooks there.
Tayshaun was hot and sweaty so he went into the bathroom to wet the top of his head to cool off....no, that's not sweat running down his forehead; it's just tap water. hehehehehe


The girls were no fun that night. They didn't want their pics taken 'cause we'd all just got off work and no one primped for pics. Tish and JazLynn - YOU'RE NO FUN! So I didn't get the cook throwing shrimp down Shalyse's shirt 'cause I didn't want anyone yelling that I was trying to take their pic.