Mr T had to go a a 3-day business trip. He came home for one day and I left for a conference for 6 days. Big T was NOT happy. He did not like being left out of all the traveling, and he really did not like the fact that we seemed to be leaving all the time.

I don’t know how other PhD moms do it, but conference time is stressful around here. Scientific conferences are good for my career. Essential, even  - the networking, the learning, the presenting… but leaving Mr T to hold down the fort solo for 6 days is kind of a BIG deal. Plus I miss the fam. I really, really miss them.

So what do I do while I am gone?

1) Skype

2)somehow can’t seem to stop buying them mementosof my trip

3)email

4)Skype some more (Did I mention, skype is awesome!)

And what do they do while I’m gone?

I have not a clue. But I really hope they just sort of keep up the routine as much as possible.

Mr T is a ROCKSTAR!

Big T – Had a super awesome spiderman themed birthday party. He was so proud to turn 5. It was completely adorable. And fun. Except for the throwing up. And the kid with the migraine. Totally unforseen.

Little T’s birthday was more low-key. Except for the humongous birthday cake. And the snow storm that stranded most of our guests for the night. Totally unexpected.

But the kids are alright. Better than alright.

Over the last six months we have been going through a major spiderman phase. All I hear is

“spiderman this…”

 ”spiderman that…”

“Did you know that Peter Benjamin Parker turns into spiderman?”

(Yes, Big T knows his middle name too)

I tell you, the boy is IN LOVE with spiderman. He wants to clinb walls and web-sling and catch bad guys just like spiderman. Me? I am just so-so when it comes to spidey. I mean, I like the guy ok…

Apparently, Big T is not alone when it comes to the being obsessed with the masked crusader. There is a play currently on broadway, and Spiderman 3, the movie is in production.

Seriously? Spiderman on Broadway??????????

See for yourself.

http://spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com/

I might get a delectable cake from one of the local area pastry shops. mmmmmmmmmmm. cake. I like cake Mr T’s birthday is really just an excuse for me to get whatever kind of cake I like. Yay!

What a week! SO GLAD it’s friday. Time to party!! (And by party, I mean, crash on the couch. You know how we do…)

Yes, it has been over 2 months since I last posted anything. And what a crazy couple of months it has been!

We moved. Moving is always crazy. Crazy busy, crazy expensive and just crazy crazy. And it was just a cross-town move. I really do not like moving. The kids have adjusted well to their new surroundings. In fact they love it so much that whenever Big T is mad at me, he threatens to send me back to the old house.

Both kids are in a new childcare situation. They like it so far.

Big T had a really scary episode of respiratory distress. Not fun times. He was excited to ride in the ambulance though. We are so thankful to God that he is fine now.

Little T is now walking. Running, even. And using words. Real words, not the nonsense gurgling. He even said ”I love you” the other day. It sounded more like “I ei ouu” but I KNEW what he meant. Also he has more teeth. Molars.

Speaking of Molars, Mr T got his wisdom teeth extracted. All four of them

And me, I am the executive manager of the household. This means I pass out on the couch at 10 pm every night.

Like I said, we have been busy. But we are also blessed. Very blessed

You may wonder what the title of this post has to do with anything. I am not quite sure myself. I do know it’s something Big T said. It was funny at the time. It was hilarious. I promise. Oh, wait I remember…something about the buttmaker 3000 being able to transform your butt from one without a tail to one with a tail. Isn’t that something everyone wants?

A LITTLE GIRL?????

I have to say, I have not been called a little girl since…since…I was a little girl.

Big T came up to me, and made me turn around to verify that I did not indeed have a cape, and thus I cannot fly. SO, no hero status for me.

You know what though, ALL moms are heroes. All the sacrifices, the hours spent worrying about them, trying to do what’s best for them. Making  them eat their veggies. Sharing your last M&M with them. Protecting them from cutting their tongue to pieces by licking ketchup off a knife (this really almost happened).

 I am a hero, gosh darnit.

*off to make me a cape*

 ”I am just FARTING so much”

Like I said, he is such an example of great manners.

It doesn’t matter that I’ve known most of said songs since before he was born. Like way way way before he was born. Whatevs kid. I practically wrote the song. Pleeeease.

Ok, so I did not write that particular song. Or have I ever written any song…but no matter. I could have.

And so I sing.

And he screams at me.

And I keep singing.

What are children for if you can’t mess with them sometimes?

First of all, I don’t even know where he got that. Second of all, he absolutely refuses to be corrected. “Red blood CELL” I said. “NO! Red blood SMILE!” he countered. And I smiled. Maybe our red blood cells do smile. After all they are bi-concave discs so they have a speciale shape. Actually, of all the formed elements in blood (i.e. the non liquid parts like red and white blood cells and platelets), red blood cells are my favorites. For real. What? Not everyone has a favorite blood cell? Well, everyone should. Jus’ sayin’

Last time I went to the doctor though, I was told MY red blood cells were not up to snuff. Nothing serious, just a slight anemia. It is the ultimate betrayal, isn’t it? I love them and I have been like a mother to them, and in return, I am rewarded with them being slightly sub-par in their iron content. Boo. so I get to eat more iron-rich foods, and take supplements.

Since I know you all were on the ede of youe seats wondering what a red blood cells look like, here’s a picture, courtesy of the Encyclopedia Brittanica:

Are they not the cutest things ever? Plus they kind of keep us alive so I do appreciate them.

 I know I went all weird and sciency today, but it was worth it, right?

Sometimes, he calls it Buzz Lightbeer. It’s from the movie…Woody the Cowboy once called Buzz “lightbeer”…it was funny. I promise.

He earned it by collecting “good behavior bricks”. We started him off with 5 bricks (yellow legos). He got a brick everytime he was well behaved, and lost a brick everytime he was naugthy. It took a whole week to earn 5 additional bricks. A WHOLE WEEK. He kept losing bricks for talking back and shoving his brother and not listening. It was exhausting. But we got there. And he got it. What’s funny is that now that he has the bricks, we still use them as bargaining chips for good behaviour, even though there is no longer a prize attached to them. Which is nice, cause that could get expensive.

We took the kids to see Toy Story 3 and ever since, Big T has been obsessed with the characters. Little T did not make it past the opening credits, so I spent most of the time standing outside. But somehow, I still enjoyed myself, and I caught enough of the movie to get the gist of it. It was our first time of taking him to see a feature length movie, and there was no drama. Well, little to no drama. Big T ate popcorn, Little T ate M&Ms, and we bonded as a family.