Fourth of July Randomness
July 5, 2009
Patriotism = flag t-shirts and polka dot nail polish.
He likes to wear bandanas so he doesn’t have to brush his hair. Shortly after we arrived at the park where we were going to watch the fireworks he noticed a group of highschool aged boys playing football and ran over and joined their game. After a few minutes we hear them shouting his name, he is running with the ball, there are high fives all around, and lots of laughter.
The rest of us look at each other, baffled. We are a family of reserved, shy people who generally go out of our way not to speak to people with whom we do not share DNA.
“How does he do that? Just run up to strangers, like TEENAGERS even, and become their friend like that?”
“I have no idea.”
I wish I knew. I wish I had that ability to just put myself out there.
We watch him, equal parts amazed, proud, and jealous.
Difficult Child version 2.0. He makes me laugh so hard I cry. His random movie quotes thrown into casual conversation just slay me.
“Would you like a bottle of water?”
“How about a nice glass of SHUT THE HELL UP!” *
Oh the tears.
Then two minutes later he is doing something completely crazy or acting so obstinate I want to pull my hair out in frustration.
I have no idea what the conversation was about. I just love the range of expressions on the children’s faces.
Difficult child 2.0 is probably about to say, “Duuuuude,” because that is how he prefaces everything he says these days.
After what feels like an eternity the fireworks start.
My oldest son said, “Considering Texas is like a big tinderbox, they go a little crazy with the fireworks don’t they?”
They are so close. We have to crane our necks to see them. Most of us end up lying down on the blanket.
It’s true, everything really is bigger in Texas.
Then we packed up and went home. Turns out even the traffic jams are bigger in Texas.
Bright and early this morning at a time when only sparrows and Susan are awake, Miles got up, in keeping with Rule 54,vii of the Official Childhood Handbook, which states: On every major holiday one or more children in a family must be ill. Should the holiday fall on a long weekend, any of the days may be used in lieu of the actual holiday.
He laid on top of me, whining, complaining, and making me sweaty with his fever, while I stroked his little back and tried to murmur comforting things like, “Sleeping will make you feel better.” and “Crying just makes you feel worse.” Then I ran around the house looking for the DS game that he needed. Once found, he had nothing else about which to complain. So he rested his head on his DS and promptly fell asleep, where he still remains, drooling, as I type this at 11:57am.
*Bonus points if anyone knows the movie.
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That first photo is so AMERICANA.
July 5th, 2009 at 1:24 pmI believe the movie is Happy Gilmore. If that is the movie I believe that the actual quote is “You want a glass of warm milk?” “How about a nice glass of SHUT THE HELL UP!” My husband and I LOVE that movie.
July 5th, 2009 at 1:24 pmYay! Happy Gilmore!
July 5th, 2009 at 1:26 pmHappy Gilmore was my guess, too. Love the pictures!
July 5th, 2009 at 1:44 pmMy difficult child is like that too. He is only six but where ever he goes he makes friends. I have a hard time just opening myself up like that. Not him. I love it.
I don’t love the difficult part of him. Heh.
Love the photos!
July 5th, 2009 at 1:50 pmI’d love to know what type of camera you use? That first shot of your two kiddos is great and the firework pictures are amazing as well.
July 5th, 2009 at 2:06 pmFollowing your last post about DC 2.0, I commented that my 13yo son sounds just like him, and he also begins every single sentence with “dude.” Usually it’s, “Dude, Mom, …”
July 5th, 2009 at 2:45 pmHahahah……..What would a holiday be without a crisis, huh?? Happy Gilmore!
July 5th, 2009 at 2:57 pmAwesome 4th of July pics! Your kids are so dark now that you’ve moved to TX. Maybe that’s what we need to do so our youngest doesn’t look translucent. My kids go outside, I swear they do, but I guess the sun just doesn’t shine in PA like it does there.
July 5th, 2009 at 3:02 pmBeautiful fireworks pictures!! My husband and I were pondering the very same thing last night here in sweltering Dallas as the neighbors shot off firecrackers LATE into the night (grrrr)- we wondered why there weren’t stricter laws given the dry and the heat. We would also like some laws that restrict idiots to owning homes in only certain suburbs.
July 5th, 2009 at 3:11 pmI love your photography… and, of course, the fact that your family is so GORGEOUS doesn’t hurt.
Hope sweet Miles feels better really soon!
July 5th, 2009 at 3:15 pmI always love your photos - do you have a master’s degree in camera-usage?
July 5th, 2009 at 3:19 pmben stiller as the nurse. my fav line from the entire movie.
July 5th, 2009 at 3:37 pmOk Chris- I just spent last night trying to get a decent photo of the fireworks– without any luck may I add- can you please share what setting you used so one day I too can add a fireworks photo to my scrapbook
Thanks!
July 5th, 2009 at 3:58 pmAnd people tell me that my kids look as though they all came from the same cookie cutter.
You are a very blessed Mama.
And if you are ever in the market for another difficult child, I’ll be happy to send you my Rigel for the summer.
Or longer.
Maybe they are easier to deal with in packs of 3.
Tammy and Parker
July 5th, 2009 at 4:23 pmhttp://www.prayingforparker.com
http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com
@ParkerMama on Twitter
Such beautiful pictures! I can not believe how blond Miles’ hair is getting! Don’t people pay hundreds of dollars to get their hair to look like that?
July 5th, 2009 at 4:54 pmThat is the movie..and it is the part where the grandma goes to the old folks home..and the orderly is ben stiller!
July 5th, 2009 at 5:28 pmtoo fun! sounds like you guys had a fun time!
Looks like fun!
…and I agree, it’s from Happy Gilmore!
July 5th, 2009 at 5:32 pmAww, Heather in MN beat me to it! Yes, love that quote..and it is used frequently around these parts. Could your kids be any stinkin’ cuter?! That Texas sun is turning them golden.
July 5th, 2009 at 6:46 pmI am so jealous of your pictures. I’m dipping my toe into photography, strictly as a hobby, and I’m finding it a lot harder than I thought.
Your kids are adorable! I’m glad Miles waited until the 5th!
July 5th, 2009 at 7:25 pmI dont knowthe movie but when I was in high school that was a common phrase…”hey James, you wanna pass me that book?” “Vanessa, why dont you have a nice tall glass of SHUT THE FUCK UP”
July 5th, 2009 at 7:59 pm(OK, we changed it a bit).
love the photos.
That first picture is killing me….they are just SO.GORGEOUS!!
July 5th, 2009 at 8:03 pmBen Stiller in Happy Gilmore.
And that is the saddest sleeping sick kid I’ve ever seen. Hope he’s feeling better soon. And doesn’t share with everyone.
July 5th, 2009 at 8:04 pmGreat fireworks pictures. We didn’t watch them this years. It is 12 miles to town and a really bad traffic jam to look forward to, so we just declined. Besides, I’m old and getting cranky.
July 5th, 2009 at 10:29 pmHappy 4th of July to ya, love the t-shirs, very patriotic.
July 5th, 2009 at 10:43 pmCheck out those tans! Not in the North East anymore, huh??!
July 6th, 2009 at 1:08 amYou should enter that first picture in a contest!
July 6th, 2009 at 6:09 amGreat pics
Hope Miles is better soon.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:15 amOMG - your kids are soooooo cute (little ones) and handsome (bigger ones).
Oh the tears … even as I read the story.
Feel better to Miles!
July 6th, 2009 at 10:46 amcute kids and cute stories. love reading your blog.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:01 amGreat pictures. Beautiful children. Cool little boy. How do you do it? :o)
July 6th, 2009 at 11:04 amThe family that laughs together stays together even when they’re too old for Mom to make them talk to each other. I know - I came from one. We’re all the best of friends and I couldn’t thank my mom enough for nudging us in the right direction.
Happy Fourth!
July 6th, 2009 at 12:53 pmReally, don’t you know that Adam Sandler movies will just inspire your Difficult Child to new heights. It’s all clear now- they watch inappropriate movies and eat candy off the floor all day.
July 6th, 2009 at 1:25 pmWow! Your first photo looks like a catalog shoot. Just beautiful!!!
July 6th, 2009 at 1:55 pmYour children are beautiful!
July 6th, 2009 at 3:22 pmTalking about movie quotes, my 14 year old went through a stage last year where he quoted Donkey from Shrek constantly. He really does sound like him, but enough of Donkey already!
Your children are model-gorgeous! My girls are like DC 2.0 in that way too…just wide open and running up to talk to people. They certainly did NOT get that from me but I love to see it in them. That trait will serve your son well in life.
July 6th, 2009 at 5:34 pmTexas made your kids even cuter and I didn’t think that was possible!
July 7th, 2009 at 1:36 amYour 1st two photos look like your kids are Ralph Lauren models.
And great fireworks photos!
July 7th, 2009 at 1:32 pmI just found those cute nailpolish pens! We bought red, white and blue. My daughter and I painted her big toes the American flag (and the rest of her toes are sparklers!). . .Love the polka dots!
July 8th, 2009 at 7:44 pm