As soon as Peter’s parents seemed interested in Peter’s new Pre-K school, I went online to look at the school calendar and discovered when the Monday holidays were, put them on my own calendar, and, as soon as seemed appropriate (a day or so after school had begun), I mentioned it to Kevin and suggested that we begin to think along the lines of “when can Peter come to visit again?”
And so, Columbus Day it was! I picked him up, as has been the norm, at school’s end on Thursday (because, really, even though there is school on Fridays, it’s Pre-K and there isn’t going to be a visit from college reps or big “we-hope-you’ll-get-into-the-university-of-your-choice” testing). And isn’t a trip to the zoo just as educational? I think SO!
And, truly, he seems taller and stronger and, well, all the ‘ers there could be.
Thursday–meeting Granddad at the Mayborn for Late Night, which includes Waffle Fries before visiting the rooms. And, a quietish early evening for Mimi, who spent quite a bit of the day in the car.
Friday–ZOO! Freshwater Aquarium, playground, tortoises, grilled cheese at the cafe.
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- A twisty-turny trip down . . .
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- The Otter Slide is so much fun! Even if the otters aren’t sliding down around you because the otter tank is being cleaned.
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- Peter found a bug like this at the zoo playground, and we found this one on the car door when we got home (different colors, but same sort of bug).
I took this photo and sent it David to see what it was. I got this in response: “In general, assassin bugs hunt on various types of vegetation, including trees, weeds and bushes. Assassin bugs are able to fly but they are poor fliers in general with some notable exceptions.
Although most assassin bugs are slow-moving and non-aggressive, they will use their rostrum in self-defense if handled carelessly. Such bites may be rather painful to humans because the bugs inject the same salivary secretion used to dissolve the tissues of their prey. This results in the death of a small area of cells at the site of the bite. The symptoms are an intense burning sensation, often followed by a small, itchy lump that may persist for several days. However, no true toxin is involved so it is rare for the reaction to last long or to extend beyond the site of the bite. Some bites occur when the bugs are purposely handled out of curiosity, but most happen through accidental contact while gardening or working in the open. The sharp pain associated with assassin bug bites is usually enhanced by the surprise accompanying the experience.
The beneficial qualities of assassin bugs far outweigh their negative potential, and learning to get along with these indispensable predators is in our own best interest.” BAD BITES!! You’d think I’d have learned my bug lesson by now!
Well, it didn’t bite me, and we were at home and ready to make some cookies for a friend who loves Halloween.
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- We stirred up that cookie dough, and Peter looked down at it with dismay. “I like *chocolate* cookies,” he said. “Well,” I said, “usually when I make sugar cookies, they’re just vanilla.” “But, I like *chocolate* cookies.” So, there you go. Chocolate sugar cookies, which, in truth, really do seem a little more Halloweeny. I’d bought these really interesting/cute Halloween sprinkles.
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- Turns out that, really, they were meant for cupcakes and things that you decorate *after* you bake the cookies. On a baking sheet in a hot oven, they just sort of melt away or get sticky. Not particularly attractive, but apparently, still pretty tasty.
Also on Friday, Peter was talking to me about Columbus Day, and how it was a holiday on Monday and we should have a cake that said “Columbus Day” on it, and have it for breakfast on Monday, with hot chocolate. He is always full of ideas that are really rather stream of consciousness things, and I said, “Sure.”
On Saturday, he said, “What about our plan, Mimi?” “What plan?” Sign of exasperation. “Our plan of a Columbus Day cake and hot chocolate for breakfast!” “Oh, that plan.”
So Sunday, before going to the library to get another video, because the Bob video we got on Friday only had ONE Bob, and some other characters in other videos, and the library doesn’t open until 1:00, we went to Wal-Mart for cake ingredients, etc. And then when we got back to the library, there were some friends from church, finding some interesting activities on the computers, and we didn’t get home until 3:00, and then I had to be back at church by 4:00 for a training event, and when I got home a little before 6:00, we went straight to Kiddieland to ride the train and a couple of other things, and then we rushed home for a quick bath and some dinner, and enough time for a book before bedtime at 8:00, so I was up until midnight or so, baking and decorating that little cake.
At then at breakfast, David said, “I thought there was supposed to be hot chocolate,” and I said, “EEK!” and warmed up some milk and put chocolate syrup in it.
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- Columbus Day cake for breakfast
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- It’s not really supposed to be a heart-shaped cake. Kevin had called right when I went to take the cake from the oven and I dropped it and a plug popped out of the top of it.
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- As I was trying hard to get ready to go, I looked around and realized it looked like the house had been broken into; it was such a disaster!
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- Pretty chaotic. It looked quite a bit better by time we left for Fort Worth.
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- Saturday morning, while Peter and David were out to breakfast and on the the Mayborn, again, I ran some errands and found a tissue box with characters from the movie Cars. While Peter’s never seen it, he’s familiar with the cars and likes them. So I bought it.
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- As we were getting ready to leave Monday morning, he wanted to take it with him. “No,” I said. “It’s a tissue box for here.” He was sad. “Do you want me to take pictures of it, and I’ll send you the pictures?” Oh, yes, he did. So, the tissues are still here. Sometimes it doesn’t take a lot for little kids to be happy.
How can we possibly thank God enough for all the happiness you have brought us?
1 Thessalonians 3:9 (Contemporary English Version)
There’s another Monday holiday the first week of November. I have my hopes up.
ONE DAY Peter will look back and realize what a LUCKY little boy he was!!!!!!!!
Luck all around!
I expect Dee Dee’s reply is going to happen and who knows what Peter will decide to do with the wealth of love, nurturing, and knowledge which was poured into his precious life or how he will bless other folks with the gift you and all his family has given him.
The plan is to become an astronaut. Peter said to Kevin, “Daddy, if you’re still alive when I grow up and become an astronaut, you can be an astronaut, too!” And, he has a friend at church, and the plan is to marry her and she can also become an astronaut, and, if they have a baby, the baby can be an astronaut, too! All planned out. Unless he’s decided on something else in the past few weeks.