Snow, Snow, Go Away!

On Day Three of Winter-palooza, I'm not only ready for this snow to melt, I'm ready for the MASTERS. Come quickly, Spring - with your seersucker and your sandals and your no-need-for-sixteen-layers.


Still, the boys and I enjoyed our final day of this (admittedly, blessedly) long weekend. Jeremy and I finally got smart - after two days of Freddie's whining while we were outside, we decided that he and Jeremy would stay in while Jones and I ventured out.

Nothing much of note happened during our hour or so outside. Jones did a LOT of digging; he rode Freddie's "police 'cycle," and we (I mean, I) unsuccessfully attempted to build a snowman. He really loved it out there, and so long as he didn't accidentally drop a "shubble" full of powder down his neck (he did once), he handled the cold REALLY, surprisingly well.

Jones loves to watch his "shadder."

He LOVED ramming the "cycle" into the snow on the edge of
the driveway and then inspecting the pattern of his tracks.

Thanks to YouTube, Jones's first introduction to Spidey
was the first episode of the 1967 cartoon series.
Gotta say, I learned a thing or two myself.

After his nap, Jones achieved a milestone that, as a mother of boys, I think needs to be noted: he wore his first super hero t-shirt! Now, he's worn Incredibles pajamas, but when I say "super hero" shirt, I'm talking the classics - Batman, Superman, or, in this case, SPIDER-MAN.

I didn't know he knew anything about super heroes, until he started jumping on his bed, calling himself "Superman," and randomly mentioning Spider-Man. Though I have no idea where he was introduced to these guys, I knew he'd be excited to have the t-shirt, which was handed down to me by my friend Stacey's boys and which I uncovered going through some Spring clothes during nap time. I figured it'd be fun for him to not only wear the shirt but to also watch the cartoon for the first time, too.

When I walked him after he'd woken up, I said, "I have a surprise for you!" I showed it to him, and he excitedly said, "A Spider-Man shirt! Oh, BOY!" Then, we made it in to watch the cartoon. He watched while holding on to Mike the Knight's horse.

"Are you Spider-Man?" I asked. He responded, "Yeah. And this (meaning the horse he was holding) Galahad."

Sometimes, he'd stand up in his shirt, making monster-sounds and ghostly motions, and saying, "I spooky!" leaving me to wonder exactly how much (or little, as the case seems to be) he really knows about Spider-Man.

I'm not sure he cares to know all that much more just yet. As soon as the first episode was over, he asked, "Can I please watch 'Stooby Stoo'?"

Sure, Kid.

I AM excited, though, that we are on the threshold of the super hero phase.

Freddie was less interested in Spider-Man than he was in his shoes (see picture). This child has a crazy foot fetish - particularly where these shoes are concerned. He puts them on as soon as he sees them every morning. "Shoo-MON," he tells me ("shoe on") before slipping into them himself.

Finally, just after I'd put the boys to bed, I was in the back of the house when I heard one of them crying. I thought it was Jones and went into his room.

As soon as I opened the door, he looked up at me. It was obvious he hadn't been crying.

"Are you okay, Buddy?" I asked. "I thought you were crying."
"No. It not me. I fine. Thank you for checking on me."
"Well, it must be Freddie."
"Go check see if Freddie okay."

I swear to you, that is how the conversation went down. Immediately after, I came into the den and told Jeremy verbatim what Jones said, so I wouldn't forget.

Turns out, it was Freddie who was crying - he was fine, just wanted me to "peassss sing," which I did. I went back in to tell Jones that Freddie was okay, and he again said, "Thank you for checking on me." As I left the room, he said, "Be careful, Mama. Don't fall on the stairs in the garage." No idea where that came from but thoroughly enjoyed his banter - and his concern for his brother - and the fact that my baby is becoming such a super-hero sized big boy.