Tuesday, February 15, 2011

{Virtual Coffee}

Oh yay, it's time for coffee. Come on in because I am already on my second cup.

If we were meeting for coffee today we wouldn't talk about how !@#$% cold it is AGAIN. I wouldn't tell you the weird sounds my car was making on the way to school because there is just no way to describe them other than it was a kind of weary weeping, or maybe that was me.

If we were meeting for coffee I would tell you all about the birthday that came and went in our house this week.

My little ray of sunshine turned 8. EIGHT?!


How did that happen?! It took all I had not to laugh and/or cry when he dressed himself for school that day in his fancy shirt and tie. Funny how the feel of wearing nice clothes can effect even children.

I would tell you about BOTH cakes he had. I think it's almost standard nowadays to have two celebrations for kids - one with family and then another with their friends. But what's not to like about more cake huh? There was a lot of hot air blowing.


If you came over for coffee today I would show you our new mailbox that appeared shortly before Valentine's Day. We have been exchanging all kinds of messages and I got my first Valentine in it L-O-N-G before the 14th.

Yesterday morning I was also handed this one - the heart shaped marshmallow from Riley's bowl of Lucky Charms. It really is the thought that counts.

And while we were talking Valentine's Day I would weep about how, for the second year in a row, Riley came home from school with one measly valentine. Last year I wrote about how painful that was for him but this year he seemed to take it a little more in stride although you never know what is percolating beneath the surface, do you? It's hard to explain to an eight-year old how the nice guys don't always finish last. Some days growing up is as painful for the child as it is for the parent.

If we were meeting for coffee today I would declare that our aquarium is finally stable. After two weeks of daily water changes, the ammonia, nitrates and nitrites are, at last, at an "acceptable" level. I would tell you that there is evidence that Riley is a budding buddhist. He chose the bamboo for the aquarium (that's Turbo Snail climbing up the stalk - so named as the thing covers ground like a snail on espresso)

as well as the pagoda.

And at Chapters last Friday he picked out this mini zen garden kit with his gift certificate (over other toys and books).


And he's getting quite good at the raking procedure. Gotta love the gardener with his umbrella hat.

Well, it's time for me to go and see what I can do about my coat. Yesterday whilst leaving my office building at the end of the day I walked into a perfume cloud and the trim around my hood still smells and it's been making me feel kind of nauseous.

If you still have a thirst trot on over to Amy's Lucky Number 13 for another cup!


13 comments:

Lis said...

dang! i am off to the dentist soon, so no coffee for me, as if that one cup would do all the staining ...

Happy birthday to your little man! Mine is 6 1/2 and I seriously believe a heavy book on her head might stop the aging process ...

And my mommy heart aches for Riley ... how is it the school allows valentines if each child isn't given one? That is the rule at our school ... which i guess only delays the inevitable lesson that not everyone will like you and thank goodness, you don't have to like everyone. But what about kindness? Oh, your budding Buddhist is sharing some pretty intense teachings.

Meanwhile, my dog's valentine to me was to eat the loaf of bread i foolishly left too close to the edge of the counter top ... that was my day!

hugs and warm thoughts! xo Lis

Corinne Cunningham said...

8... wow! Happy birthday to your guy. Looks like it was a fantastic birthday cake wise ;)

oreneta said...

Goodness, I love the gardener...what a fabuolus kid!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RILEY and Happy Valentines day from all of us! <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3


O

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Riley!!
I am loving your blog!
It inspired me to get a bowl of lucky charms ;)

Kathryn Costa said...

Your little ray of sunshine is so very adorable. I love that he is a budding Buddhist. We need more compassionate men in the world. Yeah for you. I share your tender heart moments for I too have a sensitive warrior whose heart I hold in mine. It seems like when my son's little heart aches, mine aches 10-fold. Loved the coffee talk.

Kim Mailhot said...

Love that Riley kid ! His garden makes me relax from here.

Glad life in the aquarium is balanced finally. Now if only real life could have its chemicals altered just right.

Hugs and Valentines to you guys !

Cheryl said...

Happy birthday Riley! Can't believe how time flies. I especially love the tie!

magpie said...

love the shirt, tie and pajama bottoms look. what a cutie!

Jade @ Tasting Grace said...

Oh your little man is so cute! Happy Birthday Riley! And if I were in the vicinity, I would totally give him a Valentine card.

Amy @ Lucky Number 13 said...

Riley sounds like a very cool little boy, just like his mama : ) and very handsome in his shirt and tie! i hate that crap with the valentine's...why do kids do that? as the parent , i wouldn't allow it, all kids would get a valentine from my child and if he/she didn't want to then they wouldn't be allowed t send any at all. here the kids send one for every classmate.
sorry it is still cold there..we are on a brief hiatus from it..it actually got to FIFTY DEGREES TODAY! but alas, the cold will be back soon.
thanks for coffee!

Christi said...

the first picture of him blowing out his candles is perfect! stopping by from lucky number 13. i host tea on tuesday, too. feel free to join in sometime, too!

Carapace said...

Aw, lookit that serious face while he puts on his tie! Fancy dress indeed!

I am baffled by the Valentine shunning stories I hear. When my classes did Valentine's parties, it was both required and a point of pride to have a valentine for EVERYone in the class-- kids who couldn't afford to do that (more common than some realize) could talk to the teacher and use reserve cards so they wouldn't be left out. It was great! And also sneaky penmanship/writing practice, very smart, teachers!

But hey,two cakes! Hurrah!

*off to have real coffee*

Monique Kleinhans said...

I don't even like coffee, but I like having coffee with you. ;)