August Many

Did I ever tell you about the time when August was quite into super heroes? He still likes them, mind you, but this was when he was nuts over them. Talked about them all the time. Created new heroes on a daily basis. The kid was obsessed!
There is this restaurant we used to go to pretty often out here called Blue Star. Wonderful brunches, always long lines on Sunday, you know the kind of place...every city has one like it. Anyway, we would go there and of course, while we waited, August would talk about super heroes. What his favorite power was, who the strongest of the strong was, you get the picture. When suddenly he stopped talking and just went slack-jawed. I followed his line of vision and saw the bus boy. Wondering what was wrong I tapped August on the shoulder and asked. He continued to stare and said that the bus boy looked like someone.

Let me pause here and remind you that I have played many tricks on my poor son. There was the Mommy Dot- where a dot would appear when he lied and only a mom could see it. (He spent years covering his forehead whenever he told a lie.) There was also the time when I told him that whenever he steps on ants the bees are notified and they'd come after the person who killed the ant. (Totally believed me.) We won't mention the Tooth Fairy, he figured that one out when she kept forgetting to put money under his pillow.

Back to Blue Star. I took a good look at the bus boy and though that he did look like someone. He looked like Tobey Maguire.
By this time we were in our seats and I too kept sneaking peaks at our man Tobey when I looked back at August and whispered, "Oh my GOSH! I know who that IS! It's SPIDERMAN!"
August's eyes widened and...he believed me. Bought it hook, line and sinker. He wondered what Peter Parker was doing in Seattle and I told him that he must have needed to get away to conceal his secret identity. That he got the job at Blue Star pretty easily and can be a regular person until his Spider Senses went off, then he could slip out the back door and no one would ever know.
For months we kept going back to Blue Star and August would always stare at "Peter Parker". Even felt sorry for him at times. Finally one brunch, August went up to use the bathroom and we called "Peter" over to the table and explained that our son thought he was a super hero, Spiderman to be exact. That we all agreed, he did look a bit like Tobey Maguire, surely other people told him that. Nope. We were the first.
After chatting for a while we asked if he would consider playing along. He loved the idea and when August came back from the bathroom "Peter" quietly came up to our table and started talking to August. Thanking him for keeping his identity a secret.
I watched my little boy turn all shades of red while his eyes widened, he agreed to continue to keep the secret.

August has come a long way since those days. He thinks twice before believing EVERYTHING I tell him. But he's still pretty trusting.
He's about to be a sixth grader. Starts a new school next Wednesday. I've been watching my friends on Facebook post pictures of their kids on their way to school. Many of them lament days gone by when their children were younger.
I am not lamenting those days. I enjoyed August so much when he was a baby. Enjoyed him as a toddler and a little kid. But I am so excited for my son to become more independent. Can't wait for him to feel that he can make his own way and be his own person. Next Wednesday is the start of all that.

We cleaned out his room a few weeks ago. Worked on getting rid of the little kid stuff and replaced them with band posters and such. The huge bin full of his super hero action figures was pulled out of his closet. He sat in the hallway and looked at each one. Asked us if we remembered when he did this or that with this guy. Took some time to pose each one. And then informed us that he wasn't going to get rid of these.

Childhood

I've been really watching Hazel these last few days. yesterday we were able to spend some time swimming at the gym and eating her favorite food and doing nails and watching the new Disney musical movie. I watched her as the lead boy and girl finally sang their song together, their hands touching as they gazed into each other's eyes. I watched my girl lift her own hands to her face with a look of complete awe and hope. I watched and I got a bit sad. Trey and I have had these conversations many times...the ones about how movies and TV have distorted everyone's idea of romance...I saw Hazel get a bit distorted last night. She's so many years away from having to worry about boys and kissing but she's so hopeful already. I overheard her say that she wanted to "make-out" with the neighbors boy cousin the other day...MAKE-OUT!!! When I asked her what that meant she told me, with conviction, that it meant going into the bathroom and kissing on the lips. What?
August and Hazel and I took a short walk up the street to the local grocery store because I ran out of olive oil...can't have Ann-Kresten's Salmon without it! As we were walking Hazel asked if she could run the block. And then I watched her run. She ran with no thoughts of how she looked, or how much energy it would take to make the entire block, she just ran full speed and laughed the whole time. I remember that. I remember running up hills and down blocks and just not caring...until my neighbor asked if I wanted to join cross country...then I cared...and I hated it. She would coax me into running just a little bit longer...just to the next mailbox...just to the next street sign. I hated it. I want to encourage Hazel to love it. To love being outside and in the sun and using every bit of energy she has in her cute little body. I love watching this little girl grow up.

my girl hazel

Hazel is obsessed with the new Rosie Thomas record. she listens to it when she's going to bed and starts it over when she wakes up.
we spent some time over the weekend organizing her room and there was Rosie singing in the background with Hazel humming right along. it was a very strange experience for me. my little girl is developing taste in music, she's singing along to her favorite songs...she's going into kindergarten. it's all so strange to watch her grow up.
we take turns picking out the clothes she will wear. today was her day. she will be leaving the house wearing jeans with roses embroidered on the pockets, pink shoes and socks and a black shirt with the word "love" across the chest. she loves these clothes. she feels like a grown-up in them.
i'm not ready for her to feel like a grown-up.