We’ve been bribing Adlani with a ride on “the REAL Thomas” if he went peepee on the potty. It finally worked, so Saturday we headed down to Carver where Thomas the Tank Engine was making a visit. We arrived about 3 hours before our Thomas-departure, so we had plenty of time to go on the other rides and have lunch. Unfortunately, Adlani only wanted “the real Thomas” and wouldn’t go on any rides. We finally got him on the Red Baron, and for the first time ever I got a great picture of the kids on a ride in motion. Unfortunately he cried through the whole ride – not because he was scared, but because “I want to ride the REAL Thomas!! WAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!”

He was happy when we finally got our ride on Thomas, and especially when he got to visit the Thomas Gift Shop. It was a nice day and a very quiet ride home.

I had to catch Adlani before he ran out to play with the girls wearing only a t-shirt and his rain boots. Then later I noticed that he was playing with a keychain with a tiny flashlight on it. When I asked him what he was doing he said, “I’m putting a decoration on my penis.” Later still, I found him out front peeing on the cherry tomatoes. We’re in trouble.

Update: When I was telling a recent visitor this story she said, “You mean the cherry tomatoes I just ate?!” Luckily she washed them. Ick.

Update #2: We moved Adlani’s train table to his room and yesterday he was so excited to play with it that when he had to go potty he took off his shorts and underwear and peed on the floor (and his toys, clothes, etc.). When he got in trouble for that he said some bad words that started with “stupid” and ended with a four-letter word. THEN…we were at Aliya’s soccer practice at her school. I was chatting with my friends until Ben called my attention to Adlani standing in the playground area with his pants down, preparing to pee. It’s all you, honey.

Aliya had her first soccer game for the Framingham United Under-7 league, and she scored a goal!! She was so proud. Adlani loved hanging out with the future Fireballs and pushing Norah’s stroller was a favorite half-time activity so it was all good. When Adlani had to pee I told him we’d go to the bushes and he said, “OK…and then a bear will come out.” He’s so brave.

No, I have not gone AWOL. I’ve spent the last 2 days in Waltham teaching a class on…try to contain yourselves…building codes! Woo-Hoo!!! I think it went well…we had 14 students and nobody skipped out on the second day. We had one guy who suddenly broke out in hives and couldn’t take the test, but maybe he’s allergic to test-taking like I’m allergic to public speaking. I didn’t have to take my public speaking medicine so maybe I’m outgrowing that allergy (finally!). Thursday night I had to stay after class for a dinner meeting and presentation on…again, calm yourselves…glass! Am I exciting or what?!

Tomorrow we have Aliya’s first soccer game with the Framingham United league and then we’re going for a ride on “the real Thomas” which we’ve been promising Adlani as soon as he’s a big boy (stops pooping in his pants). I’m sure there will be photos to post so check back soon!

Adlani and Norah both made it through their first day at preschool / day care without much trouble. The note in Adlani’s folder said that he had a great day – no mention of any bad behavior or forgetting to use his indoor voice, listening ears, or walking feet – almost more than I could have hoped for. Norah cried a little when I dropped her off and cried each time the doorbell rang (twice) for kids that were picked up before she was. I’m sure she’ll realize very soon that Lina’s house is way more fun than I am. Either that or she’ll be conditioned to cry at the sound of a doorbell for the rest of her life. This was the first time I’ve started one of the kids in a new place that I didn’t cry. When we came out the front door this morning I yelled, “It’s Adlani’s first day of preschool!! Woo-Hoo!!!” The neighbors were cracking up. As you might expect, he wasn’t all that cooperative for his first day of school picture. On the bright side, he was out cold by 7 p.m.

My big problem of the moment is what the heck to put in Adlani’s lunch box. He will only eat hot dogs, chicken nuggets (preferably from McDonalds because the others “have too much chicken inside”), and pizza. None of those are that appetizing after sitting in a lunch box for 4 hours. He ate a hot dog and a half today but the leftovers were in a thermos full of icky grease. The cut up pears came home in both lunch boxes because they were “too squishy”. Aliya ate 4 crackers for snack because the cheese was also “too squishy” by afternoon-snack-time. I’m at a loss. I’m sure the other moms are sending in smiley-face snacks made of organic veggies layered on soy-nut-butter on whole wheat bread, with little notes of love and encouragement. My kids’ Thomas and Bratz lunchboxes are full of snack-sized bags of mini muffins and fishie crackers. How am I going to explain that there’s no money for college because I spent it all at BJ’s?