My Obsessive Boy

Yes, in case I forget to mention the newest obsession of Ethan, it is Harry Potter.  Here is proof:

Mesmerized in Harry Potter.  He is now up to book 5.   So proud of him.

The Remarriage Campaign

As soon as we got home today, Artimus came up to me very cute and sweetly, and said, "Your mother's aunt and I both want you and daddy to get married again.  That's what we want.  Can you marry Daddy again?  Please?"  With her long smile showing her teeth and her eyelashes batting, I couldn't help but laugh.  Daddy took them to visit my grand aunt over the weekend while I was trying to finish a report.  My grand aunt had questioned the wisdom of my decision when she first learned of our divorce.  She absolutely adored him.  I must admit, most older people we meet adore him.  But why this now, after more than four years of separation and divorce?

We talked.

Me: "Do you want me to be happy?"  

Artimus:  "Yes."

Me: "Can you let me choose who I want to be with?"

Artimus:  ---

Me: "What if I fall in love with someone else?"

Artimus: "You cannot marry anyone else."

Me: "Can you let me choose who will make me happy?"

Artimus: "You will marry him?"

Me: "May be."

Artimus: "Then can I be the flower girl?"  

Me: "Yes, of course."

We hugged.

Artimus:  "Can I have the ice-cream now?  You promised."

I have a feeling there will be more of these types of conversations.

JW

Sleeping in the Same Bed

There are true benefits to sleeping in the same bed.  We get to cuddle, kiss, hug and build great memories of comfort and love.  The truth is, we can all remember a time in our younger days when we were afraid of the dark, the stillness of the night, and monsters/ghosts.  We craved the warmth and protection of the superheroes like mommy and daddy.  After all, our bodies dictated that there is nothing better than a good night sleep.

These true benefits to sleeping with parents diminish as the years progress.  At least for the parent, the kids' nighttime spins and karate moves get less tolerable as their size get bigger.  That kick in the head at 4:00 am in the morning is no longer forgivable.  The leg swung on top of my belly no longer felt like a slap but like a punch.  This is particularly true for Ethan, whose bones are bigger and heavier.  Artimus, being female, is softer.  She is also less violent in her sleep.

This morning, I had a revelation.  Even though I love to wake up with them by my side and know that they slept well, I think it's time for them to be in their bed.  Perhaps I can reactivate that fulton I bought that can be laid out on the floor in front of their bunk bed.  I must get Ethan to learn to sleep on his own.  Otherwise, I might begin to feel like a battered mother.  But how can I get upset at a sleeping child?

Artimus fell off the bed last night.  I helped her back on to the bed and she just continued sleeping.  Amazing.

JW

Graduations, Moving Up Ceremonies, and Awards

Yes, Ethan and Artimus are both making me very proud.  Ethan worked so hard in his reading and writing that he is no longer scoring below 50 on tests.  Instead, he earned overall honors in all subject areas, which meant he got above a 90 average on all subjects.  His reading appears to be better than his math now.  Amazing.  He can't help but talk about Harry Potter all the time.  My obsessive compulsive boy merely got a new thing to obsessed about.  For that, I am glad it's about books.

Artimus got honors at school without much effort.  Can you imagine if she actually put efforts into her studies?  She also got third honors in Chinese School, after attending only half the year.  This is also amazing because she is the only one who does not finish her homework in class.  She is smart.  I hope in the years to come, she will learn the value of hard work.

So I am proud of them.  They are my joy and pride.  They make me laugh just by being who they are.

God Bless!

JW

A proud mom!

Artimus at Chinese School kindergarten graduation.

I got a picture of Ethan, barely.  I couldn't even get a picture of him at his awards ceremony.

Artimus, the ballerina with treats from her teacher after the performance.  Artimus looks like a real girl now.  Not my little baby anymore.

Do you see what's in her hands?  She was so happy to be one of five who got honors.  But for the life of me, I have no idea where that little thing went after she got home.  Oh well, less clutter.