Out Like a Lion

Well, summer definitely went out like a lion...a fun holiday weekend to be had and a very hot temp for the first day of September, which of course seems so strange since September just sounds so 'fall'.It started out on Friday with a birthday celebration for me...yes, Metal Mommy is another year older (and of course deeper in debt...I'm in America, aren't I??). It was the 42nd one, sort of a blah birthday. Although 42 definitely means you are IN your forties, not just hovering around it anymore. Vivian made me a lovely cake--she did pretty well with only yellow food coloring, random frosting tubes and a few candles. In her usual clever (and thoughtful!) manner instead of putting 42 candles on the cake she put four and then the number 2 candle. Yes, I blew them all out in one puff...of course knowing me with all of my hot air I probably could have managed 42 of them!! The only thing I really wanted was Godfather's pizza for my special meal...it's a memory thing, Godfathers was the pizza place I went to after every football game and fun event in junior high and high school. It was a nice gift indeed, considering Coreman had to drive a bit to get it, there isn't a restaurant very close by. The pizza was a bit cool by the time we got it home, but definitely worth it. Yum! I don't know if it's especially good pizza or just the association...but no matter! It's a pizza I can't refuse!

Over the weekend we got invited to Mark and Dawn's house to celebrate the end of summer with yet another lovely BBQ. Friends of theirs have a Sullivan too...a girl one! :-) I've heard a lot about them, so it was fun to finally meet them and have the Sullivans play. They were pretty much inseparable--my Sully was in the pool from 2:00 when we arrived until 9:00 when we left. Check out those pruney feet! Imagine if the Sullivans married? Sullivan and Sullivan. Sounds like a law firm.

And last night, an impromptu BBQ here with our friends Darcie, Dan, Elliot and Q. Here are the big boys talking gadgets, as always. Too bad I didn't get photos of the kids downstairs doing their 'band'--Elliot on drums, Sullivan guitar (a blow-up one, that is...) and Quinton on microphone. Luckily we did get some movie footage...good stuff. They were jamming along to "Smells Like Teen Spirit", by Nirvana. Makes a Metal Mommy proud...*sniff*...

And another *sniff*--off to school the kids went today! I am crying both in sadness and joy. Sadness of course because the summer is gone and you can't get those days back...my children are on to
another school year. Joy because the summer is gone and that means FREEDOM for Mommy! Although I will miss sleeping in, there is definitely something to be said for my very own schedule for a few hours a day. ahhhh.

Happy Back to School everyone!

We Got the Beat

Rock and Roll lives on in this household, in one form or another. Vivian has said "been there, done that" with the electric guitar, and now she's on to the drums. As a parent, part of me feels badly that we let kids drop things like this so easily...should we force them to continue to learn something they aren't interested in for the lesson of sticking to something? Part of me feels that yes, we should. Then again, Vivian has spent her own money on the guitar and the lessons and if it's not something she really loves or wants to pursue, what good does it do anyone to force her to? How would one know where one's passion lies unless they try it all?

Jamming with her cousins on their set got her interested in the whole drumming thing and I might say she has a natural knack for it. It's like that with any instrument she tries, really, so it wasn't a surprise. We'll see if this one lasts...ah well, if not the drums will go up on Craig's List, where we found them, and it will be on to the next thing. It has been great fun to have those drums set up for anyone who wants to give it a try. Coreman and Vivian have actually gotten a good jam going, I think I heard some Sex Pistols filtering up the stairs at one point. nice. The girl has to learn the important beginnings of rock and roll!!! I fiddled around on the set and let me just say Vivian does not get her natural drumming talent from her Metal Mommy. I have a hard enough time accomplishing one thing, let alone trying to do 3 or 4 different things at the same time--which is essentially what drumming is. Now I just have to figure out how to have a conversation on the phone around here...!

Recommended Homework

One of the great things about kids is that often you do things because of them that you normally wouldn't do...well of course there are the things like wiping bottoms and cleaning up puke and those kinds of nasty but necessary things which given the choice I'm sure most of us would not really opt to do...but then there are things like striking up conversations with strangers at the park or their school that end up being your best friends, or getting to see cool places because your daughter has a homework assignment over the summer that of course has to involve you as the parent. That is exactly what happened and as a result the whole family had a mini-vacation up in Two Harbors the past couple of days.

Vivian had to pick a historical site that she had never been to and now must prepare a presentation to be given on her first day of school--as a proud parent I have to add that it's for Advanced Social Studies. (my smart little girl!) After looking over a pamphlet made especially for celebrating the state's 150th birthday, she chose the Split Rock Lighthouse, which is up in Two Harbors. Since my brother and his family live in Duluth, we made a stop there and hung with them for a while. My nephews are a blast, and very musically talented. Vivian loves to jam with Simon--and she found a new talent, the drums! She hopped on there and before I knew it she was actually playing a beat. Nice! Does this mean there will now be drums in our future? yikes. Good choice tho...good drummers are always in demand. Like Spinal Tap, they are usually the bane of your band existence...and The Charm School Dropouts were no exception. But I digress.

After spending the day in Duluth we made our way farther up north. Two Harbors is such a cute little town and we stayed in a great little Motel called the Country Inn--highly recommended! Nothing fancy, mind you...if you're looking for room service your not going to find it there...but it was clean and friendly, and you can't beat the 18 hole putt putt golf course out front! :-) They also had a pool which is always a hit with the kids. We did some exploring around there, going down by the water and walking out on this pier in I think was called Agate Bay. Beautiful! The wind about bowled us over out there and it was freezing--but totally worth it. That lake is amazing, you totally feel like you are looking over the ocean.

The next day we made our way to the Split Rock Lighthouse--time to get the homework done! Very cool. We did the tour complete with people in period costume and up into the lighthouse we went. This Metal Mommy got a little claustrophobic in that thing, but I managed. The stairs were high and tight, and getting about 15 people into that little lighthouse was not easy. The whole thing is pretty amazing though, and hearing how the old lighthouse keepers kept things running smoothly makes my lazy days seem pretty, well, lazy. Nothing like running up those steps first to the building and then up into the tower every two hours of every day to keep you in shape. Makes my little Tae Bo on demand work out look kind of flimsy. From there we made our way to Gooseberry Falls--not on the homework agenda but definitely a must-see if you are in the area. Gorgeous! You can hike all around the falls on various paths. At one point we went onto a bridge that spanned over the entire thing, it was an incredible view to see that all beneath you with Lake Superior out on the horizon.

After that we got in the car for the drive home. It was a short trip, definitely something we want to go do again. The kids could have spent an entire day climbing rocks and throwing little ones into the water. The perfect kind of play, in my opinion. It's funny how when you live in an area for so long you kind of forget what is right out your back door.

So Happy 4th! Any fun plans? We're heading over to Steph and John's for a nice little dip in the pool and BBQ, before heading out onto Interlachen for the fireworks show. It's going to be a group this year, a bonafide party! Have a great one!

Silly Me Indeed

Silly me, I thought my diapering days were over. Well, at least on hold until I am a Heavy Metal Grandma--which (heaven help us)won't be for a VERY long time. But alas, we are leaving Sir Digby in the care of some dear friends as we embark on an overnight journey, and that little boy has been known to mark his territory at the slightest smell of another dog's...uh...markings. (sorry, Steph.!) The solution: a Doggy Diaper, complete with a hole for the tail. All I can say is, hilarious. Poor Digs, he looks quite humiliated, but luckily went along with it in stride. I'll feel much better knowing that if the leg does lift in someone else's home, all will be dry.

And silly me again, I thought buying a little plastic bunny for my daughter would be a nice little gift for her. We came across these guys in a bin and Vivian was instantly enchanted by them...they totally cater to her love of anything off-color (WHERE does she get that from?!) and the fact that it was a surprise as to which one you were actually going to get upon opening the box. Opening the box was definitely a surprise--and Vivian definitely got something off-color. We innocently turned it over and noticed that this bunny has a penis! Goodness! I am buying my daughter X Rated toys. Who knew?? Well, it was Urban Outfitters after all...I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised. What next??? I'm afraid to ask. What I love most is that she actually took a black sharpie marker and colored the naughty bits right over so you can't even tell it was there. She did that on her own accord, kind of like Sullivan telling me when I do something that's not appropriate. You gotta love it when kids regulate themselves.

So tomorrow we're doing the Family Getaway---to be continued...

Happy Birthday, Vivian!

OK, it's a day late, but you know what they say...so I'm not going to say it. This Metal Mom is celebrating her little girl turning 12--TWELVE! And she is my little Metal Girl, literally--she just got braces to go along with her official 'tween-ness'. Oh, and not only did she get braces, but she also got a cell phone. ! It was time, I guess. Coreman and I fought it, believe you-me. It still seems very early to me, but it's amazing how we are apparently in the dark ages since Viv is one of the last of her friends to get one. I have to say, as much as it's weird to me, I'm also glad. Now when she needs to call me about picking her up from school she doesn't have to try to borrow a friend's phone. There is definitely something to be said about being able to contact your child whenever you need to. And at this point, I don't have to worry too much yet about her calling and texting friends...I think that's a year or so away. So, there it is, a right of passage fo sho. I had my Teen Line, Vivian has her cell phone! Crazy.

Celebrating

The thing I love most about Christmas is the endless celebrating. I guess in this the Mommy out-does the Metal, as my celebrating these days consists of pleasant days or evenings with friends instead of heading out the door to some rocker party armed with black eyeliner and a bottle of Boone's Farm Strawberry Wine. And Hallelujah to that, is what I say. Can't say I miss much about those days...well, except maybe being able to get away with that black eyeliner.

Some of the best celebrating comes at impromptu times, like hanging out with Steph and John as Nathan and Vivian hung downstairs and watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, newly acquired on DVD. A jug of wine, (decent wine that is, not Boone's Farm...) Marcona almonds and thou--it rocks.

And of course it wouldn't be the holidays without the church Christmas Play. No matter what they do with it each year, it always brings to mind the Peanuts and A Charlie Brown Christmas. (especially when you have a narrator that sounds very much like Linus, which we actually do) And it never fails to bring a tear to a parent's eye, I can tell you that. What is it about adorable kids in these hokey costumes up there picking their noses and belting out about the Baby Jesus so horribly out of tune that itjust warms the heart?? Then in true Minnesotan-style it's time for the church buffet. Plenty of meatballs and ambrosia salad for everyone.
Speaking of buffet, I'm still trying to plan out what I'll do for the Christmas meal around here. I don't know exactly how many I'll have yet, but I guess that's kind of the fun. How many of you do turkey for Christmas? Or ham? Or neither? Inquiring minds want to know. I have a hankerin' for some deviled eggs, I think I'll have to make some of those. Deviled Eggs on the Lord's birthday. Now that's metal.

So Good, It's Scary!

Hope you all had a fun Halloween! Here's my little pirate--can you stand it?? I didn't wear a costume but I think I could have actually been Cannibal Mommy....Sullivan was so cute I could have just eaten him up!!! (was that in bad taste?! hardy har.) One woman giving out treats was asking him if he was Captain Jack Sparrow--when he said no she said he kind of looked like Johnny Depp...funny!

The trick-or-treating was stellar in our new neighborhood, although I missed having Vivian with us. She was off with her peeps back in the old 'hood, pounding doors for candy as a Bloody Emo. I kept calling her a 'Goth', and I kept getting corrected. Can someone please shed some light on the difference between an Emo and a Goth?! Even Vivian can't really tell me! Too funny. I'm gathering Emo is short for 'emotional'...I guess maybe a Goth doesn't have feelings. Who knows with these things?! I am old. What's really scary about this get-up is that she actually looks kind of pretty in it. !

Sorting the candy when one gets home is always a treat. The Virgo in me loves to do that. Both kids got quite the pirate's booty! Another successful year of trick or treating...and now we are over-run with candy once again. We have a new system now--the kids can horde their stash for a few weeks, then it becomes the community bowl. So far they can be trusted to keep their booty in their own rooms...and they only get a few pieces a day. I try to keep a little control around here! For as long as I can....

Cirque de Sully

Slowly but surely, the house is coming together. As it does, I'll put photos on here. Here's Sully's room. Even though he's not even close, it's part of the cool Tween Hang-Out he and his big sister have going in the basement. He and Viv have the downstairs all to themselves, pretty sweet for them! (not always so sweet for us however when the Coreman and I want to watch an inappropriate-for-kids movie and Sullivan comes out saying he can't sleep--and NO not THOSE kinds of movies, get your mind out of the gutter--) I guess at some point we may have to worry about the kids sneaking in and out of the sliding door down there...hopefully they will both be goodie-goodies like I was and not even dream of doing such a thing. A Mom can dream.

Anyway! Sullivan's room is a sweet and cozy one. The main reason he chose it was because of the glorious 'secret room', which is really just a Great Big Closet. It is pretty nice, I can store the majority of his toys in there and I can see as he gets older how he may want to make it into a nice little reading den or something. Before we even bought a house we had told the kids they could paint their new rooms any color they wanted to. (within reason, of course...we had to nix Vivian's macabre choice of black.!) Sullivan had said orange. Well this room just happened to already be orange, however the specific shade of orange brings to mind the Circus Peanut. An entire room painted the color of a Circus Peanut. eeeu. Partly to keep some color in the room and mostly out of laziness, we kept two walls that color and painted two of them white. (a big thanks to my paint-helpers Nancy and Stephanie!!) I suppose I would have picked a different shade of orange for the others but honestly we were in a hurry and the thought of painting the one brick wall over with all of it's nooks and crannies was NOT something I really wanted to do. So there it is. Sullivan sure doesn't seem to mind, so Circus Peanut it is! With the color of his bedding, rug and pictures, it's actually pretty cute in there. He may very well want something a bit more masculine as he gets older, and by then he'll be old enough to paint his OWN room. Go to it, little man! Just not black.

So he seems pretty happy in there, and we got rid of the bunk and instead stuck the air mattress under his bed for guests or Vivian, who on more than one occassion wanted to sleep in the room with her brother in the old house. (how cute is that?) The bunk was nice but didn't fit so well in this smaller room--besides, it was pretty low and pretty soon he was going to start bumping his head upon rising. I have to say, when I'm changing his sheets I sure don't miss that top bunk. Now that's a Circus act in itself.

A Girl and Her Guitar

Vivian did pretty darn well with her commercial job and we told her that though most of it is going into the bank for future investment, she was allowed to spend some of it on something special. Here's Vivian with her very first electric guitar! (and check out that rock and roll hair! It was 'Wacky Hair Day" at school!) I say first guitar because maybe it will be one of many?? My girl has wanted a guitar for some time now, and promises me that she will stick with it. hmmmm. Well, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. But hey, she paid for it and she'll be paying for her lessons, so, there it is. It felt funny going into Guitar Center again, it's been many a year...and not even for me, but for my kid! If that isn't a slap in the face from Father Time, I don't know what is. But any self-pity I felt for my old self melted away when I saw the look on Vivian's face as she held her black beauty and strummed her first---chord?!---through the amp, loud and distorted. Yes, she is my child. She went right past the 'clean' setting on the amp and selected 'metal' straight away. Of course I probably would have wanted something a bit more girlie looking--at least sparkly, pearly black--but that's okay. I guess if she were too much like me it would be a little scary. Maybe one of these days I'll have to sneak up into Viv's room and plug in my old guitar, the one I bought from Nikki Wikkid of Slaveraider back in the day.