Where have I been?

I know It has been a while since I have posted. Things have been just slightly overwhelming the last few weeks. Calvin started school last week. Of course, he loves it. I on the other hand am having a hard time dealing with it. It is difficult on so many levels. I am getting more used to it though. Things are better this week. The first week my plan was to just keep really busy. So, I kind of drowned myself in activities. By Thursday, I was really regretting that tactic. I was then not only overwhelmed emotionally, but physically as well. So, I decided this week to slow it down, a lot! You might think as much as Calvin talks, he would have a lot to say about his days at school. Well, contrary to logic, trying to get any information out of him is nearly impossible. So far, all I know is that he wants to marry the girl who sits across from him, because he is in love with her. Anytime I ask about what he learned, he is suddenly at a loss for words. First he tried to tell me that his teacher did not even try to teach anything. I said if that were the case I would have to call her and ask why she was not teaching anything. So, then he said she did teach things, but he just could not remember them. I have heard that this non-communication is pretty typical, I just never expected it from Calvin.
Corban on the other hand. Well, he cries every morning when we drop Calvin off. He says he wants to go too. I do not buy that for a second. He does not understand that it would mean having to leave mom, while also entrusting himself to the care of people who are not mom. And in Corban's world, that would be panic inducing. If I so much as make a move towards my shoes he starts to hyperventilate and convulse. That is really not an exaggeration. I will say though, that since Calvin has started school Corban is a different kid, at least while his brother is gone. He is so quiet and mellow you would hardly believe it. But he really does miss him. He gets all excited when it is time to go pick him up. Which is strange given the way they treat each other the second they are reunited.
It will be interesting to see how things continue to develop as the year goes on. Hopefully it won't take that long for us to all get used to all these changes.

Quotable Calvin

One night as I was putting Calvin to bed, we were just chatting. Calvin looked at me and asked, "Why does Daddy have hair inside his nose that comes out?" I explained that it just happens like that when you are a grown-up. He got all excited and said, "When I am a grown-up, will I have hair in my nose too?"
I guess we all have different things we look forward to.

One afternoon while sitting around Calvin looked at me and said, "If you are alive and not dead, when I'm a grown up, will you come and visit me where I live?"

Last week I told Calvin that it was Mommy and Daddy's anniversary. I told him when it was and what it meant. The next day I overheard Calvin say to Corban; "Corban today is the most special day, you know why?" I thought to myself, how sweet he remembered it was our anniversary. I was just in the middle of that thought when I heard the rest of the conversation. Calvin went on to say it was the most special day because Nana was coming over to babysit them. Corban, of course, agreed that it was a very special thing.

I have accepted the fact that Calvin is quite scared of bugs. But apparently he is also afraid of plants now. Earlier this week, we were up at Craig's Creek. As we walked along the bank I could hear him behind me saying with each step, "One, two, three, four...not poison oak. One, two, three...POISON OAK, POISON OAK!" He did that with each plant he saw. I mean, it is one thing to be aware, but this seems excessive.

This afternoon we were playing outside in the yard when he yelled; "Mom, Mom, a poisonous tomato!" I had to think about that for a while. I eventually realised that there was a mushroom growing in the grass. Maybe five minutes later, I heard him giving Corban a stern warning not to touch the poisonous tomatoes or he would die.