A Book by Julian

Kate and the Two Two. By Julian

Kate and the Two Two

One day Kate wanted to dance. And she find a two two.

And a stage. Kate is going up the stage.

Oops! [Author's note: Kate forgot her tutu.] Now Kate is ready.
[She found her tutu.]

Kate is on the stage. [Author's note: She is holding a sign that says, "Kate."]
DONE!

Kate says, "The End!"

Julian, Super Coolian, Gigantic Hooligan.

This morning I was awoken by Julian. He came into our bedroom around 7:30 and asked if he could snuggle me. How do you say no to that? He climbed on in and got under the covers. Directly, he let out a big, dramatic sigh,

The face of a deceiver.

"I can't wait for summer!"
"Why's that?" I inquired.
"Because we get to go on vacation...I wonder what cars we'll take."

Life is full of tough calls, man.

In other Julian news, this week he showed his true colors as a schemer. This is the first instance of such that I've noted in the ole feller, but sure to not be the last! Apparently, one of his classmates snuck a tablet to school, and Julian found that to be incredible. So, he was going to see what he could sneak. He landed on a little red car. The boys were getting their backpacks on when he disappeared into the living room, came back, and then asked Doug to put the car in his backpack. Thinking nothing of it, Doug complied. On the way to school, Doug heard him brainstorming his cover story of how the little red car had somehow fallen, accidentally of course, into his backpack without his awareness--*gasp*!!! 

I'm watching you, Jules, always watching!

Abraham Lincoln shops at Fresh Thyme

Little known facts about Abraham Lincoln as told to me tonight by Julian:

George Washington was our first president, and Abraham Lincoln is our current president. He lives in a blue house, and has a really, really cool, big hat. He's from Kentucky, just like us. 

Abraham Lincoln does his grocery shopping at Fresh Thyme. What does he buy, you ask? Well, he buys apples, pears, and chips! What else? After he finishes grocery shopping, he goes home and then goes outside to play. He likes to swing really, really high and jump out! And most importantly, Abraham Lincoln likes to eat brownies on his sandwiches--it's delicious!

Chef Jules

Julian has lately become very independent. Everything is suddenly "my turn!" From throwing away trash to taking off his socks, he wants to do it all by himself.

Tonight, it was his turn to cook supper. So, equipped with his butter knife, he set out to cut all the grapes. Like any good cook, he snacked along the way, eating most what he cut. He was very proud of his handiwork and made sure to tell Jonas all about it when it was time to eat.

 

Hold it steady, Julesy! 

Watch for that thumb! 

Such concentration.

Feeling to see which side of the blade to use. 

Banana Bread

The dudes and I have a few different night-time routines. We like to tell each other stories. We like to sing songs, particularly, "Mommy, Julian, and Jonas," which is a song about all the cool stuff we do. Or, we read books. 

The book Julian most frequently requests is,  Pete the Cat and the Bad Banana. I think we all have this story memorized. Pete the Cat loves bananas, but one day, the poor ole feller gets a bad banana. It is brown. It is mushy. It is gross. So, Pete swears off bananas.

In an attempt to make him remember his love of bananas, Pete's Mom makes him banana bread. Hence, our latest baking adventure:

 

Julian's beautiful bundt.

Lots of banana smashing. 

Putting his all into it! 

Gray Poss

As you all know, Julian and his possums are inseparable, which is why for the past few days, Doug and I have torn our house apart. You see, we could not find Gray Poss. We searched everywhere: under beds, under radiators, in closets, in cabinets, in the van, on the playground. All to no avail.

I asked Julian, "Where's Gray Poss?" He said, "I don't know. He's gone!" Heart shattering. I could hear, "When She Loved Me" playing softly in my mind's soundtrack. I couldn't stop thinking of a sad, abandoned Gray Poss. What happened to him? Was he dropped along our walk when we were out in the wagon? Did we leave him at the aquarium? I couldn't imagine Julesy forgetting his buddy!

We had given up all hope. Doug ordered a new Gray Poss online. Julian still had Black Poss, but he's lived his whole life with 2 possums, so he needed another.

But! Just like Bori Cat returned home from being lost the very day a new cat (Flash Gordon) showed up, so too did Gray Poss!

All this time, GP was inside the seat of Kate Monster's musical motorcycle. The question is, did Monster know this whole time?

In Case You Were Wondering: School Day 2

Day 2 of school is in the books.

Doug said Julian had another tough morning; he cried when he was dropped off, wanting Doug to carry him and not leave. I'm glad he did not do that yesterday. I'm not sure I would have survived that. The teacher sent an email later in the afternoon that cheered me up a little: 

Julian ended up having a better morning than yesterday. He chose some independent work, worked with a friend, and he seemed to enjoy going to music class.

Julian working on a frog puzzle at school.

At least he doesn't hate it, and he has yet refused to go. Quite the opposite really. He's very positive when he comes home.

According to the boys, they really love school and had a good time today. What did they do today? "Went to the playground. Ate crackers. Washed hands. Went to the playground. Did a frog puzzle. Went to the playground. Read books. Played with friends. Went to the playground." Thus far, I gather their favorite subject is recess!

Since she arrived a few minutes early, Rachel had the opportunity to spy on our boys while they were playing outside. She observed that Julian had a new friend. She also saw how happy the boys were to be reunited, as they repeatedly hugged one another, and waited for each other at the bottom of the slide.

I love those guys.

When He Loved Me

People, have you ever noticed how messed up Disney movies are? They are really depressing, even the funny ones. Take for example, Toy Story 2.

Remember that scene with Jessie the Cowgirl's back story? In case you do not have children that force you to watch Toy Story 1, 2, and 3 at least 900 times a day, the scene I am referencing features a little doll whose owner grows up, no longer wants her,  and thus drops the little doll off in a cardboard box in the middle of freaking nowhere for donation. All the while, Sarah McLachlan (the same woman who sings about 1-eyed puppies and 3-legged, malnourished cats) sings the most dispiriting song imaginable about how horribly lonely life is when no one loves you.

This scene/song tears my heart out because it makes me think about what may happen to little Poss when Julian grows up.

"When somebody loved me, everything was beautiful. Every hour we spent together lives within my heart. When he loved me."

Toys at the Table

He can't fathom eating food with a fork or a spoon, but a dump truck he'll do.

My Possum and Me

Wherever I go, he goes!