Crackin' Me the Hell Up

Dictator Theo is hysterical. He has rules for everything and is unbelievably demanding.

If I'm watching TV, and he's trying to get my attention and I'm ignoring him, he'll stick his face directly in front of mine and say "helloooo-oooooo." It's the funniest thing!

He has a game where he sits down on the couch and I lay down and put my legs on his lap so he can drive his little car up and down my legs. God forbid I'm not in the mood for a game or sitting up on the couch. "Mommy, sit here! Mommy, lay down! Right here, mommy! Come on, mommy!"

Yesterday morning I was putting on my bra, and it was below my boobs while I was attaching the clasp in the back. He said, "No mommy, up here" and tried to move my bra up over my boobs the way it's supposed to go. So friggin funny.

The other night I was exhausted and he refused to go to bed. Finally, I gave up and I told him "Do what you want, mommy is going to bed." And so what did he do? He brought me the pillow from his bed! The silly little sweetie!

When we get to the playground, if I follow him to the slide he corrects me and orders me to take my usual spot on the bench. He points to the bench and says "Mommy, go sit down!"

He is a riot to hang around! We're always, always laughing at what comes out of his perfect little mouth.

Sunday in Harlem

Friday, after I fired my babysitter for not being there when the school bus dropped off Theo (I'm still too mad to write about it), he cheered me up by being a cutie pie when I took him for comfort pizza.


Sunday we went to Harlem for some authentic fried chicken, and to visit that lovely side of Central Park with the gardens and fountains...it's just stunning, I love it over there.

HIT PLAY TO SEE THIS VIDEO



Theo was a daredevil on the tire swing. He is so strong, he had no problem holding on, and daddy just couldn't push him fast or high enough! That other little boy you see in the picture above--he's also 4, and he was terrified. He made his dad go very, very slowly.


Theo gathered shells and brought them to me one at a time.


Check this out...you can actually see the penny going in. Do you see it?





My handsome, statuesque husband and my fascinated-by-the-fountain cutie.

I Love This Boy

Spend Sunday with the Orecchios

I love Sundays. It's the one day we get to do everything as a family.

1. Wake up, eat breakfast. I made a power omelet - egg whites, tomatoes, and asparagus.

2. Laundry - whoohoo!

3. Dunkin Donuts for coffee and munchkins. Theo ate his usual glazed donuts until he spotted another boy with powdered munchkins. After that it was all over. He HAD to have "the white ones." Luckily, the other mom suggested a trade, so we didn't have to spend a whole-gasp-extra dollar!

4. Playground

5. Haircuts for daddy and Theo. Awwwwwwwwwwww. Theo was so excited to watch Joe get his, and couldn't wait for his turn. How do I have this kid who makes everything easy? I'm so lucky! He can get excited about anything! Laundry, haircuts. Sheesh! Someone needs to send him a memo explaining the real fun things on life.

6. Train time! Off to the San Gennaro festival we went, in Little Italy. We got some zeppolis and Theo ended up wearing white powder all over his black sweatshirt. We sat outside at some cute corner restaurant, and Theo ate most of my Rigatoni alla Vodka (grrr) and a bunch of my broccoli. [See Gloria, I give him other things besides rice and beans!! :) ]
Like I said, he's so good. Since it was a special day, I let him put way too much butter on his bread.

7. At home, it didn't take long for Theo to pass out after a day like that. Or us. We passed out watching the Emmys.

Pajama Fashion Show

Moooom, I know I look cute, just let me sleep already. Enough with the camera!





zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Saturday With Uncle and Aunt

Theo and I traveled to Bayside on Saturday to spend some quality time with Uncle Elliot. Ell bought us Mexican food, we briefly met up with the parents, and journeyed back to Ell's area.

At the playground, Theo wouldn't leave my brother alone. "Ewwwwiot! Ewwwwiot!" He made Elliot help him cross the swinging bars repeatedly, and Elliot chased Theo all around the playground. Up the ladder, down the pole, etc.


Don't you love the dual baseball caps?

Theo wouldn't let Elliot stop, he kept turning around and making sure his uncle was following him, hysterically laughing. I have some video evidence of their cuteness:



Back at Elliot's house, Gloria came home and took Theo back out to the park!

Hence his sweatiness. Theo's aunt and uncle spoiled him with chocolates, bananas and juice.

I'm really glad that Theo has gotten to know them and gets excited when he finds out he'll see them. Warms a mama's (and sister's) heart. Elliot and I sat on the couch playing video games, and he mused about Theo playing with us in a couple of years. I can't wait!

Little Genius...Future President?

Last week, Joe taught Theo about the first president while showing him a quarter. The next day, Joe asked Theo,"Who was the first president of the United States?"

Theo thought about it for a few seconds, then responded, "Quarter."

Theo's First Day of Preschool: Year Two

This morning, Theo and daddy drew together as we waited in the lobby for the school bus. Theo's been asking about school all week, and he was so excited to finally be able to go! We went to the window and his face smiled at us through the glass as they drove off. And so another year begins.

I was disappointed to see that there was a different driver and bus matron, but they seemed nice enough. We'll miss Miriam and Sharon, though!

I wonder what he's doing right now. Probably all kinds of introduction songs and having a blast. He'll be with some of the same kids, and some new kids. This year, he'll be the pro!

Max starts kindergarten this month. He'll be going on a school bus too, as Ethan and Alexander already do. All the boys are so big now, it's insane!

Munchies Glorious Munchies

Theo's got vanilla swirl in one hand and chocolate chocolate chip in the other (mommy's favorite). He was so funny alternating bites from both cones that I had to whip out the camera!



This is from our Starbucks excursion. Look at him lounging...such a New Yorker already!



Such a big boy! I love you so much, little man.