Interview with an Adam (re-visited)

Mom and Dad
as described by Adam Hooten, age 8 (almost nine)

1. What is something Mommy always says?
"I think that you always say that video games are bad for you."

2. What makes Mommy happy?
“Getting a good present for Mother's Day like a good thought-up card like I'm probably gonna do this year."

3. What makes Mommy sad?

"Well, I know that Dora (the Explorer) makes you crazy mad."

4. How does your Mom make you laugh?
"Your jokes, like...What's green and has wheels?  Grass. I was kidding about the wheels."

5. What was your Mom like as a child?
Why do you ask these questions?"

6. How old is your Mom?
"Thirty-seven." (Good boy, I like that you think I'm younger than I am.
7. How tall is your Mom?
I don't know.  'Round five feet.  (Ummm.... nope, taller.)
8. What is your Mom's favorite thing to do?
“Be with Daddy."
9. What does Mom do when you’re not around?
“Watch the boys.”
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
“You would set the record for setting the record of watching the two danger-boys.”
11. What is your Mom really good at?
“Super Mario World.” (That's what he said last year.  I don't think I've even played it since before then).
12. What is your Mom not good at?
"Napping 'cause of the two little boys."

13. What does Mom do for her job?
“You type.”
14. What is Mom's favorite food?
“Jim's Family Diner.” (Uhhh, no.)
15. What makes you proud of your Mom?
“Watching me, Thomas, and Max at the very same time.”
16. If your Mom were a cartoon character who would she be?
“Well, this is on the Super-Mario World series, you know, TV.  The Amazing Flying Hammer Brother.”
17. What do you and your Mom do together?
“Watch the boys.”
18. How are you and your Mom the same?
“Our lips.  We have the same lips.”
19. How are you and your Mom different?
“I have no idea.  Oh, you're older and I'm younger.”
20. How do you know your Mom loves you?
“You show it with hugs.”
----------------------------------------------------
1.What is something Daddy always says?
“I don't know what Daddy says.”
2. What makes Daddy happy?
“A good present for Father's Day like new ties."
3. What makes Daddy sad?
“What I described for you.”
4. How does your Dad make you laugh?
“Daddy makes me laugh when he laughs."
5. What was your Dad like as a child?
“Hmm.  I have no idea.”
6. How old is your Dad?
“Forty-one."
7. How tall is your Dad?
"Around six feet."

8. What is your Dad's favorite thing to do?
“Spend time with his family."

9. What does Dad do when you’re not around?
“Watch the boys with mom or work."
10. If your Dad becomes famous, what will it be for?
“The messiest office."
11. What is your Dad really good at?
“Let's see...I don't know.  I thought and thought but I don't know.”
12. What is your Dad not good at?
“Watching kids shows with me and Thomas."
13. What does Dad do for his job?
“Electronics."

14. What is Dad's favorite food?
"How about Easter dinner?  That's my guess."

15. What makes you proud of your Dad?
“Being so nice to me, and Thomas, and Max."
16. If your Dad were a cartoon character who would he be?
“He would be more like Shaggy 'cause Shaggy's trying to shave and he's trying to grow a beard.  And he gets little hairs on his face like dad.  And Daddy also has that blondish-color hair.  And he's tall, like Shaggy."

17. What do you and your Dad do together?
“Daddy-son dates."
18. How are you and your Dad the same?
“Blonde hair."
19. How are you and your Dad different?
“I have no glasses."
20. How do you know your Dad loves you?
“He hugs me and kisses me."

Good day sunshine!

When I was younger, I hated living in Florida.  I hated the heat.  I hated the humidity.  I hated the lack of seasons.  I hated the bugs - the flying, biting, crawling, disgusting bugs.

After spending the last nine days there, I no longer hate Florida.  I still hate the bugs (ten mosquitoes, thank you very much for feasting on me).  I don't hate the heat, the humidity, or the lack of seasons.  Actually, the heat was lovely.  The humidity was refreshing.  I wouldn't know about the lack of seasons, but I could live with visiting snow rather than shoveling it.

Also, I didn't realize how culinarily deprived I've been.  I mean, I knew but I didn't fully realize it.

Have you ever read the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle?  Just in case you haven't, it describes the eating adventures of a caterpillar as he works his way through a variety of foods on his journey to become a butterfly. 

I feel like I ate my way through Boca Raton.  I ate every food I missed - corned beef on rye with mustard, bagels and lox, kasha knish, real jewish pickles, cuban lechon asado, moro rice, plantains, and amazing garlic knots.  And it was alllll delicious.  And I am still full.  And I did not become a butterfly.

I also got to shop at my favorite grocery store:  

 and brought home some of my favorite brownies from that store.  My kids love them.

I got to have dinner with this great guy:

(who drove two hours just to have dinner with his daughter).  And he drove two hours again just to have dinner with me at his house and take me to the airport.  My dad is a wonderful man.

I got to see this (up close and personal-like):

and buy souvenirs for my kids.

Okay, I did buy them souvenirs but I did not buy them alligator parts.  Not that they wouldn't have liked it.

I got to have dinner (and lunch) with great friends - the Goots and Marsha & Dom.  

As truly wonderful as all of the above was, the best part was serving Hiram, my step-dad.  Hiram has been part of my life since I was two years old.  He's the whole reason I went to Florida.  He was diagnosed with Stage I prostate cancer, and I went to be with him for his prostatectomy.  It's always an amazing opportunity to serve one of the parents who gave so much of themselves to me.  Hiram has been one of my parents for (almost) as long as I can remember.  And I had the opportunity to serve him and give to him.  I went to the pre-op appointment with him, waited at the hospital during his surgery, cared for his dog during his recovery, cooked some freezer meals for him, and cleaned the house a little.  

Our relationship is stronger for it, and I am better for it.  Thank you, Hiram, for allowing me to be there for you in your time of need.

And when I returned I came back to a colder, wetter Utah.  And while I am so happy to see my husband and kids, the sunshine still beckons.

Hope to see you again soon Florida.

And my kids are bickering.  Vacation...officially...over.