Meltdown Over Breakfast

James was pumped up Friday night about a brutal battle of tug-of-war in the East High weight room, and he didn't hesitate to show me his moves. Then we went to see the movie "Big Miracle". Although James liked the whales, the storyline was a little too slow moving for him. He was happy to get back to my house to make his Pillsbury cookies. He was fascinated with a travel neck pillow he found left out from my recent trip to San Francisco and wore it all night. All was well, and James was one Burger King Ultimate Breakfast Platter and large Dr. Pepper away from the perfect weekend. However, I wasn't paying attention Saturday morning and suddenly realized we had missed the 10:30 a.m. Burger King breakfast deadline. This news resulted in James having a full-blown meltdown complete with alligator tears and a toddler-like tantrum. James could not be consoled, and he didn't understand why we couldn't just go to Burger King and get what he wanted. James thought Mark was taking too long to get in the truck, so he honked the horn and yelled, "I want to go home. This is bullsh**t!" Although James' behavior was completely inappropriate, in his defense, the 10:30 a.m. fast food breakfast deadline has also caused me a lot of anxiety over the years. Maybe I want an Egg McMuffin at noon! Mark and I took James home where my mom tried to talk to him about how adults have to learn to accept disappointment to which James replied, "I don't want to be a man!" I could tell James was still mad at us when we left. As we walked out the door, James yelled at Mark, "Goodbye diphead!"

James Packs for College

Last week James interrupted a phone conversation between his oldest sister, Venessa, and our mom:

James: Venessa, I'm taking "Fast and the Furious", "Scrooge", "Napoleon Dynamite", "Road Trip", and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" to college.
Venessa: What college are you going to?
James: University of Iowa Hawkeyes and Branson.
Venessa: And what do you plan on studying?
James: Uh...studying?
Venessa: Yeah...that is what you do in college.
James: Like I said...I'm taking "Fast and the Furious", "Scrooge", "Napoleon Dynamite", "Road Trip", and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" to college...And the rectangle TV.
Venessa: It sounds like you have everything figured out.
James: I'm also taking Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Coke, Cherry Coke, strawberry pop, and Dr. Pepper.
Venessa: Aren't you going to take anything to eat?
James: Uh yeah...cheese balls.
Venessa: Don't you need more variety? Maybe some more color in your diet?
James: Um...I like Skittles and M&M's. (Being very literal of course).
Venessa: (Laughing) How about some vegetables?
James: Um...(thinks awhile)....Peanut Butter M&M's?
Venessa: Not exactly a vegetable...but nice try buddy.
James: So yeah...I need to go pack for college. Bye.

James hands the phone back to mom.

The Big 1-7

James kicked off his birthday celebration with one of his favorite events, Monster Jam. Although he left Wells Fargo Arena with a Monster Jam DVD and magazine, he was on the Internet shopping for Monster Jam World Finals box sets 1-5 and 6-10 during his birthday dinner. Only the lure of his birthday presents could pull him away. His favorite gift was his Iowa Hawkeyes tie from grandma. As for the Nascar cake James picked out, he was lucky it was still in one piece. James had carried it like a football out of Hy-Vee. For the singing of "Happy Birthday" James always plugs his ears. He was pleased with himself that he saved his earplugs from Monster Jam.

Can I get an Amen?

James was very anxious and extremely crabby Christmas morning. We were expecting his favorite gift to be his iPod Touch or his "rectangle" TV. To our surprise his favorite gift was his remote control Dodge Ram that I picked up last minute at Walmart for $19.99. James was able to shake off his bad mood just in time to join us for church. James has only recently been able to attend church services. In the past someone would have to stay home with him because he is simply too disruptive. However, he has grown to the point where he can sit through an entire service. During the Christmas service he sang along, shouted "Amen!" and clapped aggressively where appropriate. Of course he had his less than perfect moments too like when he reached over and pulled on Mark's ear during the sermon.

 

Christmas Jitters

As Christmas nears the anxiety for James that he might not get everything on his Christmas list grows. He spent most of this past weekend interviewing every family member about his list to be sure we hadn't forgotten anything. He has already opened some of his gifts at family Christmas gatherings and has not been disappointed! On Saturday James put on his favorite tie to take some pictures in front of our parents' Christmas tree. He was bewildered by Venessa's baby bump and pushed on it to see what would happen. On Sunday night most of our family went to church for a Christmas program. James sat very well for most of the program, but our dad had to take him out early because he was getting restless. When we asked him why he left he said, "I just couldn't take it anymore."

 

It Will Never Happen Again

Grandma got Mark and I a new bathtub for Christmas so James and our mom, dad, and grandma came over to check it out. While we ate lasagna at the kitchen table, James inhaled a large pepperoni pizza on my couch. That couch has clearly become his favorite spot at my house. James kept sneaking into the kitchen to steal cheese bread, and before we knew it, it was all gone. I scolded him, and he said, "Val, it will never happen again." During this visit James was hoping to find his Christmas presents, but instead he found a back scratcher. I think everyone got their back scratched!



It's Taco John's Christmas!

When James and I stopped at Hy-Vee Friday night the song "Feliz Navidad" was playing in the store. James started dancing in the middle of the main aisle and yelled, "It's Taco John's Christmas!" At my house I overheard him repeating lines from "Tommy Boy" to himself including: "You know a lot of people go to college for seven years. I know, they're called doctors." James' constant chatter has included a lot of baby references since he learned about Venessa's pregnancy. A new one Friday night was, "Don't make the baby cry!"