Atticus's Latest Adventures

I'm going to go in reverse order just for the heck of it.

THE OPERA
Atticus's class created an opera, "The Legend of the Tumbleweed," through a partnership with Utah Opera, and they performed it at the Rose Wagner Theater downtown as part of a showcase with two other schools.  Here's my favorite part:

Atticus is standing in the back to the right. I wasn't quick enough to catch the previous line, which is, "We are here now safe and sound. In this cave we will never be found." See, the peaceful Sekoa tribe had just begun their spring festival to celebrate the flowers blooming in the desert when the shaman's evil twin brother, Black Elk, comes and tries to throw down. He gets banished, but the tribe apparently still feels threatened, because they decide to seek shelter in a cave. And then I guess there's a storm? Anyway, it's pretty dramatic.

This is the 5th year this teacher has done an opera as part of a unit on legends and storytelling. She gives the class the basic characters and rules (setting, conflict, resolution), and each child writes his or her own legend. She then took something from each story and created the libretto for the opera. I think Atticus's contribution was a cliff. His story included the chief getting poisoned and someone having to climb the cliff to get a flower that would provide the antidote. Which is certainly more dramatic than Mia and her mother getting lost in a storm, but who am I to judge?

Anyway, the performance was a really Big Deal, and even though Atticus was nervous and said he didn't want to perform downtown because he felt "too important" on stage, he had a fantastic time. It didn't hurt that the class and families met at a restaurant next to the theater beforehand for dinner. It was total pandemonium, but the kids had a great time, and I finally got to talk shout across the table to the mom of the kid in his class who lives in our neighborhood.

My sister Erin came, which was a treat for Atticus. When the performers came off the stage to give flowers to the audience, he gave his to her.

COMIC CON
James and Atticus went to Comic Con last weekend, and Atticus spent Saturday as Link. He bought the Master Sword on Friday, so he felt his costume was complete. He debated about getting the shield but decided he didn't want to carry it around.

They saw who they wanted to, and Atticus got to ask the creators of Rogue One why everyone had to die at the end, and they actually had an answer: they actually filmed a version of the ending where the girl gets away, but the writers insisted that at the end of Episode 4, there's a medal ceremony for everyone who helped destroy the Death Star, and no one from Rogue One was there. So they clearly had to have not survived. Makes sense, I guess.

THE HAIR

Atticus has reached the age where it's time to figure out who he is as an individual. He's concerned about what's mature, what's cool. And, happily, he's not too affected by what his peers think. For a couple weeks he wore a green bucket hat we found when cleaning out his closet. It didn't go with anything he wore, but it had skulls on it, so it was cool. I was happy to see that go, especially since it covered his eyes and ears halfway, and he's already not great at listening and watching where he's going.

Anyway, the latest manifestation is his hair. We had just gotten him a really nice looking haircut, where it was still long on top and the bangs framed his right eye so nicely. A week later he decided to part it the other direction, creating a messy mop with weird long bits covering his left ear. And the bangs flipped up. Goodness, he loves that flip:

He had to document it in about 20 photos on my phone. It's serious business.

He asked what we thought, and we told him we thought it looked dumb, but it's his head, so it's up to him. That's been my approach to most things like this: I'll tell you honestly what I think, but the decision is up to you. I did ask him to make one compromise and comb it the other way for church. Deal.

It's been so interesting to watch this boy grow up. I look forward to many years of figuring him out.

This Kid.

Here are a few things I want to remember about Atticus.

• We bought some dolls and toys around Christmas to donate to the homeless shelter, and Atticus liked the baby dolls enough that he made one for himself. He named it Joe. Atticus has grown attached to our neighbor, who is named Joe. And apparently there's a Joe in the show he's currently watching, so baby Joe it is. He's lying on a blanket.
• 
• He's currently afraid of elevators. And ghosts. And public bathrooms. But he's no longer afraid of the characters from the video game Five Nights at Freddy's, which he's never actually played or watched anyone play. But the logo and the licensed apparel he's seen at school were apparently enough. He will go on the biggest, scariest roller coasters and have no problem watching orcs and alien monsters in movies, but whatever you do, don't make him get into an elevator. Or watch a clip from A Christmas Carol. *sigh*
• We were cleaning his room Friday when he mentioned that he wanted to create a little library/reading nook under his loft bed. I thought it was a great idea, so we went to IKEA on Saturday and got him a bookshelf and repurposed a lamp, and he's got a cozy little spot under there now. As we were brushing our teeth he asked, "Why did you get me that shelf?" He'd asked me that about three times already, so I told him again that I just liked his idea. Should I NOT have gotten him the shelf? And he said, "No, I just didn't think it would ever actually come true." Yep, son, sometimes you DO get what you want.
• James and I went to the temple Friday, and Atticus went to hang out with my visiting teacher and her 14-year-old son. On the way to the door, Atticus said, "I don't want you to leave." Me: "Why not? You'll have a great time here." Him: "I'm afraid you won't come back." Me: "Atticus, we're just going to the temple. I will always come home to you." Him: "But maybe there will be a shooting at the temple." Me: "If I have to crawl on my hands and knees, I will come home to you." *smiles* (He had so much fun, it was hard to get him to leave.)
• Saturday night we went to a blues/jazz performance by 97-year-old local legend Joe McQueen and his band. (It was fantastic.) Atticus wasn't thrilled about it until he heard the words "refreshments booth." During the second number James gave him some cash and sent him for snacks. He came back with a Sprite and a Twix and was happy for the rest of the show. Or at least most of the show. We left before it was over, and he fell asleep in the car on the way home.
• He was so tired because he didn't get to bed until 10 the night before. Then he came into our room at 6:00 in the morning, wearing his Link costume. We told him to go back to bed, and he said he'd woken up at 5:00 and had already been waiting FOREVER before coming in. Duuuude. Get some sleep. 
• While I was taking a nap on Sunday, Atticus decided to create a restaurant called "Home Servis Inn." I woke up to a boy in a sweater vest and a dishtowel belted around his waist for an apron. He had a name tag and handed me a menu of snacks I could order (I went for the "walnut yum yums" and a glass of water). He was very professional about it. We had a very simple dinner planned, so I decided to extend the game by letting him serve us dinner in his restaurant. I talked him through reheating everything, then placed my order at the hosting counter. He seated us when it was ready. We had placemats and nice glasses and artistically arranged veggies. And he insisted that he had to eat after we were done because he's the server.

I just realized that most of this occurred in one weekend. That's my boy. I love this kid.

Anthropomorphism at its finest

"Mom, take a picture of me with Blankie and Passa where we're all smiling." I should note that the string coming out the top of Blankie is her hair. Yes, Blankie is a girl. 

She used to be an actual blanket, but Atticus rubbed the corners enough to break them free from the center, and the "spicy corner" became a long string, so we wrapped her up with the string. Now Atticus has something to snuggle AND something to rub between his thumb and forefinger. (When we left blankie home from church the first time, Atticus got panicky and said, "what are my thumbs going to do??")

"Mom, take a picture of me and Mona." Now, Mona IS real, at least in this household. She's been my friend since I was nine, and now Atticus has fallen in love with her. She can be a naughty monkey sometimes, but we still love her.

"Mom! Come downstairs! I have something to show you!"

 So I rush downstairs and encounter this:

"I'm Han Solo in carbonite!!"

 Without the blanket for the full effect. Atticus insisted on doing it again because Han doesn't have his mouth open big like that:

You'd think it was a still from the film....

Atticus quote of the day

At a BBQ with James's coworkers:

"I don't know how to play baseball. Nevertheless, I'll try it."

Progress?

Atticus made his bed this morning. He was very proud.

He decided he needed only one blanket because the others were "too tangled."

Small victories. :)

Of course ours is the weird kid

Atticus participated in his first Primary program on Sunday. He had his line memorized and had practiced saying it slowly and clearly. He even knows some of the songs.

But once he got on the stand, it all disappeared. During the songs he didn't know (and even parts of some he did), he leaned on the railing with his chin in his hands, looking really bored. Or he danced around. One of our friends in the front row observed that it looks like Atticus always has a Star Wars battle scene in his head that he's trying to act out. That kid is never still.

Then came the moment: his line! He stood at the microphone and wilted. Even with prompting he curled up and refused to speak. They let him go and little Afton, who isn't even officially in Primary yet, marched up and said her line, pleased as punch.

Afterward I asked him why he didn't say his line, and he just said, Huh? I reminded him, "I follow Jesus' example when I go to church." And he got really upset: I want to say it! I missed it! What happened?! We let him say it at the pulpit (microphone off), and the Primary president said he could do it again in Primary next week.

I think Atticus just didn't get what was going on. He'd missed the forest for the trees, lost in his perpetual narrative.

Speaking of narrative, Atticus pulled his new socks up to his knees this morning and called himself Wonder Boy. I asked him if he wanted to wear his soccer socks, which are even longer, and he said, "No, Wonder Boy doesn't wear blue socks, just white socks." Good to know.

My goodness, I love that boy.

In case you missed it...

Here's a better link to Atticus and the Avengers. James got the Hawkeye doll from a crane machine. He has a knack for those things...

More nerdiness

Star Wars is another Atticus obsession this week. He's read the picture books and knows all the characters, but this week we finally watched the movie (Episode IV).

Atticus this morning: Mama, what does "hoo-pah" mean?
Me: Hoo-pah?
Atticus: It's what Darth Vader says when he's breathing.

Yesterday, while looking at the picture book of Annikin from Episode III:
Atticus: Does Annikin take a shower?
Me: Um, probably. I hadn't thought about it.
Atticus: What does he do with his robot hand? Does it get wet?

Such imponderables. I love my little nerdling. :)

My son is a nerd genius.

I don't know how to embed video, and James only uploaded it to Facebook, so see if you can get it from my wall.

Atticus quote of the day (after finishing a doughnut): "Mom, can I have a wipe? I have boy spit on my hands."

Today was a good day to be a mama. We've had a few rough days, with missed naps and overactive energies, but today we seem to be back to normal. Friday is the day we don't have to be anywhere. We frequently spend part of Fridays with Atticus's best buddy Caleb, but he was getting his tonsils out this morning, so we were on our own.

We slept in until 8:30, then had a leisurely morning snuggling on the couch and watching Iron Man and Jimmy Neutron. I meant to go to the gym, but we were having a good time so I skipped it. Atticus likes to keep me company in the bathroom, and today he entertained himself by balancing on the edge of the bathtub. He wanted me to help him cross it, but I encouraged him to try it on his own. One little sideways step, then another and another until he made it across. His eyes lit up and he was so excited he'd done it. He did it several more times before he was done.

I love that light in his eyes. I'm not thrilled at the prospect of him taking unnecessary risks, but how do you accomplish anything without risk? (I want to feel that same sense of wonder and accomplishment. What do I need to risk?)

Later we went to the park, and he talked to me the whole time. We both were happy to be in each other's company. It's a good feeling.

Then he had his four-year checkup, and I was afraid to spoil the mood by telling him he needed a shot. Luckily he never asked. He was happy and cooperative for the doctor, playing with her instruments and telling her about the jets he wants for his back so he can fly away when he sees something scary. There was a bit of trauma when I told him about the shot, but he was brave when the time came. Hence the doughnut.

I won't bore you with more details of the rest of our day, but it was good to reconnect with my son after a grumpy week.

My Dear Atticus

You are four years old today!

I started writing a retrospective of your life since birth, but, well, it didn't seem authentic and didn't represent what I really wanted to say.

What I want to say is that I absolutely adore you. I am so in love with you, my sweet, funny son. I could (and maybe should) fill pages describing all that I love about you, but I thought I'd keep this post simple. You are four years old, so I'm limiting it to four things that delight me about you right now:

1. I love how you pronounce "Machu Picchu."
2. I love to watch other adults--your doctor, your preschool teacher, your primary teachers--respond to your nonstop narrative. They delight in you, and my heart swells as you rattle off your adventures and the plots of the latest Iron Man episode, which somehow includes you. So far we love how verbal you are, and we love as you learn to restrain yourself and raise your hand and wait your turn.
3. I love it when you say "Mama, can I snuggle you?" and "Let's hold hands!" I love snuggling you and holding hands with you. One day you won't let me do these things, at least not in public, so I'm treasuring every moment I can.
4. I love how you can play by yourself, and not just for my own selfish reasons. I love to see your imagination flourish and listen to your narration. I also love to see you play with other kids: jumping on the bed with Shannon, digging with Boden and Henry, telling jokes in the back seat with Caleb. You are a happy boy, and that makes me happy.

Ok, maybe that officially counts as more than four things. I can think of a hundred more (as I write this I just heard you go "thump" upstairs, Daddy say "uh oh!" and your quick response of "I'm ok!" Why do I love that so much?).

Happy birthday, my sweet boy. May you have many, many more.

My little singer

So Atticus is in Primary now, and he's learning the songs. He loves to sing. His favorite is "Choose the Right Way," but he likes to spice it up a bit. One night we were singing it, and it went like this:

There's a right way to live and be happy,

It is choosing the right every day.

You betcha!

Complete with plucky hand gesture.

Then the other night he changed the ending to "Choose the wrong way, and be saaaaaad." Today he's been sick, so he ended up on my bed with me after his nap. He was dressed in jammies, fuzzy orange slippers, and his hooded green and yellow striped sweater, pacifier in mouth. His hood was over his face, and his breathing was all raspy, so I couldn't tell if he was awake or asleep. Then I hear a quiet little "... I must always choose the wrong!"

Goodness, I love this goofy kid of ours.

A quieter moment