Just dropping in to say hi.

[rbnyc]

A debate on facebook with an old friend, who has apparently has lost his mind, about the Tennessee fire incident, drove me over here to check in.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/rene.boucha...

How’s DU these days?

Here's my boy:



He's currently obsessed with the military which has provoked many deep discussions. He says, “I know real war is terrible and there are no real good guys and bad guys and we shouldn’t kill people to solve our problems, but I’m just PLAYING mommmmmmmmmmm!”

Anyway, I broke down and made him this cake for his birthday:



I never ever would have predicted I'd be baking my son a tank cake. Anyway, as long as we keep the lines of communication open, I think it's ok.

[Pithlet]

1. It's good to see you!

:hi: That cake turned out awesome. Parenting takes us down some interesting pathways at times, doesn't it?

[rbnyc]

3. Hey!

Great to see you too, and indeed it does!

It was fun to make the cake. This is the one I made for my niece:



The body is rice crispie treat covered with marzipan.

[tigereye]

6. wonderfully imaginative- what a cool thing to do!

[Pithlet]

16. That is lovely. You are really good at that!

I bet she loved it.

[Bucky]

2. Great to hear from you! And yes, the cake is okay!

Kids go through all kinds of play phases. It's how they process this complex world we forced them into. What a sweet kid to reassure you that it's just play (altho' I don't wonder where a six year old got a line like that from!)

But please tell me that's little tootsie rolls or chocolate bits on the tank treads, and not Vienna sausages.

(What a GREAT birthday cake!)

[rbnyc]

4. Thanks, I indeed struggled with it.

Yeah, my son and I talk a lot. And, yes those are tootsie rolls.

Thanks. I love making the kids cakes.

[Suich]

12. I had the same thought about Vienna sausages vs. Tootsie Rolls!

:rofl:

[tigereye]

5. oh my, how cute! How old is he now? (cute tank cakes)

How are you? Hope things are going well.


:hi:

[rbnyc]

8. He's 6.

Depending on how you look at things, life is pretty good. Meaning, things could be so much worse. I work in my field, in my community, my house is not being forclosed, I don't have cancer, my husband and I are still in love and we have this beautiful boy. Actually, that sounds pretty damn good.

How are you?

[tigereye]

10. yeah a lot of the same, house paid off, we are relatively healthy, I always have

work to do in my field if I choose and same with husband, got to go on a few short trips this summer, and my kid is now a freshman in high school and seems to have adjusted well.


Mostly I feel very fortunate, we have food to eat, house to live in, clothes to wear and books to read. I can't really ask for more. :D




OTOH I am a Pittsburgh Pirates fan - :cry:

[Call Me Wesley]

7. Tank cake!

:woohoo: And your boy looks gorgeous. I think there was always a time we were obsessed with the military in our childhood. I don't recall how many plastic soldiers I burned down in close combat, and still I grew up to be one of the firsts who started the movement against the military here. So, don't worry.

Good to see you! :hi:

[rbnyc]

9. Good to hear.

Thanks.

[Aristus]

11. What a cutie!

And don't worry about his obsession. As long as he knows that war is awful, and that there are no winners, he'll be fine.

Look at me: I was a tanker in the Army, and I'm essentially a pacifist! B-)

And as a tanker, I have to say, the cake looks yummy! :9

[rbnyc]

13. Cool.

It was yummy. Thanks.

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. Oh my goodness! It's me, MrsG(rumpy)

That gorgeous little man cannot be your boy, because your boy is just a baby. That much time has not gone by. It's so good to see you. :hug: Miss you.

[rbnyc]

18. HEY!!!

So good to see you. I was thinking of you. It's amazing. He's such a little kid now.

Edit. It's so good to see you I said it twice!

[Rowdyboy]

15. Your son is a lucky kid....

I had a cool mom too, many years ago, and I still feel surrounded by love whenever I think of her.

Here's to good parents..... :toast:

BTW-that is one excellent little man birthday cake-very creative! Good to hear from you again.

[rbnyc]

25. Nice.

:toast:

Thanks.

[MiddleFingerMom]

17. VERY cool at that age for him to "reassure" you that it is just "play"...

.
.
.
.
.
...and VERY cool of you to make him a tank cake -- despite what I gather
is a strong ideological opposition to violence.
.
.
.
You're BOTH good kids.
.
.
.
.
.
I was about 2nd grade and came stomping into the house at dinnertime and
angrily announced that "I'd like to KILL Ricky Smith, the big poopyhead!!!!"
.
.
.
.
MiddleFingerMomMom assigned my older sister to take over meal prep and
very calmly, very quietly took me into another room and explained, in a
way that I could understand exactly what it was that I had just said.
.
.
Made quite the impression and, although I DID join the Army (as a medic)
and I still do not see violence as NEVER an option... I have never forgotten
the lesson she taught me that day about never taking it lightly and only
taking it as a last, forced resort.
.
.
.
.
.
You sound like a pretty cool Mom.
.
.
.

[rbnyc]

19. Aw...

...Thanks so much for sharing that. So great to be hangin' in the longe tonight.

[Capn Sunshine]

20. BOOYAH, mom!

Playing war is hardwired into little boys. It then morphs into Football!

[rbnyc]

26. Actually...

...he wants to pitch for the Mets. He is SUCH a boy!

[KamaAina]

21. Afraid you're not gonna get much relief from fire madness here

:eyes:

As for the cake, maybe you could have had a Michael Dukakis figure sticking out of it? :-)

[rbnyc]

24. I see that.

It's really bothering me.

Good idea about the cake. ;)

[BurtWorm]

22. If only all tanks were as sweet and delicious as that looks!

:hi:

I love it when the old school checks in.

:sigh:

[rbnyc]

23. Awesome.

I love being part of the old school.

[BurtWorm]

33. It's a good school to belong to, especially here at DU.

You always bring a good energy to this place. Your son looks like he's got some good energy going on too.

[Maccagirl]

27. It's been way to long since we've heard from you

Glad to know things are okay, and your son is healthy and beautiful.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

28. That cake is really cool. Can you give a breakdown of how you built it?

I have some boy b'days coming up and they would love to have a tank cake. You know what they say:

Boys will be boys. Might as well let them play.

[ThomCat]

29. I hope you're doing very well.

:hug:

:loveya:

Your son looks like a wonderful kid.

If he knows the difference between real and fantasy then I hope he has a great time playing his games, scores high, and hits hard and fast! :)

[denbot]

30. Way cool cake.

Most kids play army, so don't sweat it.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

31. Wow! You're very talented Rene. And it's great to see you again

:hi:

[Bossy Monkey]

32. Hi! The young man is very cute.

I wouldn't play war games when I was a kid, or join Boy Scouts, but of my friends and family who did none of them wound up in the military as far as I know.

(I was undisclosedlocation in case you don't remember.)

[Demoiselle]

34. Sweet smart kid. Sweet smart mom. Fabulous cake.

Laugh out loud cake, actually. Thanks for the good morning cheer.

[Tikki]

35. Hey lady....

hi:hi:

Boys go through so many stages..Both of mine went through the military stage.
Neither turned it into an obsession.
Both of my boys wanted to comedians when they were around 10 years old...and still have a fun sense of humor.

Miss you here...

Tikki

[La Lioness Priyanka]

36. wow. that cake is amazing work! (the boy is very cute )

i hope you are doing well

[rbnyc]

37. Thanks everyone.

Just flying by before I put G to bed. Wanted to thank everyone for saying hi. Great to see you.