The Grinch

"My Dad is going to do the Grinch today," he announced, referencing me in the third person.

He had announced the same on Thursday evening, but since he stayed home sick from school on Friday, the Grinch was made to wait. He clearly had it on his mind this morning because I hadn't even asked him about the snack sack yet. He's rarely ahead of me.

I ran a search for Grinch coloring pages and handed him my iPhone. When he showed me the one he wanted, it was in color, not a coloring page outline.

He noticed the change in expression on my face and asked, "What's wrong?"

"This is the only one that is in color. You didn't pick one with an outline. Did you do that on purpose?"

"No," he defended. We sat in silence for a few beats. "Should I pick something different?"

I waved him off and got to work on it. Despite waking up on time and having a smooth morning, I still didn't get started today until after 8:00am. Between breakfast, getting him through the routine, making his lunch, gathering his stuff, and checking for homework or other things, it takes a long time to get ready in the morning. I felt hurried, but did my best to stay calm.

"I want to see the Grinch-y," he said rushing over from the bathroom after brushing his teeth. "Was it too hard?"

"Not too bad, no," I said honestly.

"Okay good, because I don't want to ever pick anything that's too hard for you."

That, I know is not true, but I let it slide by for the moment and gave him a smile.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

"What'll it be today?"

"The ice castle from Frozen," he said, remembering that that was his first choice yesterday before we settled in on Marshmallow.

"I don't know if I'll have time today," I said, although I didn't have yesterday's excuse. I handed him my iPhone to pick a picture of the ice castle, but I wasn't much in the mood to draw it. Once he picked the picture, however, I thought it'd actually be pretty cool to try. But by the time I sat down, I realized that I really didn't have the time today. "Sorry, Buddy, we'll have to pick something else. I just don't have the time to do it."

"I don't know what to else to pick."

"How about something Christmas-y?"

Right away he pointed to the Peanuts Christmas clock that we bring out every Christmas. I figured it'd be easy enough to finish in time and it was. It felt cool to draw these childhood favorites. Doing so made me realize that with all the practice, I am now comfortable to draw whatever I want. I can do it! I can draw anything! I thought to myself, Fun!

"I like it! Can you add the bird?"

"His name is Woodstock." On the clock, Woodstock is on the tip of the second hand and flies around the dial with each passing second. After I started drawing him in the air, I realized that I should have put him instead on Snoopy's stomach. No matter. This one was fun to do. 

Christmas Tree

"Should we do something Christmas-y today since it's December now?"

"Oooh, Davy Jones."

"That's Christmas-y?"

"...wearing a Christmas hat," he added cheekily.

"No time for that today," I informed him. We were running behind schedule and I had very little time to draw. 

"How about Captain Jack Sparrow?"

"No time for that."

"Okay, can you do the tallest Christmas tree?"

"No time for that." But I did look up Christmas trees. We settled on this one and I rushed to get it done. My favorite part of the drawing is his name placement.

Tweety Bird

"What should we do today?"

"Maybe a dead toad or frog?"

"Why dead?" I asked in mild horror. Boy, I really never have any idea what might pop out of his mouth.

"Never mind. I'm just kidding," he said having second thoughts. "Let's see....hmm...Tweety! Tweety Bird."

That was a big change, I thought.

I handed him my iPhone and he very quickly said, "Yeah, do this."

"With the tree?" I asked for clarification.

"Yeah."

"Really?"

"Yes."

I got to work. I don't know if it's because I was distracted or sleepy or thrown off by the dead toad request, but this one came out uninspired. I wasn't sure if I should start with the tree or Tweety Bird. I started with Tweety, messed up a few times, almost started over, but decided to persevere instead. I knew the tree would be tough for me and it was. I tend to struggle with symmetry. I was happy when it was all over.

Victor came by when I was finished and took a long gaze at it. He said nothing. I think he was feeling nice today and I was thankful for his restraint.

I want Santa...

I want Santa...

"I just thought about it. I was thinking it could be a humuhumunukunukuapua'a, but that'd be too hard."

I looked up this Hawaiian named trigger fish and showed him the options.

"I don't want the humuhumunukunukuapua'a," he said definitively, "I wan't Santa!"

It was December finally so I could not deny him anymore.

As he browsed the options he blurted out, "When I forget Santa's name I say Saint Pickles."

He continued to talk while browsing, "Not this Santa, he's too fat."

A minute later he added, "It's hard to pick because they are all too silly."

He picked this one probably because it was the most svelte looking Santa of the bunch.