Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
We take Trash Day very seriously in this house. It recently occurred to me that we might have a much better view from the guest room upstairs than we did from downstairs, and boy, was I right.
I got this little truck for Pippo secondhand this summer. It's remarkably ugly and has all sorts of dumb buttons on it (though none of them work). But it has four wheels, a handle, and a compartment under the seat for his sippy cup. Goodness, does he love it.
He has logged many, many miles on his little truck, and has earned something of a reputation in the neighborhood for both his speed and his dedication to what we refer to as “trucking”.
(Some might call it obsession.)
Unfortunately, all those miles have taken their toll. This is the pair of shoes he hadn't grown out of yet…
elisehooper says
Oh, goodness, my little boys used to do the same thing with the trash trucks! It's universal boy language… trucks and trash. 🙂 And I love how you said it didn't feel like fall, but it *tasted* like it. So thankful there are ways for us to find joy whatever the season brings, wherever we are!
Thank you for this reminder to look for joy, and share it.
sarah marie says
That meal looks and sounds delicious! I want to make something like that (although I'll skip the bacon)… I love the idea of a pasta dish with almonds in it.
kathi says
we are currently stationed in SC … and we've only had a handful of fall-ish days. but that doesn't keep us from faking it with chili, pumpkins, and a (fake) fireplace 🙂
i've been watching Trash Day for 10.5 years and trucking almost as long 🙂 …AND! my 10 year old has worn holes in his shoes in almost the same places as Pippo because he says his bike doesn't stop fast enough to suit him. … good luck shoe shopping!
we found contentment in art and bugs yesterday … really.
Anitra says
My boy is fascinated with all kinds of trucks… but it used to be a weekly ritual that my daughter and I would wave to the trash truck from our front window. We were blessed this summer to have the water main replaced on our street. The two kids spent hours watching all the dump trucks, backhoe, and excavator (and the men with shovels, too).
But yes, my boy is on his THIRD pair of shoes in the same size… and he's the same age as Pippo. 🙂
Betsy M says
Anitra, I laughed about your “blessing”. The water main went out on our street this week. My little guy (same age) could not have been happier! I told the men that they needed to make an “action movie” with all of the trucks.
Anitra says
It's a wonderful blessing. They replaced it on the whole street – there have been 4 breaks in the last 3 years, and 3 of them have been in our front yard. I've told the men more than once how happy we are, even if it is making driving in our neighborhood more inconvenient.
Lindsey says
Cute pictures! Our garbage truck comes too early in the morning, but I have a little girl who loves to wave at all the trucks and tractors that go by the house in our farming community! I have a problem with finding shoes for her too – there seems to be nothing sensible out there for toddler girls who actually want to play outside and get a little dirty!
Becky says
I am so impressed with your pasta! I have had good luck with kid's shoes from Gap Outlet- only the cloth ones, though. The “leather” looks awful as soon as it's scuffed. You can get them for around $10 if you shop the sales and they generally hold up until they are outgrown. FYI- should someone be looking for an excellent grandparent Christmas gift, this is a great bike for toddler/preschoolers that holds up well enough to be passed down. http://www.target.com/p/radio-flyer-kid-s-steer-s… flyer
_Rosie says
Becky, I actually snatched one of those up at a yard sale this summer, too! 🙂
Becky says
Good for you! We LOVE ours!
Kate says
Garbage day is very special around here too. We are lucky (?) that our apartment is right above the dumpster so we have a great view 😉 The nice (?) thing about living in a high rise apt is that we get garbage day at least twice a week. (Hey, we have to find those perks that we can, right.) And so far only one potty accident while watching out the window because the recycling truck is way more interesting than going potty.
Anne says
Ann says that Pippo is getting bigger…and that his truck is pink. 😛
Deirdre says
Wow, that pasta dish sounds ammmazing! I want to try some of your homemade pasta!!
I love that Pippo always looks like a miniature from Fenway. Hilarious. The truck pictures are fabulous!! I wonder what it is that makes a trash truck so fascinating for boys. I'm guessing it's something along the lines of “Oooh BIG! LOUD! Bang! Crush! Wow!”
Deirdre says
Also – Pippo's head is getting nice and BIG! Like mother, like son! 😉
Tracy says
have you tried cutting your pasta with a pizza cutter? mine (with a BIG wheel!) always worked fabulously.
Pippo will grow up with fond memories of trash day 🙂
_Rosie says
Tracy, that is genius! I'm going to try that next time.
Cecilia says
Oh.. that does look so hummy. I know what you mean about missing the “Fall” from the North. It just is too hot down here even to make it to a pumpkin patch! Many Blessings, today!
Betsy M says
I laughed out loud looking at those shoes. He is one serious trucker! Say, have you looked at Payless Online for shoes for him? I normally do not like the quality of the shoes there but my little boy's feet are a bit chubby and they have some decent (read no comic charecters on them) shoes online that have good reviews. I only just ordered them so I can't speak for the quality but it may be worth checking out.
Christine D says
Have you ever checked Marshalls for shoes? do you have Marshall's where you live?
As for videos on Wednesday's post – the Davy & Goliath videos from the LUtheran church – does anyone remember those? My kids loved them – the littel boy and his dog Goliath and sister Sally? All are gumby-like moving characters. Every story is not only entrataining but every one has a good message. They have some seasonal ones too for teh holidays.
Kate says
After moving around every few years for an eternity we are settled back in New England. It is as good as I was hoping! Maybe I'll become one of “them” and complain about the weather and whatnot eventually. Your little one is so sweet with his Red Sox cap (gotta represent!). I have always bought these shoes while my boys are young…and seriously I mean always…like in every size in red or blue until they are too old to fit in them anymore! http://www.keds.com/store/SiteController/keds/pro…
Thanks for sharing such a sweet post!
Lacey says
Oh I am making that pasta! And as a fellow Californian, I feel your pain on the lack of fall thing. Ug. (However, as a native, I do not have your past New England fall memories, which probably makes the whole thing easier to bear. )
priestswife says
something I do with my 5 and 3 year olds- their church shoes are hidden in a bag in the hall closet- so at least those shoes stay put and always look decent
we live 4 hours north of you- praise God we are also on the coast (which is why our town house with no stove etc was $300,000)- yesterday we celebrated 'fall' with Trader Joe's spiced cider and in-season watermelon!
Colette says
I have had some shoe issues myself and can relate. I have spent around the $30 mark on shoes for little guys that didn't last a season and then turn around and find name brand, look new shoes and boots at the thrift stores around here for under $5. So now I make sure I hit the thrift stores first!
Kelly D says
Perhaps you should get some dedicated “trucking” shoes. That way you can have a pair that is decent and a pair you know will be trashed. My boys are 13 and 11 and the second one gets handed down sneakers that are only for boy scouts (camping). That way, the real pair of shoes stays “nice”.
Jeanne says
Those holes in Pippo's shoes look like a job for sugru. https://www.sugru.com/gallery/patch-up-the-toes-o…
Susan G. says
Keen shoes (especially if you can find them on clearance) – the fronts are the most rugged I have found yet! (Even made it through a couple of “toe-draggers”.)
shwell says
I secong the keens, especially the newport h2 style.
they are pricey, and very seldom on sale BUT I have three boys and currently the third boy is wearing the first pair of hand me downs that have been through all three kids and they are still as good as new. THe enclosed toe is great for saving the toes from getting stubbed which is why we changed to them in the beginning. One of the boys had a protruding big toe and needed the enclosed protection. It is really thick rubber over the toe.
You CAN find them on EBAY and they really are worth the money if you have other little people in line to hand then down to. (or plan to have some 🙂 )
Presv. Magda says
We just moved to Iowa, and there's a truck that comes by and vacuums piles of leaves from yards. I was informed by our four-year-old son that “We need to have a vacuum truck!” I am looking forward to raking leaves with him in preparation for next week!
Rachel says
My first son, now 27 and in law school, had the same type of truck when he was a little boy. He adored it too.
Anne-Marie says
Oh, your post brought back such happy memories of garbage day in our apartment in Boston! My three girls, the two kids from next door, the two from downstairs, and more from the next building would all come out on the shared rear balcony, jumping up and down in time to their yells of “Gar-bage-truck! Gar-bage-truck!” Since the balcony was part of the fire escape, it made a terrific racket. The truck driver would grin and wave on his way out (I bet he didn't have such a welcome committtee at any other stop on his route!).
Mama Rachael says
My 16 month old nearly wore out a pair of sandals while crawling. he only wore them outside, but the tops of the straps are worn down. Ah, boys. And he loves the garage truck, he waves and waves at the guys and they wave back. And the big mower for the drainage ditches and the trucks pulling boats, and the post lady in her jeep. Of course, he will wave at just about everyone, and is so disappointed when they don't wave back. (most do, though).
Fun times!
_Rosie says
Kelly, Christine, Priestswife, these *were* his dedicated playing shoes! I got them (at Marshalls, but of course they're not there anymore) to save his church shoes from the trucking abuse. Now he needs new pairs of both!
Susan, Kate, Betsy, thanks for the tips! I'll check them out.
Kelly D says
Then I agree with Susan G. See if you can find some Keen shoes on ebay. Buy them used and throw them in the washer. They are awesome!
_Leila says
I think he needs a taller truck 🙂
Kimberlee says
Yes, your meal looks delicious! Perhaps you could post about your noodle making techniques? As my youngest son is 19, I always love to see little-boy-Pippo pictures! (I fondly remember those trash truck days.)