Reading

Tonight was much better than I thought it was going to be.  Tony was gone so it was just us girls with me only having about 5 hours sleep and there's an inverse relationship between amounts of sleep and shoutyness (Less sleep = more shouty) and it was a crazy day.

We were ok, though.  At one point, Meredith and Ellie were playing and running around with laughing and squealing that requires smiles and a lifting of spirits.  We studied for Meredith's science test and read Ellie's family book from preschool. (She was so excited to get to our family page...will have to share in another post). There was an inpromptu dance party that was funny (Ellie kept swinging as Meredith and I tried to dance in a circle).  There was Wii cycling and swordfighting.

The best, though,  was having the girls snuggle in after dinner to read a bit, do phonics/sounds. Meredith said she'd read and Ellie will do just about anything if Meredith is doing it so they tucked in and read Biscuit, which Ellie started liking this summer.  I really love seeing how sisterly they can be and really appreciated and needed this moment today.

First Day of School

I am loved

Backstory:  We like Legos. M is very creative with her Legos and one of our recent builds was an airplane.  After it was built, we named the pilot Steve Kerplansky.

Last night (6/22/11)
M:  Mom, can I show you my Lego people?

Me:  Sure

M:  Bringing out her people all arranged and begins naming/explaining them.  There's Steve, Steve Kerplansky.

Me:  I love Steve Kerplansky.

M:  Steve Kerplansky loves you.

What Its Like In My House Today

Sally Jensen, Kid Lawyer (not a lawyer for kids, a kid who is a lawyer)

Sporty Spice & Super Fly

For Nana

Happiest Place on Earth (if you're 7)

We went to Disney World last weekend for a much deserved break. We all had a good time, especially M whose interest in Princesses has been slightly revived. It could have been something in the air, though, that exacerbated the natural acquisition skills of a seven year-old when confronted with sparkly items. M desperately wanted high heel shoes and the first purchase she made was of Cinderella's glass slippers, which were worn everywhere we'd let her (mainly our hotel room).

We stayed at the Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary which is part of Disney's "innovative vacation ownership, blah, blah, timeshare, blah, blah." It was nice, especially since we had a kitchenette with microwave, toaster, & refrigerator. We had groceries delivered (awesome!) and it worked out nicely. I was really glad we stayed on-site because the sheer logistics of transporting us back and forth, the stamina needed (from all of us), and the sweltering humidity would have crushed my spirit by day 2. As it was, we enjoyed returning to the hotel and swimming every day. We made it to Downtown Disney and the Lego Store (fabulous!) and saw most of the Magic Kingdom.

More photos to come (when the ridiculously expensive Disney photos get here).

Summing Up

It occurs to me, as I sit reading through other people's blogs that perhaps I should update all here.

To sum up:

• The big E turned 2 on January 2nd! (party to be held in March)
• Big Daddy had Meniere's and suffered through a low salt diet for 3 weeks before learning that he really has a hole somewhere that is leaking sound.
  
• Big Daddy also has a bum knee that needs some cleaning out via a scope
• We've had three "yellow" days from the M which means that she's broken class rules. This has resulted in many days of arguing and butting heads. If I didn't know better, I'd think I was living with a teenager
• I started a job! Part-time, nonprofit dealing with a preventable birth defect. I'm not linking directly because of the whole work separation thing, but if you know me is other social online areas (facebook, twitter, ravelry, etc.) you'll probably figure it out soon enough
• M is doing both dance (W) and swimming (Th) during the week
• E is doing speech (2x a month), physical therapy (2x a month), and occupational therapy (1x a month). Our PT thinks we should also add in a weekly play group. Yikes!
• For those who asked, M received a Just Like You doll (now named Rosie) that looks nothing like her. In fact her four preferred JLY dolls were: fair skin, blond, brown eyes, freckles; fair skin, brunette, blue eyes; medium skin, curly dark brown hair, brown eyes; light skin, brown-black hair, brown eyes (Sorry can't link because of how American Girls configures the dolls).
• ETA; Oh, yes, I forgot, in addition to our therapy schedule (see above), we've seen our pediatrician for our 2 year well check, had blood work done (thankfully we sync up our endocrinologist and pediatrician labs for only one draw), saw our endocrinologist, and had our teeth cleaned.
  
• Everyone was caught up on their H1N1 vaccinations (Woohoo!)
  

Some (old) photos:

Santa Baby

"Uh Santa, I am way too tall and cool to sit on your lap."
(from my friend Leslie! Hi Leslie!)

Holiday 2009 Pictures



































































(note: E has always clasped her hands together in this really delicate, prim way. I was really happy to have a picture of her doing it. When my mom saw it, she loved how it captured this characteristic of E.)

Babushkas!

Santa brought E play silks which we've loved. I put one over her head, then over mine.
Then, I put them all on her and she thought she was cooler than the other side of the pillow.

Merry Vomitus

We have been felled.

E woke up last Saturday night vomiting after sleeping for a few hours. It's always fun to walk into a room smelling of barf watching your baby/toddler trying to figure out what's happened while simultaneously trying to get them clean and safe while keeping yourself relatively puke free and stripping soiled beds. Thanks heavens for Big Daddy. The throwing up portion of the evening lasted a few hours then subsided. I slept in her room and luckily, there was no high fever. After a couple days of not eating too well, she seems to have bounced back into her normal self.

I came down with the major pukes, though on Wednesday (12/23) night. This lasted through the next morning when major fevers started. Hello 103.5! Luckily, the high ones broke on Christmas Eve, but a low grade one lasted until yesterday (12/27). Unfortunately, ongoing nausea seems to be sticking around, but that's about it. This meant, though, no family activities on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Vomit is not a well appreciated gift.

M has been punky all week and actually woke up on Christmas Eve (technically Day as it was 1:30am ish) night and threw up on our bedroom and bathroom floor. After, we had her sleep in our bed while Big Daddy slept in hers. She was super chatty and excited still for Santa. Despite numerous threats that she needed to sleep, I think the most we both got was a solid two hours or so. The rest of the night was spent arguing about needing to go to sleep.

Christmas finally commenced (a real live American Girl!) with calls and Skyping to family who were carrying on without us. M, though, has been running a little low grade temp and been a little erratic in behavior and eating since. Thinking we were on the mend, plans were made to celebrate with local family today (Sunday, 12/27).

Nope. M still had a little temp and we didn't want to risk it with her 94 year old great grandma. Bitter calls made to once again cancel and disappointed girls (who said they were fine) moped around watching videos. There was perking up later in the day with the painting of the triple bunk bed made the day before by Big Daddy. The celebratory ice cream that was enjoyed, however, made a reappearance a couple hours later.

So, here I sit, tucked into a nest of pillows of blankets on M's bed while she is finally asleep. She tried water a little too soon (I tried to tell her that it would end badly. Unfortunately, this is my trait in her that things must be experienced to be believed.), so two more episodes later, she's finally out and we'll hope this is the last of it.

ETA: She woke up shortly after posting and threw up a little. Big Daddy held the bucket and I held hair. At the end of the episode, she asked for a washcloth for her face. I held the bucket while Big Daddy went to get one. I told her to wait a minute and she said, "I'm trying to stay calm."

ETA: Also, I should note that she was a great trooper, making the bucket for about 98% of episodes (the first one caught her a little, but not totally, unaware. Seriously, she was great. After posting, though, she was too hot she said, so after the "I'm trying to stay calm," incident, she got in the tub. Then, after returning to her bed, we had cool cloths on her head. She firmly rejected any ice chips, but liked a cool cloth. Ibuprofen was successful around 11:00 and sips of water commenced around 3:00 a.m. chasing a second dose of motrin. Popsicles and water have been the order of today, so we'll hope for a measured recovery that will allow for the twice-postponed Christmas to be successfully rescheduled.

Riding on Mommy (Edited)

M, January 2005 (20 months)























E, November 2009 (22 months)


















ETA: M, October 2004 (17 months)
This was the pictures I was originally thinking of. Big Daddy emailed it to me after putting it with the Little Peeps (above) picture.

Giggles

Official 2009 Halloween Report

Pumpkins

This was the first year we carved pumpkins.

M gave me the inspiration for how each should look (click on image to enlarge):


















Note the following:

• When asked what E will be for Halloween, we said sleeping (I don't mess up sleep schedules for kids who aren't allowed to eat candy, tell me what they want to be, or walk. Maybe next year), so she drew E's pumpkin with Zzzzzzzs.
• The stencils are from the little book that Nana sent.
• Yes, there are pumpkin guts on the page.
• I did make the freckles with an awl, but they didn't show up when lit.
  

Then, while Big Daddy wrangled The Girls, I carved very carefully:

















(l-r: Mom, Dad, E, M)

We included the one (far left) that M got to bring home from school.



















Then tested for proper glowing:

















Then placed them on the porch.

Trick or Treating

Costume on (notice the layers underneath, it was cold!) and treat bag ready, M and Big Daddy set off.

Usually, they (M & Big Daddy) do the gathering while I distribute. This year, M asked if we could each do half, so they returned after 1/2 the street and M & I set off after donning my costume (sorry, no pictures were taken). My costume was a little tiara, feather boa, wings (which didn't fit), and a wand so I could be a moonlight fairy. I was lovely if I do say so myself (and because no pictures exists, you'll have to believe me!).

We did our street, plus the neighboring one where there was way more action. Our street, in comparison, was dead. We think because we don't have great lighting at the ends and the houses on the end weren't participating tonight that it may have seemed too dark. Also, because our street dead-ends into another one (versus letting out onto two major streets), I think this deters people from knowing how to manage working the entire neighborhood.

M was really funny and had a ton of comments on her costume. Of course, we thought hers was the best, but I think it's refreshing to see sweet and charming rather than some costumes proposed for little girls.

Anyway, we had a great time. M was exhausted when she got home and despite efforts to keep her up a little later than normal (grrr time change), she was in bed a little after 8:00, worn out, I think, from all the excitement and the chocolate!

Now...only 54 days to Christmas!

Recent Conversations

Yesterday (10/29/09) Morning, on our way out the door to go to school:

...somehow getting onto planets....

M: Mom, what is the further planet from Earth?

Me: Well, Pluto used to be, but now I think it's Neptune. I can't really remember the order of the planets and I don't remember the trick to do it.

M: What trick?

Me: It's called a mnemonic device and it's a way to remember the order of something. Like knowing that the word HOMES will give you the five Great Lakes of Michigan. Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior.

M: Ontario, I know Ontario. Why is it called that when it's in Michigan?

Me: Because it's an Indian word that's used a lot around these areas for the Indians that used to live here.

M: The white people weren't very nice to the Indians.

Me: No, they weren't.

M: I bet the Indians were sad when the white people came.

Me: Yep, I bet they were.

M: It's like white people were British.

*****************************************
this morning (10/30/09) on the way to school

background information - I bought an umbrella for M that automatically opens and closes because she has one that's too big (parasol shaped) for her backpack and the small one that I have is a manual and she has a little trouble with it. We practiced opening and closing it to be sure she could work it with the understanding that she could take it to school.

M: My new umbrella is in my backpack.

Me: Yep.

M: It has a button that opens and closes it.

Me: Mmmmhmmm.

M: It's electric.

Me: No honey, it's automatic.


****************************************
tonight, in the car (10/30/09)

M: Did you know you have a telescope in your mouth?

Me: What do you mean?

M: There's a telescope in your mouth.

Me: [no clue] That you can look at things with?

M: No, that the tooth fairy uses to see in your mouth.

Me: Hmmm...I didn't know.

In the Leaves

School Picture

Fierce

(sorry for the larger images, but I wanted to be sure that they were legible to readers)

M has taken a real leap forward in the last couple weeks with her writing. She started a First Grade Journal at home (not something required for school) and was writing about her day the other night. Today, she bought a diary for recording other notes and such.

What I'll miss, though, is the phonetic spelling and creative way she's writing now. When she asks how to spell something I don't want to tell her because I love discovering how it seems to her (not to mention that I usually try to have her sound it out).

This was a picture she did last week with a story/caption on the back.


































I am a tiger. My skin is orange and black. I am fierce with enemies which are a bear.


Fierce with enemies. I love that. (The bird in the tree is labeled A Brd).


This is a thank you to my sister (look away Muffy if you haven't received it yet) for the Halloween treats she sent.
















Thank you for the gifts Aunt Tracy. That headband looks marvelous on me. Love, M.

The pictures are of me (Mom), Me (M), then all her cousins by initial (S, D, D, C, J).


How awesome are these?

Monday (Last)

Our neighbor brought over the parasol last Sunday while Big Daddy and Opa were installing a new screen door. Oma was watching E during construction and M and I were at my cousin's swim meet. When we got home, Big Daddy gave M the parasol and the remainder of the night was spent talking about it, using it for various things. I believe Oma was even enlisted to hold an umbrella (they were outside) while performing some little theatrical event.

Monday morning, this was what the parasol inspired:

Saturday

Saturday, we went to a local orchard for pony rides, train rides, and doughnuts. Unfortunately, everyone else wanted doughnuts too, so we skipped those and went on ponies and trains. E rode a pony with Big Daddy assisting this time, but didn't seem to like it so much. I didn't get a still picture, but we do have the movie of them.

A Recent Conversation

Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Location: My car on the way to dance
Time: 3:40ish

M: Mom? What's Aunt Darlene's first name?

Our First Grader

M started 1st grade in August. It's been a fairly smooth transition. I think that I have more problems with it than M does. I find I really dislike the confining nature that school causes on our lives. All of a sudden, we can't plan trips or activities because of being concerned about M missing school. Also, while I'm happy with M having friends to play with and developing socially, I only feel the need for it to happen about three times a week. These reasons make homeschooling more sensible on many levels, but that's for another day.

Nothing, however, says first grader like missing teeth and M lost three of hers in one week*.

















Her first tooth (her left lateral incisor) just fell out while she was wiggling it (which was a good thing as I'm a little squeamish about the loose tooth thing). She came running in the bathroom where I was getting E out of the tub yelling, "Mom, it came out!" in an excited/panic voice. She was so excited, though, that we called Big Daddy (who was at a gig) to tell him the good news. The Tooth Fairy came and left her $1.

The second to go was her right front tooth (central incisor). This was a Big Daddy assisted operation that went smoothly mid-week (I don't remember exactly when). So now M has two missing top teeth with one major, very loose tooth to fill the gap. Once again, the Tooth Fairy left $1.

The last to go in this round was the solitary left front tooth. This was a battle royale. The tooth was ridiculously loose but M wouldn't pull it. After much crying, wailing, promises that she would do it, it came down to me holding her and Big Daddy quickly pulling it out. Seriously, a minute later, you'd thought the 45 minutes of drama never happened and another $1 from the Tooth Fairy is going a small way to replenish empty coffers. All was forgiven and there's been speculation about the right lateral incisor and it's impending progression and eventual removal. Oy.

*Note: M's eyes in this picture are really red due to a sensitivity to the hand sanitizer they've been using at school. Once we discontinued use, her eyes cleared up!

Summer Fun

Pictures from this summer's Classic Car show. This is always a great time because they have free horse rides. We tried our E out on them because she'll be eligible for hippotherapy when she's 2. She didn't seem to mind the horses and M always loves to ride the ponies.























































E.'s hair is really long, so I've been trying to put it up. She resists, hence her new nickname -
The Pigtail Menace.