Four thousand words
I don't have tons to say, but there's always something to show. There's something about seeing photos of my kids that makes me cherish them so much more. I mean, they're always with me--constantly present and underfoot and sometimes driving me nuts. But a picture makes me pause, and really see them. They are so absolutely sweet!
Labels: Kids
Multiculturalism
Every morning as I'm serving breakfast, I hear the cheerful chorus of "Tauts meeywi, xie xie Eetsa!" I hear it from all the kids, including Sammy. And just what is this merry greeting?
Why it's good morning, thank you mother, in the original combination of Mandarin Chinese and Nez Perce Indian! But like you didn't know that. Of course that's what it is!
I speak Chinese, or used to any ways. The kids pick up random words here and there, hence the xie xie. And by the way, you haven't really lived till you've heard a very small boy who can't really speak English yet trying to speak Chinese. Priceless.
The girls are in a club based on the American Girls, and we're studying Kaya right now. She happens to be Nez Perce, so there you get the rest of the mouthful. They have cradleboards for their dolls that they wear all over the house, they love to wear headdresses, but they really really love the language. I think it's because the words are so dang fun to say--for example, they called themselves the Nimiipuu. See if you can say it without giggling!
I wonder how many families get to start their days with this extraordinary greeting! Not many, I'm guessing.
Labels: homeschool, Kids
Young politicians, all of them!
I vacuumed and swept today.
Really, that shouldn't be a big deal, but seeing as it's been DAYS since either of those basic things have been done around here...I'm just thankful for little steps in the right direction. Steve is traveling again, and we're all in a bit of a funk. The kids are having that rough adjustment to the new situation that they go through every semester, and I'm kinda just mopey a bit myself.
But the floor is clean now, and everything is seeming more manageable now.
Calvin is being a stinker like you wouldn't believe. I KNOW he's acting up because he misses Steve, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with in the moment. He's really disobedient and defiant, and will melt into the most heartbreaking puddle of tears when he's missing Steve. And oh, he's being mean to the girls!!
Hazel came upstairs crying, holding her eye and sobbing that Calvin had hit her in the eye. I started talking to him to see what had happened.
Me: "Calvin, did you hit Hazel?"
C: "NO! I Didn't!"
Me (sternly): Please tell the truth Calvin. Did you hit your sister?"
C (unrepentant and wickedly): "I didn't hit her. I PUNCH her!!!!"
I have to admit, I did giggle just a little bit.
I was back in my room putting the baby down for his nap. The kids were supposed to be doing their jobs. When I came out, I saw them taking turns standing on the hearth, making grandiose speeches. When I asked them what they were doing, they answerered matter of factly, "playing Sarah Palin and Rocco Bama."
Sheesh.
The things they pick up on!
Labels: Kids
Campaign promises
Hazel informed me today that she will NOT be voting for Barack Obama. Her reason??
He plans to abolish YouTube, and she really likes
Baby Jane sings and
Charlie bit me. Since she is decidedly FOR YouTube, she is now anti-Barack.
Apparently she heard this from my sister Stephanie, who denies having discussed politics of any kind with my six year old.
One can only wonder about the evil plans McCain is cooking up. A take down of the Magic Kingdom, perhaps? Or maybe abolishing PBS morning cartoons? Darn politicians!
Labels: funny, Kids
Parsley, sage, rosemary or thyme--take your pick!
We went to a fabulous homeschool Olympic activity. Hazel and Chloe made friends with a new little girl, and her mom and I hit it off also. My girls played with her little Sage, and we made plans for a playdate.
In the car, Hazel sighed contentedly. "Mom, I'm so glad I met my new friend Chives."
Me, "Do you mean Sage?"
Hazel, nonchalantly, "Hmm, I knew she was some kind of herb!"
Labels: funny, Kids
A belated birthday post
I would be a very very bad sister if I wait any longer to post about Chloe's birthday party.
Andrea is kind of the most talented party planner/crafter/all-around amazing sister.
She helped me with Chloe's 5th birthday party and it was so completely fun. We read about petite fours in a book we were reading called
The Saturdays, and she latched on to the idea of having those for her party. So around that idea, we built the theme of a paperdoll party. The invitations Andrea made were paperdolls with real fabric dresses, there's a paperdoll banner in one of the photos, we made dolls as party favors with a wardrobe of 5 dresses for each girl, and of course, there's the petite fours.
We played classic party games like the clothespin drop and bingo, but my favorite game was pin-the-part-on-the-paperdoll, who ended up looking like a bad Picasso.
In the first photo, there's a big old doll holding a basket. Years and years (we're talking 20+) ago, my mom had a shop where 6 of these were in the front window. They've followed her from house to house, and finally a few months ago she gave some to me and my
sister-in-law. I groaned at these ginormous dust-catching random things, but they did come in handy for the party! The girls have the doll that resembles them the most--my niece called hers the "giant Jane".
My Chloe is the sweetest, most winsome little creature you can imagine. She is soft and snuggly, and spends most of her time in a dream world. She loves to read and write and is a delight to be around. Mostly. She's the kind of kid that people just fall in love with. I can't believe she's five already!
Labels: Kids, parties
Trying to catch up
Ummm, is this blog still working?? I am actually still here, even though my blog doesn't reflect that. This summer is just rocketing past, and I'm trying desperately to hang on for the ride. Does anyone else feel that way? That instead of a nice, leisurely relaxing summer, there's just a constant whirlwind of activities and vacations and just plain
stuff. I can't keep up.
So some updates. I just don't know where to start!! It's been a packed couple of weeks. We spent a wonderful day at the Alpine Slides in the mountains. I hung out with the baby while all the kids went down the big old slide. Very very expensive--can they really charge 20 bucks for that?? But good times. My darling sister Steph was there and my cute cousin from Austin.
Parties everywhere, a wonderful fabulous 4th of July, then the next morning on a plane to Northern California. Steve's family is there, and it was so fabulous to see them and show off our little Samuel. Steve's brother and his wife had their first baby 10 days before Samuel was born. The two babies got to meet--2 adorable little newborn guys side by side? Priceless.
We spent a couple of days hanging out in San Francisco. Steve lived there before we got married, and he can never get enough of the city. My sister Steph came with us to nanny, and I have to highly endorse bringing someone along if you happen to be traveling with 4 children six and under. That made it actually doable. Steph, Steve and Hazel spent a day thrifting and poking in some of the fun funky shops. Hazel, who's six, suddenly morphed into a teenage shopaholic. "Steph, this is
so you! It is
adorable. You
have to try this on!!!"
Can't you just hear the italics? Too funny. While they shopped, the littles napped then we hit Union Square to chase the pigeons. Ice cream makes it even more fun!
Fisherman's Wharf and a visit to the sea lions. The little dress Hazel is wearing is one that they found at a cute little vintage shop.
So I can remember them for posterity--some of my favorite kid moments from the last few weeks.
I was dressing Samuel, and Calvin became fascinated with his chest. He asked Hazel what they were, and she told him they were nipples. Calvin grew very thoughtful. "Mom, Nipples do NOT fly airplanes!!"
Truer words were never spoken. Although we did decide that with a strategic piercing, you just might be able to make it happen.
Chloe got hurt one night on the trip. It was at the end of a long day, and she was just tired. I hugged her, then offered to go sit in between my two big girls. She sniffled and two big tears rolled down her face. "Mom, I just don't feel like I want to be a big girl right now!"
Calvin asked me if I was "having the feelings". What feelings?, I asked. "The feelings of having your toes fall off." Umm, pretty sure I'm not having those feelings, buddy.
Tomorrow is my sweet Chloe's birthday. We've got big plans for her party, and I'll post some pictures to show off my amazing sister Andrea's party skillz. It's going to be so dang cute!!
Labels: funny, Kids, vacation
Life with four
Why is it so hard to post lately?? I certainly have plenty to blog about--there's an absolutely adorable baby who delights me daily, but for I'm just tired lately. Maybe because of this adorable baby?
He's a marvelously good baby, he sleeps well and is constantly good natured. But there are four of them now, and that in itself is reason enough to be a little tired.
So there's the excuse, and here's the update around here.
I gave Steve a gorgeous hammock for our deck for Fathers Day. But...it was Father's Day 2 years ago. I told him I'd set it up and then never did, because I weirdly get paralyzed by projects if I don't know exactly how to do them. The stupid hammock sat for 2 whole years in the garage, and I felt guilty every time I thought about it. So I finally called wonderful sister Andrea, who put the big scary thing together in about, oh, 6 minutes flat. Hooray for a sister who can help me even when I'm a complete freak. Note to self--just get over it and at least try things!!
For dinner on Sunday, Steve requested Soul Food. So I made ribs (a first for me) and waffles with fried chicken (another first--I don't really fry things ever). We ended up with 23 people over and had a fabulous time. The food turned out great, but I should really break this habit of trying out new recipes on large groups of people.
We took Samuel to church for the first time on Sunday. So fun! Here he is in his handsome little Sunday clothes. He's three weeks already. I'm trying so hard to savor every single moment.
Labels: holidays, Kids, Steve
LIfe in suburbia
We took my mom out to dinner tonight for her birthday. Since it's a Saturday night, the place was packed and there was an hour wait. We were in one of those ginormous, has-every-store-under-the-sun type of places, so we decided to walk to Barnes and Noble to kill some time before dinner.
While walking back to the restaurant, Chloe looked up at me and asked, "Are we in New York?"
"Ummm, no, we're in Utah, honey. Why do you ask?"
Her reply: "We're walking someplace."
OUCH! If that isn't the definition of life in suburbia articulated by a four year old!
Labels: Kids
A day in the life
We get up this morning. I'm not telling what time I actually hauled my very pregnant self out of the bed, nor divulging just how much Playhouse Disney my kids might have watched before I did. That's getting just a little
too personal.
We had breakfast of cornflakes with fresh strawberries sliced on top. Can you believe my kids have never had cornflakes before? Steve found some amazing deal on cereal for $.30/box. We stocked up, and now have around 30 boxes of cold cereal. Guess they'll get quite familiar with the taste of cornflakes before too long!
We do chores and I start some laundry. Hazel colors some pictures from the Felicity books, and announces that since two of the girls in the picture are from another country (England), they need different colored skin. Gold skin.
Scripture time goes well. We have a discussion about when Christ will come again, and why it's important to have our hearts continually prepared. Hazel asks if there are any 'clues' about when his coming will be, so we talk about some of the signs of his coming. We talked about the gospel being preached all over the world, but Chloe mentions, "not China or that place where Christ used to live." How do they know this stuff?
After discussing rudimentary Chinese politics, Hazel has the bright idea to stage a coup of the Chinese government man and his family. When I discourage this idea, the girls launch a half hour discussion of all the different ways a cook for the chinese government could insert lots of cayenne pepper and salt and lemons into jelly beans and cake, thus shocking their palates into allowing the gospel in. Chloe, in her list of horrible ingredients, included "10 cups of salt, 6 cups of pepper, and just 2 butters, because you know, their veins? We don't want to hurt their veins too much, huh Mom." Nice to know that the sabotage doesn't include any artery clogging!
Chloe read a couple of Bob books to me (my that kid is doing amazing with her reading! She's far more fluent than her older sister. In fact, her learning to read has been how I pictured the whole process--very organic and natural), and Hazel narrated a composition on the piano about elves and witches and birds. It was very dramatic. Chloe skipped off to do some math pages while I did reading with Hazel.
She called me to task for letting my eyes stray off her face while she was reading. Getting through two Bob books takes us a loooong time, and if my eyes are anywhere but on her she comes unglued. If there is another child in the room she melts. Distractions are not permitted, period. Good heavens!!!
Hazel does some math, then I look at the clock and realize we're late to pick up Steve from the airport. We pile in the car and listen to some music. They correctly identify violins, flutes, piano, trumpet, and cello. I tell them the story of Narcissus, prompted by Hazel's lovely behavior during school. Chloe actually knew the story far better than I, and filled in many details for me, including a description of the narcissus flower. Thank you,
Jim Weiss! I told them the story of the Mormon pioneers and the
seagulls and crickets, and they loved it.
While in the car, I realized that despite my innumerable deficiencies as a homeschooling mother, they are learning. Happy thought!!
Steve is home for 4 whole days!!!! We're so excited, so we go straight from the airport to the bowling alley. The cuteness of watching Calvin lift up his ball to bowl almost shreds my heart! Chloe bowls with flair--she has a special 'duck waddle bowl', and the super running start approach. Hazel gamely tries to bowl like a grown-up. So fun!
We veg all afternoon. Outside play, some computer time, and a quick nap. My mom and sister dropped by and were told by Hazel that "my mommy and daddy are in bed together, sleeping together so don't go in!" Unfortunately, not that kind of 'nap'. This was the real deal with drool and a sprawled out Calvin in between us. The other kind will just have to wait!
And now we're going for game night with my siblings. Such a fun, typical, crazy, day in the life kind of day!
Labels: homeschool, Kids
Stop the ride, I'm ready to get off
We are now on day 9 of a merry-go-round of illness. Up and down, from one person to another, watch those symptoms swirl and swap owners in a dizzying kaleidoscope of sniffles. Just when you think the ride is slowing and it's time to rejoin the world, here we go again!
I've been right there in the thick of it, and still feel so so so not worthy of my membership in the human race. Last night welcomed a surprise double ear infection on Chloe and a burning up fever on Calvin into bed with me. Sandwiched between the two of their needy little bodies was my 32 week pregnant, coughing self. Oh, the sleeplessness of last night!!
So there's my update. Probably wish I'd just kept up the posting silence, but oh well!! As soon as there's actual real health, we'll emerge from this cocoon and start schooling and living again. I can't wait!!
Labels: Kids
Why, Congress...WHY??
Things the little cherubs fought over during dinner last night:
Who had to pick up Calvin's fork that fell during dinner.
Who GOT to pick up said fork.
Who got to hand it to him.
Calvin fought over who would be privileged to hand him the utensil.
Whose bow tie pasta looked more like a butterfly. Whose looked more like a bow tie.
Who had more yucky yucky onions in their sauce.
Etc, etc, etc.
Daylight Savings Time, I blame the week that we've been having on YOU!!! Losing an hour's sleep then making the blasted sun go down so much later so my kids in their west facing windows have no chance of sleep before 8:30 instead of the previously blissful 7:15. Your fault, DST. And I'm not going to forget about it anytime soon.
Labels: Kids
Daily moments
There's a point in my day where, every time it happens, I'm startled that yet another day has sped by.
Each night I tuck my babies in bed, and when it's Calvin's turn we read three books, always the same ones, and the first is always Goodnight Moon. I open that book and look at him snuggled in his big boy bed, and I'm every night amazed that another day has passed so quickly.
We read through his books; I don't look at the words because the books are such an ingrained part of life by now. Each time we get to, "goodnight comb, and goodnight brush," Calvin starts to chuckle. Then I flip the page and he belly laughs, "Goodnight NOBODY!!" then we recite together, "goodnight mush."
Such simple moments, but they are part of the beauty of this life that we've created here.
Labels: Kids, parenting
Little sponge
We've been listening to a classical CH for kids in the car lately, and I was playing a kind of 'name that tune' game with them. They had to guess the composer and the name of the piece. We've listened to it a bunch of times, so they're quite familiar with the pieces by now.
Hungarian Rhapsody came on, and I asked the girls who composed it. They thought and thought for a while, then I heard a tiny Calvin voice pipe up, "FranList, dat's Franlist!!"
Yes, my two year old can recognize Franz Liszt! I've been laughing all day about this. Of course, he calls Fur Elise and Beethoven's 5th both 'Baby Einstein', cause that's where he first heard them!
Labels: homeschool, Kids
Chloe learning about irony
"Mom, in the movie The Parent Trap (Haley Mills version, BTW), the lady says "I don't say a word", then she says
a lot of words!!"Labels: Kids
Last minute odds and ends
Time for a quick post before the craziness sets in. I guess the craziness has been happening for days, though. Too much to do!! Here are a couple of random photos and things from the past couple of days. This is Hazel's Christmas present to my little brother Thomas. It's a catapult, of course! She was so very excited to give it to him, but he was a little underwhelmed. But at least now I get my broom back, and my kitchen floor is very very grateful.
Because Calvin is a little rampaging monster boy, nothing in the house is really safe, ever. Including my makeup. He just laughs at me when I punish him, so I get pretty frustrated sometimes. In this photo of his little cherubic mug, look carefully. Do you notice the third eyebrow?
He got into my lipstick, but it wasn't just lipstick, it was lip STAIN. And also eyebrow stain, much to my chagrin. Fortunately for all our holiday pictures, my sister owns makeup remover. Me, not so much.
Yesterday's going to church, all kids dressed, hair done, and not rumpled yet photo. Those moments are far too rare!
Can you even believe it's Christmas eve??? I still have a last minute grocery store run (went the other day without a list--big mistake), lots of cooking to do, and several presents left to wrap. Merry Christmas everyone!! You have made my life so much richer and I treasure our blogging friendships.
Labels: holidays, Kids
Time for a quick update
I have about 2 1/2 minutes to post a quick update while I'm waiting for laundry to dry. We're off on a new adventure tomorrow, and I'm trying to get ready for it.
Christmas is the most amazing time with babies around. The delight as a two ear old discovers all the joys of the season is something that never gets old. The lights on the tree, the nativities, the candles--everything is a source of perpetual wonder to him.
It has snowed every day for the past 5 days or so. We're having such a great time playing and coasting in it, plus it's gorgeous. But it was very wet and heavy the night the bulk of it fell--so much that when I was out shoveling, I bent the snow shovel right in half! Stupid made in China junk.
The other night I took the kids to a live Nativity. Absolutely indescribable. I've never seen anything so elaborate and just plain amazing. They had a camel, llama, goats and sheep. The costumes were stunning, and the whole set up was just gorgeous (do you think I can fit any more superlatives into the paragraph?? I'll try). After passing the wise men and camel, there was a doorway and a soldier allowed you into 'Bethlehem.' Once in, you were transported to the dusty crowded streets of a busy village. There was a stall with a father and his son were carpenters, actually carving and smoothing a log. A potter had a wheel and was making jugs. Women filled pitchers of water at a fountain. Beggars were at your feet, and people were busy buying and selling food of all kinds. Amazing. Periodically there were doors with innkeepers letting us know there was "no room in the inn." And then you rounded a corner, and there was the family. I was expecting it, of course--that's the whole reason for coming! But somehow, I was stunned by the sight and just started to cry. So beautiful and humbling. Just a little baby, wrapped up in a simple piece of cloth, and it's parents. So profound. I'm still touched by the impact it had, days later.
Seeing as the evening was spent with my children, there were of course some choice moments. Like as we approached the camel pen, we came from behind. There were lots of people around and there wasn't a clear, direct view. It was just big and brown. As my kids stood looking at it's bulk, loud and clear came Hazel's, "Well, it's definitely NOT a gorilla!"
Isn't that the truth!
Labels: holidays, Kids
Darn tooth fairy
7:30 am. Just remembered with sinking feeling of panic that little envelope with a little tooth left under my Hazel's pillow. Snatch a crumpled dollar from the laundry room change jar, sigh with relief that she's still sleeping. Slip it under, retrieve the tooth, and melt out of the room.
Barely squeaked through the good mothering door that time!
Labels: Kids
An actual post
Oy vey. Why is it that the longer I wait to post, the more insurmountable it becomes? Seriously, it feels so overwhelming to write anything--how can I possibly catch up on everything--so why even bother? Dang perfectionism.
Life is good. Life isn't just good, it's GOOD. Thanksgiving was wonderful and perfect, and things just keep getting better and better. I guess a large part of my rosy outlook stems from the fact that my Steve is done traveling in just one more week. One more week of single-parenthood, then I get him home full-time for 2 beautiful months!!! And if that isn't enough to make anyone giddy, I don't know what is. It's been a long couple of months--lots of being really, really sick and just trying to get through the fog of first trimester yuckiness. Steve has worked so so hard and he desperately needs this break. Good times.
We put our tree up last night. I'm so regretting the purchase of the fake tree a few years back. At the time it seemed like my happiness would only be complete with a pre-lit tree, but now...eh. I'm missing the real one, the smell, the feel. But at the same time, is there anything more of a pain than trying to haul a tree home from the lot, set it up, saw off the bottom. Hmmmmm. Maybe this one isn't so bad after all!
We're starting to get into a routine with school again. I consider us 'off-track' for the last couple of months. Not so much schooling there. I could barely feed them, let alone teach them anything. PBS did most of that. But now, we're actually doing real math, regular reading and phonics, and lots and lots of read alouds. Hazel has been at the cat,sat,hat level of reading for about a year now. I can't seem to find the hook that will take her beyond that. I haven't known how hard to push, how much to require, how to inspire her. But she's finally finally breaking through, ever so slowly, but she's starting to get it. It's been interesting to realize that she doesn't learn exactly like I do, and that's ok.
Chloe, on the other hand, is reading little Bob books now, flawlessly. I worked with Hazel for so long, I kind of missed the signs of readiness with her. So when she started sounding out words on her own, it took me by surprise. Now she gets her own one-on-one school time and she's absolutely thriving. So fun.
Calvin recognizes about 12 letters and startles me when he identifies new ones correctly. He's learning so much just through osmosis--it's been so fun to watch. He likes a few of the letters far too much, I'm thinking, since he pried his favorite keys off my computer. My Y key is now permanently wonky, but the others recovered.
Anyway, kids are clamoring for breakfast, laundry needs to be transferred, Steve will be at the airport in a few hours, and there is much to do before he comes home! Mrs. D, thanks so much for the encouragement!! I appreciate it completely.
Labels: homeschool, Kids
Time warp to 1977
Hazel got to watch Oprah the other day. No, it's not on the list of regularly approved shows, but we were at my Mother-in-laws, and the entire Osmond family was on, and well...it seemed pretty harmless. Well, Hazel has a crush. A crush on Donny Osmond. On the radio this morning, Donny did some kind of a little segment, and she was over the moon. For the next 45 minutes, all she could say was, "Donny Osmond, Donny and Marie!" over and over. Just ask
Sarah--we were cracking up!
Well, I guess I can say that I'm grateful it's not Justin Timberlake or the Cheetah Girls or anything like that, but seriously, Donny Osmond??
Labels: funny, Kids
