Pre-Christmas Festivities

Matching outfits from American Girl Store. Grandma and Natalie both love that place so much. She used birthday money to get the doll's ears pierced (they seriously do that in the doll salon, along with giving them fancy hairstyles), and then they picked out matching outfits. I really couldn't tell if she wanted the matching outfits or not, so I was a little hesitant, but oh my goodness, once we were home! She wore it for two days straight (and would have longer I imagine if I hadn't put it in the wash), and was on cloud nine the whole time. I wonder if having a matching outfit with me would make her that giddy?
Did I mention that Grandma and Grandpa came in town? Staying home might not be as much fun as Christmas in Canada, but we do love it when we have grandparent visitors. Grandma Helen lent us her expertise with gingerbread house making. It turned out quite nicely.

Just today I caught Owen breaking off a piece and eating it when he was not allowed to have a snack because he didn't eat much lunch. Hmmm....it's been at least a week since we made that house now...doesn't sound tasty to me, but I guess if you're desperate it will do.
Natalie had a little holiday dance show for her dance class. She was very excited about it, and the song was very peppy. Unfortunately, they weren't on a stage and there were so many people that I couldn't see even the slightest bit of Natalie during the dance. I tried to get her to dance it for us at home, but she got super frustrated when she forgot the moves (or my version of the song wasn't quite the same as the one they used, perhaps). Then Owen tried dancing to it, and that made her super annoyed. Oh well, I think she had a good time during the show.

More Christmas stories soon to follow...

Christmas Card Pictures

Christmas card Spoiler Alert: The new header picture on the blog is the same as the Christmas card photo. I think it's cute. It's not perfect, and it's not professional, so I don't think I'll be making too many people jealous with it's utter perfection. But let me tell you one thing that should, if you have any envy in you at all, make you jealous. It took a total of about 7 minutes to get. Start to finish. Including getting the kids dressed and ready. The boys aren't wearing socks. Natalie's hair was a mess, with old syrup stuck in it still from breakfast, and looking like a rat's nest. I grabbed whatever we had red left over from last year (except Owen's shirt, which I just bought at Target). They sat and complained for a minute, I snapped about 3 pictures, and we were done. 1-Hour photo cards at CVS done online and picked up the next day. Whew. It's the express train to Christmas preparation.

Side note: Ooooh, to be young enough again that I could run a brush through my ratty hair, throw on a dress or a sweater and look beautiful. Well, maybe I couldn't even do that when I was young. I'm not sure how they do it. And I'll leave you with one more photo from the shoot. I liked it a lot, except for the fact that it makes Liam look a lot smaller than Natalie because he's bending down. She's looks like a mother tending to her two boys.

Santa

Wow, what a Christmas already! This marks the first Christmas EVER that any of my children came within 10 yards of the Big Guy without crying or running away. Not entirely true. Owen has been fine in past years with shouting to him from a safe distance, but being on his lap was a different matter. And okay, Liam I guilted into sitting on Santa's lap, saying that it would make Owen feel better. Turns out, this year Owen was not afraid of Santa. I think he overcame his mistrust of the hairy beast in order to lobby hard for presents. He was quite the chatty chatterbox (which is not unusual, except in regards to Santa).

O: Santa, my name's Owen. Are you going to bring me presents?

Santa: Have you been a good boy?

O: Ye-ess (with only a slight hesitation). Yes. I've been good (feeling more positive about that now.)

Santa: What would you like?

O: Hmmm. A dinosaur. And a playdate. I want to have a playdate with you. I have boy toys. (Maybe if I share my toys with you, you'll bring me more...)

Santa: Well, those are my favorite kinds of toys!

O: Santa, I love you (hug).

That wasn't the whole conversation, but I couldn't hear it all. Owen also "crashed" other people's pictures about 3 times, trying to go back and talk to Santa a bit more. It never hurts to cover all the bases, I suppose, when it comes to making an impression on an important person.

Natalie was hiding around a large post the entire time.

The Trail They Leave

I talk a lot about the trail of notes, pictures, and random oddities that Natalie leaves behind, but trust me when I say that she is not the only one.

I noticed that Owen was playing with our nativity scene before preschool the other day. And that's fine. It isn't a fancy one - it is very kid friendly - and they all love to play with it. Later I noticed that he had pulled a fire engine and an ice cream truck up to the scene. Apparently the angel needed an ice cream break. The fire truck...well, that manger does look like a fire hazard, doesn't it?

The other picture is an origami Yoda that Liam simply HAD to make as soon as he got home from school. He kept telling me it was a very quick way to do an origami Yoda (as opposed to a longer, more complicated version...). "It's an Emergency Mode origami Yoda, Mom."

Happy 4th Owen!

On Nov. 29th Owen turned 4! Wow, he had been waiting for that day for a year. Even his preschool teacher told me the day before his birthday, "He has been asking us every single week all year if it was his birthday yet, every Monday when we go over the week's birthdays." He pretty much walked around saying, "My name is Owen, and my birthday is November 29th." I found it kind of funny that he was so matter-0f-fact about it the day AFTER his birthday. Now whenever anyone mentions his birthday he tells them very seriously, "My birthday is over now." I suppose he has another entire year of anticipation ahead now.

I swear I usually limit the sugar intake for the boy, for fear of dire consequences, but on his special day I took him for his free Kids Club cupcake at Barnes & Noble. It was extremely rich, and he only ate a small part (and the rest of it was on his face and coat), and then made a face like he might be sick. We spent some time at the train table and Lego table in the store. He likes to build very tall towers. There was a little girl building too, and she built a very stable, low to the ground structure. Owen looked at hers and said, "Mine is taller." I thought that perhaps that is a good study in gender differences. His was definitely taller, but hers was built to last. Not to worry, when his fell over, he liked it even more.

And the Little Man finally fulfilled his year-long dream of going to Chuck E. Cheese. It had been many years since I had set foot in a CEC. I have some bad memories of them. But the commercials sucked him in, and it was all he wanted to do (OK, he probably mentioned a dozen other ideas too, but he always came back to CEC). We decided to make it low-key, however, and so we just kept it a family party. I was feeling some guilt about that, as Owen is so social and so aware of the whole party scene. Even the day before his party he was counting off all his preschool friends on his fingers and telling me they would all be at his party. guilt...guilt...guilt... That said, it ended up a wonderful idea to limit the party, I think. It was a Tuesday night, the place was virtually empty, and all 3 of the kids had a great time having the run of the place. They played every game with no wait, and even the noise level was completely acceptable - even for me. They had pizza and played, and had a great time. Then it was done. No mess, no completely-fried-from-too-much-stimulation boy. Wonderful. At least for me. Owen probably still wishes his friends had come.

Then we came home and had a little Superhero cake. A little! Don't even ask why we have a 1/2 sheet cake for a party of 5. Let's just say that I was a little scattered when I ordered it. Wow, that was a big cake. It sits here still.

And what can I say about my big 4 year old. He's a wonderful boy, still so full of life and love and energy. He's still a mover and a shaker, and is always out to make friends. Even when Aunt Amy arrived at the airport for her visit, he ran up to her and said, "Hi, my name's Owen, what's yours?" even though he knew who she was. He still makes me laugh and smile every day. I still get lost in those beautiful down-turned eyes that are the most magical color - blue in pictures, but in the sunlight you can see so many different colors - golden flecks, greenish flecks. Is that called hazel? I'm not sure. Just like the boy, the eyes have so many beautiful layers. Just perfect.

Thankful For...Family

We had a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Not the least of which was that Aunt Amy and her son, Justin, came for a visit. Jim and I were able to sneak away for a 3-day trip to Napa that was beautiful. I don't remember ever seeing Fall colors so vivid! We ate and drank and slept with no interruptions at all, except for a random woodpecker knocking on our window one morning. It was lovely. And quiet. And relaxing, although I honestly don't think I ever shook the feeling that something (or several somethings) was missing.

The best part was to be able to come home to happy children, close cousins, and a Thanksgiving dinner all together. Aunt Amy picked right up and took over childcare so well that the kids hardly noticed...well, they probably noticed that they were having more fun than usual. They baked birthday cupcakes (for me), turkey sugar cookies, played Wii Just Dance, and saw Puss N Boots in the theater. Good times. There's not enough thanks in the word Thanks for that birthday/anniversary/Thanksgiving gift.

Thankful For...Writing Practice

I am thankful for the notes and homework that I get to read on a regular basis. Some of it makes my day.

Liam's is from some work he did in school. Notice he forgot to put his name on it...not unusual...and what is up with his teacher spelling his name wrong?! Also notice the lack of capitalization...also not unusual. However, I think his teacher had a hard time grading this one harshly when 1) it is hilarious, and 2) he included an illustration of lice. I believe the assignment was to write about what qualities a good presidential candidate might possess. Some potentially relevant background info is that during that week, lice was going around his class. In case you can't read his spelling, I will translate:

To be a good candidate. You can't brag. Or go like, "Oh, I'm just so going to win." And you can't put up posters that say "Lincoln had head lice, you don't want him touching the Declaration." That is being a bad candidate.

Well, I suppose he has a point. And the picture of the head lice in between some hairs does drive the point home. ha ha ha Liam is more of a math and science guy, but I do enjoy reading his writing.

Natalie's note was one of her MANY random notes that she wrote at home. Most of her notes are for me, and that makes me feel very lucky.

Her translation:

Dear Mom

Today is Wednesday November 9th 2011. I am so happy today. R you? Love Natalie

Lovely.

My Halloween Baby

Oh, how could I let my Halloween baby's birthday slip by without a birthday post?

I think she had a great day. Grandma M was in town, which is always a treat. She helped Natalie start up knitting again. She (we) may need a few more lessons at Christmas as well.

The party was fairly small this year, and that was nice. Just a few Kindergarten friends at a paint-your-own pottery place. That satisfied my little artist's desire for an art project, and the girls got to sit at a table by themselves and chat. I love the way she is making good friends at school, and is not letting shyness steal her voice. She is blossoming in Kindergarten. Another mother told me recently, "Ella says that Natalie tells the best jokes!"

She chose a cookie cake this year. It makes perfect sense, because Natalie does not like cake. She will eat icing only from a cake. Why didn't we think of a cookie cake before?

Of course, there was also piles of candy and trick-or-treating on the actual birthday. Beautiful bat girl. I always love the spark, humor, laughter, and beauty that my Halloween girl brings to the family. The year of being six is already off to a great start.

Boo

Where have I been?? Not exactly sure. But I will be back to post more soon. Meanwhile...Happy Halloween from Batgirl, the Red Power Ranger, and a Star Wars Clone trooper. It was a merry trick or treat night, and no over-stimulated, sugared-up meltdowns. woo-hoo!

Quote of the night, and future smooth move with the ladies was from Owen. Trick or treating at the house of an unfamiliar neighbor, he stood with his hands on his hips and looked inside the house, and said, "Hey! Have I been inside your house yesterday?!" The man looked confused and bemused, and said, "Uh, no, I don't think so..." Owen said, "Hmm...how about tomorrow?" ha ha Smooooth operator trying to get himself invited over. Watch out ladies...

Monkey Around My Neck

Last week we were taking pictures before going out to eat for our 10th Anniversary dinner with kids in tow. I thought the one of me holding Owen looked so familiar! It reminded me of my little monkey necklace that I wore at 5am while we were saying goodbye to Novokuznetsk, preparing to fly to Moscow. Funny - he doesn't look all that different 2 years later (I hopefully look slightly more rested - at least I should!). I hope that Owen is a little less anxious now than he was back then, considering that at that point in time I was the virtual stranger to whom he had pinned all of his hopes for safety and food.

He doesn't need to be around my neck ALL the time now, though he still likes to be close. I would guess that there is still some degree of anxious attachment. He's not going to let me get too far away. (Then again, Natalie can be extremely anxious in her attachment and I've hardly left her side since she was born.) I like that he is still small enough for me to be able to hold him so close. This could be a little painful to endure when he is 18! But for now, he's just my sweet, snuggly monkey necklace.

Reba Ras Begas

Well, here I am a bad blogger once again. Every day while I am doing other things, I think of incredibly witty, coherent posts (and you'll just have to trust me on that one). Then, once kids are washed (sometimes), read stories, put to bed, lunches packed, folders signed (why do their homework folders seem like work for me?), snacks packed, water packed (the teachers so generously allow the kids to take water and snacks for the afternoon...one more thing to pack...more work for me), I sit on the couch and I can't think a single coherent thought. Every.single.night.

So this is the mishmash post, wherein I ramble on about bits and pieces of random events in order to just relieve myself of the guilt of not writing more often.

Liam and I went to the Mother/Son dance again this year. It was fun. I could watch that boy dance all day. He looks so uncomfortable, and yet I can tell he wants to cut loose. He prefers to dance in front of me, facing out towards the crowd. I honestly can't tell if he does not want me looking at him dancing, or does not want to look at ME dancing (more likely). I am also uncomfortable dancing. I do not want to cut loose. Still, it is always fun to go out with my Liam. We ended the evening getting a drink at Sonic (oh yes, and Jim asked me to stop by the drugstore and pick up a bottle of wine for us on the way home - how creepy is that - all dressed up on a date with an 8 yr old and I'm getting a bottle of wine to take home - it is NOT what it looks like Mr. Drugstore man! ), and sitting with the windows open chatting. Except instead of chatting Liam wanted to use my phone to look up the Top 10 Funny Baby videos on YouTube. Quoting Liam: "I tell you, that YouTube is hilarious!!" So we both sat and laughed at all the babies belly laughing on YouTube. I threatened to post Liam's baby video of his "poo face" where his face turns so red it looks as if it will pop off. Good times. And if you couldn't tell, we did finally get his hair cut, right before school pictures were taken. The mop was too unruly in the mornings, and Liam would not brush it. One more thing for me to do... So now no brushing required.

Owen and I have some fun on the days when he doesn't have preschool and the other 2 are in school. We like to visit museums. That is Owen's thing right now. If anyone asks what he is doing today he will tell them very seriously, "Actually, I'm going to a museum." We don't go nearly as often as one would think from all his museum talk, but he must be having fun. One of the pictures above is when we went on a hike at a nature museum and visited the butterfly house. He likes the butterflies...but at a certain point I think they also make his skin crawl and then he will ask to leave. The display of cocoons was not a favorite. They are a bit creepy.

Owen is doing pretty well with soccer. If I'm honest, it stresses me out a bit because I'm always over-thinking his behavior on the field. When he focuses on the soccer playing he is fantastic. Once he gets distracted he uses all the players as bumper cars. But when he focuses, I love to watch him!

Oh yes, and he is also the reason for the post title. Another Owen catch phrase these days: Reba Ras Begas! Also known as Viva Las Vegas. Usually shouted while wearing his bright red cowboy hat. We can chalk that one up to the Wii Just Dance video game, where we dance to songs and follow the movements of the "person" on screen. The Viva Las Vegas dancer wears a cowboy hat. The way Owen pronounces it sounds exactly like how I would imagine Scooby Doo would say it: REba Ras BEGas! Rooby Rooby Doo! I do love it when he sings.

Natalie lost a front tooth, and was so happy that it happened at school. She wanted the very fashionable plastic tooth necklace that they give you to put it in. To me, the hole looks huge and gaping, and it makes her talk differently as her tongue sticks in the hole. I'm not sure how it can be so disturbing and cute at the same time.

Natalie also gave me a gem the other day. She was furiously working on an art project at the kitchen table - her usual spot - and she asked me, "Mom, do you know why I'm an artist?" I expected her to say something like "because I make such beautiful pictures." Instead she told me, "Because I do some art every single day." Aaaahh, she is wise beyond her years. The end result is all subjective, but the process of doing it every single day is what makes her an artist. And she does do it Every.Single.Day. She is making "art" constantly. I had to chuckle to myself, and thought, "And that is exactly why I am NOT a writer." sigh...

Paying The Help

Owen is learning that money has value. I know this because I find him, periodically, digging through my purse to collect spare change. Directly out of the change pouch on my wallet. Whenever he finds a coin, whether on the ground, in my purse, or under the couch, he yells the same thing: "Today is my LUCKY DAY!" We don't have a piggy bank for him yet, so he will stuff coins in his pockets or carry them around whenever the mood strikes.

Given his current infatuation with change, I came up with a great way to use this to my advantage. Even though Owen is potty trained, we still have some issues. He hates to stop what he is doing to go. So he just bounces around even higher than his normal bounce, and he holds it. Then when I finally make him go, there is a wet spot on the undies that is usually large enough to warrant a change. Lots of laundry.

So the other day, I told Owen that I was very sorry but I was having to do SO much laundry that the next time he had a wet spot like that I would have to charge him a quarter to clean the extra undies. Sure enough, the next time he went it was wet, and I took a quarter from him, saying, "OK, well now you give me your quarter so that I can clean your extra laundry!" at which point he jumped up with a huge smile and said, "Really?? Oh, THANK YOU Mommy!" and gave me a great big hug.

Hmmm. Apparently he thinks he got a bargain. Or he never realized that I was doing his laundry in the first place. Or perhaps he is smarter than I realize and he is just calling my bluff...

The Girl With the Dolphin Tattoo

Snippets from the week:

Natalie: "Mom, do you like being a Mom? Even if you can't run fast?"

This came the evening after we had been to the track for a walk/run/bike ride. In my defense, I stopped to help Owen after he fell off his bike while stunt riding. And Natalie is fast. And I am now going to step up my training routine. And yes, I do like being a Mom, despite my obvious shortcomings.

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Natalie: "Mom, I think you need those glasses that Grandma uses." As I tried, unsuccessfully, to read the How To Knit book. Grandma, we need your help to finish the knitting project we started on your last visit. Cross-stitch, I can do. Mostly. Knitting, not so much. Honestly, I would buy a pair of those reading glasses from the pharmacy if I thought they would help.

Bubble Boy

This probably amuses me way more than it should, but it just cracks me up. There was just enough water in the tub for him to rest like this and chat, surrounded by bubbles. Like a little talking head...

Preschool First Day Photo

I realized that I never posted Owen's First Day picture. He is back at the same preschool he attended last year, but the hours are a little longer this year. So far, so good. I can tell he is maturing a lot. There were 4 friends from his class last year in his new class, and I was beyond thrilled that the parents all told me how their child was hoping to have Owen in class. Sometimes I worry, you know... But they were all happy to see each other.

Owen has also started back up in soccer, and this team seems more in line with his maturity and size. Not that he minded the bigger boys in the Spring, but I think he will enjoy this team even more. He had his first game on Saturday, and scored five goals! He is still the smallest on the team, but the boy is persistent. Every time there was a knot of boys all huddled together trying to get that ball, it seemed that Owen would pop out of the huddle with the ball. Definitely not afraid to go for the glory, that boy.

Remembering

So hard to believe it's the 10th anniversary already. I hesitate to even post about it, because I don't really have the right words to do it justice. Of course I think about it every year on 9/11, but this year is obviously bigger. 10 years. How can that be possible? It is also the first year, for us, that the kids are more aware. I think Liam gets it. Natalie had kind of tuned it out until tonight watching some of the things on tv before the football game. That led to quite a few questions at bedtime about who died, if any children died, what happened if a child had both parents die, what if that child had no family at all to take them in. I tried to just answer with basic facts, but I don't know that I did enough to reassure her.

My own memories have faded. It still makes me sad, but it doesn't always have that gut-wrenching effect that it did at first. So I was a little surprised this week, while listening to an interview on NPR in the car. There are so many stories. All sad. And yet, this interview made me gasp out loud once more and brought tears to my eyes again. He was a firefighter who was in the 2nd tower when it fell, and survived, along with his crew. They were on the 4th floor, in approximately the middle of the building, and everything fell around them. They pretty much had to be exactly where they were to survive. Amazing. But what made me gasp was to hear, in his own voice, the description of hearing and feeling the building fall. He had heard on his radio that the first tower fell, so he knew what was happening. He heard as the floors collapsed down, one on top of the other, bam, bam, bam. He heard the twisting metal. Then couldn't breathe as all the dust and debris filled his eyes, nose, throat. He was so calm describing it. But I couldn't get the sound of those floors pancaking together out of my head. He is still a firefighter, and that is amazing. What strength that must take.

So, I remember, and I am still able to be moved all over again.

Day At The Park

We are loving the cooler weather these days! We were able to go for a hike and play on the playground without collapsing into a sweaty puddle. Wonderful! Everyone did okay with hiking too, with only one cry from Natalie as we went off the paved path, "Oooh I don't want to go IN nature!" Natalie is always 50/50 when it comes to liking "nature." Sometimes she loves it, other times she falls apart at the very idea.

Notice the football in Liam's hand. That is a new development, being interested in football. Jim is loving it. It's official now that Liam knows more about football than I do.

Sir Elton...er Owen

Owen is still getting the hang of playdates with friends. Overall, he is doing better. But he tends to be a bit of a control freak. I find that a little odd, actually, because I don't notice that so much with his own siblings. Yes, he sometimes runs rough shod over them (and I mean this literally - the boy is constantly stepping, bumping into or otherwise climbing on people), but he's not usually the one telling them exactly what and how to play. Maybe it's because that is Natalie's job, and he has been just waiting for his turn to be the Boss on his own playdates.

In any case, during a recent playdate he and a friend were trying to start a band, and upon hearing lots of yelling I found Owen at the "piano" with his sunglasses on (could be a Bono look, but I'm thinking Elton John...), screaming at his little friend, "Sit!! Sit and listen to me play!!! Sit there!!!" I honestly don't think Sir Elton himself could have been more of diva. Quite demanding from a boy in green and orange glasses, sitting on a princess stool...

So we've had some talks about letting our friends do what they want to do during playdates. We'll see how it goes in preschool this year.

Apropos

One of Natalie's sticky notes...I'm not sure if I should be scared of what is hiding in that drawer or not. The sentiment does sum up how I was feeling about a month into our summer...

Releasing Her Inner Artist

I have been putting off writing about our summer. I have a post in me somewhere, but I think I had to let school start for a week or so before I could rehash the summer. Or perhaps it is taking me that long to restart my brain after it was left unplugged (intentionally, as a form of self protection) all summer. So in order to ease into my summer post (and this is NOT my summer post), I'll tell you a little about Natalie's artistic phases over the summer. The pictures don't capture the entire essence, because I only grabbed handfuls of the art produced.

There was the rock painting phase. Piles of brightly painted, markered, and crayoned rocks, mostly pilfered from neighbor's landscaping.

The bookmark phase. She found a bag of tongue depressor sticks in our craft bag. And proceeded to paint, marker and draw on pretty close to the entire bag. She began giving them out as bookmarks, but we still have a stack of them.

The paper plate phase. She found a stack of paper plates in the pantry. The ones that I bought to use for lunches on days when the dishes are stacking up....and proceeded to paint, draw, color and cut pretty close to all of them.

The Post-It Note phase. An entire stack of Post-It Notes now have cryptic notes on every page. I particularly like the one that is taped at eye level on the door to my toilet (eye level while sitting on the commode, that is) that says "I♥ my kids."

The Label Maker phase. She is into trying to spell things, with or without my help, and used pretty much a whole tape in my Label Maker...for Owen "I like Power Rangers" and "underwear." There was the "I love" series - "I love Liam" and "I love Owen" and on and on. And my personal favorite, "OK sooooooo" and "OK so haw are you."

I could have chosen to be upset about the use of so many sticks, plates, paper, labels. But really, considering how things deteriorate around here when children aren't kept busy, I didn't mind at all. My little artist brightens our world with color. And she keeps herself busy with very little supervision required. Excellent.

The harder part will be the ultimate disposal of said art...some things (rocks) are not as easy to slip into the recycle basket as others...

Mr Cool

After using the 10-second timer function on the camera to take a family photo for Owen's preschool Open House, Liam took a whole series of pics of himself using the timer. This is one of the few that actually had a hint of a smile. In most of them it appears as though he is practicing his cool, serious look. My big 3rd grader. I see the long, lanky legs and the not-quite-a-boy face. This could not be the same boy I used to wrap up so tightly in a blanket like a burrito at night.

He is quite the proud big brother imparting all of his 3rd grade wisdom to his Kindergartner sister. Each morning on the way to school he can be heard explaining all kinds of things about school to Natalie. Most of his advice ends with, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it after a few days." Ahh, I love hearing the advice doled out by someone other than myself. The other day he told her very seriously, "Natalie, if you want to be good at something you have to practice A LOT. Do you think I always played baseball this good? No! I've been practicing for, like, 8 years!"

Back To School

The big day has arrived. School time!

Everyone survived. In fact, it went very well. Natalie had quite a bit of anxiety about the logistics of getting from here to there and knowing what to do. But we had Meet The Teacher Night on Friday, and I think it helped her to see everything. She probably also realized that she knows the school already from visiting Liam over the years. Her teacher is very young, but seems very sweet. When I picked them up this afternoon, both of them were bouncy and cheerful and smiley. Natalie even declared, "Kindergarten is fun!!" I'd call that a success.

Heard From the Herd

Owen usually relies on others to man the remote control for the tv. It can be rather complicated, with all the myriad of options...Direct TV, Netflix, etc. The other day he was excused from the dinner table before the other two, and walked out to the family room and started a movie on his own. Natalie said, "What?! How did he?!" and then turned to Liam with big eyes and said in horror (mock horror?..not sure), "Now he's even MORE powerful!"

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Finally breaking our 40-day long streak of over-100 temperatures, it was somewhere between 90 and 95, with an overcast sky, and Natalie turned to me and said in all seriousness, "Mommy, why is it so COLD??" (I'm not sure why it was so cold, but rest assured it went away as quickly as it came, and now it's just as hot but more humid than before).

The Rear End of Summer

The school countdown has begun, so we are officially in the rear end of summer. A big, hot sweaty rear end.

I don't want to sound overly dramatic about the summer being bad. It was not. It had many good points. The heat was not one of them. But as I look back, we did accomplish many things. In fact, almost all of my Summer To Do List was completed (yes, I made a To Do List for summer, a fact which horrifies most of my family).

Owen was potty trained. 95% at least. The McDonald's play area does not appreciate the other 5%.

Natalie learned to tie her shoes. Probably better than Liam ties his. He has worn "Why Ties" for a year and a half now, which are springy little strings that flex enough that you can put on your shoes, then they just spring back in place. No need to tie. Why did I ever think that was a good idea? Well, I suppose it had something to do with the pace of getting ready for school in the morning. But we're done with that fad now. And Natalie is super at shoe tying.

Owen and Natalie learned to swim. Natalie made huge strides as compared to last summer, and hasn't used a floatie all summer. She is happy to jump from the top of the fountain at the pool and swim back to the side on her own. Not bad considering she only started putting her face gingerly into the water at the end of last summer.

Owen would also not use a floatie if it were up to him, but his bounding confidence in the water might not entirely match his ability. Though...when I do let him out of the floaties he always does something to amaze me. Once it was doing underwater backward rolls (his alternative to the underwater handstand that Liam was doing). Several times it has been some form of synchronized swimming move where he rolls from his front to his back over and over again, with arms kind of above his head. I was slightly alarmed until he stopped to say, "Watch this, Mom! Watch this!" And of course, I'm amazed how well he is using his "big arms" as they say in swim class along with his powerful kicking to get wherever he wants to go. Fast.

Liam made great strides at bike riding. Sadly, we just don't have good space for bike riding around here, and so he hardly ever gets practice. Going into 3rd grade now, we just didn't want him to get to the point of being embarrassed about not being able to ride well. So we forced him to ride. And yes, it was was a matter of force. But he did fine. Then we moved him to a new bike that was more in line with his lanky 3rd grade frame and he had to re-learn all over again. Now he loves the in between part, just dislikes the starting and stopping. For some reason he doesn't believe me that it doesn't count as riding if you can't start and stop on your own. I was happy to hear his excitement about the "in between" part though. We had a ride together in which he was almost jubilant. To the point of making fun of me for getting way over next to the curb when I saw a car. "Mom! What are you - afraid of a car?!" And I was all, "Um, YES, and you should be too or you will end up a hood ornament!!" Silly boy.

We had some lessons in Stranger Danger (I think it's now called Stranger Safety). I bought a cute little video that they all LOVED. Seriously. I thought they would hate it, but they asked to watch it again and again. The downside to this being that now periodically one of them (Owen) will shout out while I'm driving "Help, this is not my mother! Help, this is not my father!" and giggle hysterically. So if you ever read about me having to go to the police station to retrieve my children because they tell strangers in a store that they have no idea who I am, you'll know why.

Natalie is reading, and has been writing (without prompting) in a journal that she started in preschool. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE phonetic spelling? At this age, I do. At 16, not so much. But right now it is adorable. She wrote a note to Liam: "i m sory Leim, heart Natalie" after she left him to do all the dusting that they were both supposed to be doing. Apparently her hands were "too tired" to dust, but worked just fine for writing an apology. Liam is doing multiplication ("Mom, REALLY, on Summer break?!") Owen is writing his name...well, no he's not. He can still do that "O"! But handwriting...is not something he enjoys. We're working on it though. May have to legally change his name to "O".

I think I'm rambling, so I'll wrap it up there. Some good things have happened in this long, brutal summer.

More Heat

Can we come out yet? No...113 is not cooler.

Heat

If it doesn't cool off soon, I'm just going to stay under here for good!