Alice sticks her fingers in her mouth and laughs, "I Memmer." She's pretending to be her friend Spencer J who sucks his fingers. Then she tells me I'm Memmer's mommy. This is the first time I've witnessed her role-playing as someone else I know.
When something is out of reach, Alice tells us it is "far, far, away." That gets the Christmas carol "Far, Far Away on Judea's Plain" stuck in my head every time. I sang the entire first verse to her once and she got bothered at the end saying, "Will's mommy! Will's mommy!" I then realized the last line of the carol goes, "Peace on earth, good will to men" and she thought I was playing the name game again. She wanted Will's mommy to be good the next time.
Alice skinned her knee several weeks ago and she would almost burst into tears every time she saw the scab again, even when it was clearly healing well without infection. Perhaps it was the IDEA of being hurt that caused such emotional pain? Anyway, the scab healed and the next couple times she saw her knee without the scab she proclaimed, "Ouchie all gone!" Then one day she told the whole story...
"Ah gone ouchie! Ayiss 'whoa'. Rye. Deet-do Mommy Daddy. Hudt. Ah gone ouchie. Happy Ayiss happy!"
translation: All gone ouchie! Alice fall. Cry. Mommy Daddy hold me. Hug. All gone ouchie. Happy Alice!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sunny CA with the Garners
[caption id="attachment_550" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Rachel and me having a grand old time at Chuck E Cheese's place. I stole this picture from her Facebook page. Chuck E. drew it for us."]
[/caption]
Just got back from a week in sunny, warm, and green northern California. As Bobby mentioned in his last Sunday Summary, we spent a week with our good friends the Garners. They moved out there a year ago to take a job with Clorox and our family just hasn't been the same since. It was a real treat to get together again. I could give a day-to-day accounting of what we did, but that's not what I'm really going to remember about the trip. The following is what I don't want to forget:
They gave us Nathan's room and crib and dresser. I don't normally unpack my suitcase while traveling...it has always seemed like an unnecessary step. This time, though, I was eager to unpack like I was staying forever. Having a laundry basket was an unexpectedly delightful and comfortable perk. So much like home.
Home canned cherries, peaches, apricots, and jam. Rachel doesn't can much herself (yet!) but I have enjoyed many, many delicious homemade meals with her family that almost always included some form of home canned produce. Rachel and mushicots are inseparably connected in my memory. She also makes all her own bread these days, and you can't beat fresh bread.
Grocery shopping, walking to pick up Daniel from the bus stop, T-ball practices, kicking a soccer ball around the backyard, Chuck E Cheese, discussions on faith, playing Settlers of Catan, reading stories to the boys, Nathan's infectious smile, Joshua's boundless energy (and love), Daniel's eagerness to question, visiting the Oakland temple, Bobby showing so much love to all the kids, senseless knock-knock jokes, stake conference, fruit stand oranges, the smell of almond trees in bloom, heaps of food and fun and love at Holly and Drew and Ben's house, pythons terrifying natives at lightning fast speed, Alice murmuring in her sleep, late night discussions figuring out life and relationships and parenthood, and more laughter than I've felt in a long time. Just like old times.
Most of all, I don't want to forget that leaving again hurt almost as bad as it did the first time. I tend to forget those kinds of emotional things, which eventually leads me conclude that the whole situation was different...less meaningful, less important, less life-changing...than it really was. I don't want to forget that this time.
[/caption]Just got back from a week in sunny, warm, and green northern California. As Bobby mentioned in his last Sunday Summary, we spent a week with our good friends the Garners. They moved out there a year ago to take a job with Clorox and our family just hasn't been the same since. It was a real treat to get together again. I could give a day-to-day accounting of what we did, but that's not what I'm really going to remember about the trip. The following is what I don't want to forget:
They gave us Nathan's room and crib and dresser. I don't normally unpack my suitcase while traveling...it has always seemed like an unnecessary step. This time, though, I was eager to unpack like I was staying forever. Having a laundry basket was an unexpectedly delightful and comfortable perk. So much like home.
Home canned cherries, peaches, apricots, and jam. Rachel doesn't can much herself (yet!) but I have enjoyed many, many delicious homemade meals with her family that almost always included some form of home canned produce. Rachel and mushicots are inseparably connected in my memory. She also makes all her own bread these days, and you can't beat fresh bread.
Grocery shopping, walking to pick up Daniel from the bus stop, T-ball practices, kicking a soccer ball around the backyard, Chuck E Cheese, discussions on faith, playing Settlers of Catan, reading stories to the boys, Nathan's infectious smile, Joshua's boundless energy (and love), Daniel's eagerness to question, visiting the Oakland temple, Bobby showing so much love to all the kids, senseless knock-knock jokes, stake conference, fruit stand oranges, the smell of almond trees in bloom, heaps of food and fun and love at Holly and Drew and Ben's house, pythons terrifying natives at lightning fast speed, Alice murmuring in her sleep, late night discussions figuring out life and relationships and parenthood, and more laughter than I've felt in a long time. Just like old times.
Most of all, I don't want to forget that leaving again hurt almost as bad as it did the first time. I tend to forget those kinds of emotional things, which eventually leads me conclude that the whole situation was different...less meaningful, less important, less life-changing...than it really was. I don't want to forget that this time.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Bobby's Sunday Summary
This has been a rather interesting week. The first half of the week was in Illinois getting ready to travel. Wednesday was spent flying to CA. It was not a fun experience. The plane ride itself was not that bad. In fact it would have been rather pleasant except an hour into the first leg of the flight, to Las Vegas, Alice coughed a little bit too much and lost all of the contents of her stomach onto my shirt. The flight attendants were very nice. They washed out Alice's clothes and set them to try under the fans, which worked out very well. I did not have an extra shirt so I ended up wearing my jacket for the rest of the flight. Once in Las Vegas, I was able to find a shirt on sale and changed.
So far California has been a lot of fun. Pictures are coming. We went to a children's museum and a park. Alice has been getting a lot more daring. She climbed up a slide on her own and climbed up a ladder too. She has had a lot of fun playing with her friends here. And ate some really good mexican food. Something that is very very difficult to find at home.
So far California has been a lot of fun. Pictures are coming. We went to a children's museum and a park. Alice has been getting a lot more daring. She climbed up a slide on her own and climbed up a ladder too. She has had a lot of fun playing with her friends here. And ate some really good mexican food. Something that is very very difficult to find at home.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
[Insert name here] singing
Some new creations from Alice's "choose your own adventure" singing:
"Spencer had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb."
"We wish you a Spencer Bair Christmas, we wish you a Spencer Bair Christmas"
"Red and yellow and pink and green...I can sing a rainbow" somehow turns into "Red and black and red and red...I can sing a coral snake"
Our trip to St. Louis this weekend was excellent. We swapped babysitting with the Krogels. I took Alice (1.9y), Justin (2.75y), and baby Esther (5mo) to the Magic House which is an amazing children's science museum only 10 minutes from the temple (and admission was free, thanks to a reciprocal agreement with our little science museum in Urbana). It was PACKED! There was hardly room to play. Both toddlers were very well-behaved, though, and happy to play with the same thing at the same time for 90 minutes. A miracle in itself! Esther hung out in her carrier and enjoyed watching all the action. Unfortunately for the grandparents and future posterity, it was nigh unto impossible to take pictures while navigating the hot, noisy crowd and juggling a baby carrier and three winter coats. I'll do better next time :)
"Spencer had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb."
"We wish you a Spencer Bair Christmas, we wish you a Spencer Bair Christmas"
"Red and yellow and pink and green...I can sing a rainbow" somehow turns into "Red and black and red and red...I can sing a coral snake"
Our trip to St. Louis this weekend was excellent. We swapped babysitting with the Krogels. I took Alice (1.9y), Justin (2.75y), and baby Esther (5mo) to the Magic House which is an amazing children's science museum only 10 minutes from the temple (and admission was free, thanks to a reciprocal agreement with our little science museum in Urbana). It was PACKED! There was hardly room to play. Both toddlers were very well-behaved, though, and happy to play with the same thing at the same time for 90 minutes. A miracle in itself! Esther hung out in her carrier and enjoyed watching all the action. Unfortunately for the grandparents and future posterity, it was nigh unto impossible to take pictures while navigating the hot, noisy crowd and juggling a baby carrier and three winter coats. I'll do better next time :)
Bobby's Sunday Summary
This week was a rather busy one, or maybe it just felt like a really busy one. I have a project due on Tuesday. It is essentially done, but I still need to finish testing it. The real problem with that is that it takes well over an hour to test it each time, so it is rather time consuming to try and get anything done.
Yesterday we went to the temple. It was a very long day, but a good one. On the way down we heard a very interesting song on the radio. It was from the “annoying music show” I am not sure how it was part of their valentines special, but it was Taco Bell’s Cannon
Susan will be posting to the blog some more of the musical fun we had on the way back though.
Yesterday we went to the temple. It was a very long day, but a good one. On the way down we heard a very interesting song on the radio. It was from the “annoying music show” I am not sure how it was part of their valentines special, but it was Taco Bell’s Cannon
Susan will be posting to the blog some more of the musical fun we had on the way back though.
Monday, February 9, 2009
All in a day's work
A friend introduced me to the article below and I love the author's clear, comprehensive and yet succinct description of stay-at-home motherhood. No gushy sentimentality, no nostalgia, just the simple and sometimes overwhelming truth.
I find myself smiling at this phrase in particular: "It's resisting constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense."
Ain't that the truth.
I find myself smiling at this phrase in particular: "It's resisting constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense."
Ain't that the truth.
Drinking Game and Tomato Paste
Alice and Will are playing together this afternoon. Sitting at the kiddie table for their snack, Alice turns to Will with a sneaky smile and puts her cup to her lips. Will follows suit and soon they're drinking together...and drinking...and drinking. I've never seen Alice drink so long nor so intently. They finish their milk at the same time, put down their cups, and burst out laughing.
Then Alice asks for more milk for herself AND for Will. They do it again. And again. Yup, three rounds of drinks amidst a cacophony of giggles. I finally cut them off when Will couldn't keep up with Alice.
An hour later while I was making dinner, they were feeding each other fingerfuls of tomato paste straight from the can. These guys just crack me up.
Then Alice asks for more milk for herself AND for Will. They do it again. And again. Yup, three rounds of drinks amidst a cacophony of giggles. I finally cut them off when Will couldn't keep up with Alice.
An hour later while I was making dinner, they were feeding each other fingerfuls of tomato paste straight from the can. These guys just crack me up.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Digital SLR Camera Fun
My friend brought her digital SLR camera with her when she came to stay with us this weekend. She took over 200 pictures in two days. Most of those shots were experimental...just figuring out how to use the camera's bajillion settings...but some were a lot of fun:
The odd angle and even lighting make it fun, even if my eyes are closed.
Daddy's secrets...often composed of sinister plans to tickle Mommy
Combat! Over 50 remote control airplanes swarming in a cutthroat competition to be the last plane flying.
Where's Susan? Julia took this candid shot during the Pylon Race at E-Fest. I was fascinated...and you can tell.
Alice is the ring leader when it comes to family photos.
Whose fishlips did she inherit? That's right, they're totally mine!
Bobby can be a startling photographer.
And his flash assaults are brutal!
Mom's legs make an impromptu slide.
Shaggy and bright-eyed babe of mine.
Giving her baby a shot in the face.
Bobby's Sunday Summary
This week was an interesting one. It started out a lot like last week. Susan had another very busy week, so she was a bit frustrated again. But her friend came to visit this weekend, which made her a lot happier. I ended up with Alice a lot this weekend but that is OK it has been fun playing with her, although a little stressful. We got to do a few firsts this weekend. I will let Susan write about a few of them on the blog, but Alice and I built her first snowman. We had a bit of a warm spell yesterday so Alice actually felt like playing outside again. And the snow that was left was just slightly melted so it stuck together really well. Unfortunately by that evening the snow the only snow left in the yard was a tiny pile where the snowman used to be, everything else had melted. Susan already posted some pictures.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
What a day!
My friend Julia came to stay with us this weekend and we've pulled out all the stops! Full-on family fun all day long. It started with fruit crepes for breakfast (garnished with cherry and/or applesauce from our own harvest last year) and a sunny frolic in the rapidly melting snow.
We went to lunch at a Thai restaurant that we probably won't ever visit again. Alice had consumed so much juice that morning that her usual diaper routine could not contain it all. She requested a diaper change, then a potty turn where she ACTUALLY managed to pee in the toilet for the first time ever. We all cheered and doled out the lavish gifts and praise as promised (i.e. a few sheets of TP to wipe herself, the opportunity to flush, and a couple M&Ms for the road). She was very, very excited about it all. She has since requested several potty turns but hasn't managed to replicate her success. All in good time. It was fun to celebrate it for a moment today.
While Alice napped, Julia and I stole away to find a Thai Masamun curry paste or seasoning packet or ready-made sauce. I sure do love that stuff and would readily welcome it into our regular menu. We performed an extensive and yet fruitless tour of all the local Asian grocery stores in town. Plenty of sauces and such, but nothing readily recognizable as Thai Masamun. So much for a short cut.
We also did some regular grocery shopping and came home to make a pumpkin pie. I produced a not-so-tasty experimental dinner (*sigh!* vegetable vindaloo) and decided to give future recipe experiments more thought. Much, much more thought. If you can't stand the smell of it cooking, there's a good chance you won't enjoy the finished product, either.
After dinner, Bobby and Alice played with trains. This has been their routine the last few days. Most of the track configurations end up as physics experiments that we all enjoy...demonstrations of potential energy and kinetic energy.
Once Alice was in bed, Julia and I headed out for our next adventure: E-Fest. The official title was "E-Fest: Amateur Electric Plane Festival." We witnessed several races, the plane combat competition, and the "night flight." Did I ever tell you I have a thing for remote control planes? Yeah, well, this blog appears to be revealing ALL of my secrets. I've tinkered with the idea of becoming an amateur RC pilot but can't seem to get over the initial sticker price and steep learning curve associated with a highly technical hobby completely outside of my formal expertise. I love to watch them in flight, though, and long to pilot one myself. Most of the participants were middle-aged white men with their model planes and oodles of electronic gear, but I saw a handful of younger boys competing with their simple handmade planes. It gave me hope. Maybe I could try it at home a bit. Maybe all that gear and techno-talk won't take THAT long to navigate. I picked up a catalog and reserved a couple books at the library to research the topic a bit more.
Bobby and Alice posing by their snowman creation. The "misty" effect is courtesy of Alice's sticky fingerprints all over the lens. I managed to clean it off after this picture.
Alice running into Bobby's arms.
Investigating the cold frame and all that "dirty"! Did I mention that Alice adds "y" to the end of many surprising words? For example: "Mommy, I need helpy.""Alice socky shoes on" "Uppystairs" "On the couchy"
Alice's hand print in the snow where she biffed it. The sixth finger is a mystery.
Bobby picks up the Babe and discovers she is soaked with muddy snow remnants.
We went to lunch at a Thai restaurant that we probably won't ever visit again. Alice had consumed so much juice that morning that her usual diaper routine could not contain it all. She requested a diaper change, then a potty turn where she ACTUALLY managed to pee in the toilet for the first time ever. We all cheered and doled out the lavish gifts and praise as promised (i.e. a few sheets of TP to wipe herself, the opportunity to flush, and a couple M&Ms for the road). She was very, very excited about it all. She has since requested several potty turns but hasn't managed to replicate her success. All in good time. It was fun to celebrate it for a moment today.
While Alice napped, Julia and I stole away to find a Thai Masamun curry paste or seasoning packet or ready-made sauce. I sure do love that stuff and would readily welcome it into our regular menu. We performed an extensive and yet fruitless tour of all the local Asian grocery stores in town. Plenty of sauces and such, but nothing readily recognizable as Thai Masamun. So much for a short cut.
We also did some regular grocery shopping and came home to make a pumpkin pie. I produced a not-so-tasty experimental dinner (*sigh!* vegetable vindaloo) and decided to give future recipe experiments more thought. Much, much more thought. If you can't stand the smell of it cooking, there's a good chance you won't enjoy the finished product, either.
After dinner, Bobby and Alice played with trains. This has been their routine the last few days. Most of the track configurations end up as physics experiments that we all enjoy...demonstrations of potential energy and kinetic energy.
Once Alice was in bed, Julia and I headed out for our next adventure: E-Fest. The official title was "E-Fest: Amateur Electric Plane Festival." We witnessed several races, the plane combat competition, and the "night flight." Did I ever tell you I have a thing for remote control planes? Yeah, well, this blog appears to be revealing ALL of my secrets. I've tinkered with the idea of becoming an amateur RC pilot but can't seem to get over the initial sticker price and steep learning curve associated with a highly technical hobby completely outside of my formal expertise. I love to watch them in flight, though, and long to pilot one myself. Most of the participants were middle-aged white men with their model planes and oodles of electronic gear, but I saw a handful of younger boys competing with their simple handmade planes. It gave me hope. Maybe I could try it at home a bit. Maybe all that gear and techno-talk won't take THAT long to navigate. I picked up a catalog and reserved a couple books at the library to research the topic a bit more.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wee bit cold
Warning to casual readers: this entry is more for my benefit than yours. Sorry. I know if I don't write it down and process it now, then I may lose this learning opportunity. My mind tends to work that way.
At aerobics this morning, Alice and her cousin Will found their way outside the church building. No coats, no gloves, no hats, with wind chill readings hovering between 3 and 13 degrees below zero, today's high predicted to be 15 degrees. They had been out there only a couple minutes when I found them. Both were in tears and ready to warm up. I have been waiting for this learning opportunity to come, wondering how it would play out. My first feeling upon finding them was joy and relief that they were relatively unharmed. Then I was delighted to see that the consequence for their poor choice was immediate and already sufficient to help with the lesson.
Kristin opened the door for us and we all came in. Alice calmed down a bit and I asked her what happened. We talked about the choice she had made and the natural consequences of that choice...bitter cold, sad, alone, and scared. I told her that the next time she wanted to go outside, she could ask me and we would go together with the right protective gear...no sad, alone, scary consequences...just cold and fun and safe.
Aerobics proceeded as normal. Alice was happy to go home. When it came time to go outside, she readily put on coat and gloves. I walked out the door and she stood back, head down, eyes to the side. Timid. I thought I heard a whimper. I assured her that it was okay to come outside now and she came reluctantly. The memory of so much bitter cold was fresh in her mind.
We got home a few minutes later and the first thing she wanted to do was go for a walk in the snow. Was she testing my promise? True to my word, I took her out. We had fun and went home when we got cold.
The question lingering in my mind is, what did she take from her experience this morning? Will she remember it and think about it the next time she has a choice to go outside without Mom? Is she too young to process this experience like that? I can't tell. I guess we'll have to see.
At aerobics this morning, Alice and her cousin Will found their way outside the church building. No coats, no gloves, no hats, with wind chill readings hovering between 3 and 13 degrees below zero, today's high predicted to be 15 degrees. They had been out there only a couple minutes when I found them. Both were in tears and ready to warm up. I have been waiting for this learning opportunity to come, wondering how it would play out. My first feeling upon finding them was joy and relief that they were relatively unharmed. Then I was delighted to see that the consequence for their poor choice was immediate and already sufficient to help with the lesson.
Kristin opened the door for us and we all came in. Alice calmed down a bit and I asked her what happened. We talked about the choice she had made and the natural consequences of that choice...bitter cold, sad, alone, and scared. I told her that the next time she wanted to go outside, she could ask me and we would go together with the right protective gear...no sad, alone, scary consequences...just cold and fun and safe.
Aerobics proceeded as normal. Alice was happy to go home. When it came time to go outside, she readily put on coat and gloves. I walked out the door and she stood back, head down, eyes to the side. Timid. I thought I heard a whimper. I assured her that it was okay to come outside now and she came reluctantly. The memory of so much bitter cold was fresh in her mind.
We got home a few minutes later and the first thing she wanted to do was go for a walk in the snow. Was she testing my promise? True to my word, I took her out. We had fun and went home when we got cold.
The question lingering in my mind is, what did she take from her experience this morning? Will she remember it and think about it the next time she has a choice to go outside without Mom? Is she too young to process this experience like that? I can't tell. I guess we'll have to see.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Bobby's Sunday Summary
This week has been a very busy one for Susan. My week was fairly slow. Not too many deadlines coming up so I was able to be a bit more relaxed. And because of that I don’t have too much to write about this week. Susan, however, needed the car every day this week. She really tries to avoid having the car because she really hates to pick me up from work. Alice is rather tired by then and a 15 min ride to work and another 15 min home some times puts her over the top of what she can handle. Sorry I don’t really have more to write about it was a slow week.
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