Sunday, November 08, 2009

Animal House

Today we saw Nana and Papa for the first time in weeks. The are back from a trip to Australia and recovering okay. Since you have been into making your own toys, I suggested you build a toy with Papa. You were both excited and, after a nap, retired to the garage where we could hear sounds of saws, drills and serious hinge discussions. After a while, you were finished. Both of you beamed with pride as the animal house made it's debut on the damp driveway pavement. Photos to come!

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Downpour

Today we were in the city, but separated. It was raining hard, but you managed to be mostly happy and agreeable. One of your favorite things to do is sit in coffee shops with us, and we appreciate that.
Anyway, the rain was falling down -- but your spirits were up -- until we had to change plans late in the day. At least you looked cute in your new monkey hat. Your tears made me sad -- you seem to be more and more honest with your emotions these days. Sometimes I can see your 12 year old self and I feel torn. Maybe even a little nervous!

Friday, November 06, 2009

Gazelle

Like the gazelles who were your "prey" today at school, you move gracefully through 5.
You make silly jokes and count to 10 in Spanish.
Tonight, when bedtime was mentioned, you raced us up the stairs. Dad made the "pinch me" sign as you eagerly chose your pajamas.
There was 6 minutes of meditation and a late-entry snack of apples.
Now, as you sleep, I think of the next day with you and await the weekend smiles.

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Patterns

You work a lot with patterns at school and we love to talk about them with you. Today's patterns were about numbers -- 10 is to 9 and ? is to ? -- and you were able to count backwards and figure them out. So proud!

Tomorrow you will make a lion mask and go out with the rest of your pride.

Have I mentioned how much I love your school?

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Turbulence

So fish Dorothy, or Silver, or whatever her name was passed on today. There was too much water in the bowl and she must have flopped out in the afternoon. It was a sunny afternoon, and she was by the window, and I like to think she was jumping out toward the light, hoping for a tasty bug treat.

Anyway, it was a rough evening, with lots of arguing and some crying too. And then we kept on learning of other tough things in your day -- falling down, tears on the bus, choosing the wrong group and fear of public bathrooms.

All in a day's work. Every day is a good day, so here's hoping for tomorrow!

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Tonight's story

Hey Lu, I want you to tell me a story.

Do you want a surreal story, or a real one.

How about one of each.

Okay.

(Pause)

I can't think of a surreal one right now.

That's fine, sweetie.

(Pause)

Ben was my special friend at school today and we played monsters on the playground and....

Monday, November 02, 2009

Prides and Schools

Tonight at dinner...

Mama, today in school we learned what different groups of animals are called!

Really? Give me an example.

Lions have prides and fish are in schools.

I so love your school; we are so lucky!

Sunday, November 01, 2009

And so Lucy will have a record of her life...in November

Dear Lucy,
So you are in Kindergarten. And amazing one! You are rocking new red glasses and a fancy attitude, playing well with others (as usual). You can harness your emotions -- in positive and furious ways -- and have made some amazing friends. Us too! We all went on an amazing, cross-country trip and found you love to travel. 8 hours in the car? No problem.
More soon (tomorrow!) --
Love,
Mom

Friday, June 12, 2009

(official) Birthday post coming soon...





Last week, you called your ankle "the waist of [your] leg." Tonight you insisted, "only round money goes to the bank, not the rectangular kind!"

As of May 15th, you are 5 and we are learning more about this amazing age every day.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Last night

"Mom, I love you every day -- I'll love you forever. You are the best mom ever! I love you so much. I love to give you kisses? Can I rub your neck? Do you feel better?

Dad, you are going to live in Asia, where there are a lot of storms. You will live there when you are a grandpa. You can't live with us.

Mom, I want to live with you when I'm grown up, but Dad won't be here. Only girls -- we'll put up a sign on the house that says, 'girls only.' (Whispered) Right, mom?!"

(Laughter)

Guess I'm ranking high this week!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Conversation: health

L - "Tomorrow, you are going to take a break from coffee."

M- "Really?! No way."

L- "No, not you. Dad. Dad drinks way too much coffee."

M- [Laughs]

L- "He needs to eat more healthy things."

M- "Is that so?"

L- "Yes! He needs to eat more apples."

M- "Why does he need to eat more healthfully?"

L- "Because he needs to eat more healthy things. That's all!"

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Grace in Small Things: 5 of 365

1. "I'm going to change Myra's last name to Pretty...actually, to Nice."

2. Your excitement about sports, especially at the baseball game last night.

3. Watching your "kids" grow and change: today, you were measuring them to see how much they've grown.

4. Mamma Mia sung in a restaurant bathroom. I'd never heard you sing the song before -- you said you learned it from friends at school.

5. Impromptu dancing!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Grace in Small Things: 4 of 365

1. Watching your first Buddhist precept ceremony -- you received a beautiful mala after making your promises.

2. Dancing to "What A Feeling."

3. Listening to Nana read you every book you wanted to hear!

4. You LOVE cilantro and declared the dinner tonight was perfect and wonderful.

5. Making brownies with you: even though you don't like chocolate, you enjoy baking them for other loved ones.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Grace in Small Things: 3 of 365

Things you've said this week:

1. "Weren't you paying attention?! Do you even know what's going on?" (Said while discussing the Sprout show Angelina Ballerina. Apparently I didn't "get" the plot.)

2. "You're a SHAMELESS mom!" (Spoken in harsh tones--but delivered with a smile--to me because I was teasing Dad while climbing the stairs to bed.

3. You have this way of telling us how far you want us to leave your pocket-style bedroom door open at night. "Leave it a little bit lower" has, until this week, been your way of saying you just want a sliver of light coming through. This week, "I want it a little backer" is your new way of communicating you want it open a bit wider.

4. You've been falling asleep in the car on the way home from school. It is an instant -- and deep -- sleep wherein you want to be held on the couch before settling into dinner. You press you cheek into my chest and mumble a shoe removal request before slumbering for a few, blissful, moments.

5. "I love you so much too, Mom. Is tomorrow a hang out day or a school day?"

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Grace in Small Things: 2 of 365

1. Pink tights and extra-small, pastel, cotton camisoles

2. Compound words you learned to read: starfish, bathtub

3. "I jump and jump so I can be big and strong!"

4. Strawberry Shortcake socks

5. Springwater School (fingers crossed!)

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Grace in Small Things: 1 of 365

No excuses. Let's get started! A wonderful blogger called Schmutzie started Grace in Small Things back in November. I finally decided it may be easier to remember the little things as they are -- beautiful little bites of our days together.

*******

1. "You are my favorite friend," words of thanks for organizing our house.

2. Listening to you play on your own and taking care of your babies.

3. Sparkly shoes and spring skirts -- bouncing, blond curls.

4. Your patience and adoration.

5. Birthday party stories told to the ophthalmologist at LensCrafters. Without asking, you explained exactly how your hot pink glasses became bent: "I climbed up this HUGE wall and then I was sliding down and my friends were there and we tumbled into each other! I didn't cry, but my glasses were bent. Wow."

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Funny dream

This morning as I was coaxing you into the day -- you asked me to cover you up, but not to talk, and not to kiss you -- you turned and said, "I had a funny dream." "Really?" I replied. "Yes! A mom had a mustache! Isn't that funny?" you croaked out in your cute, groggy voice.

The light in your eyes -- the light of remembering a dream -- was a new light. We've talked about bad dreams before, but sometimes I've wondered if you've been making them up as conversation starters. This time, I could tell it was a real memory of your subconscious meanderings.