Ah, September. I’ve been looking forward to you for 11 months.
It’s the greatest time of the year! It’s new clothes, new bookbags, new teachers, new friends. It’s sunshine and cool evenings, football games and changing leaves. Plus there’s the anticipation of the next three months: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas!
Our summer is over. Summer is my least favorite time of the year but I actually consider 2009 to have been a good one. Matilda went from being a baby to a near-toddler. She loved sitting in the grass and falling asleep during long walks. Sam, of course, lived in a permanent state of gaiety. He spent so much time with his grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. He stayed at a hotel without his mom or dad. He wiped out on his tricycle twice and lived to tell the tale. He was trusted to be outside while Eric mowed. He became fearless on jungle gyms and, for a very short time, was the owner of a tiny frog.
I had another summer with my kids and we played, learned, and grew. I can’t wait to see what autumn will bring.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
School
Yesterday afternoon Jackie stayed with Matilda so Eric, Sam, and I could go to an ice cream social at Aldrich. Sam was really, really excited to see his school! I was even more impressed with it this time. The playgrounds were open for the kids and they are just amazing. At least five times bigger than the playgrounds I've worked on at other preschools. We peeked into Sam's room (Room 3). It looks so fun.
Immediately after the open house we went and bought Sam his new school shoes. He didn't understand how exciting that was and was pretty crabby about it. Maybe next year! He is impressed by his backpack, though. I showed it to him last week.
I unzipped the front pocket. "Look, Sam!" I said. "These are little pockets so your pencils - "
Sam dashed out of the room. I heard him digging through his art supplies and he returned with his Elmo pencils. I helped him put one in each narrow pocket.
I unzipped the main part of the bag. "Right here is where you can put all of your books and - "
He was gone again. He returned carrying Where Are You, Elmo?, The Gruffalo, and The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. We put them in and zipped it shut.
Next Tuesday can't come soon enough!
Immediately after the open house we went and bought Sam his new school shoes. He didn't understand how exciting that was and was pretty crabby about it. Maybe next year! He is impressed by his backpack, though. I showed it to him last week.
I unzipped the front pocket. "Look, Sam!" I said. "These are little pockets so your pencils - "
Sam dashed out of the room. I heard him digging through his art supplies and he returned with his Elmo pencils. I helped him put one in each narrow pocket.
I unzipped the main part of the bag. "Right here is where you can put all of your books and - "
He was gone again. He returned carrying Where Are You, Elmo?, The Gruffalo, and The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. We put them in and zipped it shut.
Next Tuesday can't come soon enough!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Oh, The Hilarity
As soon as Eric gets home from work Sam starts begging to play football. Sometimes they play catch or practice punting but Sam's favorite game is less involved. He throws the football to Eric, who does everything he can to bobble it. As Eric fakes trouble catching the ball, bouncing it off his arms, elbows, and head, Sam loses his mind. No child since the beginning of time has laughed harder than Sam does during football.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Caricatures
I have zero artistic talent but I am really, really proud of these. Those of you who know us have to admit you'd know who we were even without the names.
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Joy Of Camera Phones
Believe it or not, my old cell phone did not have a camera feature. The one I had before it did but almost two years ago I downgraded to a simple phone. It wasn't a big deal, except when people would send me pictures on my phone. I couldn't see them, and it drove me crazy!
This week I'd finally had my phone long enough for a free upgrade. Eric and I have been like two little kids giggling and sending each other pictures. Last Friday I was at the cabin, and I can't explain the joy I felt when Eric sent me this:
This week I'd finally had my phone long enough for a free upgrade. Eric and I have been like two little kids giggling and sending each other pictures. Last Friday I was at the cabin, and I can't explain the joy I felt when Eric sent me this:
Sunday, August 23, 2009
So Happy Together
I know I've used that title before but it's just so darn appropriate.
I am amazed by the connection between Eric and Matilda. I'm not saying there isn't a strong connection between Eric and Sam, or Matilda and me, but Eric and Matilda have something special.
They just get each other. To this day Sam will panic if Eric tries to throw him in the air or hang him upside down. Matilda can't get enough of it. Eric throws her higher; Matilda laughs harder. There are times when I try and try to calm Matilda down and nothing works. Eric can walk into the room and smile at her and suddenly she's Smiley McGee. It goes the other way, too. No matter how tired or frustrated Eric gets he never runs out of patience with Matilda. I've seen them catch each other's eye across the room and both burst out laughing. They are both in on a joke that no one else can understand.
Shannan took this picture. I love it so much, I can hardly stand it.
Thank you, Shannan, for capturing this moment. I'm going to treasure this picture forever.
I am amazed by the connection between Eric and Matilda. I'm not saying there isn't a strong connection between Eric and Sam, or Matilda and me, but Eric and Matilda have something special.
They just get each other. To this day Sam will panic if Eric tries to throw him in the air or hang him upside down. Matilda can't get enough of it. Eric throws her higher; Matilda laughs harder. There are times when I try and try to calm Matilda down and nothing works. Eric can walk into the room and smile at her and suddenly she's Smiley McGee. It goes the other way, too. No matter how tired or frustrated Eric gets he never runs out of patience with Matilda. I've seen them catch each other's eye across the room and both burst out laughing. They are both in on a joke that no one else can understand.
Shannan took this picture. I love it so much, I can hardly stand it.
Thank you, Shannan, for capturing this moment. I'm going to treasure this picture forever.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Non-Negotiable
Eric has been a member of a gym for close to a year. I am able to go for free as his guest and the kids go to the day care. We all enjoy it but it isn't always ideal to go in the evening when Eric gets home from work. I've been daydreaming of having my own membership so I can go anytime during the day.
Last week Eric saw a promotion and made an appointment for me to join. I'm not going into all of the details, but they were advertising what we were willing to pay (very, very little). Eric called and confirmed that that would be our cost with no additional fees. I called on Monday, a few hours before our appointment, to ask a few questions.
Well, in the course of my conversation, higher rates and additional fees kept being disclosed. By the end our initial out-of-pocket expense would be NINE TIMES higher than the price we had previously been guaranteed! The woman I spoke with was very rude. I cancelled our appointment and just may have hung up on her.
That night Eric and Sam went to the gym and Matilda and I stayed home. I don't know why I was surprised when Eric came home with my membership materials. When he wants something, he gets it, and he had gone right in and talked with a manager. He got me a contract for the price we were given in the first place - no additional costs, no additional fees. Yippee!
This morning was my first daytime trip. I got up at 6:30 so we could leave by 7:30. I wanted to be there when the day care opened at 8:00 as Matilda would need to be home for a nap a little after 9:00. I got us all fed, dressed, and packed and headed out. We signed in, I dropped off the kids, and I got on an elliptical.
About 6 minutes went by before I heard over the loudspeaker, "Emilie...please report to the child care." I heard Matilda screaming when I was still halfway across the gym. I went in and found her as mad as I've ever seen her. She just didn't want to be there. When Matilda does not want something, she DOES NOT WANT IT. (Hmmm...I can't imagine where she gets that...)
I had no choice but to pack us all up and leave. I was in the gym from 8:02 to 8:16. I'm going to have to just keep trying...maybe I should get Eric to talk to her!
Last week Eric saw a promotion and made an appointment for me to join. I'm not going into all of the details, but they were advertising what we were willing to pay (very, very little). Eric called and confirmed that that would be our cost with no additional fees. I called on Monday, a few hours before our appointment, to ask a few questions.
Well, in the course of my conversation, higher rates and additional fees kept being disclosed. By the end our initial out-of-pocket expense would be NINE TIMES higher than the price we had previously been guaranteed! The woman I spoke with was very rude. I cancelled our appointment and just may have hung up on her.
That night Eric and Sam went to the gym and Matilda and I stayed home. I don't know why I was surprised when Eric came home with my membership materials. When he wants something, he gets it, and he had gone right in and talked with a manager. He got me a contract for the price we were given in the first place - no additional costs, no additional fees. Yippee!
This morning was my first daytime trip. I got up at 6:30 so we could leave by 7:30. I wanted to be there when the day care opened at 8:00 as Matilda would need to be home for a nap a little after 9:00. I got us all fed, dressed, and packed and headed out. We signed in, I dropped off the kids, and I got on an elliptical.
About 6 minutes went by before I heard over the loudspeaker, "Emilie...please report to the child care." I heard Matilda screaming when I was still halfway across the gym. I went in and found her as mad as I've ever seen her. She just didn't want to be there. When Matilda does not want something, she DOES NOT WANT IT. (Hmmm...I can't imagine where she gets that...)
I had no choice but to pack us all up and leave. I was in the gym from 8:02 to 8:16. I'm going to have to just keep trying...maybe I should get Eric to talk to her!
Monday, August 17, 2009
It Talks
No, really. Matilda is talking. I'm sure people won't believe it but it has happened way too many times to be a coincidence.
For a few months she's been calling me Ma. At first she'd just yell, "MA!" when she was really mad, but now it's all the time. She will call for me and when I walk into her room she'll laugh and laugh. If I surprise her, she'll turn around with a start and gasp, "Ma!"
Last week the Dadas started. Eric walked into the room and just like that, Matilda lit up and said, "Dada!" We all looked at her, surprised, and she said it again. "Dada," she cooed, reaching for him. Eric stayed with the kids all weekend and reported that in the morning he'd hear her yelling, "Dada!" from her crib.
This one doesn't have any other witnesses but I know it happened. I always call the kids Brother and Sister when talking about the other. I never planned it, and don't really even like it, but it's what happens. Sam and Matilda were standing at the coffee table and Sam did something that made Matilda laugh. "Bubba!" she cried, laughing happily. She said Brother! She did again, later in the day, when Sam ran into the room. She jumped, yelled "Bubba!" and started after him.
I begged and pleaded with Sam to talk and I have a feeling I'm going to be begging Matilda to stop!
For a few months she's been calling me Ma. At first she'd just yell, "MA!" when she was really mad, but now it's all the time. She will call for me and when I walk into her room she'll laugh and laugh. If I surprise her, she'll turn around with a start and gasp, "Ma!"
Last week the Dadas started. Eric walked into the room and just like that, Matilda lit up and said, "Dada!" We all looked at her, surprised, and she said it again. "Dada," she cooed, reaching for him. Eric stayed with the kids all weekend and reported that in the morning he'd hear her yelling, "Dada!" from her crib.
This one doesn't have any other witnesses but I know it happened. I always call the kids Brother and Sister when talking about the other. I never planned it, and don't really even like it, but it's what happens. Sam and Matilda were standing at the coffee table and Sam did something that made Matilda laugh. "Bubba!" she cried, laughing happily. She said Brother! She did again, later in the day, when Sam ran into the room. She jumped, yelled "Bubba!" and started after him.
I begged and pleaded with Sam to talk and I have a feeling I'm going to be begging Matilda to stop!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Miscellaneous
1. It is our 5th anniversary today. How can 5 years simutaneously feel like both an instant and an eternity?
2. Jackie and I are going to the cabin this weekend. Just the two of us!
3. If you do nothing else today, go watch this video. It makes me so happy! (I hope you don't mind the link, Tali!)
I'll be back Monday, tired and smelling like mothballs...
2. Jackie and I are going to the cabin this weekend. Just the two of us!
3. If you do nothing else today, go watch this video. It makes me so happy! (I hope you don't mind the link, Tali!)
I'll be back Monday, tired and smelling like mothballs...
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