How, how, HOW do kids know exactly what to do to drive their parents over the edge?
Matilda's whining is out of control. Everything she does, even when she's happy, is accompanied by whining noises. We've yelled, bribed, pleaded, and ignored and nothing stops it. Her latest thing is adding a syllable to 'no.'
"Matilda, it's time to (go to bed, read a book, get dressed, etc, etc)."
"No-ah!"
"Matilda! That isn't a nice way to talk. Don't say no like that."
"No-ah."
"Matilda!"
"NO-AHHHH!"
Repeat the above 658 times and you'll have imagined my entire day.
Gah!!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sam's Story
"Sam, tell me a story."
"Okay! Once upon a time, there was a kingdom. And there was a princess in it. And she got eaten by a crocodile. But she got out."
"How did she get out?"
"There was an opening by the tail. And she got out and she fought the crocodile. And then she got to go to her kingdom. The end."
Ha ha ha ha ha!!! Sam made up a story about a woman so amazing, she could be eaten and digested by a crocodile and STILL come out to defeat it. Sam, you are the most fun I've ever had.
"Okay! Once upon a time, there was a kingdom. And there was a princess in it. And she got eaten by a crocodile. But she got out."
"How did she get out?"
"There was an opening by the tail. And she got out and she fought the crocodile. And then she got to go to her kingdom. The end."
Ha ha ha ha ha!!! Sam made up a story about a woman so amazing, she could be eaten and digested by a crocodile and STILL come out to defeat it. Sam, you are the most fun I've ever had.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
...And We're Off!
No matter how much you'd like to protest, summer is over. The routine of fall and winter has begun.
Eric had the last week off of work and we had such a good time. We worked on our house and it is so satisfying! Every room is DONE. We threw out tons of stuff and everything has been deep-cleaned. I think this is the most organized our house has ever been. It's a beautiful way to start fall.
Yesterday Eric took Sam to meet his teacher at Aldrich. I stayed home with Matilda. Sam reported to me that he had a great time, that he saw Brooklyn and Laura, that Braden is in his class, that there is another boy named Sam and that Mrs. Plute loves to read books. Tomorrow is his first full day and he can't wait. He says he is really excited about snack (sigh) and that he's going to tell Mrs. Plute that he has a lot of cars in his room.
Eric is back at work, Sam is in school, I am working almost every weekend, and there is never an end to my responsibilities for the Board. And tonight is the beginning of 19-0!
I LOVE this time of year!
Eric had the last week off of work and we had such a good time. We worked on our house and it is so satisfying! Every room is DONE. We threw out tons of stuff and everything has been deep-cleaned. I think this is the most organized our house has ever been. It's a beautiful way to start fall.
Yesterday Eric took Sam to meet his teacher at Aldrich. I stayed home with Matilda. Sam reported to me that he had a great time, that he saw Brooklyn and Laura, that Braden is in his class, that there is another boy named Sam and that Mrs. Plute loves to read books. Tomorrow is his first full day and he can't wait. He says he is really excited about snack (sigh) and that he's going to tell Mrs. Plute that he has a lot of cars in his room.
Eric is back at work, Sam is in school, I am working almost every weekend, and there is never an end to my responsibilities for the Board. And tonight is the beginning of 19-0!
I LOVE this time of year!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
His Favorite Playdate
On Sunday Sam and I were looking through his photo album. "These are all my friends," he sighed happily.
Then we came to the picture of my dad and Tina. "Here," Sam said. "I want to go with these dudes."
He pestered me and followed me around with the picture. "I want to go to Grandpa Mark's house, Mom," he said. "You don't have to go. I can go by myself." He thought for a moment, then added, "Well, Grandpa Mark will have to drive."
I got my dad on the phone and arranged a playdate for this afternoon. Sam is SO excited. When Eric was putting him to bed on Sunday they couldn't stop talking about it. "Dad! In three sleeps I'm going to go to Grandpa's house! He'll get me in his car. You can come too, if you want."
Eric politely declined and I was a little put out by his invitation. I was very clearly NOT invited to come. This morning at breakfast I reminded Sam that his big day was finally here. He smiled so big his eyes disappeared and turned to his sister. "Matilda! I'm going to Grandpa's house. Do you want to come? It's really fun!"
Matilda nodded furiously but I declined for her. I explained to Sam today was just for him (and NOT for me!).
Then we came to the picture of my dad and Tina. "Here," Sam said. "I want to go with these dudes."
He pestered me and followed me around with the picture. "I want to go to Grandpa Mark's house, Mom," he said. "You don't have to go. I can go by myself." He thought for a moment, then added, "Well, Grandpa Mark will have to drive."
I got my dad on the phone and arranged a playdate for this afternoon. Sam is SO excited. When Eric was putting him to bed on Sunday they couldn't stop talking about it. "Dad! In three sleeps I'm going to go to Grandpa's house! He'll get me in his car. You can come too, if you want."
Eric politely declined and I was a little put out by his invitation. I was very clearly NOT invited to come. This morning at breakfast I reminded Sam that his big day was finally here. He smiled so big his eyes disappeared and turned to his sister. "Matilda! I'm going to Grandpa's house. Do you want to come? It's really fun!"
Matilda nodded furiously but I declined for her. I explained to Sam today was just for him (and NOT for me!).
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saying Goodbye - Great-Grandma Inga
These posts will mostly be for me so I have them written down before my memories get blurry. As always, anyone is welcome to read them.
I have been so blessed to have been able to say goodbye to several loved ones before they died. I can't think of any of them without thinking of those last moments I spent with them. I marvel at how, so near death, each of them were stripped down to the core of who they were.
I was 17 when my Great-Grandma Inga died. She is my hero in many ways. She deserves not just her own post, but an entire book based on the strength, love, and resilience that came from her. She had been healthy all her life - right up to her 94th birthday. Then, some medical complications moved her into a nursing home.
It was just a month or so before my high school graduation and I was preparing for my senior prom. My mom had bought me an amazing dress that was head-to-toe red sequins. We had looked all over to find shoes to match that dress. That weekend we were visiting Grandma and stopped at the bridal shop in Red Wing to look - no luck.
I remember sitting in Grandma Inga's room. I was there with my mom (Grandma Inga's granddaughter) and Grandma Joyce (Grandma Inga's daughter). Grandma Inga was confused. At one point she asked whose room we were in. "Mom, we're in your room," Grandma Joyce tried to explain. Several times Grandma Inga drifted off into a light sleep. I was quiet, saddened by seeing my beautiful great-grandma like that.
Then, from out of nowhere, Grandma Inga looked right at me. "Have you found shoes yet?" she asked. Even then I was dumbfounded and it brings tears to my eyes remembering it now. In a moment of clarity she knew exactly who I was. She knew I was Emilie, Barb's daughter and Joyce's granddaughter, and that right then in my life the most important thing in the world was my senior prom. She had five children, 15 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild at that time (forgive me if my math is incorrect). But she knew me, and she knew I needed red sequined shoes.
Grandma Inga died soon after that. She never saw the pictures of my prom. Believe it or not, we found red sequined shoes and my mom still has them in storage. Sometimes I like to imagine putting them on and clicking the heels together three times. Grandma Inga would have got a kick out of that.
I have been so blessed to have been able to say goodbye to several loved ones before they died. I can't think of any of them without thinking of those last moments I spent with them. I marvel at how, so near death, each of them were stripped down to the core of who they were.
Ruby Slippers
I was 17 when my Great-Grandma Inga died. She is my hero in many ways. She deserves not just her own post, but an entire book based on the strength, love, and resilience that came from her. She had been healthy all her life - right up to her 94th birthday. Then, some medical complications moved her into a nursing home.
It was just a month or so before my high school graduation and I was preparing for my senior prom. My mom had bought me an amazing dress that was head-to-toe red sequins. We had looked all over to find shoes to match that dress. That weekend we were visiting Grandma and stopped at the bridal shop in Red Wing to look - no luck.
I remember sitting in Grandma Inga's room. I was there with my mom (Grandma Inga's granddaughter) and Grandma Joyce (Grandma Inga's daughter). Grandma Inga was confused. At one point she asked whose room we were in. "Mom, we're in your room," Grandma Joyce tried to explain. Several times Grandma Inga drifted off into a light sleep. I was quiet, saddened by seeing my beautiful great-grandma like that.
Then, from out of nowhere, Grandma Inga looked right at me. "Have you found shoes yet?" she asked. Even then I was dumbfounded and it brings tears to my eyes remembering it now. In a moment of clarity she knew exactly who I was. She knew I was Emilie, Barb's daughter and Joyce's granddaughter, and that right then in my life the most important thing in the world was my senior prom. She had five children, 15 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild at that time (forgive me if my math is incorrect). But she knew me, and she knew I needed red sequined shoes.
Grandma Inga died soon after that. She never saw the pictures of my prom. Believe it or not, we found red sequined shoes and my mom still has them in storage. Sometimes I like to imagine putting them on and clicking the heels together three times. Grandma Inga would have got a kick out of that.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
It Breaks My Heart...
...to say it, but it's true. I HATE the library.
The Rochester Public Library is the worst place EVER. I despise it. I HATE IT.
When I was little Eyota didn't have a library, so we would go to the Rochester library. I LOVED going to the library. I remember my mom giving me a number - 4 or 8 or 10 - and that was the number of books I could check out. The kid's area was all the way upstairs. I'd walk up the carpeted stairs, past the amazing dollhouse in the glass case, and spend as long as I wanted walking up and down the aisles. As far as happy childhood memories go, being at the library is one of the best. I remember the joy of finding a completely new book. I remember the crinkle of opening a plastic-covered book and the hum of the librarian's huge computers.
I know now that I was spoiled when we lived in St Paul. The Maplewood library is awesome. The children's area there is crazy. Piles of books, accompanied by an entire play house and kitchen, puzzles, games, puppets...Sam and I used to go there for hours every week. I would sit on the big red couch and read a magazine as Sam played with trains, cooked dinner, and read stories. It was heaven.
When we moved to Rochester two years ago I couldn't wait to get a library card. The library I grew up with was no more, and a new one had been built. I can't even remember if I was still pregnant or if I had had Matilda the first time we went. In any event, I was severely disappointed. The new library is horrible. Yes, there are rows of books, and yes, there is a fish tank, but there isn't anything else to do there but play on computers. Computers! As if children don't get enough 'screen time' at home. Why in the world would I want to go downtown, park in a ramp, and walk through a mile of skyways for my son to play on a computer??
As heartbreaking as it was I knew I never wanted to go back to the library. However, over a year has gone by and I read that this morning Underwater Adventures would be there. Children would be able to touch underwater creatures during this morning's storytime at 10:00. I left my house at 9:15. I circled downtown a few times before I found a parking garage. I had to park at the very top and carry Matilda through the garage. We walked through skyways until we got to the library. We had to go all the way around the children's section and get in line for the Underwater Adventures presentation. I had read that the auditorium sat 250 and I was worried that we wouldn't get in.
Imagine my delight when we did get in - and my disgust when I saw that the 'auditorium' was a room the size of my living room. We all packed in and sat on the floor. I'd imagine that there was 250 people there. Two girls from Underwater Adventures began speaking and we couldn't hear anything. Matilda got restless and Sam turned to me. "Mom," he whispered. "I think we can go now."
Hooray! The three of us left as more parents and children tried to wedge themselves into the room. I'm sorry, but I'm not willing to wait in line for 45 minutes (while wrestling Matilda) to let my son touch a starfish. I'm just not that person. Instead, the kids and I looked at the aquarium and at the dollhouse I remember from my childhood. Then we ran up and down the skyways and went to Barnes and Noble. We had more fun looking at books there than we did at the library. It's so sad!
My only wishlist for Rochester: 1. One more indoor playgym. 2. Kourtney, Karen, and their families here. 3. A library we can use!!
The Rochester Public Library is the worst place EVER. I despise it. I HATE IT.
When I was little Eyota didn't have a library, so we would go to the Rochester library. I LOVED going to the library. I remember my mom giving me a number - 4 or 8 or 10 - and that was the number of books I could check out. The kid's area was all the way upstairs. I'd walk up the carpeted stairs, past the amazing dollhouse in the glass case, and spend as long as I wanted walking up and down the aisles. As far as happy childhood memories go, being at the library is one of the best. I remember the joy of finding a completely new book. I remember the crinkle of opening a plastic-covered book and the hum of the librarian's huge computers.
I know now that I was spoiled when we lived in St Paul. The Maplewood library is awesome. The children's area there is crazy. Piles of books, accompanied by an entire play house and kitchen, puzzles, games, puppets...Sam and I used to go there for hours every week. I would sit on the big red couch and read a magazine as Sam played with trains, cooked dinner, and read stories. It was heaven.
When we moved to Rochester two years ago I couldn't wait to get a library card. The library I grew up with was no more, and a new one had been built. I can't even remember if I was still pregnant or if I had had Matilda the first time we went. In any event, I was severely disappointed. The new library is horrible. Yes, there are rows of books, and yes, there is a fish tank, but there isn't anything else to do there but play on computers. Computers! As if children don't get enough 'screen time' at home. Why in the world would I want to go downtown, park in a ramp, and walk through a mile of skyways for my son to play on a computer??
As heartbreaking as it was I knew I never wanted to go back to the library. However, over a year has gone by and I read that this morning Underwater Adventures would be there. Children would be able to touch underwater creatures during this morning's storytime at 10:00. I left my house at 9:15. I circled downtown a few times before I found a parking garage. I had to park at the very top and carry Matilda through the garage. We walked through skyways until we got to the library. We had to go all the way around the children's section and get in line for the Underwater Adventures presentation. I had read that the auditorium sat 250 and I was worried that we wouldn't get in.
Imagine my delight when we did get in - and my disgust when I saw that the 'auditorium' was a room the size of my living room. We all packed in and sat on the floor. I'd imagine that there was 250 people there. Two girls from Underwater Adventures began speaking and we couldn't hear anything. Matilda got restless and Sam turned to me. "Mom," he whispered. "I think we can go now."
Hooray! The three of us left as more parents and children tried to wedge themselves into the room. I'm sorry, but I'm not willing to wait in line for 45 minutes (while wrestling Matilda) to let my son touch a starfish. I'm just not that person. Instead, the kids and I looked at the aquarium and at the dollhouse I remember from my childhood. Then we ran up and down the skyways and went to Barnes and Noble. We had more fun looking at books there than we did at the library. It's so sad!
My only wishlist for Rochester: 1. One more indoor playgym. 2. Kourtney, Karen, and their families here. 3. A library we can use!!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Class Assignment
What a difference a year makes!
Last August I got a letter from Aldrich with Sam's class list. All of the names, from his teachers to his classmates, were completely new to me. I didn't know a soul.
Today I opened my mailbox to find his new class list. Not only did he get the teacher I requested (he is going to LOVE Mrs. Plute!), I know 10 out of the 20 kids in his class. I know half, and Sam knows several of them. I've been burned out lately by the amount of work needed for the Board. All summer driving to Aldrich meant work was in store. I needed to get a letter that reminded me that this is all about Sam and not about me. I'm beyond excited to get Sam back in there for some fun!
I can't wait!
Last August I got a letter from Aldrich with Sam's class list. All of the names, from his teachers to his classmates, were completely new to me. I didn't know a soul.
Today I opened my mailbox to find his new class list. Not only did he get the teacher I requested (he is going to LOVE Mrs. Plute!), I know 10 out of the 20 kids in his class. I know half, and Sam knows several of them. I've been burned out lately by the amount of work needed for the Board. All summer driving to Aldrich meant work was in store. I needed to get a letter that reminded me that this is all about Sam and not about me. I'm beyond excited to get Sam back in there for some fun!
I can't wait!
Friday, August 20, 2010
We Can't Win
This is for each and every one of my dear friends who dislike bringing their kids to day care.
One of my favorite friends in Rochester is Laura. She and I are on the Personnel Committee together at Aldrich. Her kids are six and four (Brooklyn will be in Sam's class this year) and she does in-home daycare. If I ever needed a daycare provider Laura is exactly who I would choose.
This morning the kids and I were invited over to Laura's house for a playdate. She was 'only' expecting two kids in addition to her own. Sam was beside himself with excitement. We had never been to Laura's house to play but we once stopped by so I could drop something off. Her garage has two doors and Sam couldn't be more impressed by it. He has asked several times when we were going to go play at the house with two garage doors. He thinks that means it's Disneyland. "Mom," Sam said as we drove over this morning. "I bet she has rooms full of toys."
I bet she does, too, but we never even went inside. Laura had her kids out on her driveway and her neighbor, who also does daycare, was over. There were fourteen kids there, ages one to seven. Sam and Matilda were in heaven. Sam rode bikes and a scooter. He played baseball and basketball. Matilda played in a little house and got to carry around several different balls. She rode a little bike and sat in a lawn chair. They were both so happy. I saw them sharing and laughing with other kids. In just a few hours they both were able to try several new things. They made friends and listened to Laura when she warned them about getting too close to the road.
I felt terribly guilty when I packed them in the car and brought them home. All of those kids at Laura's were spending the day together learning and playing. Sam and Matilda were home. With me. Again.
Ugh. Most of the time I feel good about my choice to be a stay at home mom but today I'm not sure it was the best choice for my kids.
One of my favorite friends in Rochester is Laura. She and I are on the Personnel Committee together at Aldrich. Her kids are six and four (Brooklyn will be in Sam's class this year) and she does in-home daycare. If I ever needed a daycare provider Laura is exactly who I would choose.
This morning the kids and I were invited over to Laura's house for a playdate. She was 'only' expecting two kids in addition to her own. Sam was beside himself with excitement. We had never been to Laura's house to play but we once stopped by so I could drop something off. Her garage has two doors and Sam couldn't be more impressed by it. He has asked several times when we were going to go play at the house with two garage doors. He thinks that means it's Disneyland. "Mom," Sam said as we drove over this morning. "I bet she has rooms full of toys."
I bet she does, too, but we never even went inside. Laura had her kids out on her driveway and her neighbor, who also does daycare, was over. There were fourteen kids there, ages one to seven. Sam and Matilda were in heaven. Sam rode bikes and a scooter. He played baseball and basketball. Matilda played in a little house and got to carry around several different balls. She rode a little bike and sat in a lawn chair. They were both so happy. I saw them sharing and laughing with other kids. In just a few hours they both were able to try several new things. They made friends and listened to Laura when she warned them about getting too close to the road.
I felt terribly guilty when I packed them in the car and brought them home. All of those kids at Laura's were spending the day together learning and playing. Sam and Matilda were home. With me. Again.
Ugh. Most of the time I feel good about my choice to be a stay at home mom but today I'm not sure it was the best choice for my kids.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Clip-Free
I'm too exhausted to go into details but this morning had good news and bad news.
The bad news: Sam was MUCH MORE excited about the idea of having an x-ray than actually doing it.
The good news: Sam's x-ray showed no paper clip! What a relief!
The bad news: Sam was MUCH MORE excited about the idea of having an x-ray than actually doing it.
The good news: Sam's x-ray showed no paper clip! What a relief!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Six Years
It was our anniversary yesterday.
We didn't do anything special. As I've said before, we aren't ones for big events. (Well, Eric is when he's in a manic phase, but I don't know if that counts.)
I've been planning on sitting down and writing down all of my memories of our wedding day. I need to do it now before it gets really fuzzy. Unless I really focus my memories are:
- My mom falling off of a ladder and breaking her arm six days before the wedding. She had to have the sleeves cut off of her dress so she could fit it over a cast. She ended up without a cast but still rocked her sleeveless look.
- Getting my hair done with Kourtney and Jackie. Kourtney told her stylist she wanted something funky. Later she stood in front of me with her hair in a shocking split-twist style. "Too funky," Kourtney said simply.
- Forgetting my 'something blue' at my house (the sapphire earrings Eric gave me when we were 16). I decided I'd forget about it and my something blue would be Eric's eyes.
- The entire church staring at Tali and Ben for what seemed like hours as they waited for their CD to start. I made Ben sing that duet and I don't think he's ever forgiven me.
- Sweet Child Of Mine playing in the party bus. Stopping at Super America several times for restroom breaks while on the party bus. Kourtney referring to her sash/shawl as her 'wipey-thing' and cleaning spilled beer on the bus.
- Forgetting our marriage license on the party bus.
- Our groomsman, Nick, falling off the end of the risers where we ate. Twice.
- My friend Jen falling face-first off of the riser. Once.
- My friend Jen dropping her drink and covering the dance floor with glass shards.
- Amy having SO much fun at the dance, she ended the evening with her strapless dress on completely backward, with the zipper going up her front.
Oh, I love them all. While our marriage is between us our wedding day was all about our family and friends. Be prepared for pictures! I'm feeling nostalgic and think I'll be getting my wedding box out of storage this week...
We didn't do anything special. As I've said before, we aren't ones for big events. (Well, Eric is when he's in a manic phase, but I don't know if that counts.)
I've been planning on sitting down and writing down all of my memories of our wedding day. I need to do it now before it gets really fuzzy. Unless I really focus my memories are:
- My mom falling off of a ladder and breaking her arm six days before the wedding. She had to have the sleeves cut off of her dress so she could fit it over a cast. She ended up without a cast but still rocked her sleeveless look.
- Getting my hair done with Kourtney and Jackie. Kourtney told her stylist she wanted something funky. Later she stood in front of me with her hair in a shocking split-twist style. "Too funky," Kourtney said simply.
- Forgetting my 'something blue' at my house (the sapphire earrings Eric gave me when we were 16). I decided I'd forget about it and my something blue would be Eric's eyes.
- The entire church staring at Tali and Ben for what seemed like hours as they waited for their CD to start. I made Ben sing that duet and I don't think he's ever forgiven me.
- Sweet Child Of Mine playing in the party bus. Stopping at Super America several times for restroom breaks while on the party bus. Kourtney referring to her sash/shawl as her 'wipey-thing' and cleaning spilled beer on the bus.
- Forgetting our marriage license on the party bus.
- Our groomsman, Nick, falling off the end of the risers where we ate. Twice.
- My friend Jen falling face-first off of the riser. Once.
- My friend Jen dropping her drink and covering the dance floor with glass shards.
- Amy having SO much fun at the dance, she ended the evening with her strapless dress on completely backward, with the zipper going up her front.
Oh, I love them all. While our marriage is between us our wedding day was all about our family and friends. Be prepared for pictures! I'm feeling nostalgic and think I'll be getting my wedding box out of storage this week...
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