It's Her Birthday

Four years ago, we welcomed this joyful, exuberant, empathic, wacky, cuddly, opinionated gift. We felt all that we had expected to feel and then a hundred times more than that. This little blond tornado, born between two huge snowstorms, blesses and enhances our lives each and every day. She has so much to say, so many thoughts, so many worlds that she invents, so many schemes, so many jokes, so many jumps, so many dances, so many outfits, so many opinions, so many fears, so many questions... but most of all, she has so much love. She is cautious yet fearless, obstinate yet intuitive, impatient yet particular, happy yet dramatic. She runs at 100% or at 0% and there aren't a lot of shades of gray to this gal. She makes us think harder, ask more questions of ourselves, and she will never, ever, ever takes no for an answer the first time you say it. She is my spark plug and keeps me going long after I'm ready to call it quits for the day; there is no mailing it in when she's on duty.  But the love, oh the love, that you get makes every moment worth it. She is four years of love and energy wrapped up in there and she is, quite simply, an incredibly magical little person. Happy birthday to our well-loved, and loving, monkey. 

Monkey House

Anyone with small children will tell you that staying home for too long on any given day can be a recipe for utter mania. I'm trying to slow down, though -- or maybe it's not so much about slowing down and more about cramming less in because let's face it, things aren't moving at the speed of light these days (unless it's Jack finding some chance to run into the street. That happens fast). Before we depart for our holiday excursion to the exotic east (coast), however, I'm trying to be at peace with staying put and having friends come over and play so that we can enjoy our tree and our decorations and just each other. Admittedly, my local coffee place is also closed for renovations, which may have something to do with this as well. Nonetheless, we are soaking up our little bungalow, and I do rather like it. I have no pictures of this enjoyment, of course, because any time I pick up my camera lately (or the phone), the howler monkeys come out and it's at that moment that Jack bonks Molly over the head (yep, still happening because someone is still screeching, which just delights the offender to no end) or she decides he is doing something dangerous (there's a legit 50/50 chance on that one) and must tell me about it pronto and at the top of her lungs. Those do not make for attractive pictures. Instead, you all must suffer through more outside photos. Some of these are a month old from my mom's visit out here and some are to prove to my kids that I marched them outside for fresh air no matter how chilly Jack said he was when I gently nudged them out on the porch. Inside, outside -- it's all monkey business.

I lied, I do have a picture of what happens when we stay indoors...

Tree Huggers

Some people were a little bit more into chopping down our Christmas tree than others... and then there was me who was over the top excited. I want it to be known, however, that just like I got overruled countless times by my picky brother growing up, we ended up with a tree that Molly and John liked more than I did. Of course, when we got it home and I loved it more than any other tree we've ever had. Still, for being the deliriously giddy one at the start of the trip, I think I showed amazing restraint in deferring to my child's (and, ahem, husband's) needs and wants. Jack could not have cared less so trying to get him on my side accomplished nothing. It turned out that being overruled worked out wonderfully and maybe I should think about letting that happen more often... nah.

Jack looks on and wonders why people are getting all worked up about this whole process.

Molly+sharp objects=good times

Letting John get some saw time in

Showing me what needs to happen with the tree trunk to make it perfect for the stand (note: that did not really happen so well)

Please, why can't we leave? I'm a delicate flower with a big ol' head and it's cold out here!

Finishing touches

The victorious and their plus one

The Dance Off

I have more holiday post fodder than I can shake a stick at... tree-getting (and then falling over and nearly hitting Jack), Christmas-ship watching, Santa letter-writing (daily)... but right now, my favorite part of the holiday season is how much Molly wants to have a dance party to Christmas songs all the time. So, speaking of shaking things, if you have a few minutes of your life that you can give up, I've got one little tiny dancer who is VERY infected with the holiday fever.

The first minute is a little slow... err, the build up... to the twirling sounds of Christmas.



And this one is so long it will likely only be interesting to Molly and grandparents (and of course, mom and dad), but starting at about 1:30, the moves are much better. Clearly, her parents passed along stellar dance genes.

Hide Out

A whatfeltlikeaveryveryverylong spate of cold, rainy weather kept us indoors a bunch over the last several weeks. Surprisingly, this has been okay with the hermit crabs and Jack has bulked up on his already-healthy dose of train table time and Molly keeps creating these very detailed imaginary worlds of playdates, restaurants, schooldays, whatever else creeps into her quirky little mind. When the little monkeys aren't bopping each other over the head (literally. The elder stateswoman keeps getting mad that the junior senaakin is taking her stuff so she does it out of utter frustration and he does it purely to elicit a shrieking reaction out of her. Which he does. Every time), they have found activities to play together that keep each of them quite contained, I mean content, and happy. One of their top two is building a fort of some kind (the other being chase and mean old mom usually puts a stop to that right quick since I've seen way too many bonked heads when navigating by the dining table). It's always interesting to see  and hear what happens with the people behind the curtain... errr... sheet.

Thank You

Some people lament that we have one day that we officially give thanks and argue that it should be part of our every day lives to offer be thankful for the many gifts and blessings in our lives. I would argue, however, that Thanksgiving isn't about being the only day that we appreciate the richness in our lives but rather it's about honoring the fact that gratitude is a part of our daily living. A subtle difference, perhaps, but rather than it being about offering thanks, I think it should be a symbol and a celebration that kindness is indeed part of what we offer and receive each day. For every, ahem, choice set of words that we think or say about parking space stealers (undoubtedly in front of impressionable ears), I would guess that we let someone cut in front of us in line or we say thank you to an employee who helps us out to the car. I think that we offer small acts of kindness and pay it forward lots and lots of times, probably without even thinking, and that Thanksgiving is a way to honor those small graces and encourage us to keep faith in other people. We should be thankful every day, yes, but I think most of us are. We might not always check it off our to-do list at night but we both give and receive help and hope every day. Thanksgiving is also about acknowledging the big stuff we have going for us -- a roof, if we have it; healthy families, if we have them; friendships, if we have them; food to eat, if we do -- and I think it's beautiful that we do that. But, these big blessings are built on the foundation of the small things that happen in each 24-hour cycle. The little threads of kindness and thankfulness that we weave together through listening to friends, reaching out to family, helping strangers, being grateful, receiving help graciously, all construct a strong social fabric that can withstand lots of stretching and pulling when big events happen. The whole truly becomes greater than the sum of its parts. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, and sacrifice and sadness really does need to be present at the table, but our souls need feeding and nourishing to keep on going, too. And so, I don't mind one bit that we have Thanksgiving only once a year because rather than take the time to appreciate only the big gifts in our lives, it's a day to commemorate the good that happens each minute of each hour of each day. It's not a day to be thankful of things in comparison to anyone else, it's simply a day to be present in the goodness that is now and honor the kindness and generosity that swirls around us and that we offer up on the other 364 days of the year. 

I'm certainly thankful for our Thanksgiving scene this year. I always miss my own family on holidays when we're not together, but I'm so very grateful that I a,m a part of this loving and generous group of people. The monkeys in the house certainly made for an entertaining, as always, day. 

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving.

Chasing Those Clouds Away

I'm missing the very pleasant weather already. Cool, crisp, sunny days (yes, they DO happen here) are quickly giving way to a whole lot of gray, drizzle, and even some *gasp* snowflakes. Although the liquid sunshine means snow in the mountains, I'm pretty sure I liked the actual sunshine and can hold on a little longer for ski season. I'd better learn to be happy with the reminders of what we've been offered this fall and not bemoan the raindrops any further. We've been lucky to be able to do mostly this...

Although, now, it appears that our outside time will more and more like this:

Precious

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to spend part of the day with just Molly. These days, those opportunities are rare since she's in school more days and for longer hours than Jack is. I've snatched an hour or two here and there with her but we had more time than that yesterday and it made me realize how much I really miss that time with her. A mother-daughter relationship is a nuanced, complex relationship -- even at this age -- and while I spend plenty of time thinking about navigating the complexities, I hadn't spent as much time simply enjoying her solo presence. It's not that I've been focused on the bad stuff, really; I've just been thinking about it more than just experiencing it. She and I did swimming lessons, had lunch, did some errands, went to the library -- nothing glamorous -- and it was really fun. I know that she's a treasure trove of wacky fun (emphasis on the wacky),  but when I'm herding two increasingly busy people around stores or restaurants, I can't laugh at her funny observations and indulge her curious wanderings (which are generally classified as dawdling at that point) as much. Idiotically, I figured since I had almost two years of one-on-one time with her before Jack was born, I had unthinkingly calculated that she had her time then and now it's his turn to get solo time. I figured those few random hours on a weekend and our afternoons together while he's napping would be enough mom/daughter time but I see now that that wasn't quite right. I need those times but I also need to deliberately set aside bigger chunks of time. It has me rethinking my school plan for next year. I had assumed that I would do morning preschool for both of them. I wonder, though, if I'd be better off with Jack in a morning program and Molly in an afternoon slot. It wouldn't give me the alone time that is also really (really, really) nice, but it would give me some really special time with both of them most days. I remember when I was little, my brothers trotted off to school when I was home with my mom and we read the entire Little House series. I so cherish those memories.  More than trips or toys or stuff, I remember the time I got with both my mom and dad and I loved it. And, since karma is so good at making its subtle point, I understand and appreciate it more even now as a parent. Whatever we choose, I know I'm making my decision with a little more knowledge, a little more insight than I would have two days ago. These little critters have a way of making those "aha!" moments happen with more regularity and I appreciate the opportunity to live a more examined life. My little girl is a pretty good teacher, it turns out.

Father Knows Best

While I was very busy laughing hysterically and having a wonderfully rejuvenating girls' weekend with Liz, Sarah, and Kate, the VIPs in my life were having a fun-filled (very creatively and busily filled, in my opinion, so big kudos to John) Daddy weekend. The Science Center, bowling, dinner at a restaurant... and, of course, a ride on the light rail, were all on the agenda. I know that I was laughing and smiling until my sides hurt and it looks like these two had just as much fun. I'll see if I can get the Blogfather to stop by and fill us in on all the details... I can't do it all justice.

Toot Toot. Meow Meow.

Kids in costumes simply don't need any narratives. They are just so stinking cute. We were on a pretty popular trick-or-treating beat this year and we got to see so many adorable munchkins (and some odd solo adults who were not cute at all) traipse up our steps in all their finery. Molly-the-black-cat was so excited to go out trick-or-treating and Jack-the-train-engineer looked forward  to "go for walk" with Dad all day. He picked up on the less healthy part of the walk pretty quickly, I was told, and both small people came home with their pumpkins full of goodies. 

Once home, a single piece of candy induced dance party ensued to exorcise all the ghosties and goblins of Halloween 2011, complete with my other favorite part of the holidays -- matching pajamas. 

Happy November!

Two Be or Not Two Be

In the first five days of being two, Jack decided to throw down the gauntlet. He had his first mega-tantrum, which lasted the entire way out the door, down the steps, into the car, all the way to Molly's school where he barely pulled out of it with the sniffles.  He got hand, foot, and mouth disease and was a bit of a sleeping disaster for a couple of days, and he topped it all off with a sugar-and-lack-of-nap vomitron session at dinner where I had the pleasure of catching his upchuck in one hand (why that seemed like a good idea, I don't know) and trying not to let Miss Gags-A-Lot to look with the other (although she did and threatened to let loose herself). Thankfully, John cleaned it up because, well, Molly gets her gag reflex for those sorts of things from somewhere.  So, in addition to the normal bumps, bruises, and falls that we experience on a daily basis, the beginning of two has been a bit of trial by fire but we have all persevered and I'm expecting the rest of the year to be free of calamity.  That's reasonable, right? 

Here are a few pictures from the remainder of the week -- thanks for all the calls, emails, in-person celebrations, and gifts. The love of trains, trucks, and tractors is evident in the cakes and toys and more than one person around here has been having a lot of fun, lately. 

The actual birthday evening.

A little family celebration over the weekend.

Thanks to my friend Jessie for her cake making tips. Although this does not rise to anywhere near the level of her creations, it would have turned out far worse without her advice. Thankfully, it passed muster for the under-fives and I had fun making it.

Who says rain gear can't be attractive?