Little Bo Peep and her bleeding sheep

Listening to "Little Bo Peep" song in the van.
Libby, "Noooo! I don't like this song!"
Me, "Why?"
"The sheep are dead and bloody".
Me, "Oh, this is gonna be good".
Libby, "Is not good! The sheep are bleeding!"
I'm trying to listen, Libby is screaming, and sure enough in the second verse the song says "Little Bo-peep fell fast asleep, And dreamt she heard them bleating".
Me, "Bleating! The sheep are bleating!"
Libby, "I know! Cuz they're dead."
And so we discuss the linguistic difference between bleating and bleeding; and we discuss how some of the old English has been lost in translation over time. Who says you can't have a meaningful conversation with a 3 year old.

The Ikea Project

I made it my mission for the day to clean up my kitchen and dining room. After getting the kids off to school and downing a half a pot of coffee, I went to the kitchen to tackle the problem of the day. I went in there and just looked around and thought, "ugh". And then I spied it, the real reason my kitchen never feels good.

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I don't know who designed this house, but it was obviously a man who didn't appreciate his wife. There is a "breakfast nook" that honestly shouldn't be there. It should be cabinet and counter space. I have a nice large kitchen but everything is crammed into one corner and the rest of the space is poorly designed. We use the breakfast table (it came with the house) as a counter and we've stacked the microwave and pizza oven on it. Then, we added a "snack table" next to it for cereal and chips and all that sort of thing. There is never room for it in the cabinets. Sure, it works, but it's not pretty.

And then I turned to look at the dining room. The table is covered with Kindergarten homework, crayons, markers, etc. The kid really needs her own space to study. She can have Fenna's desk and chair next year, but in the meantime  her mess might drive me crazy. I had no idea Kindergarten would require a study space at home. The world has changed and I did not plan for it.

Just looking at my messes inspired me. Finally. Sometimes inspiration takes too long. I should have thought of this years and years ago! I'll run to Ikea and buy a cabinet! And a little table and chairs set for homework and little tea parties. What time is it? Yes! I can make it! Libby, put your shoes on!

Off we went to Ikea.  It's an hour long drive on a good day, so if we are lucky and don't get in any traffic jams we should be able to get there, shop, have lunch and drive home in time to pick up the girls from school. Score!

And that's how it happened. I bought a kitchen cabinet, a desk and a chair. The little table and chairs sets were too small for my tall Kindergartener.

Little did I know that Ikea things come in hundreds of pieces. And they take hours to assemble. Days, actually. And tools. Tools! I don't know how to work tools! To top it off, Ikea assembly instructions have no words, just a picture booklet. I needed help. Keith is gonna love me for this!

Keith spent two days putting together the cabinet. He understood the instructions and got that puzzle put together! It's so nice!

I put together the desk. It also took me two days. I spent $20 on the desk and it took at least 20 hours to assemble. I ended up with four extra pieces and a lot of extra screws and gizmos. Keith says there shouldn't be any extra pieces or screws. Well, there were. I had holes that didn't line up! I followed the instructions, but it still happened that I got four pieces attached upside down resulting in screwholes in all the wrong places and no screwholes in the right places. Since Keith told me to glue as I went, I couldn't take it apart and start over. Oh well, it seems solid enough without all of the extra parts. The kid is going to do her homework on it, not jump around on it; it is solid enough.

The chair was hard to put together too! I spent a few hours wrestling with it, but after crying for help it finally came together. Thanks, Keith.

The Ikea projects are done. They look great and they work great! But, the sink is still full of dirty dishes.

Someone bit me in the checkout line

I was standing in line to pay and got bit! I was at Ikea, does that detail matter? On a whim, I hopped in the van, gassed up, and hit the road. On the way, I decided to call Katie and have her meet me there since I had this sudden urge to buy something big and heavy. She's skinny, but she's strong. Lucky for me she was free and able to meet up at Ikea! Of  course she brought her cute little guy, Henry. He has 4 or 5 teeth now. A month ago he didn't have any. I was holding him and getting some really good hugs while we stood in the checkout line and then YOUCH! The kid bit me. I guess I didn't mind too much.   

Our trip to Ikea wasn't without incident, of course, I wouldn't be me if I had an uneventful day. Libby wanted to go into the ball pit. Ikea offers free child care for one hour and they have a nice play room with a huge ball pit. Libby has never been big enough to go in, but we tried today to see if she grew enough. She did! 37" is the minimum and she made it! First time in the ball pit! So exciting! We got our matching identification wristbands and  she went on in with a great big grin on her face. Ok, big girl, see you in an hour. 

My how time flies when you are free of all children and running through the Ikea maze. Wheeee! Katie called me when she arrived; Libby had been in the pit for 20 minutes or so. I told Katie that I left her in the child care and I was upstairs in the kitchen section. Katie looked in and said, "Mom, she's crying." 

Katie said Libby was just standing there in the play area looking sad and pouting. Nobody was paying any attention to her. Libby turned and saw Katie through the window and really started crying. She wanted outa there! Katie couldn't get her out since I am the one who had the matching wristband. I ran wildly through the store back to the child pit. I was farther back in the store than I thought I was.  

I got her out of there as quickly as I could, she had been in for 30 minutes. I figured she was hurt; I swear, this kid is always getting creamed on playground by bigger wilder kids. I asked her if she was hurt and she said between sobs that her feelings were hurt. Why? "Gracie wasn't there." Ohhhh no. Big sister is at school!  Libby calmed down and decided to shop with us instead of staying in the child care. I don't think they wanted her back anyway. Next time we'll bring her sister.

I showed Katie the three display items of the things I was going to buy. She approved, mostly. We had lunch and then went to check out. I was really pushing it for time. I had to get back home to pick up the kids from their schools. 

I bought everything I needed, after being bitten. Then we sat and waited for the big kitchen cabinet to be loaded onto a cart for me from the back room. I put the van in the loading zone and tried to pull the boxes off of the cart and put them into the van. I couldn't budge them! Super-Katie to the rescue! She just put the boxes in the van like they were no big deal. I don't know how she does it with those skinny little arms!

Luckily, I pulled into town just in time to pull up in front of the high school and not leave the teenager wondering if I've forgotten her yet again. Oddly enough, this is much more difficult to do when I have all afternoon free.  Went to pick up the kindergartener too, and all was well. 

That reminds me, they decided to let Kindergarten out at 2:30 now instead of 2:45 because of the increase in class size. This makes no sense to me, but it does make it difficult to pick up both kids at different schools at the same time. I told Gracie they are giving her an extra recess at the end of the day. She totally bought it! Score one for Mom!

Anyway, I pulled into the driveway with a van full of kids and Ikea merchandise.  My next door neighbor pulled into her driveway too. Sweet! I hollered, "Hey, come over! Yes, right now. Come're!"  Then I opened the trunk and said, "Thanks for coming to help me unload these really heavy boxes. Just put them in the house."  She said I was kinda tricky but she was more than happy to help and she moved those boxes in like they were nothing. I tried to help but couldn't lift anything. I think I hurt my shoulder trying. Really, it still hurts. 

Except for being bitten on one shoulder and straining the other one trying to be as strong as normal people, it was a great day. Libby almost had a great day too! It was really nice to have people around when I really needed them. I don't know how I thought I was going to load and unload my van. Apparently, I wasn't thinking. Totally lucked out! Yay!

 

 

 

 

An Awkward Memory

It's 7am, I just poured my second cup of coffee and a silly memory popped into my head for no apparent reason.  But it made me laugh at myself so I'll share!

Katie and Lexie were young, but I don't remember exactly  how old they were. Must have been around age 5 or 6ish. Maybe 8. I dunno, something like that. And I don't remember which kid this was; let's blame Lexie.

We were eating at a buffet restaurant and Lexie (probably) had to use the bathroom. She was just old enough that I let her go by herself. I was nervous, but we were seating right next to the bathrooms so I could see if anyone else went in or if she was having trouble with the door, or I could just stare at the bathroom door with anxiety until she came out. Sure, go by yourself, big girl.

She did. She went to the bathroom and went in. I waited and waited and waited.

She was taking too long. She was in there way too long.  I tried to give her ample time to take care of business, but she'd been in there way too long. Maybe she fell in. Maybe she can't open the door to get out. Maybe... oh, let's not go there, crazy imagination!

I went to rescue her. I'm sure I flew out of my seat and sprinted to the bathroom after finally freeing myself from the restraints of parenting an independent child. Mother bear took over.  Mother Bear and Freespirit Mom often duke it out in my head. One wants to hover and protect at all times and one wants to let 'em live and learn. It can get ugly between them.

I flung the door open and ran into the bathroom only to find it empty. Nobody was in there! I started calling her name. Nothing. Nobody. PANIC!!! I ran out to go tell someone to call the police and let my husband know that our child went missing, and there she was at our table.

"Hi Mom. Why were you in the Men's bathroom?"  What?  Oh, geez, I was! That's why there was a urinal in there, I hardly noticed it. Husband was sitting there laughing hysterically. I bet he saw me go in the wrong door. 

My rescue skills have improved since then. I think. I'm not going to let the little girls go into a public restroom by themselves anytime soon though.

What a crazy memory to start off my day!

I need to learn how to stick the landing

This is what happens when you let a teenager hold your camera... 

Yup, she will catch your most photogenic moments and then laugh at you. She will. Teenagers are like that.

Kindergarten, Take 3

Yup, another kindergarten for Gracie. 

 Sorta. 

There was a sudden change at her charter school and two teachers were cut from the budget. Gracie's teacher moved to a different class and the two kindergarten classes were merged together with the other teacher. So, Gracie is now with a new teacher in a new room, but same school and same kids. It sucks because now there are 29 kids in the class! 

I'm sad because I really loved her teacher and she was a great fit for Gracie's personality. She moved up to 1st grade, so I'll be requesting her next year!

The good part of these changes is that the two Kindergarten teachers worked closely together and used the same curriculum. Plus, she's had her half of the class for months and knows them well; she really only needs to get to know the new half. I'm sure she has seen them here and there and isn't completely unfamiliar with the students. Of course, the students all know each other as well.  This takes a lot of the "new" out of this new setup. 

Amazing as it sounds, the teacher's aid was able to keep her job! Usually, these people are the first to be cut out of a school budget. She's an important person though. This makes two adults in the room with 29 five-year-olds. I don't even want to think about what it would be like without the assistant!

Honestly, I don't think my outgoing loud kid will have trouble adjusting socially or emotionally. A bigger crowd just means she will be louder and more demanding, but she will get attention if she wants it. I do worry about academics though. She thrives on individual attention, lacks focus and needs a teacher to guide her and keep her on task. Left to her own devices, I'm afraid she won't get much done. She's five. 

I loved that her Montessori class had 18 students as opposed to the 25 that were in her class at Tovoshal. Well, now that bubble has burst! 

She had her first day in her new class today, also the first day back after the winter break. She was so excited to go back to school! I explained the changes to her and she seemed to understand. After school I picked her up and asked her all about her day.

It was crowded and there were too many kids, but it was fun.  Miss Tiffany was happy almost all day long (the assistant). Timothy brought a piece of candy in his lunch box and he wasn't allowed to eat it because it is a no-sugar school, the teacher reminded all of the kids not to bring candy.  Sarah was grabbing Gracie's dress and pulling it up so she could see Gracie's underwear. Gracie told her no ten thousand times and she wouldn't stop and the teachers didn't notice.  Everyone can tie their shoes now except Gracie and Elsa, but Elsa wears shoes with velcro. Velcro is really cool. They didn't have art, just markers.  It was so super awesome - they got to have recess three times instead of two! When is my real teacher coming back?

My goodness, the overcrowding problems sure didn't take long to surface! Some kid yanking my kid's dress up to look at her  undies? No bueno! I know they can't see it all with that many kids. I bet the kid with the candy ate it anyway, who would ever know?  

I talked to the teacher this morning about the underwear incident and pointed out the lack of attention to it. My kid is wearing pants today and will be wearing booty shorts or something under her dresses from now on. She wears dresses, that's who she is. I understand the kids are five, the other one probably just wanted to see. Panties are adorable these days with all the colors, stripes, polka dots, princesses and stuff all over them. I'm giving the kid the benefit of the doubt and assuming there wasn't any weird reason for wanting to see, just being a little kid who doesn't understand the rules of our social culture. I just hope she knows which kid is mine and which one is the pantie peeker. 

With any luck at all, my kindergarten kid will end the year smarter and still happy as can be. Three kindergartens isn't her fault, but she's the one who has to deal with it and adjust to the changes. Maybe this will be good for her! You never know which childhood experiences will be the greatest influences on your child's adult life. I'm hoping this will be inspirational and not something that sends her to therapy. Keep your fingers crossed!

I'll miss you, Disneyland

Guess how much I love Disneyland? Guess bigger!  More!  You've almost got it!  But, we must part. I am sad to say our Disneyland days are done for a while.  There's still hope that we'll become besties again, but even the best of friends are sometimes separated.

Disneyland and I just do not agree on something, so we must separate from each other on principal. The love is still strong, but a girl has to stand up for her opinions and stomp her foot down from time to time.

When I got my annual pass for the first time back in March 2009, my mom bought it for me and it was $134. I went again a few months later and bought a pass for Gracie who was 3 years old. We paid for parking each trip and I think it was $12 per day.  When I renewed my pass, I bought the parking pass too for $75.  Gracie and I renewed annually and each time we did, the price went up up up! Parking went up each year too. The amount of days allowed in the park went down.  We have only purchased the cheapest of the annual passes, The SoCal Select. This pass lets you in the park M-F, no weekends or holidays and other random days are blocked also. There are 170 days out of 365 that are valid with this pass.  Fenna also bought this pass for $199 (and used it 6 times).

Now we are up for renewal again and this time, Libby is going to have to pay to get in too. She's three now. This means $199 for Gracie, $199 for Libby, $199 for me and $99 for parking.  $700 for the three of us!

Sorry, Disneyland, but for $700 I cannot justify the damage to my credit card. If we go 10 times during the year, it comes to $70 per trip. That's not good enough. I might be easy to please, but I'm cheap.

Goodbye, Disneyland. I love you. We had some good times, 26 to be exact! But, we must bid farewell to you and your exuberant ticket prices.  My husband has two jobs to pay for our fun and he just doesn't have time for a third.

Let's go to the zoo!

My Favorite Photos of 2011