Rachel has added a fourth blessing to our Shabbat routine. Tonight it was just her and me, since Drew is waiting for us in Seattle where we will spend the next few days with Anne, David and Grandma Jean.
"Bless Mommy and Daddy and Uncle David and Auntie Anne and Grandma Jean and PopPop and Mammaw...and Grandma and Grandpa."
"And Tia Daniella..." I whispered.
"And Tia Daniella and Valerie and Zhou Zhou," she said.
"And Auntie Amanda and Auntie Jenn...." I added.
"And Auntie Amanda and Auntie Jenn," she said.
I was so charmed, even if it does sound like the end of The Lord's Prayer.
***
As soon as we got home from preschool, Rachel and I started making treats to bring up north (I'm leaving them a secret until we get there), which took about an hour and we'll finish up tomorrow morning. The coolest thing was when Rachel broke apart an egg all by herself! (She's still too nervous to crack it against the bowl, which I was, too, for a long time, so I can't really blame her). She was very proud of herself for keeping the eggshell out of the mix of ingredients, and even when some shell fell in she just helped me scoop the pieces out. Pretty soon I'll haul her along on catering jobs. She can grow up saying she was Mommy's sous chef!
***
Rachel was very proud of packing her little suitcase to head to Seattle last night. Good thing I checked, since she had forgotten dresses, and stockings, and shoes. The only stuff in there was a book, a stuffed animal, a coloring book, markers...and five neatly arranged pairs of underwear. That kid cracks me up.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Rachel observations
This morning at breakfast:
"I had a dream," Rachel said. "Giada (one of her little preschool friends) came into school and she said she celebrated Hanukkah, but she had a Christmas shirt on (Rachel chortled). I said 'No, you celebrate Christmas. You just wanna be like me."
(Apparenly Giada is, in fact, Jewish, according to Rachel. I have yet to confirm this).
***
Rachel started a little rhyme this morning:
I'm sitting in my chair
I'm waiting for a bear
I'm in my underwear....
Later she said, "I took my silly pills today."
Me: You certainly did!
***
Tonight Rachel announced, "I'm going to marry Noah."
"Noah? Why?" I asked.
"Because he's such a nice boy," she answered.
Yes, I'm living with a Jewish grandmother.
"I had a dream," Rachel said. "Giada (one of her little preschool friends) came into school and she said she celebrated Hanukkah, but she had a Christmas shirt on (Rachel chortled). I said 'No, you celebrate Christmas. You just wanna be like me."
(Apparenly Giada is, in fact, Jewish, according to Rachel. I have yet to confirm this).
***
Rachel started a little rhyme this morning:
I'm sitting in my chair
I'm waiting for a bear
I'm in my underwear....
Later she said, "I took my silly pills today."
Me: You certainly did!
***
Tonight Rachel announced, "I'm going to marry Noah."
"Noah? Why?" I asked.
"Because he's such a nice boy," she answered.
Yes, I'm living with a Jewish grandmother.
Peacock Lane
Peacock Lane is a street of houses in Southeast Portland that, at Christmastime, is filled with over-the-top decorations and lights that are worth a detour. I had been dying to take Rachel sometime this month, and tonight I got my chance.
She gasped and oohed and aahed at all the festivity, and she insisted on trying to take a picture, so I finally gave her my Droid and let her shoot. She did a pretty good job and I'd like to encourage the habit, so I'll probably hand her my real digital camera this weekend (when we'll be at Anne and David and Jean's) and let her try a few.
Otherwise, parts of the day were a little rough. As I was dropping her off at preschool today, she leaned in to me and said, "My biggest wish is for you to go back home and bring me Dottie (her stuffed orca)." I was tempted to -- I'm working from home at a relaxed pace this week because I'm really not supposed to be working at all -- but I decided to hold firm and said no. It was so hard to watch her eyes well up and have her start sobbing, but I don't want her to get the idea that Mommy will just run home and get whatever she forgot for school. Soon enough she'll have homework, and science projects, and the sooner she learns she has to assume responsibility, the better.
That still didn't stop me from feeling like a Mean Old Mommy, however.
At bedtime I agreed to read her a long book, and I read the entire Nutcracker and she started her delaying tactics again -- hugging, cuddling, trying to tell me things -- until, after 10 minutes, I told her that I was getting very frustrated with her, especially since SHE was the one who told me she wanted to get to bed early because she didn't want to be cranky (and I am sick and tired of not getting her to bed until 10, which is way too late for a little girl to be up at night). She started crying and said, "I don't like being scolded," and I said I didn't like it when she didn't listen. I cuddled in bed with her for a bit and sang, but then she started whining about how she really wanted to sleep in my bed, because my bed is more comfortable, especially our gold duvet cover, and I had had enough. I got up, went to the door and told her sternly that if she kept complaining, she wouldn't get books at bedtime anymore. "Do you understand?" I said firmly. When she didn't answer I said, "I can't hear you," and she said, "yes," and started snuffling, and I just closed the door without saying "I love you" or any of my usual nighttime sentiments.
Sometimes I feel I don't have enough patience with Rachel, or at least as much patience as Drew seems to have, but I told her I had work to do (and it's true, the only time I get things done around here when Drew is gone is when Rachel goes to bed) and it angers me when that doesn't register.
I still felt remorseful, though, and after 10 minutes or so of hearing her talking to herself I opened the door. Good thing I did -- she was sitting up in bed talking to Sophie, one of her dolls, and when I asked her what she was doing she said she didn't feel tired. I tucked her in with Sophie, her pink penguin, "the orcas, the dolls..." she said, reciting all her little friends she goes to sleep with -- kissed her, and then she hugged me close, and that was that.
She gasped and oohed and aahed at all the festivity, and she insisted on trying to take a picture, so I finally gave her my Droid and let her shoot. She did a pretty good job and I'd like to encourage the habit, so I'll probably hand her my real digital camera this weekend (when we'll be at Anne and David and Jean's) and let her try a few.
Otherwise, parts of the day were a little rough. As I was dropping her off at preschool today, she leaned in to me and said, "My biggest wish is for you to go back home and bring me Dottie (her stuffed orca)." I was tempted to -- I'm working from home at a relaxed pace this week because I'm really not supposed to be working at all -- but I decided to hold firm and said no. It was so hard to watch her eyes well up and have her start sobbing, but I don't want her to get the idea that Mommy will just run home and get whatever she forgot for school. Soon enough she'll have homework, and science projects, and the sooner she learns she has to assume responsibility, the better.
That still didn't stop me from feeling like a Mean Old Mommy, however.
At bedtime I agreed to read her a long book, and I read the entire Nutcracker and she started her delaying tactics again -- hugging, cuddling, trying to tell me things -- until, after 10 minutes, I told her that I was getting very frustrated with her, especially since SHE was the one who told me she wanted to get to bed early because she didn't want to be cranky (and I am sick and tired of not getting her to bed until 10, which is way too late for a little girl to be up at night). She started crying and said, "I don't like being scolded," and I said I didn't like it when she didn't listen. I cuddled in bed with her for a bit and sang, but then she started whining about how she really wanted to sleep in my bed, because my bed is more comfortable, especially our gold duvet cover, and I had had enough. I got up, went to the door and told her sternly that if she kept complaining, she wouldn't get books at bedtime anymore. "Do you understand?" I said firmly. When she didn't answer I said, "I can't hear you," and she said, "yes," and started snuffling, and I just closed the door without saying "I love you" or any of my usual nighttime sentiments.
Sometimes I feel I don't have enough patience with Rachel, or at least as much patience as Drew seems to have, but I told her I had work to do (and it's true, the only time I get things done around here when Drew is gone is when Rachel goes to bed) and it angers me when that doesn't register.
I still felt remorseful, though, and after 10 minutes or so of hearing her talking to herself I opened the door. Good thing I did -- she was sitting up in bed talking to Sophie, one of her dolls, and when I asked her what she was doing she said she didn't feel tired. I tucked her in with Sophie, her pink penguin, "the orcas, the dolls..." she said, reciting all her little friends she goes to sleep with -- kissed her, and then she hugged me close, and that was that.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Rachel's plea to Mommy
At the breakfast table this morning, Rachel said she thinks her class may be close to winning a birthday cake party. I asked if that would mean I'd need to bake a cake, and she said no, Patricia -- the school's cook -- would make it.
"We need a break of cakes, Mommy," Rachel said.
"Why?" I asked.
"You've been working so hard," she said. "Mom, can you please skip work? Just for one day? Please work from home. Please."
That kid knows me so well, it's scary.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Some things Rachel said on the drive home tonight
Linda kindly let Rachel choose a toy from a toy box in Jack and Andrew's room, and she chose a stuffed orca she named, "Dottie," (which comes out sounding like "Daddy").
On the way home she said, "Guess how old Dottie is?"
Me: 8!
Drew: 15!
Me: 45!
"It sounds like 'fff,'" Rachel said.
Drew: 15!
Me: 50!
"Guess again!" Rachel said.
"I'm out of guesses," I answered.
"Infinity!" Rachel said. "She's infinity years old!"
Drew remarked how amazing it is that our kid knows what infinity means.
On the way home she said, "Guess how old Dottie is?"
Me: 8!
Drew: 15!
Me: 45!
"It sounds like 'fff,'" Rachel said.
Drew: 15!
Me: 50!
"Guess again!" Rachel said.
"I'm out of guesses," I answered.
"Infinity!" Rachel said. "She's infinity years old!"
Drew remarked how amazing it is that our kid knows what infinity means.
Christmas Day festivities
This morning began with a great memory card game that Mom and Dad gave Rachel for her birthday called "Sequence for Kids." It involves laying cards down on the floor and turning them upside down to see which ones match each other, and whoever ends up with the most matching cards wins. "Do you want to play, Mommy?" Rachel asked me. Drew was already sprawled out on the floor, ready to play, and I said, "Sure!" and I was glad I did (for once), because I discovered that my daughter has a phenomenal memory. The kid cleaned my clock even after she gave me a couple of pairs she'd won, just to make me feel better. (Uncle David said tonight that he noticed Rachel has a very strong sense of empathy even at a young age, and that it will stay with her forever; her willingness to help me with the card game demonstrated that).
Final score: Lisa 6, Drew 7, Rachel 9. She didn't even rub it in our faces that she won.
Now I know why Drew spent so much time playing all those princess card games with Rachel a year ago; he was helping her develop her memory. I thought they were just silly cards and I often wished we could throw them away because they kept ending up everywhere, but Drew knew exactly what he was doing which is why Rachel will do well on standardized tests and why Drew is clearly the better parent.
We Skyped with PopPop and MawMaw this morning and had a lovely time -- hopefully we will be able to visit them at their house sometime in 2013!
Then Drew went out to run a few errands while Rachel and I baked a yellow cake with Alice's chocolate frosting recipe. Rachel was brave enough to try to crumble the egg yolk into the bowl after asking me to crack it along the edge. She's nearing the age at which I can trust her to bake a cake mostly by herself, which is hard to believe. Both of us ended up having more cake crumbs and frosting than was strictly good for us (i.e., I kind of forgot to feed us both lunch, but we'd had a late breakfast of Grandma Jean's cinnamon rolls and bacon so I figured that would last us until Christmas dinner and Doug and Linda's). Rachel helped me decorate the cake with green and red sprinkles and sugared flowers, and then we headed to Tigard.
We really had a great time -- for the first time, Rachel actually played with Jack and Andrew (or sat quietly watching them while they played video games and watched "Kung Fu Panda"). It was so cute to see her sitting near them with her red and black party dress billowing around her. The turkey, stuffing, potatoes, salad and dinner rolls were fantastic and everyone loved the cake -- we had only one slice left! -- and Rachel even asked, quite nicely, if she could have another piece. (I had to say no, since she'd eaten three dinner rolls and not a lot of turkey). The adults sat and talked and talked and talked and before I realized it, Drew was mouthing "Five minutes!' silently to me, I looked at the clock and it was 8:15. I absolutely hated to go; I could have stayed there another two hours (and Rachel was quite disappointed that she couldn't watch the rest of "Kung Fu Panda"), but we will see David, Anne and Jean for New Year's and I told Linda we need to get together for a playdate sometime in January or February. It would be great if we could go to an indoor playpark, like Playdate PDX, and just hang out for a few hours on a cold and rainy Saturday or Sunday.
As we left, Drew and I remarked how lucky it is that we have such a wonderful little girl who is growing up secure in the fact that she is loved by many, many people. When you get right down to it, nothing else really matters.
Final score: Lisa 6, Drew 7, Rachel 9. She didn't even rub it in our faces that she won.
Now I know why Drew spent so much time playing all those princess card games with Rachel a year ago; he was helping her develop her memory. I thought they were just silly cards and I often wished we could throw them away because they kept ending up everywhere, but Drew knew exactly what he was doing which is why Rachel will do well on standardized tests and why Drew is clearly the better parent.
We Skyped with PopPop and MawMaw this morning and had a lovely time -- hopefully we will be able to visit them at their house sometime in 2013!
Then Drew went out to run a few errands while Rachel and I baked a yellow cake with Alice's chocolate frosting recipe. Rachel was brave enough to try to crumble the egg yolk into the bowl after asking me to crack it along the edge. She's nearing the age at which I can trust her to bake a cake mostly by herself, which is hard to believe. Both of us ended up having more cake crumbs and frosting than was strictly good for us (i.e., I kind of forgot to feed us both lunch, but we'd had a late breakfast of Grandma Jean's cinnamon rolls and bacon so I figured that would last us until Christmas dinner and Doug and Linda's). Rachel helped me decorate the cake with green and red sprinkles and sugared flowers, and then we headed to Tigard.
We really had a great time -- for the first time, Rachel actually played with Jack and Andrew (or sat quietly watching them while they played video games and watched "Kung Fu Panda"). It was so cute to see her sitting near them with her red and black party dress billowing around her. The turkey, stuffing, potatoes, salad and dinner rolls were fantastic and everyone loved the cake -- we had only one slice left! -- and Rachel even asked, quite nicely, if she could have another piece. (I had to say no, since she'd eaten three dinner rolls and not a lot of turkey). The adults sat and talked and talked and talked and before I realized it, Drew was mouthing "Five minutes!' silently to me, I looked at the clock and it was 8:15. I absolutely hated to go; I could have stayed there another two hours (and Rachel was quite disappointed that she couldn't watch the rest of "Kung Fu Panda"), but we will see David, Anne and Jean for New Year's and I told Linda we need to get together for a playdate sometime in January or February. It would be great if we could go to an indoor playpark, like Playdate PDX, and just hang out for a few hours on a cold and rainy Saturday or Sunday.
As we left, Drew and I remarked how lucky it is that we have such a wonderful little girl who is growing up secure in the fact that she is loved by many, many people. When you get right down to it, nothing else really matters.
Rachel's story, Part 2
...here is the correct version of the story that Rachel told me yesterday and re-told to Drew today. She assures both of us that she totally made it up:
"Once upon a time there was a girl named Arabella and she really wanted to take violin lessons. But her parents said no. So one day she was walking past the store and she saw a little violin in the window just her size and it was only 10 dollars. Isn't that so cheap? So she ran back to her parents and said, '"There's a violin that's only 10 dollars!" and her parents ran back and said, "Arabella was right!" So her parents checked it out and they paid for the violin and went home. But then Arabella put it on her table and she watched in amazement as the bow started playing the violin all by itself. It was so weird. Then her parents called her for dinner. Arabella came in and in the middle of dinner she said, "May I please be excused?" Her parents let her be excused so Arabella went to her room and she saw the violin playing beautiful music. So she peeked through the strings and she saw a ghost right through the violin. So she ran and told her parents and they saw it too.
Arabella had an idea. She started playing it and when the ghost was about to say something, she threw the violin on the floor and the ghost screamed in pain and the ghost flew out of the window.
The end."
"Once upon a time there was a girl named Arabella and she really wanted to take violin lessons. But her parents said no. So one day she was walking past the store and she saw a little violin in the window just her size and it was only 10 dollars. Isn't that so cheap? So she ran back to her parents and said, '"There's a violin that's only 10 dollars!" and her parents ran back and said, "Arabella was right!" So her parents checked it out and they paid for the violin and went home. But then Arabella put it on her table and she watched in amazement as the bow started playing the violin all by itself. It was so weird. Then her parents called her for dinner. Arabella came in and in the middle of dinner she said, "May I please be excused?" Her parents let her be excused so Arabella went to her room and she saw the violin playing beautiful music. So she peeked through the strings and she saw a ghost right through the violin. So she ran and told her parents and they saw it too.
Arabella had an idea. She started playing it and when the ghost was about to say something, she threw the violin on the floor and the ghost screamed in pain and the ghost flew out of the window.
The end."
Monday, December 24, 2012
Amazing things Rachel said today
Rachel has been unusually...needy? Whiny? Weepy? the past day or so. I think that's because she loves having Anne and David and Jean visit and so she tends to monopolize all their attention, and she doesn't seem to understand that sometimes they want a break (as do Drew and I) and she can't be the center of everything all the time. So, that tends to manifest itself in her acting out in the fairly mild way she does -- she never throws temper tantrums, but she does tend to stamp her feet, whine and become rude -- and so both Drew and I have had to take her aside and explain that she needs to be respectful of other peoples' time and energy levels.
This morning was one of those times. At breakfast I had to get up and take her into her room, and I sat in the glider and cuddled with her and said that she needs to know that Anne and David don't have children and so they're not used to her energy and she needs to give them a rest once in a while. That somehow evolved into a conversation about...well, I'll try to rehash it here.
"Most of my friends don't like their parents," Rachel said. "I'm the only one who likes their parents."
"Doesn't Sadie like her parents?" I asked. (Sadie is a member of the Rachel Posse at preschool).
"No," Rachel said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because they call her a tattletale," she said.
"Why do they do that?" I asked. "Sadie doesn't have a brother or sister."
"Because she tattles on her parents to each one," she said.
Oh.
"How about Devin? Doesn't she like her parents?" I asked.
"No," Rachel said. "They always tell her what to do."
"Well, we tell you what to do," I said.
Then she added that she doesn't expect us to buy her things all the time, "just on July 11th" (her birthday).
***
"I know how to play the violin," Rachel announced, and indeed she remembered getting a taste of it during a demonstration at Multnomah Days, a neighborhood festival we attended last May.
"Do you want to learn an instrument?" I asked. "Which one?"
"A saxophone," she said.
"A saxophone??!!" I said. "Why?"
"Because it's jazzy and exciting," she said.
"Um, I think you're too little right now," I said. "The saxophone is probably as big as you are!"
Then she changed her mind and said, "I want to play the violin," so maybe we'll see about getting her lessons this winter.
***
Rachel informed me that today she was going to tell ME a story and she made this one up. I'm trying to recreate it as best as I can:
"Once upon a time there was a girl named Bella and she wanted violin lessons. Her parents said they weren't sure, but then she asked and asked and they said okay. When she got the violin home she put it on her dresser and then an odd thing happened. She couldn't find it! It had moved. So she looked around the room and found it in another place, and then it moved again. So then she looked inside and she saw a ghost! It waggled its butt at her and then she took the violin and threw it to the ground, and then the ghost flew up into the air and disappeared. And that was the end."
She has the storytelling gene, this one.
This morning was one of those times. At breakfast I had to get up and take her into her room, and I sat in the glider and cuddled with her and said that she needs to know that Anne and David don't have children and so they're not used to her energy and she needs to give them a rest once in a while. That somehow evolved into a conversation about...well, I'll try to rehash it here.
"Most of my friends don't like their parents," Rachel said. "I'm the only one who likes their parents."
"Doesn't Sadie like her parents?" I asked. (Sadie is a member of the Rachel Posse at preschool).
"No," Rachel said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because they call her a tattletale," she said.
"Why do they do that?" I asked. "Sadie doesn't have a brother or sister."
"Because she tattles on her parents to each one," she said.
Oh.
"How about Devin? Doesn't she like her parents?" I asked.
"No," Rachel said. "They always tell her what to do."
"Well, we tell you what to do," I said.
Then she added that she doesn't expect us to buy her things all the time, "just on July 11th" (her birthday).
***
"I know how to play the violin," Rachel announced, and indeed she remembered getting a taste of it during a demonstration at Multnomah Days, a neighborhood festival we attended last May.
"Do you want to learn an instrument?" I asked. "Which one?"
"A saxophone," she said.
"A saxophone??!!" I said. "Why?"
"Because it's jazzy and exciting," she said.
"Um, I think you're too little right now," I said. "The saxophone is probably as big as you are!"
Then she changed her mind and said, "I want to play the violin," so maybe we'll see about getting her lessons this winter.
***
Rachel informed me that today she was going to tell ME a story and she made this one up. I'm trying to recreate it as best as I can:
"Once upon a time there was a girl named Bella and she wanted violin lessons. Her parents said they weren't sure, but then she asked and asked and they said okay. When she got the violin home she put it on her dresser and then an odd thing happened. She couldn't find it! It had moved. So she looked around the room and found it in another place, and then it moved again. So then she looked inside and she saw a ghost! It waggled its butt at her and then she took the violin and threw it to the ground, and then the ghost flew up into the air and disappeared. And that was the end."
She has the storytelling gene, this one.
Fun with Anne and David and Jean
Today was a rare day of sunshine, so we all decided to make the most of it. After a great breakfast of Grandma Jean's cinnamon rolls (which I told her I can't seem to find the equivalent of anywhere -- I ordered one at a restaurant last week and it was quite disappointing) and bacon, Drew headed downstairs to work (ugh; he believes he was the only reporter on duty today and ended up writing a story), Anne, David, Rachel and I went for a walk through the neighborhood to Grant Park. Usually Rachel whines about how far it is, but this time the message was clear -- she'd have to put up with it. When we got there we played a great game of kickball/soccer, and Rachel stunned me by stopping the ball with her foot on top several times, just the way real soccer players do! I have no idea where she picked that up. I kept referring to her as "Rachel DeSilver!' Number six!" because six is her favorite number, and all of a sudden I had a vision of Drew and I cheering her on at a soccer game someday. I plan on taking a Thermos full of hot chocolate and schnapps on those cold, rainy Oregon Saturdays to make the watching more bearable...
Then Rachel played on the play structure with Anne and David (thank you for being such good sports, guys!) and we all walked home when it started to turn cold. I made everyone homemade hot chocolate (Anne and I took ours with peppermint schnapps) and we munched on crackers, cheese and proscuitto (Rachel likes it, much to my surprise) until it was almost time to go.
Anne and David then kindly helped Drew and I with a project I had just dreamed up the other day -- getting the Belgian carpet that Mom and Dad once had in their apartment in 6F, in the Whitehall, into our bedroom. Drew and I have dragged it around from residence to residence, reluctant to lay it down because it's so big and has a couple of stains on it (probably from my throwup or Daniella's); we've had it professionally cleaned to no avail. But I never felt as if I could give it away or sell it, because Mom and Dad gave it to me and it's from Belgium, and it's the only tangible connection I have with that country. Anyway, the other night I decided we needed to put it in our bedroom or get rid of it for good. It took about an hour, and all of our strength, Anne, David, Drew and I finally got it down with the bed and dresser positioned on top of it. It looks, Drew says, like we have a grown-up bedroom. I never thought he minded having the white throw rugs, but apparently he did.
And another odd thing happened -- as soon as I got the rug vacuumed and the bed made up again (we had to take most of it apart to get the rug under it) -- I felt as if I'd gotten part of my childhood back. There's a photo of me on our living room bookcase with Dad's arms around me when I was 9 months old and we were playing in the living room. Later it ended up in Mom and Dad's bedroom, and when they moved to 8K and then to Mt. Kisco, it disappeared. At some point they gave it to me, and now it's in my bedroom, where Rachel will remember it, and then we'll give it to her one day...and the cycle goes on.
Then Rachel played on the play structure with Anne and David (thank you for being such good sports, guys!) and we all walked home when it started to turn cold. I made everyone homemade hot chocolate (Anne and I took ours with peppermint schnapps) and we munched on crackers, cheese and proscuitto (Rachel likes it, much to my surprise) until it was almost time to go.
Anne and David then kindly helped Drew and I with a project I had just dreamed up the other day -- getting the Belgian carpet that Mom and Dad once had in their apartment in 6F, in the Whitehall, into our bedroom. Drew and I have dragged it around from residence to residence, reluctant to lay it down because it's so big and has a couple of stains on it (probably from my throwup or Daniella's); we've had it professionally cleaned to no avail. But I never felt as if I could give it away or sell it, because Mom and Dad gave it to me and it's from Belgium, and it's the only tangible connection I have with that country. Anyway, the other night I decided we needed to put it in our bedroom or get rid of it for good. It took about an hour, and all of our strength, Anne, David, Drew and I finally got it down with the bed and dresser positioned on top of it. It looks, Drew says, like we have a grown-up bedroom. I never thought he minded having the white throw rugs, but apparently he did.
And another odd thing happened -- as soon as I got the rug vacuumed and the bed made up again (we had to take most of it apart to get the rug under it) -- I felt as if I'd gotten part of my childhood back. There's a photo of me on our living room bookcase with Dad's arms around me when I was 9 months old and we were playing in the living room. Later it ended up in Mom and Dad's bedroom, and when they moved to 8K and then to Mt. Kisco, it disappeared. At some point they gave it to me, and now it's in my bedroom, where Rachel will remember it, and then we'll give it to her one day...and the cycle goes on.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Happy holidays!!!
Lovely dinner tonight with Anne, David and Jean. I considered it my make-up Thanksgiving dinner, since I still feel guilty about cutting out on Turkey Day (even though everyone was understanding about my trip to Africa) and I promise that next year, the Lednicer/DeSilver Thanksgiving extravaganza will return!
Anyway...
Today was incredibly relaxing and stress-free even though the weather sucked. We got most of the housecleaning done last night so all we had to do was pull out the table and set it. That left me time to get a manicure, pedicure and brow wax AND finish baking the chocolate silk pie AND post two items to the blog earlier today. Drew ran out to a cheese place and came back with lovely cheese and crackers, and I put out a bunch of snacks, and all we had to was wait for Anne, David and Jean to arrive. When they got here we had a roaring fire, and we all sat around and relaxed while Drew started the roast lamb and rosemary potatoes. I even got a chance to nap while Rachel monopolized David with card games and her Pinkalicous book. It's cool how they can actually play cards together and have conversations, and I think David gets a kick out of her. Just before we sat down to dinner, he fell asleep on the loveseat, Rachel curled up in his arms and asleep, too. I turned out the light and all you could see was them snuggled up together and it was BEYOND ADORABLE.
David also gave Rachel the best gift ever: His baseball glove, with his name in faded ink. They immediately went upstairs to play and all I could hear were her shrieks of laughter. Hopefully it will help hear earn a softball scholarship to Stanford. Or Harvard!
Everyone loved the dinner, and Rachel as usual was well-behaved, until it was time to go to bed and then she whimpered, "I want Uncle AIRPLANE!" (her nickname for David). Now she's lying on the floor next to me in her sleeping bag talking to her stuffed animal, Lady (her sleeping bag in the shape of a ladybug -- thank you again Darryl and Daniella!) and I am finishing up this post. Drew and Rachel and I are sleeping in the basement tonight while Anne, David and Jean are upstairs -- it makes more sense for everyone.
Happy holidays everyone!
Anyway...
Today was incredibly relaxing and stress-free even though the weather sucked. We got most of the housecleaning done last night so all we had to do was pull out the table and set it. That left me time to get a manicure, pedicure and brow wax AND finish baking the chocolate silk pie AND post two items to the blog earlier today. Drew ran out to a cheese place and came back with lovely cheese and crackers, and I put out a bunch of snacks, and all we had to was wait for Anne, David and Jean to arrive. When they got here we had a roaring fire, and we all sat around and relaxed while Drew started the roast lamb and rosemary potatoes. I even got a chance to nap while Rachel monopolized David with card games and her Pinkalicous book. It's cool how they can actually play cards together and have conversations, and I think David gets a kick out of her. Just before we sat down to dinner, he fell asleep on the loveseat, Rachel curled up in his arms and asleep, too. I turned out the light and all you could see was them snuggled up together and it was BEYOND ADORABLE.
David also gave Rachel the best gift ever: His baseball glove, with his name in faded ink. They immediately went upstairs to play and all I could hear were her shrieks of laughter. Hopefully it will help hear earn a softball scholarship to Stanford. Or Harvard!
Everyone loved the dinner, and Rachel as usual was well-behaved, until it was time to go to bed and then she whimpered, "I want Uncle AIRPLANE!" (her nickname for David). Now she's lying on the floor next to me in her sleeping bag talking to her stuffed animal, Lady (her sleeping bag in the shape of a ladybug -- thank you again Darryl and Daniella!) and I am finishing up this post. Drew and Rachel and I are sleeping in the basement tonight while Anne, David and Jean are upstairs -- it makes more sense for everyone.
Happy holidays everyone!
Those KIDS!
We Skyped this morning with Tia Daniella, Zhou Zhou and Valerie. I'm describing it as a group conversation, but it was more like a two-way between Duckie and TLG (The Little Girl). During our 45-minute talk, the following things happened:
--Duckie showed us her "snockings" (stockings) and then her bare feet. That kid has a foot fetish.
--They both sang versions of The Dreidel Song that have no basis in reality. As in, "Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel/I made you out of toast/And when you're hot and buttered/That's when I love you most" (Rachel) and "Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel/I made you out of garbage..." (Duckie's version, we're not sure how the rest goes).
--Rachel insisted on showing Duckie her newest unicorn, Princess Luna. Then Duckie brought out the unicorn carousel. Then Rachel brought in her "My Little Pony" collection. Then Duckie brought out one of her ponies...you can see that this is an escalating arms race of ponies/unicorns/fairies/princesses/etc. Heaven knows what it will be in a couple of years. Purses? Jewelry?
--Then each girl ran to her room and put on their princess clothes. Duckie wore a gorgeous pink princess dress with a crown and ruby red slippers; Rachel got into a leotard with a tutu attacked and a crown of flowers in her hair, both gifts from Grandma and Grandpa and Amanda & Jenn. Needless to say, they both looked ADORABLE. I am quaking at the idea of both of them going out arm in arm to hit the New York club scene when they're, oh, 18 or so. Stunning in their own individual ways, they will make quite a pair attracting men by the score.
Daniella and I agreed that it would be really great if they could just regularly compare clothes and toys in real life, which means that I guess we'd need to move to Queens to make the process easier. I had a vision of us piling all of Rachel's possessions in the car and driving over to Daniella and Darryl's apartment and unloading it so the girls could have a feast of dresses and toys. And then Daniella and Darryl and Duckie doing the same thing at our house a few miles (or blocks) away.
--Duckie showed us her "snockings" (stockings) and then her bare feet. That kid has a foot fetish.
--They both sang versions of The Dreidel Song that have no basis in reality. As in, "Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel/I made you out of toast/And when you're hot and buttered/That's when I love you most" (Rachel) and "Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel/I made you out of garbage..." (Duckie's version, we're not sure how the rest goes).
--Rachel insisted on showing Duckie her newest unicorn, Princess Luna. Then Duckie brought out the unicorn carousel. Then Rachel brought in her "My Little Pony" collection. Then Duckie brought out one of her ponies...you can see that this is an escalating arms race of ponies/unicorns/fairies/princesses/etc. Heaven knows what it will be in a couple of years. Purses? Jewelry?
--Then each girl ran to her room and put on their princess clothes. Duckie wore a gorgeous pink princess dress with a crown and ruby red slippers; Rachel got into a leotard with a tutu attacked and a crown of flowers in her hair, both gifts from Grandma and Grandpa and Amanda & Jenn. Needless to say, they both looked ADORABLE. I am quaking at the idea of both of them going out arm in arm to hit the New York club scene when they're, oh, 18 or so. Stunning in their own individual ways, they will make quite a pair attracting men by the score.
Daniella and I agreed that it would be really great if they could just regularly compare clothes and toys in real life, which means that I guess we'd need to move to Queens to make the process easier. I had a vision of us piling all of Rachel's possessions in the car and driving over to Daniella and Darryl's apartment and unloading it so the girls could have a feast of dresses and toys. And then Daniella and Darryl and Duckie doing the same thing at our house a few miles (or blocks) away.
Perfect Saturday
Wow, what a terrific day we had yesterday! Rachel's preschool had a cookie decorating and movie party from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., which gave Drew and I time to catch the latest James Bond movie, "Skyfall," (TOTALLY AWESOME) and order a rod with which to hang a gorgeous wall hanging I brought back from the South Africa Jewish Museum. Anyone who visits us from the end of January on will have a chance to see it, since it will take about three weeks for the rod to get here.
Then we had arranged a surprise for Rachel -- going to see Zoolights at the Oregon Zoo with her friend Lila Anne -- but it was raining so we switched to Playdate PDX, a great indoor playpark that I've blogged about before. The girls had a lot of fun chasing Drew, playing hide-and-go seek with Drew, while Steve and Suzanne, Lila Anne's parents, kept Lila Anne's sister, 1-year-old Eva, busy. I got a chance to have long conversations with both of them, who were very interested in my trip to Africa. We stayed until around 7 or so, and Rachel was very sad to leave but cheered up when we got to Kenny & Zuke's, our favorite approximation of a New York deli. We had a good dinner, then Drew put Rachel to bed while I made pie crust for the chocolate silk pie I'm making tonight for dessert when Anne, David and Jean get here. We're also having lamb shoulder, red potatoes with rosemary, and a salad. I love having family stay with us for the holidays!
***
Rachel saved a cookie that she wanted Drew and me to share, but then decided she wanted to give some of it to Lila Anne. So after we finished at Playdate PDX, they both walked to our car together to Rachel could share the cookie. During their walk, Rachel said:
"Friendship is forever."
Lila: "I wish we could live in the same house."
Rachel: "Then you could be my big sister!" (it's true, Lila Anne is slightly older than Rachel).
Lila Anne: "We could be twins!"
The girls had a good laugh over that one!
***
As we were heading to Kenny & Zuke's, Rachel said, "I hate sleeping! It's BORING!"
Drew and I tried to explain to her that sleep is a very, very good thing (trust me, we know from personal experience) and that kids need sleep to get big and strong.
"Sleep is BORING!" Rachel repeated. "You can't read books, or play with toys, or even color! All you can do is lie there and pretend you're DEAD!"
Not much to say after that. When I told this to my friend David Jones, who has no kids, he cracked up.
Then we had arranged a surprise for Rachel -- going to see Zoolights at the Oregon Zoo with her friend Lila Anne -- but it was raining so we switched to Playdate PDX, a great indoor playpark that I've blogged about before. The girls had a lot of fun chasing Drew, playing hide-and-go seek with Drew, while Steve and Suzanne, Lila Anne's parents, kept Lila Anne's sister, 1-year-old Eva, busy. I got a chance to have long conversations with both of them, who were very interested in my trip to Africa. We stayed until around 7 or so, and Rachel was very sad to leave but cheered up when we got to Kenny & Zuke's, our favorite approximation of a New York deli. We had a good dinner, then Drew put Rachel to bed while I made pie crust for the chocolate silk pie I'm making tonight for dessert when Anne, David and Jean get here. We're also having lamb shoulder, red potatoes with rosemary, and a salad. I love having family stay with us for the holidays!
***
Rachel saved a cookie that she wanted Drew and me to share, but then decided she wanted to give some of it to Lila Anne. So after we finished at Playdate PDX, they both walked to our car together to Rachel could share the cookie. During their walk, Rachel said:
"Friendship is forever."
Lila: "I wish we could live in the same house."
Rachel: "Then you could be my big sister!" (it's true, Lila Anne is slightly older than Rachel).
Lila Anne: "We could be twins!"
The girls had a good laugh over that one!
***
As we were heading to Kenny & Zuke's, Rachel said, "I hate sleeping! It's BORING!"
Drew and I tried to explain to her that sleep is a very, very good thing (trust me, we know from personal experience) and that kids need sleep to get big and strong.
"Sleep is BORING!" Rachel repeated. "You can't read books, or play with toys, or even color! All you can do is lie there and pretend you're DEAD!"
Not much to say after that. When I told this to my friend David Jones, who has no kids, he cracked up.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Responsible Rachel
After getting herself up and dressed this morning, Rachel -- while I was getting ready for work and Drew was downstairs showering -- dragged one of the kitchen table chairs to the counter and STARTED SETTING THE TABLE FOR BREAKFAST. She got very frustrated when she couldn't reach the cereal bowls, so Drew helped her a little. He also helped her with the plates.
"I"m very proud of you, Rachel," I said. "Not only did you set the breakfast table but you did it without even me asking!"
I always want her to know how proud we are of her when she assumes responsibility.
Later she told Drew, "Because you people do so much of the work around here, I need to do more work."
Is it any wonder we love her to pieces??
***
We're heading to a holiday party tonight at our friend Deni's house, and Drew asked Rachel if she wanted to bring her party dress to school to change into later. She said no.
"Miriam and Deni love me no matter what I wear," she said.
True, that.
"I"m very proud of you, Rachel," I said. "Not only did you set the breakfast table but you did it without even me asking!"
I always want her to know how proud we are of her when she assumes responsibility.
Later she told Drew, "Because you people do so much of the work around here, I need to do more work."
Is it any wonder we love her to pieces??
***
We're heading to a holiday party tonight at our friend Deni's house, and Drew asked Rachel if she wanted to bring her party dress to school to change into later. She said no.
"Miriam and Deni love me no matter what I wear," she said.
True, that.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Holidays!
Rachel is having quite the time at school these days. Yesterday she brought in chocolate covered toffee bars that I had baked for her class (the other half of the pan went to my chorus buddies for our holiday party) and they had the bars with hot chocolate for morning snack. Then last night she told me the following about Princess Luna, the unicorn my friend Amy gave her:
"Apparently Princess Luna turned into Nightmare Moon and she took all the color and light out of Ponyville. But they light sparkles got the color and shine back by putting the four limits of friendship back together and Nightmare Moon turned back into Luna. That's the end."
I have no idea what any of the above means. Probably it's a coded message on how to survive the Mayan prophecy that the end of the world is nigh...
***
Rachel's school had a book exchange today and she got a book about...the Easter Bunny. Sigh. She wasn't very happy.
"There was one thing about the book exchange I didn't like," Rachel said at dinner tonight.
"What?" I asked.
"I liked the book Sloane got," she said. "It was a big green book and it had lots of stories in it, even Tarzan. And I LOVE Tarzan!"
"You love Tarzan?" I said, astonished.
"Yeah," she said. "I like superheroes. They always win!"
So tempted to rent "The Avengers," but she probably isn't ready....
"Apparently Princess Luna turned into Nightmare Moon and she took all the color and light out of Ponyville. But they light sparkles got the color and shine back by putting the four limits of friendship back together and Nightmare Moon turned back into Luna. That's the end."
I have no idea what any of the above means. Probably it's a coded message on how to survive the Mayan prophecy that the end of the world is nigh...
***
Rachel's school had a book exchange today and she got a book about...the Easter Bunny. Sigh. She wasn't very happy.
"There was one thing about the book exchange I didn't like," Rachel said at dinner tonight.
"What?" I asked.
"I liked the book Sloane got," she said. "It was a big green book and it had lots of stories in it, even Tarzan. And I LOVE Tarzan!"
"You love Tarzan?" I said, astonished.
"Yeah," she said. "I like superheroes. They always win!"
So tempted to rent "The Avengers," but she probably isn't ready....
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Grandpa, this post is for you
...Not so long ago, I used to love annoying the hell out of my dad when I'd ask him cheeky questions like, "Did you have to take the SATs when you were in high school?" and "Did they have Oreos when you were growing up?" Questions that I knew would make him feel old.
I was a rotten kid.
Well, Dad, tonight you got your revenge.
Rachel and I were talking about cotton candy while I was doing the dishes and she was finishing up dessert (chocolate chip cake), and I said I've never liked it -- too sweet.
"Did you like cotton candy when you were a little girl?" Rachel asked.
"Actually, I did," I admitted.
Inspired, Rachel then asked, "Tell me what they have now but they didn't have when you were a little girl."
"Uh...Pinkalicious," I said.
"They didn't have PINKALICIOUS?!" she cried.
"No, I said. "I would have LOVED it if they'd had Pinkalicious."
Pause.
"Mommy?" Rachel asked, concern in her voice. "Do you want to borrow my Pinkalicious book? For one night?"
I said no, of course, but I couldn't help thinking that we've already gotten to the "tell me what life was like when you were young," stage of parenting. I thought that was a few years off, Dad. Sigh...
***
Rachel greeted me at school tonight with a beautifully wrapped present. When I opened it I found a clay disc painted purple with her handprint pressed into it. A more beautiful gift I cannot imagine.
After I oohed and aahed (truthfully!) over it, she announced that it was for me AND Daddy. When I whined a bit that I didn't want to share (I had already started calculating how I could hang it near my desk at work), she told me severely that I HAVE to share it with Drew.
"a), because sharing is caring," she said sternly. "And b), if you don't share it, I'm gonna take it away."
I couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Rachel, you're ready to be a mommy right NOW," I said.
I was a rotten kid.
Well, Dad, tonight you got your revenge.
Rachel and I were talking about cotton candy while I was doing the dishes and she was finishing up dessert (chocolate chip cake), and I said I've never liked it -- too sweet.
"Did you like cotton candy when you were a little girl?" Rachel asked.
"Actually, I did," I admitted.
Inspired, Rachel then asked, "Tell me what they have now but they didn't have when you were a little girl."
"Uh...Pinkalicious," I said.
"They didn't have PINKALICIOUS?!" she cried.
"No, I said. "I would have LOVED it if they'd had Pinkalicious."
Pause.
"Mommy?" Rachel asked, concern in her voice. "Do you want to borrow my Pinkalicious book? For one night?"
I said no, of course, but I couldn't help thinking that we've already gotten to the "tell me what life was like when you were young," stage of parenting. I thought that was a few years off, Dad. Sigh...
***
Rachel greeted me at school tonight with a beautifully wrapped present. When I opened it I found a clay disc painted purple with her handprint pressed into it. A more beautiful gift I cannot imagine.
After I oohed and aahed (truthfully!) over it, she announced that it was for me AND Daddy. When I whined a bit that I didn't want to share (I had already started calculating how I could hang it near my desk at work), she told me severely that I HAVE to share it with Drew.
"a), because sharing is caring," she said sternly. "And b), if you don't share it, I'm gonna take it away."
I couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Rachel, you're ready to be a mommy right NOW," I said.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Recovery
I may have caught up on most of my sleep from my trip to Africa, but it appears Rachel is still emotional about me being gone for (in her mind) so long. Tonight we went to Powell's and she fell asleep in the car on the way home. I came inside, changed clothes, unloaded the dish drainer and got dinner going before waking her up. She had trouble waking up all the way -- unusual for her, she's usually quite cheerful after her catnaps -- and then she couldn't seem to stop fretting and weeping. Finally I took her in my arms and we cuddled in the glider in her bedroom.
"I want mama," she whined.
"Mama's here," I reassured her. "Mama's always here."
"Except when you're on a long trip," she shot back.
What could I say? It took 15 minutes of cuddling before she started insisting that my sweater was too scratchy -- this was the sweater she had cuddled against and then announced "I'm going to switch sides," and moved from my left to my right. The weepiness continued as she set the table and we sat down to dinner. "You're the preciousest thing in the world!" she exclaimed before tucking in to chicken, challah and carrots. "Even more precious that a jewel. Even more precious than my Pinkalicious book!"
Now, THAT'S high praise!
***
During dinner Rachel commented that the princess Band-Aid I'd asked her to put on my finger a few days ago was gone. I also remarked that the Band-Aid on her knee was gone, too (she had tripped while our friends David, Laura and their son Graham were over for Hanukkah dinner last Thursday night).
"It was a very bad trip!" Rachel reminded me tonight. "It was startling and painful!"
"I want mama," she whined.
"Mama's here," I reassured her. "Mama's always here."
"Except when you're on a long trip," she shot back.
What could I say? It took 15 minutes of cuddling before she started insisting that my sweater was too scratchy -- this was the sweater she had cuddled against and then announced "I'm going to switch sides," and moved from my left to my right. The weepiness continued as she set the table and we sat down to dinner. "You're the preciousest thing in the world!" she exclaimed before tucking in to chicken, challah and carrots. "Even more precious that a jewel. Even more precious than my Pinkalicious book!"
Now, THAT'S high praise!
***
During dinner Rachel commented that the princess Band-Aid I'd asked her to put on my finger a few days ago was gone. I also remarked that the Band-Aid on her knee was gone, too (she had tripped while our friends David, Laura and their son Graham were over for Hanukkah dinner last Thursday night).
"It was a very bad trip!" Rachel reminded me tonight. "It was startling and painful!"
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Rachel asks for a story
She got into bed with me this morning and said, "tell me a story. I'm getting bored of Rachel and Valerie, so tell me another one."
"What do you want it to be about?" I asked.
"A mermaid," she answered.
Once upon a time, a mermaid named Rachel wasn't satisfied with her life underseas and wanted to go above the water. Her mom and dad reluctantly let me do so for one day as long as I came back that same day. On that day she swam to the surface, her mom and dad shoved her forward onto the beach, she found her fishtail disappearing and legs replacing them, then she caught a bus into town and then decided to go into a theater that was doing The Nutcracker. She went inside to see and it was so lovely that we stayed until the end, then went to find the ballet mistress. The ballet mistress is the one in charge of the ballerinas....
"I know, Mommy," Rachel interrupted.
"Anyway, Rachel told her how beautiful the performance was, and the ballet mistress invited her to audition for the ballet for next year. So Rachel caught a bus back to the beach near the boardwalk, then dove into the water and swam back to her parents and told them how beautiful the ballet was and now much she wanted to audition for a part for next year's ballet. Her parents were very reluctant but finally gave in. So the next day Rachel swam to the surface where her parents shoved her onto the beach, then she took a bus and went back to the theater, and told the ballet mistress that she wanted to audition. The ballet mistress hadn't thought Rachel would want to audition THAT DAY, so she consulted with the head of the ballet company. Finally they let her audition and she got a part, and then Rachel went back to the ocean and told her parents, and her parents agreed she could do the part but only for two performances, afternoon and evening, on one day of the year. And that is why, if you watch The Nutcracker very closely, you'll see a tiny mermaid off to the side of Clara and the Prince in Act II, waving her arms from side to side. You never know what performance she'll show up for. That's Amanda, playing her part!"
"What do you want it to be about?" I asked.
"A mermaid," she answered.
Once upon a time, a mermaid named Rachel wasn't satisfied with her life underseas and wanted to go above the water. Her mom and dad reluctantly let me do so for one day as long as I came back that same day. On that day she swam to the surface, her mom and dad shoved her forward onto the beach, she found her fishtail disappearing and legs replacing them, then she caught a bus into town and then decided to go into a theater that was doing The Nutcracker. She went inside to see and it was so lovely that we stayed until the end, then went to find the ballet mistress. The ballet mistress is the one in charge of the ballerinas....
"I know, Mommy," Rachel interrupted.
"Anyway, Rachel told her how beautiful the performance was, and the ballet mistress invited her to audition for the ballet for next year. So Rachel caught a bus back to the beach near the boardwalk, then dove into the water and swam back to her parents and told them how beautiful the ballet was and now much she wanted to audition for a part for next year's ballet. Her parents were very reluctant but finally gave in. So the next day Rachel swam to the surface where her parents shoved her onto the beach, then she took a bus and went back to the theater, and told the ballet mistress that she wanted to audition. The ballet mistress hadn't thought Rachel would want to audition THAT DAY, so she consulted with the head of the ballet company. Finally they let her audition and she got a part, and then Rachel went back to the ocean and told her parents, and her parents agreed she could do the part but only for two performances, afternoon and evening, on one day of the year. And that is why, if you watch The Nutcracker very closely, you'll see a tiny mermaid off to the side of Clara and the Prince in Act II, waving her arms from side to side. You never know what performance she'll show up for. That's Amanda, playing her part!"
Chavurah Hanukkah
Part 2 of my post from yesterday: After we got out of Starbucks, we headed home and then on to the monthly meeting of our chavurah at our friend Marc's house in Lake Oswego. Rachel immediately fell in with Marc's two daughters, Lucy and Zoey (Lucy is a few years older than Rachel), and they really seemed delighted to let her hang out with them. I can't say for sure, of course: Rachel disappeared with all the rest of the kids upstairs. Perhaps they were playing video games, or watching unsuitable movies, or smoking pot, or plotting a world revolution. We really don't know.
The theme was Chinese food, although everyone oohed and aahed when I set down my chocolate silk pie, whipped cream and cocoa -- and before we cut into it Rachel insisted on making an announcement. "Ladeez and...gentlemen!" she bellowed as only a 4-year-old girl can. "This pie is by...Mommy!" Whereupon all the kids set upon me like a pack of starving coyotes (you'd think their parents never fed them), and all the adults were left with was three tiny pieces. Sigh...all that work and so little left. Next time I'll bring two.
Toward the end of the evening we played "Super Dreidel," Marc's insanely complicated version of the dreidel game, and Drew said Rachel quickly cleaned up. Not sure how she bested the other kids; they probably let her win.
Anyway...it was a fun and fabulous evening, and a lovely end to a lovely holiday.
The theme was Chinese food, although everyone oohed and aahed when I set down my chocolate silk pie, whipped cream and cocoa -- and before we cut into it Rachel insisted on making an announcement. "Ladeez and...gentlemen!" she bellowed as only a 4-year-old girl can. "This pie is by...Mommy!" Whereupon all the kids set upon me like a pack of starving coyotes (you'd think their parents never fed them), and all the adults were left with was three tiny pieces. Sigh...all that work and so little left. Next time I'll bring two.
Toward the end of the evening we played "Super Dreidel," Marc's insanely complicated version of the dreidel game, and Drew said Rachel quickly cleaned up. Not sure how she bested the other kids; they probably let her win.
Anyway...it was a fun and fabulous evening, and a lovely end to a lovely holiday.
Nutcracker!
From the time I knew I was going to have a girl, I dreamed of taking my daughter to The Nutcracker, just like Mom took me when I was little to American Ballet Theatre's production in NYC. I still remember how the crystal lights rose when it was time for the ballet to begin, and the tree that got bigger during Clara's dream, and the place that Mom, Daniella and I ate before the show -- the Footlights Cafe, and they had an awesome triple-layer chocolate cake -- and the fact that it was an all-women's event in our house. In other words, I've wanted to replicate that since I was old enough to be out on my own.
Today I got my wish. The day started with Rachel's class at the Classical Ballet Academy performing in The Nutcracker Sweet Suite, a 45-minute abbreviated version of the classic tale. It was at the Lincoln Hall auditorium at Portland State, and I volunteered to be an usher. Rachel was part of a dragon that danced during the Chinese dancer part of the ballet and she looked beyond adorable in a little pink kimono-like outfit with her hair pulled back into a tiny knot at the top of her head, just like a real ballerina. She looked a little confused onstage and at one point it seemed as if she was trying to figure out where I was. She also concentrated really hard. Altogether it was beyond adorable, and I had to hold myself back from rushing onstage to cover her in hugs and kisses. ("No shouting 'I WANT RACHEL! I WANT RACHEL!'" she instructed me sternly on the way to dress rehearsal. "Ushers don't DO that.").
Drew was waiting for her with a pink rose (all the dancers got a single red rose, and Rachel's teacher, Miss Lauren, gave her a lovely pink box with a mirror inside -- Rachel said her teacher had told her she was the best of all the other dragon parts, and that Rachel was the only one who Miss Lauren gave a present to, although I don't believe that) and then we all went to a place across the street and ate a quick lunch before the REAL Nutcracker began, the one that I had planned to attend with my friend Melissa, her 12-year-old daughter Natalie, who Rachel worships, and Melissa's friend Marian and Marian's 5-year-old son, Grant. Rachel was absolutely delighted with it; she behaved very well, refused a booster seat when I offered her one (she insisted she could see just fine) and hugged Natalie during the scary parts (when the Mouse King attacks the nutcracker and Clara). At one point she said to me, "There's Drosselmeyer!"
"How did you KNOW that?" I asked, astonished.
"Because of his patch," she said. (She meant his eye patch). I finally realized that all her rehearsals, plus the Nutcracker book we read together at night sometimes, has given her a really good idea of the plot so that she could follow along easily. At the end of the matinee, as we were leaving, some of the dancers stationed themselves at the doors to hand out candy.
We all trooped to Starbucks after it was over and had hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies and cake pops. Rachel refused to hold my hand on the way and said to Natalie, "I wish YOU were my mom," and I had to tell her that I wished Natalie were my daughter. Melissa and I got caught up on each other's lives before I noticed it was 5:30 as we had to rush home to get to the monthly social evening with our chavurah (in this case it was a last night of Hanukkah celebration). More on that tomorrow, since I'm beat.
Today I got my wish. The day started with Rachel's class at the Classical Ballet Academy performing in The Nutcracker Sweet Suite, a 45-minute abbreviated version of the classic tale. It was at the Lincoln Hall auditorium at Portland State, and I volunteered to be an usher. Rachel was part of a dragon that danced during the Chinese dancer part of the ballet and she looked beyond adorable in a little pink kimono-like outfit with her hair pulled back into a tiny knot at the top of her head, just like a real ballerina. She looked a little confused onstage and at one point it seemed as if she was trying to figure out where I was. She also concentrated really hard. Altogether it was beyond adorable, and I had to hold myself back from rushing onstage to cover her in hugs and kisses. ("No shouting 'I WANT RACHEL! I WANT RACHEL!'" she instructed me sternly on the way to dress rehearsal. "Ushers don't DO that.").
Drew was waiting for her with a pink rose (all the dancers got a single red rose, and Rachel's teacher, Miss Lauren, gave her a lovely pink box with a mirror inside -- Rachel said her teacher had told her she was the best of all the other dragon parts, and that Rachel was the only one who Miss Lauren gave a present to, although I don't believe that) and then we all went to a place across the street and ate a quick lunch before the REAL Nutcracker began, the one that I had planned to attend with my friend Melissa, her 12-year-old daughter Natalie, who Rachel worships, and Melissa's friend Marian and Marian's 5-year-old son, Grant. Rachel was absolutely delighted with it; she behaved very well, refused a booster seat when I offered her one (she insisted she could see just fine) and hugged Natalie during the scary parts (when the Mouse King attacks the nutcracker and Clara). At one point she said to me, "There's Drosselmeyer!"
"How did you KNOW that?" I asked, astonished.
"Because of his patch," she said. (She meant his eye patch). I finally realized that all her rehearsals, plus the Nutcracker book we read together at night sometimes, has given her a really good idea of the plot so that she could follow along easily. At the end of the matinee, as we were leaving, some of the dancers stationed themselves at the doors to hand out candy.
We all trooped to Starbucks after it was over and had hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies and cake pops. Rachel refused to hold my hand on the way and said to Natalie, "I wish YOU were my mom," and I had to tell her that I wished Natalie were my daughter. Melissa and I got caught up on each other's lives before I noticed it was 5:30 as we had to rush home to get to the monthly social evening with our chavurah (in this case it was a last night of Hanukkah celebration). More on that tomorrow, since I'm beat.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Rachel, uncensored
"What's making you frustrated, Mommy?" Rachel asked me last night.
"How can you tell I'm frustrated?" I asked, genuinely astonished.
"Because you're talking sternly," she answered.
***
When Drew picked Rachel up from school earlier this week, she said, "Wouldn't it be funny if Mommy were as little as I am and she would wear my clothes and her hair was a short as mine was?"
Drew's reply: "So what you're really saying is wouldn't it be funny if Mom could be your twin sister."
Rachel: "YEAH!!"
***
Role reversal? This morning Rachel told me, "Now remember Mommy, you can't dye your hair pink."
"WHY?" I whined. "I love pink hair! I think I'll dye it. Thanks a lot, Rachel!"
"NO!" Rachel shrieked. "DON'T DYE YOUR HAIR!!!"
"How can you tell I'm frustrated?" I asked, genuinely astonished.
"Because you're talking sternly," she answered.
***
When Drew picked Rachel up from school earlier this week, she said, "Wouldn't it be funny if Mommy were as little as I am and she would wear my clothes and her hair was a short as mine was?"
Drew's reply: "So what you're really saying is wouldn't it be funny if Mom could be your twin sister."
Rachel: "YEAH!!"
***
Role reversal? This morning Rachel told me, "Now remember Mommy, you can't dye your hair pink."
"WHY?" I whined. "I love pink hair! I think I'll dye it. Thanks a lot, Rachel!"
"NO!" Rachel shrieked. "DON'T DYE YOUR HAIR!!!"
Unspeakable
I have some cute Rachel sayings from the last few days, but I don't feel much like posting them right now in the wake of the shooting of 20 kindergarteners in Newtown, Connecticut -- kids just a bit older than Rachel, who could have been Drew's and my daughter, and your granddaughter, and niece, and cousin. Instead I'll just talk about what we did tonight and how I tried not to let my depression from today's horrific tragedy spill over into my time with my daughter.
We had planned to go to synagogue for the annual Hanukkah service (sans dinner, which Drew still complains about from last year so I agreed to skip it and just go to the service) but never made it because the restaurant at which we'd planned to eat beforehand, Kenny & Zuke's, was closed because of a party. How anyone could think of going to a party tonight is beyond me, but...whatever. So we went to McMenamin's, a local restaurant chain that is pretty awful, and ordered some basic sandwich-y food. Drew did a great job of keeping it cheerful, and I finally was able to pick up on his mood and join in. (I also got to talk to him about the end of the search for a new law school dean. Starting in January I'll have a new boss, my third in 2 1/2 years, and I'm hoping for the best). Rachel had insisted Drew bring a dress for her to change into, and the dress she chose was one that Anne had given her years ago from when Anne wore it for Easter when she was a child. Rachel is almost old enough to have grown into it, and when she was sitting down tonight at home, the skirt billowed around her and made her look like a beautiful little princess.
When we told Rachel we didn't have time to go to synagogue, her expression drooped and she said, "The rabbi will be so sad. He won't be able to have Shabbat!" because, she added, he always says it isn't Shabbat until Rachel, his "Shabbat Shalom Girl," throws her arms around his legs and gives him a hug.
So we came home and opened presents. Thank you Ruth for the gorgeous purple pinafore (jumper) and to PopPop and MawMaw for the books and jacket. Rachel especially liked "Perky the Pelican" and "The Magic Treehouse." Both of you know exactly what little girls like (I should have realized this because Lil has granddaughters, after all) and you made us all very happy tonight -- like a little light shining through so much darkness.
And then Drew put Rachel to bed while I started making a chocolate silk pie for a Hanukkah party we're attending tomorrow night. I never did get to give her the huge, long hug I'd been fantasizing about at work while watching the tragedy unfold all day on Facebook. But maybe the point is to try to carry on as normal, without any dramatic "I love you" gestures. Maybe.
We had planned to go to synagogue for the annual Hanukkah service (sans dinner, which Drew still complains about from last year so I agreed to skip it and just go to the service) but never made it because the restaurant at which we'd planned to eat beforehand, Kenny & Zuke's, was closed because of a party. How anyone could think of going to a party tonight is beyond me, but...whatever. So we went to McMenamin's, a local restaurant chain that is pretty awful, and ordered some basic sandwich-y food. Drew did a great job of keeping it cheerful, and I finally was able to pick up on his mood and join in. (I also got to talk to him about the end of the search for a new law school dean. Starting in January I'll have a new boss, my third in 2 1/2 years, and I'm hoping for the best). Rachel had insisted Drew bring a dress for her to change into, and the dress she chose was one that Anne had given her years ago from when Anne wore it for Easter when she was a child. Rachel is almost old enough to have grown into it, and when she was sitting down tonight at home, the skirt billowed around her and made her look like a beautiful little princess.
When we told Rachel we didn't have time to go to synagogue, her expression drooped and she said, "The rabbi will be so sad. He won't be able to have Shabbat!" because, she added, he always says it isn't Shabbat until Rachel, his "Shabbat Shalom Girl," throws her arms around his legs and gives him a hug.
So we came home and opened presents. Thank you Ruth for the gorgeous purple pinafore (jumper) and to PopPop and MawMaw for the books and jacket. Rachel especially liked "Perky the Pelican" and "The Magic Treehouse." Both of you know exactly what little girls like (I should have realized this because Lil has granddaughters, after all) and you made us all very happy tonight -- like a little light shining through so much darkness.
And then Drew put Rachel to bed while I started making a chocolate silk pie for a Hanukkah party we're attending tomorrow night. I never did get to give her the huge, long hug I'd been fantasizing about at work while watching the tragedy unfold all day on Facebook. But maybe the point is to try to carry on as normal, without any dramatic "I love you" gestures. Maybe.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Rachel and synagogue
Rachel continues to exhibit a deep feeling for Judaism that I can't understand where it came from. Yes, w.e light the Shabbat candles and say the prayers every week, and yes we play CDs with Jewish songs on them but that's about it. Somehow the act of going to synagogue is very meaningful to her even though we mostly go during the summer, when it's held outside, and for holidays (and not even always that).
While I was gone, Rachel told Drew that she wanted to go to synagogue. Somewhat surprised he agreed. But when he picked her up from school that day, she'd changed her mind. She wasn't wearing a fancy dress, she said, and so she didn't feel that she could go because she didn't want the rabbi to see her not wearing a nice dress.
(Keep in mind that our synagogue, while the biggest one in Portland and, for the most part, people dress nicely, still has its share of worshipers who wear jeans. Many kids, to my supreme irritation, wear shorts -- granted, mostly boys -- and the rabbi's 13-year-old daughters, when they're there, also wear jeans or denim skirts. The rabbi and his wife, who also serves as the cantor, always dress formally).
On Thursday, the day after I got back from Africa, I asked Rachel if she wanted to go to synagogue with me this week. She said yes, so on Friday we went. She ended up falling asleep in my lap, which was fine -- she looked so cute when she woke up, gave me a big smile and said, "Thanks, Mommy!" -- and one of the congregants, an older man named Bill who remembers Rachel when she was a baby and is about to become a grandfather himself, remarked that Rachel is so sweet and smart and added, "I'd love to have her (as a grandchild)." I told him he could be her honorary grandfather and he seemed pleased.
On the way home I thanked Rachel for accompanying me to services, and she remarked that she'd like to go every week. Even I don't go every week, of course, so I told her I'd take her once a month. And I note that every time I bring her, I always lug books, markers, crayons and paper with me just in case she gets restless. I've never had to bring them out because Rachel never seems to get bored. Remarkable.
While I was gone, Rachel told Drew that she wanted to go to synagogue. Somewhat surprised he agreed. But when he picked her up from school that day, she'd changed her mind. She wasn't wearing a fancy dress, she said, and so she didn't feel that she could go because she didn't want the rabbi to see her not wearing a nice dress.
(Keep in mind that our synagogue, while the biggest one in Portland and, for the most part, people dress nicely, still has its share of worshipers who wear jeans. Many kids, to my supreme irritation, wear shorts -- granted, mostly boys -- and the rabbi's 13-year-old daughters, when they're there, also wear jeans or denim skirts. The rabbi and his wife, who also serves as the cantor, always dress formally).
On Thursday, the day after I got back from Africa, I asked Rachel if she wanted to go to synagogue with me this week. She said yes, so on Friday we went. She ended up falling asleep in my lap, which was fine -- she looked so cute when she woke up, gave me a big smile and said, "Thanks, Mommy!" -- and one of the congregants, an older man named Bill who remembers Rachel when she was a baby and is about to become a grandfather himself, remarked that Rachel is so sweet and smart and added, "I'd love to have her (as a grandchild)." I told him he could be her honorary grandfather and he seemed pleased.
On the way home I thanked Rachel for accompanying me to services, and she remarked that she'd like to go every week. Even I don't go every week, of course, so I told her I'd take her once a month. And I note that every time I bring her, I always lug books, markers, crayons and paper with me just in case she gets restless. I've never had to bring them out because Rachel never seems to get bored. Remarkable.
More Rachel sayings
A sample from today:
"The strawberries paraded through the storeroom blowing little horns like this: "Dum dum dum dum," she said at breakfast, pretending to tell me about animated fruit. I thought this would morph into a full-blown story, but unfortunately it didn't.
***
"There needs to be a Hanukkah fairy," Rachel announced at breakfast. "What should her name be?"
"What do YOU think her name should be?" I saied.
"Cheryl," she announced. "And she would have little menorahs coming out of her wand."
***
Today Rachel took my breath away with how grown-up she looked: striped stockings, bright green and blue shoes, a red, blue and green kilt, a brown shirt with tiny pink and white polka dots, and a delicate cream-colored sweater that Mom and Dad had gotten her last year. She had a backpack on and all of a sudden I got one of those flashes that moms everywhere get: My little girl is growing up. I swear she looked like she was 9 or so.
"You're growing up so fast," I said sadly.
"I wish I could," she answered.
"I wish I could what?" I said.
"I would I could stay little, but I can't," she said. "Sorry."
Oh, so am I.
"The strawberries paraded through the storeroom blowing little horns like this: "Dum dum dum dum," she said at breakfast, pretending to tell me about animated fruit. I thought this would morph into a full-blown story, but unfortunately it didn't.
***
"There needs to be a Hanukkah fairy," Rachel announced at breakfast. "What should her name be?"
"What do YOU think her name should be?" I saied.
"Cheryl," she announced. "And she would have little menorahs coming out of her wand."
***
Today Rachel took my breath away with how grown-up she looked: striped stockings, bright green and blue shoes, a red, blue and green kilt, a brown shirt with tiny pink and white polka dots, and a delicate cream-colored sweater that Mom and Dad had gotten her last year. She had a backpack on and all of a sudden I got one of those flashes that moms everywhere get: My little girl is growing up. I swear she looked like she was 9 or so.
"You're growing up so fast," I said sadly.
"I wish I could," she answered.
"I wish I could what?" I said.
"I would I could stay little, but I can't," she said. "Sorry."
Oh, so am I.
The New Order
Apparently Rachel decided in my absence that some things need changing around here. The first: She now dresses for dinner. For the last three nights she has changed into a nice dress before we sit down to eat, and tonight was no exception -- Hanukkah is a special occasion, she said, so she swapped out her cool outfit of a kilt, a long-sleeve shirt, stockings and bright green shoes (she looks like an NYU undergrad, Drew said, which is a dead-on description) for a short-sleeve maroon velvet number with the necklace I made out of the fairy charm that Anne gave her months ago and that she hasn't worn so I thought she'd forgotten about it. She also insisted we eat in the dining room: "On holidays like Yom Kippur or Hanukkah, we always eat in the dining room because the dining room is fancy and that's a good place to eat dinner."
Um, OK, kid. That means I'll have to work harder to keep the clutter off the table, but I'm perfectly willing to do so. I had no idea we were raising a 19th Century girl in the 21st Century. Oh, well....
***
The other night we went to Powell's after school. Rachel was a little clingy and weepy when I got home, probably because of the all the emotion surrounding my absence and my welcome back. She begged me to buy her a Pinkalicious book, but I held firm and said no (besides the fact that we have no room for hardcover books, I can't afford to buy her a book every time we go to the bookstore). She held it to her chest and announced, "This book is so precious to me. It's like a jewel against my heart."
Later when we were in the car she seemed sad. When I asked her what the matter was, she said severely, "Nothing you need to know." She later admitted she was still upset about me not buying the book.
***
At dinner last night, out of the blue, Rachel said:
"Don't tell me, let me guess. What would you do if Daddy gave you a tissue box for Hanukkah? You'd give him that Mom look and throw it at him. Right, Mommy?"
That "Mom" look????
Um, OK, kid. That means I'll have to work harder to keep the clutter off the table, but I'm perfectly willing to do so. I had no idea we were raising a 19th Century girl in the 21st Century. Oh, well....
***
The other night we went to Powell's after school. Rachel was a little clingy and weepy when I got home, probably because of the all the emotion surrounding my absence and my welcome back. She begged me to buy her a Pinkalicious book, but I held firm and said no (besides the fact that we have no room for hardcover books, I can't afford to buy her a book every time we go to the bookstore). She held it to her chest and announced, "This book is so precious to me. It's like a jewel against my heart."
Later when we were in the car she seemed sad. When I asked her what the matter was, she said severely, "Nothing you need to know." She later admitted she was still upset about me not buying the book.
***
At dinner last night, out of the blue, Rachel said:
"Don't tell me, let me guess. What would you do if Daddy gave you a tissue box for Hanukkah? You'd give him that Mom look and throw it at him. Right, Mommy?"
That "Mom" look????
Pefect Hanukkah
Can't imagine a better start to Hanukkah than today. After Drew and Rachel left for the usual Saturday round of swim lessons/ballet class/farmer's market/regular market, I tidied up from last night's mad rush of sorting and wrapping gifts for Mom/Dad, Daniella/Valerie/Darryl, folks at work, and Drew/Rachel. I am embarrassed to say that I discovered some, um, baby notifications that I apparently never sent out. So, all of you who are reading this: I had a kid four years ago. She's beautiful, smart, funny and precocious.
Then I raced all over town doing errands: the bank, mailing gifts (this will be an Africa-themed Hanukkah), returning Tupperware from a cookie-baking party two months ago, dropping clothes off at Goodwill, cleaning out my car, etc. I've decided my New Year's resolution will be to complete the de-cluttering effort I began in 2012, so by this time in 2013 we will have a clean, streamlined house and I will no longer be made anxious by the piles of stuff around me.
I got home to discover Drew had already begun the matzo ball soup. While he ran out do some errands of his own, Rachel and I Skyped with Darryl, Daniella and Valerie. Valerie is the most adorable little girl ever; she really does look like a combination of Daniella and Darryl. She and Rachel looked at each others' feet again (what IS it about little girls and feet??) and at Valerie's encouragement, both of them grabbed their mommies' fingers and started biting on them, very lightly ("Let's do the same thing to our mommies!" Valerie exclaimed at one point. Ooh, I can't even guess where that kind of thinking will eventually lead years from now). Then Rachel got out her My Little Pony game for us to play while I put in some laundry. Drew got back just as we were about to start the game, so he took over while I baked a chocolate-chip cake. Then I took a nap for 90 minutes, staggered out of the bedroom just in time to make latkes, and Drew made a roaring fire -- the first of the season -- and at Rachel's insistence, we ate in the dining room after clearing off the piles on the dining room table. It was so lovely looking at the fire in the darkened dining room while we had Hanukkah. I love having a fireplace, it's one of the best things about living in this house!
Then we opened gifts. Rachel squealed with joy when she opened Darryl and Daniella's gift -- a ladybug sleeping bag -- and a flashlight, great for camping. She literally shrieked with excitement and insisted on sleeping IN the sleeping bag. So now she is curled up in her sleeping bag, on the floor of her bedroom. This is clearest sign yet that we must take her camping this summer, so Amanda/Jenn and Anne/David/Jean...let's get something going!
Also I received a lovely sweater from Drew and Rachel and a gorgeous necklace from Mom and Dad. More presents will be opened tomorrow and throughout the week. (And we loved the card from PopPop and MawMaw with the dogs -- thank you!!). Happy Hanukkah everyone!! It's good to be home.
Then I raced all over town doing errands: the bank, mailing gifts (this will be an Africa-themed Hanukkah), returning Tupperware from a cookie-baking party two months ago, dropping clothes off at Goodwill, cleaning out my car, etc. I've decided my New Year's resolution will be to complete the de-cluttering effort I began in 2012, so by this time in 2013 we will have a clean, streamlined house and I will no longer be made anxious by the piles of stuff around me.
I got home to discover Drew had already begun the matzo ball soup. While he ran out do some errands of his own, Rachel and I Skyped with Darryl, Daniella and Valerie. Valerie is the most adorable little girl ever; she really does look like a combination of Daniella and Darryl. She and Rachel looked at each others' feet again (what IS it about little girls and feet??) and at Valerie's encouragement, both of them grabbed their mommies' fingers and started biting on them, very lightly ("Let's do the same thing to our mommies!" Valerie exclaimed at one point. Ooh, I can't even guess where that kind of thinking will eventually lead years from now). Then Rachel got out her My Little Pony game for us to play while I put in some laundry. Drew got back just as we were about to start the game, so he took over while I baked a chocolate-chip cake. Then I took a nap for 90 minutes, staggered out of the bedroom just in time to make latkes, and Drew made a roaring fire -- the first of the season -- and at Rachel's insistence, we ate in the dining room after clearing off the piles on the dining room table. It was so lovely looking at the fire in the darkened dining room while we had Hanukkah. I love having a fireplace, it's one of the best things about living in this house!
Then we opened gifts. Rachel squealed with joy when she opened Darryl and Daniella's gift -- a ladybug sleeping bag -- and a flashlight, great for camping. She literally shrieked with excitement and insisted on sleeping IN the sleeping bag. So now she is curled up in her sleeping bag, on the floor of her bedroom. This is clearest sign yet that we must take her camping this summer, so Amanda/Jenn and Anne/David/Jean...let's get something going!
Also I received a lovely sweater from Drew and Rachel and a gorgeous necklace from Mom and Dad. More presents will be opened tomorrow and throughout the week. (And we loved the card from PopPop and MawMaw with the dogs -- thank you!!). Happy Hanukkah everyone!! It's good to be home.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
A fun, busy day
Never let it be said that we don't make the most of our weekends around here. Today's cavalcade of activity began with Rachel's swim lesson at the local community center. She's made quite a lot of progress -- from being afraid to put her face in the water at all to doing it and blowing bubbles while she's waiting her turn on the paddleboard or something, just to show me she can. Don't know if she's ready for the next level yet (Otter, I believe; she's a Penguin now), but she's definitely ahead of where I was at her age.
Then, after a quick trip to the snack bar for a reasonably healthful snack (today a Cinnamon Toast Crunch bar -- not my first choice but better than cheddar goldfish crackers), it was down to ballet school. Today Rachel had not just her regular lesson but following that a full-on rehearsal for the "Nutcracker Sweet Suite" she and the other younger dancers will be performing two weeks from today. Rachel and the other three girls in her class will be Chinese fortune cookies, meaning they dressed in pink or blue satiny Chinese-style tunics and lined up to dance together as a dragon. They looked utterly adorable, and Rachel loved watching all the other girls in their costumes run through their parts.
After a bagel, an orange and some mango juice, I dropped off Rachel at her old friend Lila Anne's house for a playdate. Lila used to go to St. James with Rachel; she switched schools awhile ago, but the two girls get on so well we try to get them together every so often. Today was a special treat: Elliott, a friend of Lila's from her new school, had invited her to a gingerbread house-making party, and generously extended the invitation to Rachel as well. Suzanne, Lila's mom, took them both to the party, which gave me a chance to hit the gym for a much-needed workout.
When I went to Elliott's house to fetch Rachel, the three girls were running around, pretending to hide from me, shrieking with laughter and generally having a great time. The gingerbread houses looked yummy and very cute (I of course brought Rachel's home, where it will become dessert fodder after being photographically immortalized), and the girls of course didn't want to leave. But we had yet another stop to make: the video store, where I had told Rachel she could pick a video for our pizza/popcorn/movie night. It ended up being another Barbie movie, of course: "Barbie as Rapunzel," which was not nearly as eye-rollingly unbearable as that title might lead you to think. Rachel spent much of the evening curled up against me, munching pizza and popcorn and covering her eyes during the scary parts; as the end-credits music played, she jumped up and said "Let's dance!" So we danced until it was time to get her ready for bed.
Now she's in bed, and I think I'm going to unwind while watching "Cowboys & Aliens" on On Demand. Tomorrow: haircuts and groceries!
Then, after a quick trip to the snack bar for a reasonably healthful snack (today a Cinnamon Toast Crunch bar -- not my first choice but better than cheddar goldfish crackers), it was down to ballet school. Today Rachel had not just her regular lesson but following that a full-on rehearsal for the "Nutcracker Sweet Suite" she and the other younger dancers will be performing two weeks from today. Rachel and the other three girls in her class will be Chinese fortune cookies, meaning they dressed in pink or blue satiny Chinese-style tunics and lined up to dance together as a dragon. They looked utterly adorable, and Rachel loved watching all the other girls in their costumes run through their parts.
After a bagel, an orange and some mango juice, I dropped off Rachel at her old friend Lila Anne's house for a playdate. Lila used to go to St. James with Rachel; she switched schools awhile ago, but the two girls get on so well we try to get them together every so often. Today was a special treat: Elliott, a friend of Lila's from her new school, had invited her to a gingerbread house-making party, and generously extended the invitation to Rachel as well. Suzanne, Lila's mom, took them both to the party, which gave me a chance to hit the gym for a much-needed workout.
When I went to Elliott's house to fetch Rachel, the three girls were running around, pretending to hide from me, shrieking with laughter and generally having a great time. The gingerbread houses looked yummy and very cute (I of course brought Rachel's home, where it will become dessert fodder after being photographically immortalized), and the girls of course didn't want to leave. But we had yet another stop to make: the video store, where I had told Rachel she could pick a video for our pizza/popcorn/movie night. It ended up being another Barbie movie, of course: "Barbie as Rapunzel," which was not nearly as eye-rollingly unbearable as that title might lead you to think. Rachel spent much of the evening curled up against me, munching pizza and popcorn and covering her eyes during the scary parts; as the end-credits music played, she jumped up and said "Let's dance!" So we danced until it was time to get her ready for bed.
Now she's in bed, and I think I'm going to unwind while watching "Cowboys & Aliens" on On Demand. Tomorrow: haircuts and groceries!
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