Spent the last day of 2014 in typical Lisa fashion: Drove to Rockville to interview someone for a magazine story. Dropped in to our favorite cupcake shop in Shirlington to get Drew, Rachel and me cupcakes for New Year's Eve. Got home in time to stick a pan of brownies in the oven for an impromptu office potluck -- all desserts. Gathered food for lunch and dinner, since I'm not anticipating the kinds of places I'd go for dinner tonight will be open. Jumped into the shower to get ready for work. Drove to the Metro station and caught a train in time to arrive at work by 3:35 p.m.
Drew took Rachel to a kids/adults Watch Night celebration in Falls Church, and he just sent me an adorable photo of her holding a caricature of herself done by an artist there. I had hoped to call her tonight, but I got caught up in editing stories and didn't get a chance. But the first thing I'll say to her tomorrow is, "Happy New Year, darling girl!" and give her a big hug and kiss. Because the best part of any year is having Rachel in it.
Now I am waiting for the work night to end; they tell us they'll be closing the paper early, which would give me about 25 more minutes to wait. Then when I get home, Drew and I will share cupcakes and, possibly, hard cider/beer/chocolate wine, and hope that 2015 is as fabulous as the best parts of 2014 were.
Happy New Year, everyone! Peace.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Sick Rachel
We've signed Rachel up for art camp this week while school is out and Drew and I have to work (Drew has off Christmas and New Year's Day, which is great, because I'm working both nights). She went Monday, but then woke up Tuesday with a bad stomachache. I had an interview in Rockville, Md., which I postponed until today, even though Drew had graciously offered to come home from work early. Since I was scheduled to work a late shift (4:30 p.m. to midnight) on Tuesday, I told Drew I would take care of Rachel and then bring her in to his office for her to stay with him for an hour or 90 minutes until they could take the Metro home.
This is how sick-kid care works in the 2010s, folks.
Anyway...I had work to do on a magazine story, so I made calls while Rachel read on the couch (and insisted on snuggling against me, which I said was okay as long as she didn't talk while I was doing interviews). Then we moved to the study, where she curled up in the papasan with Caroline, one of her American Girl dolls, and three thick fairy-tale books that I brought down from her room, while I sent e-mails and did more phone interviews. I had finished a particularly productive one when I looked over at her and found that she was fast asleep! Poor kid had really conked out; she has been nursing a cold for the last week and I think she needed the sleep. I shook her awake, made her a quick lunch and then went upstairs to shower and get ready for work. When I came down she was asleep again, and so I woke her up, took her upstairs and she got dressed while I gathered the stuff I needed for work (lunch and dinner).
I got a little lost trying to get to Drew's office (he had agreed to meet us outside) and so we ended up parking the car in a garage (it's only $5 if you get there after 4 p.m.), and we raced to Pew. I had stuffed Rachel's Girl Scout cookie form in a bag with Caroline and some books, and so I raced to work -- arriving 15 minutes late.
Later, after I got home, Drew told me that Rachel had a fine time at his office. Apparently Pew has a hot chocolate machine that has different kinds of hot chocolate, and Rachel loves visiting there for that very reason. She had hot chocolate, and animal crackers -- and then took her Girl Scout cookie form and canvassed the office, selling 20 boxes of cookies. Atta girl! Not even a stomachache (which was fine by the time they left) keeps her down.
This is how sick-kid care works in the 2010s, folks.
Anyway...I had work to do on a magazine story, so I made calls while Rachel read on the couch (and insisted on snuggling against me, which I said was okay as long as she didn't talk while I was doing interviews). Then we moved to the study, where she curled up in the papasan with Caroline, one of her American Girl dolls, and three thick fairy-tale books that I brought down from her room, while I sent e-mails and did more phone interviews. I had finished a particularly productive one when I looked over at her and found that she was fast asleep! Poor kid had really conked out; she has been nursing a cold for the last week and I think she needed the sleep. I shook her awake, made her a quick lunch and then went upstairs to shower and get ready for work. When I came down she was asleep again, and so I woke her up, took her upstairs and she got dressed while I gathered the stuff I needed for work (lunch and dinner).
I got a little lost trying to get to Drew's office (he had agreed to meet us outside) and so we ended up parking the car in a garage (it's only $5 if you get there after 4 p.m.), and we raced to Pew. I had stuffed Rachel's Girl Scout cookie form in a bag with Caroline and some books, and so I raced to work -- arriving 15 minutes late.
Later, after I got home, Drew told me that Rachel had a fine time at his office. Apparently Pew has a hot chocolate machine that has different kinds of hot chocolate, and Rachel loves visiting there for that very reason. She had hot chocolate, and animal crackers -- and then took her Girl Scout cookie form and canvassed the office, selling 20 boxes of cookies. Atta girl! Not even a stomachache (which was fine by the time they left) keeps her down.
and on Sunday, we moved furniture
Drew started the massive process of moving furniture around in Rachel's room and elsewhere to make room for her new desk, chair and bookcase. Our guest room, which our friend Auntie Rachel will return to this Sunday since she's staying with us off and on through January, now has a bookcase completely devoted to books about Africa. The shaky bookcase that used to be in Rachel's room is now in the hallway, and until we get her bookcase up, all of her books are on the floor of the guest room. In short, the upstairs is chaos.
But Drew managed to put together Rachel's chair, so that's something. And I moved her bed to another wall and her bins of toys and workbooks opposite the bed, and her American Girl doll corner is next to the bins -- it actually looks like a girl's room instead of a toddler/little kid's room. Also, the glider in which I used to rock Rachel to sleep is now down in the study under the window where our papasan chair used to be; the papasan is now under the window on the opposite side.
All this moving around of furniture and getting rid of toys and clothes (our friends Jeff and Crystal graciously took all of it off our hands to use it for their 9-month-old daughter someday) has made me wistful for the time when Rachel was much smaller and we could actually cuddle together and I could soothe her in the glider, and she had all her My Little Ponies and Barbies (I was playing with Barbies until I was 11; she got rid of all of hers last weekend with a clear-eyed determination that I found breathtaking) and...she is really not a little kid anymore. She's growing up! Too fast.
But Drew managed to put together Rachel's chair, so that's something. And I moved her bed to another wall and her bins of toys and workbooks opposite the bed, and her American Girl doll corner is next to the bins -- it actually looks like a girl's room instead of a toddler/little kid's room. Also, the glider in which I used to rock Rachel to sleep is now down in the study under the window where our papasan chair used to be; the papasan is now under the window on the opposite side.
All this moving around of furniture and getting rid of toys and clothes (our friends Jeff and Crystal graciously took all of it off our hands to use it for their 9-month-old daughter someday) has made me wistful for the time when Rachel was much smaller and we could actually cuddle together and I could soothe her in the glider, and she had all her My Little Ponies and Barbies (I was playing with Barbies until I was 11; she got rid of all of hers last weekend with a clear-eyed determination that I found breathtaking) and...she is really not a little kid anymore. She's growing up! Too fast.
IKEA!
So, on Saturday we woke up and had a fairly relaxing morning before heading to Potomac Mills, an outlet mall about 45 minutes away where I regularly buy discounted clothing. I needed some winter things, and Drew wanted to check out the IKEA to see if he and Rachel could find a desk. So, he and Rachel went to IKEA while I raced through the stores I usually go to. I actually got a bunch of stuff for very little money, which is good, because I hate shopping for clothes and try to do it twice a year at most.
It was around 5 p.m. when Drew called and asked if I was close to being finished. Rachel had been playing in IKEA's play area, but they'd been there all afternoon and it really was time for them to go. So, I agreed to check out the desk and Drew picked me up outside the mall.
So, I've never been inside an IKEA and I was dazzled. Really, it's an amazing place and now I know why so many parents shop there (although the stuff doesn't really last very long, it's well-priced for kids' stuff). We checked out a full-size model of a tiny apartment, and playing on the TV screen was "Singing in the Rain," and Rachel was instantly captivated. So was I; it was the end of the movie, and she announced that she wanted to rent it for family fun night. Sure, we said. Then we checked out the desk she and Drew had picked out -- I wanted a say -- and we all agreed the desk, the chair and a matching bookcase would be good to get, so Rachel and I waited downstairs on a couch while poor Drew spent around an hour arranging for delivery. Luckily Rachel fell asleep on my lap.
When we got home, Drew started up the movie and heated some pizza while I put my new clothes away. Rachel really loved the movie -- a good thing, since Drew and I like it, too -- and during the scene when Cyd Charisse first appears, she said, "I could rock those moves." I didn't have the heart to tell her that there is only one Cyd Charisse, and NO ONE "rocks her moves." Harrumph.
It was around 5 p.m. when Drew called and asked if I was close to being finished. Rachel had been playing in IKEA's play area, but they'd been there all afternoon and it really was time for them to go. So, I agreed to check out the desk and Drew picked me up outside the mall.
So, I've never been inside an IKEA and I was dazzled. Really, it's an amazing place and now I know why so many parents shop there (although the stuff doesn't really last very long, it's well-priced for kids' stuff). We checked out a full-size model of a tiny apartment, and playing on the TV screen was "Singing in the Rain," and Rachel was instantly captivated. So was I; it was the end of the movie, and she announced that she wanted to rent it for family fun night. Sure, we said. Then we checked out the desk she and Drew had picked out -- I wanted a say -- and we all agreed the desk, the chair and a matching bookcase would be good to get, so Rachel and I waited downstairs on a couch while poor Drew spent around an hour arranging for delivery. Luckily Rachel fell asleep on my lap.
When we got home, Drew started up the movie and heated some pizza while I put my new clothes away. Rachel really loved the movie -- a good thing, since Drew and I like it, too -- and during the scene when Cyd Charisse first appears, she said, "I could rock those moves." I didn't have the heart to tell her that there is only one Cyd Charisse, and NO ONE "rocks her moves." Harrumph.
Busy lead-up to New Year's
So, last weekend passed in a bit of a whirl, and now the year is almost over. Some highlights:
--Rachel and I spent all of last Friday, Dec. 26th, cleaning her room. And when I say cleaning, I really mean "purging." We got rid of FIVE BAGS of clothes, toys and games that she no longer uses. I didn't even have to fight with her; she actually wanted to throw away more than I wanted her to, so I held some clothes and dolls back for the day when (hopefully) she has her own children and I get to be a grandma! We started the morning kind of tired and cranky, so after breakfast we went up to her room, cuddled on her bed and fell asleep for 90 minutes. Rachel is so sweet when she falls asleep with me; she grabbed my arm, wrapped it around her chest, and then dropped off. When we woke up, the cleaning went much faster.
--The whole process took about 5 hours, and by the end of it, I was pooped -- so much so that I couldn't even think about cooking (and Rachel said she didn't want meatloaf, anyway, which was Drew's suggestion), so we decided to meet him at a place we all like -- the Silver Diner in Clarendon. I could barely eat, my brain was so tired and Rachel didn't eat much, either. When we got home, she asked that I read her a book, and when I said it had to be a short one, she chose "Little Duckie's Day" (yes, Tia Daniella, we are still reading it!). And then suddenly she burst into tears and told me about a situation that is bothering her at school -- Sidney and Simone, the other two members of "The Buddy Trio," constantly fight with each other and put Rachel in the middle, and they each tell Rachel about the other, and she hates being in the center of their squabbles. (Gee, it's amazing what your kids tell you when you least expect it.) I told her she should firmly tell them both to not put her in the center of their fights, but she says she has and it didn't work. I told her I'd work on thinking of some solutions. "If you think of something after I'm asleep, don't hesitate to wake me up and tell me," she said earnestly, which just about broke my heart. I really am thinking about some good advice to give her, but I can't think of anything beyond what I've already advised.
--Rachel and I spent all of last Friday, Dec. 26th, cleaning her room. And when I say cleaning, I really mean "purging." We got rid of FIVE BAGS of clothes, toys and games that she no longer uses. I didn't even have to fight with her; she actually wanted to throw away more than I wanted her to, so I held some clothes and dolls back for the day when (hopefully) she has her own children and I get to be a grandma! We started the morning kind of tired and cranky, so after breakfast we went up to her room, cuddled on her bed and fell asleep for 90 minutes. Rachel is so sweet when she falls asleep with me; she grabbed my arm, wrapped it around her chest, and then dropped off. When we woke up, the cleaning went much faster.
--The whole process took about 5 hours, and by the end of it, I was pooped -- so much so that I couldn't even think about cooking (and Rachel said she didn't want meatloaf, anyway, which was Drew's suggestion), so we decided to meet him at a place we all like -- the Silver Diner in Clarendon. I could barely eat, my brain was so tired and Rachel didn't eat much, either. When we got home, she asked that I read her a book, and when I said it had to be a short one, she chose "Little Duckie's Day" (yes, Tia Daniella, we are still reading it!). And then suddenly she burst into tears and told me about a situation that is bothering her at school -- Sidney and Simone, the other two members of "The Buddy Trio," constantly fight with each other and put Rachel in the middle, and they each tell Rachel about the other, and she hates being in the center of their squabbles. (Gee, it's amazing what your kids tell you when you least expect it.) I told her she should firmly tell them both to not put her in the center of their fights, but she says she has and it didn't work. I told her I'd work on thinking of some solutions. "If you think of something after I'm asleep, don't hesitate to wake me up and tell me," she said earnestly, which just about broke my heart. I really am thinking about some good advice to give her, but I can't think of anything beyond what I've already advised.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Rachel and Sidney
Rachel has a friend, Sidney, whose mom and dad recently went through a divorce. Sidney was a problem last year in that she wasn't very nice to Rachel or the other kids in kindergarten. We heard she was in the counselor's office a lot, working through some anger issues, and I told Rachel to try to be extra nice to her. The result: Sidney has glommed onto Rachel, following her around this year even when Rachel doesn't want her to, saying to Rachel, "You're my only friend." But she's still sometimes mean to her, calling her "Crutch Baby," because of the crutches, and not listening when Rachel wants her to do something.
Two weekends ago, at a mutual friend's birthday party, an adult asked Sidney to get Rachel a cup of hot chocolate. Rachel asked Sidney to put marshmallows in it, and Sidney huffed, "I'm not your maid," and then refused to get her the hot chocolate. Whereupon Rachel burst into tears, mostly of frustration, about "Sidney's not being a very good LISTENER!" and so I took Rachel into my lap and tried to soothe her.
"I'm not as mature as you think I am, Mommy," she sobbed, and so that shocked me so much that I just held her for a bit.
What made it doubly hard was that I had witnessed Sidney's mom, Nicole, trying to leave the party early go to meet a friend downtown for an event at the symphony. Sidney clung to her mom and physically attempted to keep her from leaving, crying and throwing her arms around her mom's legs, begging her not to go. It was heartbreaking, and I could just see how churned-up that kid must have felt inside. Her dad came to pick her up later, and he seemed perfectly nice, until the mom of the girl whose party it was said to me later, "Don't you think Chris [the dad] is a d--k?" At which point I talked a bit about my frustration about Sidney's behavior toward Rachel, and then Kelly, the mom of the girl whose party it was, said that her daughter, Libby, had come home crying every day about Sidney being mean to her, and she had finally talked to the school counselor about it, and the counselor had given Kelly and Libby some advice on how to deal with it, and so things were better now.
I certainly don't think Sidney's occasional meanness rises to the level of having to see the school counselor, and Rachel really needs to learn to deal with friends who won't do exactly what she wants at any given moment; it's not my job to smooth a path for her. It is my job to teach her how to cope when friends and acquaintances disappoint her, which I'm trying to do. I just hope she learns before the meanness gets really ugly in middle school and she'll need to have a tougher shell to deal with it.
Two weekends ago, at a mutual friend's birthday party, an adult asked Sidney to get Rachel a cup of hot chocolate. Rachel asked Sidney to put marshmallows in it, and Sidney huffed, "I'm not your maid," and then refused to get her the hot chocolate. Whereupon Rachel burst into tears, mostly of frustration, about "Sidney's not being a very good LISTENER!" and so I took Rachel into my lap and tried to soothe her.
"I'm not as mature as you think I am, Mommy," she sobbed, and so that shocked me so much that I just held her for a bit.
What made it doubly hard was that I had witnessed Sidney's mom, Nicole, trying to leave the party early go to meet a friend downtown for an event at the symphony. Sidney clung to her mom and physically attempted to keep her from leaving, crying and throwing her arms around her mom's legs, begging her not to go. It was heartbreaking, and I could just see how churned-up that kid must have felt inside. Her dad came to pick her up later, and he seemed perfectly nice, until the mom of the girl whose party it was said to me later, "Don't you think Chris [the dad] is a d--k?" At which point I talked a bit about my frustration about Sidney's behavior toward Rachel, and then Kelly, the mom of the girl whose party it was, said that her daughter, Libby, had come home crying every day about Sidney being mean to her, and she had finally talked to the school counselor about it, and the counselor had given Kelly and Libby some advice on how to deal with it, and so things were better now.
I certainly don't think Sidney's occasional meanness rises to the level of having to see the school counselor, and Rachel really needs to learn to deal with friends who won't do exactly what she wants at any given moment; it's not my job to smooth a path for her. It is my job to teach her how to cope when friends and acquaintances disappoint her, which I'm trying to do. I just hope she learns before the meanness gets really ugly in middle school and she'll need to have a tougher shell to deal with it.
Rachel is on crutches again...
and we are trying to figure out what's going on. We've done an MRI -- nothing there. X-rays: Nothing there. Blood tests for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme Disease -- nothing.
Crutches are beginning to seem like the new normal around our house, which is definitely not okay. Otherwise, Rachel is her normal, cheerful self. She can get around quite fast and well on the crutches, but her armpits hurt when she uses them a lot and I am looking forward to the day when we can hang up the crutches for good.
Our orthopedist suggested we visit a rheumatologist, and Drew is hoping we can get an appointment next week. I do, too. I am really trying not to worry that something is wrong, but Rachel can't put her foot down or bear to have anyone touch it. The only place she feels sort of okay (as in, not in pain) is in the bathtub. So there is definitely something happening down there, we just don't know what.
We will keep you posted as things develop.
Crutches are beginning to seem like the new normal around our house, which is definitely not okay. Otherwise, Rachel is her normal, cheerful self. She can get around quite fast and well on the crutches, but her armpits hurt when she uses them a lot and I am looking forward to the day when we can hang up the crutches for good.
Our orthopedist suggested we visit a rheumatologist, and Drew is hoping we can get an appointment next week. I do, too. I am really trying not to worry that something is wrong, but Rachel can't put her foot down or bear to have anyone touch it. The only place she feels sort of okay (as in, not in pain) is in the bathtub. So there is definitely something happening down there, we just don't know what.
We will keep you posted as things develop.
Christmas Day
So, this morning we all got up a little later than I wanted us to because we had signed up to do a mitzvah project at the synagogue. What was cool was that Drew and I independently decided that this would be a good thing for our family to do while other people were celebrating Christmas, and so we both ended up choosing different things. We signed Rachel up to decorate gift bags and make potholders as gifts for homeless families, and Drew and I signed up to sort clothes. The event started at 9 a.m. and ran until 2 p.m., but they told us we didn't have to arrive exactly at 9.
When we got there at 10:45, the stuff Drew and I had signed up for was done, and so we wandered into the kitchen and were immediately put to work preparing and packaging food for homeless shelters and people living in apartments. Drew ended up washing out thousands and thousands (slight exaggeration, but not really) cans of yams for recycling, and I volunteered to use an electric carving knife to slice five turkey breasts into individual portions. By the end of it, my hands were tingling and I burned part of my palm because the motor of the knife carver got so hot. I attracted a lot of attention from women and men who walked by and complimented my prowess with the carving knife (??) and Ben, the caterer in charge, said I should be given a free membership for my efforts. He and I got into a conversation about catering, and he wound up telling the food organizer that "you, me and Lisa are going to run the kitchen next year" after he and I had discussed the inefficiencies we'd found and what we would have done differently. The idea of helping to run the food mitzvah is really intriguing, and I have almost a year to think about it -- they start ramping up in September. So, if I can get all my freelance work for the year wrapped up by next November, it might actually be possible.
Then we went back home, I picked up my cake and my work stuff and drove into the District. Rachel was going to try to have a playdate with Ivy, and then she and Drew were going to see a movie of her choosing at an actual movie theater. Mitzvah and a movie -- I believe we have the start of a Christmas Day tradition.
When we got there at 10:45, the stuff Drew and I had signed up for was done, and so we wandered into the kitchen and were immediately put to work preparing and packaging food for homeless shelters and people living in apartments. Drew ended up washing out thousands and thousands (slight exaggeration, but not really) cans of yams for recycling, and I volunteered to use an electric carving knife to slice five turkey breasts into individual portions. By the end of it, my hands were tingling and I burned part of my palm because the motor of the knife carver got so hot. I attracted a lot of attention from women and men who walked by and complimented my prowess with the carving knife (??) and Ben, the caterer in charge, said I should be given a free membership for my efforts. He and I got into a conversation about catering, and he wound up telling the food organizer that "you, me and Lisa are going to run the kitchen next year" after he and I had discussed the inefficiencies we'd found and what we would have done differently. The idea of helping to run the food mitzvah is really intriguing, and I have almost a year to think about it -- they start ramping up in September. So, if I can get all my freelance work for the year wrapped up by next November, it might actually be possible.
Then we went back home, I picked up my cake and my work stuff and drove into the District. Rachel was going to try to have a playdate with Ivy, and then she and Drew were going to see a movie of her choosing at an actual movie theater. Mitzvah and a movie -- I believe we have the start of a Christmas Day tradition.
Christmas Eve
Considering that we don't celebrate Christmas, it was a really magical holiday. Rachel Jones left for the airport at 7 a.m.; Drew very kindly drove her and then crawled back into bed and slept until 10 or so. Rachel spend the time buried in some delightful books she received for Hanukkah from Aunties Jenn and Amanda about a Jewish family on the Lower East Side during the early 1900s called "All-of-a-Kind Family." I am so glad she has discovered them; they were my favorites as a child, and even Drew remembers reading them! Probably why he has a Jewish soul...
After we all woke up and had breakfast, Rachel and I boxed up the cookies I had baked and began delivering them to our neighbors. It was rainy but warm, and we had a lovely time leaving the cookies in various doorways. We finished up at her friend Ivy's house. Ivy's dad, Billy, is a Foreign Service Officer stationed in Afghanistan, home until Friday, and he was so happy to see us and the container of cookies. Jenny, his wife, made us tea, and we sat around and listened to him talk non-stop about the situation in Kabul which is, in short, a complete mess. "It's raw, it's crazy, it will never be fixed," he said, and his constant talking (and the fact that he is starting to have nightmares at night) made me glad that he will be back after 7 months because he clearly needs to get out of there. The family's next assignment is in Copenhagen; Afghanistan is the last hardship assignment he'll get for at least 8 years, by which time his kids will basically be out of school and he won't have to be separated from them when they're young.
We stayed long enough for me to worry about getting to work on time, but Drew and Rachel ended up driving me in to make it by 3:30. When I got home I baked a pistachio/chocolate cake with chocolate glaze fir our Christmas potluck at work the next day, and then I fell into bed around 1:40 a.m. Drew, who was sorting through all his old newspapers before I pitch them Jan. 1st, came to bed even later. It's a theme: Holidays are exhausting.
After we all woke up and had breakfast, Rachel and I boxed up the cookies I had baked and began delivering them to our neighbors. It was rainy but warm, and we had a lovely time leaving the cookies in various doorways. We finished up at her friend Ivy's house. Ivy's dad, Billy, is a Foreign Service Officer stationed in Afghanistan, home until Friday, and he was so happy to see us and the container of cookies. Jenny, his wife, made us tea, and we sat around and listened to him talk non-stop about the situation in Kabul which is, in short, a complete mess. "It's raw, it's crazy, it will never be fixed," he said, and his constant talking (and the fact that he is starting to have nightmares at night) made me glad that he will be back after 7 months because he clearly needs to get out of there. The family's next assignment is in Copenhagen; Afghanistan is the last hardship assignment he'll get for at least 8 years, by which time his kids will basically be out of school and he won't have to be separated from them when they're young.
We stayed long enough for me to worry about getting to work on time, but Drew and Rachel ended up driving me in to make it by 3:30. When I got home I baked a pistachio/chocolate cake with chocolate glaze fir our Christmas potluck at work the next day, and then I fell into bed around 1:40 a.m. Drew, who was sorting through all his old newspapers before I pitch them Jan. 1st, came to bed even later. It's a theme: Holidays are exhausting.
A whirlwind of a holiday
Auntie Rachel's here! (well, in and out for the month of December and January, anyway). Rachel Jones arrived from Africa late Monday, when I was at work, and she and her Mini-Me (aka, our Rachel) were both asleep when I got home. Drew took a photo of both of them, with our Rachel in a new leopard-print jacket Auntie Rachel bought her -- along with dresses and cloth and jewelry. (Hanukkah's 8 nights! she said when I protested. One gift for each night! I could only sigh and shake my head).
Anyway, on Tuesday, our Rachel went to a "Polar Express" party at her school, in which she got to wear her pajamas -- yay! -- and Drew went to work. Rachel and proceeded to run a bunch of errands. She bought a lovely pair of African-made chopsticks for a friend of hers in North Carolina, got a gorgeous coat at a consignment shop near our house that I really must browse through sometime, and then I picked up a winter coat that had gotten a new zipper at the tailor's and dropped off our Rachel's Daisy Scouts tunic for them to sew on petals and patches; then Rachel and I discovered a fabulous Vietnamese restaurant that served excellent pho (good for a rainy day). Then we went to the AT&T store to get her a SIM card for her phone while I picked up some groceries at Safeway; we stopped into Marshalls to get her more clothes and I got some warm socks and slippers; then we went home and I put the roast in the oven and got the table set before picking up our Rachel and heading to the library, where I finally got to see her read to a dog as part of the "Paws to Read" program. It's for hesitant readers, which Rachel definitely is not, but she gets to hang out with a dog and read to it, and since she loves animals, we figure it's a great way for her to be around them.
When we got home, the roast lamb was ready and Drew had started the batter for latkes. I proceeded to fry them up in goose fat from our dinner over the weekend while Drew put together the salad and carved the roast. Rachel was overwhelmed by the meal -- we finished off the pumpkin-cocoa cake, which she also liked -- and we lit the candles, sang the Hanukkah song, and opened gifts. Oh, yes, and Rachel and I opened a bottle of chocolate wine that that a colleague had given me for my birthday. It was FABULOUS and we drank quite a lot of it. Which is why she and I collapsed on pillows in the study afterward, along with our Rachel, who completely crashed because she was so tired from the day. Drew took her upstairs and lay her on her bed; Rachel went upstairs to fall asleep and I think I helped Drew clean up but I'm not sure. Either way, it was a great way to spend the last night of Hanukkah!
Anyway, on Tuesday, our Rachel went to a "Polar Express" party at her school, in which she got to wear her pajamas -- yay! -- and Drew went to work. Rachel and proceeded to run a bunch of errands. She bought a lovely pair of African-made chopsticks for a friend of hers in North Carolina, got a gorgeous coat at a consignment shop near our house that I really must browse through sometime, and then I picked up a winter coat that had gotten a new zipper at the tailor's and dropped off our Rachel's Daisy Scouts tunic for them to sew on petals and patches; then Rachel and I discovered a fabulous Vietnamese restaurant that served excellent pho (good for a rainy day). Then we went to the AT&T store to get her a SIM card for her phone while I picked up some groceries at Safeway; we stopped into Marshalls to get her more clothes and I got some warm socks and slippers; then we went home and I put the roast in the oven and got the table set before picking up our Rachel and heading to the library, where I finally got to see her read to a dog as part of the "Paws to Read" program. It's for hesitant readers, which Rachel definitely is not, but she gets to hang out with a dog and read to it, and since she loves animals, we figure it's a great way for her to be around them.
When we got home, the roast lamb was ready and Drew had started the batter for latkes. I proceeded to fry them up in goose fat from our dinner over the weekend while Drew put together the salad and carved the roast. Rachel was overwhelmed by the meal -- we finished off the pumpkin-cocoa cake, which she also liked -- and we lit the candles, sang the Hanukkah song, and opened gifts. Oh, yes, and Rachel and I opened a bottle of chocolate wine that that a colleague had given me for my birthday. It was FABULOUS and we drank quite a lot of it. Which is why she and I collapsed on pillows in the study afterward, along with our Rachel, who completely crashed because she was so tired from the day. Drew took her upstairs and lay her on her bed; Rachel went upstairs to fall asleep and I think I helped Drew clean up but I'm not sure. Either way, it was a great way to spend the last night of Hanukkah!
Sunday, December 21, 2014
The day AFTER the party
...While I put Rachel to bed last night, Drew did a lot of the cleanup (in fairness, as he pointed out, because I did most of the cooking). I came downstairs in time to put stuff away, dry crystal and polish the silver. We got to bed around 1 a.m., and we slept in quite late -- until almost 10 a.m. -- which was great, because we really, really needed the sleep!
While I was in the shower, Rachel came in to the bathroom with a wonderful exclamation: "Good MORNING, Mommy!" in such a happy voice that I felt compelled to answer in kind. I explained that we were heading to Uncle Dan's for brunch, and that we'd be bringing holiday cookies. I also said I'd bring some gingerbread I'd baked, in case she got hungry for breakfast in the car.
"That would be HEAVEN!" she exclaimed. "Just like your pumpkin-cocoa cake. You should keep that out of my reach. I could eat the whole cake in one day -- even thought you wouldn't let me."
"That's right, I wouldn't," I said, smiling. How can you not smile when the day starts with a compliment?
We had a good time with Uncle Dan at brunch, then going up to the apartment where it was sunny and easier to talk. We had a lovely conversation about all kinds of subjects until around 2:30, when it was time for Drew and Rachel to drive me in to work (religious school is on break until after the new year, which is why we were able to visit Uncle Dan on a Sunday afternoon).
And now I'm at work until 11.
While I was in the shower, Rachel came in to the bathroom with a wonderful exclamation: "Good MORNING, Mommy!" in such a happy voice that I felt compelled to answer in kind. I explained that we were heading to Uncle Dan's for brunch, and that we'd be bringing holiday cookies. I also said I'd bring some gingerbread I'd baked, in case she got hungry for breakfast in the car.
"That would be HEAVEN!" she exclaimed. "Just like your pumpkin-cocoa cake. You should keep that out of my reach. I could eat the whole cake in one day -- even thought you wouldn't let me."
"That's right, I wouldn't," I said, smiling. How can you not smile when the day starts with a compliment?
We had a good time with Uncle Dan at brunch, then going up to the apartment where it was sunny and easier to talk. We had a lovely conversation about all kinds of subjects until around 2:30, when it was time for Drew and Rachel to drive me in to work (religious school is on break until after the new year, which is why we were able to visit Uncle Dan on a Sunday afternoon).
And now I'm at work until 11.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Holiday dinner (or, the week Lisa lost her mind)
So. Drew and I had such fun and were so successful last year making a New Year's dinner featuring goose for PopPop and Mammaw that we decided to do another goose dinner this year. This time, we hosted a holiday dinner for our close friends -- Charon and her son Cameron; Jeff, Crystal and their 9-month-old girl, Julia, and Julie, a colleague of mine at The Post.
I decided that I was going to send everyone home at the end with a batch of homemade cookies, so...I spent this entire week baking cookies (and finishing the edits on one Sunday magazine story and starting the reporting on another). I had wanted to make 7 kinds of cookies but only ended up having time for 5: chocolate/mint rounds, tangerine-flavored cookies; cherry cookies dipped in white chocolate; lemon star cookies with lemon cream filling; and salted caramel chocolate cookies which were OUT OF THIS WORLD -- I just finished making them this morning. So, basically, the kitchen has been a crowded mess this week as I made cookies before heading to work every day. The project turned into making cookies for our neighbors, Rachel's friends' moms, her teachers, etc. And leaving some for our friend Rachel, who is staying with us while she visits the States in December/January from Nairobi.
Anyway...we had thought of taking Rachel to a "holiday camp" this morning so I could finish the cookies and start cleaning the house in peace, but she decided she didn't want to go at the last minute. I kept trying to persuade her to go, but then she said something that stopped my heart, "Mom, I don't get to spend that much time with you. Please, let me stay. I won't bother you; I'll read. If you need help, call me -- especially if you need help with the cookies."
Well, how could I resist an appeal like that? I was so touched that I told Drew, who was angry by that point that she had changed her mind, that I'd be responsible for whatever she did/didn't do. He went out to run errands, and she and I had a ball -- she actually helped me a great deal by drizzling white chocolate on the chocolate/mint rounds (they really needed something to perk them up) and just talking and hanging out together. As I was getting ready to go upstairs, I said to her: "Rachel. I really liked having you around today." And she answered: "I know, Mom. That's why I wanted to stay. I always have a good time when you're around."
Then a friend of hers, Kira, came over and the girls played upstairs (and in the study, and then we shooed them downstairs to watch a movie) while I showered, Drew prepared the goose, and then I did the first batch of latke mix and fixed the salad. People began arriving around 5:15. Drew built a fire, and it was so sweet to see Rachel lying on her stomach and reading in front of it while Cameron, who is 8, talked to her and Julia sat on her mom's lap next to them, and Rachel tried to teach Julia how to walk). The goose had been warming about 45 minutes by then, and I managed to get enough latkes on the griddle (frying them in duck fat, a brilliant suggestion by Drew), so that people actually got to have latkes and goose together. (And did I mention we had an unexpected guest -- a friend of Julie's, a clerk at a federal court who graduated from Stanford Law? -- so, Drew and I basically didn't sit down most of the meal).
But people seemed to have a great time talking together. Julia and her mom left early, as did Charon and Cameron -- by around 7:15 or so, and Julie, her friend Matt, and Jeff all stayed until after 9 to talk. By then Drew and I had eaten, and I had served dessert -- a pumpkin-cocoa cake with bittersweet chocolate glaze -- so we were all pretty relaxed. The evening could have gone on longer expect that it was really time to get Rachel down to bed and we still needed to light the Hanukkah candles and open gifts. I got Rachel to bed around 10, and Drew and I spent the next 90 minutes cleaning up, putting food away and polishing silver and crystal. We are both POOPED.
But it was so, so worth it. This is what the holiday season is all about, and these are the memories we're creating for Rachel -- and for us.
I decided that I was going to send everyone home at the end with a batch of homemade cookies, so...I spent this entire week baking cookies (and finishing the edits on one Sunday magazine story and starting the reporting on another). I had wanted to make 7 kinds of cookies but only ended up having time for 5: chocolate/mint rounds, tangerine-flavored cookies; cherry cookies dipped in white chocolate; lemon star cookies with lemon cream filling; and salted caramel chocolate cookies which were OUT OF THIS WORLD -- I just finished making them this morning. So, basically, the kitchen has been a crowded mess this week as I made cookies before heading to work every day. The project turned into making cookies for our neighbors, Rachel's friends' moms, her teachers, etc. And leaving some for our friend Rachel, who is staying with us while she visits the States in December/January from Nairobi.
Anyway...we had thought of taking Rachel to a "holiday camp" this morning so I could finish the cookies and start cleaning the house in peace, but she decided she didn't want to go at the last minute. I kept trying to persuade her to go, but then she said something that stopped my heart, "Mom, I don't get to spend that much time with you. Please, let me stay. I won't bother you; I'll read. If you need help, call me -- especially if you need help with the cookies."
Well, how could I resist an appeal like that? I was so touched that I told Drew, who was angry by that point that she had changed her mind, that I'd be responsible for whatever she did/didn't do. He went out to run errands, and she and I had a ball -- she actually helped me a great deal by drizzling white chocolate on the chocolate/mint rounds (they really needed something to perk them up) and just talking and hanging out together. As I was getting ready to go upstairs, I said to her: "Rachel. I really liked having you around today." And she answered: "I know, Mom. That's why I wanted to stay. I always have a good time when you're around."
Then a friend of hers, Kira, came over and the girls played upstairs (and in the study, and then we shooed them downstairs to watch a movie) while I showered, Drew prepared the goose, and then I did the first batch of latke mix and fixed the salad. People began arriving around 5:15. Drew built a fire, and it was so sweet to see Rachel lying on her stomach and reading in front of it while Cameron, who is 8, talked to her and Julia sat on her mom's lap next to them, and Rachel tried to teach Julia how to walk). The goose had been warming about 45 minutes by then, and I managed to get enough latkes on the griddle (frying them in duck fat, a brilliant suggestion by Drew), so that people actually got to have latkes and goose together. (And did I mention we had an unexpected guest -- a friend of Julie's, a clerk at a federal court who graduated from Stanford Law? -- so, Drew and I basically didn't sit down most of the meal).
But people seemed to have a great time talking together. Julia and her mom left early, as did Charon and Cameron -- by around 7:15 or so, and Julie, her friend Matt, and Jeff all stayed until after 9 to talk. By then Drew and I had eaten, and I had served dessert -- a pumpkin-cocoa cake with bittersweet chocolate glaze -- so we were all pretty relaxed. The evening could have gone on longer expect that it was really time to get Rachel down to bed and we still needed to light the Hanukkah candles and open gifts. I got Rachel to bed around 10, and Drew and I spent the next 90 minutes cleaning up, putting food away and polishing silver and crystal. We are both POOPED.
But it was so, so worth it. This is what the holiday season is all about, and these are the memories we're creating for Rachel -- and for us.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
The weird stuff Rachel says
A sampling from tonight:
The conversation for some reason had turned to hanging, and I mentioned that in long-ago times, kids used to be hanged for stealing (even in the United States), and that some countries still do that.
"I wouldn't want to be hanged," Rachel said. "I want to die freely, without people watching, in public."
***
I hadn't finished my salad when Drew announced he had finished dinner (Rachel had, too), and I said that I could skip dessert. Drew gave me a stern look and said no.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, your growth will be stunted," he said. "Oh, wait..."
Rachel cracked up. "Good one, Dad!" she exclaimed.
I, of course, finished my salad.
***
Many years ago Drew brought a kitchy Hanukkah thing called "Latke Larry" that moves and sings. I think it's dreadful, but he and Rachel think it's great and whenever I threaten to get rid of it when they're not looking, they say that will never happen. So, we're at an impasse.
Tonight, as we went into the study to open presents (it's where we've stashed everyone's gifts), Rachel announced, "Should we torture Mommy and bring up Latke Larry."
Luckily, she and Drew decided to let him be, hidden in a closet in the basement.
The conversation for some reason had turned to hanging, and I mentioned that in long-ago times, kids used to be hanged for stealing (even in the United States), and that some countries still do that.
"I wouldn't want to be hanged," Rachel said. "I want to die freely, without people watching, in public."
***
I hadn't finished my salad when Drew announced he had finished dinner (Rachel had, too), and I said that I could skip dessert. Drew gave me a stern look and said no.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, your growth will be stunted," he said. "Oh, wait..."
Rachel cracked up. "Good one, Dad!" she exclaimed.
I, of course, finished my salad.
***
Many years ago Drew brought a kitchy Hanukkah thing called "Latke Larry" that moves and sings. I think it's dreadful, but he and Rachel think it's great and whenever I threaten to get rid of it when they're not looking, they say that will never happen. So, we're at an impasse.
Tonight, as we went into the study to open presents (it's where we've stashed everyone's gifts), Rachel announced, "Should we torture Mommy and bring up Latke Larry."
Luckily, she and Drew decided to let him be, hidden in a closet in the basement.
Happy Hanukkah!
Hanukkah got off to a great start tonight when Rachel, arriving home after a playdate, walked in the door and the first -- the very first -- thing she said was, "How can I help?" We agreed to let her put the cut-up potatoes in the blender. By some miracle (a Hanukkah miracle?) dinner was ready -- chicken, salad and latkes, all still warm -- by 8:15. We had a fine time eating and talking about our days (I had the day off and spent most of it working on a magazine story and baking an enormous batch of holiday cookies for our holiday dinner for friends this weekend and for all our neighbors, who have started dropping off cookies that THEY'VE baked).
Then, before presents, we opened the tzedakah box that we've periodically put money into to see how much we had to donate to a worthy cause (we let Rachel choose -- she loves animals so much that she wanted to give money to the Arlington Animal Shelter). There was $9 or so in it. Rachel insisted on getting her piggy bank and giving most of her money to the shelter ("you know how I love animals," she said), and Drew and I each gave $10. Rachel made up an envelope with the words "To Arlington Animal Shelter" and From: "The DeSilver Family." She and Drew are going to take it, in person, to the shelter sometime later this week or early next and explain where the money came from and why we're giving it. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time -- save money during the year and give it to a worthy cause, and so I'm glad we're incorporating charity into our lives (although next year we will more consciously save more money).
THEN it was time for presents, and again Rachel insisted that Drew open his first, then Mommy, then herself. Dad got new hiking boots, Mom got a sweater that Rachel and Daddy picked out, and Rachel got a FABULOUS art kit from Anne and David (thanks, Uncle David and Auntie Anne!) and some American Girl doll stuff from Mommy and Daddy.
Altogether, a great evening. Rachel sang an almost-perfect rendition of "Oh, Chaukah" in Yiddish. Chag Semeach, everyone!
Then, before presents, we opened the tzedakah box that we've periodically put money into to see how much we had to donate to a worthy cause (we let Rachel choose -- she loves animals so much that she wanted to give money to the Arlington Animal Shelter). There was $9 or so in it. Rachel insisted on getting her piggy bank and giving most of her money to the shelter ("you know how I love animals," she said), and Drew and I each gave $10. Rachel made up an envelope with the words "To Arlington Animal Shelter" and From: "The DeSilver Family." She and Drew are going to take it, in person, to the shelter sometime later this week or early next and explain where the money came from and why we're giving it. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time -- save money during the year and give it to a worthy cause, and so I'm glad we're incorporating charity into our lives (although next year we will more consciously save more money).
THEN it was time for presents, and again Rachel insisted that Drew open his first, then Mommy, then herself. Dad got new hiking boots, Mom got a sweater that Rachel and Daddy picked out, and Rachel got a FABULOUS art kit from Anne and David (thanks, Uncle David and Auntie Anne!) and some American Girl doll stuff from Mommy and Daddy.
Altogether, a great evening. Rachel sang an almost-perfect rendition of "Oh, Chaukah" in Yiddish. Chag Semeach, everyone!
Friday, December 5, 2014
Poor Rachel
Last week we got a call from school -- Rachel had a stomachache. I talked to her, Drew talked to her, and we decided that we couldn't let her come home if she didn't have a fever, wasn't throwing up, etc. So, we told the clinic nurse to let her finish her lunch and then tough out the day. (Drew said the night before she hadn't eaten much dinner, and that morning she hadn't eaten much breakfast. So, he thought the issue was hunger.)
Yesterday we got a call from the clinic again -- Rachel threw up. She didn't have a fever, but we had to come and get her right away; they make us take the kids home if they throw up or have diarrhea, even if they're not feverish. I was on my way to work, so Drew had to leave early from Pew.
Hopefully the next time Rachel gets sick, it will be early in the morning so I can call in sick or arrange to work from home (I have to let The Post know by noon if I plan to take a sick day, so they can find a replacement). Meanwhile, we have decided that I will take her to all morning doctor's appointments, as I usually do.
As for Rachel she is fine. I called home last night during a quick break at work, and she said, "Mom? About that vomit thing? I felt fine the whole time."
Words you never expect to hear until you're a mom.
Yesterday we got a call from the clinic again -- Rachel threw up. She didn't have a fever, but we had to come and get her right away; they make us take the kids home if they throw up or have diarrhea, even if they're not feverish. I was on my way to work, so Drew had to leave early from Pew.
Hopefully the next time Rachel gets sick, it will be early in the morning so I can call in sick or arrange to work from home (I have to let The Post know by noon if I plan to take a sick day, so they can find a replacement). Meanwhile, we have decided that I will take her to all morning doctor's appointments, as I usually do.
As for Rachel she is fine. I called home last night during a quick break at work, and she said, "Mom? About that vomit thing? I felt fine the whole time."
Words you never expect to hear until you're a mom.
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