Tonight Rachel announced at dinner (Drew was in Seattle): "I'm never ever gonna kiss a boy except Daddy."
"Why?" I asked.
"'Cause that's what Tessa said," Rachel answered. "Kissing a boy is icky. Except Daddy."
Grandpa and PopPop, I'm sure she meant to include you as kissable, too.
***
"This is a good coat to wear because when I jump into your arms I won't feel anything scratchy!" Rachel said as I reached for my electric blue fall coat, a gift from Mom years ago. Surveying my ears, Rachel noticed with delight that I was wearing her favorite earrings, a pair of beaded drop earrings I bought a few years ago. "Your ears look like rainbow!" she said.
***
"You have the biggest blue eyes," I said to Rachel tonight. "Boys are going to want to kiss you and hug you and cuddle you. Are you going to be nice to them?"
"Do I HAVE to be nice to them?" she answered.
"YES," I said firmly.
"Oh-KAY," she answered. "I suppose."
***
Drew has taught Rachel the Oscar Meyer bologna song, and she asked that I sing it to her during Shabbat dinner. And then I could see her attempt to memorize it. The sad thing is, that commercial is STILL in my head from childhood!
***
Rachel said one of the best things she likes about being in Firefly class instead of Little Bunnies class is that the reading nook is open all day.
"I bet if you could, you'd read all day," I said.
"The teacher would say, 'don't you want to play?'" Rachel replied. "And I'd say, 'no, I want to read books all day.' And then I'd go back to reading and not play."
Yes, folks, she is definitely my daughter.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Things Rachel says that make me laugh
...we had one of those tonight at Sunnyside Park. Yes, I took her there instead of forcing her to sit through the vice presidential debate. So, sue me. It's the last warm, sunny day we'll have for a long, long time and I wanted to take advantage of it. Even it did mean that I let Rachel play in the dark and we didn't eat dinner until late, which means she got to bed late.
At the park, Rachel ran up to where I was sitting on a bench and said breathlessly, "Guess what that kid's name is?"
"What?" I answered.
"West," she said.
"West?" I asked.
"Yeah," she replied. "His name is a direction!"
I cracked up and gave her a high five. I really couldn't help myself.
***
We did listen to a wrap-up of the debate on the way home. One of the NPR reporters mentioned Mitt Romney by name.
"Mitt Romney! I know that guy!" Rachel said. "I seen him in the newspaper!"
At the park, Rachel ran up to where I was sitting on a bench and said breathlessly, "Guess what that kid's name is?"
"What?" I answered.
"West," she said.
"West?" I asked.
"Yeah," she replied. "His name is a direction!"
I cracked up and gave her a high five. I really couldn't help myself.
***
We did listen to a wrap-up of the debate on the way home. One of the NPR reporters mentioned Mitt Romney by name.
"Mitt Romney! I know that guy!" Rachel said. "I seen him in the newspaper!"
Lord of the (Fire) Flies
Rachel is quite chatty with us about events at school. Usually she tells us what's going on during the drive home. Lately she has told Drew about a lot of hitting, kicking and biting. Unfortunately Rachel often ends up getting bitten.
Last night, while I was at chorus rehearsal, Drew asked Rachel if the kids actually like each other. She said yes, of course. He said he'd like to start hearing some stories about how friendly everyone is.
Rachel's class is called the Firefly class, and Drew and I have nicknamed it the "Lord of the Fireflies" class because of the way the kids seem to torture each other.
This was reiterated tonight. Drew is in Seattle and Rachel and I were at dinner when all of a sudden she said, "Devin and Sadie were extremely not nice to me today. They were teasing me. They were hurting my feelings so much I had to move away from them. They've been mean to me the whole week."
"What did they say?" I asked.
"You're not my friend, you're not my friend, you're not my friend," Rachel replied in a singsong voice.
"What did you say to them?" I asked.
"Please stop," she said.
"And what did THEY say?" I answered.
"You're not my friend, you're not my friend, you're not my friend," she said.
Rachel didn't seem particularly bothered by it all so I let it go.
Last night, while I was at chorus rehearsal, Drew asked Rachel if the kids actually like each other. She said yes, of course. He said he'd like to start hearing some stories about how friendly everyone is.
Rachel's class is called the Firefly class, and Drew and I have nicknamed it the "Lord of the Fireflies" class because of the way the kids seem to torture each other.
This was reiterated tonight. Drew is in Seattle and Rachel and I were at dinner when all of a sudden she said, "Devin and Sadie were extremely not nice to me today. They were teasing me. They were hurting my feelings so much I had to move away from them. They've been mean to me the whole week."
"What did they say?" I asked.
"You're not my friend, you're not my friend, you're not my friend," Rachel replied in a singsong voice.
"What did you say to them?" I asked.
"Please stop," she said.
"And what did THEY say?" I answered.
"You're not my friend, you're not my friend, you're not my friend," she said.
Rachel didn't seem particularly bothered by it all so I let it go.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Surprise! Rachel thinks she's older than she is
"I'm a big 10-year-old girl!" Rachel said at dinner tonight.
"Really?!" I said. "When did you turn 10?"
"I turned 10 at Ponyville!" she replied.
***
Drew has a series of stories he tells Rachel about Princess Caroline, about an adventurous princess who has four princess sisters and one little brother prince, and she gets help on her adventures from her three friends: Humbert the Giant, Sir Albert the Knight, and Professor Egbert.
(Yes, Drew has the makings of a real children's book here).
Currently the storyline involves Rachel getting help from her three friends so she can compete in the "Best Princess" contest.
Tonight at dinner Rachel informed me that "Princess Caroline has a baby brother."
"What's his name?" I asked.
"Rupprecht," she said. "And you know what he did? He's like a little baby. He spitted."
When I gently inquired about Rupprecht's name, Drew got a tad defensive. I can't wait to see how this series ends. Dad, remember the stories you told Daniella and me about Julie and Kathy, the girls who ran away to the circus to be with Bozo the Clown? Why is it that men in the family come up with such great stories? Maybe because the mommies are busy cooking and cleaning and running the house??
"Really?!" I said. "When did you turn 10?"
"I turned 10 at Ponyville!" she replied.
***
Drew has a series of stories he tells Rachel about Princess Caroline, about an adventurous princess who has four princess sisters and one little brother prince, and she gets help on her adventures from her three friends: Humbert the Giant, Sir Albert the Knight, and Professor Egbert.
(Yes, Drew has the makings of a real children's book here).
Currently the storyline involves Rachel getting help from her three friends so she can compete in the "Best Princess" contest.
Tonight at dinner Rachel informed me that "Princess Caroline has a baby brother."
"What's his name?" I asked.
"Rupprecht," she said. "And you know what he did? He's like a little baby. He spitted."
When I gently inquired about Rupprecht's name, Drew got a tad defensive. I can't wait to see how this series ends. Dad, remember the stories you told Daniella and me about Julie and Kathy, the girls who ran away to the circus to be with Bozo the Clown? Why is it that men in the family come up with such great stories? Maybe because the mommies are busy cooking and cleaning and running the house??
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The things this one says....
So, the hacking cough is gone but the post-nasal drip remains. I am very tired and lethargic but slowly getting better, just in time to head to international competition and then to Africa on a reporting trip for the magazine I edit. I have checked my schedule and I believe I will have time to really relax in...mid-February.
Nevertheless, Rachel and I have had a delightful two days alone together. A sample of her wit:
***
"Guess what Ava was doing at the lunch table?" Rachel said last night. "Chewing with her mouth open!"
"Did you say anything?" I asked.
"I was trying to stop her but she wouldn't listen," she said.
***
I took the last of the antibiotics yesterday, not that I believe they've done a damn thing.
"What if ants were on your antibiotics?" Rachel asked. "You would be TERRIFIED. Ants all over the bottle. Trying to eat your medicine!"
***
Today she truly astonished me. I was helping wash her hands and face after breakfast when all of a sudden Rachel said, "Who's God?"
"Depends on who you ask," I replied.
"I'm asking YOU!" she said.
"Some people believe God is a he, and others believe God is a she, and some people don't believe God exists at all," I explained.
"I believe in God," Rachel said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because she saved us from the war? Of the Jewish people?" Rachel said, looking at me. "She saved us from dying. And that's why I believe she exists."
Folks, I don't make up these conversations, they really happen. Neither Drew nor I know where she gets these ideas from.
***
I followed her above comment up with the following:
"Sometimes the things you say are so smart and clever, you take my breath away," I said.
"You take my breath away, too," she replied.
"Why?" I said.
"Because of what you said," she replied.
Really, it was all I could do not to cover her face with kisses.
***
"I'm going to take all my money in my piggy bank and put it into the tzedakah box, so I won't have any money!" Rachel said as we left for school.
"Well, you want to keep SOME money, right?" I asked.
"I'm not OLD enough to have money!" she exclaimed.
***
On the way to school Rachel and I were listening to a talk show and the host mentioned a factory fire in Pakistan last month that killed 300 people. The host compared it to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911 that changed the way factories were run.
I started telling Rachel about the Triangle fire; she interrupted me and said, "I know that story, Mommy," and then proceeded to tell me the entire tale of the fire -- including the fact that it was "like 200 years ago, before you and Daddy and PopPop and Grandma and Grandpa were born." I didn't have the heart to correct her.
Nevertheless, Rachel and I have had a delightful two days alone together. A sample of her wit:
***
"Guess what Ava was doing at the lunch table?" Rachel said last night. "Chewing with her mouth open!"
"Did you say anything?" I asked.
"I was trying to stop her but she wouldn't listen," she said.
***
I took the last of the antibiotics yesterday, not that I believe they've done a damn thing.
"What if ants were on your antibiotics?" Rachel asked. "You would be TERRIFIED. Ants all over the bottle. Trying to eat your medicine!"
***
Today she truly astonished me. I was helping wash her hands and face after breakfast when all of a sudden Rachel said, "Who's God?"
"Depends on who you ask," I replied.
"I'm asking YOU!" she said.
"Some people believe God is a he, and others believe God is a she, and some people don't believe God exists at all," I explained.
"I believe in God," Rachel said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because she saved us from the war? Of the Jewish people?" Rachel said, looking at me. "She saved us from dying. And that's why I believe she exists."
Folks, I don't make up these conversations, they really happen. Neither Drew nor I know where she gets these ideas from.
***
I followed her above comment up with the following:
"Sometimes the things you say are so smart and clever, you take my breath away," I said.
"You take my breath away, too," she replied.
"Why?" I said.
"Because of what you said," she replied.
Really, it was all I could do not to cover her face with kisses.
***
"I'm going to take all my money in my piggy bank and put it into the tzedakah box, so I won't have any money!" Rachel said as we left for school.
"Well, you want to keep SOME money, right?" I asked.
"I'm not OLD enough to have money!" she exclaimed.
***
On the way to school Rachel and I were listening to a talk show and the host mentioned a factory fire in Pakistan last month that killed 300 people. The host compared it to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911 that changed the way factories were run.
I started telling Rachel about the Triangle fire; she interrupted me and said, "I know that story, Mommy," and then proceeded to tell me the entire tale of the fire -- including the fact that it was "like 200 years ago, before you and Daddy and PopPop and Grandma and Grandpa were born." I didn't have the heart to correct her.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sukkot celebration
We headed to the rabbi's house tonight to celebrate Sukkot, the fall harvest festival (although it felt much more like summer than fall). Rabbi Cahana invites the whole congregation to dinner and a Sukkot service at his home, but the weather is usually so cold and/or rainy that we've never gone. But I checked the weather ahead of time, and saw that it was going to be nice outside, so we all went.
Rabbi Cahana has triplet girls and an older son, so they need a lot of room -- but, geez, was this a nice house. It's in the hills of Southwest Portland, and they have a pool, a hot tub, a deck, a large kitchen and presumably enough rooms for the kids (although I believe at least two of the girls have to double up). Ida Rae, the cantor -- and the rabbi's wife -- said they bought the house with the idea of holding congregational celebrations. The food was lovely; Ida Rae's mom made a noodle kugel that was out of this world, and even Rachel and Drew got enough so that we didn't have to think about dinner.
At 6 p.m. we all went outside to the sukkah that Rabbi had made. (He was trained in theater, and you could tell that from the construction; it was very well done. Theater majors all have to try their hand at prop-making, and many of them do construction on the side to make ends meet). We had a brief service, and then the kids took turns swinging the lulav (I didn't have a camera with me so I didn't get a picture of Rachel, alas). Then we all went back inside and continued eating.
I'm glad that Rachel got to see the whole thing, but Drew and I had mixed feelings about it. He summed it up perfectly by calling it an "event" -- not quite a dinner party, not quite a service. There was a little bit of reserve there. A few people from our chavurah showed up, and they were friendly, but none of us really got a chance to visit. Not sure I want to repeat this next year, but I'm open to considering it.
Rabbi Cahana has triplet girls and an older son, so they need a lot of room -- but, geez, was this a nice house. It's in the hills of Southwest Portland, and they have a pool, a hot tub, a deck, a large kitchen and presumably enough rooms for the kids (although I believe at least two of the girls have to double up). Ida Rae, the cantor -- and the rabbi's wife -- said they bought the house with the idea of holding congregational celebrations. The food was lovely; Ida Rae's mom made a noodle kugel that was out of this world, and even Rachel and Drew got enough so that we didn't have to think about dinner.
At 6 p.m. we all went outside to the sukkah that Rabbi had made. (He was trained in theater, and you could tell that from the construction; it was very well done. Theater majors all have to try their hand at prop-making, and many of them do construction on the side to make ends meet). We had a brief service, and then the kids took turns swinging the lulav (I didn't have a camera with me so I didn't get a picture of Rachel, alas). Then we all went back inside and continued eating.
I'm glad that Rachel got to see the whole thing, but Drew and I had mixed feelings about it. He summed it up perfectly by calling it an "event" -- not quite a dinner party, not quite a service. There was a little bit of reserve there. A few people from our chavurah showed up, and they were friendly, but none of us really got a chance to visit. Not sure I want to repeat this next year, but I'm open to considering it.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
What Rachel said at the park
..while I was in a grueling, all-day chorus rehearsal:
Drew was pushing Rachel on the swing at Laurelhurst Park. After a while she said she wanted to get off. As Drew was helping her out, she said, "I want to let the other kids who want to swing have a chance."
"That's very good!" Drew replied. "You're sharing the swing! And you know that sharing..."
"Is caring!" Rachel replied.
And THEN she said:
"I care about EVERYbody. Even the people I don't know. Even the little babies with no hair. And I want to share everything with everyone."
It's this kind of story that, as I explained to Drew after dinner tonight, makes me feel that Rachel is the little ray of hope I've sent into the world to make it a better place.
Drew was pushing Rachel on the swing at Laurelhurst Park. After a while she said she wanted to get off. As Drew was helping her out, she said, "I want to let the other kids who want to swing have a chance."
"That's very good!" Drew replied. "You're sharing the swing! And you know that sharing..."
"Is caring!" Rachel replied.
And THEN she said:
"I care about EVERYbody. Even the people I don't know. Even the little babies with no hair. And I want to share everything with everyone."
It's this kind of story that, as I explained to Drew after dinner tonight, makes me feel that Rachel is the little ray of hope I've sent into the world to make it a better place.
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