Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The writing's on the windows
Max and Molly (and Aunt Lauren)
We were sad to see them go, but know we will see them before too long and now that Aunt Lauren has made the trip by herself, maybe we can see them all the more often!
Butterflies
Year 3 or 4 and it was a spectacualr one for butterflies in this house. We usually get 5 but this year we got 10 caterpillars and all turned into fat little chrysallis and all but one turned into beautiful butterflies. The last one did as well, but its wings were messed up upon hatching from its chrysallis and it was not able to fly away like the others.
The kids loved watching each of their stages and are already looking forward to next year's batch.
The kids loved watching each of their stages and are already looking forward to next year's batch.
Argggh!
Last meet, last chance
Lucy has been kicking tail in all of her swim meets swimming "25 freestyle" and at practice she chooses freestyle every time. You see, she has been avoiding the dreaded backstroke. And for good reason. For the first few weeks she a bit like a drowning victim than a backstroker whenever she gave it a go. There was even a time when her coach held her in midair in the middle of the pool so that she could practice her stroke without actually hitting the water since it seemed that the water was what holding her back.
So for weeks she has adamently denied any requests to attempt backstroke in a meet. And I wasn't pushing. But then the last meet was coming up and the drive for more ribbons took over. She loves ribbons and ribbons are a great motivating factor in her swimming.
She was nervous as we arrived at the meet. She was jabbering about nonsense and when we found her team, my normally cheerful and excited swimmer was clingy and whiny. I reassured her and told her that she could skip backstroke if she wanted.
She went out and swam freestyle and did great. It was a close race and she got beat out of first and second by only a touch. It was a busy meet so we had lots of time before backstroke began. We went over to the concession stand for pizza with friends and overheard a friend's parents also trying to talk their daughter into doing backstroke. And Lucy stepped in. "It's your last chance to try for the season. Don't you want a backstroke ribbon? I'm going to do it, maybe we could try together."
Her friend was not convinced, but now Lucy had made a declaration and began getting excited about her upcoming race.
And then it was time for her heat. Never having started a race in the pool, she took her cues from her fellow swimmers and curled herself up into a tiny start position. And then she was off. She led the entire way until she tired out toward the end and gave up her lead. She finished third. But there was no struggling, no swerving, no running into the lane line. She popped out of the pool pleased as punch, so proud of her accomplishment and eager to tell everyone she saw. Not a bad way to end the season and we are all so proud.
By the way, Lucy finished the season with only first, second and third finishes. She is one of the youngest in her age group so this is phenomenal. Better yet, she improved her freestyle time everytime she raced but once, so her "personal best" ribbon collection is impressive as well. We have another week of practice and Lucy is already talking about winter swim so I think we may have found something we can stick with for a while!
So for weeks she has adamently denied any requests to attempt backstroke in a meet. And I wasn't pushing. But then the last meet was coming up and the drive for more ribbons took over. She loves ribbons and ribbons are a great motivating factor in her swimming.
She was nervous as we arrived at the meet. She was jabbering about nonsense and when we found her team, my normally cheerful and excited swimmer was clingy and whiny. I reassured her and told her that she could skip backstroke if she wanted.
She went out and swam freestyle and did great. It was a close race and she got beat out of first and second by only a touch. It was a busy meet so we had lots of time before backstroke began. We went over to the concession stand for pizza with friends and overheard a friend's parents also trying to talk their daughter into doing backstroke. And Lucy stepped in. "It's your last chance to try for the season. Don't you want a backstroke ribbon? I'm going to do it, maybe we could try together."
Her friend was not convinced, but now Lucy had made a declaration and began getting excited about her upcoming race.
And then it was time for her heat. Never having started a race in the pool, she took her cues from her fellow swimmers and curled herself up into a tiny start position. And then she was off. She led the entire way until she tired out toward the end and gave up her lead. She finished third. But there was no struggling, no swerving, no running into the lane line. She popped out of the pool pleased as punch, so proud of her accomplishment and eager to tell everyone she saw. Not a bad way to end the season and we are all so proud.
By the way, Lucy finished the season with only first, second and third finishes. She is one of the youngest in her age group so this is phenomenal. Better yet, she improved her freestyle time everytime she raced but once, so her "personal best" ribbon collection is impressive as well. We have another week of practice and Lucy is already talking about winter swim so I think we may have found something we can stick with for a while!
Look Ma, no training wheels!
It was a summer goal of Lucy's to learn to ride her bike without training wheels. She sees the kids at the pool cruising up on two wheels, looking very cool, and really wanted to be part of that world who just glide up, slip out of their bikes, leaving the wheels spinning in the grass, as they casually toss it aside and stroll into the pool. And now, she is part of that very biker-chic crowd.
It took a bit of mind trickery. We took the trainers off and then the bike sat untouched for days. Then she finally got up the courage, as did I, to take her out into the court to practice. It was not very fun that first day. She crashed, cried, cried, crashed. She was so worried about crashing that she wouldl crash because she would twist her bike into some contortion trying to show me that "her bike just does that!" But without her realizing it, I would let go and she would cruise past one house and then the other until she would suddenly realize that I was running beside her and twist her bike and crash. If it weren't for all the gear she insisted upon- bike helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and gloves, it would have been a bloody scene. Eventually, the night ended up with her throwing a tantrum in the middle of the street because, she insisted, her bike was making her crash.
We skipped a few days.
Then Aunt Lauren, Max and Molly came into town, we had a gorgeous night that might prevent me from being a hot sweaty mess and I casually asked Lucy if she wanted to go out for a try. She was happy and eager. She loaded up on gear and we were all out the door, with many short little cheerleaders following. They made sort of an obstacle course, everytime Lucy got going, Max or Molly would jump in front of her bike and she would swerve to avoid them. Distracting? Yes, but it also made her determined to show them what she could do. Finally, I ran with her as she got going and let go and then ran beside her. She was crying and carrying on like it was the most miserable experience ever. But she wanted to keep trying and eventually, the nerves died down and she got a feel for her balance and she was off. She rode up and down the cul de sac, showing us how she can stop on her own, steer away from parked cars and distracting cousins and even, GASP!, smile while riding her bike.
Now it is all she wants to do. She goes out and rides back and forth, faster and faster and only crashes when she forgets to slow down on a turn. And yes, she has ridden to the pool with that cool crowd. She went with a friend and thought it was the most awesome thing in the world. We'll remind her of how cool riding your bike is when she is 16, and then I'm sure the crying and carrying on will pick up once more.
It took a bit of mind trickery. We took the trainers off and then the bike sat untouched for days. Then she finally got up the courage, as did I, to take her out into the court to practice. It was not very fun that first day. She crashed, cried, cried, crashed. She was so worried about crashing that she wouldl crash because she would twist her bike into some contortion trying to show me that "her bike just does that!" But without her realizing it, I would let go and she would cruise past one house and then the other until she would suddenly realize that I was running beside her and twist her bike and crash. If it weren't for all the gear she insisted upon- bike helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and gloves, it would have been a bloody scene. Eventually, the night ended up with her throwing a tantrum in the middle of the street because, she insisted, her bike was making her crash.
We skipped a few days.
Then Aunt Lauren, Max and Molly came into town, we had a gorgeous night that might prevent me from being a hot sweaty mess and I casually asked Lucy if she wanted to go out for a try. She was happy and eager. She loaded up on gear and we were all out the door, with many short little cheerleaders following. They made sort of an obstacle course, everytime Lucy got going, Max or Molly would jump in front of her bike and she would swerve to avoid them. Distracting? Yes, but it also made her determined to show them what she could do. Finally, I ran with her as she got going and let go and then ran beside her. She was crying and carrying on like it was the most miserable experience ever. But she wanted to keep trying and eventually, the nerves died down and she got a feel for her balance and she was off. She rode up and down the cul de sac, showing us how she can stop on her own, steer away from parked cars and distracting cousins and even, GASP!, smile while riding her bike.
Now it is all she wants to do. She goes out and rides back and forth, faster and faster and only crashes when she forgets to slow down on a turn. And yes, she has ridden to the pool with that cool crowd. She went with a friend and thought it was the most awesome thing in the world. We'll remind her of how cool riding your bike is when she is 16, and then I'm sure the crying and carrying on will pick up once more.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Are they here yet?
I know how it is when we are in the car heading to Kentucky and the kids ask "are we there yet?" but today it is all about Max and Molly's visit here. They left Kentucky at 7 am and by 9 am my kids were asking where they were. Harper threatened to only eat dinner and skip lunch "because they will be here if it is dinnertime!" Lucy keeps asking "how many minutes?" and Graham comes running to me and yelling "Max here!"
Let's just see how long until they all get into a brawl over a toy. But for now the anticipation of cousins is pure bliss.
Let's just see how long until they all get into a brawl over a toy. But for now the anticipation of cousins is pure bliss.
Tantrum
Harper throws, uh, we'll call them tantrums. The thing is, they are very hilarious since they are always unexpected and she goes to great length to yell, as loudly as possible, something totally absurd. here are our favorites:
- heard as she went running down the hall to her bedroom "then I just won't eat any breakfast!"
- heard, while I was still sleeping as she was inches from my face, "then I just won't wear my fish shorts!"
- heard as she was playing in the basement, "I never get to see the dead cricket!"
Our dear Harper is very emotional these days and these outbursts always include a stern crossing of arms or frantic running away, tears and utter noncooperation. Good thing she's cute, and ridiculous.
- heard as she went running down the hall to her bedroom "then I just won't eat any breakfast!"
- heard, while I was still sleeping as she was inches from my face, "then I just won't wear my fish shorts!"
- heard as she was playing in the basement, "I never get to see the dead cricket!"
Our dear Harper is very emotional these days and these outbursts always include a stern crossing of arms or frantic running away, tears and utter noncooperation. Good thing she's cute, and ridiculous.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Pretty Boy
A few months ago there was Internet hub bub about a JCrew ad that showed a mom painting her sons toenails. I didn't hear about this until the day Graham showed up at school with painted blue toenails. Oh, and a blue beaded necklace. And his sisters' pink striped sunglasses. And a ponytail in his hair.
Folks asked me, "does Ian care?" Does Ian care? In short, no. He doesn't care. We are pretty sure that our head butting, wrestling, tackling big boy is pretty secure in his, uh, manhood. He really just wants to be like his sisters, who he thinks are the greatest people on Earth. When they put on jewelry, he puts on jewelry. When they line up, assembly-line style, to have their hair done in the mornings, he lines up to. He used to settle for just a hair brushing. Then he would ask for a hair barrette which could easily be swiped out of his hair without him even knowing. But now we are on to the ponytail. Not as easy to discreetly take out, but he likes it and that's all that matters for now. Happy boy makes me a happy girl. And Ian is just fine with that!
![]()
![]()
Folks asked me, "does Ian care?" Does Ian care? In short, no. He doesn't care. We are pretty sure that our head butting, wrestling, tackling big boy is pretty secure in his, uh, manhood. He really just wants to be like his sisters, who he thinks are the greatest people on Earth. When they put on jewelry, he puts on jewelry. When they line up, assembly-line style, to have their hair done in the mornings, he lines up to. He used to settle for just a hair brushing. Then he would ask for a hair barrette which could easily be swiped out of his hair without him even knowing. But now we are on to the ponytail. Not as easy to discreetly take out, but he likes it and that's all that matters for now. Happy boy makes me a happy girl. And Ian is just fine with that!
Let's hear it for the boy!
Needing a diaper change, Graham happily went with Ian to the van for a quick clean up. Upon their arrival back to our table at the pool, Graham was overheard chanting, "Grammy! Grammy! Grammy!" Not sure what we were cheering, but we all joined in, much to his delight.
![]()
What's in a name?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)