Snowing in April
I know it’s lame to complain about the weather, but I just need to say that it is April 18th and I can see snow falling outside my window. I have fond memories from years past of pulling out spring and summer wear in March and storing the winter wear away. They seem distant memories now. All this global warming is not all it’s cracked up to be.
Abby and Wilson at the Aquarium
Abby and Wilson at the Aquarium. Spring 2007?
Abby at the Mariners
Abby and Mamma enjoy a Mariners game. This is from 2006 I think.
Grandmama sends an Easter crocodile?
Wilson is so enamored with crocodiles that he sees them in everything. He can find crocodiles in the clouds, in his Cheetos and Pirate Booty. He can nibble them out of his toast and his crackers. The bottom line is that we are surrounded by crocodiles.
Earlier this week, a package arrived for Wilson and Abby from their grandparents. It was filled with Easter goodies, including Cadbury cream eggs, Beanie Baby Easter bears, M&M dispensers disguised as Easter bunnies, and 2 large caramel-corn Easter bunnies with candy eyes and candy carrots for noses.
Wilson is convinced that his caramel-corn Easter bunny is a crocodile. I tried to convince him otherwise, but he insisted, turning it on its back and repositioning it. And I’ve got to admit that if I use just a bit of imagination, I can see it, too. The long ears of the bunny could double as the long snout of the crocodile. We can’t really explain the carrot on top of the croc’s head, but otherwise, it’s believable.
You be the judge.
Abby is daring
Abby has a copy of The Daring Book for Girls by Miriam Peskowitz (in addition to her copy of The Dangerous Book for Boys). On page 82 she finds “The Daring Girls Guide to Danger” which gives a list of things that any daring girl should do to face her fears and push herself to new heights to inspire her to face challenges throughout her life. Here is the abbreviated list:
- Ride a roller coaster.
- Ride a zip line across the canopy of a rain forest.
- Go white-water rafting.
- Have a scary movie festival in your living room.
- Wear high heels.
- Stand up for yourself-or someone else.
- Try sushi or another exotic food.
- Dye your hair purple.
Abby has always had a strong sense of justice and readily stands up for herself and others. Number 6? Check.
Abby has a pair of high heel brown boots that were handed down to her from Chelsea. She readily wears these to everywhere but school. Maybe they don’t fit her school image, or more likely they aren’t practical for what I understand are very active recesses. Number 5? In progress.
Tonight Abby dyed her hair cherry red, her favorite color. She asked for this as soon as she read it in this book. Aside from it being a little costly, I honestly didn’t have any good reason to not do it. We went to my stylist and she used a food-grade dye for safety. It is absolutely darling. Number 8? Check.
Everyone should have such a list. Abby is lucky to have found it, and I think it is only a matter of time before she starts adding her own things to the list to personalize it to her own needs and goals.
Abby’s bus
Last night when Doug got home, Abby was chattering away about her karate class and showing him the moves that she needs to master. She told him that in karate, it is really important to concentrate, and only think of karate.
Abby: So I imagine my brain is like a bus, and all my thoughts are riding the bus. I make all my other thoughts go to the back of the bus, and I let Karate stay up at the front. That’s how I concentrate.
Me: Is that a technique that your sensai taught you?
Abby: No. I’ve been working on my bus for while.
Me: Do you use your bus at any other times?
Abby: Yeah, it helps me at school sometimes, too.
We’d read that karate could hone a person’s self discipline and concentration skills, we just hadn’t imagined that it would come in the form of an imaginary bus. Necessity is the mother of invention, and if Abby ever needed a magic bus, this is the time. In a school classroom with 28 other 6-year-olds, this seems like a great coping device. Maybe we should all have a magic bus.
The reasoning of a 2-year-old
Me: Wilson, why are you still jumping on the sofa after I told you to stop?
Wilson: Because YES!
A little later…
Me: Wilson, why aren’t you eating your fruit?
Wilson: Because NO!
Abby’s Coping Advice
Yesterday, after a particularly difficult day at work, I was snuggled up on the sofa with Abby and Wilson looking over Abby’s school work. Apparently Wilson thought he wasn’t getting enough attention because he started head-butting me. After a very hard blow to my forehead, the tears that had been just under the surface for the last few hours finally spilled.
Abby: You’re crying. Did he really hit you that hard?
Me: No, I just had a really bad day at work and I guess I haven’t put it behind me yet.
Abby: The best thing to do is just take a nap. You can’t be sad when you’re sleeping. And maybe you’ll feel better when you get up.
Me: (thinking this is just what I need) I can’t nap. Your father isn’t home.
Abby: Don’t worry. Just turn on the tv. We’ll be fine.
I did not turn on the tv and disappear for a nap, but instead tried to just suck it up. Then Abby disappeared for a few minutes and came back with a tray on which she had placed a bowl of ice-cream and a mug of apple juice.
Abby: Here, this will make you feel better.
This is where I really start sobbing because I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful family. Who cares about a stinkin’ job with some stinkin’ mean people?
Jessi and the three kids have a snow day
Jessi and the three kids have a snow day.
Repeat Perfomances
Wilson has provided many repeat performances on the potty over the last several days. He has used the potty each morning since his debut performance as well as last night at bath time. He’s not initiating any trips to the potty yet, but he willingly sits down and tries each time I suggest it. We’re very pleased with him, and he’s very pleased with himself.