I've been staying up way too late this week watching the Olympics. I don't know what it is about them, but I just can't stop watching. For two weeks out of every two years (winter and summer), I become a huge sports fan. I could care less about sports the rest of my life.
But it's not just me this time. Rachel, who doesn't want anything to do with any sport EVER (and even cried a month or so ago, out of the blue, telling my husband, "I don't ever want to have to play soccer,") is LOVING watching the Olympics with me! And I'm loving it, too. I've been letting her stay up until 9 to watch each night, then I record the rest and she watches them off and on the next day.
She likes swimming and gymnastics the best, but surprisingly, she's almost just as excited about water polo, rowing, and kayaking--oh and today she saw her first diving and loved it, too! She also has some interest in beach volleyball, and watched almost a whole match with me yesterday.
She's always more excited when the women are competing. And she likes to watch and figure out what the rules are. She comes up with interesting ideas about what a certain line is for and so forth.
I've had to explain to her over and over what a heat is, and that every race is not for a medal. I think she's finally understanding that sometimes they're racing for a medal and sometimes they're just trying to get into the next race, but it's taken a long time for her to get that.
But it's been a fun bonding experience, watching them with her. So I guess we'll just be closet sports fans every two years together.
Oh, and she's decided that she wants to be a rower. "Because I don't want to get my face wet like the swimmers." She was excited to hear that our town has a rowing team (it's a club team) but was sad to find out she'd have to wait until high school to give it a try.
Oh how I love my little olympic lover.
(Just as an aside....I have a huge bone to pick with NBC. They're making us wait until prime time to watch the big stuff...swimming and gymnastics. I understand why, but wish I could watch it live. But everywhere I look, I see spoilers in the afternoon, telling me who wins. Even on MSNBC, which is my homepage online--so every time I get on the computer, there it is in a huge headline! You would think that if they were going to make America wait to watch, they wouldn't give away the ending on their own webpage! Ugh. I don't WANT to know who wins until I watch it! Even if I stay off the computer, yesterday afternoon when my husband got home from work he turned on Sports Center, and there were the results on the bottom of the screen. No warning, no chance to turn my head.... It's really frustrating. In the grand scheme of things, it's not a big deal, but it's just one of those little things that drives me crazy.)
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Rebecca-isms
Rebecca's got her chatty sister beat for how much and how well she talks at barely two years old. She talks non stop from the minute she gets up until the minute she goes to sleep, and the things she says are so clear (and cute and often hilarious).
Here are some phrases we hear from Rebecca on a regular basis:
-"Make my warm." (Make me warm--Rachel used to say this same thing when she was cold!)
-"Seck it out." (Check it out--she says this at the library when she sees a book, video, or CD that she wants. While Grandma was here watching her she kept saying this while holding a book and making a beeping sound, and she finally figured out that Rebecca was pretending to check things out at the library--the beeping sound was the sound the computer makes when it scans the bar code.)
-"I want ice water!" (self explanatory....but she says this ALL the time--the girl drinks all day long, and it can't be just plain water anymore--Daddy introduced her to ice and now it always has to be ice water.)
-"I hiding Becca!" (She says this while covering her eyes. She wants us to say, "Where's Rebecca?" and play peekaboo, which she calls "peekie-boo." She calls herself Becca, but if we remind her that her name is Rebecca she'll say, "Uh-becca" instead of just "Becca." Sometimes she'll say, "Uh-Becca Doy" for "Rebecca Joy," which I call her when she's in trouble!)
-"I wanna watch the Wiggles!" (I hear this many, many times daily. But lately she's become very interested in Blue's Clues. She sits pretty still to watch it, and sometimes Curious George and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, too.)
-"I in tubble," she says with a serious look on her face. (I'm in trouble. She says this when she knows she did something wrong.
-I always marvel at her longer sentences. Lately I've counted a few seven word sentences, like "I wanna take my shoes off now," or "I wanna put dat in my mouth," when talking about some sort of food she likes. I just shake my head in amazement. At this age I think I was lucky to get a couple of words out of Rachel, I think. At some point when she was two her language exploded, but Rebecca's seems to have done that a lot sooner. It's so fun to watch her language develop.
Oh, and I almost forgot our very favorite.... Guess what she calls "Humpty Dumpty?"
"Dumpy Dumpy!"
I'll be sad the day she finally gets that one right. It makes me smile every time I hear it.
Here are some phrases we hear from Rebecca on a regular basis:
-"Make my warm." (Make me warm--Rachel used to say this same thing when she was cold!)
-"Seck it out." (Check it out--she says this at the library when she sees a book, video, or CD that she wants. While Grandma was here watching her she kept saying this while holding a book and making a beeping sound, and she finally figured out that Rebecca was pretending to check things out at the library--the beeping sound was the sound the computer makes when it scans the bar code.)
-"I want ice water!" (self explanatory....but she says this ALL the time--the girl drinks all day long, and it can't be just plain water anymore--Daddy introduced her to ice and now it always has to be ice water.)
-"I hiding Becca!" (She says this while covering her eyes. She wants us to say, "Where's Rebecca?" and play peekaboo, which she calls "peekie-boo." She calls herself Becca, but if we remind her that her name is Rebecca she'll say, "Uh-becca" instead of just "Becca." Sometimes she'll say, "Uh-Becca Doy" for "Rebecca Joy," which I call her when she's in trouble!)
-"I wanna watch the Wiggles!" (I hear this many, many times daily. But lately she's become very interested in Blue's Clues. She sits pretty still to watch it, and sometimes Curious George and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, too.)
-"I in tubble," she says with a serious look on her face. (I'm in trouble. She says this when she knows she did something wrong.
-I always marvel at her longer sentences. Lately I've counted a few seven word sentences, like "I wanna take my shoes off now," or "I wanna put dat in my mouth," when talking about some sort of food she likes. I just shake my head in amazement. At this age I think I was lucky to get a couple of words out of Rachel, I think. At some point when she was two her language exploded, but Rebecca's seems to have done that a lot sooner. It's so fun to watch her language develop.
Oh, and I almost forgot our very favorite.... Guess what she calls "Humpty Dumpty?"
"Dumpy Dumpy!"
I'll be sad the day she finally gets that one right. It makes me smile every time I hear it.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
the good, the bad, and the ugly
I'm done with camp! HOORAY!!!!
-26 cute, sweet, WHINY six year old girls
-Temps in the 90s with VERY high humidity for four of the days
-3 hours of thunderstorms the other day.
-Only one picnic shelter which is grounded (so lots and lots of girls crammed in a very small space, singing lots and lots and LOTS of songs for hours)
-Pit toilets
-Whiny six year olds forced to use said (smelly) pit toilets
-One leader who sat and did nothing all week
-Another leader who helped clean and carry things, but wouldn't take charge or make decisions
-This very soft spoken, indecisive leader who was forced to make all decisions and be in charge every day, ordering others around...definitely not in my comfort zone
Put all of that together and what do you get?
The longest. week. ever.
The first day was complete chaos. We had a rough idea of what we were going to do that day, but no real idea of what to expect, or how long everything would take. We underestimated how much time it would take to accomplish the organizational aspect of everything, which resulted in lots of time for the girls to sit and get in trouble while I tried to get things organized and the other two leaders looked at me to take charge. I came home exhausted and in tears that night because I felt like the girls were bored to tears, I didn't know how to get everything done, and I didn't want to be the one in charge. But I finally realized that I didn't really have a choice. I had to take charge and do the best I could, or it would just keep being chaos. That night I came up with a better plan for the next day.
It got a tiny bit better after that. Once I knew that I HAD to be in charge, and approximately how long things would take, I could plan for it. I didn't like it, but at least we got some things accomplished and the girls started enjoying it. Each night I came up with a plan for the next day, and while things didn't always go according to plan, we were mostly able to stick to it.
The kids whined A LOT. About the toilets. About the hiking. About the heat. About whatever we were doing at the time.... But all of the feedback I got from parents and directors was positive--the girls were having fun, despite the whining, and they said I was doing a good job with SO many girls (26 was larger than any other unit--they usually cap it at 20, and last year there were only 6 Daisies!). So that made it a little bit better, knowing everyone (but I) was happy.
But it was hot. And sticky. And so, so exhausting. I came home each night and collapsed, so grateful for air conditioning! And for my mom....who listened to my own whining and moaning every night and took good care of Rebecca every day. I couldn't have made it through the week without her. She washed my dishes and took us out to dinner so I didn't have to cook, and made my coffee every morning. She even cleaned my refrigerator, a job I NEVER have time for! I love you, Mom!
Last night I collapsed a much happier woman, knowing I didn't have to get up this morning and do it again! I didn't get out of my PJs until 9:30 this morning, which was wonderful. I did what I wanted (well, as much as you can do what you want while taking care of two little girls!). I enjoyed my two sweet girls, rather than 26 whiny ones (even though mine was often part of the whiny contingent throughout the week!!!) I didn't even make dinner--I had enough points from Papa Johns for a free pizza and we had that for dinner.
BUT....even though it was hard and I never want to do it again, there were some good things about it. Rachel, after initially complaining about it, enjoyed camp. It was fun to hear her singing the songs, talking about the things we did, and be excited to go each morning. She's already asked to go creeking again. After the lesson on rocks, she now wants to grow her own crystal. When an older Girl Scout came to teach the girls some old time Girl Scout songs, Rachel was thrilled to hear a few of the songs her Grandma and I have taught her through her childhood.
I also enjoyed getting to know the girls from our own troop a little better. Our whole troop was there this week, and I usually only see them for an hour every other week, so to see them all day, every day, I had a chance to get to know them all a bit more.
So I'll have some good memories to take away from the week.
(I'm just glad I won't be making any more!)
-26 cute, sweet, WHINY six year old girls
-Temps in the 90s with VERY high humidity for four of the days
-3 hours of thunderstorms the other day.
-Only one picnic shelter which is grounded (so lots and lots of girls crammed in a very small space, singing lots and lots and LOTS of songs for hours)
-Pit toilets
-Whiny six year olds forced to use said (smelly) pit toilets
-One leader who sat and did nothing all week
-Another leader who helped clean and carry things, but wouldn't take charge or make decisions
-This very soft spoken, indecisive leader who was forced to make all decisions and be in charge every day, ordering others around...definitely not in my comfort zone
Put all of that together and what do you get?
The longest. week. ever.
The first day was complete chaos. We had a rough idea of what we were going to do that day, but no real idea of what to expect, or how long everything would take. We underestimated how much time it would take to accomplish the organizational aspect of everything, which resulted in lots of time for the girls to sit and get in trouble while I tried to get things organized and the other two leaders looked at me to take charge. I came home exhausted and in tears that night because I felt like the girls were bored to tears, I didn't know how to get everything done, and I didn't want to be the one in charge. But I finally realized that I didn't really have a choice. I had to take charge and do the best I could, or it would just keep being chaos. That night I came up with a better plan for the next day.
It got a tiny bit better after that. Once I knew that I HAD to be in charge, and approximately how long things would take, I could plan for it. I didn't like it, but at least we got some things accomplished and the girls started enjoying it. Each night I came up with a plan for the next day, and while things didn't always go according to plan, we were mostly able to stick to it.
The kids whined A LOT. About the toilets. About the hiking. About the heat. About whatever we were doing at the time.... But all of the feedback I got from parents and directors was positive--the girls were having fun, despite the whining, and they said I was doing a good job with SO many girls (26 was larger than any other unit--they usually cap it at 20, and last year there were only 6 Daisies!). So that made it a little bit better, knowing everyone (but I) was happy.
But it was hot. And sticky. And so, so exhausting. I came home each night and collapsed, so grateful for air conditioning! And for my mom....who listened to my own whining and moaning every night and took good care of Rebecca every day. I couldn't have made it through the week without her. She washed my dishes and took us out to dinner so I didn't have to cook, and made my coffee every morning. She even cleaned my refrigerator, a job I NEVER have time for! I love you, Mom!
Last night I collapsed a much happier woman, knowing I didn't have to get up this morning and do it again! I didn't get out of my PJs until 9:30 this morning, which was wonderful. I did what I wanted (well, as much as you can do what you want while taking care of two little girls!). I enjoyed my two sweet girls, rather than 26 whiny ones (even though mine was often part of the whiny contingent throughout the week!!!) I didn't even make dinner--I had enough points from Papa Johns for a free pizza and we had that for dinner.
BUT....even though it was hard and I never want to do it again, there were some good things about it. Rachel, after initially complaining about it, enjoyed camp. It was fun to hear her singing the songs, talking about the things we did, and be excited to go each morning. She's already asked to go creeking again. After the lesson on rocks, she now wants to grow her own crystal. When an older Girl Scout came to teach the girls some old time Girl Scout songs, Rachel was thrilled to hear a few of the songs her Grandma and I have taught her through her childhood.
I also enjoyed getting to know the girls from our own troop a little better. Our whole troop was there this week, and I usually only see them for an hour every other week, so to see them all day, every day, I had a chance to get to know them all a bit more.
So I'll have some good memories to take away from the week.
(I'm just glad I won't be making any more!)
Friday, July 20, 2012
twenty years
My 20 year high school reunion is this weekend. I can't go (I wasn't even sure I wanted to go anyway, but then I found out I couldn't have gone if I had wanted to because I have somewhere else to be all day tomorrow), but high school friends have been posting about it on facebook, so it's been on my mind even though I won't be there.
Twenty years!?!? It feels like a couple of years ago.
Of course, a lot has happened since then....four years of college, two years of graduate school, teaching school for 10 years, getting married, having children....I guess it makes sense that all of those things would need many years to occur, but still, twenty years sounds like a LONG time. It just doesn't feel like a long time.
I remember when my parents had their twenty-fifth reunion because my mom helped out with it. And I remember thinking they were old. Does that mean I'm going to be old in five years? Because I don't feel old. And most people tell me I don't look older. But the calendar tells me differently, I guess!
There are some people I wish I could see, but for the most part, I already keep in touch with most of the people I would be interested in talking to. Facebook is a strange phenomenon, because I feel like I know enough about what a lot of people are doing with their lives and can see their pictures, so I don't feel a huge need to go back and see them in person. Big social gatherings are not my favorite things, plus my husband leaves the country tomorrow, so I would be going by myself, so I'm actually pretty thankful that I have something else going on and can't be there. But I'm still a little bit curious and anxious to see the pictures people will eventually post.
These are the only pictures I have from my high school graduation. That particular roll of film was double exposed, so they were all ruined. :( This black and white one was one the school took and gave me--it's me giving my valedictory speech (I was scared to death, can you tell?). I don't have a clue what I talked about, though I still have my speech written on note cards somewhere.
This one is my friend and next door neighbor growing up, Jennifer. Do you have any pictures from that day, Jennifer? Maybe I should try and get some from you.
And this is one of my dad and me which really didn't turn out. My dad was my government teacher (though my best friend, Maro, and I took his class "independent study," during our study hall, and spent most of our study halls in his room goofing off, instead of learning about government. But we got A's on all of the tests, so we learned something, right Dad?)
So apart from the big bangs, how much older do I look? Twenty years???
Twenty years!?!? It feels like a couple of years ago.
Of course, a lot has happened since then....four years of college, two years of graduate school, teaching school for 10 years, getting married, having children....I guess it makes sense that all of those things would need many years to occur, but still, twenty years sounds like a LONG time. It just doesn't feel like a long time.
I remember when my parents had their twenty-fifth reunion because my mom helped out with it. And I remember thinking they were old. Does that mean I'm going to be old in five years? Because I don't feel old. And most people tell me I don't look older. But the calendar tells me differently, I guess!
There are some people I wish I could see, but for the most part, I already keep in touch with most of the people I would be interested in talking to. Facebook is a strange phenomenon, because I feel like I know enough about what a lot of people are doing with their lives and can see their pictures, so I don't feel a huge need to go back and see them in person. Big social gatherings are not my favorite things, plus my husband leaves the country tomorrow, so I would be going by myself, so I'm actually pretty thankful that I have something else going on and can't be there. But I'm still a little bit curious and anxious to see the pictures people will eventually post.
These are the only pictures I have from my high school graduation. That particular roll of film was double exposed, so they were all ruined. :( This black and white one was one the school took and gave me--it's me giving my valedictory speech (I was scared to death, can you tell?). I don't have a clue what I talked about, though I still have my speech written on note cards somewhere.
So apart from the big bangs, how much older do I look? Twenty years???
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
out of the routine
These last couple of weeks have not been normal ones around here. Last week, as I wrote before, I was at my parents' house for a few days and then babysat the twins for three days. I also watched them on Monday and yesterday of this week, and will watch them on Friday as well. In addition to that, Rachel's been going to VBS this week with the neighbors--our wonderful neighbors who are moving away in a few short weeks. :( Rachel is LOVING VBS (this is the first time she's ever gone to one and was a little apprehensive, but she absolutely loves it), loving having the twins here, and just loving life right now (well, except for this very moment because I'm making her have her first rest time in a week, since the twins have been here and she hasn't had to have one while they've been here). We also had a Girl Scout get together this week to make sit-upons for Girl Scout day camp--the first Girl Scout event all summer.
Day camp is next week. It will be yet another abnormal week. My husband leaves Saturday for Honduras, my mom is coming that morning, and I have an all day training to go to that day at the camp because I'm volunteering. She'll be here for the week, because I need her to watch Rebecca while I'm at day camp with Rachel. I'm really regretting ever signing up to volunteer, though. It's turning into a nightmare. First, there's the weather to contend with. Who wants to be outside all day every day when it feels like a very humid 100 degrees? With 26 six and seven year olds? I'm scared. Neither my partner nor I really know what we're doing. I'm hoping this training on Saturday will clear things up a bit. But the people doing the trainings we've had so far have been doing this camp for years and it's all old hat to them. They seem to forget that it's all new to us and we don't have a clue.
My husband is happy he'll be gone next week and won't have to listen to me complain every night. My poor mom will have to listen to me instead.... I'm trying to have a positive attitude about it, but I'm not succeeding very well. I'm really nervous and dreading it, actually. He keeps telling me, "What's the worst that can happen? Whatever it is, you only have to deal with it for five days and then it's done."
I'm really, REALLY looking forward to the following week, when things finally get back to normal. No more babysitting. No more camp. Just a couple of regular weeks to enjoy--I can't wait!!! Then it'll be time for Rachel to go back to school. (Part of me is really looking forward to that. Part of me is hating the fact that she's going to be gone ALL DAY--I'm going to miss her!! And part of me is thinking, "What in the world am I going to do with just Rebecca ALL DAY LONG!?")
Day camp is next week. It will be yet another abnormal week. My husband leaves Saturday for Honduras, my mom is coming that morning, and I have an all day training to go to that day at the camp because I'm volunteering. She'll be here for the week, because I need her to watch Rebecca while I'm at day camp with Rachel. I'm really regretting ever signing up to volunteer, though. It's turning into a nightmare. First, there's the weather to contend with. Who wants to be outside all day every day when it feels like a very humid 100 degrees? With 26 six and seven year olds? I'm scared. Neither my partner nor I really know what we're doing. I'm hoping this training on Saturday will clear things up a bit. But the people doing the trainings we've had so far have been doing this camp for years and it's all old hat to them. They seem to forget that it's all new to us and we don't have a clue.
My husband is happy he'll be gone next week and won't have to listen to me complain every night. My poor mom will have to listen to me instead.... I'm trying to have a positive attitude about it, but I'm not succeeding very well. I'm really nervous and dreading it, actually. He keeps telling me, "What's the worst that can happen? Whatever it is, you only have to deal with it for five days and then it's done."
I'm really, REALLY looking forward to the following week, when things finally get back to normal. No more babysitting. No more camp. Just a couple of regular weeks to enjoy--I can't wait!!! Then it'll be time for Rachel to go back to school. (Part of me is really looking forward to that. Part of me is hating the fact that she's going to be gone ALL DAY--I'm going to miss her!! And part of me is thinking, "What in the world am I going to do with just Rebecca ALL DAY LONG!?")
Sunday, July 15, 2012
backpack, backpack
Yesterday we ran a million errands. One of them was to Target, where Rachel fell in love with a backpack for school. We didn't buy it because my husband and I figured it would go on sale soon, but I was worried that they might not have it when it did go on sale. But I decided to chance it and not buy it yesterday.
So today I opened the Target ad, and there was the backpack, on sale!
Tonight Rachel and I went back to Target--since it had been on sale all day I was a little worried that there would be anymore left, but I needn't have worried. There were a few left.
I've never seen a little girl more excited about a backpack! She wore it all through the store, took it off reluctantly so the cashier could scan it, then put it right back on again. "You don't need a bag, huh?" the cashier asked her. All through the parking lot she said, "I'm so excited!" She took it off to get in the car, and on the way home she hugged it and said, "I've ALWAYS wanted you!"
As soon as she got home she put her school supplies in it, which we bought yesterday. She can't wait to go back to school. (Just a few days ago she didn't want to go back. Now she's excited.)
One month from today is her first day....
She's ready!
Oh, I should add that Pinkalicious is one of her favorite books. And you can't really tell from the picture, but the icing on the cupcake is 3D, made out of tulle, and the bottom of the cupcake is sparkly. Pink, Sweet, and Sparkly. Can't get more Rachel-y than that!
So today I opened the Target ad, and there was the backpack, on sale!
Tonight Rachel and I went back to Target--since it had been on sale all day I was a little worried that there would be anymore left, but I needn't have worried. There were a few left.
I've never seen a little girl more excited about a backpack! She wore it all through the store, took it off reluctantly so the cashier could scan it, then put it right back on again. "You don't need a bag, huh?" the cashier asked her. All through the parking lot she said, "I'm so excited!" She took it off to get in the car, and on the way home she hugged it and said, "I've ALWAYS wanted you!"
As soon as she got home she put her school supplies in it, which we bought yesterday. She can't wait to go back to school. (Just a few days ago she didn't want to go back. Now she's excited.)
One month from today is her first day....
She's ready!
Oh, I should add that Pinkalicious is one of her favorite books. And you can't really tell from the picture, but the icing on the cupcake is 3D, made out of tulle, and the bottom of the cupcake is sparkly. Pink, Sweet, and Sparkly. Can't get more Rachel-y than that!
Saturday, July 14, 2012
busy
This has been a crazy week around here. For three days this week I babysat twin 6 year old girls--friends of Rachel's from Girl Scouts who live down the street from us. Their babysitter is going through chemo and had to quit with no notice because things got really bad. So they were scrambling for child care, and I was available. Rachel had the time of her life. Two playmates every day! I'm watching them three more days next week, and then their grandma is coming to save the day and will watch them the rest of the summer until school starts next month.
It has been an interesting experience. The three girls had a great time, but argued a LOT. I figured out over time that the twins just argue about everything automatically, and Rachel joined right in--who got to wear which princess dress (they love dressing up as much as Rachel, so that's what they did much of the time they were here), who was going to be the evil fairy, who would ride the bike first, who would pull Rebecca in the wagon first...you name it, they argued about it. But the arguing didn't seem to detract from them enjoying playing together. And according to the twins' mom, they had just as much fun as Rachel did, and begged each night for Rachel to come home with them for a sleepover (it didn't happen--we told them she could come over sometime soon, though).
It's been a really good experience for Rachel because she's gained social skills that have been lacking. She's struggled socially, which is why we originally sent her to preschool, and that helped some. In kindergarten they were so busy, and only there a half day, so I feel like she didn't have much time (except on the bus) to develop many more social skills. So these last few days have been good experience for her to interact and play with other kids. And for the most part they worked out their struggles all on their own. Once or twice someone tattled on someone, but it didn't happen much. They worked out whatever argument they were having and moved on. Yesterday they were outside for hours playing in the sandbox, playing house (the twins call it playing "Mommy"), and swinging.
Hopefully next week will be more of the same. The hardest part is keeping Rebecca out of their hair! All she wants is to play with the big girls!
It has been an interesting experience. The three girls had a great time, but argued a LOT. I figured out over time that the twins just argue about everything automatically, and Rachel joined right in--who got to wear which princess dress (they love dressing up as much as Rachel, so that's what they did much of the time they were here), who was going to be the evil fairy, who would ride the bike first, who would pull Rebecca in the wagon first...you name it, they argued about it. But the arguing didn't seem to detract from them enjoying playing together. And according to the twins' mom, they had just as much fun as Rachel did, and begged each night for Rachel to come home with them for a sleepover (it didn't happen--we told them she could come over sometime soon, though).
It's been a really good experience for Rachel because she's gained social skills that have been lacking. She's struggled socially, which is why we originally sent her to preschool, and that helped some. In kindergarten they were so busy, and only there a half day, so I feel like she didn't have much time (except on the bus) to develop many more social skills. So these last few days have been good experience for her to interact and play with other kids. And for the most part they worked out their struggles all on their own. Once or twice someone tattled on someone, but it didn't happen much. They worked out whatever argument they were having and moved on. Yesterday they were outside for hours playing in the sandbox, playing house (the twins call it playing "Mommy"), and swinging.
Hopefully next week will be more of the same. The hardest part is keeping Rebecca out of their hair! All she wants is to play with the big girls!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
siblings
This weekend the girls and I went up to my parents' house for a sibling reunion. My younger brother, Jack, lives in NYC and doesn't get home very often. Before that he lived in Prague, so for that year we didn't see him at all. So when he does get home, we all try to get together to see him.
The last time we were all together was Christmas. I don't know the last time we had a picture of just the five of us taken!
The girls had a great time. I hardly saw Rachel the day that her cousins were there--it was over 100 degrees outside but they spent the whole afternoon outside in the little blow up pool. Then they played a rousing game of Hide and Seek all over the house. She was in heaven.
My brothers left (they had been there a few days before me) but the girls and I stayed until today and spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa.
I love my family!
The last time we were all together was Christmas. I don't know the last time we had a picture of just the five of us taken!
The girls had a great time. I hardly saw Rachel the day that her cousins were there--it was over 100 degrees outside but they spent the whole afternoon outside in the little blow up pool. Then they played a rousing game of Hide and Seek all over the house. She was in heaven.
My brothers left (they had been there a few days before me) but the girls and I stayed until today and spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa.
I love my family!
Thursday, July 05, 2012
celebrating the 4th
Waiting for the parade (melting in the sun....oh, my, was it ever HOT!)
Standing in the shade now and then while we waited
Sitting in her sister's seat, drinking from her sister's cup. She wants to be big so badly....
Here comes the parade!
She loved the firetrucks, even though you can't tell from this picture.
After being in the air conditioning the rest of the day, Rachel and I went to the fireworks last night (still too late for Rebecca--maybe next year). Rachel loved her glow wand and sparkly pinwheel headband--we forgot to get it out for the parade, but she wore it for the rest of the day at home, and then to the fireworks.
Standing in the shade now and then while we waited
Sitting in her sister's seat, drinking from her sister's cup. She wants to be big so badly....
Here comes the parade!
She loved the firetrucks, even though you can't tell from this picture.
After being in the air conditioning the rest of the day, Rachel and I went to the fireworks last night (still too late for Rebecca--maybe next year). Rachel loved her glow wand and sparkly pinwheel headband--we forgot to get it out for the parade, but she wore it for the rest of the day at home, and then to the fireworks.
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
stars and stripes
This is two year old Weed, circa 1976.
This is two year old Rachel, circa 2008.
And here's the newest version, two year old Rebecca, circa 2012.
My grandma made the outfit for me for the bicentennial when I was two. She'd be happy to see it living on!
And Rachel wanted her picture taken, too, so here she is.
Happy Independence Day!
This is two year old Rachel, circa 2008.
And here's the newest version, two year old Rebecca, circa 2012.
My grandma made the outfit for me for the bicentennial when I was two. She'd be happy to see it living on!
And Rachel wanted her picture taken, too, so here she is.
Happy Independence Day!
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
friends for life
Last week we made our annual trek to meet up with my dear friend, Allecia, and her kiddos. As you may recall, they moved away back when Rachel and Kaden were two (just about Rebecca's age now, actually--doesn't she look like Rebecca here?). Thankfully we've kept in touch and have met each summer at a park we found kind of in the middle of here and there.
Last summer we were in long pants and sweatshirts.
This year it was 100 degrees. Perfect for the splash pad.
The kids picked up like they'd never been apart.
The same is always true for Allecia and me, too, thankfully. It's the beauty of our friendship.
The kids played in the water (Rebecca didn't like it, but got a little more brave as the morning went on, so that she'd put her feet in a puddle or stick her arm under a spray of water), then we had lunch, played a little bit on the playground, and then went for ice cream.
It all went WAY too fast, but it was a great morning.
Last summer we were in long pants and sweatshirts.
This year it was 100 degrees. Perfect for the splash pad.
The kids picked up like they'd never been apart.
The same is always true for Allecia and me, too, thankfully. It's the beauty of our friendship.
The kids played in the water (Rebecca didn't like it, but got a little more brave as the morning went on, so that she'd put her feet in a puddle or stick her arm under a spray of water), then we had lunch, played a little bit on the playground, and then went for ice cream.
It all went WAY too fast, but it was a great morning.
Sunday, July 01, 2012
lucky ones
A huge storm came through here on Friday night. Hurricane force winds, they say. Our corner of the city seems to be the hardest hit. Not far from our house eight HUGE electric poles and power lines came down onto a pretty major road. Cars were trapped for over five hours without water--thankfully the storm had brought cooler temps so they weren't stranded in near 100 degree heat as it would have been just minutes before. My husband got home from work just a few minutes before all of this started. I would hate to think of him having to drive in it.
Much of the city lost power. Stores, businesses, street lights, and many, many homes. Many are still without power, over 48 hours later. In this terrible heat.
Another storm came through tonight with winds not quite as bad, but still very high speed. Somehow, through all of this, we still have power. It went off for a few minutes three different times during the storm, but each time it came back on. That never happens. If it's off, it's usually off for awhile.
The more people we talk to, the more we hear from people who don't have power. And it only increases our thankfulness that we have been spared the difficulty and discomfort that most of the city is experiencing. People have lost trees or have property damage. Our picnic table blew over and we had some tree limbs in our yard, we lost a shingle from the roof, and one of my tomato plants broke in half, but otherwise we were unscathed.
Here are the most difficult parts of the experience for us (and it's really nothing, compared with what other people are dealing with): Last night we went out to dinner for our anniversary. We had to go to the other side of town, since many places over here were closed, due to power outages, and if they weren't closed, they were completely packed. So we drove to the other side of town where we saw very little power outage, and had a wonderful dinner. The other difficulty came today when we tried to get gas. Many places are still closed. The first station we went to only had premium gas. The second station could only accept cash, which we didn't have, since we planned to use our debit card. The third and fourth stations were closed, and the last one was out of the 87 octane gas, so we had to get the 89 octane midgrade gas (thankfully we have so many stations around us to choose from!). I'm thankful that these are the only issues we've encountered. We went to the grocery store and they had power and all of the items we needed (bread, peanut butter, and milk--if they had been out of peanut butter I think the world would've come to an end at our house)!
So we're the lucky ones in all of this. Lucky and very, very grateful.
Much of the city lost power. Stores, businesses, street lights, and many, many homes. Many are still without power, over 48 hours later. In this terrible heat.
Another storm came through tonight with winds not quite as bad, but still very high speed. Somehow, through all of this, we still have power. It went off for a few minutes three different times during the storm, but each time it came back on. That never happens. If it's off, it's usually off for awhile.
The more people we talk to, the more we hear from people who don't have power. And it only increases our thankfulness that we have been spared the difficulty and discomfort that most of the city is experiencing. People have lost trees or have property damage. Our picnic table blew over and we had some tree limbs in our yard, we lost a shingle from the roof, and one of my tomato plants broke in half, but otherwise we were unscathed.
Here are the most difficult parts of the experience for us (and it's really nothing, compared with what other people are dealing with): Last night we went out to dinner for our anniversary. We had to go to the other side of town, since many places over here were closed, due to power outages, and if they weren't closed, they were completely packed. So we drove to the other side of town where we saw very little power outage, and had a wonderful dinner. The other difficulty came today when we tried to get gas. Many places are still closed. The first station we went to only had premium gas. The second station could only accept cash, which we didn't have, since we planned to use our debit card. The third and fourth stations were closed, and the last one was out of the 87 octane gas, so we had to get the 89 octane midgrade gas (thankfully we have so many stations around us to choose from!). I'm thankful that these are the only issues we've encountered. We went to the grocery store and they had power and all of the items we needed (bread, peanut butter, and milk--if they had been out of peanut butter I think the world would've come to an end at our house)!
So we're the lucky ones in all of this. Lucky and very, very grateful.
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