May
25
Starting Summer Break with a Bang!
by Leslie
Vacation began, officially, yesterday after Julia’s last day of school.
Check out what pure joy looks like.*
I made the balloon wreath that’s also a game from The 36th Avenue and hung it from the door to welcome her home.
You see, there’s a piece of paper inside each balloon with either a number or a letter T printed on it, and one with a smiley face on it.
The plan was to take it to the back yard, but it was so cold and windy yesterday, we decided to bring it inside. Dave found the box our T.V. came in and hung the wreath from it and we handed the kids some darts.
They all took turns throwing their dart to try and pop the balloons.
(We let Phoebe stand a little closer.)
And when they did, they got to pull pieces of candy from a big bowl according to the number on the paper that was inside it. If they got a T, they took another turn. If they got the smiley face, they got a big pack of Twizzlers. Because Twizzlers in our house are like cigarettes in prison.
It was super fun.
Then we – all of us, even me – headed off to Lucy’s first t-ball game, which they won.
You guys, this is going to be a great summer.
*Can you name the movie that line is from?
May
24
Preschool Graduation, Now and Then
by Leslie
As the students filed into the sanctuary for their preschool graduation, the mom sitting in front of me turned around and nodded toward Jackson sleeping in his infant carrier, “I remember when Lucy was the one in the car seat.” Her older daughter had been in Julia’s preschool class and her youngest was standing on stage with Lucy.
“Those four years went fast.”
Now, half my kids are through preschool.
Lucy, the 2013 graduate.
Julia, 2009.
Yes, that’s the same dress, same shoes. It won’t be long until Phoebe will be stepping into them.
I wrote about Julia’s last day of preschool four years ago. I re-read it this morning and realized I could have written it for Lucy today. I hope you’ll read it, too.
May
22
The Sign-Up Sheet
by Leslie
This has been hanging in the living room for a few weeks now.
It says:
Regester today!
Join the most awsomist club envented. Join Julia Grimmett to fun, feasts, fests, and gifts, and a whole lot more!
Your child will be particeapating in something with violence, not too much – violence, challenges, worthiness and coolness. This is probably for someone that is so awsome, wich is everybody in this family, that you can see it even if they don’t say anything. This club is ruled by Julia and if you choose to particapate, you must see her imedietly. Grownups, if you participate, will be in a different group.
This is just stuff you really needed to know.
Sensirly,
Julia G.
I cannot bring myself to take it down. I love it too much.
May
21
The D Word
by Leslie
I left the keys in the ignition of Dave’s car in the start position yesterday, apparently. I don’t remember doing this, but it was an easy way to add some adventure to our morning today. We got to search for his keys AND find a dead battery! Like a treasure hunt, but without the fun.
That’s not what I even really wanted to tell you, though. It’s what I had to tell you, because when I do stupid things, it makes me feel better to laugh about them and Dave’s not laughing, yet. He’s jump starting the car from the lawn tractor.
Anyway, this is what I wanted to tell you.
Thanks to a generous gift and gentle encouragement from a beautiful friend, I’m giving cloth diapering a try.
Doesn’t Jackson look dapper in his diaper?
My mom used cloth diapers when I was a baby, and it wasn’t until after Lucy came that I really understood that it was something people still did. I thought it was an “olden days” sort of thing, like making all your own bread. Sure, it’s fun to make your own bread, but it’s not convenient to do every day. It may not even save you money. But so far, cloth diapering seems sort of simple. I keep wondering if there’s some key element I’m missing. I’ve seen so many articles and videos about it and was even invited to a cloth diaper party once to “try and figure it all out!” Of course, I didn’t really read those articles or watch the videos and I didn’t go to that party, but the knowledge of their existence was enough to place a shroud of mystery over the whole thing. Plus, I don’t know many people who do it, but some that don’t have suggested that it’s complicated and time-consuming.
My experience so far is that it’s less work than when Lucy started wearing underwear, but still had a lot of accidents.
I’m going to try it a while before I decide to invest in the next size diaper.
I’d love to hear about your diapering experiences. Do you use disposables or cloth or a combination of the two? What brands do you use? And what about baby wipes? Can you believe it took me until child number four to ask these questions?
May
19
Three Things That Happened Today
by Leslie
1. Julia and Lucy had a piano recital.
They were just as proud of the number of cookies they ate at the post-recital reception as they were of their performances.
2. I pulled the world’s largest splinter out of the heel of Lucy’s foot.
Look at that thing! And it was straight up in there. We both screamed when it came out.
3. Bee swallowed a penny. Again.
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