Shared Memories

Sometimes, I can't help but think about how very different my children's lives are from my own childhood.

Part of this is the span of decades. I marvel at the fact that Issa can log in to the computer, pull up her games, and play on her own; my first memories of computers were either the big chunky ones that glowed all over and had four buttons that made big clunking noises when you pushed them or, a little later, computers that required a really floppy floppy disk and made big chunking noises while it thought about maybe playing a game...at school...if you were very good and finished your work. Play dates just showed up on the porch asking to play and didn't come with allergy lists or Mom's cell number because if you were allergic to something everyone already knew it because it was really life threatening, we had never heard of gluten, and there was no such thing as a cell phone.

Part of it is location. Growing up, trips to museums took planning, college campuses were far away, and real highways were few and far between. Museums and college campuses are a regular Tuesday around here, and my kids know the highways by name. I grew up identifying soy beans and corn in the field; I'm not sure my kids know what a soy bean is and we work to help them understand the origin of dinner is not the grocery store.

In other ways, though, our childhood stories are so similar. There are the big things: holiday traditions, seasonal decorations, and shared stories. Some things are far more mundane: family recipes, family dinners, favorite books, and old folk songs. My favorites, though, are those moments that are just a little big magic--the memories that make the kids' eyes sparkle and make me feel like a kid again, too.

This weekend, we put one of those magic pages in the kids' childhood story books. For the very first time, we caught lightening bugs.

We waited until it was barely dusk and we could see little lights flicker across the backyard. We poked holes in a jar lid, and we headed out for the adventure. Evan had a little trouble, but he loved the pursuit:



 I ended up catching them and passing them off to him. Issa, however, was a natural:

 Daddy was keeper of the jar. Let me tell you, these lightening bugs are bigger than their northern cousins! We were very glad we had chosen a big jar.

 The kids had a blast chasing little lights around the yard:

 And then we brought them inside to our bathroom, the darkest room in the house, to watch them flicker for a bit:

 We all giggled, naming the little lights and clapping whenever they twinkled.

Soon, it was time to let them go, and we waved as our little friends flew back into the yard, lighting a path:

 Twinkling as they went:

And if that's not magic, I don't know what is.

Daddy Day

A quick follow-up to yesterday's post (with a full camp review at the end of the week): Issa loved camp and she is still Issa at home! My heart sings.

Now as promised....a recap of Father's Day around our house.

Since it is a holiday, you know we celebrated full throttle! Issa and I had been plotting for weeks; we didn't tell Evan until Friday, and parts of the day were a complete surprise to him, too. You see, our little man sings like a canary!

I took the kids shopping Friday so they could each choose one small gift just from them. Issa and I were really hoping Evan could keep the secret for two days; he made it about 40 minutes: "Daddy, my got you a hammer!" He did get daddy a hammer--a two and a half pound sledge hammer. Please visualize him carrying that beast through the store because he refused to let me put it in the cart. Issa chose a nail bag to hold said hammer. That did manage to stay a secret.

Sunday morning, Issa woke Evan and I up at o'dark thirty to start the celebrating. The kids wrapped their own gifts:

 Yes, friends, that is Spiderman paper and painter's tape.

I loved watching Evan try to wrangle his gift:

 There was also the requisite pile of homemade cards and painted rocks:

 The bag of pebbles was a placeholder for the Pebble watch that we ordered for Daddy; the real thing should arrive in September. (This was most definitely news to Evan.)

We then started the caravan upstairs. Issa, Baboo, and her gift:

 Evan, Booboo, and his gift:

 Me carrying the aforementioned stack and French toast with sausage and coffee:

Daddy did a great job pretending he had slept through all the commotion. We all enjoyed breakfast in bed, and then we enjoyed a very low-key day. Daddy got a high quality nap and some even better quality time with each child individually. We made a special dinner of steaks and twice baked potatoes. I also made marscapone and fig stuffed phyllo pouches as an appetizer. Yeah...they rocked.

All in all, I think it was exactly what Daddy was hoping for, and he was, and is, definitely well-celebrated and well-loved.

My Little Camper

We had an absolutely fabulous weekend, and Daddy was well-celebrated. But...we have some breaking news this morning that trumps that celebration post. We have a camper:

 Issa is having Fun in the Farmyard at our museum this week. And she gets to take a backpack:

 And she wanted to be sure everyone saw the day lilies, too:

 We arrived at the museum ridiculously early because Issa was ready to go to camp at 5:50 this morning. So...we took more pictures:

 Please notice she is still proud of the backpack:

 And she wanted you to see the rocket ship:

Every once in a while, I have one of those mom moments where I feel like I'm in a novel or film. You know the ones. In novels, characters close their eyes and see key scenes that brought them to this moment. In films, hazy visions of the past play against the action of the moment.

My moments always start with the moment in the hospital when I'm sitting in the wheelchair at the front door, waiting for Brad to pull the van around, and I have the realization that I am holding my baby and have no idea what I'm doing. There is this tiny little life in my arms and no instruction manual. I can still feel the lump in my throat, and I can still feel that weight in my arms. The moment hits when we are crossing milestones--especially milestones I am not properly braced for.

This morning, I walked a confident, bouncing little girl into camp. I was fine until I saw the sign on the door: "Fun in the Farmyard for Rising First and Second Graders." Gulp. It's not like I didn't know she was a first grader; I guess seeing it in such big, bold letters made it more real. Then my little angel looked at me with earnest eyes, "Mom, will they call me Issa or Clarissa?"

"They will call you whatever you want, baby."
"Then I'm Clarissa; it's a better big girl name."

Gulp. The montage begins. I bit my lip as I signed her in, and she gave me one very quick hug before she dashed off to meet new friends and do a puzzle. We named her Clarissa knowing it was a name that would grow with her; I just had no idea that she would want to shift at the ripe old age of five. Where did my baby go?

I made it to the car, and I melted. I want to say I shed a tear, but the reality is I slumped over the steering wheel and sobbed. My Issa...now my Clarissa...the happiest camper in the farmyard. I just hope she's not too big to appreciate this little note I tucked in her lunch box:

Someday...

Someday....someday I am going to read these magazines:

 I had high hopes for yesterday. All of the kids (all six of the kids) were playing in the pool, and I really thought I could thumb through some magazines while I watched them. I was delusional. Between lifts in and out, wrapping towels around chilly little girls, and chatting with swimmers taking a break, I read one article.

After an hour and a half, they moved the party down the street, and I was left with the aftermath:

They did carry all of the toys to the deck, but I moved them all back to the garage and cleaned up the pool. By the time I was finished, they were back--at least four of them were back. I have a feeling this is going to be my summer...and I have a feeling I wouldn't have it any other way.

On Building

Yesterday, Issa was down the street playing with the neighbors, so Evan and I got to hang out. When he asked to build a city, I thought I knew how to play. I quickly learned I did not; Mr. Man suggested I just sit back and take pictures. Nice.

So...how to build a city according to our little man.

First, start with the fire stations you already have. Line up the firetrucks beside the stations:

 Then, you have to build a gas station:

 This is what a gas station looks like:

 Then you fill up your trucks and drive them around the town:

I started to build a building, which is clearly not part of building a city. This kid cracks me up!

This is How We Learn

That's my mantra for the summer: "This is how we learn:"

Issa helped me clean yesterday. A few things were running through my head at this point:

1. Isn't it sweet that she wants to help me clean?
2. When did she get so big?
3. Good golly how did she completely miss the entire corner on the top of the piano?
4. I really need to get more Pledge at Costco...and possibly stock in pledge...and more dust cloths. (Yes...that is Pledge on the cloth; it was almost enough to do the entire room; it dusted the piano bench. Downstairs took her four dust cloths.)

I resisted the urge to point out every little spot she missed (although I did point our whole pieces of furniture she missed), and I didn't dust behind her. She is helping, and this is how we learn. She also vacuumed about half of the house. She got every feather (it is so frightening that I can type that phrase like it's the most normal thing in the planet), but we might have a few dusty spots. She was so proud, and this is how we learn.

So...my house is cleaned but not spotless. My daughter is happy...and proud...and learning...and that is worth far more than a little dust. (And consider yourself warned if you come to our home this summer.)

A Little Bonus Time

I am enjoying the bonus time with Issa this summer, but yesterday afternoon a little pang of guilt hit this mama's heart. What about Evan?

He loves his school, and he hasn't complained once about going while Issa is home. If I kept him home, neither of them would have as much fun, and I wouldn't get a dang bit of work accomplished. The rational me knew all of this. But, mama guilt is not rational.

Pick-up time rolled around, and Issa asked if all of the girls could just move the play date next door. I called next door, and that was an absolute possibility. So...four giggling girls headed that way and I went to go get Evan.

It was truly a wondrous thing. I got a little over an hour with just my boy. We read two Thomas books and a chapter in Pete the Tractor. We played basketball and soccer, and he helped me start dinner. We had tickle fights and played chase. That hour seemed to last for several, and we both laughed until we cried.

Parenting books and experts babble about the importance of one-on-one parent/child time for children, and I'm not discounting that. However, they are missing half of the equation. I think it's just as important for the parent. In those moments, I learn more about my kids than I ever could imagine. We all relax a little bit more, and those are the moments I go to sleep thinking about. Here's to a summer of many more...

When You're in First Grade...

For a girl who has never been to first grade, Issa sure does seem to know a lot about it. I have heard, "When you're in first grade..." more times than I care to count recently. However, I like what first graders think so far!

The first thing first graders need is a clean, first grade room! Here is the view from the door: 

 Nana and Papa helped us move the furniture right before they left, and then Issa and I finished the project over the past few days. We just reversed the desk and bookshelf, but that made a nice reading nook:

 And all of the animals live on the shelves or bed now:

 For those of you who stay with us, please notice the clear path to the bed. You will no longer need to navigate through animals to go to bed. You're welcome. We also purged the dress up explosion down to the one chest and cleaned off the dresser and desks to keep only what was "important." No worries...we still have plenty of treasures, also known as random junk.

We are most excited about the redesigned desk:

 She now has a big girl chair and her very own white board because "First graders need to be organized." Yes...she is a little mini-me. She has taken to writing her agenda for the day on the board. I love her! She also put her writing paper and some workbooks in her desk so she can keep practicing for first grade.

And, perhaps most exciting, she is now the proud owner of her very own library card:

She is one very happy first grader, and I'm one very proud, very happy mama.

A Very Big Day

Yesterday, Brad and I went to a wedding. Although we had a lovely day, the kids had a fabulous day! One of the teachers from Evan's school babysits, and she is possibly the world's greatest babysitter. As we were leaving the house, I mentioned that the kids didn't have sunscreen on yet, and she told me not to worry. She has her magic bag with water bottles, a first aid kit, snacks, and sunscreen. My heart sang. She had asked permission to take the kids on a field trip, so we left some admission and food money and our camera and waited to hear all about the adventures.

After we left, she took the kids to a super fun park:

 They left the park for lunch out, and then they headed to the children's museum:

I'm only a little jealous, and I promise we will be headed back there soon!

They came home, went swimming, took baths, and had dinner. I came home to a tidy house and two very, very happy children. Yes...this mommy is one very happy lady. I hate leaving the kids on the weekend, but knowing they had such a fabulous time certainly makes it a lot easier.

First Day of Summer

Yesterday was Issa and my first day of summer break, and the whole day was a wondrous thing. Since I am relatively certain that this may never happen again, I want to capture our highly productive, fun day.

1. We changed and made all the beds.
2. We weeded all of the flower gardens and staked up a few of Issa's glads. She is getting to be really helpful in the gardens!
3. I mowed while she played sidewalk chalk or followed me.
4. We ate a picnic on the driveway. I thought she was crazy, but she was right. The driveway is the perfect place to watch butterflies.
5. We each got a little computer time.
6. We cleaned the whole house aside from the floors.
7. Issa read me two books.

It was a wonderful day, and I just can't believe how big my baby girl is getting!

Pouting and Celebrating

Nana and Papa went home last night. We were a pretty sad lot around here. The kids and I dropped them off at the airport right before dinner, and Issa immediately melted, "But Nana and Papa are so fun." It took Evan a bit longer. We were halfway home when he announced they had visited the airport long enough and we should go get them. It broke my heart.

I gave myself the night to pout as I put away extra chairs and place mats, returned toys to rightful homes, and folded my own laundry. (Mom does it for me when she is here.) I cried every time I put something away. It is just such a blissful week when they are here. I love watching them play with the kids, and I love having the time to just be with them. It always goes too fast.

This morning, though, we are celebrating all the small moments. We are rejoicing because it happened rather than being sad that it is over. So...here are some of my favorite everyday moments from the week.

There were so many train tracks built with Papa I lost count:

 Evan woke up every morning asking to play train.

Nana started to teach Issa how to crochet:

 Issa wants to make her own Nana square. We are hoping to finish this summer.

There were spontaneous snuggles:

 And not to be out done, Evan wanted to learn to crochet, too:

 I think he has decided he is finished, but I love the look of concentration.

There was a very quick swim:

 Nana didn't get in, but she got so chilly she wrapped up in a towel:

 Issa and Papa made a wooden sculpture:

 And Issa made her first dessert all by herself:

Look at how happy:

Yes, they are kisses placed on pretzels, but they were her recipe and she did everything but the actual baking. Yesterday, she made us a fruit plate for snack. She did all of the fruit cutting, put yogurt in a bowl for dipping, and put toothpicks in every single piece of fruit. (I need to buy stock in toothpicks this summer.)

There were also trips to the park, a trip to the museum, and books galore. Mom and I found our dresses for Shannon's wedding, and we just were together. For that, I will be eternally grateful.