I think we need a new tooth fairy.
From the time our kids started losing teeth it seems she just keeps letting the poor tykes down! Admittedly, there have been a few times when the kids have put a tooth under the pillow, and then woken up in the morning to actually find money there, but more often than not, they come down the stairs in the morning with a disappointed look, and I immediately realize with a panic that she must not have come...
I'm not sure whether or not to complain to her supervisors, though. First of all, she DOES come eventually -- usually before the kids have even eaten breakfast. And there have been a few times that she HAS been considerate enough to leave notes explaining her tardiness. (Ever seen a tooth fairy note? They're written on a tiny piece of paper with the tiniest little handwriting I've ever seen. The kids tell me that this proves, of course, that she's real...) And of course, I'm assuming that most nights she's just exhausted and falls asleep before she feels like it's safe to go in their room. So I almost feel sorry for her...
But I feel so guilty every time I have to come up with excuses to tell my poor kids. This past week, when my oldest actually lost TWO molars, she still spaced it. The next morning he wrote her a note, asking her to please come earlier next time so that the money is there when he wakes up. Ouch!
The best I could come up with was that she was probably just confused because he had actually lost the first tooth on Tuesday, and the second tooth wasn't lost until Thursday night, but the teeth didn't go under the pillow until Thursday. I tried to cover by saying that she probably came Tuesday -- and Wednesday -- and couldn't find a tooth, so then she didn't know what to do when Thursday came around.
Has anyone else had problems getting YOUR tooth fairy to perform? All the kids want is for there to be money there when they wake up! Is that so hard? Any ideas on how to help a non-functional tooth fairy start performing better? Or is there a tooth fairy agency where I can go to hire a new one? AAARGH! Or do I just keep making excuses for the poor gal?
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Halfway Down the Stairs
This morning I was on my way up the stairs when I found my 7-yo sitting on the middle step, legs stretching across the step, leaning against the wall, playing with a Lego spaceship he had built.
I was immediately reminded of a poem I heard as a child, written by A.A. Milne:
It was totally perfect -- there he was, on the middle stair, in an entirely different reality, flying his spaceship, and completely content. The only question was how to get around him without disturbing the dream. Maybe I need my own stair to sit on.
I was immediately reminded of a poem I heard as a child, written by A.A. Milne:
Halfway down the stairs is a stair where I sit.
There isn't any other stair quite like it.
I'm not at the bottom, I'm not at the top.
So this is the stair where I always stop.
Halfway up the stairs isn't up and isn't down.
It isn't in the nursery, it isn't in the town.
And all sorts of funny thoughts run round my head.
It isn't really anywhere, it's somewhere else instead.
It was totally perfect -- there he was, on the middle stair, in an entirely different reality, flying his spaceship, and completely content. The only question was how to get around him without disturbing the dream. Maybe I need my own stair to sit on.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Peter Pan or a Lost Boy?
Tonight I had to laugh a little at my sweet, sweet husband.
I had gone to a little get-together with some of the women from church, and was pleasantly munching on appetizers while chatting with the ladies. He was home with the kids.
Then I hear the phone ring. Hostess's husband answers it, and the thought crosses my mind that it might be my husband. I check my watch and reassure myself that it still isn't very late, so it's probably not him, and probably everything is fine.
Then hostess's husband comes in to tell me that my husband is on the phone.
All sorts of thoughts start flooding my mind at once. Is everything OK? Maybe someone got hurt and he needs to take them to the hospital? Maybe our house is collapsing? Our whole community has been ordered to evacuate? It isn't really like him to call about just anything, so I figure it must be something pretty important.
"Hey, do you have any idea where the disc is for Lego Indiana Jones?"
Yep. It's important. But I am left wondering whether little boys ever really grow up? Is there a secret Neverland that nobody tells the girls about? Or maybe the girls are the pirates... always out to spoil their fun...
I had gone to a little get-together with some of the women from church, and was pleasantly munching on appetizers while chatting with the ladies. He was home with the kids.
Then I hear the phone ring. Hostess's husband answers it, and the thought crosses my mind that it might be my husband. I check my watch and reassure myself that it still isn't very late, so it's probably not him, and probably everything is fine.
Then hostess's husband comes in to tell me that my husband is on the phone.
All sorts of thoughts start flooding my mind at once. Is everything OK? Maybe someone got hurt and he needs to take them to the hospital? Maybe our house is collapsing? Our whole community has been ordered to evacuate? It isn't really like him to call about just anything, so I figure it must be something pretty important.
"Hey, do you have any idea where the disc is for Lego Indiana Jones?"
Yep. It's important. But I am left wondering whether little boys ever really grow up? Is there a secret Neverland that nobody tells the girls about? Or maybe the girls are the pirates... always out to spoil their fun...
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Hey Baby, Wanna Share Head Sweat?
To preface this account, I need to first explain that when I was a teenager I was, quite simply, a nerd. Sometimes I tried to be cool, but I really didn't understand much of the subtleties of either fashion or flirting. I had a good amount of friends, but in hindsight most of them were probably as inept as I was. The way I describe it now is that I "didn't even understand teenagers when I WAS one."
This past weekend my husband and I spent the whole weekend with teenagers from our church. Despite my earlier inadequacies, I had a lot of fun with them and realized that I probably "understand" a lot more now than I did as a teenager. One little thing I observed is still completely amusing and somewhat confusing though.
Part of the weekend was spent at a ropes course where the "kids" were all taking turns attempting the challenges. This provided a good deal of down time as they waited for everyone to have a chance at each challenge.
During some of this down time, two of the guys were working very hard to flirt with two of the girls. These girls were suitably impressed and were working just as hard to flirt back. For one of the challenges, the participants went with a partner, completely harnessed and wearing helmets. The two boys were going as a pair, and the two girls were waiting to be able to use their helmets. I overheard one girl ask the other, "So whose helmet do YOU want?"
I nearly laughed out loud. I admit that as a teenager I might have considered it romantic to wear the sweaty helmet of a cute boy I'd just been flirting with. And I'll even admit that I might have found it disgusting to put on the helmet that was just used by someone repulsive to me.
But it makes me wonder a few things. Obviously the girls thought about this or I wouldn't have overheard the comment. I wonder if the boys even considered which girl they would give the helmet to, and if so, did THEY discuss it amongst themselves? And either way, why does it even matter which helmet you get? They are two identical sweaty helmets that have both been worn by 50+ kids in the past 4 hours. And it's not like the boys know that you have been conspiring and trying to decide which one to get your helmet from.
Would you have thought about something like that as a teenager? Enough to talk to your friend about which person you would share head sweat with?
This past weekend my husband and I spent the whole weekend with teenagers from our church. Despite my earlier inadequacies, I had a lot of fun with them and realized that I probably "understand" a lot more now than I did as a teenager. One little thing I observed is still completely amusing and somewhat confusing though.
Part of the weekend was spent at a ropes course where the "kids" were all taking turns attempting the challenges. This provided a good deal of down time as they waited for everyone to have a chance at each challenge.
During some of this down time, two of the guys were working very hard to flirt with two of the girls. These girls were suitably impressed and were working just as hard to flirt back. For one of the challenges, the participants went with a partner, completely harnessed and wearing helmets. The two boys were going as a pair, and the two girls were waiting to be able to use their helmets. I overheard one girl ask the other, "So whose helmet do YOU want?"
I nearly laughed out loud. I admit that as a teenager I might have considered it romantic to wear the sweaty helmet of a cute boy I'd just been flirting with. And I'll even admit that I might have found it disgusting to put on the helmet that was just used by someone repulsive to me.
But it makes me wonder a few things. Obviously the girls thought about this or I wouldn't have overheard the comment. I wonder if the boys even considered which girl they would give the helmet to, and if so, did THEY discuss it amongst themselves? And either way, why does it even matter which helmet you get? They are two identical sweaty helmets that have both been worn by 50+ kids in the past 4 hours. And it's not like the boys know that you have been conspiring and trying to decide which one to get your helmet from.
Would you have thought about something like that as a teenager? Enough to talk to your friend about which person you would share head sweat with?
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Cherry Jam (or "Why canning makes people insane")
On Sunday our neighbor told us we could pick the sour cherries off of the tree in their back yard. My first response to this was giddy delight. That has since transformed, however, as the reality of the situation has unfolded...
First, despite the fact that we have a good ladder, it is NOT a good ladder for picking cherries. It is just not tall enough standing on its own to be able to reach very high into the tree. (It unfolds to lean against the house and is then as tall as we need it to be. But only when leaning against the house.)
Second, picking cherries on a ladder while five months pregnant and with two small children trying to "help me" is a time-consuming, somewhat frightening task, and involves a lot of warning the younger children about the potential of falling, even while standing on the uppermost rung of the ladder and holding onto the tree for balance.
Third, I have this bucket. Full of cherries. That I have to somehow maneuver around. Thankfully I "helped" my parents pick cherries a few times as a kid and copied their idea of using a belt through the handle of the bucket. But then I have a heavy bucket around my 5-month pregnant waist, which works for awhile but gets pretty uncomfortable.
Fourth, right about the time I decided I couldn't reach anymore cherries without seriously endangering myself, we took a break to come in and get some lunch, and I promptly started feeling VERY sick to my stomach. Flu? Kidney infection? Too much pressure on a pregnant belly? Not enough food in the pregnant belly? I don't know, but I really needed to lie down. I put the toddler down for a nap and thought I was successfully distracting the 4yo with computer games, but every time I was almost asleep, she needed help. Anyway, the rest of the night I was feeling like death and had enough of a fever to make me huddle under a sweatshirt in our 75 degree house.
Implied with the fourth point is that I did NOT immediately take care of the cherries in my bucket to turn them into scrumptious jam, jelly, or pie.
Fifth, this morning I discovered that the same 4yo had little red dots all over her body. I spent the morning verifying that it was chicken pox, trying to rearrange all of my mental plans for what we would do for the next 2 weeks, and trying to also recover from my own sickness which was not as poignant but still annoying.
By the time I looked at the bucket of cherries this afternoon, they were rotting pretty quickly. Like a third to a half of them. So I started trying to take care of them and sort out the bad ones. Which leads us to the next thing.
Sixth, while I am trying to cut out cherry pits and sort out rotting moldy cherries, my toddler is "helping" me go through the bucket. Mostly he is just taking handfuls of cherries out of the bucket and throwing them into the garbage. So I move the garbage. So then he starts throwing them on the floor and squishing them with his toes.
Seventh, after working for what felt like forever, and chopping up my precious cherries, I had exactly 2 cups of chopped fruit, and half-a-bucket still left, with rapidly rotting fruit in it. I'm tired and I want to go to bed. I made freezer jam out of the 2 cups (making 2 1/2 pints by the time you add sugar and pectin) which is enough to give my neighbor one as a thank you for giving us cherries, and enough for me to have 1 1/2 left for us.
Oh, and Eighth, my kitchen is a disaster. And did I mention that I still have a half-a bucket of rapidly rotting fruit?
Why did I do this???
First, despite the fact that we have a good ladder, it is NOT a good ladder for picking cherries. It is just not tall enough standing on its own to be able to reach very high into the tree. (It unfolds to lean against the house and is then as tall as we need it to be. But only when leaning against the house.)
Second, picking cherries on a ladder while five months pregnant and with two small children trying to "help me" is a time-consuming, somewhat frightening task, and involves a lot of warning the younger children about the potential of falling, even while standing on the uppermost rung of the ladder and holding onto the tree for balance.
Third, I have this bucket. Full of cherries. That I have to somehow maneuver around. Thankfully I "helped" my parents pick cherries a few times as a kid and copied their idea of using a belt through the handle of the bucket. But then I have a heavy bucket around my 5-month pregnant waist, which works for awhile but gets pretty uncomfortable.
Fourth, right about the time I decided I couldn't reach anymore cherries without seriously endangering myself, we took a break to come in and get some lunch, and I promptly started feeling VERY sick to my stomach. Flu? Kidney infection? Too much pressure on a pregnant belly? Not enough food in the pregnant belly? I don't know, but I really needed to lie down. I put the toddler down for a nap and thought I was successfully distracting the 4yo with computer games, but every time I was almost asleep, she needed help. Anyway, the rest of the night I was feeling like death and had enough of a fever to make me huddle under a sweatshirt in our 75 degree house.
Implied with the fourth point is that I did NOT immediately take care of the cherries in my bucket to turn them into scrumptious jam, jelly, or pie.
Fifth, this morning I discovered that the same 4yo had little red dots all over her body. I spent the morning verifying that it was chicken pox, trying to rearrange all of my mental plans for what we would do for the next 2 weeks, and trying to also recover from my own sickness which was not as poignant but still annoying.
By the time I looked at the bucket of cherries this afternoon, they were rotting pretty quickly. Like a third to a half of them. So I started trying to take care of them and sort out the bad ones. Which leads us to the next thing.
Sixth, while I am trying to cut out cherry pits and sort out rotting moldy cherries, my toddler is "helping" me go through the bucket. Mostly he is just taking handfuls of cherries out of the bucket and throwing them into the garbage. So I move the garbage. So then he starts throwing them on the floor and squishing them with his toes.
Seventh, after working for what felt like forever, and chopping up my precious cherries, I had exactly 2 cups of chopped fruit, and half-a-bucket still left, with rapidly rotting fruit in it. I'm tired and I want to go to bed. I made freezer jam out of the 2 cups (making 2 1/2 pints by the time you add sugar and pectin) which is enough to give my neighbor one as a thank you for giving us cherries, and enough for me to have 1 1/2 left for us.
Oh, and Eighth, my kitchen is a disaster. And did I mention that I still have a half-a bucket of rapidly rotting fruit?
Why did I do this???
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Attacking Washington
Some people might say that if you want to rule the world, just conquer Washington, D.C.. After this weekend, I feel almost as though I've earned my crown.
Right now is cherry blossom time in Washington, D.C., and it is also spring break for a good part of the area. Normally, this would be enough to make me avoid downtown D.C. completely. I especially wouldn't try to do it without my husband there to help with kids.
However, sometimes life forces us to step beyond our comfort levels. This week we had guests with us who were extremely interested in seeing things downtown. With my 4 kids home and their baby, there were barely too many people to fit in my 7-passenger car, even with my husband at work. So we took two cars. This means they were following me. Me, driving with no adult to navigate the one-way streets and cryptic left/right-turn only lanes. Me, looking for places for two cars to park while trying to navigate said streets. With four kids in the car. And a billion people already parked and walking around D.C.
I did it, though.
* We found places to park.
* We went to TWO museums (the most crowded ones on the mall, I am sure).
* We fed everyone without having to buy the outlandishly priced and potentially undercooked food on the mall (meaning I packed enough lunches and snacks that everyone was satisfied!)
* Everyone was able to make all the necessary bathroom trips.
* My friend was able to successfully nurse her baby, even with a billion people.
* We got my double stroller into and out of all necessary entrances.
* We were able to find the car again when we were finished.
* I navigated my way out of D.C. during rush-hour traffic. (And I only had to turn around once!)
And then we did it again the next day. Still without my husband. And the kids only complained a little bit about being tired of walking. (Although by the end of the 2nd day, my 7-yr-old did say, "Mom, I am never going to Washington D.C. again. Ever.")
And then I went down (by myself -- no kids!) on the metro the next day to cheer for my SIL who was running the National Marathon. I even brought kites and flew them during kite festival.
The world is mine!!!
Right now is cherry blossom time in Washington, D.C., and it is also spring break for a good part of the area. Normally, this would be enough to make me avoid downtown D.C. completely. I especially wouldn't try to do it without my husband there to help with kids.
However, sometimes life forces us to step beyond our comfort levels. This week we had guests with us who were extremely interested in seeing things downtown. With my 4 kids home and their baby, there were barely too many people to fit in my 7-passenger car, even with my husband at work. So we took two cars. This means they were following me. Me, driving with no adult to navigate the one-way streets and cryptic left/right-turn only lanes. Me, looking for places for two cars to park while trying to navigate said streets. With four kids in the car. And a billion people already parked and walking around D.C.
I did it, though.
* We found places to park.
* We went to TWO museums (the most crowded ones on the mall, I am sure).
* We fed everyone without having to buy the outlandishly priced and potentially undercooked food on the mall (meaning I packed enough lunches and snacks that everyone was satisfied!)
* Everyone was able to make all the necessary bathroom trips.
* My friend was able to successfully nurse her baby, even with a billion people.
* We got my double stroller into and out of all necessary entrances.
* We were able to find the car again when we were finished.
* I navigated my way out of D.C. during rush-hour traffic. (And I only had to turn around once!)
And then we did it again the next day. Still without my husband. And the kids only complained a little bit about being tired of walking. (Although by the end of the 2nd day, my 7-yr-old did say, "Mom, I am never going to Washington D.C. again. Ever.")
And then I went down (by myself -- no kids!) on the metro the next day to cheer for my SIL who was running the National Marathon. I even brought kites and flew them during kite festival.
The world is mine!!!
Matzos Anyone?
Yesterday my husband bought 5 boxes (each 1 lb -- 14 servings) of Matzos.
Does anyone have ANY good ideas for how to eat them???
Does anyone have ANY good ideas for how to eat them???
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