My altered reality

Today I was getting a computer game for Eleanor.  She likes to play the online games at Nickelodeon or Disney.  I was finding the Wonder Pets game when she asked what Ruby's brother's name is.  I thought for a minute and said Max.  Then I started singing the theme song from  Max and Ruby, a show on Nickelodeon.  Then Eleanor said no, the Ruby from this real life.  Funny how my mind defaulted to a cartoon with a theme song and not our real life cousins Ruby and Jonah.  I guess I need a reality check.

Try, Try Again

Today is officially Ticked Off Tuesday.  We were snowed out last week so I had to take a rain check.  Hmm, maybe it should have been called a snow check.  Well, anyway I am looking forward to it.  I have figured out why the girls were excited about me being on the radio and, consequently, why they were sad to miss it.  Apparently, I didn't tell them that Ticked Off Tuesday is a TALK show.  Meredith asked what song I was going to be singing.  Sweet girl.

A nightly ritual

As much as we rush through life we try to build in as much routine as we can, particularly at bedtime.  It's hard though because sometimes a scheduled book or a song will be what tips the scales the following morning.  One thing that has become a nightly ritual for us is a small gesture suggested by Deacon Leon Noelker when he baptized Meredith in 2003.  Regrettably, I have few memories from any of the sacramental moments in mine or my children's lives.  But I do remember Deacon Leon asking that we parents make the sign of the cross on our child's head each night.  I don't think I started right away, but it has become a nightly ritual for me.  I take comfort in it.  The girls barely even notice and often ask me to do it as they missed it the first time.  Even if I don't have bedtime duty, I sneak in quietly before I retire to give this tiny blessing.  I have seen Bradly do it and now, most touchingly, Eleanor likes to do it back to me.  She did it last night on my lips and I found that to be such a tender moment.  Maybe a telling moment, too.  It makes me think she knows a lot for her four years and, perhaps, I needed that.  It was a small gesture that will have a lasting impact.

A fire and hot cocoa

 

I am officially tired of the snow and cold, but I must say there is nothing cuter than kids in snow suits.  Not to mention it makes you want to shout "I can't put my arms down."  This was from Brad's first attempt to sled with the girls this winter.  They were very excited but they kept telling people that mommy didn't want to sled, she wanted to sit by the fire and drink hot cocoa.  There was no fire and no hot cocoa. Of course see below for what happened after the photo shoot and one or two trips down the hill.

Yep, that's us, driving away.  Suddenly a fire and hot cocoa didn't seem like such a bad option when compared to subzero weather and walking up that hill.  Of course Meredith and Daddy had a blast.  But we were warm!

The etiology of a nickname

People ask me frequently how a child named Lillian came to be called Poppy, instead of the more obvious flower nickname, Lily. Like most childhood nicknames a sibling was involved, but rather than being anointed Poppy, her name sort of evolved. Lillian was born when Eleanor was just 16 months old. Unfortunately Eleanor's toddler language skills were not quite developed enough for her to say the three syllables of Lillian or the double L sound. So she called her Lala (like the Teletubby.) And we did too. Eventually, as her language skills developed, Eleanor began to call her Lala. And we did too. In goofy "mother-of-a-newborn-ese" (that's the official language of sleep deprived, hormonal, postpartum women)Lolly became Lollipop. As Lillian grew so, too, did her personality. Eventually her nickname was being modified depending on her mood. If she was crabby, she was Pop Tart. If she was showing off she was Pop Star. If she was crying she was Poppy Top. From there we evolved (or perhaps regressed) to Poppy. Funny how a long name was shortened to a nickname which was then lengthened to another nickname was inevitably too long. Thus we arrived at a nickname of a nickname. Don't ask me how Eleanor came to be called Noodle, just be glad she reclaimed her name. I suppose Lillian will too, if not before, she will definitely do so when she is asked about the etiology of her nickname.

Gifts for the new year

I just remembered how I was awakened this morning…

A small finger inside my nose followed by the sweet voice of Lillian proudly saying “Mommy, I gave you my boogie.”

December 31, 2009

Eleanor (4) to her much older friend, Lizzie (8)

From December 28 (blogging for prosperity and so I can delete the email from my inbox.)

"Did you know some couches are named sofa?"

A jury of your peers

I was summonsed to jury duty today and although it was canceled it made me wonder about the process and the promise of a jury of peers.  Do I really want to be the peer of someone whose guilt or innocence I would be called to determine?  Maybe peer means something different to me than it does in legalese.  I actually even looked up the definition of peer.  M-W.com defines peer as:

1 : one that is of equal standing with another : equal; especially : one belonging to the same societal group especially based on age, grade, or status
2 archaic : companion
3 a : a member of one of the five ranks (as duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron) of the British peerage b : noble 1

I choose noble.  If I get a choice of which kind of peer or which definition to choose, I choose noble.  Anyway, most people dread jury duty.  I can't wait.  I am a true crime junkie.  As such I don't think I will actually be selected.  I imagine the defense will issue a peremptory challenge. They might claim "actual bias."  Do you think I watch too much Law & Order.  QUIET IN THE COURTROOM.

SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!!

There is still something so magical about a snow day.  Even though we get a phone call canceling school long before I turn on the TV, I still tune in to watch the cancellations on KSDK.  I have never seen my company name scroll across the bottom of the TV but I still watch with anticipation.  If I had a radio I would tune in to hear Chris Dieckhaus read the through the litany of closed schools and canceled events.  I have always thought it would be easier if she just said what was open instead of what was closed.  Regardless of the approach, her monotone, androgynous voice is soothing like a Gregorian chant.  The only thing that would make it better is to go into the living room and watch the Lone Ranger in the dark while mom gets ready for work.  Be careful out there and stay warm.

Mama Bear is at it again

I made Meredith wear her snow boots today.  It wasn't that she didn't want to, it was that the school dress code policy prohibits.  Even snow boots.  Even on snowy days.  Even for kids that walk.  I am feeling kind of bad about it now, because she may end up being the sacrificial lamb, but I have since contacted a member of the school board and the faculty.  I get dress codes.  In fact, I cherish them, but let's not have all black and white rules when the sky is gray, snowy gray.

He's swallowed the Kool Aid

Pops just left.  I think he has officially swallowed the "grandparent Kool Aid."  I've never seen this Kool Aid before but it must exist because seemingly level headed parents get all kooky when they become grandparents. Let me explain by example.  Pops never gave me money for getting an A on my report card, good grades were expected.  But today he handed Meredith a $10 and told her keep the change.  She only had 7 As.  Of course that made Eleanor sad since Pops didn't give her any money.  I  suggested he give her a quarter.  He gave her a $5!  Then, like cash for grades is not enough to make me think my dad is softening with age, he proceeds to tell Brad and I that he is thinking he might get Meredith a swimming pool for her birthday!  What?!  I asked for a swimming pool for years instead I got pass to the public pool.  What's next?  A trampoline? A car? A later curfew?

It sounds like a country song

Lillian woke up early this morning so I got some Mommy and Poppy time.  Like her oldest sister (and her mother, if I am being honest) she cannot be quiet.  Oh the funny things I learn.  She started by telling me she ate too much icing (Michelle?)  She proceeded to tell me that Michelle woke her up yesterday (MICHELLE!)  Then she when on to tell me that a boy came over, a boy with a dog and a John Deere hat (Michelle (and Andrew, of course.)  I think she has a future in storytelling or country songwriting.

Tune in on Tuesday

Momma makes her radio debut on Tuesday.  Meredith is sad that she will be in school, but I am not sure she will miss much.  I am a guest on KLPW's Ticked Off Tuesday.  Don't be too impressed, I was the only bidder on this "opportunity" at the grade school dinner auction.  Crazy schedule aside, I have been postponing this because as I told the host, Diane Jones, I just don't have much to be ticked off about.  Well, actually there are somethings that tick me off, but they aren't things I want to share on the radio (or on this blog for that matter.)  How about you?  What ticks you off?

Catholic Schools Week Not Snowed Out...Yet

It always seems like God's funny way of recognizing the event Himself, but usually Catholic Schools Week (CSW) results in a snow day.  And while snow days are usually a welcome event, that's just not the case when the kids should be dressing up for "Hillbilly Day" or having a popcorn and movie in the afternoon.  Of course, tonight, we are expecting snow to begin accumulating with an estimate of 2-5"  I am not too worried though, we have seen much accumulation yet this winter, despite strong predictions.  I guess, we might get to pull out our blue and gold shirts, watch the 8th graders beat the teachers in a volleyball game and get out at 2:00.  You gotta love being Catholic!