I made the mistake a few days ago of telling Anna that we were now on summer vacation.
"We have to pack as soon as we get home!" she told me.
"No, we're not leaving on our trip until the end of July," I reminded her.
"But we should pack for all of July!" was the insistent retort. Apparently my mother's ways are rubbing off on the 4-year-old.
Rachel has been out of school since Thursday and so far we've packed a lot into our summer:
Day 1: A trip to the library to show off completed book reports in exchange for ballots to win prizes courtesy of the summer reading program. I believe that we also played board games. The girls borrowed the Wizard of Oz DVD from the library so we watched that and they mostly enjoyed it. Neither one of them was that thrilled with the scary parts and Rachel kept commenting on how different it was from the book. (We recently finished reading it out loud and the kids were excited when they found the DVD at the library.)
Day 2: Shul, then another trip to the library where Rachel won a prize in the draw. In true kid fashion, she selected a $2 dollar store set of plastic animals because it had an elephant in it. Never mind that there were gift cards for Chapters. Can you tell what I would have chosen? At any rate, Rachel was ecstatic about the newest addition to her elephant collection. Anna was firmly convinced that it was not fair that she didn't win. She'll have another chance this week. On the way home from the library, we drove around our neighbourhood counting things. Our final tally was as follows:
81 Canadian flags
2 red & white windsocks with maple leaves
1 Ontario flag
1 Swiss flag
1 Mickey Mouse
Sometimes it's better not to ask. The girls have been begging to go driving around counting things again. I think that might be a great rainy day activity!
Day 3: Canada Day
After very exciting trips to the bank, the grocery store, and the mall to pick up Rachel's piano books, we were ready to head to our friends' house for more Canada Day fun. The kids "swam" in the kiddie pools, explored our friends' huge (1 acre!) backyard and had a great time being loud and running around. After dinner, we headed to the park where Rachel discovered that she did in fact like the teeter-totter when her friend was on it with her. Then it was back to our friends' house for a campfire and fireworks.
I was quite pleased to discover that one of our friends' kids likes to set marshmallows on fire and eat them black and gooey, just like I remember doing when I was a kid. I was slightly less pleased when he took one of my marshmallows (just kidding, he totally had my permission to take it!), but his sister was very helpful and offered me one of her burnt ones since she didn't want it! Rachel and Anna were a little wary of roasting their own marshmallows but were happy to eat them.
There were sparklers for the kids and then a fireworks show to end the night. We were home a little before 11 p.m. and had the kids in bed shortly after. This was the first time that our kids have seen fireworks since it's really the first year that we've easily been able to keep the kids up late without major meltdowns. They slept in until 8 a.m. today and I expect that bedtime will be back to the usual 8-8:30 p.m. tonight! They were both complaining on the way home about how late it was and how they were tired and should be in bed. Let this hereby put to rest any doubts about whose children they really are! (Hi, Ben!)
Day 4: More board game fun was had this morning. The girls also completed more book reports in anticipation of tomorrow's trip to the library. Anna had swimming from 12:45-1:15 followed by a trip to the adjacent park & splash pad where a friend of ours joined them with his daughter. Ben just called to tell me that they're off to get free ice cream cones with our friend's coupons. Sounds like another great day to me!
Monday, July 02, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
They're definitely related
Last weekend we drove home from our student recital before switching cars and heading to Grandma Karen's house. As we turned onto our street, Anna spotted Ben's orange car in the driveway and said in a worried voice, "Where's the van!??!"
After a pause that was perhaps slightly too long, I turned around to Anna and said, "We're IN the van right now."
"Oh, yeah. I forgot," she said happily.
After a pause that was perhaps slightly too long, I turned around to Anna and said, "We're IN the van right now."
"Oh, yeah. I forgot," she said happily.
Thursday, June 07, 2012
Just another day
Or is it? Today, June 7th, marks a whopping 2 years that we have been in our current home! For property whores like us, that's a pretty big deal. (Does anyone else out there watch the show Property Virgins? It's all about first time home buyers. Ben and I were watching last night and commented that they need to have the antithesis to that show and call it Property Whores. We could totally star on that.)
The girls are having a great spring so far. I had to stop and think about whether to type spring or summer since we pretty much skipped spring weather this year. T-ball and blastball have started up again, and that makes for two incredibly happy Gitter girls. Rachel was excited to play first base at her first game last week because, according to her, that's where all the action is. Anna is just excited to play ball again.
School and pre-school are winding down although Rachel doesn't finish until the 28th. Anna has her pre-school graduation next Friday and has been walking around the house reminding me that she can't practise her songs where her parents can hear her because it's a surprise for graduation. Ben and I are helping get things ready for Promotion Night at Rachel's school. So far this mostly means calming down teachers who worry about writing lyrics and songs, and assuring them that we can do whatever is needed to make sure it all goes smoothly. Occasionally it means preparing the kids for one thing, only to find out that ABC is really XYZ. Have I ever mentioned how much I despise lack of communication?
Ben has been umpiring a lot more than either one of us had anticipated. This is a good thing since it will fund our trip to Indianapolis at the end of July. The girls really want to go back to the children's museum there. We are meeting friends from Kansas and will also visit the zoo and a prairie life centre with interactive indoor and outdoor activities. Rachel also rather desperately wants to go to Half Price Books and I of course will need some retail therapy at the Hanna Andersson store. Come on, tell me the girls don't "need" these dresses this fall! (No, they don't need them at that price but when they go on sale I might consider it!)
The highlight of the trip will likely be the zoo, if only because Rachel will get to bathe an elephant! She doesn't know anything about this, so please do not spoil the surprise by telling her. She knows that there are elephants at the Indianapolis Zoo as well as the Toledo Zoo where we will stop on our way down. She's already quite happy with the prospect of seeing two sets of elephants. Ben and I can't wait to see the look on her face when she finds out that she will get to help bathe an elephant up close and personal!
Although summer is "supposed" to be a more relaxing time, a quick survey of the calendar shows a whopping one day off between now and the end of July. I guess we're staying put in London for a while! August will be slower for work but of course that comes with its own challenges. That said, we're planning to enjoy the warmer weather and check out the local splash pads and parks this summer.
The girls are having a great spring so far. I had to stop and think about whether to type spring or summer since we pretty much skipped spring weather this year. T-ball and blastball have started up again, and that makes for two incredibly happy Gitter girls. Rachel was excited to play first base at her first game last week because, according to her, that's where all the action is. Anna is just excited to play ball again.
School and pre-school are winding down although Rachel doesn't finish until the 28th. Anna has her pre-school graduation next Friday and has been walking around the house reminding me that she can't practise her songs where her parents can hear her because it's a surprise for graduation. Ben and I are helping get things ready for Promotion Night at Rachel's school. So far this mostly means calming down teachers who worry about writing lyrics and songs, and assuring them that we can do whatever is needed to make sure it all goes smoothly. Occasionally it means preparing the kids for one thing, only to find out that ABC is really XYZ. Have I ever mentioned how much I despise lack of communication?
Ben has been umpiring a lot more than either one of us had anticipated. This is a good thing since it will fund our trip to Indianapolis at the end of July. The girls really want to go back to the children's museum there. We are meeting friends from Kansas and will also visit the zoo and a prairie life centre with interactive indoor and outdoor activities. Rachel also rather desperately wants to go to Half Price Books and I of course will need some retail therapy at the Hanna Andersson store. Come on, tell me the girls don't "need" these dresses this fall! (No, they don't need them at that price but when they go on sale I might consider it!)
The highlight of the trip will likely be the zoo, if only because Rachel will get to bathe an elephant! She doesn't know anything about this, so please do not spoil the surprise by telling her. She knows that there are elephants at the Indianapolis Zoo as well as the Toledo Zoo where we will stop on our way down. She's already quite happy with the prospect of seeing two sets of elephants. Ben and I can't wait to see the look on her face when she finds out that she will get to help bathe an elephant up close and personal!
Although summer is "supposed" to be a more relaxing time, a quick survey of the calendar shows a whopping one day off between now and the end of July. I guess we're staying put in London for a while! August will be slower for work but of course that comes with its own challenges. That said, we're planning to enjoy the warmer weather and check out the local splash pads and parks this summer.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
The Magic Freezer
This afternoon the girls got the choice of a freezie or ice cream sandwich for snack. Since Anna was apparently disappointed in the ice cream sandwiches, she opted for a freezie. We're still finishing up last year's freezies and the colour choices have been slim for a while now.
"A purple one!" Anna yelled gleefully, having dug to the bottom of the freezer. "I think that after the freezies have been in the freezer for a long time they turn purple!"
It should be noted that up until today, the only colours we had seen were blue and green. I can understand her surprise if not her logic!
"A purple one!" Anna yelled gleefully, having dug to the bottom of the freezer. "I think that after the freezies have been in the freezer for a long time they turn purple!"
It should be noted that up until today, the only colours we had seen were blue and green. I can understand her surprise if not her logic!
Best homework ever
Rachel had some catching up to do in her parasha book this past week. Each week they read the Torah portion for the week and then have several workbook pages to do. As she was working, she told me that she needed to get her siddur (prayer book) so she could double check the blessing for brit milah (covenant of circumcision).
I went over to see what she was working on and confirmed that she needed to write out the blessing. This was on a page where a picture was also required of her. "Rachel," I asked, "What do you think you're supposed to draw here?"
"I don't know," she said. "Wait! Maybe I should draw a picture of a person having a brit milah!"
We ran out of time for her to finish so she didn't get to the picture, but I had the hardest time not laughing. It reminded me of when we were reading a book that talked about various things including having a bris. Once we had explained it to Rachel, she asked in a concerned tone of voice if that was a one-time thing or if the boys had to keep having it done. Ouch.
I went over to see what she was working on and confirmed that she needed to write out the blessing. This was on a page where a picture was also required of her. "Rachel," I asked, "What do you think you're supposed to draw here?"
"I don't know," she said. "Wait! Maybe I should draw a picture of a person having a brit milah!"
We ran out of time for her to finish so she didn't get to the picture, but I had the hardest time not laughing. It reminded me of when we were reading a book that talked about various things including having a bris. Once we had explained it to Rachel, she asked in a concerned tone of voice if that was a one-time thing or if the boys had to keep having it done. Ouch.
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Anna has a dilemma
Snack time was going along smoothly. I was reading books to the kids while they ate their snacks. Then out of nowhere, Anna informed me that there was a problem.
"I don't know what to be when I grow up," she said in a worried tone of voice.
"You've got lots of time to figure it out," I assured her.
"But I want to be so many things. I want to be an elephant keeper and a baker. And I want to work in a toy store too."
She's clearly a deep thinker. The other day we let her sit in Rachel's booster seat for the ride home in Ben's car. Since Anna is 4 and 41-42 pounds, she can legally ride in a booster. We prefer to keep her harnessed but don't mind if she is in a booster once in awhile since she likes to emulate her big sister and stays properly seated.
About halfway home, she asked in a very serious voice, "Why is the ceiling higher on Rachel's side of the car?"
After Ben and I stopped laughing, we explained that the ceiling was the same height but that Anna's car seat sits higher up than Rachel's booster.
Anna has also taken to keeping a series of chapter books in her room. The Butterfly Meadow books, all eight of them, now stay on her bookshelf. She likes to "read" them at night. Never mind that she can't reliably read more than a few words, if those books aren't in her room at bedtime she gets quite upset.
"I don't know what to be when I grow up," she said in a worried tone of voice.
"You've got lots of time to figure it out," I assured her.
"But I want to be so many things. I want to be an elephant keeper and a baker. And I want to work in a toy store too."
She's clearly a deep thinker. The other day we let her sit in Rachel's booster seat for the ride home in Ben's car. Since Anna is 4 and 41-42 pounds, she can legally ride in a booster. We prefer to keep her harnessed but don't mind if she is in a booster once in awhile since she likes to emulate her big sister and stays properly seated.
About halfway home, she asked in a very serious voice, "Why is the ceiling higher on Rachel's side of the car?"
After Ben and I stopped laughing, we explained that the ceiling was the same height but that Anna's car seat sits higher up than Rachel's booster.
Anna has also taken to keeping a series of chapter books in her room. The Butterfly Meadow books, all eight of them, now stay on her bookshelf. She likes to "read" them at night. Never mind that she can't reliably read more than a few words, if those books aren't in her room at bedtime she gets quite upset.
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
I don't blog much.
I blog so little that I do wonder if anyone reads this anymore.
Half the time when I sit down to blog, I forget what I was intending to blog about before I even start. Take today for example. Here I sit, at the computer, but for the life of me I can't remember anything cute or funny that the kids have said or done recently.
Of course, it's possible that I don't remember anything right now because I got very little sleep last night. Every once in awhile Anna wakes up just as we're heading to bed for the night. "It's too dark in my room!" she protests. Or "I don't like it when my door is closed!" she wails. Last night it was too dark. Rather than try to convince her otherwise, I invited her to join me in our even darker bedroom. Ben went to bed in Anna's room where he enjoyed a full night of sleep.
I got to snuggle an adorable 4 year old. All night. I got to hear her cute little sleeping noises as she rammed into me. All night. I also got to hear my 8 year old head in and out of her room to the bathroom and then to my room. This was at 4 a.m. She did not fall back asleep. By 6:50, she was back yet again and I told her just to go get dressed. Anna was also wide awake. I suggested that she wake her father up.
I'm not quite sure how I will manage 4 hours of teaching this evening but I'll give it my best shot. And then I will go to sleep. All night.
Half the time when I sit down to blog, I forget what I was intending to blog about before I even start. Take today for example. Here I sit, at the computer, but for the life of me I can't remember anything cute or funny that the kids have said or done recently.
Of course, it's possible that I don't remember anything right now because I got very little sleep last night. Every once in awhile Anna wakes up just as we're heading to bed for the night. "It's too dark in my room!" she protests. Or "I don't like it when my door is closed!" she wails. Last night it was too dark. Rather than try to convince her otherwise, I invited her to join me in our even darker bedroom. Ben went to bed in Anna's room where he enjoyed a full night of sleep.
I got to snuggle an adorable 4 year old. All night. I got to hear her cute little sleeping noises as she rammed into me. All night. I also got to hear my 8 year old head in and out of her room to the bathroom and then to my room. This was at 4 a.m. She did not fall back asleep. By 6:50, she was back yet again and I told her just to go get dressed. Anna was also wide awake. I suggested that she wake her father up.
I'm not quite sure how I will manage 4 hours of teaching this evening but I'll give it my best shot. And then I will go to sleep. All night.
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)