My little gymnast

Alanya had a ball at the gym. This video of her on the beam is one of her favorites. Her beam routine is much better than mine!

And here she is demonstrating how to do the aerial silks. She looks like a little angel flying through the air.

And one more of her on the trampoline!

I missed my calling!

Yesterday we went to have another Thanksgiving dinner with Jason's family. The rest of the world lays on the couch and watches TV, or goes for a walk after eating. They go to the gym. We went so the kids could play in the gym school.... right... so the kids could play. I think I missed my calling. I gave the aerial silks a try, and think I should call Cirque de Soleil for an audition!

Thanksgiving through the eyes of a child...

A few quick things that stuck out from our Thanksgiving Day. My mom used to have us make place cards when we were little. She would send us out in the back yard to collect leaves, pine cones, and acorns, then sit us at the table with construction paper and Elmer's glue. They were usually masterpieces. Jump to 2008. My children made origami "mayflowers" as place cards. How things have changed.

The other night at dinner the kids were discussing waddles on a turkey and how weird they look. Alanya said her teacher asked if anyone knew what a waddle was and she said she raised her hand and said "it's like the floppy part under my Nana's chin!" Doh! Sorry mom.

Thanksgiving morning my kids were off the wall, especially Ben. They were so excited to watch the Macy's Parade. I used to watch the parade, but back then I'm pretty sure it was still an actual parade, and not a string of lip-synched performances that promote the latest Broadway show and movie opening. Nonetheless, they got to eat their Cheerios in the living room in front of the TV. To them, that is the official kick-off to Thanksgiving Day.

For many it's all about the meal. When it comes down to it, Noah eats two things on Thanksgiving... peas and Jason's sweet rolls. That's it, and he's perfectly happy. What makes it Thanksgiving for him is we don't pester him about not eating anything else.

When I was little we'd make Pilgrim hats and Indian headdresses and have all the stories down about the first Thanksgiving. Now, the difference is my kids have actual Indians in their classes, as in children from India. With the large number of high-tech jobs in the area, Indians are by far the overwhelming minority in our school. Needless to say, the way the kids learn about Thanksgiving is a little different with a global perspective. My kids go to the same school I went to, but the population has changed for the better and they have friends at school with different cultures and backgrounds. The world is a little bit smaller.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. We are off for another Thanksgiving meal with more family today. I'm thankful we have so many people who love us.

Bring it on Ole Man Winter!

I don't know what got into us but I feel we are actually prepared for the snow to fly this year. All of our leaves are officially done. We finished the season with approximately 150 leaf bags filled. On the last day this week of raking, I finally went out and splurged on a big green funnel to use with the bags. Should have bought it weeks ago. This year we even cleared out under the wooded area in the back of our yard. Usually we are frantically blowing leaves into this area hours before the first snow. The deck is clear and the outdoor furniture is in the basement. The driveway stakes are in and ready for the plow. And today, the piece de resistance was the gutter guys showed up to clean the gutters. Ever since we replaced our gutters over a year ago, we decided this was something we couldn't let slide. No more worries about ice dams, clogged gutters, water flowing back through the garage wall. We're ready. Bring it on!

Happy Belated Birthday Benny!!

My little Benny turned eight this weekend. He was so excited to have his special day. I can't believe how much he has changed in a few short years. The thing on the top of his birthday wish list? Tickets to the Boston Pops. How can you say no to that? Benny will be going with just his mom and dad in a few weeks while his brother and sister stay home with a babysitter. He can't wait! Happy birthday Benny!!!

My brave little guy

Noah had to go to the dermatologist today. Last winter this "thing" started growing on his back. What looked like a clogged pore kept growing and growing until it looked something like a kernel of corn on his back. Or one of those candies that is a drop of hard sugar on the strip of paper. Anyway, his pediatrician wanted someone else to see it, so four months later (gotta love dermatologists) we go.

We prepared him with the fact that they would likely want to remove it. He was very clear that wasn't going to happen. We told him that if the doctor recommends it come off, he was having it removed. Back and forth we went. Finally I said "Noah, you can't see it because it's on your back, but let me tell you, the girls will think it's gross." (pause) "Ok, it can come off." And he's only ten. Smart boy.

At the doctor he took his shirt off and sure enough, the doctor looks at me and says let's take it off. So Noah is on his stomach facing the wall, can't see anything the doctor is doing (which was writing notes and washing his hands!) and I see Noah's breathing start to get fast as he's freaking out anticipating this big knife coming at him that he can't see. Poor guy. I decide it's better to tell him that nothing is going to happen now, and then say, ok, here we go, get ready for the needle. He took some deep breaths, and before you knew it that kernel had popped right off. Phew. That was stressful.

As we were leaving, Noah reminded me that in our negotiations the night before I had promised him 'a treat' if he had to have it removed. So Noah lost his mole, and I'm out $1.19 for a cherry slurpee at 7-11. Small price to pay.

My duty to the state is done

I completed my jury service today. In my state, jurors are called for one month of service, and juries are filled every other Monday for the following two weeks of trials. Two weeks ago the trial was a conspiracy and burglary case. I sat in the general jury pool with about 80-90 other people and the clerk pulled one name after another. It was rather surreal to hear my name called as juror #10. I took my place in the juror box while they continued to fill the seats. As each name was called, some potential jurors would approach the bench and tell the judge if they felt there was a problem with them serving, some were excused, some were not. Once the seats were filled, the lawyer went and conferred with his client... was it my imagination, or did he just look right at me? I decided I was just being paranoid. Sure enough, "juror #10 is excused". Well, I never! What was wrong with me? Was it my dashing good looks? My funky socks? My knock-off designer purse? I took it personally. So close to making it.

Today was the final day of selection. I looked around, same group of people from last time, and I think, what are the chances my name tag will find the clerk's fingers again, slim I'm sure. Not so. Hello juror #2. I take my seat, and look at the defendant, this one a woman accused of DUI. All the seats get filled, attorney confers with the defendant, lo and behold... I get excused again! Once, maybe. Twice? What is it that they don't like? That I'm a mother to young children? That I have a graduate degree? That I wear a pink jacket? I don't get it. Off I went back to the jury pool. One more trial today that needs jurors and my name doesn't come out of the wooden box. We're dismissed and thanked for our service.

That's it. I'm a little disappointed I didn't get to sit through a trial, but a little relieved. I couldn't help but notice the defendant's elderly mother sitting in the back of the courtroom, her heart likely breaking. Or maybe it was her house they were conspiring to rob. Guess I'll never know. I dropped my official juror name tag in the box on my way out. In a week or so I'll receive a $10 check for my half day of service today. The whole experience was very odd, sitting with strangers for hours, getting a glimpse into the lives of defendants, wondering why you didn't measure up for the attorney, and getting a measly ten bucks for my troubles. This is what America is built on. Strange, but something about it must work. Until the next time.

Throw a little money at the problem

My sister has always been rather amused by my frugal ways. She is single, successful, and her general theme in life is "throw a little money at the problem". A running joke with the nieces and nephews is that she is Auntie Money-Bags since she spoils them whenever she can. All of this is said in a loving sort of way of course. She laughs about it too.

Well today she suggested I take her into a CVS and show her how it's done. She had a small stack of CVS promotional coupons she had been keeping from her receipts, and I had my coupons. First stop - I showed her the magic coupon machine that spits out coupons when you scan your card. She swears she had no idea the thing existed as she didn't remember ever seeing it before. Then, on to the deals. Free bottle of her favorite conditioner on sale, with an ECB promotion, then out came my coupon to make it a moneymaker. She looks at the coupon I pulled out of my accordion file and asked in a bewildered way "now tell me where you got that coupon." Two tubes of Colgate for $.29. Three packages of purse size tissues for free. She was giddy as we went up and down the aisles. She ended up picking up a lot of stuff she would have just paid full price for. In the end, she paid $17 (with $2ecb for later) for what I figure was about $40 worth of stuff at least. She was so proud of herself, she insisted I take a picture and post it here.

Anne, this one is for you.... throw a little money at the problem!!

Things I'm thankful for

I know Thanksgiving isn't for two weeks, but a friend of mine posted on her blog a list of things she is thankful for sort of as a ramp-up to the big day. Lately around here, I have had some reminders that life can really throw curve balls when you least expect it. People are getting laid off -Jason watched it happen today. People are sick - a friend of mine told me today her dad isn't going to make it. Children can have challenges - I see it when I go into the school. So, to brighten my day and to put things into perspective, here is my top 10 list of things I am thankful for this year, in no particular order.

1. My kids. They make me laugh, make me want to pull out my hair, drive me bananas and bring tears of joy to my days. Each one bursting with love and so different from the other.

2. My husband. He knows me like no one else and still likes me, even when I'm crazy. He works his tail off but the rest of us always come first. When he comes home, he can read my face and instantly know if he needs to take over everything so I can stop being the parent and mentally check out. He supports me in everything I take on, even when it's too much.

3. A job. The paying one that is, not what I do every day. One week at a time, and take nothing for granted. I'm thankful Jason will work this week and get paid. I'll worry about next week then.

4. My home. I'm happy here and it has everything we need and then some. I don't drive around like I used to and wish I lived somewhere else, and that feels good. I may have landscaping envy, and a wish list of projects to do here, but that's about it. Our house is our home.

5. My brothers and sisters. There are five of us and each one of us is crazy in our own distorted way, yet we all put up with each other and truly enjoy spending time together. They are the ones who remember the stories about the Christmas when I was six years old. They are my history. I know they are always there.

6. My friends. There are some I see and talk to every day, and others not so often. These are the people who listen to me complain (see thankful items #5 and #1), lift me up when I'm down, talk me off a cliff, and help me keep things in perspective.

7. My parents. They are happy, still in love after 45 years and the cement that holds #5 together. I am blessed that they live four houses away from me six months of the year, although May to October seems much shorter than the long winter months. I'm thankful my kids have this chance to be with their grandparents.

8. Health, both physical and mental. Short of a bunion, and a few minor issues, I'm healthy, as are Jason and the kids. They are all prospering in school and are good students and friends. They will do well.

9. Being an American. Perhaps not a popular choice around the world, but let's face it, we can do and be anything. We can vote, have our say and decide to change things. We are free to speak, write and protest. We can make change.

10. Peace in my part of the world. I woke up to a gunshot this morning... a hunter in the acres of undeveloped land across from my house. It made me think of others who wake up the same way, but under different circumstances. I wish everyone this peace.

So the next time I'm depressed or stressed out or losing it with the kids, I just need to remind myself of a few of these things. It could be worse. I know that. I'm thankful.

A little late... but Happy Veterans Day

Due to some technical difficulties I couldn't get this picture off the camera yesterday, but here are the kids down on Main Street shortly before the parade yesterday. As you can see from Ben's get up, it was a bit nippy out, but we had fun. Jason had to work, so Grandpa walked downtown and met us. We knew quite a bit of people marching in the parade! Sometimes it does feel like we live in a small town. Thank you veterans.

Some things I don't want to forget

Today I got the first clementines of the season and my heart melted at dinner when Alanya said, "can I have a clementime?" She has always said clementime. No matter how many times we correct her. I would have forgotten if she hadn't done it tonight, and I imagine by the time this clementine season ends this winter, she will likely be saying it right. So... a few sweet things that my kids have said wrong that I don't want to forget...

action-finger, as in "Noah, can I play with that Batman action finger?"

Liza James, as in the song "way down south in Baltimore, little 'Liza James!" It should be Eliza Jane, but Alanya burned this one into our brains a few years ago as we drove through Baltimore at midnight and she sang the song at the top of her lungs clear through the state of Virginia when she finally fell asleep at two in the morning.

grant us pizza today, as in what a priest says after the Our Father, "deliver us Lord from every evil and grant us pizza today." That was Noah, age six.

I'm sure there are more, but these are some of my favorites. Off to peel another clementime.

She can be an angel

Alanya is obsessed with death. Not in a "Mommy, I'm scared" kind of way, but in an intrigued and curious kind of way.

A month or so ago her first grade class was discussing Johnny Appleseed. Alanya told me a child asked where he lived now and the teacher told the class he lived long ago, but is now dead. "So Mama, I raised my hand, and I told Mrs. Rx@ that Nana's twin is dead too!" she said with enthusiasm. (My mother's twin sister died a few days after birth, and Alanya just can't get enough of the story!) I gulped and asked her what the teacher said. "She said 'thank you for sharing Alanya'."

This past week our 88 year old neighbor passed away. A sweet old man, Mr. Burns would light up when he saw my kids. At church he'd always mess up their hair when he walked by. He told wonderful stories, and the kids liked him. When I told the kids he was very sick a few weeks ago, Alanya colored a picture of a butterfly and wrote "I love Mr. Burns" on it. I'm sure he loved it. When I told the kids the other night he passed away, she took it in, and didn't say much, but when she found out there were "events" she wanted to go too. I asked Noah if he wanted to go to the wake with me, and was not surprised when he said no. Alanya didn't understand why she couldn't go. When I got back from the funeral, she said "Mama, did Mrs. Burns cry?" I told her I couldn't really see, but I imagine she did. "Oh."

In the back of our church, there are small memorial crosses with people's names on them, and Alanya knows there is one for each of my grandparents. This morning she points to the crosses and whispers "after can we go look?" Look for what, I asked. "For Mr. Burns' cross." The sweet innocence to assume a cross with your name would magically appear on a wall when you die and become an angel. I told her Mr. Burns didn't have a cross on the wall yet. She accepted that, clasped her little hands and put her head down to "do her prayering" as she calls it.

Up to 100 and still counting!

100 leaf bags that is. 44 this weekend alone. Unfortunately, this weekend everything was wet so they all weighed a ton. Luckily Jason moved them all and can still walk. Thank goodness we're stocked up on Advil! I may not have lugged bags, but I was up on the roof with the leaf blower. There were so many leaves on the roof, you couldn't even see the shingles. Now to get our name on the gutter cleaning company list. And likely another 50-75 bags, and we should be nearly done.

Jason and I may break our backs, but the kids are breaking the bank. In the past, the kids have shown no interest in helping us other than jumping in the piles and spreading them further. This year, finally accepting that kids can be bought, we offered to pay them. (Our kids don't get an allowance, so this was a novelty.) They get so much per bag, and Jason is the ultimate decision maker on who gets what based on how long the kids worked. Noah made $28 this weekend alone. Ben didn't make as much because last week he was our big money maker and yesterday he finally got his trip to Best Buy where he bought the new computer game he was saving for. He spent more time on the computer than raking today. And Alanya, well she spent a lot of time inside a brown leaf bag more than anything, but she did blow some leaves, and the enthusiasm was there, so she gets $4.

I keep thinking I should take a picture to post, but every time I think of it, I realize my time would be better spent raking. The glorious snow will come soon enough.

The gamble I took 15 years ago

When I was in grad school fifteen years ago this week, I took a big gamble and kissed my best friend. He wasn't expecting it and took a step backwards. He wasn't getting away that easy, so I moved in for a second go. That must have convinced him. Now, here we are.

You'll be reading this eventually, likely in the kitchen while I'm putting dinner on the table. Consider this my public love letter to you. Sort of like a 21st century yell from the rooftops. I adore you. I love you. And I'm glad I had that extra drink that night that gave me the confidence to go back in for the second kiss.

Today is going to be big

I've been up since 5:15 this morning since I had to go set up a bake sale for our school's PTO at the polls which opened at 6am. It was dark out and as I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed at least 30-40 people already in line waiting outside. Inside, the poll workers were frantically running around getting ready, and the guy in charge was pumping them up like before a big game, or a Broadway show.... "this is it people! doors open in 5 minutes! cell phones on vibrate! get ready for a long one! keep things moving!" It was actually quite exciting to see it all unfold. I got my vote in early when I looked up and saw my line miraculously empty, while all the others had people backed up. The volume fluctuated... people with last names in the beginning of the alphabet are early birds, and those in the end of the alphabet like to sleep in. Just my scientific observations.

At exactly six, the people flooded in and scrambled to find their correct line to receive their ballot. These were the people that had to get in and out before work, and unfortunately for me, no one was going to risk their space in line for a cup of coffee or a bagel. I got many interested looks, but people were afraid to get out of line. By the time my shift was done at 8am, sales were picking up a little and the wait to get a ballot wasn't more than 10 minutes. The big challenge was finding a place to put your car.

When I got home, Jason was ready to leave and was going to vote on his way. He asked where all the fruit went for is lunch. I had to explain that at the last minute I wanted some healthy things to sell, and if he wanted fruit for his lunch he'd have to go buy it back for 50 cents a piece!

My week to be an American

This is going to be a jam-packed week for me and my civic duties. We all know what is happening on Tuesday. A huge election on many fronts. I haven't been this excited for an election since November 1992 when fellow Hoya, Bill Clinton, was running for president and actually pulled it off. I was a senior and remember us opening our apartment windows looking out on the Henle courtyard and people screaming and cheering as the returns came in. This time around, the stakes seem higher as I now have a mortgage, retirement savings and all the other responsibilities that go along with it. I won't tell you who to vote for (Obama), but as Jason says in his goofy way (Obama), "Vote early and vote often!" You'll find Jason and I clicking back and forth between PBS, CNN and NBC for much of tomorrow night. I'm making popcorn!

As if that isn't enough, I have jury duty too. I had my jury instruction last week and tomorrow return to the courthouse for the first of two selection days this month. Call me a dork, but I find this whole experience interesting and exciting. Jason is so jealous. This is the second time I've been called, once before in Massachusetts but didn't get on a jury, and he has never been called. We're both dorks. Maybe that's why we fit so well together. Many people keep asking me if I tried to get out of it. Let's see... I don't work and my kids are in school... they'd laugh in my face. My mom said it 'isn't fair that busy people get picked, it should be all retired people.' Like that is a jury I'd want sitting in judgement of me!

So this week I get to have my say and vote, and there's a chance I could sit on a jury. How great is it to be an American?!

And to think I worried about this kid!

When Noah was in kindergarten, I was a first time parent in a haze of bliss thinking my child was brilliant and happy and so smart. Imagine my shock when half way through the year the teacher sent a note home saying that kids who were "readers" were welcome to bring a book in to read to the class. I raced to the phone, called my friend and asked, "there are kids who can read in that class?" I had no idea. I had two little ones at home so wasn't able to get into the classroom on a regular basis. Noah couldn't read. All of a sudden I started to worry. He still wasn't reading half way through first grade. Everyone kept telling me, "it will just click", "he'll catch up", or "he'll be fine." Problem was, I wasn't fine. I was worried sick.

Of course he did learn to read. He's now a voracious reader. Last June he asked us when he'd be able to watch the Lord of the Rings movies. Jason told him when he was old enough to read and understand the books. Noah said he'd try. Jason then added he had to start with The Hobbit first. Jason winked at me and said that would keep him busy at least until junior high. Not so. The Hobbit was done in no time and he started in on the trilogy. He plowed through it. He dragged those massive books everywhere. I questioned how much he was actually comprehending, and Jason would occasionally ask him questions about the books. I would walk in on discussions of Middle Earth, Gandolph and elves. Jason assured me Noah was getting it all.

He finished all four books in about three months. Dad now had to pay up. Time for the movie. For the last month or so, Jason and Noah will watch an hour of the movies every few nights. They love it. Not sure what they will do once the nine hours of movies are done. Every time I see Noah enjoying his special time with his dad, it reminds me of how determined he was to read those books. And to think I worried the child would never read!

Now to get Alanya to read. Any day now things are supposed "to click" according to her teacher.
(Sigh)

Halloween 2008

Another Halloween come and gone. The weather was beautiful, the leaves filled the streets, and the jack o'lanterns glowed. How odd is it that my children walk the same streets I did trick or treating? Sometimes I think about that and I think how strange that is. (Wasn't it just yesterday that Mindy and I were dressed up as babies and meeting halfway between our two houses to rake in our own loot? We have six kids between the two of us now. Yikes.) We didn't have many kids ringing our doorbell, only about twenty. A sign of the odd mix of our diverse neighborhood with snowbirds and retirees, families with older kids and even single people. I read about these neighborhoods that are all young families with every house packed with little kids. Sort of a rated "G" Wisteria Lane. Not our neighborhood. But that doesn't mean it isn't fun.

Jason and his dad took the kids on our "regular route" as the kids go the same direction every year. God forbid they do it backwards or do a house out of order. It takes them a little over an hour, and that usually is enough having to lug those buckets up and down the hills of our neighborhood. Apparently Alanya and her friend Sara pooped out close to the end. It wasn't that long ago we had the wagon and double stroller to help. Noah always weighs his bucket, and this year it was 3.6 pounds. His personal best is 3.8, and he had hoped to break 4 pounds. Not this year. Benny darted around like a mosquito cranked up on sugar. When they got home they dumped their buckets and started sorting and tradesies, just like when I was little. Noah had 14 peanut butter cups and no kit kats. Ben had 13 kit kats and no peanut butter cups. Alanya had 3 ring pops. Funny the things they choose when offered a bowl. And between the three of them they had more full-size bars than a movie theatre concession stand. Who says the economy is bad?

We finally got them to bed close to 9pm, Benny moaning with a tummy ache on the couch. Alanya negotiating for "just one more." Noah stayed up a little later to watch part of a dvd with Jason. This is going to go by too fast, isn't it?

Halloween is behind us. Today the true work begins. Raking. Thank goodness we have an extra hour today. Better use it wisely.