I always hated zoos before I had kids. Seeing animals in a small enclosure out of their natural environment. It made me sad. Watching the tiger walk the same path 532 times a day in a sad circle. The monkeys swinging on the fake trees. The giraffes standing on the cement slabs. I’d tell…
I kind of love when kids are too young to understand the relationship of things. Like what money can buy. No one is rich or poor. No one has a better car or a bigger house. But now they get it – the “rich” people behind us. The homeless men at the freeway exits. The…
I could not help but think of my childhood this weekend. I remember being a very little girl, eating a very early breakfast and watching the Royal Wedding. And even watching that real princess, I knew I just wanted something simple, quiet and easy in life. My memories are simple and happy. Uncomplicated. Family Play…
The sidewalk chalk emerged last week. All down the block there are toddler scribbles, preschool stick figures, grade school rainbows, flowers and hopscotch games. You cannot help but hop yourself down the sidewalks as you fully digest this first sign of Spring. The girls and I spent the afternoon drawing suns and rainbows, making our…
Eloise has been going through a bit of an identity crisis the last year. She is still really a young girl – but is struggling to be cool and old. She has 2 little sisters though who like little girl play – the dolls, the tea parties, coloring, and dress-up. Our home is one big…
I could never get used to the Winters when I lived in Southern California. I always felt something was missing. The anticipation was gone for the seasons to change, never having the warm feeling of bundling up in a new coat, how strange Santa looked next to that palm tree, that people would put cotton…
What my baby did from 10:30am til 11:30am…take diapers out of new package. Lay them on the cat and couch. Throw them on floor. Rinse. Lather. Repeat. Simple. More Wordless Wednesday at 5minutes for Mom, Parenting by Dummies and A beautiful mess.
For 3 straight days she has played with Squinkies. She makes up games. Take them out of their bubbles. Puts them back in. She attaches them to the bracelet and then does it again. She counts them. She organizes them by type. They have conversations. They jump off ledges. But during this time, she tells…
I was slightly concerned about Eloise. She is my realist. My pragmatic child. She has spent her 7 years letting us know what is and what isn’t. Her little sister would pick up a spoon and say “it’s my hairbrush!” and Eloise would say “it is just a spoon, don’t be silly!” Games of make-believe…
Granted we had a busy first week of Summer. Tennis lessons, swimming lessons, baseball, visitors. By Friday night Eloise said to me “can we just do NOTHING tomorrow, please and not leave the house?” And 12 hours later it was followed by “I’m bored.” I took them to the playground today and they sat on…
“The process of applying ideas to solve problems or meet challenges.” Prime Example: Moving your toys on top of the dining room table so your baby sister cannot reach them, tear down your properly placed people, and generally just piss you off. Eloise, you have passed the first grade. Awesome. xoxo,t
School ends in 3 days. 3 days. I keep trying to keep a positive attitude going into it – but truthfully I am not looking forward to it so much. I think we all enjoy our structure, our daily predictability’s and our contact with other people besides each other. I also admit that I hate…
