4. The following conversation with Ali: “Mommy, you know what really disappoints me about the new Tinkerbell movie?” “No. What?” “Well, the other fairies – Fawn and Rosetta and all – call Periwinkle Periwinkle before they even know her name.” “Oh. That is a serious continuity issue!” “I know. It really bothers me.” (I have […]
The Birthday Archives.
Six. There’s something about that number that seems very significant – as if it’s the 21st birthday of being a kid – as if they should legally be allowed to drink caffeinated beverages or something. Last weekend, I went through the ridiculous amount of photos that I’ve taken of Ali’s six years of life. It […]
The Not-So-Nativity.
For their Third Annual Lego Nativity Scene (see years one and two,) Ali and Chris decided to branch out in their block-based biblical interpretations. This year, they chose the oh-so-Christmasy story of the building of Noah’s Ark. The ark looked oddly medieval, with seemingly not-so-watertight windows involved. But they saw their work, and they said […]
The Christmas Story, with Director’s Notes.
A play, intended for annual use, to be put on by the children of a small group. Dress children in anything remotely period appropriate, including but not limited to tree skirts, 1984 Pageant dresses, (Which can be made more authentic by adding a cloak and a halo,) and Batman costumes. For actors that will be […]
On Creating a Reference Guide.
I gave Ali a new notebook the other day. In five-year-old girl terms, this is roughly equivalent to gifting her with a mansion on a private island in the Caribbean with an on-site Frozen Yogurt bar and all of the Disney Princesses as attendants. Okay – maybe not that great. But very, very close. She […]
I’ve Always Cried Ugly.
{Fair Warning: There will be blood.} On Thanksgiving Day, we discovered Ali’s first loose tooth. This was a crucially important family moment, because her nearly two-year-old brother has developmental milestones on a daily basis. But at the age of nearly six, Ali is at somewhat of a developmental plateau, and mightily jealous about her status. […]
Waxing Poetics.
Micropoetry, from Ali: Hey Mom! I killed something so you could see it. Look! A Yellow Ladybug! Isn’t she so pretty? I killed her because she was running away and I wanted you to see her. I think she was scared of me. Micropoetry, from Noah: …And yes, I do realize that […]
On Lying to the Children.
There are many things about parenthood that look much more romantic on the front side than they actually turn out to be. Rocking your newborn back to sleep in the middle of the night, for one. Go ahead…take a minute to reminisce on what your pre-childbearing image was: long white silk nightgown, perfectly rolled hair, […]
Filled to the Brim.
Why yes, I had a four day weekend. Why no, I had no time to blog. Four day weekends always look long and vast on the front side, but then find themselves packed, end to end. Ours was filled with preparing for the next holiday (before even celebrating the current one, Holiday Liberalists that we […]
On The Pursuit of Illness.
With the onslaught of illnesses in our home over the past month, I have found myself reminiscing of the Golden Days of Malady. As a child, I highly enjoyed the benefits of being sick or injured. As such, the crowning achievement of my childhood was breaking my arm in the seventh grade. Ailments are fun […]