Thursday 19 February 2010

So many days missed.  So much minutia. 

B, I volunteered at your school Tuesday afternoon for Valentine's Day.  You were so proud to have me there.  You got a little upset that no ne was thanking you (apparently, when the kids bring in birthday treats the birthday child gets a big THANK YOU!). You also asked me why Elliot's mom is in the class all the time and I never am.  That made me sad.  You had a playdate at one of your friend's house after school (prompt pickup at 5pm suggested twice).  You were *thrilled*. 

On Wednesday Daddy picked you up at 1:30 and you and U went to Little Farm.  You hiked to the pond and, while you complained a bit on the hike there, you were happy once you made it to the pond.

And today was pretty average.  You are in a weird stage where you get extremely defensive if you are scolded at all.  You like to throw it back at us - "Great!  Now you are MAD at ME!"  You also get very touchy when you feel as if you aren't good at something.  I am trying so hard to build up your confidence, in understanding that it is OK, it is *glorious* to try something hard and fail, but you are 5.

U, your destructive streak is mighty.  You are off from school this week, and since Daddy isn't working right now, you two are "bonding" at home.  I heard from Daddy today that you drew in red marker all over the pages of my copy of Luc Sante's "Evidence" - a book I've lost once and miraculously found  again in a used bookstore.  You also decided to "wash" the floor after Daddy had already done so; he needed to wash it again.  You also discovered the file cabinet today, and despite Daddy telling you twice to stay out of it, you manged to destroy numerous documents.

You've also been sick for over a week - wet cough, snotty nose.  So you are grumpy by the time I get home, and I've been so anxious lately I must admit, I've been short with you.  You whine a lot, and you stubbornly refuse to say please, which for me is a non-negotiable part of asking for anything.  Our few hours of evening quality time have been sorely lacking in quality.  Except for Tuesday, when I came home, saw you were broken, and immediately curled up with you in my bed and read until you were snoring 15 minutes later.  We are both having a bad week.

This past weekend you both saw Clara Mae.  Sunday night was even a firepit marshmallow circle with CM.  I think you both had oodles of fun - and got incredibly dirty.

Saturday 13 February 2010

U. You are a little sick.  Again.  You woke up crying at 4am with your hacking cough and raw throat.  We gave you medicine and brought you to our bed.  Then you said you were hungry.  Over.  And.  Over.  I fell asleep as you happily sat between us, munching Cheerios™.   You still have a runny nose, and as I type this you are watching Ice Age 2 with B.

B. You chose to watch you movie today instead of tomorrow - we'll see how strong your will is tomorrow when you realize there is no movie to look forward to.  Last night was Lucio's birthday - they projected "Avatar" The Last Airbender" on the wall.  Elliot was also invited, so Jolene (Elliot's mom) and I took advantage of the 5:30pm start time and head out to Alameda for some Mojitos.  You had a tough time leaving, but the promise of being allowed to show Elliot how to play "DoodleJump" on my iPhone helped you through the trauma.

Yesterday was your 100th day of school, which Peralta seems to celebrate as a school holiday.  You made a crown and sang a song. 

We spent the morning cleaning and eating breakfast,  then head to Sears to exchange the mattress.  Sears is depressing enough, so the three of us head out to the suspiciously murky fountain and the overpriced and somewhat janky merry-go-round I refused to let you ride.  Mean Mama.  Afterwards we stopped at Gioia Pizza for lunch, then B. and Daddy head out for a playdate with ClaraMae and her dad Doug (Roberts Park, then their house).  U. and I stayed at home so U. could nap.  After you woke up, we did some laundry, then dug up some crab grass in the backyard.  Exciting!  Afterwards you rode that weird Princess bike the Neely's gave us out front while I weeded.

Right now, though, you're eating fish sticks, sweet potato fries, and peas while you watch Ice Age 2.  It's quiet and you both seem content (though I hear Daddy riding you, U., to eat your peas!).

Tuesday 9 February 2010

Last night we read the end of "The Invention of Hugo Cabret."  Again.  I started to read to U at 7 because you seemed so spent and needed to just lay down on a warm body and relax.  B heard me reading and couldn't stay away.  After I finished we brushed teeth with very little resistance and off you both trotted to bed.  Tonight was U's turn ("We sleep in U's bed tonight, remember?" B reminded me) and after a flurry of talking, you were each asleep in 5 minutes.

This morning you two were softly chatting away in your room.  When I finally dared to venture in there at 7am, you both had built a complex stage set on U's bed using dinosaurs, Rescue Men, various cars and Playmobil people.  When I asked what it was, you answered, "This is a commercial!"  By the time I returned to the room after breakfast, you had migrated all the toys down to the floor, so once again, I've missed the photo op.  U, you remembered that the day before we discussed wearing the purple flower dress.  You looked for and found it, and then decided that you needed to ruin the entire outfit by wearing clashing pants with hearts all over them.  I once again let you leave the house with the most spectacular bedhead - but you had a barrette, so there is improvement.

Breakfast was English Muffins with honey.  Berch ate 2 1/2 - Una almost one.  I joined in drop off and B, you were awful.  All of the strength and fearlessness you show with Daddy disappears in front of me.  You cried, demanded my iPhone (??!!??), and asked if I could arrange a play date for this afternoon.  I keep trying to explain that you cannot do playdates on the days you have Spanish class, and you cried even more.  Someday, I hope you appreciate the Spanish.

Monday 8 February 2010

You both love the heat vents.  Lately, fights erupt over whose bum gets the most warm-air real estate - so you need to be separated (winner stays in the kitchen; loser banished 5 feet to the bedroom) in order to allow each of your bums maximum contact with the warm air.  The the furnace turns off and you're both up and moving on to the next thing.

B: You brushed your teeth with almost no pushback today.  You did homework with Daddy on the floor of the dining room - still writing your letters backwards a lot, and stroking up instead of down.  But you are trying so hard - sometimes so hard that you want to show how fast you are instead of how good you are.  Yesterday we were over Lucy's house for the Superbowl and you got to show Lucy the DoodleJump game on my iPhone.

U: You actually wore a matching outfit today (though you nearly changed 5 minutes before it was time to leave for school).  You asked for a second waffle and once again tried to get away with licking off the jelly without eating the actual waffle - you're on notice!  You found your backpack and packed your lunch and bedding in there yourself - then wore the backpack in the house for the 15 minutes before it was time to leave.  Last night you and Maisy played with the incredibly creepy 4' stuffed doll Maisy's grandma made for them.  You laid it down like it was dead, put bubble wrap over its face, spread pine needles (from the tinderbox xmas tree still up in the living room) around the body like a ritualistic barrier, and then placed random decrepit stuffed animals around it to ensure that an already creepy doll vaulted over into the disturbing zone.  I am sorry I have no photos.