Merry Christmas, Indeed

We just returned from a wonderful Christmas in Indiana, where the girls were spoiled rotten by all the gifts they received (as usual). I am just so very thankful that we have such incredible friends and family in our lives. I'll try to write more later, but in the meantime - here are some pics and a video of our Hoosier holiday(s). Enjoy!

Opening gifts at Aunt Karen's on Christmas Eve.

A very sleepy Sophie gets kisses from Grandma and Emma before everyone hits the hay and waits for Santa!

This is the face of a girl made VERY happy by Santa this year.

The girls getting silly with Grandpa.

Callie, Cadin, Grifin, Sophie & Emma on Christmas day.

And some video highlights of our sledding adventure in Dad's backyard...

Cool Move, Mrs. Parker

Emma came home from school today practically bursting with excitement because Mrs. Parker had given each of the kids a gift to take home.
This woman has 30 kids in her class! Maybe this is SOP for schoolteachers and I just don't realize it? All I know is that I don't remember getting any gifts from my teachers way back in the day, although admittedly my memory is only slightly better than Dory's. Either way, I think it's pretty cool that Mrs. P. used her very valuable time and money to make a personal keepsake for each member of her class. It makes me feel like Emma is in good hands with a teacher that cares enough to do something like this for her students, you know?

Now I am SO GLAD that we got her a gift weeks ago, because there's no way I'd be sending Emma to school tomorrow empty-handed!

Playgroup 2004 LIVES!

We haven't seen the old playgroup gang in several months, but all of us (except Colleen and the boys - missed you!) gathered today for a really fun afternoon. The kids played together so well, you'd never guess that many hadn't seen each other in almost a year. Sharing time with all the amazing women who saw me through those first few years of parenthood always renders me so grateful that fate brought each of them into our lives. What a great way to spend a Sunday!

First Haircut

Sophie had her first haircut today. This is how she looked in the beginning:

This is how she looked by the end:
In case you can't tell from her lovely facial expressions (or lack thereof), dubiousness was Sophie's response of choice throughout the entire experience. But she did not scream, or cry, or pull away - or even wriggle around. Considering Sophie's aversion to strangers, we were expecting more of a...well, a reaction from her. However, we were mistaken; she simply sat and endured. She obeyed all commands (ie, "look down," "look up," "look straight," etc.) and otherwise stayed as still as a stone. The only time she made a peep was to ask occasionally, "Almost done?"

The kid next to her screamed his head off the minute the hairdresser laid a finger on him. I refrained from shouting "My kid is better than your kid!" at the mother, but I was singing the taunt repeatedly inside my head.

Proud Mama day.

Tis The Season

Matching outfits courtesy of Grandma Kitty...

VH1 Divas, Watch Out

Some nuggets from Emma in the car this morning, while singing along to her Disney songs:

"Wow, I can hardly see a thing because I was singing so high. See how my eyes go way up up up when I sing really high?"

"I do that last part of the song so well. I gave myself the chills."

"I don't know how I sing so good. I just do. Like Ariel. I guess I'm just like Ariel...well, except my Daddy isn't mean."

"Sophie, you need to open your mouth more, like this: Ahhhhhhhhh! See how it's supposed to sound? Try it again."

"I want to be an orphan singer when I grow up. And a bus driver. But mostly an orphan singer."

Another Favorite Thing About Sophie...

• She just went pee in the potty for the first time!!!!!!
  

Favorite Things About Sophie

• Her version of reading or recognizing letters (no matter which letter it may be) is to point and shout, "H I J J!"
• If a food doesn't meet her high standards, she drops her jaw and lets the food dribble slowly out of her mouth before declaring, "No like it."
• When she sings along to a song, she really sings - eyes closed, head thrown back, belting it out for all to hear.
  
• She has my sweet tooth. Pudding is a particular favorite.
• She's got moves.
• She's quite a character, her own little person. I love watching her in action and marveling at how her mind works. Plus, the kid can really make me laugh.

Sister Love

Talkin'

Emma Quote of Day:
"Mama, if a tornado tried to pick up our house, it couldn't because our house is good and strong. But the tornado could pick up other houses that are not strong. Like ant houses, of course. And doll houses if the doors aren't closed. And pig houses. But only the straw ones."

Favorite Sophie Phrases:
"Sip up!" (Sit up)
"Had fun at the gym!" (First words out of mouth when I pick her up from the gym nursery.)
"My do it!"
"Emma, no-no." (Did not know where she was getting the repetitive nos from until my visiting mother-in-law pointed out that when she runs away I scream, "N-n-n-n-NO!")
"Go in living room."
"No song. No soo-ngggg. No song!" (This particular phrase is repeated approximately 25 times a day while in car.)
"Mommy, uppie." (Emma talks baby talk to her, so up is "uppie," juice is "juicy," etc. Sigh.)
"Watch Gora."
"Yep." (ie, when asked if it hurts when she jumps in the air and lands on her butt, which is a favorite pastime.)
"Yum. Dee-licious!"

Thanksgiving, Indeed

Our third and final round of out-of-town visitors is over, and all is now quiet on the home front. Greg and Connie stayed with us Wednesday through Saturday, and we had such a wonderful time. Chris prepared an amazing Thanksgiving dinner that was quickly devoured by all, and Emma fell in love with cranberry sauce. We went downtown to the Christkindlmarket and feasted on cheese fritters, potato pancakes, stolen, bratwurst, hot chocolate...yum, my mouth is watering just thinking about it! Emma met the German Christmas fairy ("Mama, she's so beautiful...just like the princess in 'Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom'!"), and we braved the crazy crowds to check out this year's holiday window display at Macy's (forever Marshall Fields to me).

But mostly we just relaxed at home, enjoying each others' company and watching the girls rope Connie and Greg into any and every game that they could. In the span of one week we've had family visit from Florida, Indiana and Missouri. Em and Sophie are going to be so lost tomorrow without any adoring grandparents around to spoil them rotten! I am so grateful for all the tremendous love that surrounds us. We are very lucky and very blessed.

Gigi and the girls playing with one of Sophie's birthday presents. Holy blocks, Batman!

Don't they look thrilled? Yes, I've become that Mom - making my kids pose with holiday accessories on their head. So sue me...at least Gigi gave them candy bracelets to help sweeten the deal.

Connie and Greg playing "horsie" with the girls.

Giggles with Gigi and Paw Paw.

The Mathews clan in front of the Daley Plaza.

Happy Birthday, Sophie!

My baby turned 2 today.

Mom, Cara and Cadin drove up from Indiana (six hour round trip!) to help us celebrate, which meant more to me than I can ever properly articulate. My sister took time off from homework, mommy-work and work-work (she goes to nursing school AND works full time AND raises three kids), and Mom put in a 14 hour work day yesterday just so they could all see Sophie on her big day. Jayme wanted badly to be here too, but she had a test she couldn't miss. (She also goes to school and works full time...we are a family of multi-taskers.) The day felt so much more special because we were able to share it with loved ones, and in the spirit of the season I wanted to take a moment and express how incredibly thankful I am for all my family's love and support. I seriously have the best family EVER.

Their arrival was a surprise for the girls, and Sophie lit up when she saw the three of them waiting outside our apartment after dropping Emma off at school. But Emma's face when she got off the school bus to find Grandma waiting for her was absolutely priceless. We only had a few hours together, but we packed in some good play time. Here are pics of Sophie blowing out her candles and the kids playing with new toys, hanging out, and goofing around.

My baby turned 2 today.

Sorry. I just had to type it one more time because, honestly, it still doesn't feel real.

Are You Smarter Than A Kindergartner?

This is the work Emma brought home from school today.


I know it's Chinese, but I have no idea what it means.

I can't understand my kindergartner's schoolwork. This is alarming, right?

Pics

A few family pics...

A couple of weeks ago we cat-sat our feline niece and nephew, Willow and Oz (Aunt Jayme & Aunt Tammy's kiddies...er, kiTTies), for the weekend. The girls were in heaven. Chris furthered his campaign for a future Mathews cat, and I must admit that even a lifelong non-cat person like me enjoyed their company.

Oz hanging out on Chris's neck...one of his favorite spots.

Willow and Oz chillin' with Emma.

And speaking of kitties...Grandma and Grandpa Kitty were in town this weekend. The girls were in heaven. We toured Emma's classroom, watched the Festival of Lights parade downtown, enjoyed many yummy dinners, and held the first of several birthday celebrations for Sophie.

Sophie modeling Emma's new beret, straight from the streets of Paris (courtesy of G&G Kitty). Work it, girl!

Emma and Dave horsing around.

Cupcakes!

Sophie & Emma with the grandparents Kitty.

We have more family visiting throughout this upcoming week and weekend, and I'm so very thankful for all the love in our lives. Happy early Thanksgiving!

School Photos

Here is Em with her kindergarten class. Aren't they a good looking group? (Emma is 3rd row from top, 5th kid from the left.)
And here is Em's individual school picture...
This photo cracks me up. She looks like there are little monsters standing just outside the shot, aiming hot pokers at her feet and demanding, "Look happy, look happy!"

There seems to be some kind of unspoken rule that school pictures must always be...well, a little off. I suspect the photographers purposely miss the mark just to keep the horrid tradition going. Personally, I think it's great. Whenever I weed through our family photos at the end of the year, only the best make it into the album. So I figure, the girls' school pictures can be a really cool chronological record of their most awkward moments growing up. All the better to embarrass them into submission when they get older.

And the winner is...

Emma is pumped to see Dooby, Dooby, Moo at Lifeline Theatre on Sunday. We've read the book several times over the last couple of weeks, and Em's become quite familiar with all the little nuances of the story. Our friend Craig plays Farmer Brown in the show, and he warned me that the stage adaptation is a bit different from the book. After imparting this news to Emma, she decided to bring the book with her to the play so she can follow along and note how the two differ. I launched into a list of reasons why that might not be a good idea, but she remained undeterred.

Finally, I explained that she won't be able to read during the play because the house will be too dark. In the same simple tone one would use to state their hair color or shoe size, Emma replied, "But I have night vision."

Sigh. Okay, I'll admit it...she stumped me with that one.

These times we live in

Emma in the car today:
"The other day at school we had a Code Red drill. A Code Red drill is when a stranger comes to our school that nobody knows or when a student acts naughty and tries to hurt somebody. When Mrs. Parker shouts 'Code Red,' we hurry hurry hurry to our special hiding place and make ourselves really small and don't move or make any noise. We sit and pretend to be statues and stay really still and silent, and no matter what we hear, even if it is scary, we don't stop being statues or come out of our hiding place until our teacher comes to get us."

Hearing these terrifying words come out of my baby's mouth just about froze my heart. When I was a kid, we practiced what to do in case of a tornado or a fire. Emma just finished her first quarter of kindergarten, and she's already had three test runs on how to react if some psychopath attacks her school.

Some days, it takes all of my strength just to let her out of my sight.

Sophie

I feel like I've been posting a lot of Emma stuff lately, so here's a funny Sophie story from today and some recent video moments of our mercurial almost-two-year-old...

A heavily perfumed woman dressed in a shiny leopard-print jogging suit sat next to us at Jiffy Lube. Her face was caked with makeup - sloppy red lipstick, bright orange rouge, ice blue eyeshadow, mascara-clumped fake lashes...the whole nine yards. Sophie, true to form, immediately climbed into my lap at the sight of a stranger. The woman got right into Sophie's face and started shouting, "Hey! Little girl! Don't be afraid of me, I won't hurt you." Every time Sophie leaned away, the woman leered ever closer. Finally, Soph buried her face in my chest and begged, "No clown Mommy, no clown."

Sigh

As I was closing the door of Em's room after tucking her in tonight, she called out, "Mommy, I'm scared to go to school tomorrow because I'm afraid I'll be bossy and get my card moved to Yellow." [Green = good, Yellow = ruh roh, Red = call to parents.]

Emma has never received anything less than "Excellent" for behavior on her weekly reports, so I did an immediate double take at this news. "What did you say?" I inquired as neutrally as possible.

"At school Friday, Mrs. Parker said, 'Emma Bloom Mathews, if I hear you being bossy one more time, I'm going to move your card from Green to Yellow.'"

Of course, Emma accused of bossiness is no big surprise. (Understatement of the YEAR, but I digress.) However, I was surprised to hear she was being reprimanded at school, and I told her I was disappointed. I explained that she would have to work on paying attention to herself and not others, like we've talked about many (many many many many) times at home.

"But...," Em interrupted.

"No, Emma. Listen to me, please. You must stop telling other people what to do."

"But...," Em tried again.

"No, Emma. No buts. No excuses. You simply have to stop."

"But sometimes the bossy just comes out of me and I can't help it!" she cried.

"Well, you'll just have to do your best," I said. "I know it's hard, but let me be clear about this: if your card gets moved to Yellow at school, then there will be a consequence to face at home."

Emma lay there contemplating this new development, clearly distressed by the entire conversation. I thought for a second she was going to cry. She kept hugging herself and shaking, literally trying to hold in all of her frustration. Finally she bolted upright, unable to contain herself any longer.

"Uggh!" she shouted. "It's all that stupid Gabriel's fault! He doesn't listen to a word I say! If he would just listen to me, then everything would be fine!"

Master Negotiator

Em: "Mommy, for my sixth birthday, can I have my party at Chuck E. Cheese or Go Bananas or somewhere fun like that where there are lots of fun things to do so my party won't be boring like last year?"

Me: "We'll see. That's a long time away."

Em: "Yes, well, I think it would be good to have the party somewhere fun, and the parents can just relax while the kids play. And you can visit with your friends so it's a party for you too! And you won't be stress-ed about all the food and stuff. And we won't have to clean up!"

Me: "Good point."

Em: "Yes. I will still need a present from you though. I thought about it [reference to MANY previous conversations when I told her if she wants a big party then that will be her only present from us], and I don't think it's fair. It is your job to get me presents. You are the Mommy! So the party will not be my only present. I want to be clear on that. Are we clear on that?"

Me: "Um...no, we are not clear on that. I hear what you are saying, but I do not agree."

Em: "Oh. Well...you know, let's just think about it awhile, okay? That's a long time away. A looooongggg time away. Maybe you will change your mind."

Me: "Don't count on it."

Em: "Why would I count on it? Do you mean with numbers? I don't understand a word you are saying. Just talk to Chuck about it, okay?"

Me: "Chuck? As in 'Chuck E. Cheese'?"

Em: "Yeah."

Me: "I think it's your Dad I should talk to about it, don't you?"

Em: "Oh. Sure. Talk to him too. And then get back to me when you've changed your mind."

Blow it out your...

Emma keeps complaining that she can't breathe because she's so stuffed up, yet she refuses to blow her nose. I explained that mucus buildup leads to post-nasal drip, which contributes to her sore throat and phlegmy cough. She looked at me in disbelief. "How do you know that?" she demanded. "You didn't go to body school."

Ashes

Emma told me that a boy on the bus today was mean to her. I asked what he said that was mean, and she jolted me with a guttural "Shut up!" I asked how she replied. "I told him to stop it and he said no, so I asked a teenager for help." (Emma thinks the older kids on the bus - a.k.a. "teenagers" - are grown ups because they are tall, even though I've explained otherwise to her several times.) I theorized that teenagers might not be the best people to ask for aid. Em insisted, "No Mommy, really, it's okay. The teenager told the boy she'd kick his ash if he was mean to me again." I then inquired as to whether or not Emma understood what the teenager meant by the phrase "kick his ash." Emma confessed, "Not really. But I know it's something really bad because the boy stopped being mean to me and got really scared about his ashes being kicked."

Goofballs

Beauty and the Beast

In celebration of Emma's Belle costume for Halloween, we decided to watch Beauty and the Beast this morning. One part of the film that's always confused Em is why the Beast is so mean in the beginning. I tried to explain again that the beast is just very sad, and that makes him angry. "You mean he's sad because that old hag turned him into a scary beast?" "Yes," I said, "but there are other reasons too. Watch closely and you will see." She took my directive seriously and sat rapt throughout the story.

When the Beast turned back into a prince at the end of the movie, Em looked at me with a huge smile and said, "Look, Mommy! The Beast isn't sad anymore!" I asked her if she understood why, thinking she would say it was because he was no longer a beast. Instead she answered, "Because he finally has love in his heart." I pretty much shut up after that.

Which princess rules the roost?

Check out this video and you'll quickly find out...

Happy Halloween

Our Princesses

Self-discipline

Sophie just screamed "No!" in my face. I stared her down, hands on hips, until she quieted. Once she realized I was angry, she looked at me and said, "Time out." Then she went to Emma's room and sat on her bed.

Really? Can it always be that easy? Pretty please with sugar on top?

Bragging on the kid

Well, I already posted the haunted house, so might as well let the bragging continue...

Haunted House

This is a scan of the haunted house Em made at school.
I couldn't fit the whole house into the scanner, but you get a hint of the triangular black roof that rests on the top. I'm so impressed that Emma's teachers get her to focus and complete these projects while still wrangling 30 other kids. I do not have this kind of success at home, and I only have two kids to worry about. Clearly, I am missing something. I should have studied elementary ed in college, because they are obviously imparting some secret kid-hypnosis-voodoo skills to the teachers-in-training that the rest of us lamebrains are expected to discover on our own.

Subtraction Spider

Em came off the bus today with this on her head.
He's a subtraction spider, and she made him at school. On each of his legs is a subtraction sentence involving the number 7 (ie, 7-1=6). Kindergarten rocks.

Glorious Freedom

Today was our first back at the gym in eight days, and Sophie and I are absolutely giddy with freedom. My whole body is a-tingle with the most glorious muscle ache. (Sounds weird, but exercise junkies know what I mean.) I was so damn happy when we first walked through the door that I couldn't wipe the dopey smile off my face. And after days of whining and grumpiness, Sophie can't stop smiling either. Entering the gym's nursery, Sophie literally started shaking with excitement. When I came back after class to pick her up, Soph was deep into an art project and barely looked my way. I told her it was time to go and she said, "No! I playin. Go away Mama, go away!" Unprecedented. As we walked to the car she suddenly stopped, turned in a circle and shouted, "Outside fun!" We both started giggling uncontrollably, drunk with joy at not being cooped up inside the apartment for another endless day. I am so thankful that everyone is fever-free again.

Change of subject, but I love listening to the girls interact in the backseat of the car. They have their own little games and jokes and conversations, and it feels like I'm eavesdropping on moments I normally wouldn't see or hear. On the way to school this morning, Emma was sharing grapes with her sister and getting frustrated that Sophie wasn't saying 'please' when asking for more. After several failed attempts at cajoling Sophie to say the word, Emma lowered her voice and said, "Sophie, I'm gonna tell you a secret. If you say 'please' and ask for something really really nicely and with a pretty smile, then you can get whatever you want! Well, with Daddy, I mean. It doesn't work with Mama."

Here's to your health

It has been a long week, but it's now Sunday and things are looking up. Emma's been fever-free for two days and was able to attend her friend Olivia's fairy princess birthday party yesterday. However, she still has a hacking cough and runny nose, so we postponed a theater trip today out of fear that she'd cough the actors right off the stage. (Dooby Dooby Moo, we'll catch you in a few weeks.) Fingers crossed that all's a go for school tomorrow. Her class is going on a field trip to the Children's Film Festival, and I know she doesn't want to miss it.

Chris is doing much better as well, and I seem to be hanging tough - I feel rundown and have some cold symptoms, but no fever or craziness like the rest of the fam. It's little Sophie that is struggling the most. She's had a fever now for five days, plus the whole cough/swollen eyes/gushing nose thing. I feel so badly for her. All it takes is one glance to see how miserable she is.

Here's a pic of the girls from this morning - Sophie's poor eyes are so swollen, they barely open! Monday, bring us some good health, please. If I'm stuck inside watching "Halloweentown" on repeat one more day, I can't be held responsible for my actions.

Last (Wo)man Standing

All three of my babies are sick. Chris has been fighting a fever for two days while still soldiering into work. Em's been down since Monday afternoon, and Sophie succumbed this morning. I am the only healthy one left in my family, which seems to be how these things usually go. It's not a good feeling. Don't get me wrong - I am very thankful I am not sick. In fact, I'm knocking on my fake wood desk as I type this. And I don't mind playing caretaker to the others. Chris pretty much just crashes as soon as he gets home, and I would be taking care of the girls regardless, so it sure is much easier to do so while feeling strong. The thing I dislike about being the only healthy one is wondering when/if/how It is going to get me. I feel a bit like I'm being stalked or hunted - or at the very least, watched - and the minute I let my defenses down, It will pounce. The stress of maintaining my vigilance against It is tiring, but I refuse to go down easily! I am also very skilled in the art of Denial. So even if It does get me, I will never admit defeat. I guess essentially that means I win either way, although I'd much rather win without having to go through the whole fever/cough/chills thing.

I have a sinking feeling that this is going to be a really, really long winter.

Too Cute

These children, I swear.

• Sophie is obsessed with "Elmo in Grouchland," and she's developed a watching ritual that, to me, is much more fascinating than the movie itself. I put in the DVD as she stands directly in front of the TV, shaking with anticipation and chanting, "Here comes the fro-ogg..." over and over again. When Kermit comes into view, she shouts, "There you are, frog! Hi, frog!" Then Bert and Ernie appear. She waves at the TV and says, "Hello, Dernie! What you doin', Dernie? I love you, Dernie. Dernie, you are green!" (Everything right now is green. I've no idea why.) The actual movie begins with a close up of Elmo in bed. Sophie puts her finger to her mouth and whispers, "Quiet. Elmo sleepin." After Elmo opens his eyes, Sophie screams, "Good morning, Elmo!" Then she watches, enraptured, until the pivotal moment when Elmo loses his blanket. Elmo gets upset and starts screaming for his blanket, and Sophie utters quietly, "Ssh, Elmo. It okay, Elmo. It okay." Her ritual varies from there, but for the first 15 minutes of the film she responds the exact same way every single time, and I can't get enough of it.

• If Sophie bumps into you or does something else completely indiscernible to us that she perceives as some error or slight on her part, she says, "Sorry, Mommy. It an accident." She'll keep saying it until you reassure her that it's okay.
  
• Yesterday Emma got off the bus, totally dejected. I asked what was wrong. She said, "Well, Mommy. Today at school I was extraordinary, but I still didn't get a star sticker." Trying to keep a straight face, I encouraged her to just keep doing her best. She looked at me and pleaded, "But Mommy, being extraordinary is really hard work. Oh, never mind...you wouldn't understand."
  

Happy Columbus Day!

Emma had the day off from school today in honor of Christopher Columbus and his extraordinary discovery of India...er, I mean America. Em wasn't very happy about missing school, but she did enjoy going with Sophie and me to the gym. (My first day back after BACKLASH 2009 - nice ring to it, don't you think? - and so far, so good.) She saw lots of old friends in the gym nursery, and one of them taught her a new trick while I was gingerly stepping and elliptical-ing upstairs.
Then our dear friends Gen, Sam and Henry came over for lunch. Em and Soph couldn't get enough of Henry. Sophie kept stroking him and saying, "Nice baby." Here's Em with Henry, looking all cute and helpful as she tries to further her campaign for a little brother. (FYI...that will never happen.)
I loved having both girls to myself all day. We snuggled in bed together, hung up pumpkins and ghosts and goblins in our windows, and danced along to the opening number of Aladdin. Nothing special really. In fact, Em complained this morning, "Columbus Day isn't very fun for a holiday. I wish I was at school."

Sigh. Well, tomorrow your wish is granted, Emma Bloom. But today? Today felt exactly like a holiday to me. So I say: Long live Columbus Day!

Watch it

We made it through a rather yucky week spent mostly at home because of my lousy back. All things considered, Em and Soph have been very patient. But today marked day 5 of Operation Stay-At-Home, and by three o'clock I was facing mutiny from a pair of very bored little girls. I knew I needed to dig deep for some new entertainment, but what could I do that would keep them happy and yet require little physical interaction from me?

In desperation, I broke out the air mattress and gave the girls free reign to begin the "Mommy, watch!" game.

The girls were occupied and I was able to sit with an ice pack while they played, so overall the game was a success. The only downside to the "Mommy, watch!" game is that the girls actually expect me to keep my eyes on them the entire time. Whenever I'd try to sneak in a page or two of my book, they busted me. And I couldn't just gaze in their general direction while daydreaming of chocolate or Clive Owen or touching my toes without back spasms. No, I was required to comment on every one of their wonderful twists! and turns! and (in Sophie's case) walks! But hey - my back needed the break, and I figured one of us being bored instead of all three was an improvement. Plus, with practice I even mastered a trick of my own...dozing with my eyes open while continuing to murmur something resembling "good job!" under my breath. I got away with this for at least 10 minutes before Emma caught on and punished me by insisting that I add clapping and the occasional loud "Hooray!" to my appreciation repertoire.

Here is a brief snippet of the riveting action. This video is one minute long. Play it on repeat about 120 times and you've got a pretty good idea of our Friday afternoon.

Back and Behavior

I hurt my back on Monday. I don't know how, or why, or when I can expect it to heal. All I know is that one moment I was fine, and the next I was just about as far from fine as you can get. I didn't realize that placing my toothbrush back on the sink was so strenuous, but apparently my back has severe issues with the way I do this and decided to complain as loudly and painfully as it could. So. I've been hobbling around as best I can, but it hurts. A lot. Just lifting Sophie in and out of her crib is enough to send my back into horrible spasms, and I can only walk by leaning partway down and sort of bouncing from one foot to the other. I've had to cancel everything on the calendar for this week b/c it takes so much out of me just to get Emma to school and pick her up from the bus that I can't possibly imagine doing anything more. I am seeing teeny smidgens of improvement, so I am hopeful that I'll be all better soon. But I feel really guilty because the kids have basically been watching TV all week. It's the only thing that keeps them somewhat occupied, and I don't have the energy or strength to engage them in projects or play right now. I'll try to make up for it when I'm feeling better. In the meantime, this picture encompasses the very exciting happenings right now at the Mathews house. (Sorry the photo is blurry...our camera is apparently not feeling well either.)
In other news, Emma came home from school yesterday with six star stickers on her folder. She earns stickers for really good behavior, and once a child has five stickers they may pick a special reward. Emma chose to have lunch today with her teacher, Mrs. Parker. It will just be the two of them - Em made it very clear that no one else is allowed at their table. (The perverse part of me wishes I could be there if someone does dare to join them b/c I can see Emma's reaction so vividly in my head...yes, I know. I'm evil.) She is very, very excited. Chris and I are proud of her, but at the same time we are wondering where that well-behaved child goes once she enters our apartment. It's as if a naughty alien overtakes her on the bus ride home, because all I get from Emma lately is a lot of sass and attitude. Maybe I just need to start giving her stars as well. I am skeptical that it will work, but in desperation yesterday I almost made her eat dish soap, so I suppose I should try stars before feeding her cleaning products.

Ah, Emma...

Some Emma tidbits from the last few days...

Em asked me to get the whack out of her ears because it was scratching her. After several rounds of "What?" "Whack!" "Say it again?" "WHACK!!" "Huh?" "Whhaaaaack!" I figured out she meant wax. I was prepared for many things with parenting, but no one ever told me ESP was required. I guess I should have just known...

I took away Emma's snack for backtalking. She proceeded to scream, "But I need food Mommy, I'm just a growing girl..." for approximately 30 minutes. Now I know what my parents meant when they used to say, "This is gonna hurt me more than it does you." I had thought they were referencing heartache, but really they were talking about their eardrums.

Hodge Podge

Well, it appears I have been rather lax in my postings lately. I apologize. It's been a bit hectic around here, but I'll try to get back on track soon. In the meantime...some updates.

Emma continues to excel in kindergarten. She is currently working on addition sentences, writing stories and reading, among other things. Yes, she can read - and rather well at that, especially for her age. She has just discovered the Amelia Bedelia books, and she reads them to us with very little help. She's aced every spelling test at school so far and has started sprinkling Chinese into her speech without seeming to realize it, which is both impressive and semi-disconcerting. Am I bragging about my super-smart child? You bet! But then again, it's kinda hard not to feel stupid when you have to actually look up terms on the Internet before helping your 5-year-old with her homework. (Am I the only one who had never heard of a Venn diagram?) I knew the day would come when my child knew more than me, but I didn't figure that day would arrive quite this soon. Thankfully I still have a few things to teach her, although witnessing how her brain works amazes me. Tonight she asked why the word "house" wasn't spelled "howse" because "'ow" is spelled o-w and "house" has the same sound in the middle. I told her that the English language can sometimes be baffling, and she asked, "Does 'baffling' mean the same thing as 'stupid'?"

Sophie grows more stubborn and independent by the day. She is constantly surprising me with new words and phrases (i.e., "Emma privacy" when Em's in the bathroom; "Perfect!" when something is just right; "Please one more time" when listening to songs in the car; "Have fun wit me" when she wants to play). She thinks everything is either yellow or green, no matter how many times we tell her otherwise. She loves saying hello to people and remains fascinated with animals, particularly birds and bugs. Every day when Emma gets off the bus, Sophie screams, "There's my Emma! Hiiiiiii, Emma!" and gives her a big hug. This week she told my friend's husband Ben and the cashier at the grocery store that she loved them. Today she kept kissing her magnets, putting them "to night-night" underneath the refrigerator, screaming "Wake up magnets, good morning magnets!" while peering under the refrigerator on hands and knees, and then looking at me and demanding "Mommy do it!" until I retrieved the waking magnets and the game could begin anew.

Chris and I went to Saugatuck, Michigan together last weekend - ALONE! Two days and nights of just us. It was a much needed break, and we owe a huge thank you to my family for taking care of the girls so we could make our escape. Em and Soph spent the majority of their time with Grandma (a thousand thanks Mom), but Aunt Marg, Aunt Cara, Aunt Jayme and Grandpa all pitched in at various times. They both had a blast while we were gone and didn't seem to miss either one of us all that much. As we piled into the car to head back to Chicago, my Dad yelled, "Remember girls - what happens in Indiana stays in Indiana!" Both girls were sad to leave their grandparents/aunts/uncle/cousins - in fact, Emma started crying for Grandma before we left the driveway, which I believe is a record. But when I got Sophie from her crib the next morning, she looked at me with wonder and uttered one glorious word: "Home."

And now, a couple photos and one short video from the last two weeks:

Movers and shakers

This morning Emma told me she had trouble sleeping last night because her bed kept shaking.
"From the storm?" I asked.
"No," she explained. "I dreamed that little things were living underneath my bed, and I think I dreamed them alive a little because when I woke up they started shaking the bed."
I told her that her nightmare sounded really scary, but she quickly set me straight.
"I was awake when the bed was shaking, so I wasn't having a nightmare. And they aren't scary because if they start shaking too hard, I just go to sleep again and that makes them go away. But it's hard to fall asleep when your bed is shaking! That's the trick of it. Those little things are really smart."

Tidbits from Today

Emma...

• Emma got 100% on her first spelling test! It was the practice test, but if they get them all correct then they don't have to take the "real" test tomorrow. Her words were: a, the, am, can, cat, man, map, at, tap, ran.
• Emma fell while climbing a tree at the park, and she got a pretty good scrape on her arm. Of course, she lost her mind. Immediately, a boy on the swing (never got his name) asked us if we needed a band aid. I told him that would be very nice, if he had one. Before I even finished my sentence, he turned and took off running. His mother saw my perplexed expression and explained that he was running all the way back to their house to get the band aid. I told her he didn't have to do that, although by that point he was already halfway down the street. She said, "He's had a crush on your little girl since the first day of school. They ride the bus together." As I stood speechless, she rolled her eyes and added, "He's a sucker for the blondes."
• While the swing kid was procuring first aid for Emma, his younger brother swooped in for the kill. By the time swing kid got back from the house and presented Emma with her band aid, she was happily playing with his brother and didn't even say thanks until prompted. The older brother sat by his mother and just watched Emma play with his sibling the rest of our time at the park. He had the most desolate look on his face! I actually wanted to give him a hug or something, but I didn't want to embarrass him. At one point his mother tousled his hair and I overheard her say, "Don't be sad. Be patient. The hero always gets the girl in the end." (I really want to be this mother's friend, but I think she's too cool for me.)
• Gojan (above mentioned younger brother) was fascinated with a new toy of Emma's that another boy on her bus gave to her today to keep "forever." (Why? I've no idea. What in the world is going on during these bus rides??????) He kept questioning Em about who had given her the toy, but she couldn't remember his name. Finally he asked, "What color was his skin?" Emma seemed totally baffled by this question and just looked at him mutely. He elaborated, "Did he have white skin, or brown or black?" Emma shrugged and answered, "Same skin as me. Just...people skin."
• Lovely Gojan, or "first grade playa" as I came to think of him by the end of our park visit, told Emma that the boy on the bus probably gave her his toy because he wanted to get married. "To who?" Emma asked. "Duh! To you," Gojan replied. "That's silly," Emma said. "People who get married stay together forever. I don't even know him. Besides, when I grow up I'm going to marry my grandma."

Sophie...

• While at the grocery store, Sophie started counting balloons and made it all the way to 14. I had no idea she knew any numbers past ten. How did I not know this?
• A really, REALLY big bird flew over (and barely cleared) our heads this morning. It freaked me out so much that I let out an involuntary yelp. I don't know what kind of bird it was, but Sophie apparently thought she had it pegged. As it went past, she dropped to the ground with hands over head and screamed, "No goose! No! Naughty goose! Naughty big goose!" Then she stood up and asked me, "Okay Mommy?" I told her I was fine. She hugged my legs and said, "Sshhhh. All better."
  

This and That

Second week of kindergarten, and all is well. Yesterday, Emma tried to teach me how to count to 10 in Chinese. She has a spelling test on Friday, so Chris and I helped her review the words. She already knows them all, so there wasn't much for us to do but listen and praise. At bedtime, she read me the entire book "The Fat Cat Sat on the Mat" and only needed help sounding out a few of the words. And it's a long book - over 30 pages, with several sentences on each page. Perhaps she is simply on par with her peers - I wouldn't know as I don't often hang out with other 5 year olds. But to me, she's a genius.

The last couple of days, Sophie has given us a slight reprieve from the screaming/whining/crying of the last few months. It's been so lovely. She's been giggly and silly and saucy and delightful. I've missed that Sophie. A lot. Right now, she's happily playing on the floor with a big pile of fake bugs. Once in awhile she shouts "Hello bug," gives the bug a kiss and then puts it back on the floor. She is talking more every day. Her favorite phrase of the moment seems to be, "I do it." Translation: "Get away from me adult person, I can do it myself!" She won't let me hold her hand when she walks down the stairs, so I'm forced to back down in front of her with my hands splayed out, ready to catch her if she stumbles. She is still fascinated with baby dolls, and her new favorite toy is Emma's Light Bright. She will spend an hour or longer quietly moving the little light bulbs in and out, in and out of their holder. In addition to using the phrase correctly with people, she's often overheard saying, "Thank you! Welcome" to toys, furniture, the car, etc. We aren't sure what these things did to warrant a thanks, but Sophie feels obligated to express her gratitude for whatever reason. As we watched Em's school bus pull away this morning, she sat on my lap, waving goodbye and quietly repeating, "Bye Emma! Luv you." Then she pointed in the direction of the bus and told another parent, "My Emma bus!" The mother leaned down and asked, "What did you say? My Emma?" Sophie glared at her and yelled, "No! My Emma. Ma-ma Emma. No you Emma." Sophie ain't too shabby in the intelligence department either.

The First Week

I don't know if you've heard, but my baby is a kindergartener now. She really enjoys school and likes her teacher a lot. She's already a pro on the school bus and has come home speaking Chinese, counting to 100, and singing new songs. She told us all about Mrs. Parker's reward program for good behavior, and she's very excited to try and earn an ice cream cone party for her class at the end of the month. She even made us a "kissing hand" - a cut-out outline of her hand with a heart pasted in the middle, which we are to keep with us and look at for comfort when she is at school because, as she explained, "It's like I am blowing you a kiss so you won't miss me and feel sad." So far, so good.

However, there were a few bumps in the road. The biggest involved morning transition from bus to school. After the bus dropped Emma off Wednesday morning, she apparently had no idea where to go and there was no one there to guide her - this despite all parents being assured Tuesday that there would be adults "everywhere" to help the children. So she started crying and calling for me until another parent noticed and asked where her Mommy was. (Hearing Em tell me this story, after I'd just spent eight agonizing hours wondering if she was safe/happy/scared/etc., was akin to being told, "Your daughter needed you and you weren't there. You failed." Excruciating.) The parent read the note I'd pinned on Emma's shirt and saw that she needed to go to the cafeteria for breakfast. Thankfully, this stranger helped her get where she needed to be. Em told me all of this as if it were just another little anecdote about her day, but Chris and I were NOT happy. I exchanged long emails with her teacher that night. Mrs. Parker was very empathetic, but ultimately not much help. The gist of her advice was that if Emma needs guidance, she needs to ask for it. Needless to say, I wasn't reassured.

I was very, very tempted to just scratch the bus entirely and take her to school myself the next morning. But Emma enjoyed riding the bus and wasn't that freaked out about what had happened. I feared that if I rearranged the schedule and made a big deal about it, then it would suddenly BECOME a big deal to Emma and she would get scared. So, not at all sure I was doing the right thing, I instructed Emma the next morning to go straight to the first adult she sees after arrival at school and ask them to show her the way to the cafeteria. Then I spent another eight hours worrying myself into a mini-frenzy.

However, I should have had more faith in my little girl's resourcefulness. That afternoon, Emma got off the bus with a huge grin on her face and declared, "Kindergarten is GREAT!" Once Em got to school that morning, she discovered that she remembered the way to the cafeteria and got herself there all on her own. She was very proud of herself, as she should be. That school is huge! I honestly don't know if I could have done the same. I'm still worried about her getting lost, but she doesn't seem to be, and that's what really matters I guess. Because like it or not, I can't be there with her. For the first time in her life, she's kinda on her own...and there's not a thing I can do about it.

So, first week under our belts...although it has ended up being a bit abbreviated. Emma woke up with a fever today, so no school. She was bummed, I was (secretly) elated. It sucks that she's sick, but I've really missed her this week and don't mind having her at home at all. And Sophie is over the moon to have her playmate back. She's been a bit lost all week without her big sister. Walking home after seeing Emma off to school yesterday, Sophie suddenly stopped, turned in a circle, reached her hands in the air and wailed, "Where's my Emmmmmaaaaaaa?" I just looked at her helplessly and said, "I know how you feel, kid. I know how you feel."

One week of school down, 13 years to go.

First Day of Kindergarten

We survived.

Today was very overwhelming. We had a lot of information thrown at us, and we were only there until 10:30am! But I'm feeling much better about things now that I have a clearer picture of how Emma will be spending her days.

Tomorrow is the true test. Em will get on the bus at 6:45am. She'll arrive at school, eat breakfast, and begin class by 8am. Dismissal is around 1:30pm, and the bus drops her off at 2:15pm. No parental accompaniment. We shall see how it goes, fingers crossed.

Here are a few shots from today.

All dressed up and somewhere to go - kindergarten!

Daily class schedule - they forgot to allot time for breathing!

Emma with new friends Olivia (in her class), Lana and Simona.
Em with classmates and her teacher, Mrs. Parker. Mrs. P will have 30 students in her class with NO aide this year. Thankfully she is young, energetic and seems up to the challenge.

Em listening attentively in her studious pose...she's got the whole "student" thing down already!