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: