Category: Neko

Chicago: Day One

March 27, 2010

This morning I was greeted with birthday wishes and a delicious breakfast. My amazing husband came up with a few gifts I never would have imagined, which is a next to impossible task. (Can you guess what the gift on the right is?) Then off to get my oil changed, a trip to the yarn store, and a haircut.

And then I picked up Neko from school with a plan.

Most things about having three children is wonderful, but one of the hard parts is filling the needs of the oldest and youngest at the same time. When we visit a museum or aquarium, the kids all have different interests. We often end up skewing toward what the younger children need.

Over time, we hope to solve some of this by taking a bit of time one-on-one with each child. And this weekend, it was Neko’s turn. Tom agreed to keep Ellery and Shep for the weekend, and Neko and I get
to run off to Chicago for our collective birthdays (hers is on
Sunday).

Our primary mission, of course, is to visit the American Girl store. All other entertainment is icing on the cake.

Traveling with a (nearly) seven-year-old is completely different than our trip to New York a year and a half ago. The five hour drive was virtually painless. Two hours outside of Chicago, she demanded that I turn the DVD off because “too much television isn’t good for you”. We could easily bounce into Chipotle for dinner. She was amazed by the enormity of the buildings.

Our hotel room has a window seat, where she immediately climbed up and gazed at the view. My old friend Marc and I were happily surprised to see one another (me checking in, he behind the Concierge desk). He has already sent up a bottle of wine and set us up on a special program so we get extra perks.

An excellent birthday. If only I could give Tom, the kids and the dogs hugs good night, it would be perfect.
Salon day

February 19, 2010
Duck tape

February 18, 2010
Clay cat

February 12, 2010

Crafted for Celeste, or so I hear. At one inch tall, it’s quite a work of art.
Quilt

February 7, 2010

We went to the school fundraiser last night where we had loads of fun, lost at the trivia challenge, but came home with this quilt filled with love.

There was a silent auction, and the big kids, along the amazing Heidi, crafted this crocheted quilt. All the kids have immediately fallen in love, and are fighting over who gets to use it next.

Neko spent much of her sick day curled up inside it, but by evening she was ready to share. A little bit.
We’ve set the bar too high

February 2, 2010

I think we’ve been too crafty too early in our children’s lives. Shep wants a baby blob for his blob. And Neko came home from school with Celeste’s Zhu Zhu carrier and blanket, requesting me to duplicate it.So while the kids watched their evening shows, Tom and I sewed in a frenzy. Tom produced three baby blobs. I produced a Zhu Zhu pet carrier.

And now, tucked in with their creations, we’re hunkering down to watch the premiere of Lost, with a glass of wine and no assignments.
A Boy and His Blob

January 27, 2010

A while back I bought a game for the Wii called A Boy and His Blob. We pulled it out recently, and it turns out the kids LOVE IT. Particularly Shep, who is clearly going to be our video game junkie.

When the video game is off, Shep has been wandering around the house sighing, and wishing he had his own Blob. So while Shep and Ellery were at school, Tom and Ellery ran to the fabric store and got the makings for blobs.

By the time I got home from work, Tom had booked time with the sewing machine, and there were three blobs bouncing around our house. And three VERY happy children.

Photos by Tom
Dare you not to smile

January 26, 2010

I don't know what it is with this kid drawing on her feet, but it makes me all kinds of happy.

Photo by Tom
Winter walk

January 23, 2010

We’ve been inside too many days in a row. Folks are getting restless, grouchy, and mean. I’ll even put myself in this category.

Mid-afternoon, I decided we needed to get out, but the only one I managed to round up was Neko. (Note to self: next time a breath of fresh air should not be optional.)

She went flying out the door.

Together, we took stock of what you can see on a muddy winter day. Fresh deer tracks. Waning sheets of ice. Melted snow finding its way from the fields to the creek. Patches of green (if you look carefully). Perfectly round holes in the hay, doorways to the winter homes of many furry friends. The occasional milkweed pod that never set sail.
Birdhouses

January 18, 2010

The kids were home from school today, in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Because they’re so young, this is a tricky holiday to talk about. I’m not sure it’s quite time to introduce the nitty-gritty of the topic, but we should talk about the man himself, and his message that showing love, respect, and kindness to all was the best means to an end.

Early in the afternoon, Neko came wandering into the living room and said she’d noticed two birds on the leafless tree outside her window. “They need a birdhouse,” she decided.

And that seemed like a great way to begin a conversation. We talked a bit about thinking about others, and how to help make sure they get what they need. We can help give the birds shelter and protection, and in turn, they help our eco-system by controlling the insect population and disseminating seeds. When we take care of each other, the world we share is a much better place.

I happened to have these birdhouses in my stash, so each child spent the afternoon decorating their house, and as the sun began to set, we hung them one by one. Three little people, making their contribution. A small gesture of kindness, but full of spirit.