The kids performed at the local senior center today, with nearly 45 minutes of songs and entertainment.
I sometimes get a bit scrooge-y about these events, thinking the seniors might be humoring us a bit, listening to holiday music that is quite often a bit off key.
But then I take a peek at the audience, pointing and smiling at the kids that are wiggly or wearing songbooks on their heads, some with tears welling up in their eyes. And there it is—the true meaning of the holidays.
We meant to get a Christmas tree last weekend, but time ran short, and we decided to push it another week.
Clearly fate meant it to work out that way. We woke to find our first snow of the season. At the Christmas tree farm, things were downright magical. Not only was there a blanket of snow, but perfect, little flakes kept falling on hats and eyelashes.
We need to remember that Christmas trees look bigger next to small people, as we got home and realized our tree was a bit on the small side. (Next year, we’re bringing a measuring tape.)
Really, how did we ever do anything on the cheap without those Scandanavians?
(Photos by Chris.)
Tom’s family owns a condo a few hours away. It is where they spent many summer days growing up—swimming, boating, and enjoying their time together.
It hasn’t had as much use in the last decade. With the boys spread across the country, it was tough for them to get there. And with babies, it’s tough to travel that far. We took Neko out on the boat as a toddler, and she just got really grouchy about the life preserver.
With the kids a little older, we’re thinking it might be a nice place to visit again. Or as a getaway weekend for just one of us if we need a little quiet space.
I ran away for a few days to make a few updates and check the place out after five years away. This is the view off the back porch at sunset.
Skating night is always a bit if a frenzy. No matter how on time we are, it’s a flurry of getting the right size skates, lacing, and scooting kids off to the right classes.
And then unlacing, and turning in skates, and somehow convincing kids to walk in a straight-ish line to the car so we can all get to bed at a sort-of reasonable hour.
Ellery and I had to take Otto to the Big City for a vet appointment. I try to leave a bit early, as something always seems to hold us up. And, weirdly, we breezed right through, finding ourselves 30 minutes early for the appointment.
Normally, we would hang out in the waiting room, but there was some meeting going on, and the building was locked until our appointment time.
After we discovered this, Otto flatly refused to get back in the car. (New, expensive knee on an 80 pound dog = Me not forcing the issue.) And then it started raining. So Ellery and I hung out for 30 minutes in a questionable neighborhood with the car door wide open, Ellery and I in the back, and our dog on the concrete, next to the car, in the rain.
Ellery passed the time by strapping herself into Neko’s booster and demanding I take (not-so-great) pictures of her.
At least the car was clean, eh?
Election Day is upon us. And, yes, I voted. And, no, I haven’t bothered to check on the election results. I’m not sure if I want to know.
With Election Day comes a day off school. I mulled over what to do with this wide open day. I contemplated play dates or laundry. But then I decided that I wanted my kidlets all to myself, as it happens so infrequently these days. I scooped them up in the car, leaving the laundry and the mess behind us.
Off to the museum we went. And we stayed all day. ALL DAY. I’ve never done that with my children…anywhere.
As I drove home, I marveled over several things.
1. We took with us no stroller, diapers, wipes, extra clothes, or special food. We walked in with nothing but our coats, chucked them in a locker, and went off to explore.
2. I’m at a museum with readers. Okay, early readers who make a lot of mistakes, but readers. They stop to look at plaques, finding the name of an animal or to see who this bone belongs to. We’re no longer whizzing through exhibits at light speed, but we’re stopping to look and actually learn. And when someone is getting too crazy on the antique street car, I can point to the sign that says, “No running or jumping on the street car.” See? I’m not the bad guy. Talk to the people that make the sign.
3. We made it through an entire IMAX documentary. The whole thing, people. Ellery was a little wiggly, but Neko and Shep were completely entranced. Everyone was so focused that I can actually tell you what the movie was about. Go ahead! Quiz me!
4. I took off my mom cap for most of the day. I was telling Neko tonight that it was kind of like hanging out with my friends. In the past, a trip to the museum is accompanied with much sighing, corralling, and ultimately an exit that involves tears. But today we talked and laughed and pointed at things. I think the kids were actually skipping as we left the building. It was downright fun.
I feel like one of those “it gets better” videos, but to all the mamas stuck in the trenches of diapers and time outs—it gets better. Suddenly they’re walking and talking and laughing and responsible for their own things, and you get to relax a bit and marvel at these amazing kids who sailed into your life.
Ellery likes to do errands. This is so different from our other children at that age.
Today when I annouced we were going to the car wash, she actually squealed with delight. She helped me gather trash from the car, vacuum out the tough spots, and then sat on the brick wall while I put things back together.
As we were wrapping up, she declared, “This is the best day ever!” I love this kid.
