Random Moments

I haven't blogged much lately, but we've been busy.  The little girls and I enjoyed an outing to Novaks Gym.  It kind of makes me wish I could put Lainey in a class at a nearby gym (so far the distance and price are a sufficient deterrent).

The girls and I spent part of President's Day at Mt. Vernon (cuz it's free on Pres Day).  It was my first time doing anything related to presidents on their holiday and despite the crowds it was quite nice.  We bypassed the home and spent all our time in the museum.  I noticed that Liz was particularly interested about reading about slavery.  On the way home she said that one of the many reasons she's glad that slavery ended is that some of the kids in her class wouldn't exist today if it was still going on because they are bi-racial.  She knows what rape is, but somehow it didn't occur to her that it was a regular part of the slave system and I didn't want to enlighten her in front of her little sisters.

 

I feel like we've been broaching some sensitive topics lately.  A few days ago Lainey asked me about the "Twin Towers."  At first I thought she was taking about something she'd seen in a cartoon, then I realized that she was remembering the 9/11 discussion I had with Lizzie a couple months ago (in the car, I stupidly thought Lainey wasn't listening).   I explained it to Laines then tried to talk about tolerance.  I used the examples of favorite colors and asked Alaina if it would okay for someone to be mean to her because she liked pink and they didn't.  The conversation progressed, then at the end Lainey wanted to know the terrorists favorite colors.

Last month I read Anne Frank's diary for my book club.  Since I was leading the discussion I went ahead a read a couple books of commentary and background as well.  Liz started reading over my shoulder when I was reading about Otto Frank's experience in the camps and post liberation.  Naturally she was interested (and horrified) so now she is reading Anne's diary and we are planning a trip to the Holocaust museum.

A couple weeks ago Liz and I enjoyed a meal/show at Medieval Times with her fellow Girl Scouts.  I had gone with my family in Florida when I was 12 so it had been quite a while. Drew was doing ski patrol so the little girls hung out with our friends for the afternoon.  Ellie had so much fun that she didn't want to leave.  I had to drag her out of the house and she kept trying to reenter.  Finally, as I was carrying her (kicking and crying) to the car she yelled, "You're not my mom!" (right when someone was walking by, naturally) and insisted that her mom was actually "the other mom in the house."

 Finally, we survived Girl Scout's Thinking Day.  Liz has been in Scouts for four years now and this was her third thinking day, but it was the first time I attended.  It was cute and I liked that she learned a bit about the country her troop presented, Philippines. She pictured below next to her troop's swaps. 

V'Day

We had a nice Valentines this year.  It was my turn to teach preschool so I got to see all the cute Valentine boxes and cards the kids brought.

Drew was out of town, but as he said before he left, he "made arrangements."  He sent us roses, chocolates, cake pops, and chocolate covered strawberries.  We sent him some cards and licorice, but we didn't get around to sending it until the actual holiday so his gift was a bit delayed.

In the evening I gave the girls their love notes and candy from me and we had a candlelit dinner together.  Meanwhile, in Utah, Drew and his sister went out to dinner.  In all I think it was a nice celebration all around.

Kids Night at Silver Diner

Lainey and Ellie got their faces for the first time (usually they only dare to have their hands or arms painted).  When I texted the pictures to Drew he said, "Somehow the face paint really fits both personalities."  They loved it so much that I let them wait till the following evening to wash off the remnants.

Longwood Gardens!

Last Saturday my lovely friend, Jessica, took me to Longwood Gardens with her.  It was a really fun day.  I always enjoy visiting those gardens, but it was extra fun to do it with a friend that actually knows plant names and facts.  At one point, Jessica pointed out the flower that she had on her cake (something I'd never heard of) and I realized that I only knew the names of three of the many flowers that where in my wedding bouquet and on my cake: rose, gerber daisy, and lily.  Not too impressive.

 Alaina loved smelling the flowers and having her picture taken with them (especially the pink ones):

 Ellie also liked smelling the flowers, but had a hard time remembering to keep her hands off them, thank goodness she didn't pick any:

We spent all our time in the conservatory (along with everyone else that visited that day) because it was so cold (and the flowers were so lovely and fragrant).  Flower chandelier?  Yes please.  Now I know what was missing from my wedding.

 

Lainey was way excited about the rock bench (or couch according to her), but didn't last long thanks to the sun in the cacti section:

 Of course we had to end in the children's garden:

 

Ellie got completely soaked, in part because she purposely scooped up water and smeared it on her face and clothing.  Luckily I had a change of clothes for her.

Luckily I also had a change of clothes for Lainey because she peed her pants.  I told her that it wasn't okay and that she couldn't do that when she started school in the fall.  Then she cheerfully explained that I could just put a change of clothes in her backpack and when she had an accident her teacher would help her change her clothes.  Argh.

All in all a good day, and it was especially nice to carpool.  .  .  .  Meanwhile, Liz and Drew were off skiing with a father-daughter duo that I think will be their new ski buddies.

ANNOUNCEMENT!

Fun stuff the girls have said to me lately:

(above picture by Danelle Empey)

Lainey looking at my wonton soup: "Is that pee?"

When I told Lainey that I was going to the bathroom and that she could talk to me when I got back: "I can talk at the door and you can still hear me."

Lainey every night: "Good night, dream tight."

When I asked Lainey what she's afraid of (for her preschool registration form): "Hmmm, getting taped to the wall. . . . And bats." (I just put down dogs and bugs.)

Often in the midst of a tussle with her sister, Lainey will call out: "Mom! Ellie says I'm not part of this family!" (When I've heard nothing of the sort from Ellie.)

When I can tell that she needs to go to the bathroom: "I'm just cold." (Liz used to say: "I just like to wiggle.")

When we tell Ellie that we love her: "No!  Jesus loves me!  You no love me!  Only Jesus loves me!"

Also when we ask Ellie her full name: "Ellie Gabrielle Ellie" She absolutely refuses to acknowledge that her last name is Nielson


Lainey, when we ran low on milk: "When is a cow going to pee out some more milk for us?" 

After an interview with her piano teacher Liz reported: "She had to face a Styrofoam too." Turns out she meant stereotype.

Sick Week

One night last week, Andrew and I were having a heated discussion (a.k.a. argument).  At one point I started to get a little dramatic and extreme in my statements (I can say that now, but at the time everything made perfect sense).  Andrew kind of chuckled and said, "Okay, let's all calm down.  I think we're making a bigger deal out of this that we need to.  We just need a little dose of reality."  And then, right on cue, we heard the tell-tale coughs followed by the sound of liquid splattering on the floor and walls.  Lainey had thrown up all over herself, her bed (two sets of bedding by the end of it), and the hallway.  As we bathed her and moped up vomit, I asked Drew, "Is this enough reality for you?"  I'm sure it wasn't what he intended, but it sure made us forget our disagreement.

 As often happens we didn't deal with just one sick family member, it seemed everyone had something going on.  Ellie battled pink eye while also adjusting to her eye patch (she has to wear one a few hours every day because glasses just aren't cutting it for her lazy eye).  Liz came home with a fever Wednesday afternoon that kept her home from school the following two days (luckily we were able to bring it down enough with ibuprofen so that she could try out for the school play during that time and she made it!).  

 Then, to finish off the week I managed to throw my back out Saturday while reorganizing my closet (and lifting nothing heavier than a stack of folded sweaters I swear).   I immediately laid down and called Drew (on his way home from a ski patrol shift).  I asked him to order pizza for us because I wasn't sure I could make it to the wallet I left in the van.  I'm still not sure what's up with my back but in the meantime I'm walking like an old lady and laying on the couch a lot while the kids wreck havoc on the basement and watch tons of television.