The Tooth Fairy

Earlier this week, Caroline lost a tooth. For some unexplained reason, the tooth fairy did not come that night. As it had been raining incredibly hard I suggested that perhaps it had been just too wet for the fairy's delicate wings.

Caroline thought about the whole thing for a bit and then said, "You mean like a rain out? Like the Yankees but for the tooth fairy."

"Exactly, I said. Just like that."

Sweet Tooths

This weekend we were talking about the expression "I have a sweet tooth." Katherine seemed rather uninterested in the whole thing despite her love of sweets. Turns out, she was just planning the best reply.

She looked right at us and said, "I have a whole mouth of sweet tooths!"

And indeed she does. You can see them on display above.

Seriously

Yesterday was Caroline's first day of Hip Hop. While that may sound like a post in and of itself, it is really what followed that was the most interesting.

During dinner, Caroline told us about each song the girls had danced to, asking to have the songs downloaded to the ipod.

When we were done eating, I stood up and brought my plate to the kitchen. By the time, I turned back into the dining room, I heard music coming from my computer. I looked up to see Caroline singing and dancing along with Selena Gomez to the song Round and Round.

In the time it had taken me to bring one plate into the kitchen, Caroline had googled, 'Selena Gomez Round and Round' and was watching the video on You Tube.

'Research computer safety' has been on my to do list for awhile now. It appears that I should perhaps move this item to the top of my list. And maybe to clear some time for myself, I can put 'download songs to ipod' on Caroline's to do list instead of mine...

Distracted

My goal is to write this blog while also writing a professional blog.

For this week though it looks like I can only focus on one thing so... be sure to check in over here to see what is happening professionally- some exciting stuff if I do say so myself!

The Insult Machine

I knew I had to brace myself for life with two girls. I knew that the teenage years would be rough. I knew I had to have a thick skin. What I didn't know was that I had to grow my skin quite so quickly.

It turns out that along with all the other things children are doing earlier these days, they are also finding their mothers embarrassing much sooner than I remember doing the same. A few days ago, I bought a pair of sneakers. Not work out sneakers but casual sneakers to wear with jeans and tee shirts. I haven't worn these types of shoes before and the newness of them really brought out the comments. Caroline and Katherine told me how weird they looked so many times that I finally took them off. Over the past few weeks, I've been told that I am the worst rememberer on the planet, strange and embarrassing only to name a few of the pleasant descriptors that have come my way.

This morning, before Caroline had said much of anything, sleep still in her eyes, she said, "I wonder what will come out of the insult machine today!"

Now really, if you know that you are operating the insult machine, how about we turn that thing off!

Surprises

I am not someone who loves surprises. In fact, I rather dislike them but over the past week, I've had three pleasant surprises...

Surprise #1: Caroline cried on the last day of school because she had gotten the hardest second grade teacher. So far, a week in, she is still admitting that all the rumors were wrong. She actually likes her teacher despite a rather huge amount of work.

Surprise #2: Last year, Caroline really did not like soccer. She liked it so little in fact, that there were three times that Rob, who was coaching, went to soccer alone. We decided that we'd have her try it one more time as the teams were now smaller and all girls. Turns out this was a good call. Caroline spent an hour on Saturday running around a field smiling and laughing and has been kicking the ball around the house and yard since then.

Surprise #3: Last year, Katherine had rather luke warm feelings about pre-school. She didn't seem to hate it but she certainly didn't love it. Today she told me that she had the best day at school ever.

As I write this post, I am knocking on any and all types of wood available to me. It sure would be lovely if these surprises would continue...

Why Not

Caroline has always loved to swim. She would jump in and under as a toddler pulling oohs and ahhs from the parents sitting on the edge of the pool. While other interests have come and gone, she has loved swimming always and forever. As a way to keep up her swimming after summer had passed, we decided to try out for our YMCA swim team. Although the practice schedule seemed rigorous, I had heard the 8 and under team was pretty laid back.

And then we got to try outs. There were timers with clip boards, parents with video tapes and talk of hiring personal coaches. My skin was crawling by the time Caroline began to warm up. Within ten minutes she had run out of the pool soaking the grown ups around me as she begged to stop. "I'm just not ready!" she kept saying.

When we walked away from the building, brushing tears from her eyes she asked, "Why do I have to put my swimming to use? Why can't I just swim?"

Why not indeed.

Favor

In addition to getting this blog up and going again, I am busy bringing my work site to life as well. I would love to ask that any of you who subscribe to this blog, hop on over here and sign up to receive those posts as well. My posts promise to offer lots of insights into the world of childhood literacy. And for those of you who read to hear about the girls, they seem to be popping up a bunch there too so you'd still be learning plenty about Caroline and Katherine...

First Day

Today's is Caroline's first day of second grade and Katherine's first day of her last year of pre-school. I will resist the temptation to use a cliche here but there sure are a lot that would apply...

Full House

In an ongoing effort to find appropriate tv for the girls to watch, we have stumbled on a gem. A while ago, someone told me that their kids were watching and loving Full House. And yes, the Full House from the 80's and 90's starring the Olsen twins.

After listening to rude comments, talk of kissing boys and disrespectful jokes at the expense of adults, I finally decided I had had it with the Disney channel. We searched and found out that Full House is indeed on tv and seemingly, on around the clock. Each day at tv time, the girls both are thrilled to choose yet another episode of Full House. It feels like a Full House marathon around here. Caroline talks of Michele and Jesse and the twins as if they are our neighbors.

Once the girls tire of Full House (if they ever do!), we already have episodes of the Cosby Show waiting in our DVR queue. For the moment, I feel like we really have beaten the system. We really have brought tv back to a simpler time, thanks to simpler shows.

College in PJs

There are many reasons that I don't let the girls watch tons of tv. I've now added another to my list. Commercials. Over the summer, we have slowly and sadly (for me!) shifted away from Noggin and Playhouse Disney to channels that actually advertise more than their own shows.

Last night, when Katherine called me in to see something, you could hear the excitement in her voice. She was nearly jumping up and down as she told me she was going to go to college in her pjs. I caught the tail end of the commercial that had introduced to the concept of on-line college. I told her what a great idea this was given how much she loved her pajamas. To which she replied, "And how much I love you!"

To a four year old, what could be better than going to college and never having to leave the comfort of your jammies or your mommy...

Sesame Place

When we got home from the beach, I was looking ahead to three totally unplanned weeks before the start of school. Knowing how we all can deal (or not as the case may be!) with a lack of schedule, I was feeling a bit worried. When my friend suggested that we go to Sesame Place, I figured, by the third week, I would be pretty desperate for an activity. So desperate that the prospect of a crowded and hot water and amusement park would not give me the sense of panic that might otherwise normally arise.

Upon walking through the gates, I started to doubt myself. The people were everywhere, the lines were long and the sun was hot. It turns out though, that it wasn't desperation that made this whole thing a good idea. It was the smiles, the laughs, the shouts and the hugs that filled our day.

I forgot our camera so I pulled pictures from the internet to highlight some of our favorite things...


Katherine and my first ride (ever!) on a water slide...




A ride on the biggest roller coaster Caroline has ridden on yet...



And tons of water fun throughout the park...



If I were on my own, I probably never would have planned this trip and I certainly would have left a lot earlier than we did. It sure is a good thing to have friends that help you to live outside your comfort zone...