The First Day of School 2011

Today was our first day of school for this year! Each year, our PTA hosts a breakfast for parents called the Cougie Cry - the joke is parents either come in boo-hooing or woo-hooing! Bet you can't guess what I was?!?

I was boo-hooing for this one. Chicky went into her classroom, sat at her desk and got to work. She gave me a long hug and my eyes started tearing up. Her classroom this year is such a change from previous years - stark and bare. (Which is good - the teacher isn't froofy and we all know I'm not froofy when it comes to school.) But it's just such a contrast. Our baby is growing up.
And I was woo-hooing for this one. He was the first to arrive in his classroom, too. And once he was in there, it was as if Vinay and I were invisible. And that's how it should be, right? But right now, three hours later, I'm feeling a little lonely for my sidekick. At this time last year, I would have been winding up whatever project I was taking on for the day and getting ready to go get him. Instead, I am sitting here doing this.

We were having fun with the signs this year. They all say, "First Day of ...." I wasn't quite sure what to have Vinay's say but I think he's ok with it.

Mine says, "First Day of No Kids at Home in Over 8 Years." The only thing I don't like is that my smile was so big it was pushing my eyes shut! Sheer giddiness will do that to a girl!

New England 2011: Dinosaur State Park

We are back from New England. Instead of putting all the pictures in one post, I am going to break 'em up. It'll be more manageable, and therefore less daunting, for me.

We flew into Hartford, CT late, late at night. The next day we set our sites on Dinosaur State Park. This was such a lucky find! Before the trip, we knew that we were going to have to find some stuff for Kev as most of our focus was on historical stuff. To say that Kev isn't into historical stuff is an understatement. I've tried picture books, movies, Magic TreeHouse, etc. At this point I don't know if he's not interested or he's too young - either way, he needed something besides Paul Revere.

Enter Dinosaur State Park.

In the 1960s, a construction worker was removing large patches of earth when he found tracks in a limestone layer. His discovery was quickly determined to be a perfect fossilized-marsh where dinosaurs had walked. The state of Connecticut worked to preserve this tract and make it into a place where everyone could see the dinosaur prints.

For about $15 for our entire family, we spent the morning checking out prints, learning how paleontologists can determine whether a dinosaur was running/walking or grazing/foraging just from prints. They had interactive displays, a room full of dinosaur activities, several movies, etc. It was really a great find - and we were able to remind Kev that we did something for him each time he was bored at a historical site. That was priceless.

Kev loved it, Amiya enjoyed it and V and I were happy to report that this budget-friendly morning was a perfect start to our vacation!

Where In The World....

Somewhere around April, we bought the kiddos placemats with world and United States maps on them. Conversation around the table instantly became very map-centric and we plotted our path for our trip to South Carolina, as well as our upcoming trip to Massachusetts and Boston. Eventually it turned to places that our families are from, where the dinosaurs were, where different stories are set, etc.

Vinay, capitalizing on this interest, decided we should get a globe. We shopped around - Craigslist, eBay, Target, Lakeshore, etc. Globes are expensive. And with the ever-changing world borders and boundaries, it was hard to justify spending big bucks for a globe that might not be accurate for more than a few years. That being said, Vinay found this globe and we bit the bullet. It was more than we wanted to spend, but it was high-interest for the munchkins because of its' interactive features.

And it has been a great purchase! They play with it all the time - and they can both identify upwards of 50 countries around the world. I'm not sure how they'll do on a map without names, but they rock at this one. So, the next time you hear something about Kazakhstan or Eritrea on the news, give Kev a call. He'll help you find it!

The Naked Summer

It is hot in Florida. Really and truly hot. And then it's humid, too. We're having the sort of weather now that we usually have in August. Couple that with a lack of rain and soaring electricity bills - meaning no sprinklers, no hose fights and the a/c set very high. So yeah, it's been tricky to find ways to keep cool.

For me, but not for Kev. He has decided that nearly naked is the way to be. He runs around the house in his little man boxer briefs. He'd be naked if we let him, but we have to draw the line somewhere.

Here he's all dudded up to make pancakes. He's got briefs on, but nothing else.
He's our very own Naked Chef.

He's doing his summer work here - exploring patterns and shapes
using pattern blocks. Nearly naked, again.

And finally, because I reminded him that we had to go get his sister,
he agreed to put some clothes on. Before this, however, he was
working on his puzzle almost au naturel for a good thirty minutes.

On the upside, the laundry load should be a lot easier this week, no?

Preschool Graduate

Kev had his preschool graduation recently. It was a super sweet, very preschool-appropriate ceremony. Can't believe the little man is on his way to kindergarten next year! (Also can't believe I am going to get 6 hours a day without kiddos. It's been eight years since that happened.)

Shaking hands with Ms. Mae. Wrong hand, but no biggie.

With the graduate, after the ceremony.

Signing the alphabet.

The ending of this school year has been really emotional for me. (Mostly because I'm a spaz....) Both kids had such great teachers this year - teachers who really understood and appreciated the people that our kids are. They were accepted and valued at face value and after Amiya's year last year, when this wasn't the case, it's been a lovely, lovely experience. I'm sad to be leaving these teachers because we don't know who the kids will have next year. Hopefully it will be an equally wonderful experience.

Locks of Love, Take III

It's hotter than blazes down here already. Help me. It's not even June yet and I don't want to go outside until November. There are all sorts of little signs that it's too hot - the carseats are literally painful for the kids to get into, the grass doesn't have a chance of staying green if we don't supplement the watering (we don't, sorry neighbors), the drying rack is in the foyer - not to be put away again until fall when we're not swimming daily. And then there's the chicky. The chicky with the hair down to her bottom.


She's sweaty most days and her hair is heavy. It's just really, really heavy. Plus it adds about 10 minutes to every morning and at least 5 to every physical activity - we have to put it up for gymnastics, for swimming, for soccer. It's getting to be a pain - and, most importantly, it's getting to be so long that it's actually falling out. Whether due to hormones or the weight of each hair on the hair follicle, it's coming out en masse via the hairbrush.
So, Vinay and I talked to her, once again, about the fact that it might be a good time for her to get it cut for Locks of Love. We tried back in October, and she was game for a while - even had me set the appointment up - but then she got cold feet. Her hair is her hair and her choice, so we backed off.

But this time it was clear that something needed to be done - our floor seemed to be carpeting itself with all of her cast-offs. We talked about helping out another child who doesn't have hair. We talked about less time in the mornings to get ready, about being able to shower herself without all the crazy long hair to rinse out, about cute clips and barrettes that her heavy hair pulls right out. And we talked about how by the time she is in middle school, her hair can be just as long again since it grows so fast. Sold!

Off we went - she smiled through the whole thing!

And now? Now she looks cuter than a bug. Really, seriously, cuter than a bug. But you're going to have to wait to see the after pictures because the ones I took don't do her justice. Huh-uh. Not at all. She is way cuter than the pictures would lead you to believe, but it's hotter than blazes out here and we were dying to get into the house.

Mad Moves

Kev was cutting a rug the other night at Amiya's school picnic. He walked up to Cougie, grabbed his paws and started dancing. And he danced and he danced and he danced. It's usually a middle school kid who gets stuck in Cougie and whoever it was did a great job with Kev! I'm not sure where Kev got his love of footwork, but love it he does.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (AKA I am a great daughter/mommy.)

I am living proof that certain traits skip generations. For example: sewing. My Mom loves fabric craftiness, my Chicky loves fabric craftiness. Me, not so much. Further example: musicals. But, because I am always willing to sacrifice my own happiness for the happiness of my family, because I am a team player, I alerted my Mother and my Daughter that Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was playing clear across town, on a school night, uphill both ways in drifts of snow. That's right. I was willing to take one for the team.

The dynamic duo, prior to our outing. Cute, hey? On our way, we passed a restaurant called Pierogi Grill. I always say that Amiya should know more about her Polish heritage, so in we went. The pierogies were good, the galumpki just so-so. (Nothing can compare to Grandma's.) But the highlight? Seeing these two goofballs play with each other. I won't show all the pictures because I want my Mom to continue to speak to me. Let's just say she better stay on my good side.

This is a good one. Isn't it cute?

Uh-huh. I was pretty much the chaffeur. I'm lucky they let me sit at the same table as them. When Grandma's around I'm superfluous. Chopped liver. The fifth wheel.

And ditto at the movie theatre. There was singing, there was joking, there was discussing the finer points of dancing red-headed lumberjacks with the poor ladies two rows back. I was just there to fetch the popcorn. But that's alright. I like fetching popcorn for these two. I like it a lot. Even if it's uphill both ways to the concession stand.

Random

Usually I love you all too much to show you scraps, but these are pretty scraps. My parents head out of town in a few days and tomorrow night is our last dinner together for awhile. I love having them in town. Love, love, love. So, I'm a bit sad that they're heading north. (Sissies. Can't take the heat.) (Literally.) Tomorrow night we're having a pork loin stuffed with apples, onions, rosemary, dried cherries and a wee bit of bacon. These are the scraps from the stuffing mix and I just thought they were pretty. Not as pretty as the promise of deliciousness, but still, pretty.My Dad stole my camera one day to document the following picture. Yes, that's right. It's an actual car. In. the. garage. Unreal. And it still fits in there, almost a full week later. Vinay is talking about rearranging the garage a bit (mainly the rain barrels on the right), to make it work even more smoothly, but for now, I'll celebrate the small victories. Mom, Dad, Vinay and I went out to dinner a few Saturdays ago. It was so, so nice to go out as grown-ups. Except for the part where I smacked my Mom in the nose with the corner of the car door. Sorry Mom!

Amiya's Poetry

My Mom and I went to Amiya's school today to have lunch with her. Upon walking into the main office, we were told by several of the adults that Amiya had just been sent to the office to read a poem she had written. My first thought was, "There once was a girl from Nantucket...." What could she have possibly written about that got her sent to the office?

Here's her poem:

(Untitled)

Earth knows our feelings,
It knows of our sins,
It knows of our loyalty,
But mostly it knows of our cruelty.

Earth sees our engineers building weapons,
Earth sees us training young men for disaster,
But only they and earth
really and truly see our cruelty.

Where have all the young men gone?

Amiya has been reading a great deal lately about the Vietnam War, the peace movement of the late 60s, protests, Veterans' experiences, etc., so it seems that this is related to that. She watched a clip of Peter, Paul and Mary singing Where Have All The Flowers Gone? a few days ago, so that's an obvious inspiration.

How much do I love that we have a sensitive little soul in our midst? That there's one more vote for peace in the world? Am I over-reaching? Maybe. But maybe not. Maybe if this little dynamo of an eight-year old keeps on keeping on, she'll one day have a voice and a pulpit big enough and loud enough to make a difference. And if not, maybe she'll just make a difference in her own little corner of the world. Either way, I'm proud she got sent to the office today.

Kev Loves Us, He Really Loves Us

You may remember, back in January, I went on a banner bender and made banners for the kids' rooms. Well, Kev decided that it was not right that all the kids have banners and Mommy and Daddy don't. So, we have a banner now, too.

He loves us. He really loves us.

Florida Winter: Showing the Love

I whine about life in Florida a lot. But I also give it credit when due.

Witness:

It's a delight for the eyes and the tastebuds. And the kiddos picked the berries, so they were sweet, tiny and cheap! Whoohoo! This is going into Amiya's school for her teachers and the office staff. It's hard to be a public school teacher these days - so I try to show some love by sending in goodies. I get my baking needs worked out and then send the calories out the door. It's a win-win.

If you're interested, this is a divine little crust/filling that is applicable to lots of different toppings. It's Paula Deen inspired; you've probably done it a million times.

Crust:

1.5 c. flour

.5 c. powdered sugar

3/4 c. butter

Pulse in food processor until one big ball. (How easy is that?) Using your fingers, spread dough in tart pan with removable bottom until even. Make sure you get it up the sides, too. Then press 1/2 c. chipped pecans into crust. Bake in a 350 oven until golden brown.

Filling:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/3 - 1/2 c. powdered sugar, to taste

1 c. real whipped cream

Beat cream cheese and sugar. Fold in whipped cream. Spread in cooled tart crust.

Top with berries of your choice and then glaze with a little bit of warmed jam. YUM!

Help me.

I don't know how well you'll be able to read the screen shot above, but give it a try.

I walked in the playroom/den the other to find Kev at the computer. No biggie - he plays on pbskids.org at least daily. But he wasn't on PBS this time. He was on Google. He was googling. Let's remember that he's five (and just freshly five at that). How does a five year old know how to google? And what does this foretell?

So, we've had the "no googling unless Mommy or Daddy is sitting next to you" conversation. We just barely had that conversation with Amiya a few months ago when she was googling information about Polish culture. And we've already had it with the wee man who is not yet in Kindergarten or dry all night long.

Help me.

Happy Birthday Amiya!

Amiya's birthday party was this past Saturday and she had such a blast. More importantly (ha!), I had a blast, too. If you pick any random number and multiply it times a million, that's not even close to how much I love to plan these parties. I love them (the parties, but also the kids)! And since her theme was science and she wanted to do fun experiments, this whole party was a bit of a stroll down memory lane. It was like teaching again - except no testing, no discipline, no paperwork. Ah, if only every class could be like this one I'd be back in the classroom yesterday.


Some pictures:

I didn't mean for these first two pictures to be first, but I'm having trouble moving pictures around with blogger, so they're here to stay.
Amiya's goodie bags. I completely lucked into these science kits at the dollar store for $1 each. The pop rocks are just sort of science-y fun and the test tube is filled with a Nerds Rope but I told the girls it was really a strand of DNA.
The cakes. These were the most craptastic cakes I have ever, ever done. The fondant work was terrible (don't look too closely, Kelly!) but I had an hour to ice, cover and decorate, so it is what it is. Amiya wanted beakers and flasks, instead she got a petri dish with a big ol' germ (Léna made the germ and she did a great job - all the girls wanted the germ!), a cylinder that was bubbling over with some potion and a balloon beaker that was giving off lots of (dry ice) smoke at the time of the birthday singing. Amiya was happy with them, so I guess that's all that matters.

Amiya and her friend, Bella. Have you ever seen such beautiful smiles?

The scientists - before the first experiment began. I introduced each one as Dr. Amiya, Dr. Kev, etc. Cute!
These were the supplies at each spot. They got a t-shirt (to become their lab coats in experiment #1), safety goggles and their very own lab notebooks. All the experiment information was inside. This was so like teaching - the prep work, the lists, the procedures. LOVED IT!

The table set up - I am lucky to have lots of friends who loaned me tables, so we had outside tables for experiments and tables in the lanai for eating. I am also lucky to have a hubby who has real lab equipment at his disposal - so we filled beakers with colored water and Vinay put dry ice in them for a bubbly and smoky effect.
Is this not the cutest group of scientists you've ever seen? Love them! Amiya wanted a taco bar for her birthday party, so these girls were sitting and waiting patiently to be called up to make their tacos.

But first, they had to eat the contents in their petri dishes. I had explained to them that scientists use petri dishes to grow different bacteria and germs when they are studying them. I told them that I only used a few different germs - flu, cold, salmonella, etc., in their dishes and wished them well when they ate them. Several of the girls looked at me with apprehensive faces, but Amiya knew better:
Once they got going on their petri dish Jell-o, it was all fine. The looks on their faces beforehand were priceless!
The scientist of the hour getting ready for experiment #1: Tie-Dye T-shirts using Sharpies and rubbing alcohol.

All the scientists hard at work - learning how alcohol can pull color through a fabric when water can't. (Or not caring about that at all and just seeing who can make the best designs.)

Elephant Toothpaste: Experiment #2. We used chemicals for Vinay's lab for demonstration purposes. This got lots of shrieks from the girls.

Individual elephant toothpastes using common household products. Not as many shrieks, but still lots of fun!

Experiment #3: Oobleck. Cornstarch and water - who knew it could be so fun!? I think this was the favorite experiment for each of the girls.

(This one? Bored, bored, bored. He's seen it all before. He's too cool for this stuff.)

Experiment #4: Bionic Bubbles These bubbles can be caught and held and even bounced on a gloved hand. This was the least exciting experiment for the kids, but a few of them really loved it.

After all the experiments, the scientists agreed to pose for a group photo. Here you can see them all deep, deep in thought. I'm sure they are solving world hunger, water purification issues, etc.

And here they are in their natural state. And please let it be known that this is BEFORE the snack lab that Amiya wanted when they finished up the party by watching a movie. The snack lab had candy, popcorn, candy, pretzels, candy, cheez-its, candy, candy, candy and more candy. Some of the girls were very restrained with their candy consumption. Others, not so much.

I was talking to Vinay about the whole she-bang afterward and this is, by far, my favorite party ever. Each of these girls was so well-mannered, so thoughtful, so fun to be around. It was really a great time and I hope my daughter is always surrounded with such lovely friends.

The Very, Very Sweet Birthday Surprise

For a few weeks, Amiya's gymnastics classes have been passing out fliers for a Daddy/Daughter Dance that they were doing as a fundraiser. Vinay and I knew about it long before Amiya did and had plans for Vinay to take her since day 1. Amiya, when given the flier after class one night, wanted to go so badly, but I told her I didn't think it was a good idea because it was on her birthday and we all wanted to be together. Plus, I said I didn't think Daddy would like it. She came home and presented her case to Daddy, but he agreed with me. Crushing blow.


On her birthday, she opened up her presents to find a volleyball, a pair of rollerblades and the pretty dress you see below. She also got a gift certificate to the Mommy Salon - where her hair was sprayed into a fancy bun and her toes and fingers were polished with a pretty shade of pink. And finally, she got to borrow Mommy's pink pearl necklace and earrings. H.e.a.v.e.n.!.!.!.


She was oh! so! excited! when it came time to go. Hair done, toes pretty, even mary janes with a little heel (thanks to our friend Sherri who saved the day on the shoes!) and a beautiful new dress. And Daddy looking so handsome in his shirt and tie!

They had a wonderful time - for the most part. Vinay could have done without the shrieking everytime a Justin Bieber song came on! When Amiya came home she said that Daddy twirled her, taught her to waltz and fox trot and even did the YMCA. She crawled up on his lap for cuddles and told him over and over again how special the night was. Brought a few tears to my eyes - she's trying so hard to be so grown up, but she's really still a little girl. So precious!

Amiya's Birthday Week

It's Amiya's birthday week this week and here's the plan she enacted:

Saturday Dinner: Tacos
Sunday Dinner: Dal
Monday Dinner: Crepes
Tuesday Dinner: Pizza
Wednesday Dinner: Baked Potato Soup
Thursday Dinner: Twice Baked Potatoes Mac 'n Cheese

It's a culinary world tour with Amiya: Mexico, India, France, Italy, Ireland and the US

She switched from Baked Potatoes to Mac 'n Cheese because we have shamrock pasta that she wants to use on St. Patrick's Day.

Her activities include a walk to Dunkin Donuts Saturday morning for breakfast, going out for ice cream, a game night, a baby Amiya film festival, and a We Love Amiya poster celebration. She left one night blank because we have soccer three nights a week and gymnastics one, plus Léna's activities. So, she decided to give us a bit of wiggle room.

We've got lots of cool presents in store for her - and a very, very sweet birthday surprise!

Birthday Boy

And I was doing so well! Lots of posts, lots of updates. And then it all fell apart. Kev got the flu. And by the flu, I mean THE FLU. As in the kind that the doctor didn't even have to do more than wave the nasal swab in the general vicinity of the test to determine that he was a Type A flu victim.

We are no strangers to puke around here - both of our kids are pukers. Vinay and I have a rhythm down - whoever is there first soothes, holds, reassures the pukee. Whoever is there second goes for the towels, the buckets, the disinfectant, etc. Neither job is better than the other, both are vital. The times I've had to deal with a pukee and no Vinay were not pretty - mostly because throwing up as a child is a violent, ugly episode and they need to be held.

(Aren't you glad you're here on a Wednesday morning? You're welcome.)

All that to say that we're no strangers to puke, but Kev really gave us a run for our money. It started with a berry smoothie being brought back up late, late at night. And it ended five days later when we finally got him a prescription to help stop vomiting. He couldn't keep anything down, but wasn't ever dehydrated. The hows and whys are a mystery, but there were plenty of signs that he was fully hydrated. The little man has never been so sick, ever. Tylenol and Motrin around the clock to keep his fever in check - although it almost never went below 100 for the duration. He was lethargic like we had never seen and he wanted nothing to eat - not even popsicles. He just didn't know what to do with himself - two to three hour naps in the mornings and in the afternoons, barely being able to keep his eyes open long enough for a TV show. The flu this year has been vicious - and the strain that is being passed is Type A - which the flu shot (that both kids had) does not prevent. The doc prescribed Tamiflu for Kev, but his system wouldn't tolerate it and it just came right back up. So, two doses thrown right back up and eight doses remaining in the fridge. (I'd like a refund of the $50 copay. Please?!?)

Happily, he made an almost full recovery in time for his birthday. He was fever free for 24 hours by the time his big day rolled around, but still very, very tired. He went into school that morning just for a tiny bit to have cupcakes with his friends. His teachers this year are really fun - they have a recording of three or four different happy birthday songs - there's an Elvis version, a Chipmunks version, etc. The kids get into it and the birthday kid just shines! Love it!

And then we had his party. It was a blast. Parties are so tiring, but SO fun for the kids. I always feel like their birthdays should be a huge celebration - it's the day celebrating them for being them. Some pics of the fun (and a bit of not as much fun):
The banner was the bane of my existence this day - it read "Happy Hatchday Kevasaurus" but it wouldn't stay flipped the right way. Ugh.
Cupcakes and cookies. Léna and I made the cupcake toppers and had a lot of fun with it. Maybe I like fondant and gumpaste so much since it's like play-doh and it's so therapeutic? The cookies were a heart-shaped cutter (obviously) and I liked how it kept the dinosaurs a bit cartoon-y and a bit younger.
If you leave a dinosaur alone with a cake, you'll regret it. It was fun to see the kids walk by and do a double take when they saw the big piece missing.

Here's our bit of misfortune. See how his nose has a slight curve to it? That's because Kev and Amiya collided in the bounce house before the fun began and he had a very, very messy bloody nose. It was gushing from the mouth, the nose, and it didn't stop for a good fifteen minutes. Kev is well on his way to the Tom Hounsell crooked nose at this rate!

Léna's watermelon T Rex masterpiece. Everyone loved it!

This was the hottest activity at the party - the kids loved chiseling out dinosaur "fossils" from these plaster bricks.

The second hottest activity - only because Aunt Mia was there. She was a great help and stopped all that paint from becoming a disaster!

Léna was in charge of photography at the party and she did a great job. Unfortunately, Amiya didn't want to cooperate, so this is the only photo we have of her. Goofball. I think she is starting to take after her Uncle Mikey.

Don't look know, but it's a Kevceratops!

Opening up presents - he got some great gifts! These were Schleich dinosaur figurines. We have a million, but that's not enough. He plays with them every day!
This is my favorite picture - it's Kev and his best buddy, Brody. Kev loves this little guy so much and they rarely have a chance to play together, so his day was extra special because Brody was there!