School was cancelled for Ryan again, most cities around us were on a delay. But after getting on the road, cancelling was probably a good idea. Charlotte was home as AS was closed or conferences today. I realized I missed hers about two hours after I was supposed to be there. The snow days have thrown me off! So Charlotte is home again tomorrow (Friday) and Fairborn is already on a 2 hour delay. Since we are supposed to get another 2 inches tonight, I reckon it'll be closed again. All of which is wreaking havoc with my homework!! Luckily, this seems to be a lightweight class!
Anyway. Sledding. Pictures sent to most of you will show our sled trip yesterday. Let me say that it,or the weather, or my impending cold totally kicked my butt yesterday. Greg and I were exhausted by 8pm. We held out til 10 because we're grown-ups and not supposed to be in bed at 8:30.
Today Rebecca, (Tahlia and Evelyn's mom) invited us over for lunch and sledding. Some cool things came out of this. One is I have to take Ryan to Mad River Mountain. Evelyn showed him her skies and very graciously told him all about them. He soaked it all up. She also let him try them out, but his feet were too big for the boots. He really wants to try skiing. I've never been. So I'll shoot for a trip in late Feb--any takers? The second thing was the hill at Gant park in Yellow Springs--totally perfect for sledding!!! Wright Brothers has the hill --and lots of trees. Gant has a slightly smaller hill--but NO trees! We rocketed down the hill! Charlotte's tolerance of sledding was characteristically low. She does not like snow in her face, so she usually rode behind me. But man, we flew!
On the funny side. Rebecca tried to set her stove on fire. She turned on the wrong burner and cooked her wooden cutting board--we wondered why we smelled smoke. Her husband Frank shook his head and nicely took the cutting board downstairs and threw it in the fireplace. Also, Rebecca's car was completely iced over, and then we found out her battery was dead. I gave her a jump (she didn't have cables). She was very happy I was there. I felt quite handy--until I backed over her lightpost. She was very cool about it and we bent it back upright. Maybe Frank won't notice??
All in all, a great day. The snow is here to stay for a bit. It won't get above freezing until Sunday.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
More snow!!
Ah, the predictions of snow snow snow continue!. We've had about 4 inches so far (?). I've been asleep for most of the day because I worked last night, but I pushed a solid 3 inches off the car this morning, solid powder!! Schools were closed all over--even the Antioch school closed in the afternoon which almost never happens. They closed once last year because someone left the kiln on and melted stuff--but it is very rare for them to close for weather. Predictions are for 6 more inches tonight. I hit Trader Joes and DLM yesterday, so we are stocked on food. The only snag in making this a perfect winter holiday is our water heater. It's not working well and we are having trouble getting a new one in. The old one is a gas water heater that went in before '97 when we moved in. Electric is cheaper in product and power. Turns out we need an electrician to re-wire something first, so the new electric tank is sitting in the plumbers garage until the electrician can come. With more snow on the way, we aren't holding our breath. I washed my hair in the sink yesterday using warm water off the stove! We get hot water intermittently, so everyone bathed today, but there's no telling when it will run out--hopefully not during the kid's bath!
Yesterday was Chinese New Year, which goes unmarked in the public school, but is celebrated with zeal at AS. Each class contributed to the making of the food--which was all very good. The kindergartners manned the dragon and there were cymbals and tambourines too. It was lovely. Charlotte is very at home there, easy with the teachers and students. Ryan is still welcomed and recognised. He likes to visit with Brain in art and Science and Ann is so gracious to listen to him as he asks to read her a book. She sits and listens to the whole thing. Sitting at the table yesterday, it was easy to see the birds darting through the snow covered trees and then watch the kids go out and play in the snow.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Ahh, isn't it cute. It must die.
Today, Charlotte adopted a ladybug. She found it while she and Ryan were playing with trains. I vaguely remember Charlotte saying: "The ladybug needs food." It was a simple statement as she walked past me in the hallway. A few minutes later I found her outside with her snow boots on and a snow shovel, the garage door halfway open: "The ladybug needs a leaf." Okay...
I help her find a dried up leaf, the only kind we have after two inches of snow. She takes it upstairs and all is well. She comes back down, and the ladybug has started walking across Charlotte's hands and arms. Charlotte is fascinated by the whole experience. I have to call Grandma Jo and share the Cute-Moment(TM).
Fast forward a scant five minutes. From the basement, I can hear the Screech Of Horror(TM) and the stomping of panicked feet. She comes running down as I come running up. Her first explanation of the horror that was the ladybug was indecipherable, but eventually we discover that ladybugs can fly.
-as told by Greg
I help her find a dried up leaf, the only kind we have after two inches of snow. She takes it upstairs and all is well. She comes back down, and the ladybug has started walking across Charlotte's hands and arms. Charlotte is fascinated by the whole experience. I have to call Grandma Jo and share the Cute-Moment(TM).
Fast forward a scant five minutes. From the basement, I can hear the Screech Of Horror(TM) and the stomping of panicked feet. She comes running down as I come running up. Her first explanation of the horror that was the ladybug was indecipherable, but eventually we discover that ladybugs can fly.
-as told by Greg
Snow...Part 2
It was positively balmy Thursday. While it only hit 52, it was declared a heat wave--no coats!! It really felt so warm. When you consider lately it has been below zero with the windchill, it was a significant boost! Today, the snow returned. Pretty snow. Sometimes it fell in big heavy flakes, sometimes light, but all straight down. So today was a Sunday at home. No work for me. A special treat was going to a breakfast buffet. This is our second time out to Frisch's for the buffet and the kids just plow through their food. It was a delight to watch. They got a kick out of getting theor own food from the buffet--Ryan was better with the tongs. Charlotte really tried. I was good--I ordered a Eggbeaters spanish omelet and fruit. No fried potatoes, bacon or sausage. I am drinking tons of water and eating more salad, fruits and veggies than ever. I feel better when I move around. I can't call it working out yet. I did 2 sets of push ups today--the modified kind and I'll get on the elliptical tonight. I still have to log my food for the day, my exercise and goals. The nice thing about this plan is I am taking it slower this time. I am meeting the goals for the first stage which is really cool. In case this is Greek--I am doing Bob Green's The Best Life plan.
I have found a new source of joy. Last night was movie night so we had Pizza Hut and went to Blockbuster. The kids picked a Tom and Jerry movie. I balanced the occasional guilt I felt by letting them watch something so ridiculous with the fact I watched Tom and Jerry as a kid, along with many others. They got to pick, so that was it. I settled down with them under a blanket, holding a book--totally planning to read while they watched. The first giggles killed that idea. I mean all out squeals and giggles. I didn't watch the movie, I watched them. It was ultimately so relaxing. I laughed at their laughing.
Had a brilliant idea today. The kids were playing nicely in the living room, Greg was busy in the den. Clothes needed to be washed, folded and put away. I do all of these better with music--but the boom box was out because I didn't want to disturb the kids playing. So I hooked into my ipod and got to listen to all my grown up music (read not kid friendly) while I boogied and shimmied all around the house. Ah, fun and productive (and loud).
School is blessedly low-key this rotation. My instructor is a very busy woman it seems. She has a link to her professional website in our course info (tacky, I thought). I'm not sure why she teaches on top of being a lawyer, forensic nurse, disaster nurse and I forget what else. She has been a very absent instructor, which really bugged me the first week, now I am calmer. Grades are very late and her contributions to our discussion threads are almost nil. I am learning a great deal thru self-study. What a difference from last rotation. But I still would like more interaction and direction. I am so much better at managing time for school now. Getting stuff done early really is the key!
Charlotte is writing her name. She knows the letters and I can recognise what she writes--even if the letters form a circle or travel up the side of the page. She was tracing her hand and my hand today. She is drawing more. She spends big hunks of time just looking thru her books. Ryan is reading like a fiend. He is still fixated on numbers, their value, putting sums together in his head, figuring out how it all works. the next purchase for him will be a joke book. He is reading jokes off his juice boxes now and tries his own knock knock jokes on us. His curiosity and sweetness have not been dampened. I hope they won't. Public school for both next year. Charlotte will go to all day kindergarten. She'll be so wiped out. I will be glad for the money in the bank, who knows how much longer the Toyota will last? But I am sad all the same. The Antioch school will remain a goal. Such a wonderful community of people and no freaking whistles!
In other fantastic news--Greg has consented to a pooch! We are planning for a trip to California this summer, so we will aim for a new family member mid to late summer after we get home. The kids talk about a pet or Snickyy daily. A golden retriever seems to be in the lead at the moment--and likely a rescued one at that. I would love a puppy, but realistically (and this is a big step for me folks!) we can't handle a pup. We haven't told the kids. We'll wait a bit for that. I am excited but it will be so hard to be patient! Reality is, though, we really don't have someone to watch an animal while we are gone, so it is better to wait.
Lots going on, as always:)
I have found a new source of joy. Last night was movie night so we had Pizza Hut and went to Blockbuster. The kids picked a Tom and Jerry movie. I balanced the occasional guilt I felt by letting them watch something so ridiculous with the fact I watched Tom and Jerry as a kid, along with many others. They got to pick, so that was it. I settled down with them under a blanket, holding a book--totally planning to read while they watched. The first giggles killed that idea. I mean all out squeals and giggles. I didn't watch the movie, I watched them. It was ultimately so relaxing. I laughed at their laughing.
Had a brilliant idea today. The kids were playing nicely in the living room, Greg was busy in the den. Clothes needed to be washed, folded and put away. I do all of these better with music--but the boom box was out because I didn't want to disturb the kids playing. So I hooked into my ipod and got to listen to all my grown up music (read not kid friendly) while I boogied and shimmied all around the house. Ah, fun and productive (and loud).
School is blessedly low-key this rotation. My instructor is a very busy woman it seems. She has a link to her professional website in our course info (tacky, I thought). I'm not sure why she teaches on top of being a lawyer, forensic nurse, disaster nurse and I forget what else. She has been a very absent instructor, which really bugged me the first week, now I am calmer. Grades are very late and her contributions to our discussion threads are almost nil. I am learning a great deal thru self-study. What a difference from last rotation. But I still would like more interaction and direction. I am so much better at managing time for school now. Getting stuff done early really is the key!
Charlotte is writing her name. She knows the letters and I can recognise what she writes--even if the letters form a circle or travel up the side of the page. She was tracing her hand and my hand today. She is drawing more. She spends big hunks of time just looking thru her books. Ryan is reading like a fiend. He is still fixated on numbers, their value, putting sums together in his head, figuring out how it all works. the next purchase for him will be a joke book. He is reading jokes off his juice boxes now and tries his own knock knock jokes on us. His curiosity and sweetness have not been dampened. I hope they won't. Public school for both next year. Charlotte will go to all day kindergarten. She'll be so wiped out. I will be glad for the money in the bank, who knows how much longer the Toyota will last? But I am sad all the same. The Antioch school will remain a goal. Such a wonderful community of people and no freaking whistles!
In other fantastic news--Greg has consented to a pooch! We are planning for a trip to California this summer, so we will aim for a new family member mid to late summer after we get home. The kids talk about a pet or Snickyy daily. A golden retriever seems to be in the lead at the moment--and likely a rescued one at that. I would love a puppy, but realistically (and this is a big step for me folks!) we can't handle a pup. We haven't told the kids. We'll wait a bit for that. I am excited but it will be so hard to be patient! Reality is, though, we really don't have someone to watch an animal while we are gone, so it is better to wait.
Lots going on, as always:)
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Reasons to be hopeful
Yesterday was Inauguration Day. I was invited to a brunch at my friend Rebecca's house to watch the event. She and a handful of her acquaintances watched as the new vice president and president were sworn in--verbal blunders and all and Aretha's fabulous hat! I was struck by the the lack od red whte and blue among the clothing and the fact that the musicians featured (Yo-yo- ma et. al weren't wearing winter coats!!
But as President Obama, Yes President Obama!! gave his speech, I was filled with hope. I imagined how different John McCain's speech would have been--I think I would have left half way through--the same talk, the same relentless policies. I hope that blacks and whites can continue to move forward. The feeling I get from some is that blacks feel like they have been set free again. One of my co-workers, while talking about Kwanzaa told me "you, people..." referring to whites. I did not enslave anyone, nor did my parents or grandparents. I work hard, very hard, really for everything I have. We live in a country where all faiths, ethnicities and sexes have a right to live, preach, pray as they like. I hope we as a country exercise more tolerance to those who are different from us. I hope that President Obama can change how we live. Our schools aren't working, our mortality rate for children is insane for an industrialized country. Not everyone is Christian and that is really okay.
I am hopeful.
My friend Charlotte has had her baby. She had him her way. It was safe, natural and so beautiful. I am filled with joy!!!
I am hopeful for all that we can become. I am overjoyed that someone has stepped up. I am thrilled that this courageous, charismatic man has stepped up and is willing to change our future.
But as President Obama, Yes President Obama!! gave his speech, I was filled with hope. I imagined how different John McCain's speech would have been--I think I would have left half way through--the same talk, the same relentless policies. I hope that blacks and whites can continue to move forward. The feeling I get from some is that blacks feel like they have been set free again. One of my co-workers, while talking about Kwanzaa told me "you, people..." referring to whites. I did not enslave anyone, nor did my parents or grandparents. I work hard, very hard, really for everything I have. We live in a country where all faiths, ethnicities and sexes have a right to live, preach, pray as they like. I hope we as a country exercise more tolerance to those who are different from us. I hope that President Obama can change how we live. Our schools aren't working, our mortality rate for children is insane for an industrialized country. Not everyone is Christian and that is really okay.
I am hopeful.
My friend Charlotte has had her baby. She had him her way. It was safe, natural and so beautiful. I am filled with joy!!!
I am hopeful for all that we can become. I am overjoyed that someone has stepped up. I am thrilled that this courageous, charismatic man has stepped up and is willing to change our future.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Thursday
Cold, cold, cold. Pretty much if a body part isn't covered, it goes numb. It's that cold. I have started parking at ACE hardware for Ryan's pickup and drop off because I hate the idea of sitting in an idling car FOREVER. So Charlotte has been traipsing back and forth in her snow suit. I went without a hat yesterday..not smart. Ryan is making noises about wanting to ride the bus agan. We'll see. We are hoping to put Charlotte in full days in the nursery, if that happens, he'll have to ride the bus for sheer logistics--unless Charlotte stays over a few minutes... Anyway. Greg has a plague--probably the same one I had last week. Lots of being tired, cramping and the runs. I had it for four days. Amazingly I didn't lose any weight--damn it.
The Antioch School has had a resident artist this week, a harpist. All of the classes have had lessons. The nursery went for 30 minutes for two days. The adult sized harp is standing majestically in the art and science room while the little harps are gathered around it. Way cool. Charlotte took her sled to school today "To pull Marin around on it" she said. There is just enough snow to make it work. the kids still go out. Some are on roller blades-even in the snow and some continue on the trikes. Ryan has had indoor recess for the last month or so--they stay in the room and do quiet stuff. Time to throw kids in the tub. Greg is zonked out, so I get bath, bed and book duty tonight. Dinner was fun. It was just the three of us in the kitchen and we had some fun conversations. Charlotte discovered she likes Cuban style black beans--Ryan doesn't.
The Antioch School has had a resident artist this week, a harpist. All of the classes have had lessons. The nursery went for 30 minutes for two days. The adult sized harp is standing majestically in the art and science room while the little harps are gathered around it. Way cool. Charlotte took her sled to school today "To pull Marin around on it" she said. There is just enough snow to make it work. the kids still go out. Some are on roller blades-even in the snow and some continue on the trikes. Ryan has had indoor recess for the last month or so--they stay in the room and do quiet stuff. Time to throw kids in the tub. Greg is zonked out, so I get bath, bed and book duty tonight. Dinner was fun. It was just the three of us in the kitchen and we had some fun conversations. Charlotte discovered she likes Cuban style black beans--Ryan doesn't.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Oh the weather outside...
We have snow! Not enough to build a snowman, or even sled on really. But enough that the kids didn't hesitate to pull on snowsuits and go outside. Ryan has already made a plan for hot chocolate. So I am siting in the living room with the laptop, looking out the back window as they play together. It's nice that they are old enough to do that. Ryan has his pirate ship outside...
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