Such a beautiful day today with the kids. They didn't have school, institute day. The sun is shining and we spent hours outside. Miss A was invited to Teresa-Claire's for a playdate. While she was gone, Miss F, Miss N and I went for a walk in the nature, just behind the house. Then Miss F wanted to rake the leaves - all deep colors of red and yellow, so pretty! - and then climbed a tree so high, I couldn't believe. Miss N took a long nap outside, such a nice weather it was. Then in was time to pick up Miss A, and a little visit to Egg Harbor with Chris and Lauren. - Little argument with Miss F because of her table manners, but we made it up!
Back at home, the kids wanted to climb more trees and I made great pictures of them on the pile of leaves (they all need a bath tonight!). While I was busy with taking the pictures, I saw this weird looking animal crossing the back yard. I followed and tried to make pictures. It was pretty far to get a good shot, but I managed one from the side. Miss F checked it in the Audubon book and it's a Virginia Opossum.
I was sure I would be freeked out when I read about this animal. Since we moved here, I realize more and more how dangerous the nature can be. The sweet looking raccoons can attack you or you can get a parasite that can be pretty dangerous. I wrote about that the first year we were here. Then the coyote's in the backyard, the ticks and the lime disease which come with the beautiful deer, weird worms I found when I was cleaning the sand box... Yuck...
that's the mood I'm in when I find the Virginia Opossum article in wikipedia. Let's see how much panic it will bring. The Opossum in an opportunist and you can find the by your garbage bin - we don;t have one outside - (1 point for us). When you scare the Opossum, he goes in a coma for several hours. He looks dead and this way he may save his life - now that's an interesting characteristic - (1 point for the Opossum). He is NOT related to a RAT! (I give 2 points to Opossum for that!) and according to Wikipedia: "They rarely transmit diseases to humans, and are surprisingly resistant to rabies, mainly because they have lower body temperatures than most placental mammals. In addition, opossums limit the spread of Lyme disease, as they successfully kill off most disease carrying ticks that feed on them." 10 points to Opossum and a hug from me - could do it if he wouldn't bite me or go into a coma, maybe. I love that ugly animal!
Now, the girls are in the basement, Miss N is with me talking and crawling. The pumpkin seeds - oh yes, we also carved pumpkins - are in the oven. Have no dinner and I am not proud of it, but having a nice day with the kids. What can I ask for more!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
A husband's way of helping
When P says "I'll take the kids to school tomorrow", I try to calm down this little expectation. Sleeping in one morning, huh? After a night of I don't know how many feedings, staying in the bed till 8am is a dream. But husbands are funny creatures who have a diffrent view on helping out with the kids.
One morning like that, the alarm goes at 6.45am. Not mine - yet... Whoever invented the snooze button, well I hope he/she has to listen to his/her significant other's alarm twenty times every morning. Twenty might seem a lot, but it's the price for inventing such a nuissance!
Then around 7.00 am, my alarm starts to buzz. To be honest, I do snooze it a couple of times as well. It's just learning by example, not my character. All that buzzing finally manages to wake up one of the kids - couple rooms further, which surprisingly causes P to get up, go to the restroom, close the door and start to answer his email on his Blackberry - along with the usual business. I will never get to know why calling children triggers this reaction. Never!
While the sounds in the other bedrooms get louder, I hang on to my dream of a free morning and ignore all the "Mooooooommyyyyy"s. A slight irritation starts building up. The longwaited flush of the toilet is unfortunately followed by the sound of the shower. Meanwhile, "Mooooooommyyyy"s are unbearable, the prospect of having the kids at the breakfast table before 7.40am is low and there is no way I can go back to sleep, I get up.
There's work to be done in the morning, mothers know. Miss A is having trouble picking her clothes and she is not willing to try it without help. Miss F is sitting on her usual spot in front of the closet; the clothes will come to her?! I take things into my hand and 20 minutes later, the girls are downstairs, including Miss N - in clothes, clean dipered and nursed. The breakfast (cereal and a glass of worm Nesquik, I won't pretend I prepare pancakes during the week) is ready. While we are eating, P comes downstairs, with his perfect hairdoe, smelling aftershave. He eats with us, and helps me to tell the girls to prepare their lunch - it's almost time to leave for school.
Everybody is ready, the lunch baskets are by the garage door, Miss N sits in her carseat, my blood is boiling from all the "Hurry up"s and "we are late"s; P says, "don't worry, I will bring the girls to the school, you can have an easy morning."
"???!"
Oh I love my husband. He is a nice person, he is a good person. He is a good father. He works hard; and he is the son I never had, ha ha!
At 2.30pm pick up at school, Munisha says, "I saw P this morning, did you get to sleep in?" I tell her the story and I love the expression on her face. She understands.
One morning like that, the alarm goes at 6.45am. Not mine - yet... Whoever invented the snooze button, well I hope he/she has to listen to his/her significant other's alarm twenty times every morning. Twenty might seem a lot, but it's the price for inventing such a nuissance!
Then around 7.00 am, my alarm starts to buzz. To be honest, I do snooze it a couple of times as well. It's just learning by example, not my character. All that buzzing finally manages to wake up one of the kids - couple rooms further, which surprisingly causes P to get up, go to the restroom, close the door and start to answer his email on his Blackberry - along with the usual business. I will never get to know why calling children triggers this reaction. Never!
While the sounds in the other bedrooms get louder, I hang on to my dream of a free morning and ignore all the "Mooooooommyyyyy"s. A slight irritation starts building up. The longwaited flush of the toilet is unfortunately followed by the sound of the shower. Meanwhile, "Mooooooommyyyy"s are unbearable, the prospect of having the kids at the breakfast table before 7.40am is low and there is no way I can go back to sleep, I get up.
There's work to be done in the morning, mothers know. Miss A is having trouble picking her clothes and she is not willing to try it without help. Miss F is sitting on her usual spot in front of the closet; the clothes will come to her?! I take things into my hand and 20 minutes later, the girls are downstairs, including Miss N - in clothes, clean dipered and nursed. The breakfast (cereal and a glass of worm Nesquik, I won't pretend I prepare pancakes during the week) is ready. While we are eating, P comes downstairs, with his perfect hairdoe, smelling aftershave. He eats with us, and helps me to tell the girls to prepare their lunch - it's almost time to leave for school.
Everybody is ready, the lunch baskets are by the garage door, Miss N sits in her carseat, my blood is boiling from all the "Hurry up"s and "we are late"s; P says, "don't worry, I will bring the girls to the school, you can have an easy morning."
"???!"
Oh I love my husband. He is a nice person, he is a good person. He is a good father. He works hard; and he is the son I never had, ha ha!
At 2.30pm pick up at school, Munisha says, "I saw P this morning, did you get to sleep in?" I tell her the story and I love the expression on her face. She understands.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Dinner with friends
We had a lovely dinner yesterday with Alison and Erik at their house, with Blai and Carmina. All very entertaining people, enjoyable company. It was too cute when Dagny showed her room to us, the place where Miss F knows too well!
Today, Leo and Carla came to visit us with Alex. First get together after more than a year. Always nice to see old friends! Carla is running the Chicago Marathon. I hope she'll survive it, she has problems with her feet and leg. Crazy lady, still doing it. Good luck Carla!
Dagny had her bday party today, so Miss F went to the farm. It was a truly beautiful day for that!
Tonight was the school fundraising dinner at John and Dianna's. Although none of us felt like going, the evening turned out to be very pleasant. It was a big dinner and the wine was amazing - not a coincidence if you think about the host - and everyone was quite relaxed and social. We had a sitter problem and we had Alia last moment. Diana was very nice to let us bring Miss N and let her sitter take care of her. She slept like a baby! upstairs while we were dining. The dinner lasted longer than we thought, when I arrived home Fauzia was sitting with Alia in our living room. Poor Alia looked so tired! P stayed longer and drove back with Tricia.
Gosh, got to go to sleep, it's too late!
Today, Leo and Carla came to visit us with Alex. First get together after more than a year. Always nice to see old friends! Carla is running the Chicago Marathon. I hope she'll survive it, she has problems with her feet and leg. Crazy lady, still doing it. Good luck Carla!
Dagny had her bday party today, so Miss F went to the farm. It was a truly beautiful day for that!
Tonight was the school fundraising dinner at John and Dianna's. Although none of us felt like going, the evening turned out to be very pleasant. It was a big dinner and the wine was amazing - not a coincidence if you think about the host - and everyone was quite relaxed and social. We had a sitter problem and we had Alia last moment. Diana was very nice to let us bring Miss N and let her sitter take care of her. She slept like a baby! upstairs while we were dining. The dinner lasted longer than we thought, when I arrived home Fauzia was sitting with Alia in our living room. Poor Alia looked so tired! P stayed longer and drove back with Tricia.
Gosh, got to go to sleep, it's too late!
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