I'm in Florida.
Not Disney, or anything fancy.
I've come here to watch my Godson graduate high school. I'm staying with my best friend, S and her family, and I've been welcomed in, seamlessly like every other time I've been to see them.
It's 9am, and I am the only one awake right now. The storm has passed (Tropical Storm Andrea threatened to cancel the ceremony entirely. It was originally scheduled for Wednesday evening. Now, it looks like it will go on tonight.)
I'm sitting in the screened-in porch, drinking coffee and listening to the birds. I miss my kids.
Yesterday was devoted to Girl Time and Beauty. We went shopping and had haircuts and mani-pedis. The nail salon was slow, but detailed. I was a puddle by the time we left. I'd also been able to watch "Warm Bodies" from start to finish. Weird, right?
.
The evening was for family dinner - spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic biscuits. Then S and I decided to try to see the sunset at the beach. Nope, no go. The tail end of the storm meant it was still raining a bit, and the sky was filled with clouds. Still, it was a pleasant drive over and back. Came back and watched part of Spies of Warsaw.
Today - I don't know what's in store. Some graduation-related errands and a nice lunch, I think. All I know is, S better not get me sunburned. (We have a bad history of that...)
Friday, June 7, 2013
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Saturday, 2pm
In case you were wondering.
It's quite nice outside, here in the breeze. I'm sitting, on a new camp chair, just outside my apartment door My feet are propped up on the edge of the garden. I'm drinking a glass of water, and snacking on some Starburst candies I yanked out of one of the kids' goodie bags.
The kids are on their way to Lety's bakery to get gelato with Omi and Grampa John. Dave is sprawled on the sofa inside, with the cats bracketing him.
Life is good.
This morning, I took Claire for her checkup - she weighs 51 pounds and stands 51 1/2 inches tall. Three pounds and three inches gained since a year ago. In case you were wondering, she's the size of the average 8 1/2 year old. She turned six a week ago.
When they get back from the bakery, she and I will go to our last Daisy scout meeting of the year. I'll miss it for the summer, but I won't miss the drama of getting Claire to the meetings every other week. It seems like it wasn't worth the trouble some times.
I'm enjoying the quiet for now - watching a pigeon, listening to my super wash his car. It's nice. However long it lasts.
It's quite nice outside, here in the breeze. I'm sitting, on a new camp chair, just outside my apartment door My feet are propped up on the edge of the garden. I'm drinking a glass of water, and snacking on some Starburst candies I yanked out of one of the kids' goodie bags.
The kids are on their way to Lety's bakery to get gelato with Omi and Grampa John. Dave is sprawled on the sofa inside, with the cats bracketing him.
Life is good.
This morning, I took Claire for her checkup - she weighs 51 pounds and stands 51 1/2 inches tall. Three pounds and three inches gained since a year ago. In case you were wondering, she's the size of the average 8 1/2 year old. She turned six a week ago.
When they get back from the bakery, she and I will go to our last Daisy scout meeting of the year. I'll miss it for the summer, but I won't miss the drama of getting Claire to the meetings every other week. It seems like it wasn't worth the trouble some times.
I'm enjoying the quiet for now - watching a pigeon, listening to my super wash his car. It's nice. However long it lasts.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Immediately After
The day after her birthday, Claire greeted me outside school with a very different smile.
Tooth #1 has fallen out!
She had been complaining that morning about it hurting (and I vividly remember the weird feeling of loose teeth) but I didn't think much of it. However, a brief run-in with a pizza crust at lunch and out it came.
She had a very definitely idea about the tooth fairy too. She said she imagined her slipping her delicate hands underneath the pillow to take the tooth and replace it with money. So, yes, around here, I guess I will be the tooth fairy. I will have to figure something about the notes from her, since Clairey recognized the envelope I used to put her present.
Tooth #1 has fallen out!
She had been complaining that morning about it hurting (and I vividly remember the weird feeling of loose teeth) but I didn't think much of it. However, a brief run-in with a pizza crust at lunch and out it came.
She had a very definitely idea about the tooth fairy too. She said she imagined her slipping her delicate hands underneath the pillow to take the tooth and replace it with money. So, yes, around here, I guess I will be the tooth fairy. I will have to figure something about the notes from her, since Clairey recognized the envelope I used to put her present.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Six
 |
| SIX! (Now, someone give me back my baby...) |
Born just before dawn, May 23, 2007, dark brown hair and eyes, chubby cheeks and plump fingers.
Claire Barbara.
You're my favorite girl, ever.
 |
| Brand new. |
 |
| One-derful! |
 |
| Two and a few. |
 |
| Four! (I can't find a picture of her at three...bummer. Also, t hat kid next to her in the stripes is Ben) |
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| Sakes alive - the girl is five! |
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Maybe
A good long time has passed.
Nothing much has happened. I feel strange here. Like watching the world from inside, when I should be out there, experiencing things and letting them pass
Spring has come. The trees are green and there is sweet shade beneath them. The kids are full of boundless energy these days, running, climbing and swinging through the late afternoons. C has mastered the monkey bars, at long last. Ben longs to climb and swing with her, but can't. He's starting to get the hang of pumping his legs on the Big Kid swings.
I have finished the OT I was required to do for my post-surgical finger. It's still a tiny bit tender in a few spots, still scarred, but so much better than it was. I still wonder if it was worth the time it's taking to heal. (I wonder in the abstract, of course. I know it's worth it. Left untreated the growth would have continued and become worse.)
We're making our summer plans - camping, water parks, weekends away. I've signed the kids up for camp for a few weeks.
I'm glad it's warm again, aren't you?
Nothing much has happened. I feel strange here. Like watching the world from inside, when I should be out there, experiencing things and letting them pass
Spring has come. The trees are green and there is sweet shade beneath them. The kids are full of boundless energy these days, running, climbing and swinging through the late afternoons. C has mastered the monkey bars, at long last. Ben longs to climb and swing with her, but can't. He's starting to get the hang of pumping his legs on the Big Kid swings.
I have finished the OT I was required to do for my post-surgical finger. It's still a tiny bit tender in a few spots, still scarred, but so much better than it was. I still wonder if it was worth the time it's taking to heal. (I wonder in the abstract, of course. I know it's worth it. Left untreated the growth would have continued and become worse.)
We're making our summer plans - camping, water parks, weekends away. I've signed the kids up for camp for a few weeks.
I'm glad it's warm again, aren't you?
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Yesterday
Yesterday was one of those rare days. Perfect.
We woke up, made pancakes and headed into the city. Central Park, to be exact. It took a shlep, but fortune smiled on us, and we made it to our destination easily. (We made all of our subway connections AND the Maclaren stroller folded and unfolded when we needed it to.)
Claire, Ben and I were headed for the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater for a performance of Pippi. (As in Pippi Longstocking.) Claire was excited as we were going to be meeting many of her Daisy Scout Troop, I was less so. I don't remember liking Pippi very much. I was the sort of kid who got very nervous around over the top kids. She upset my very ordered mind. AND even worse, I do not like puppets. I mean, Muppets are OK, and hand puppets are acceptable, but marionettes? Ugh. Even thinking about them makes me a little wobbly.
All told, it was a pleasant afternoon of theater. Ben was utterly charming, giggling at all all the right parts. Afterwards, we climbed to the top of Belvedere Castle, and down again, and let the kids play in the Diana Ross playground. We even treated ourselves to hotdogs.
We woke up, made pancakes and headed into the city. Central Park, to be exact. It took a shlep, but fortune smiled on us, and we made it to our destination easily. (We made all of our subway connections AND the Maclaren stroller folded and unfolded when we needed it to.)
Claire, Ben and I were headed for the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater for a performance of Pippi. (As in Pippi Longstocking.) Claire was excited as we were going to be meeting many of her Daisy Scout Troop, I was less so. I don't remember liking Pippi very much. I was the sort of kid who got very nervous around over the top kids. She upset my very ordered mind. AND even worse, I do not like puppets. I mean, Muppets are OK, and hand puppets are acceptable, but marionettes? Ugh. Even thinking about them makes me a little wobbly.
All told, it was a pleasant afternoon of theater. Ben was utterly charming, giggling at all all the right parts. Afterwards, we climbed to the top of Belvedere Castle, and down again, and let the kids play in the Diana Ross playground. We even treated ourselves to hotdogs.
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