7.27.20 - Kid snippets: Clara will pay me later

I had a nicer phone headset. The cord was dragging on the ground near my desk. Jack accidentally ran it over with the vaccuum. The phone headset is no more. Jack was angry about this.

Jack: *grumbles*
Me: It's fine, accidents happen.
Clara: It's okay! It can still work!
Me: No, babe, it doesn't work anymore.
Clara: Well it's okay. We can buy a new one!
Me: Honey when things cost money we really try not to destroy them. ...Also just in general, actually.
Clara: Yeah but we can still buy a new one.
Me: Are you going to give me money to buy a new one?
Clara: Yeah!
Me: Oh good, can I have it?
Clara: Yeah! Just when I grow up.

7.24.20 - Kid snippets: Clara is glad I'm here in the morning

Every Tues, Wed, Thurs I leave for work around 5:30 am and get home around 7:30 pm. I see the kids briefly, usually while I'm pretty tired, and I have to get to bed soon to get up for the next shift. I don't mind because I get most of a work week done in 3 days, but I think the kids mind a little bit. On Thursday nights when I'm putting them to bed, I remind them I will still be here in the morning.

Just now, out of nowhere, Clara said "Mom? I love you. And I'm so glad in the morning you're here!"

7.22.20 - Joy status: my job makes me feel supported

My job makes me feel supported both professionally and otherwise. Multiple analysts are helping train me to qualify for more complicated tasks. People frequently bring in bagels or homemade baked goods to share with everyone. Most of the lab is now saving their non-confidential extra paper for me to take home to Clara (who produces like 10+ drawings a day now). And yesterday my boss asked me if I'd like his previous laptop (for free!) I really get along with all my coworkers and it makes me look forward to going to work.

7/19/20 - Kid snippets: Jane puts me "in jail," Clara won't go to sleep

Jane colored a picture I really liked and later I thought she had thrown it away. I didn't see it in the trash and found it among a bunch of papers on the kitchen table. I put it on the top of the tall bookshelf and told the girls I was saving it.

Jane: Nooo! Dat's mine!
Me: Oh do you want it? You can have it [I hand it to her]
Jane: Don't thwow it away!
Me: I'm not going to hon.
Jane: Don't. Don't thow it away Mama!
Me: Babe, I'm not!
Jane: I want to keep it.
Me: I want to keep it too.
Jane: You'll make me angwy.
Me, laughing: Babe, I'm not going to throw it away
Jane: 5 minutes! 5 minutes *in jail*.

And, from about a week ago: Clara is trying to stall going to bed. Jane passed out long ago but Clara keeps getting up. She's allowed to get out of bed to use the bathroom but she's already done that. Since then she's come out to ask if she can eat something, look in the bathroom mirror, draw something, and other activities. When I got her to go back to her room I could hear her get out of bed and stand near the door so I told her to go back to bed. I heard her scamper but to be sure she actually got back in bed I went in the nursery to check. As I was leaving again, she said "Mom? MOM!" Me: "Clara, WHAT?" Her: "...what is gravity?"

7/17/20 - Kid snippets: Clara goes back to sleep

Clara woke up at 6:45am and wanted us to get up because "it's morning!" I told her we were too tired and she needs to go back to bed and read until at least 7:15am. She argued at first but eventually did it. Then she fell back asleep and slept until 9:15am. #winning

7/11/20 - Kid snippets: Bobo in time out

Clara pretended Bobo kicked a toy and then she put him in time out and then had the mama teddy bear keep reprimanding Bobo that he has "five more minutes." Then she and Jane asked me to put the microwave timer on for 5 mins.

Jane often refers to Calvin as "buddy" or "little buddy." "Here comes buddy!" "Little buddy needs his bottle!"

7.10.20 - Joy status: making kids like music

At my kids' ages, I can make them like basically any song just by getting into the song myself. Now when "The Room Where It Happens" from Hamilton plays, Calvin starts giggling and Jane wants everyone to get up and dance, lol.

7.6.20 - Joy status: dancing for the girls

Jack moved the coffee table to vaccuum. The open space inspired Clara to ask if we could have a dance party. So we put on a playlist of the kids' favorite songs to dance to and Jane and Clara started twirling around while Calvin held on to the side of the couch and grinned at them. Jack and I started dancing too, and the girls stopped to watch us. When Jack twirled me, Clara clasped her hands together in front of her chin and in a total mom voice said "Awwww."

7/5/20 - Kid snippets: Calvin can't get down, Clara can't pour milk

Calvin can pull himself up to standing by holding on to the coffee table, dining room chairs, lower shelves of bookshelves, etc. But he doesn't know how to get back down. So several times a day he starts fussing and rocking back and forth while holding on to the furniture, waiting for someone to rescue him. If I walk up behind him and lightly rest my hands just below his arms, he immediately relaxes and falls into my hands before sitting back on the floor.

In other news, this morning Clara (barely) hit her thigh against the table and started fussing, and Jane immediately directed me to go get Clara some ice. Later Clara walked up to me to ask for a washcloth with milk dripping down her hair and chest. She had gotten the gallon of milk out of the fridge and tried to pour it into her cup on the kitchen counter, which requires lifting the milk above her head. Noble effort.

And as I write this Calvin has crawled to me, pulled himself up to holding on to my leg, and is babbling to himself and licking my knee.

7.4.20 - Joy status: FOR-EV-ER

We've had a wonderful 4th (pictures forthcoming), and now we're watching The Sandlot, which is the first time our children and Henry have seen it. And Jack and I haven't seen it in years, and we're loving it. FOR-EV-ER!

6.27.20 - Joy status: breakfast with Rachel and playdate

I had a belated birthday breakfast courtesy of Rachel, who I haven't seen in a long time. We ate at a place that normally has a line out the door, but because of "these times" we were able to walk up and get a table. In order to keep all the tables appropriately distanced, the restaurant had converted it's parking lot into spaced out patio seating, and it was really nice weather out and generally a nice ambiance. Food was great too. We both wanted savory and sweet so we ordered one of each (French toast and an avocado omelette) and split them.

When we were done I went back to my car and saw I had a ticket (!) BUT as I quickly scanned it to see the damage, I just saw $0 because it was only a warning (apparently I was parked in a residential area that requires a permit). I didn't even know such a thing was possible, and I couldn't help but wonder if the person choosing warning only took pity on me because of my pitiable (but reliable!) old Toyota Corolla.

Then I dropped by the nearby park and playground to verify (a) park parking lots have reopened, (b) as have the playgrounds themselves, and (c) as have the public restrooms (especially important with little kids with little bladders).

So I went home and got Jane and Clara ready with a picnic lunch, and we went back to the park to meet up with one of Clara's former preschool classmates (and his mom and younger sister) for a playdate. All the kids were *really* happy to see each other (except Jane who sat with me on a bench most of the time, being shy).

Weather wasn't terrible because we met early enough in the day - high 70s and low 80s, manageable, and the park had a lot of shade. The kids loved chasing the birds, drawing with sidewalk chalk, and chasing each other around the playground and park. Even Jane did finally join in for the last 20 or so minutes we were there. This is the first time I met this family (Jack was always the one to drop off and pick up Clara from school) and the other mama was easy to talk to. We've already tenatively planned another get together in a little while to have a craft day at our apartment. Hoping this is the beginning of a decent family friendship.

Jane went too far away so I told Clara to go get her. They walked all the way back to me holding hands.

Nice weekend!

6.27.20 - Joy status: Fun Saturday

It's been a good day.

• I had a belated birthday breakfast courtesy of Rachel, who I haven't seen in a long time.
• We ate at a place that normally has a line out the door, but because of "these times" we were able to walk up and get a table.
• In order to keep all the tables appropriately distanced, the restaurant had converted it's parking lot into spaced out patio seating, and it was really nice weather out and generally a nice ambiance.
• Food was great too. We both wanted savory and sweet so we ordered one of each (French toast and an avocado omelette) and split them.
• When we were done I went back to my car and saw I had a ticket (!) BUT as I quickly scanned it to see the damage, I just saw $0 because it was only a warning (apparently I was parked in a residential area that requires a permit). I didn't even know such a thing was possible, and I couldn't help but wonder if the person choosing warning only took pity on me because of my pitiable (but reliable!) old Toyota Corolla.
• Then I dropped by the nearby park and playground to verify (a) park parking lots have reopened, (b) as have the playgrounds themselves, and (c) as have the public restrooms (especially important with little kids with little bladders).
• So I went home and got Jane and Clara ready with a picnic lunch, and we went back to the park to meet up with one of Clara's former preschool classmates (and his mom and younger sister) for a playdate. All the kids were *really* happy to see each other (except Jane who sat with me on a bench most of the time, being shy).
• Weather wasn't terrible because we met early enough in the day - high 70s and low 80s, manageable, and the park had a lot of shade.
• The kids loved chasing the birds, drawing with sidewalk chalk, and chasing each other around the playground and park. Even Jane did finally join in for the last 20 or so minutes we were there.
• This is the first time I met this family (Jack was always the one to drop off and pick up Clara from school) and the other mama was easy to talk to.
• We've already tenatively planned another get together in a little while to have a craft day at our apartment. Hoping this is the beginning of a decent family friendship.

Nice weekend!

6.23.20 - Kid snippets: shortcut

Jane has a very tiny cut on her toes. She says it's her "shortcut."

6.22.20 - Kid snippets: Where are Clara's toy frogs?

Clara: Mom where are my [toy] frogs?
M: I don't know.
C: Are they in the bathroom?
M: I don't know, hon.
C: Did Jane take them?
M: Clara, I *don't* *know*
C: Did YOU take them??
M: What? No.
C: Where are they?
M: Clara! *I don't know*!
C: You keep saying 'I don't know' a lot!
M: Yes, babe, because I DON'T KNOW.
C: Did Dad take them?

6.15.20 - Kid snippets: Run Away Scar!

Clara and Jane are playing with the toy birthday cake.

Clara: Mom we have a birthday cake for you! It's Bobo's birthday
Me: Where is Bobo?
Clara: Bobo's in jail. And we have to get him after 1,000 minutes.

Also apparently Lion King is in now because the girls keep repeatedly smacking each other in the face and saying it's because "we're lions" (Scar and grown up Simba). Somehow Jane always ends up being Scar, and Clara keeps ferociously yelling at her "Run! Run away Scar!"

6.14.20 - Spending a day with the kids

I've spent the afternoon and evening with the kids without trying to get any other work done. I enjoyed so many things:

The girls play together and keep each other and Calvin busy a lot. He crawls from room to room to watch them. I actually got a lot of cleaning done while they were all playing with each other. I think it helps that I've taken FB off my phone and suddenly it seems like I have more time for other things. :-P

Clara has been very into drawing all kinds of things, and she's especially interested in copying drawings I make for her. I drew her some block letters and later the Big Bad Wolf from Three Little Pigs, and she was just delighted. Jane likes to color and draw alongside Clara; Jane only scribbles right now but she has started telling us that all of her drawings are fireworks.

Right: my drawing of the Three Little Pigs' houses
Left: Clara's copy

We also did some crafting together. The girls got to try out some of my fancy hole punches, crafting scissors, and glue. They were very into their projects. Calvin sat in the high chair and watched, and when he started getting bored I just gave him bits of banana. That kept him busy.

And perhaps the best part of the day, the part that tipped it into a "joy inventory status" day, was that Calvin woke up early from his nap, but because the girls were peacefully watching Monsters Inc I was able to cuddle Calvin in the rocking chair until he fell solidly back asleep. In contrast with his older sisters when they were babies, I've rarely been able to rock Calvin, and it was very very sweet.

It's been great getting to spend some focused time with my babes.

6.13.20 - Kid snippets: Hakuna Matata

Clara did not want to try the lunch that I made her and was complaining that it was yucky. I told her she had to take at least one bite. She picked up a piece, looked at me, cheerfully said "Hakuna matata!" and then took the bite while giggling.

6.12.20 - Kid snippets: Jane gets Clara her cup

Calvin was trying to drink out of Clara's sippy cup.

Clara: Calvin! That's my cup!
Me: Well you left it on the floor and now he's playing with it.
Jane looks from Clara to Calvin and back. Then Jane takes the cup from Calvin and gives it to Clara. Calvin starts to fuss.
Jane, sternly: Pway with sumpting else!

6.8.20 - Kid snippets: I wuv you Cahbin

Jane wanted to play with a puzzle and I told her she had to first clean up the toy train set. A moment later I hear her say, "Hi wittle buddy! Do you wah help me cwean up? You can give me the twain. You can do it! You can help cwean up. Hey buddy!"

Later in the afternoon Jane, Calvin, and I were all hanging out on my bed. Calvin was lying down and Jane was jumping around trying to make him laugh. Spontaneously she lay next to him, put her arm around his shoulders, and said "I wuv you Cahbin!" I about died.

5/30/20 - Kid snippets: Jane is NOT contrary

Merlene and I are talking about how every child is different, and how you may think you know what you're doing with the first and then the second throws you for a loop.

Me: Sometimes the second child is very contrary, right Jane?
Jane: No! It's NOT!