4.28.20 - Joy status: watching a thunderstorm with the kids

Sitting on my in-laws' front porch with the kids watching a thunderstorm roll in last night. It was really beautiful. The clouds were enough different shades of gray that you could easily see them swirling around each other. As they approached it was breezy and warm, but pretty quiet (except Merlene's fishing themed wind chimes). Midwestern thunderstorms are wonderful. I feel lucky we've already had two since we've been here.

 

4.28.20 - Joy status: in the black

For the first time since Jack and I have been married (and for awhile before that, actually), our total net worth is positive. JOY! INVENTORY!

4.25.20 - Joy status: Thunderstorm date

Date night: to go sushi at a picnic table by the Missouri River.

The best part of the date was watching a thunderstorm rolling in. Midwestern thunderstorms are in my joy inventory.

We coudl tell it was going to start pouring on us soon, so we were sort of speed walking to the car in the warm wind, but we were so happy to experience the thunderstorm rolling in we were kind of giggling about it.

It did start sprinkling on us as we neared the car, which we were very dramatic about. Once in the car we sat for a minute and continued to watch.

We drove a short way and picked up drive thru Dairy Queen, then came back to the riverfront and ate ice cream while it poured all around us. I loved it.

4/22/20 - Kid snippets: no potatoes

Me: Would you guys like any more ham and potatoes?
Jane: **gasp** potatoes?!
Me: Is that a yes?
Jane: ...no

4.19.20 - Joy status: our own playset

We are in Missouri sheltering with my in-laws. The playgrounds are all closed, so they bought a playset for their backyard. Grateful for that, and grateful for Jack and my father-in-law spending the last couple hours putting it together.

4.17.20 - Joy status: audiobook while cleaning

This evening I spent three or four hours listening to an audiobook I'm really enjoying (The Righteous Mind) while I cleaned and packed for our travel tomorrow. Jack had taken the kids elsewhere and I was completely uninterrupted. It felt like leisurely sitting around reading a book I love while the house magically got cleaner. It was a much-needed intellectually stimulating change of pace.

4/17/20 - Kid Snippets: Clara cheers up Jane

Jane is crabby. She and Clara are eating breakfast at the dining room table.

Clara hasn't said anything.
Jane: Weave me awone!
Clara: Mom! Jane said to leave me alone!
Me: Yeah she's a little crabby this morning. You should probably leave her alone.
Clara: Jane, be happy of me! I love you.
Jane: *silence
Clara: Jaaaane! I said 'I love you'!
Jane: ...I wuv you too
Clara: Gimme a hug
*Hugs*

I can't believe that actually worked but I'll take it.

4.16.20 - Joy status: piano practice, pickup truck, fireplaces

Joy Inventory: listening to Sola and then Rocket practice piano (in particular Rocket is learning Hedwig's Theme); driving my dad's big pickup truck; the rearview camera on my dad's big pickup truck making me a much better driver; a cozy fireplace on this, another snowy day; having friends who disagree/discuss well; generous and supportive in-laws; and, always, Diet Coke.

4.14.20 - Joy status: snow melting

Joy inventory: watching snow melt rapidly

4.11.20 - Joy status: great TV show

Joy inventory: when the TV show is so good you don't even want to finish the season.

4/11/20 - Kid snippets: Jane is a charge

The girls were trying to play I Spy but they kept bickering.

Clara: I spy with my little eye something purple.
Jane: No! No purple!
Clara: She won't do it with me!
Me: I'll do it. Is it that car?
Clara: No! It's Papi's house!
Me: Oh cool.
Jane: No purple!
Clara: She won't do it with me!
Me: But I just did it with you.
Clara: But Jane said no!
Me: Well Jane isn't in charge.
Clara: Jane *is* a charge!

4.8.20 - Poopy in the poopy jar

Tonight Jack put the girls in the bath tub. I joined everyone in the bathroom so I could give Calvin a sponge bath at the same time. For a moment I got a strong scent of poop and I was afraid one of the girls had gone in the tub, but they hadn't. Checked Calvin's diaper and he was clean too, so maybe it was just a fart. However the incident led me to mimic the "Who took the cookie from the cookie jar?" format and I said something about who let a fart go. The girls thought it was hilarious and quickly adapted it to their own song, which went something like:

Girls: Who took the poopy from the poopy jar? DADDY took the poopy from the poopy jar!
Jack: Who me??
Girls: Yes you!
Jack: Not me!
Girls: Then who?? [And here Jane would dramatically spread her arms, palms facing up, like it was this great mystery]
Jack: MOMMY took the poopy from the poopy jar!
And repeat, with every family member.

The girls squealed with delight and grinned and laughed, and they wanted to repeat the process several times, especially Jane. She even had a little dance to go with it. She thought it was all so funny. Calvin watched amused and mystified.

Fast forward to bed time. Lately I've been singing them each "Baby Mine" most nights before bed. I used to resist doing so every night but that was often when I was exhausted from lab. I also had this vague idea that if I did it every night it wouldn't be special to them anymore, but I've since scrapped that. If they still ask to do it they must enjoy it, and I certainly do.

I actually have started taking a lot of meaning out of it. Once a few weeks ago Clara silently held her arms around my neck the whole time I sang it, and it was quite moving. So now when I do it, I make sure whichever girl whose turn it isn't stays quiet to let me and the girl I'm singing too fully embrace the moment.

Jane always goes first, which they both seem to prefer. Tonight I softly stroked her hair as I sang slowly and she stared up at me. I thought about how quickly they're growing, how sad it is that Scout isn't here, and how glad I am that they still ask me to hold them and sing this, because eventually they won't want me to. It was a solemn bonding moment for me with Jane.

Then it was Clara's turn, but the moment I started singing to her, Jane started softly singing "Who took the poopy from the poopy jar?" It was all I could do not to laugh. I solemnly told her to stop and let me sing to Clara. I started the lullaby over, and I heard Jane mutter under her breath "Who took the poopy from the poopy jar?" I stopped and very sternly told her to quit or I'd smack her hand, but it was all I could do to not laugh and undermine myself. Even after that she muttered very very softly to herself until I was done with the song, then she burst out with normal volume.

Whole this was pretty funny.

Bath pic from about a week prior.

4.7.20 - Joy status: dogs eating off the floor

Joy inventory: the dogs at Dad's house who eat everything that my kids drop on the floor. It's so easy!

4/5/20 - Kid snippets: why does Jack love Clara?

Clara: I love you very much
Jack: I love you too
C: Why?
J: I just do. You don't have to earn it.
C: No, say lots of things
J: You want me to tell you lots of reasons I love you?
C: Yes

4.4.20 - Joy Status: Clara reading

Clara just read two pages from "One Fish Two Fish." She did a combination of sight reading and sounding words out. All I did was point to each word to help her focus on which one to read next. She was super excited about it. I gave her a huge hug and then Jack told her he needed an even bigger hug, so she stood by the front door and he stood across two rooms and then she ran as fast she could all the way up to him and he lifted her in the air. As I was leaving just now I asked her to lock the door behind me, and she said she couldn't cuz she had to read some more.

4.2.20 - Joy statuses: Clara's chipmunk voice, Baby mine, siblings

1) Sometimes chipmunk-voice Clara tries to do the voice of the Cave of Wonders from Aladdin with hilarious results. ("INFIDELS! You have TOUCHED the FORBIDDEN TREASURE!")

2) Some nights before bed I hold first Jane and then Clara and sing the lullaby "Baby Mine" (from Dumbo). When it's Clara's turn, Jane usually lies in her own bed singing along with us. <3

3) This is a repeated joy but I am *so* glad that these two girls have each other (and also Calvin as he gets older and more interactive). Either one of them would be a lot more bored and lonely right now without the other, but instead they play together all the time.