7.31.21 - Joy status: trains and compliments

Riding the train at the St. Louis Zoo.

When I compliment a woman's clothing and she tells me she got it for $5 at a thrift store.

7.28.21 - Kid snippets: Thanks because you love me

Just now when I gave Clara a kiss goodnight, she wrapped her arms around my neck and whispered in my ear "Thanks, Mom."

I pulled back to look at her.

Me: Thanks for what?
Clara, with a very serious face: Because you love me.
Me: *dies*
(Jk jk)
Me: I *do* love you!
I give her another kiss.
She smiles.

Fin.

7.26.21 - Kid snippets: napkin on my head

My in-laws use bandanas as cloth napkins. Today for the first time in forever I was wearing a bandana. As I was about to leave the house Clara shouted "WAIT! ... You've got to take that napkin off."

7.25.21 - Kid snippets: Where's my freaking pillow?

This afternoon when Jack picked us up from the airport, the girls and Calvin were delighted to see each other. Calvin just kept looking at them and giggling, which they returned in kind.

Also, tonight Jane realized her pillow wasn't at the head of her bed where it usually is.

Jane: What?? Mom! Where's my freaking pillow?
Me, already laughing: What did you say?
Jane, calmly: Where's my freaking pillow?

7.21.21 - Joy status: Finished genetics

I finally finished the genetics course that's been annoying me the last few months! I thought the final went well, we'll see. Then I had a wonderful time with Aaron at dinner. Awesome day.

7.19.21 - Joy status: faster playback speeds

Being able to listen to audiobooks or watch videos at faster playback speeds.

7.18.21 - Kid snippets: I'll tell you when we get home

We were driving somewhere, and while in the car Clara was reading a book about everything a kid will do when he grows up.

Clara: Just like me! I will do more things when I grow up!
Me: What will you do when you grow up?
Clara: More things!
Me: Like what?
Clara: *pause* I...um...I'll tell you when we go back to the house.

7.16.21 - Joy status: hummingbirds and cardinals

The backyard often has hummingbirds and cardinals flitting around.

7.12.21 - Kid snippets: Calvinisms

These are some current Calvin translations:

"Up!" = Either "pick me up" or "put me down" depending on context
"How?" = Why?
"See me, Mama!" = Mom, watch what I'm going to do!

7.10.21 - Joy status: RAIN

Absolutely loving all the rain we're getting. It's rained more in the month we've been here than probably the last 18 months in California. Looooving it.

7.9.21 - Kid snippets: Spiderman > Jesus

Julie sent me this conversation she overheard yesterday between my nephew and Clara.

Malcolm pretends to electrocute random objects with a creation he built.
Me: I guess you're Zeus. Or maybe Thor. Thor is my favorite.
Malcolm: Hulk favorite!
Clara: Jesus is my favorite because he loves me!
Malcolm: Yeah, Jesus cares about us.
Clara: actually... Jesus is not my favorite. Spiderman is.
Me: You can like both.
Clara: No, I don't like Jesus now, I like Spiderman.

7.7.21 - Joy status: full size washer, less carpeting

A full sized washer and dryer, and a place for my kids to eat their meals that isn't over carpeting! Details that make domestic life a little bit easier.

7.7.21 - Kid snippets: Is there someone in the dentist?

For some reason, Jane refers to the basement as the "dentist," so she was getting pretty annoyed with me when it took me a long time to understand what she meant by "Is there someone in the dentist?" (Also, no, there's no one in the dentist.)

7.1.21 - Kid snippets: Mom doesn't know about space

From the other morning while I was driving the kids to daycare:

Clara: Why do we live on Earth and not one of the other planets?
Me: Earth is the only one with oxygen. We wouldn't be able to breathe on the other planets.
Clara: But there is some oxygen in space.
Me: No, when we go in space we can breathe if we are on a spaceship or if we have an astronaut suit that keeps the oxygen in. But there isn't oxygen just in space by itself.
Clara: But some galaxies have oxygen.
Me: No, not to breathe. Not that we know of.
Clara, getting annoyed: Mom! You need to just say "I don't know about space!"

6.29.21 - Joy status: trading child care with Julie

My sister Julie and I have started trading watching each other's kids once a week. This would already be a nice setup on a practical level because we each get a child free day every other week at no cost. But when I dropped my kids off this morning Julie also talked about how excited she is to have a house full of chaos and children.

6.23.21 - Joy status: suburban privacy

Our bedroom windows no longer face directly into someone else's living room windows a few dozen feet away. Right now we are on a second floor that faces the space in between two other houses that are across a street. Hurray for suburban privacy!

6.21.21 - Joy status: Calvin's bedtime routine

The main lullaby I sing the kids is "Baby Mine" from Dumbo, so sometimes Calvin asks me to sing "A E Mine." Recently he has started singing it along with me in that sweet toddler voice of his with a big grin on his face. Last time when the lullaby was done I said "good night, I love you" and he laughingly said "gah night!" as if it was some great inside joke of ours

6.15.21 - Kid snippets: Calvin doesn't come down the stairs

I'm trying to teach the kids that when I say "come here" they need to answer "Coming!" Calvin has picked up on it surprisingly fast.

Just now he was sitting at the top of the stairs to the second floor, and from the first floor Clara called and asked him to come see her. He immediately shouted "COMING! Cwawa! Coming Cwawa!" And then he just sat there.

Me: Buddy, you can't just answer "coming." You also have to actually go see her.
Calvin: Mama! I Cwawa coming!
Me: I know, bud! Now go down the stairs.
Clara: Callllvinnn! Come see meeeee!
Calvin, earnestly: Coming! I coming!! *proceeds to just sit at the top of the stairs*

This cycle repeated at least 10 times (with me laughing more each time) before he finally went downstairs.

6.15.21 - Joy status: stomp away

We no longer have anyone living below us, so I no longer have to keep telling my kids to stop jumping or stomping.

6.12.21 - Joy status: Friends to help us move

We are almost done loading the truck and we are almost ready to depart for Missouri and we wouldn't have been as ready as we are now if it wasn't for a whole lot of help from our dear friends. People have helped pack over the last week or two, and then today load the truck itself, grab food and water for everyone, keep the kids busy, pack (tons of) last minute things, dismantle and move heavy furniture, make donation runs, scrub walls, and basically anything else I could think of to ask. Thank you, thank you! We have so many good friends.