What the Right Decision Looks Like

After three weeks of school I transferred Riley. The details aren't important because after three weeks at her new school it is clear I did the right thing. Thank God! My heart is overflowing with gratitude. Look at the evidence, I found my sweet happy girl again.

There was a new first day sign for our fresh start. She's collected leaves for a nature collage, learned new songs, discussed science topics, practiced her handwriting, made friends, made art, taken a field trip, befriended the stuffed dinosaur in the front office (Diney), learned about a different culture, practiced her musical scales, been to a party and danced a lot! The bulletin board inside the door says "You are artists! You are bright! You are explorers! You are loved! You are the reason we are here." Isn't that great? I'm glad she's happy and learning again.

Blogging for Books: Just My Typo

Time for another book review? More humor is just the ticket.

Just My Typo
By: Drummond Moir

Who doesn't love a good typo? I am a chronic misspell-er/coma miss-er. I quite enjoyed this collection of typos. My favorite hands down is the misprint in a cookbook's souffle instructions warning to "avoid peeing the oven. It may compromise the flavor." These priceless misprints kept me chuckling for the duration. There is nothing funnier than someone trying to be incredibly serious and failing, in my opinion. I was surprised by the quantity and variety of the typos in the book. Everything from legal documents, cell phone auto corrects gone wrong to kid's homework answers.

I recommend it to anyone looking for a light read and few good laughs. Read it, then lend it to a friend long enough to forget some, then re-read it.

Blogging for Books: Dear Luke, We Need to Talk. Dad Darth

Hello, blog fans! Ready for something new, you say? How about some book reviews? Let's kick things off with a little lightheartedness, shall we?

Dear Luke, We Need to Talk. Dad Darth: And Other Pop Culture Correspondences
By: John Moe

Warning: Do not drink milk while reading! (it'll come right out of your nose and splash the pages/screen)

This book was, as promised, a collection of pop culture correspondences. These lovely notes, letters and memos run the gamut from whimsical to absurd. It features communications to/from Billy Joel, Elton John, Captain Kirk, The Grinch and, of course Darth Vader, among others. I loved NASA's letter to Elton John rejecting from the space program. After all it was inevitable will all the strutting around referring to himself as a "rocket man" and constant complaining about missing home and his wife. I also loved the letter from 30yr old Kevin McCallister, Home Alone, to his now estranged family. The journals of "the professor" explaining the origin of Gilligan's Island as a government experiment is in my top three favorites for sure.

I appreciated how easy this book was to pick up , but put down when I have to do something I'd rather not. Picking it up again always provided a bright spot in my day. I found some parts of the book to be extremely hit-or-miss for me, but such is the nature of pop culture. When a chapter engaged me, which was more often than not, I found myself laughing out loud or demanding the nearest adult stop what they were doing while I read aloud. My least favorite chapters where the rejected Superbowl halftime show ideas. I'm afraid much of those went right over my young little head. Overall, I found this book highly enjoyable. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good pop culture parody or just needs a good laugh.

Summer Camp Week 5

Miss Roo

This week was Eric Carle week! On Monday, Roo insisted on her rainbow leg warmers for some color as a nod to the theme. I got a few books from the library so we could read some of the books we don't own at home during the week too. She's holding Pancakes, Pancakes! in the picture which is one of her favorites. They read it on Thursday and made pancakes for their cooking project! They made sunflowers when they read The Tiny Seed and bear puppets when they read Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?

On Tuesday, Roo got the Super Camper award! I took this thumbs up picture and we all went out for breakfast for dinner. She says it's because she made "the best-est choices ALL day." They had Wet Wednesday and broke out the sprinklers again! Roo got to wear her awesome new dinosaur bathing suit.

Speaking of new clothes, I found both kids a new octopus shirt! The stars aligned and there was a shirt that suited each of my kids on clearance at the same store. On Thursday, they happily donned their cephalopod attire. Adorable, right? They got compliments all day. On Friday, I kept Roo home and we celebrated Cow Appreciation Day. We dressed as cows and went to Chic-fil-a for free food. It's becoming a yearly mother/daughter tradition.

Isaac

Isaac made his usual rounds to the library, my appointments, and the normal errands with me this week. On Monday we discovered he had his first library fine. Honestly, I felt more sentimental than annoyed. We took steps to make sure it doesn't become a habit. He checked out some nonfiction books to fulfill the final requirements on the library's summer reading chart. He completed his second Tenmarks goal early in the week, earning a movie trip next month (Yay!). Later in the week, he ran into some difficulty with on Tenmarks. He'll talk about it in the video, but I always find it fascinating the way intelligent children react to a challenge.

Speaking of challenges, Friday afternoons Isaac is supposed to mop the kitchen. We have a steam mop and a tiny kitchen so it's about a 15min job, at the most. This week I heard Isaac moving the small kitchen rug and step stool out of the kitchen followed by heavy sighing and muttering. He came to me with a look of exasperation and stated, in his favorite completely general way, "Mom, the mop can't work." I pressed for details, but he remained resistant to specificity, so I suggested trying again later when he wasn't frustrated. He was happy with those instructions and went off to read a book for a while. About 20min later he came to report that it still wasn't working, but this time he had the presence of mind to add "I noticed the handle isn't moving very much." With a steam mop you have to pump the handle to get the steam going. Mike came in for lunch instantly diagnosed the problem. The cord was wrapped tightly around the hooks from being stored and was preventing the handle from moving.

The whole episode was either a stall/avoidance tactic or being confronted with a problem caused frustration and shut down. He'll attack a problem on occasion, as long as he views it as a challenge AND important to him from the onset. Neither the online math program nor that mop had caused an issue before so he wasn't willing to invest any time. Granted moving up a level and earning badges, games and rewards on the math program ranked head and shoulders above a clean kitchen floor, but he was only willing to invest what had been required to this point. At least that's my theory.

I discussed Cow Appreciation Day with Isaac and wasn't at all surprised that he declined to dress like a cow in public (even for free food). That morning after Riley was in her cow costume I was finishing my costume (and my coffee). I heard the kids playing together in Isaac's room. They were saving Mario World from Evil Koopa (It was a Lego game). Far be it from me to prevent a world saving mission (conducted with sibling cooperation). I left it play out before I collected my little cow. After Roo and I returned (and napped) I loaded both kids into the car for free Slurpees! This synchronicity of two of the summer's best freebies lead to some spectacular memories!

Week Five Video Wrap Up

Weekly Wrap Up Questions
1. What did you learn that you didn't know before?
2. What was the worst part of your week?
3. What was the best part of your week?
4. What was your favorite meal?
5. What was the weather mostly like?
6. What was your favorite activity/project?
7. How many books did you read?
8. What were they called?
9. Which book was your favorite?
10. Where are some places you went this week?

Isaac would like me to state that we do lots of fun stuff over the weekends that we don't discuss in weekly wrap ups. Today there was a failed attempt to release a crow with an injured wing we rescued in our pool right before the kids got out of school. We also attended a glow-in-dark bowling party where Isaac ended his last two frames with strikes!

March-ing On Part 1

I thought I'd continue catching up by showing you the cuteness that is my dog. Look at that. This picture was taken when I was having a rough day pain-wise and she snuggled up with me. Having her for company really keeps my pain based anxiety in check. Everyone with orthopedic issues should have a lovable furry friend.

Isaac was notified early in the month that he won the Pride award for Science. Here are the award requirements: "The Program to Recognize Initiative and Distinction in Education awards recognize fifth-grade students who excel in math, science, social studies and writing. Fifth-graders must achieve an “A” average in their subject area to be eligible and demonstrate a positive attitude while scoring highest on a subject-area test. Each student winner receives a medallion and a trophy to recognize their academic achievement." Isaac's Pride award will be for Science." Pretty exciting stuff. In April there will be a big fancy county-wide award ceremony at a performing arts center. Yay!!

He got Honor Roll on his report card and also participated in the county's science meet. He was one of 6 students (2 three person teams) from his school. They were given a written test and then an experiment to perform. There were 86 schools represented (2 teams each) and only first, second and third place awards were given. His team did not place, but he had a great day!

Later in the month his gifted class participated in a math meet. I wasn't invited to witness any part of that one (Boo!), but I'm told there were individual awards and team awards. He told me he almost got third place and his team almost won third place. It was a big month for academic achievement.

I made my first Esty sale! I put up the store a little late last spring so I never had an order. I'm up to eight orders since March 4th! It's amazing to have your craftiness and creativity recognized.

Mint Oreo donuts at Dunkin Donuts!!!!!

Leeloo turned two!

This conversation happened:
Me to Mike: Which Disney couple are we?
Mike: hmmm
Me: Belle and beast? (laughing) Rapunzel and Flynn?,
Mike: Anna and Kristoff. For sure, yeah.
Me: Awww!
(I love it when he talks Disney to me)

Isaac as Will Burrows from the Tunnels book series for character day.

Finding Oz

We recently watched a Star Trek Deep Space Nine episode in which the main character was "disabled." Technically, all disability and disease has been eradicated at this point in the future. This woman is native to a planet with very low gravity which makes it very physically exhausting to get around in normal gravity. I know how she feels, Damn Gravity! Seriously, I love the idea that a low gravity planet exists! I would love to go there. When I was a little girl I always wished I could live underwater.

So, this capable young woman finds the station's doctor smitten with her and of course he has a plan to fix her. Collective groan from my disabled readers. Although not as overdone or ridiculous the sitcom stand by of meeting a girl you like and then finding out she's (gasp!) disabled and having angst about perusing her, this plot's been done. My favorite example of this plot is actually a subplot in The Poisonwood Bible. A book that when presented to me as a gift bore the inscription "Can't wait to see you play Ada in the movie." Ada's is the disabled character who falls for a neurologist. Her doctor succeeds in "fixing" her and then one of my favorite audition monologues ensues. The gist is that she's not sure who she is anymore and how arrogant the able-bodied are always trying to "fix" people.

In Star Trek's version the doctor falls for her before he tries to fix her unlike the the asshole in the book. Other than that it's fairly similar. She undergoes the first round of treatment and experiences euphoria at her temporary change. Then she feels all the discomfort that goes hand and hand with a major change to your physicality and she starts to doubt herself. I emphasized with her struggle. She is already a strong beautiful woman who's struggles have made who she is, in her case a Star Fleet officer. In her situation though there is the added element of never being able to return to her home planet for any length of time once the changes are permanent. Another character compares her to the Little Mermaid which is funny after my underwater comparison, but completely apt. All the sacrifice and pain to be other than you are (each step is like walking on broken glass in the original fairy tale)and you can never go home.

I enjoyed the episode other than a fleeting moment or two of yelling at the screen. I understood her. I, like her have never asked to be "fixed", but there were some moving moments related to this in Oz the Great and Powerful (not spoilers). As he's performing magic tricks a wheelchair bound girl in the audience asks him to make her walk. He refuses, apologizes and flees the theater. At that early point in the film I was attempting to roll my eyes at the cliche, but his reaction to it was so human, I couldn't. Later, in Oz, he meets a little China doll whose legs have broken off. He produces super glue and that girl does walk. Again, I wanted to roll my eyes, but it was so real (feelings not circumstances) I couldn't. It is a shallow victory because she has her legs, but she's lost everyone she loved.

The china doll was a character I could relate to. Only her body was fragile, everything else about her was tough. She was braver and more resilient than most. She becomes an important part of the group, but the Star Trek character like so many disabled TV characters leaves the show after one episode. I think the it would have been fascinating if the doctor had married her. Than they would have had to navigate being military, living in space and her unique physicality. On top of which the doctor would allows be trying to fix her and it would cause all kinds of tension.

I'm not saying I would watch a show because it had a disabled character. I'm just saying we have lives and adventures too. It would be nice if television used disabled characters to further interesting plot lines and complicate character relationships rather than as token minorities for "movie of the week" style writing.

Fancy Nancy Event

After some pirate-y fun earlier in the week it was nice to do something super girly. My mom requested that Roo and I come to the Fancy Nancy event at her library for her birthday. We brought Roo's bestie, Miss Boo, as well. The event attracted more fancy girls than the library anticipated, but it was a fun time. They had a large dress-up doll game on the wall, crafts & coloring pages, a fancy word game and picture bingo. My fancy girls made crowns and butterflies. They even took turns putting the markers on the pictures in for fancy bingo.

If I were in charge, I would have done one event for 2-5yr and one for 6yr and up. It would have cut down on crowding. It also would have allowed age appropriate crafts for each group and eliminated the need for multiple rounds of bingo. The girls held their own though. I thought the crafts turned out lovely. I was impressed at how well they waited for the second round of bingo. Everyone looked fabulous, trés chic.

It was a milestone, to take Roo and a friend somewhere like big girls. They were so good. They shared accessories and craft supplies. They followed directions and everyone took potty breaks. I'd do it again in a second. The only (very minor) down side was the way my bones felt about all that time on the floor. Small price to pay, I'm so glad we went. I'm so grateful for my girlly girl and her sweet friends. Bonne journée!

Happy Dancey Girl

On the "hurricane that wasn't" day:

The cuteness overwhelms sometimes.

Ok, so that was yesterday. Today was library day! Music time is over now that school's back in session so it was story time. Not to worry they bookend the storytelling with songs though. I goofed and arrived early and barged in on the baby program, but it worked out because we got to "Shake our Sillies Out".

For the the big kids it was farm day today. Riley danced it up! We read Mrs. Wishy Washy while we were waiting for the program to start, but they didn't have any copies for check out, sigh. No worries, I requested it (on my phone!).

Spin around and fall down. Do it again. Seriously though they were doing "Shake Your Body Down", which is a great workout by the way. After that, believe it or not, they settled down for stories. The first one was my favorite, Cock-a-Doodle, Quack Quack. It's about a baby rooster trying to figure out which sound would wake everyone up on the farm. Total crowd pleaser. The other two were pretty lame. She should have listened to me about Mrs. Wishy Washy.

They played some participation games after that. She seems so old when she marches up to put her farmer on the board or calls out the correct number of kitties! She was just sitting up when we started coming to the library for story time, sniff.

After that they danced one more time. It's a wonder she had any dance left in her for dance class.

But she did!