You may be wondering ...

... what it is that I do with Allie while Sarah's at basketball for 2+hours on a Saturday morning. I have to say - it's tough for a toddler to be confined to a finite space in the gym with dozens of kids who look like LOTS of fun to play with all around her ... and the balls! They are EVERYWHERE! So - like any mom in survival mode, I pack lots of goldfish.
And get fun things for her to stand on. And we walk around a lot, but when she gets rammy ...
... it's in the cage! HA HA HA! It's a net that has conveniently taken up residence in "our" corner of the gym. She likes to hang back there and it's safe. She barks when she wants to come out, so why not?
Only when we have exhausted all options -talked to friendly old people, played with other kids, walked around outside, inside, up and down the bleachers and everywhere inbetween - she finally gets what she wanted in the first place - her beloved Sarah. Then there is peace in her world (It's a bonus she comes with a ball).

Basketball

I was lucky enough to get Sarah on the best basketball team this winter! Sooo much better than Ridley! While they weren't undefeated, they were something crazy like 13-2. Because Sarah's only in second grade, she wasn't solicited by fliers home about signups, so I had no idea when they were. It was the ONLY thing Sarah wanted to do. I called the head coach after the New Year to see if she could still play, and she was then an "Irish" , and on the coach's wife's team. BONUS!
Sarah really held her own against the 3rd and 4th graders in her division - the only other 2nd grader allowed happened to be her teammate (and the coach's daughter!). She was the 3rd best shooter on team of 8, and only played two games where she didn't score at least 4 points.
That being said, she's still learning the fundamentals of the game. Or not. Today she tripped over her own feet three times, and had a tendency to play her spot (think, spot on the floor) and not deviate from it. Thusly, she tended to get surrounded or boxed out by the other team and didn't quite know what to do about it. I think she expects the other kids to "play nice, everybody gets a turn with the ball". It's tough explaining to her that in a competitive sport, you don't play nice, you play to win. It goes against her moral fibers, and I'm of no particular use to her on this topic - I LOVE sports and love to play, but HATE to compete. See what I mean? LOL - Mitch, can you please help her with this? I'm reading and watching what I can, but basketball eludes me.
And finally we have the trophy to commemorate a wildly happy and successful season!! Hopefully this is the first of many to go on her trophy shelf in her room!

YAY SARAH! YA-HOO YOU!!!

Easter Egg Hunt

Today our playgroup had an Easter egg hunt at the local park. It was a first for Allie, and once she understood what she was supposed to do, she really seemed to enjoy it. However, she opened up the the 5th egg she found (they were supposed to get 12 each) and when it produced raisins, she was rather fixated.

However, all of the 5 minutes it took her to find her eggs were just a memory once we went back to the "weeeee".
She's a pro at the slide and stairs, and she went around and around with the other kids for a good 30 minutes! Good thing it's beautiful and a (relatively) balmy 56 degrees.

This is Allie waving, but don't bee fooled - it was on the way IN to the park. The wave goodbye was much less flattering!

We have concluded ...

... that the cat shall be named Potter. It seems to be the one we've made work, albeit forced. He's a rather persnickety sort, making peaceful sleep impossible (he tends to try to lay on your face - literally) and drives me crazy constantly jumping on the kitchen table and counters looking for people food (that GROSSES ME OUT - no litter paws and butt-lickers near my family's foodstuffs!). He has a really weird palatte, preferring raisins, strawberries, scrambled eggs, and tomato sauce to milk or cheese. He eats people food. The eats cat food. He eats everything! Frank is appalled. The indignity of it all ... he's even swpied Sarah's strawberry organic toaster pastries right out of her hand. Allie just thinks it's really cool that there's someone on her level who she can practice sharing with (BARF) and reading to (which is cute). So - when he's not that "dumb animal!" swiping people's food, he's our beloved Potter.

Fun Time with Aunt Shelby and Madalyn!

Both Aunt Shelby and I were suffering from a severe case of cabin fever, so we decided to get out to the mall. It was about a 40 minute drive for each of us, provided entertainment for both us and the kids, wasn't crowded - the perfect meeting place. After doing some shopping (both girls were really well-behaved, and even "browsed" with us, picking out clothes and talking about them - they got along perfectly!), we lunched at Chick-Fil-A. They were dancing and hugging and laughing ... much to the delight of the old ladies who were seated across from us!
Madalyn is such a super-affectionate kid, and I just love the fact that she is all girl. She has such pretty hair! Here she is hamming it up! Allie just looks like a bruiser. I wish her hair would either grow or she'd let me put it back.
Investigating the dirt and fake plants ...

Making a beeline to the car! All in all, it was a really great day, and it was neat to watch Allie and Madalyn bonding - I think Shel and I saw a bit of ourselves in our kids today. Very cool.

The Name Game

We're all having trouble with the new kitty's name. Sarah keeps calling him BooKitty. I keep calling him Shadow or GETTHE*$#&AWAYFROMME (he seems to have a sleeping person head fetish). We've narrowed it down to either Harry or Potter as a first name and Church as a surname. I'll keep you posted. It's better than Sugar Blueberry Milkshake (which was Sarah's original offer. Uh - rejected.)

Jailhouse Blues

Apparently, Allie was very unhappy today when she was supposed to be sleeping. I knew she had to poop, but she seemes more tired than anything, so I put her down. All was quiet for about 20 minutes, then I heard her talking: "Moooooooooooom! Mommy! He'p (help)! Hi Piggies!" and this goes on and on for a few minutes. Then it turned into crying. Then fairly frantic wailing (about three minutes have past). I was in giving Kate a bottle while this was going on, and decided to put Kate down and see what all the hubbub was about with Allie. I no sooner dislosge the bottle and I hear this loud THUD. I plop Kate in the p-n-p and dash to Allie's room, and who should greet me at her door. Hugging all three Piggies. Allie had flown the coop, and decided to climb out her crib. Guess we'll see how the rest of the week goes. Might be time for a (ACK) bed.

Welcome Danny Phantom Church!

A very happy Sarah with Phantom! He's currently in the addition of the house until he's cleared for a mild case of ear mites, checked for worms, and most importantly, neutered.
I'm chalking his friendliness and borderline indifference to Allie to them being roughly the same age. He is SO GOOD with her - she can do whatever she wants to him - chase him, pat him, rub his fur the wrong way - and he loves keeps lovin' on her. More power to him.
Sarah and Phantom bonding ... awwwww ...
... and more bonding ...

And finally just a pic of him. How we are going to abbreviate his name (when he will be called "c'mere" or "GIT!" anyway), I'm not sure. Sarah named him herself, after Danny Phantom from Sarah's favorite show, and Church is an Uncle Loubie story we heard from Zia Enza. I'm not sure in a crunch which name will fit, but here he his, the lastest edition to the family. The story of how he got here - our neighbor collects all flavors of strays, and knowing how heartbroken Sarah was about Sammy's ... uhhh ... contribution to the food chain ... she's been on the lookout for a cat for us. We weren't sure if we were in the market for another cat, especially a stray, but he is the perfect fit. Even Ron is smitten with him - he reminds me so much of Frank at this age - he just loves everybody.

We'll keep you updated as he gets acclaimated to the house - and Frank.

Walk for Autism '08

This is going to be the first year I've been able to actually DO something (besides buy stuff and donate money) for one of the two charities that are closest to my heart. In April, I will be walking beside Ingrid, my BFF since 3rd grade, to support the Autism Speaks foundation. Her son (my "nephew") has Asperger's Syndrome, a high-functioning form of Autism. I won't go on and on about what Autism is or how important it is we try to figure out a way to help kids with Autism, because chances are if you are a) a parent b) an aunt or uncle c) a friend or d) a teacher you know someone who is directly linked to Autism. 1 in 150 kids will be diagnosed, more boys than girls. There is no rhyme or reason that we know of or anything that could prevent it (with the exception of the vaccine hoopla), and once you got it, you got it. It could be your kid.

If there is anyone out there who would like to join me, Ingrid, Shelby (my BFF since 5th grade), my sister-in-law (for lack of formality) Megan, Sarah, Allie, and all of Ingrid's friends and family, that would ROCK. It's only like 3.5 miles, and it's going to be a blast!

Check out my webpage to join the walk or make a donation - anything and every little bit helps!

We have poop

We've been ... encouraging the potty for about four months now. She loves to sit on the potty and will occasionally pass gas, rarely will pee, but has yet to poop. Usually, our conversations go something like this:

Mom: (sees "that look"). Allie ... do you have to poop?
Allie: Yep.
Mom: You do?
Allie: Yep
Mom: Let's go to the potty!
Allie: Mmmmm ... nope.
Mom: (watches as Allies takes off to crawl under the kitchen table to dookie)

5 minutes later ...

Allie: Done!

Every once in a while she'll fake me out, sit on the potty, and just start shoving toilet paper between her legs saying "Allie potty" or Allie poop".

Last night, that same conversation had a twist.

Mom: Allie, it looks like you have to poop.
Allie: Yep
Mom: Do you have to poop?
Allie: Uh-huh ...
Mom: How about we go on the potty?
Allie: Yes! Potty!
Mom: Really? You want to go on the big girl potty?
Allie: Sure!

And we sat. And we played Tea Party. And I grunted every once in a while and she did the same - and about 5 minutes later ... WE HAD POOP. She was a bit surprised at the cavernous hole beneath her bottom, but she took it like a trooper. Finished, turned around, checked it out, said bye-bye, and got in the tub. WOOHOO! The journey has officially begun!

Mangia and basket adventures

Not one of my more creative culinary efforts, but such is the case when we're rushed through homework to dinner before evening activities. On this night, Sarah and Allie ate earlier because Sarah had basketball at 6pm. Ron and I didn't sit and eat wtih the kids because Allie's MO is so much better (especially at the dinner table) when it's just Sarah. The three of us (me and the girls) sit and have breakfast together every morning - she's been sitting there in a chair by herself since January - but by the time dinner rolls around, it's all about Sarah. She knelt there and ate four bowls of pasta with Mom's homemade sauce.
Granted, close to one fourth of that ended up on the chair or the floor (Ron couldn't look. It's worse than vomit for him to see a mess on the floor) ...
... but if that's what it takes, then I'm all about it. Practice makes perfect, right?
This last pic is just cute. Allie's always loved sitting in things, as most toddlers do. She was so tired last night, she put the basket on it's side, grabbed one of her Piggies and tried to drift off. She stayed there for a while (by toddler terms) - I would say a good two minutes.

Fun with Aunt Mel and Kate

Here she is in her blog debut - hopefully this is the first of multiple monthly postings. We don't get to see Aunt Mel and her adorable (and very smart) daughter Kate as often as we'd like, but we made the most of our time together. Allie LOVED the "baby! Ka-ee", and Kate seem djust as smitten with Allie.

Once Sarah came home from school, all the girls did together was play. Sarah is absolutely amazing with kids - she reminds me so much of Gaga. Anyway - they all played with each other for a few hours until the snow started to fall and Aunt Mel and Kate had to leave. We'll get down to see them soon, because we all miss them so much.

A sunset fit for a hero

Ok, so these pics posted backwards. Even so - you can get an idea of how beautiful the sunset is from our porch, which is where this first pic is taken.
This pic is taken from the driveway, and it's shame that I'm not tall enough to show how beautiful our pic of Louie looks again the beauty of a sunset ...
Ron put Louie's picture and sign on our carport facing the road, and it's really something else to come in the driveway or even pass it on the road and see it. I think it's the perfect place for it, and looks especially beautiful against a sunset. I believe it's such a powerful image because it's understated and very simple. His spirit's here reminding us to chug along, one day at a time. Sarah likes to come out here and "hang out with Uncle Loubie" and Allie points to the sign and says, " Where Z-Z? Where Z-Z go? Dere he-is!" and points to the picture.

We're not very showy people, and we certainly keep out thoughts and emotions to ourselves. But rest assured - we remember - many times every day. And we're gettin' along ok.