Captain Maeve

Down at Sharkey's Karate where Jack was having his final practice before belt testing this Friday, the rest of us had 45 minutes to kill.  We could have done homework, or read, or chatted about our day.  But instead, we decided to take a trip to Mars...

Maeve picked the perfect day to learn how to make engine noises...that's why she got to be Captain!

And then, they were OFF!

We started our back to school celebration with our traditional back to school dinner at Johnny Rocket's.  Be-Pop music, hand-spun shakes and delicious burgers give us a chance to talk about how much fun we had all summer and what our hopes are for the coming school year.  We are still at the stage in our kids' lives where so much parenting has to occur during a dinner out that roughly forty five seconds is left to have this discussion, but we try!

Then, when everyone is exhausted and the kids are busy trying to drive us insane by not listening and running all over like bunny rabbits (really, I'm just speaking about Ben here), we up the ante and try to take a family picture!  This one was done with an auto timer and didn't come out so great, but frankly, I'm just glad no one was swimming in the fountain!

And then....drumroll please....

At the literal crack of dawn on Thursday August 22nd, my alarm went off and Jack and I got up to get ready for the first day of MIDDLE SCHOOL!  He was anxious but excited and couldn't stop smiling or bouncing as he waited for the bus in the pouring rain.

6TH GRADE!!

6th Grade!!!??  Really!?

Did I mention it was raining?

Buckets!

We had to drive him the 100 yards to the bus it was raining so much!

Then it was back home to get Molly ready for her first day of

THIRD GRADE!

She was her own stylist today, but I was secretly thrilled that she matched her outfit to her new sneakers and wore a flower in her hair :)  

Her backpack (and matching lunchbox) are new this year.  The Crocodile Creek ones she's used since preschool finally bit the dust.  She really wanted AQUA and she really wanted LEOPARD, and thankfully I was able to find them at Gymboree online (which saved me buying the pricey PB Teen ones she had her eye on!)  Let's just hope they last!

I love the sneakers she picked out this year.  

Ben and Jack chose neon too - it makes it easier to spot them in a crowd!

After Molly was ready, we headed over to our friend Miss Lorrie's house for her annual back to school donuts.

The thunder was so deafening it shook the ground, but it didn't dampen these spirits!

We snuck out in between waves of showers to grab a quick picture of the kids.

This will be the last year Lorrie does the donuts because her youngest is in his last year of elementary school.  Ben must have known his donut days were over, because he ate four!!

After donuts, we'd planned to walk to school with all our friends so the kids could line up on the blacktop before marching into school by class.  This year, the rain prevented that, so we zipped back home and put Molly on the bus.  She gave me a big extra hug and reminded me (as I was rushing in the rain) how lucky I am to be missed when they go back to school.

In the final event of the day, Maeve and I brought Ben to his 45 minute Kindergarten Orientation at noon.
 In a complete, drenching downpour. 
 It was laughable, really.  I got out of the car and stepped into ankle deep water.  Even Maeve, under an umbrella in her car seat with the hood fully closed got soaked!  But Ben was unphased.  He was just excited to check out his new surroundings.

He sat on the B for Ben

  

The kids got a sheet to color while the grownups listened to Mrs. Macchiarella's daily plan.

He told me it was a "Smith" apple.  As in Granny. :)

"Oooh!  Ooooh!  Pick me!!  Pick ME!!"

Maeve likes Kindergarten too!

Ben's spot.  He stis next to our neighbor JoJo (aka Sophia Hebel, twin sister of Sydney Hebel, aka NeeNee)

Mrs. Macchiarella read  "Twas the Night Before Kindergarten"

The decorating theme is "little monsters".  100% appropriate!

Thanks to a social neighborhood and  many big brothers and sisters who are Molly's and Jack's ages, Ben already knows seven of the kids in his class.  One of the bonuses of being the little brother is that there will be many familiar faces through the halls!

After the orientation, we braved the floods once again and headed home.  Maeve passed out for a two hour nap, Ben vegged out in front of a video, and Mommy closed her eyes on the couch.

It had been a long day, but a good one.  
And it was hopefully a great, albeit soggy, start to a wonderful school year for everyone!

I never thought I'd say this but

THANK GOD SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW!!!

Yes, I will miss them.  Dearly.  

But I simply cannot CONTAIN them anymore.  

See what I mean?

At one point, this was our home office.  It has now become Legoland!  The books are trying to stage a coup, but the Legos are having none of it.  And yes, I do know that Lego is technically both the singular AND plural of the noun Lego, but I choose to be a rebel about that  in the same way that I refuse to say "hippopotomii" instead of "hippopotomuses".  So there.

This is the desk in our home office.
You can imagine how enjoyable it is on the days Marc actually needs to use it.
I just shut the door and lock it, trying to contain the damage.The children have a hard time unlocking it because Jack has lost all seventeen keys by bringing them INTO the office after unlocking the door, and then losing them in the Lego mess.  I now have ONE eyeglass screwdriver that does the job and it's in a secret location never to be revealed.

There was once an organizational system in place in here.  It has been overthrown by the populace.
The benevolent despot who rules the land has gone into hiding.

While the benevolent depot has been in hiding, she has been researching home library solutions on Pinterest.
Thus far, there are none that can handle the obsessive book-hoarding tendencies of the people in this realm.

 It's not JUST the office...oh NO.

I give you the people's evidence #2, your honor.

The "play" room.

Which should just be called

The "dump and run" room.

This room was actually decent yesterday morning when I left for three hours of solace.
The babysitter had specific instructions to
KEEP THE CHILDREN OUTSIDE!!!
When I came home, she told me that she had them outside for all but twenty minutes
and during those twenty minutes when she was taking care of the baby
a mutiny occurred.
I can not blame her as I have been victim to the same type of guerrila attack myself.  Daily.

The pillow says it all, doesn't it?

And you thought naked Barbies were a problem?
We've got naked GHOSTBUSTERS.
Also, we've got a few Lego Heroes.  And by "a few" I mean ALLOFTHEM!!

And where are the hooligans who wrought this magnificent messtastrophe?

Well, one of them is rollerblading around the kitchen on her brother's skates wearing bedhead and a tutu.

And two of them are doing what they do best.  Ignoring repeated warnings that 

IFYOUDONTSHUTTHOSEOFFANDCOMETOBREAKFASTRIGHTNOWSOHELPMEGOD

ILLSMASHTHEMTOBITSWITHAHAMMER!!!!

They look terrified, no?

We are two weeks overdue for a

CRACKDOWN.

A big one.

But knowing that life is going to provide a crackdown all on it's own...

a crackdown called
SCHOOL.

And I've decided not to be the enemy for once.

I have bided my time.

I have bitten my tongue (mostly)

I have hired a babysitter and gone for long walks to recharge my batteries

(and get the heck away from this disaster)

And TOMORROW???

Tomorrow I will pack lunches,

kiss heads,

take pictures,

smile and wave...

And then I'm coming home with
a TRENTA iced coffee,
a box full of black trash bags
and a flamethrower.

This crackdown is going to be epic.  EPIC!

(speaking of which I must run now because that reminds me that the movie epic is just out and I have to get a copy for the block party this weekend.  Bettergetonthat!)

A Letter to Ben's Teacher

Dear Mrs. Macchiarella,

It was great to meet you yesterday and we are looking forward to Orientation on Thursday.  I loved the information packet you sent in the mail and am writing to tell you a little bit about Ben.   Ben is #3 of our 4 children.  He has an 11 year old brother named Jack who is starting 6^th grade at Gregory Middle School, and an 8 year old sister, Molly, who will be in Mrs. Rosenberg’s 3^rd grade class.  Ben has been the baby of the family for the past five years, until this past Christmas when we welcomed his baby sister Maeve into the fold.  He’s never acted like the ‘baby’ though, and has been chasing his brother and sister around since he could crawl.  He adjusted beautifully when Maeve came home, and we are so proud of what a doting big brother he has become.

 

Ben is an awesome kid.  He’s funny and bright, with an imagination that never quits.  He loves books, lives for superheroes and science projects, and is a good friend and loyal little brother.   He’s cuddly and kindhearted, but as the third child, he’s used to having to fight for what he wants amongst the big kids, so he can come off as overly assertive or aggressive to kids who don’t have that experience themselves.  He’s also got a huge case of idolizing his big brother and his 11 year old friends, which means you’ll likely hear things coming out of his mouth that are parroting the big boys (and potentially inappropriate for the kindergarten set).  Case in point, I’ve had to ban the song  “I’m sexy and I know it” from my house!

 

Ben’s curiosity is intense, which is both a blessing and a curse.  He thrives on learning and is incredibly articulate and inquisitive.  He’s figured out how to sound out words and is on the brink of that magnificent moment when the reading lightbulb goes off – he’s going to be unstoppable when that happens because he already spends hours poring over books and magazines without even knowing what the words say.  And he’s surprised me many times with his math knowledge – he seems to pick things up like a sponge.

 

But like I said, that curiosity also brings challenges.  Ben has a hard time accepting limits, such as not asking questions constantly, not being concise with his imaginative monologues (he’d go on for hours if you let him), not keeping his hands off things that intrigue him (like the Smartboard in the classroom at Meet and Greet!), and most challenging of all, not staying put when he wants to investigate something.  In other words…he’s a flight risk!

 

In fact, at orientation yesterday, while we were in Mrs. Rosenberg’s classroom, he told me he wanted to go back downstairs.  He took off running, and I couldn’t catch him because of the crowds.  It took us 20 minutes to find him.  I’ve learned after hundreds of experiences like this not to worry, but to try and get inside his head to figure out which way he went.  I was thrilled to find out that your classroom was the third one down the hall, because it will be harder for him to escape the building from your classroom (though I have no doubt he’ll try!)

 

The best way to work with Ben, is to set firm limits and use positive discipline strategies to reinforce them (I know I’m preaching to the choir here).  The structure and routine inherent to school also helps.  He wants to be a helper and loves to learn, so within a few weeks I’m sure he’ll be adjusted and having a blast.

 

I’m grateful that I have baby Maeve at home, because otherwise I’d spend the whole day missing Ben – he is a total cutie-pie and a constant source of entertainment.  We all love him to pieces, and I know you’re going to enjoy having him in your classroom!

 

Please keep in touch – my husband Marc and I are totally approachable about discipline issues, learning issues, any issues really.  We adore our kids, but we are not blind to their eccentricities and challenges.  If you have any challenges with Ben, it’s likely that we are dealing with the same thing at home – we’d love to help in any way we can.

 

Looking forward to a wonderful and exciting year!

Beth Mallett

Serendipity in Suitcases

ONE VINTAGE SUITCASE

The "Tiara" Line

discovered during renovations at 48 Edgewater Drive, Pembroke in 2004

saved (hoarded?) for 9 years

dragged across country in 2010

+

ONE MINIATURE PENNANT BANNER

Martha Stewart's Doll Tea Party Collection

found on clearance at Michaels in 2008

used for dozens of dolly, teddy and fairy tea parties

decorating the play room since 2012

+

ONE AMAZING PETTI ROMPER

a baby gift from two generous, artistic, visionary friends

circa 2012, just like Maeve :)

+

ONE REALLY CUTE 7 MONTH OLD

who is finally sitting reliably

but not yet able to run away

_________________________________

SERENDIPITY

the portrait session

(subtitle: the reason why I hoard)

modeling is a lot of work and she needed a snack

For Eyes, Revisited

The state of Illinois requires a full eye examination for every incoming kindergartener. 

 Must be nice job security to be an opthamologist here!

Jack was able to entertain Maeve so that I could sit with Ben  through the whole exam, which only lasted 15 minutes or so.  I think Molly tried on every pair of glasses in the place while we were in there!

Ben did a great job - I couldn't believe Ben reading off all his letters and numbers.  One of the numbers on the color blindness test was 45 - FORTY FIVE?  I had no idea he even knew what 45 looked like, but he nailed it!

We all had fun trying on glasses after Ben's exam - even Maeve!

This wasn't our first foray into kindergarten eye exams though.  We'd had to do Molly's exam shortly after we moved in.  And it was a MUCH different experience.  One that I think I'd mentally blocked out until we were walking out of For Eyes Optical today.

You see, three years ago when Molly was starting kindergarten, Ben was two and a half years old.

And the only appointment I could get for Molly was at 5pm at a For Eyes that seemed close on the map, but back then I had no idea that traffic lights that time of day would make a four mile trip last 45 minutes.  5pm is  WITCHING time for two and a half year olds with wily personalities.  And Ben did not dissappoint.  

I remember him falling asleep in the car on the way to the appointment, and me running in and out of the optical shop every thirty seconds waiting for him to wake up (because there was no WAY *I* was waking him up - I knew it wasn't going to go well).

He finally woke up and was HOPPING MAD.  I put him in the umbrella stroller, and strapped him down like a psych patient in a posey.  In retaliation, he screamed his head off the entire time Molly was getting her exam done.  I was suprised at Ben's eye exam today because I didn't spend one second with Molly during her exam.  I left my poor, shy 5 year old alone at the back of the store with a strange opthamologist after PROMISING her I'd hold her hand.  

But there was nothing I could do.  Ben was like a tsunami back then - his tantrums knew no bounds, and would last as long as he had the energy to keep screaming.

I'm sure the people in the shop LOVED us.  Not.

I remember leaving that place covered in sweat, ready to explode with frustration, shaking my fist at the sky and wanting to cry for a week.

Two and half year old Ben was......a challenge.

Five and a half  year old Ben was....100% bright and charming.

ASTOUNDING 

the difference three years can make.

Conversations with Maeve

I had an epiphany today.  The truth is, that I have roughly two minutes each day to memorykeep.  And what I realized is that I use those minutes to snap pictures on my iPhone camera and upload them to Facebook.  Of course I love that I get instant feedback on them (Who doesn't love that?  It's why FB has taken the world by storm!) and that I can share them with everyone quickly.

What I don't love, is that they float away into the ether and that's the end of them.

For seven months I've been sitting here wishing I had time to blog, thinking that blogging is this time consuming project that must be deprioritized because I have no time to consume these days.

The truth is, I *DO* have time to blog.  Two minutes!  And I'm wasting them by uploading my thoughts and images to Facebook when I could have them HERE, forever, instead of THERE, as a flash in the pan.

Well, NO MORE!  From now on, any time I have the urge to upload something to Facebook, it comes HERE first!  If I have time later I can post it to FB, but the most important thing is to not lose these memories as fast as I capture them.

Here is the first installment.  My first ever "conversation" with Maeve.  Just this week she has figured out how to smack her lips like a kiss, and to say something that sounds like "hi".  She also has learned how to growl! She must take after her big sister, whose first word was "Woof!"

Today, in trying to convince Maeve to perform for the camera and do some 'kisses', I instead got to banter back and forth with her in her language of choice...growlish!  It was our first 'conversation'!  And there's a little kiss at the end as the cherry on top.

ENJOY!