The Met Museum

Jellybean has been studying Jackson Pollack recently. No, not with maple syrup and food on the floor, silly (although sometimes it does feel that way)! At school!

They've done splatter paintings. They've dragged a string through white paint then put it on black paper to see how the paint transfers. They've viewed slides, talked about the artist, and really explored non-representative painting. (perfect for 3 year olds!)

And this past Wednesday, they went to the Met Museum. Boy am I regretting not accompanying her on this trip! Check out the great photos provided by a kind parent that did go:

I love the clipboard in this last shot! She's such a serious student....

Jaded

One of Monkey's after-school activities this past fall has been a class called Broadway Bound. They learned all about a song, "I won't grow up," from the broadway musical Peter Pan. They practiced the song, learned their lines, learned how to move around on stage, and generally had fun.

Many of the students in this class also attended the show, currently running at the Madison Square Garden Theater with Cathy Rigby at Peter Pan. We didn't end up going with the group (moved too slow for tickets) so we went this past weekend, along with Monkey's two closest friends and their moms. It was wonderful.

Now, by wonderful I mean it was a wonderful show for kids. It really was. They hawked cotton candy in the aisles, there was a lot of singing dancing and acrobatics on wires as the characters "flew" through the air, and Peter Pan even flew OVER the audience sprinkling them with fairy dust (aka glitter). 

At some point I gasped out loud at one particularly amazing feat of "flying" (that Cathy Rigby is in AMAZING shape (like, I'm jealous of how insanely in shape she is!!)). 

I figured Monkey would be as impressed as I was - but perhaps for a different reason. I was imagining wonder, amazement, and a brain exploding with joy at seeing people fly.

Instead, Monkey turned to me and said "mom, those people have strings on them, you know."

My broadway baby. Already knows the tricks of the trade. 

And then she was three

Jellybean turned three this past week. She got a backpack - something she had been asking for, and desperately wanted. I told her that she wasn't big enough to have a backpack at 2....but 3? Three is a BIG girl. And big girls get backpacks. Oh, the joy......

Bittersweet

Monkey attended her first slumber party last Friday night. It was a birthday party for one of her best friends.

Monkey arrived at the party with her toothbrush & toothpaste, her blankie, her lovie "Softie", her moon nightlight, pajamas and a clean pair of clothing. And of course a birthday present for her dear friend.

She left with a spring in her step and I left with a wrinkle in my brow, worrying that she'd be OK. See, she'd never slept over at someone else's house before without us - not even a grandparents house. Plus that night M and I were up in Rye at his company's holiday party - a good 45-60 minute drive away. You know, in case she needed us and wanted to go home.

We called to say goodnight. And my brave girl did exactly what I want her to do. She broke my heart.

I said hello and in a voice brimming with pride she said "Hi mom, I don't miss you AT ALL!"

That's my girl.

A future in politics...

Last week I busted Jellybean in the living room with a cracker. I scolded her, retrieved the cracker, and went back to preparing dinner.

Jellybean zoomed around in the kitchen a bit, and disappeared into the living room again.

A second later I followed for an unrelated matter, and found her - again - with a cracker in her hand. On our new chair.  Our. New. Clean. UNCRACKERED chair.

I walked up to her, and in the sternest of voices, admonished her. We do NOT eat in the living room.

Wherein she sweetly replied "I wasn't going to eat it, I was just putting it in my mouth."

Yeah, and Bill didn't inhale.

Santa

We are looking forward to celebrating Christmas at the Florida house. Really looking forward to it. Thinking about baking cookies, creating memories, and building traditions.

Monkey is also excited, but expressed some concerns the other day. She wanted to make sure that Santa could find her (and Jellybean) down there.

I assured her that since Santa keeps track of every kid in the world, he would know to find her there. And then, riffing on a cute article M shared with me from the Appalachicola newspaper, I mentioned that Santa takes a shrimp boat to get out to the Island.

Monkey was VERY concerned. Where would the reindeer go!!! I managed to keep a somewhat straight face as I rectified the situation and M gave me a hard stare in the background.

He's totally not going to let me talk to the girls about the tooth fairy, is he?

Reading

Smiles

(last one with chocolate on the chin!)

Privacy

I'd feel guilty about taking her photo if this weren't so darn funny.

Superman? Batman? Wonderwoman????

Nope, daddy.

Jellybean was engaging in some dramatic play the other night. (read: dressing up in WILD tutus, jewelry, and a hotpink cape with a lemon yellow lightening bolt on it)

She was running around chanting "hero, hero, hero..."

I asked her who her hero was.

Without breaking stride she yelled out "DADDY!"

That's my girl.

Now, go ask for that pony. Quick, before the endorphins wear off...

Class: Reptilia, Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Boidae, Subfamily: Pythoninae, Genus: Python

Huh?

Python.

Again, what?

Python. Otherwise known as Jellybean.

Her breakfast this morning consisted of: 4 sausages, 2 glasses of milk, one bowl of cheerios with milk, and a piece of toast with peanut butter. Oh yeah, and half of a chocolate protein bar.

She may not eat again until dinner. Next week.

Like. I. said....Python. 

My savior

Tonight, had you stood outside the door to our apartment, and listened in between the hour of 7 and 8 pm, you could be forgiven for thinking that either 1) I was completely abusing my children, or 2) my children are unable to communicate except through screaming, crying and yelling at the top of their lungs.

Jellybean and Monkey yelled and cried because I wanted them to eat. Because I wanted them to keep the milk in their cups instead of on the floor. Because I insisted that hair brushes are not intended to be dipped into milk and then sucked on. Because chocolate is not a main course. Because air must be breathed. Because the light is burnt out in their overhead lamp. Because I am not dad. Because baths are required when your face is covered in dirt. Because it was night time. Because the cat wouldn't stay anywhere near them as they S>C>R>E>A>M>E>D>>>>>> at the top of their miniature lungs. (good lungs, those!)

(they were a tad bit overtired, I think)

And then, it happened. They cried and asked why  - WHY - wasn't Ollie cat staying with them.

I told them the truth. Ollie cat doesn't like it when they cry. She likes it when they are quiet. And happy.

And I swear to G*d, it took Jellybean precisely 4 seconds to simmer down and plaster a smile on her face.  When I carried Ollie into the living room it took only another 10 seconds for Monkey to stop the hiccuping and dry her tears.

Jellybean, bless her earnest little soul, turned to me and said "I can be happy now mama"...as she stroked Ollie's soft fur.

I am totally brushing Ollie an extra 10 minutes tonight. She can even have my pillow, if she wants it. She's earned it.

Sibling order: responsible already

I went to Chicago (or "Chicaco"....according to the moron Northwestern grad who approved the proof for the cups used at Soldier Field. hee!) this weekend to watch the Badgers crush Northern Illinois. It was a girl's weekend - and an awesome one at that: my stomach still hurts from laughing.

Before I left this past Friday, I dropped the girls off at their respective schools. When I dropped Monkey off and turned around one more time for a blown kiss, Monkey told me "don't worry mom, I'll tell dad that we have rules to keep safe...". It made me smile. She really took it to heart when I told her to 'take care of your little sister and your dad'!

 Now, if she'd only take it to heart when I ask her to pick up her toys....

Bus stop conversations

This morning, as I waited for the bus with Monkey and Jellybean, one of our kind neighbors walked by and paused to say hello.She leaned over and engaged Jellybean in a conversation.

Q: "Where do you go to school?"
A: "With my friends."

I thought it was a pretty good answer.

Psych 101

During Hurricane Irene I stayed up late with cousin H to watch a movie. The next morning Jellybean got up at 6am.

Yesterday, her nap ran late so she went to bed later than usual. Thinking she would sleep in, to account for her late bedtime, I stayed up late to start painting the kitchen. And - wait for it - she got up at 6am.

I seem to recall that the definition of insanity is repeating your actions, and thinking you'll get a different result....

Subtle

I like the understatement inherent in this MTA notification....

All subway service has resumed but customers are advised to expect longer waits and slightly more crowded trains.

A bumpy week here in NYC

Earthquake - check.
Hurricane - incoming, so check.
Locusts....???

Babyproofing

Recently, we spent some quality (and quantity) time with family. Several of those days were spent at 'Andpa and Grandma's house. During that time, Jellybean:

1) Cut 4 inches off of her hair;
2) Spilt permanent ink on the dress she was supposed to wear to a family wedding; and
3) During her 'nap' found a sewing kit and methodically inserted about 50 straight pins and needles into a mattress, with another 20+ straight pins strewn about the floor and embedded in the carpet....by her bare feet. (is her tetanus shot up to date?)

If you go to stay at my parents' house anytime soon? You MAY want to sleep in the foldout couch, not the guest twin beds. Unless you don't mind sleeping on pins and needles, of course.

Absurd

This morning:

Jellybean: "You can't wash your hair with milk!" cackle giggle snort

Me: huh?

Jellybean:  "You can't wash your hair with tea!" giggle chortle practically fall off the chair with glee...

Me: (catching on....) "No, you can't! You are soooooo silly....."

Jellybean: "I know."

Mug Shots

Who can resist these ugly mugs? Not me. Not me.

Bed bugs

Reading in bed.

I love that Jellybean is brushing Monkey's hair from her face. It is such a gentle moment. You know, before any maiming or other bodily harm occurs. 

Aloha my princesses....

Cheese!

Channeling Frida Kahlo a bit here...

The beginning of the end

Jellybean and Monkey are pretty good together. They only try to hurt or maim each other about 2% of the time, and steal toys from one another about 5% of the time. Altogether, that's darn good. And recently they have started to play - actually play - together, and it warms my heart.

However, the other morning they did something that put a tender tendril of fear in my heart, instead....
they BANDED TOGETHER against a common threat.

They both turned and told a babysitter - in a simultaneous showing of spirit - "no, don't touch our structure." It was like listening to defiance in stereo!

It's the beginning of the end....they are going to plot together against their parents. They will back each other up and wriggle out of trouble together! Manufacture excuses! Plot for more dessert and toys! Get the keys to the car! But, I wouldn't have it any.other.way. That sisterly bond is a beautiful thing.

However, don't ask me about this sentiment when they are teenagers. I will deny it.

My cheshire cat

Ollie cat is an old cat. A wise cat. A kind cat. And pretty, too! She likes attention, and generally lolls about the house with her belly showing, like a dog might. She sleeps each night on my feet, and tolerates the girls petting and brushing her.

In short, she's amazing.

However, earlier this week Jellybean pointed out a flaw.

"Mama, my cat doesn't talk."

That's right, sweetie, she's a cat.

"why?"

Midnight ramblings

Recently, we put Jellybean into a big girl bed. And she's done a great job. We put her to bed, and she goes to sleep. The end.

It's the waking up part, you see, that we need to work on.

For example, if it is a Saturday or a Sunday, it's not uncommon for her to wake prior to 6am. It's like some sort of two-year old spidey sense, that says get up early TODAY....the only day your parents might grab an extra wink or two.

And then there's last night. At 4am, Jellybean was awake, and hungry. She ate an entire peanut butter sandwich and a full glass of milk.

While we were in the kitchen, she kept talking about how it was dark out. I think it's the first time she's ever been awake to see the dark.

As we walked back to her room, however, the skynight was turning a deep shade of royal blue; that gorgeous deep blue that precedes the dawn.

I wanted to stop and soak it in - to share that beautiful moment with Jellybean. Afraid that she might interpret dawn as an excuse to stay up.....I hustled her right by that window, instead.

And then, as I settled her into her big girl bed, I said a small prayer of thanks to whomever invented blackout shades, which I have duct taped to her window.

The rat

No, not Disney. (heh)


The most commonly found breed of rats found in New York is called Rattus Norwegius. It is more commonly called the brown rat or New York City rat. (wow, claim to fame for the Big Apple? aw shucks...)


Well, these unpleasant neighbors of ours usually stay out of sight. Under the garbage bags. At the end of the subway platform. Underneath your local restaurant that just failed it's inspection.


We've talked about rats before. There's the local garden Monkey calls "the rat garden." (for obvious reasons, natch). We've seen them on the platform. We note the "poison" signs in local green spots. 


But yesterday? Yesterday took the cake.


We were standing at the SW corner of Broadway and 105th, waiting for the light. I was holding both Monkey and Jellybean's hands. And we saw a rat - in broad daylight mind you - running across the street towards us.


I didn't move, thinking that if we jumped around the chances were greater we'd get in its way. And hoping the rat was smart enough to not run RIGHT AT US.


No such luck.


The rat literally - and I mean literally - ran between Monkey's feet. It had to leap above her shoes a bit to make the space by her ankles.


She told me it "tickled."


I may have burned the socks she was wearing. 

Nana raised boys....

And for the record? Jellybean is TOTALLY faking the injured look. The drama! 

Big Girl

After some hemming and hawing (and worrying about someone - ahem - getting out of bed all the time)....

we turned Jellybean's crib into a big girl bed.

The first thing she did was invite her big sister into her bed to read with her. All together now...awwwww.

They are growing up so fast. Where did my babies go?

Smelly

What do flying fish roe, chocolate ice cream, and soy sauce have in common?

They are what Jellybean smells of right now.

Verdict: two

Jellybean had a rough day at school this past Tuesday. We talked about it that evening.

She told me "I yelled at my teachers" and "I threw my lunch on the floor." When I asked why, she said "I was sad."

So, just to be on the safe side, I took Jellybean to the doctor yesterday to rule out strep throat, burst eardrums, etc. (she's been full of boogers for almost 3 weeks now). The pediatrician recommended Claritin.

And the final diagnosis for her terrible day of tantrums and defiance?

Says the doctor: "Well, she IS two."

These photos make me smile

How I spent today

6:45am  Wake up because Jellybean is attempting to imitate effect of earthquake on apartment by rattling cupboard boards off of their hinges in kitchen. Wander into hallway to convince dazed self that all is well, and Jellybean is NOT locked in a closet.

6:48am  Crawl back into bed, the better to let the girls "wake me up" with their mother's day offerings. Try to find glasses on bedside table so I can actually see the girls.

6:49am  Attempt to keep heart from exploding with love and blowing roof off building, as my lovely daughters crawl into bed and give me handmade cards and picture frames. Nod knowingly and murmur with surprise every time Jellybean tells me "I made it" (referring to the painted picture frame that has her name written on it by her kind teachers).

6:50am  Look at M and wonder how did I ever get so lucky.

9:30am Subway ride to the West Village with the family. Listen to Monkey and Jellybean sing "we're off to see the Wizard" as they gambol about on the way to the subway. Judy Garland may be an icon, but my girls can belt it out too!

10:30am  Watch my girls get their haircuts, smile at their beautiful reflections in the mirrors.

11:30am  Eat pizza lunch with Jellybean in the West Village. Monkey and M sit on the other side of the tiny restaurant, the better to sit in the sun. (the wan, blue-eyed blondes retreated into the shade...). Enjoy countless kisses from Jellybean and wonder just exactly how much pizza sauce do I have on my face? Decide not to clean any off. Wouldn't want to wash off her kisses by accident. Surely it's good for the skin, right?

12:30pm  Watch girls run in grass, climb trees, pick flowers and stare-down squirrels on campus. Revel in how beautiful Monkey has become, and glimpse the young girl she's going to be in a blink of an eye.

2:00pm Head to gym with the little one in bed, the big one reading for quiet time.

5:00pm Kick wonderful husband out the door to get in run, in the best weather we've had all spring. Tickle girls, build structures (i.e., forts), and then start making dinner.

6:30pm Family dinner with cousin Heather and "third child" C (favorite babysitter, ever).

7:00pm Head out with the girls to find the ice cream truck. Jellybean looked like she had a mustache, and Monkey managed to even get ice cream on her shoulders. Wonder at the physics necessary to spread that little ice cream over that much child....

7:45pm Bath time. Then books and hugs.

8:30pm Lights out.

Best day, ever......

sisters

Travelin' blues

Recently, we took the girls on a bona fide vacation. Beautiful beaches with white sand that squeaked when you walked on it. It was awesome. The girls loved it. We all loved it. Who wouldn't - check this out:

However, I would like to point out that it took 9 hours of travel, with a layover in Atlanta, to get there.

And, while most of the time Jellybean looked sweet, like this:

There was a lurking, evil little sprite, waiting to be unleashed - napless - into the world:

(doesn't she look spooky?)

The look

Jellybean has decided that she doesn't like to wear (regular) dresses.

She wears leggings and tshirts. And occasionally frothy tulle skirts layered over the leggings. And then a see-through tulle dress over that, too. And ballerina costumes, with 18 necklaces layered on top of it.

It's the hobo princess look!