Ice skating

Best part about the ice rink was seeing the Zamboni for the first time.

Thanksgiving

Michael outdid himself by single handedly making the turkey, stuffing, gravy and apple pie.  I only did the shopping and prepped mashed potatoes (all 20 of them.)  Susan and Roy brought all the other sides and a couple more pies. It was all delicious and I look forward to leftovers already!

Interview Ready

Skating

No duh.

Miranda said to me the other day, "Mom, sometimes when you are talking to me, I think I am talking to Grandma Judy."

Birthday

After a lovely overnight at indian springs with the family, we came home to enjoy Thai food, my hoho cake and presents. I got coupon books from Miranda and Parker and a book from Elizabeth that she wrote for school about her first place vault in her second meet.  She had dedicated it me which she kept a secret when she read it out loud to the class last week.

Rain

While waiting for Parker and Elizabeth's piano lessons, Miranda asked if she could run around in the rain. I said yes.

Sleepy

Miranda couldn't fall asleep last night so I let her get in bed with me. She was asleep like this in about 6 minutes. She stayed like that for about an hour until Michael carried her off to bed.

Houston we have a problem.

There are very few things that can pull Parker away from the computer on weekend mornings. So when I noticed my wi-if was down, I knew it would only be a matter of moments before I heard his footsteps on the stairs and the familiar sound of, "Mom... Something is wrong with connection."

Soccer Party

The coaches threw a little end of season soccer party the other night.  The coaches get up and say something nice about each player and give them a little certificate. They are the nicest guys around but it's hard not to notice the differences in speeches and the order in which they are given. The focus on some kids, those generally to the end of the presentation, is skills, goals, and general playing ability. How bad ass they are or how they saved this game or that one.  But for other kids, typically towards the front of the presentation, the kind words are usually about behavior or personality or maybe effort.  Parker fell into this group with his smile being the main topic of their short pronouncement.  Not much talk about soccer but hugs and love was out in full force.  On the way home I said, "That was really nice what he said about you, huh?"  He responded, "yeah, I liked all the smile stuff, but he seemed to have left out the stuff about me being good at defending."   This kid might not be as clueless as I think...

Four girls with dirty feet

Parent teacher conferences

We met with the kids teachers yesterday. Three in a row.   It was all as expected so here are the highlights.

Elizabeth-She is doing great. She is well loved. She is a wonderful student.  She can't spell.

Miranda-She is reading slightly above level and needs some help on math but not for long. She is no longer slow at everything. She also can't spell.

Parker-He loves poetry and is the best at reciting them out loud to the class. He is unorganized. His teacher didn't say nearly all the crazy stuff his teacher did last year which was nice.  He can spell.

The best quote I thought was this when Michael asked if his lack of organization was normal for this age and gender or if it fell outside the norm.  The response:  "It falls outside the norm, but Parker falls outside the norm in many areas so this should not be surprising."

Calistoga

Susan and Ebba took me to Calistoga on Friday as an early bday present. As usual it was great and the stop at Gotts was excellent. I want to go back already.

Cat town Cafe

A rescue group open a cat cafe in Oakland a couple weeks ago. Miranda and I went today. We had hot chocolate while playing with adoptable a cats in a storefront on Broadway. It's a cute idea and by the line of people out the door and the 13 adoptions in 2 weeks, a successful one.

Soccer over

Parker's soccer team played their last game today. It wasn't a great season for Parker. The team was in the highest flight so played tough teams all season long. They tied many games and lost many more which was a huge change from their undefeated last year. They didn't seem to mind and were all smiles after their tie today.

Beds

I think this photo shows the difference between Miranda and Elizabeth. A bed says it all.

More Miranda

More Independence

Parker is now seeking more independence and wanting to do things alone.  One example was halloween when he said, "I don't have to trick or treat with you, do I?"

Another was yesterday morning. Michael dropped him at the pool for a 6:15am swim practice.  It went until 7:30. Normally I would pick him up at 7:45 but this day he asked if he could just walk to school. School is a short walk through the high school in a very safe area with lots of people around. He's done the reverse walk lots of times so I said ok. I told him to take his time in the shower, really dry his air and then bring a book in case he got there too early.  I also gave him Elizabeth's cell phone (which she has never used but loves the fact that she gets one for long gym workouts).

The girls and I went to school early so we could check on him but he wasn't there at 8:15. I got worried, asked a few friends, texted Michael and then walked to the other side of school where he never goes. And there he was, sitting alone reading his book. He looked tired.  I sat with him for a bit and reminded him of his warm, buttery bagel Michael had made and wrapped up for him. He was relieved to eat it. He said he was worried about PE because he was a little tired. I told him to just tell his PE teacher about swimming. He seemed anxious about that so I asked if he wanted me to tell her. He did. I went down to the playground, spoke with her briefly about it and left.  When I picked him up after afternoon swim practice (yes, two on one day), he said the PE teacher told everyone about his swimming in the morning and said something like, "Even if you are talented at something like Parker is at swimming, you still have to work hard and practice." He seemed to like the compliment.

A little Sunday afternoon reading.

This is how I found these three after Parker and I returned from a swim meet on Sunday.