There is an excellent sledding hill at the Marion Diehl Center on Tyvola. Em and I were out there with our Flexible Flyer (thanks, Mom!) and another young couple was out there with the round plastic lid to a garbage can.
Em had lots of fun sledding, until we hit a spot with a large dip. (The dip was easily visible but she still wanted to try it, so don’t worry if you’re coming out). She took a bit of a tumble, not too bad, but she was cold and done so we came on home.
I may go out again later on my own. We also have a garbage can lid, and that looked like lots of fun.
Actual conversation after school yesterday.
Em: Smell me.
Me: Mmm. Cotton candy?
Em: Cherry.
Me: Why do you smell like cherry?
Em: I found some lip balm.
Me: Where?
Em: On the ground.
Me: Oh dear. Did you put it on?
Em: No, it was empty. I threw it in the trash can when we went inside from recess.
Me: …but you still smell like cherry?
Em: Yeah.
Hmmm… Was I wrong to be suspicious?…
Em’s class is having a big field trip this Spring. They’re going to Washington D.C. Em decided pretty early on that she didn’t want to go, and that was fine with us. Her father and I understand how difficult that would be for her. Had she chosen to go, I would have chaperoned, but I really do think she made the best decision to sit this one out.
Many of her teachers and specialists at school look a little disappointed when we say that she’s not going. And I understand that, but it really is for the best. She’d be pretty miserable. That was reinforced a bit with today’s assignment. Today in writing they had to write a paragraph about why they wanted to go to Washington, D.C. If they weren’t going, they should write as if they were going.
Em’s first sentence: “I’m (full name) and I am sad because I do not like going very far away.”
I think that’s very true for her for many new things. We’ve told her that she and Daddy and I can all three go to D.C. this summer, which I think would be a less stressful trip for all concerned. She’s semi onboard with it. We’ll see how she feels in a few months.
December 30th, 2009
admin
I don’t know why My Little Pony had to be placed on a block of ice in a cup of water until the ice melted and it drowned.
And you know what? I don’t want to know.
The less I know, the safer I am.
December 24th, 2009
admin
Em is doing this hilarious thing this month. We tell her something outrageous and she’s skeptical. It goes a little something like this:
Me: That’s because dogs can fly, but only at night.
Her, skeptical: Really??
Me: Yes.
Her, higher and more incredulous: Really???
Me: Yes.
Her, lower and more “oh, please.”: Really…?
Me: Heh. No.
It cracks me up. I haven’t captured a really good one, but here’s a lesser example. We’ve been telling Em that all her presents are pork chops. (link to AVI file)
Here’s hoping your holidays are filled with pork chops and wonder.
December 21st, 2009
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I was out doing a little last-minute Christmas shopping and found this shirt at GapKids on sale. It was the only Wonder Woman shirt on the rack, marked down to $5.98, then marked down an additional 20 percent. Score! I brought it home and showed it to Em, who liked it.
It was only at this point that I noticed the punctuation, or lack thereof. “Girls World” has no apostrophe. Who’s doing the quality checking at Junk Food Clothing?
Because it was on clearance, there are no returns. I guess now I know why it was so cheap. Sigh.
December 19th, 2009
admin
Em’s school held their health and sex ed classes last week. I can’t believe this is already happening, but must admit that this is the right age to be addressing this. Em doesn’t have a whole lot of questions for us about health and reproduction, since we’ve answered some of those already. However, that’s not to say she’s not interested. Specifically, she’s interested in deodorant although she doesn’t need it yet. Nonetheless, she’s decided to start using it every day. Fine by me. We happen to have a stick of Tom’s of Maine that I had tried but decided wasn’t my bag. It’s not that strong, so I figure it’s not hurting anything for her to use it. I showed her how to turn the base to make the stick rise when needed.
Em: Deodorant is kind of like a glue stick!
I hadn’t thought about it, but she’s right. And it also shows that she’s still a child, although things are changing. I am not ready to deal with puberty, but it’s coming, ready or not. Time to gear up for the next phase of parenthood.
December 17th, 2009
admin
Em finally asked me for a Jayne hat. Soon she’ll be smoking stogies and brandishing guns. My baby’s growing up.