Rain on Me

We had the idea of spending some time at City Park today, which would have been a fabulous idea if the rain had not fallen long and hard. It did. We made the best of it, getting in some rides at Storyland Amusement Park before ligthning drove us inside to the carousel. We lunched under the shelter of the train stop. Inwe and Findarato played in the rain. Apparently, wet isn't a problem.

If you say their names together, they make an action hero.

Last week, I managed to bring Finwe with me to the beach once. The rest of the time, my mother spoiled him mercilessly, but as she also taught him valuable skills and required him to say please, I will allow her to keep Finwe other times.

The reason for leaving him behind was that four equally-abled children are easier to parent than four plus one who needs much more attention or he'll cause some calamity. That sentence is unfair to Finwe, but nearly three-year-olds are not to be trusted.

Cirdan, who has labled even four-year-olds as babies, took Finwe under his wing. He taught him about the monster trucks (I tried not to cringe. My boy will not like monster trucks. Got it? Good. Not NASCAR, either. You remember that, people.), pointed out the things on the beach to the younger boy, and totally taught him to jump into the pool without a mommy to catch him. Water wings were on his arms. Right there. On. His. Arms.

We ate dinner there. Finwe next to Cirdan. Our own Tom Clancy hero, split into two. That is something I also miss about our neighbors in C'ville. That Cirdan and Finwe would have dug a trench between the yards for some reason. Phill and I would have supplied the shovels just to see Mr. MaddJones cringe, but in a nice, neighborly fashion.

While we love New Orleans, there is no substitute for friends made in the beginning, when the children still suckled. Any idiosyncracies are viewed as part of that kid, whether it be shyness, drama, a tendency to shove, or the spark of mischief glittering in their eyes. We'll build other friendships here. Sure. Yet, hmm. There are those that shall remain gold.

Making as many cards as Hallmark

My daughters like to make cards, lots of cards. Sometimes the cards are for us; other cards end up mailed to friends back in Charlottesville. If someone comes to visit, the girls make a card. Actually, a visit is not necessary. They will make you a card then decide to keep it because it is so special. Many of you probably have a card in the pile of cards we keep in the art cabinet.

I have a wonderful way to send some of the cards that the girls will like. The boys' classes are participating in a project called Hearts Across America. The goal is for each class to receive a valentine from each of the fifty states before February 14th. Want to help? Email me at hpsarabeth@gmail.com for the addresses. Her sons are in separate classes, meaning one for each class.

I'm going to see if Larien will release the card above to her good friends. I have a feeling she will.

Greeting the Neighbors

Each weekday morning I repeat the same ritual of getting the kids dressed, fed, watered. After all that has occurred, we head towards the door. I leash White Dragon. I hoist Finwe, ensconced in a pack, on my back. Inwe opens the door. Larien trails behind her. I close the door after checking that no tails or hands will suffer a pinch.

Yesterday, as I closed the door I heard all three of my children say loudly, "Good morning, Mrs. Hoffman. How are you today?" The smile on her face glowed like only a grandmother's face can. Our neighbor across the street paused as she got in her car. I quietly said to the kids, "Ms. Nancy is out here, too."

"Good morning, Ms. Nancy." Now, it was my turn to smile at my friendly children. Yet, Larien had more to add, possibly worried that Ms. Nancy felt slighted.

"I love you." She added a sweep of her arm. "I love you all."

Future Roommates

These two girls have a plan, mostly hatched by Jane, of attending the same college and being roommates. I understand that the plan is more detailed, complete with the colors to be used for decoration.

I'll do my part to keep them in touch with each other.

T and Larien at the Goodbye Party

Yep, I cried when she left. The girls did better about it. She's promised to come to NOLA for a long sleepover. She gave the girls something to look forward to when we move.

A Care Bear, An Ice Skater, and A Fairy

Inwe had planned to go as a lion, but this morning she changed her mind. Wearing a track suit that we bought her yesterday, she stated that she was an ice skater. "And if everyone has to ask me what I am, then so be it!"

She's so going to be the kid in high school who goes to the Halloween party as a normal person, making everyone believe that it really is a costume.

I'm Gonna Get T for This

While I was in New Orleans, the amazing, fabulous T visited with the girls. She was on fall break from college. When I spoke with her, I heard the excitement of being around the girls. Sure, she probably wanted to see Finwe, too, but Inwe and Larien are so interactive with T.

My mom decided to play with Finwe upstairs (he warms her heart, she says). T had the girls all to herself for four hours. Somehow, nail painting occurred. Doesn't Inwe look like the proverbial kid in a candy shop? The expression on her face clearly says, "Look at my nails. They're drying. They're colored. Dad so does not want me to have my nails painted, and the girl that I adore did the painting!"

Inwe squealed on the phone when she called me later that evening. Painted nails. Oh, help.

Liking the "Thundering Herd"

He's going to be Huor from now on in Elf tradition. He likes the troupe of children in the house. Trixie calls them the "Thundering Herd". They have light feet like their mother.

A Little Help from a Friend

Yesterday, we welcomed into our home for the next two weeks Trixie, WaWa, and Andrew. Until the adoption in Virginia is finalized, the new family will be staying with us. This should be two weeks or so.

Inwe, Larien, and Finwe are thrilled to have visitors. Sure, there were bumps in the road last night as I asked the girls to (GASP!) share a bedroom so that Trixie could attempt to sleep in a bed. All it took for their agreement was outright threats and intimidation. Appealing to their sense of being a gracious hostess didn't accomplish the job. Finwe slept with Phill and I. Andrew had the crib (with just one night waking).

As the Telemnar family was awake before the guests, we heard Andrew awaken. I got a bottle ready. Finwe asked, "Who dat for?"

"Andrew," I replied.

"Wanna take it to Andrew." He reached for the bottle. Although I was reluctant thinking Finwe might begin drinking it, I gave him Andrew's bottle. Finwe toddler ran to the stairs and climbed them as fast as he could. Inwe and Larien, not to be left out, followed us to Andrew's room.

Upon reaching Andrew, Finwe handed him the bottle and probably said something, but the girls were too excited to see Trixie. Inwe requested that Trixie take her to school. She settled on Trixie having a hand in picking her up from school. Larien wanted to say hello to Andrew and watch him drink the contents of the bottle.

I had to force the kids to leave so that Andrew would consume his liquid breakfast. He was too interested in my children. Do you see what a lovely experience this is going to be for all? It will certainly be strange when the Telemnars leave for the beach on Sunday. I predict that the girls won't want to leave Andrew.

Where are we heading? Savannah, GA. Trixie and WaWa were going to join us on this vacation before Andrew arrived. As luck would have it, we still get to spend time with our friends.

Don't Go, T

She started taking care of Inwe when she was 13. The terrific young woman known as T is now 18 and headed to college. Today was her last day taking care of the children. As soon as the girls realized that this was a good bye hug, they latched onto T beseeching her to stay. I had to hold them so that she could get out the door. I didn't get to say a proper farewell with all the good luck wishes I had intended. Larien dissolved into a fit of tears.

T, you are special. Our family adores you. We wish you well, and our house in New Orleans (when we get one) is always open to you.

Who Needs Sleep?

This past Friday, Inwe and Larien hosted their first sleep over with our neighbor, Idril. The plan worked well because I had signed out Idril from daycare each day so that she could have swim lessons with Larien. Friday was a short lesson as we only had to finish the class from Thursday that was interrupted by a thunder storm. Idril came home with us, ate dinner, got a bath, and borrowed one of Inwe's gowns. The borrowing wasn't because she didn't have one from home; girls like doing things like that.

The night progressed incredibly well. Swallowtail, the terrapin/tortoise/turtle, entertained us by emerging from her burrow to chow on the strawberry in her food tray. (I have no idea if it is a girl. To the kids, she's s girl. I don't argue. I don't have any data.) The girls giggled, colored, played with the headlamps my mother sent this summer, and finally decided on a place to sleep--the sun room floor.

Maybe my neighbors were nervous. Phill and I weren't. The creature in our household who had nerves about the sleeping arrangement was White Dragon. At bedtime she displayed her nervousness by refusing to follow us upstairs. We strongly encouraged her to follow us where she protested not being able to sleep with the girls by huffing all night. Pitiful creature. Who knew a good night sleep for her required sleeping on Inwe's bed?

A Taste of What's to Come

Her request was, "Take my picture, please." I waited until she had her pose perfected and snapped the photo. Later that afternoon, she received a phone call from a friend--her first phone call from a friend.

Inwe and Nienna talked for twenty minutes about losing teeth, summer camp, sisters, and their plans for a play date. Waffle House was mentioned, but I'm not sure why. My prediction, based on yesterday's phone call, is that Inwe will be tying up the phone lines for ages starting at the age of 10.

Picnic in the Park

Showing Off Her Skills

On Saturday, Phill and I hosted a party for some friends who moved out of the area. They were back in town for a few days giving us a reason to ask others to the house. It was a kid-friendly party like my parents used to have in their backyard. My girls set up the kids' table in the sunroom, complete with place cards (not kidding). Where they got that idea, I don't know. I've not ever done place cards for any of our dinner parties. Maybe it is innate?

As the food disappeared, the kids did more and more outside activities. The weather could not have been better. The sun filtered through cotton ball-shaped clouds. A slight breezed cooled the air. Even the mosquitoes left us alone.

Inwe decided to display her newly acquired tennis skills. On Friday, she garnered individual attention from one of the three coaches as her hitting was spotty and tentative. The coach, whose name Inwe can't remember, had her begin in a backhand position turning while the ball traveled towards her. That little bit of instruction allowed her enough movement that she no longer wasted time bringing the racket back for a forward swing. As you can see from the picture above, she is now forceful with her swing. One of our party guests was the one bouncing the ball for her.
Idril and Finwe played the part of spectators, using the garage door as a back rest. Why is Finwe running around in only a diaper? His hands, face, legs, and clothes were covered in melted chocolate and ice cream from a chocolate coated ice cream bar. Once I removed the disgusting clothes and dipped him in the pool for cleaning, getting a diaper on him was all I could manage. He really didn't want any other clothing. At least I put on a diaper. That wasn't an easy task.

Noodle Sprinker

Yesterday, we wanted to go to the pool in the late afternoon. Except around that time, a line of thunderstorms loomed in the distance. The pool, rightly so, makes everyone get out of the water once thunder is heard and keeps people out for half an hour after the last thunder clap. My neighbor and I were worried that we would arrive at the pool only to have to corral the children under the awnings for a hour or more. We decided not to take the risk.

In place of the pool, she brought out a present she received last year--a noodle sprinkler. The cloud cover made the air a little cooler than desired for running through jets of water. To give the kids some courage, MaddJones and I ran through the spraying water with the kids. Larien managed a few runs. Inwe, even fewer than her sister. Finwe gathered his courage and did a toddler sprint continually until the thunder got too close for the parents' comfort.

Comparing

Inwe brought her tooth, safely encapsulated in an empty prescription drug canister complete with child-proof lid, to school on Wednesday. She tucked everything into the pouch in which Phill and I secreted her "tooth fairy" gifts: one $2 Canadian coin and one tube of sparkly pink, Mary Kay lip gloss. The lip gloss was the hit. What five year old girl with six year old friends wouldn't want to brag about the makeup (MAKEUP! Phill nearly fainted.) her mother had freely given her?

Today, she informed me that her friend, Findecáno, had lost his first tooth last night. The tooth he lost resided in the same position that Inwe's did. She's feeling very grown up, nearly a six year old. We have Grandma to thank for that idea.

I hope the other lost teeth are easier on her psyche.

Five in a Row

How MaddJones got them all to cooperate is beyond my comprehension.

Sometimes cold doesn't matter

Today we created a play day with our good friends and their children. We went to a park just minutes from Shenandoah National Park. We brought our dogs and allowed them to roam over the empty fields as our children played on the playset.

Wait. Let me clarify. Finwe slept in the toasty warm car. Cirdan quickly retreated from the playset to his parents' truck. Larien joined him in a short time. Findarato played outside a bit more but discovered that he wasn't having that much fun. Inwe, the trooper, kept swinging and sliding and walking around with TWA Pilot and I with the dogs. (Phill and TopDirtyDog talked the entire time as they stood in one place.)

Why did three of the four older children leave the playing field? It was 33 degrees with a brisk wind.

Findarato saw Inwe with the dogs and us. He then joined our walk as we braved the chilly wind. Honestly, it was lovely to be outside despite the chilly wind.

We lunched at a restaurant and followed that up with a long inside play session at our friends' house. It was a good day. Finwe needed another nap after all the playing.

Weekend with VetKelly

My college and grad school friend, VetKelly, visited this weekend. Both Inwe and Larien remembered her from her visit in April. As Inwe said, "Oh, your funny friend! I'm glad she's coming."

Larien approves of VetKelly as well. And, if you know VetKelly, who wouldn't. She's a delightful person full of optimism and a zeal for life. However, Aunt Maverick is still Larien's favorite. I know because she told VetKelly, "Aunt Maverick is my favorite friend."

We attempted a hike, but that didn't work as Larien was exhausted from not sleeping well in her sister's bed. Instead of having VetKelly sleep on the pull-out sofa in the sunroom, I rented out Larien's room telling the girls that they had to sleep with each other.

The first few hours went well, but by 1am, Larien was calling for me. She felt out of place and got worried. She managed to fall asleep forty minutes later, but she wasn't right for the rest of the day. The next night, she and Inwe did really well with each other in bed. Both of them said that they enjoyed waking up next to each other.

It was a great weekend. I didn't get enough sleep, but when do I ever?