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“Where is baby Jesus?”

25 Dec

It was something I didn’t even notice. The baby Jesus – missing from the manger scene at church. Nia realized it right away and asked it as we walked by the display during communion. I whispered to her that the baby will appear at midnight, for his birthday. She loved that and it made me wish we treated our mangers the same way. That’s better than an elf who moves to a new spot each morning after reporting on a child’s behavior or Santa who brings you gifts if you’re not on the naughty list. Jesus loves you, no matter what. He gave us the greatest gift, even though many were not nice to him.

I hope as the years pass, they remember asking where baby Jesus was. I know I will always remember it and how they lifted their sweet voices in song to celebrate Jesus’ birth. How they sat next to Father Leo on the steps of the altar in front of the entire church and answered his questions about the meaning of Christmas and animatedly nodded. How Nate rested his head on Nia’s shoulder at one point during Mass and she didn’t shrug it away. That they remember the love, beauty and spirit of Christmas in the middle of the piles of presents and the cookies for Santa.

Merry. Christmas.

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Innocence and Danger

5 Dec

It used to be breaking news would go over my children’s heads. Used to be, breaking news wouldn’t even be on TV because we’d have on a channel just for kids that never showed crawls or news cut-ins. Now though, my children are getting older and they are more perceptive and are sponges for information. Constantly questioning, reading things and figuring out what their parents are trying to secretly spell out in front of them.

This all became very evident to me this weekend while we were watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” on an Atlanta TV station. Our 5-year-old started to read the crawl at the bottom of the screen. The crawl was about a little girl, Jorelys Rivera from Canton, Ga., who was missing. “Three or four feet tall. Blue jeans and pink shirt,” our son read. Our 8-year-old daughter, only one year older than Jorelys, asked about her. What happened? Where is she? Where was she? Where is her mom? We answered the questions that we could and talked to them about how police thought she was taken from near her apartment’s playground. I stressed the need to be cautious of strangers, not really knowing if this was a stranger issue or not, just trying to reinforce to them about safety while we were on the subject.

I didn’t really think it would all register to them. Still at ages where the next few hours are what’s on their mind, I was quite surprised to hear my daughter say unprovoked after church on Sunday, “I think I saw that little missing girl in church today. She was sitting in front of us.” I told her that I thought that was very smart of her to be looking for the girl but I didn’t think that was her. She didn’t meet the description good enough. My daughter asked, “I wonder if they found her.”

She was really thinking about this.

How was I going to tell her what happened to Jorelys? That they found the sweet baby girl’s body on Monday. Should I? Would it scare her too much? But, sadly, terribly, it’s what happened. She should know. She cared about Jorelys. A girl who could have been my daughter’s friend. She carried her purse and diary to the playground like my daughter would have. So innocent and sweet. Like all our children.

I told her and my son. I didn’t get detailed. Just that I had sad news. They found the missing girl. I let the questions start, “Is she ok? Was she hurt? Where was she? Was she killed? Was she shot? How did she die? Who did it? But she was only seven.”

I told them that sometimes people are mean or not right and will hurt others, even kids. Police are now trying to figure out who did it. That the only people who really know now are Jorelys and the person who hurt her. “And God,” my daughter said. “And Santa,” my son added. “Santa knows.”

A child’s perspective of something so serious and sad. I explained that it doesn’t matter if Santa knows. This is bigger than Santa but his young mind was determined, “But that person who hurt her was not nice.”

Yes, buddy, you’re right. Not nice at all. The perspective of a child trying to figure out such a scary and heartbreaking situation is so confusing. I can’t even imagine what she thought. I wish she didn’t have to think it. Too young. So innocent. Only seven. With her purse and diary.

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An Introduction to the Theatre

4 Dec

“Can we watch all the plays?” A wide-eyed and entertained Nia asked me after the curtain closed on the first play she ever watched.

It really was the perfect play for her to call her first. She was reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in class last week and this weekend our community theatre was performing the play of it. She was enjoying the book and reading us excerpts so I knew the performance would be wonderful for her.

Loved the book.

It was perfect because it had so many young actors – even a few who Nia knew – so that kept her really interested. She was happy to have her beloved reindeer doll to sit with her through the show too. I was happy that I didn’t have to pay for a ticket for Clarice. (The tickets were a great price though, $5 for children and $10 for adults. Some of that money even goes to varying charities.) On top of all the specialness, Nia also got to enjoy refreshments after the show. Festive cookies and a candy cane. I love the question she gave me as we walked back to the car, almost finished with both cookies, “Aren’t refreshments usually meat and cheese and crackers?” Not a complaint, just a little girl trying to figure out her world.

Excited for the show to start.

Mommy/Daughter Date

Talented Cast

Enjoying refreshments.

The sweetness of it all made me tear up. The carols at the end of the play really did me in. Luckily, Nia was there to hug my arm and distract me with her forward thinking. Can we watch all the plays? I promise to take her to as many kid-appropriate ones that our schedule allows.

Checking our calendar now …

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Some people have fine china…

19 Nov

or some other special heirloom like a painting or jewelry that they hand down to their children when they reach an age when they can understand its importance, respect and appreciate it. This moment recently happened for Nia when I introduced her to the movie, Grease.

I actually can’t remember the first time I watched it because I’ve seen it so many times. I know I was 10 or younger. I have fond memories of watching it with my sister and also with my friend, Mary Lou. We would repeat the lines and sing along. We quoted it when we weren’t watching it. My sister and I had the album and I remember starring at the pictures on it as I listened. I even got to see Grease on Broadway in New York City. It is cherished.

I wasn’t sure if Nia would feel the same way. Or if she was even really ready for it. I know I didn’t realize most of the stuff they were saying but Nia is way more attentive and inquisitive. She asked questions through the entire movie and reviewed it. Nate even throw in a few peanut gallery comments as he caught scenes here and there.

  • “Why are the Pink Ladies making fun of Sandy? I thought they were friends.” (Inquired during “Look at me, I’m Sandra Dee.”)
  • “They are licking tongues!” (Nate’s reaction to the parking scene with Rizzo and Kenickie.)
  • Major giggles from both when Danny pulled the umpire’s mask after the foul ball call.
  • More giggles when Danny raises his arm in the air at the end of “Summer Nights.”
  • Censorship by daddy in the form of a loud clearing of his throat during a lyric about not being respectful to girls in the song, “Summer Nights.”
  • “They have wine!” (Reacting to the wine at the sleepover.)
  • “They always get mad at each other and then make up and then mad again.” (Nia’s general perception of Danny and Sandy’s relationship.)
  • “Sandy becomes this girl?! No way.” (Nia, pointing to the DVD case with red high-heeled Sandy on it.)
  • “What’s that called where they are? (I answer.) Drive-ins look cool. Do we still have them?
  • “The T-Birds aren’t being nice to Eugene.” (Said each scene with Eugene.)
  • “They used speakers back then? Now we have tvs for morning announcements.”
  • “Can I watch it again?”

She even asked to watch Grease 2 but she wasn’t digging that it wasn’t Danny and Sandy. As for me, well, I love a cool rider and I’m so happy to share this with her.

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Strong Little Legs

5 Nov

They’ve cheered on daddy as he crossed the finish lines of his 5Ks, 10K and Half Marathon. Nate, always worrying as he watches others cross before Andrew. “Daddy didn’t win,” he says heavy-hearted, not really understanding that to finish at a certain time is often the win. Both kids have also proudly collected as Andrew handed them his participation and prize medals/trophy (for those times he did “win” by placing). After all that support and watching, Nia and Nate finally got to participate in their very own race and have their daddy give them fist bumps and praise. (This is, of course, after Andrew rocked his 5K earlier that morning.)

The Strong Legs Run in Atlanta was awesome for us because it was held at the home of the Braves, Turner Field, and it was the first time we all took part in a race as a family. Andrew ran the 5K, I signed up for the 2K and the kids had fun in the Mascot Trot, a short dash with some of the area’s most popular mascots (including their favorite, Chopper from the Gwinnett Braves). They liked the Trot but were disappointed about how short it was. Since the 2K followed it, all three of them came along with me for fun. Nate was pumped.

He took off and ran so far ahead of us that he stopped and turned around to see where we were and if he should keep going. Andrew was walking up ahead of me with Nia. (Yes, I was the slowest in the family.) Andrew and I both pointed for Nate to “Go, buddy, go!” Andrew then followed after him and Nia and I became ear-bud buddies, sharing my ear-buds as we walked and talked about other times she walked or ran far like this. (Very special to me.)

When we finally turned the corner for the finish line, I asked Nia if she felt like running again and we picked up the pace. Andrew and Nate were there to cheer us on and Nate even ran with us (well, it was more like sprinted ahead of us) through the finish line again. I think he would’ve liked to keep finishing, sprinting past everyone like he was the winner. Andrew tracked Nate’s time on RunKeeper and it said he finished in 11 minutes. He thinks Nate could’ve done it in 10 if he didn’t stop that one time and if Andrew didn’t have to keep slowing him down for pacing reasons.

We all enjoyed our Strong Legs morning – each of us walking away with t-shirts of our own and a fun family memory that we plan to do again. We’ve already picked out some fancy (fast) running pants for Nate and Nia and Andrew has already chosen our next race.

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Grade A Citizen

1 Nov

I would fail if I was ever quizzed on that Late Show skit “Jaywalking.” I would fail if we were playing a trivia game and the win depended on my answer. I would fail if given a Third Grade test at age 33. Despite my admitted lack of government facts though, I’m happy to say my Third Grader would definitely pass for an outstanding citizen. Especially if it was based on her grade from her first test about the government and her written answer (that I will always cherish).

Nia earned a 97% on the test, missing a question about city council and another about which level of government can declare war. However, she knew what type of democracy was practiced in ancient Athens and which structure in Washington D.C., most shows the influence of Greek architecture as shown in the Parthenon. I also love that she now knows the name of the woman who fought to get women the right to vote. I can’t wait for her to become one of those educated voters. (And help refresh mom on some of the particulars.)



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Introducing the Muppets…again

27 Oct

It is about time! I’ve tried several times over the last few years to introduce the Muppets to the kids but, sadly to me, I was the only one watching the movie after a few minutes. I guess it wasn’t cool enough when mom talked about how much she loved the Muppets when she was little. Nope. They needed pop culture and marketing hoopla to spark an interest in my beloved singing and comical characters.

Cue: The Great Muppet Caper and The Muppets Take Manhattan – and one happy mommy and new fan, Nia.

She now loves the Muppets so much, she wanted to draw each character while she watched the movies. I loved that so much, I had to capture it. We’ll see if she can sense the difference between the old Muppets and the new. I know I will…

Deep in Drawing

Cast of Characters

Muppets by Nia

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Disney World Dreams

23 Oct

The kids are now resorting to Santa to help make their Disney World dreams come true. One of them just plans to travel in a little more style than the other.

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I have a feeling it will cost somewhere in between their dollar amounts and I absolutely know Santa isn’t going to bring it. (In fact, Santa may actually create a big dent in the Disney World fund.)

I’m doing all the research now on when to go, where to stay and what (if any) package plans to buy but it’s a lot to decide. Since I can’t write a letter to Santa to help plan this for us, I welcome and appreciate any advice from Disney travelers!

Best regards…I just love that Nia wrote that.

 

 

 

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I had a tent once

16 Oct

I asked for it for Christmas when I was in middle school. Looking back on it, I’m not sure why I wanted it so much. It was a two-person tent that I spied in the J.C. Penny Christmas catalog at my Grandma’s house. I got it and set it up in my room for the longest time. I would “camp out” in it – surrounded by my stuffed animals and other necessities like my cassette tape recorder. I remember once being brave enough to ask my mom to camp in the backyard. The campsite was so close to my house that I was able to stretch an extension cord from the bathroom window outlet to the 13-inch black and white tv that I used to watch the Muppet Show on when I was even younger. Not really camping. More like – a dare fulfilled.

That all changed this past weekend. Our familyfriends (so close they are like family), the Heidels, have been asking us to join them in their camping adventures at Camp Enota in the Georgia mountains and we finally could. This was not the backyard. This was up a windy and steep mountain that made me giggle with whee but made Nia’s belly turn upside-down and then inside-out before we arrived. Poor Bean. She tried so hard not to get sick.

There she was. Quick change on the side of that stomach-flipping road. Bottles of water and shampoo from the necessity bag grabbed to help clean Bean. Whoops, those are Nate’s jeans, not Nia’s. Creek water to help clean out the car. Nate patiently buckled in his seat and waiting, concerned for Nia and factually stating, “I didn’t get sick.” We’re glad, bud.

She was all better after that and we finally arrived. It was gorgeous.  The Heidels were excitedly waving for us and showing us around our site.

Camp Sun

The beautiful valley spot was surrounded by hills of fall colored leaves. Two creeks met there. They made the most relaxing sound. We had a swing to watch them merge and then rush down the mountain. We had a picnic table that they had already table-clothed and made it feel homey. The kids ran to the nearby playground and in-ground trampolines while the adults talked about what it was like to get there (our aforementioned mess and it took Ginger, Lee and Camille seven hours), set up our tent and started on dinner for that night. The kids couldn’t wait for roasted marshmallows. Unfortunately, our first few attempts at fire fizzled out. We had enough for them to heat a few ‘mallows but it was getting late and a chill was in the air. After the youngest campers hit the air-mattresses for the night, Ginger, our fire goddess, finally was able to beat that misbehaving fire-pit and we got some decent flames for us to enjoy good conversation, adult beverages and toasted pepperoni rolls.

Friday’s sleep was a breeze compared to what Saturday’s would hold but Saturday morning brought warm coffee for moms and dads and hot chocolate for kids. There was delicious bacon, eggs and grits and a day ahead that included more trampoline jumping, creek exploring, a hike to a beautiful waterfall complete with a picnic lunch, petting zoo sights, relaxing, grilled meat dinner (ka-bobs) and an AWEsome fire perfect for making the best s’mores ever. Another cherished camp memory: looking at the stars with the kids and counting shooting stars. Then came time for bed on Saturday night. Brr is not even the half of it. Freezer. With a side of slap in your face freeze. (Specifically, lows in the 30’s, not enough blankets and the kids and I cuddled on one full size inflatable mattress because I was worried they would be too cold without mom. Nate’s “I love you, mommy” when I warmed him confirmed it.)

As soon as the Sunday sun was in sight, we were all up and packing up. Restaurant breakfast sounded delightfully warm.

All a part of the adventure. And I would do it again. I will always remember falling asleep on Saturday night and thinking to myself, “This was fun.” I will hold on to that thought. Kind of like childbirth or tattoos, I believe you forget some of the owies you go through when you’re experiencing it. You remember the joy/pride you feel in the accomplishment.

I camped. I was 33-years-old when I first camped. The kids were 8 and 5. Andrew has camped out as a soldier more times than I can count. I guess  that makes us all experienced now.

Thank you, Heidels. I don’t believe I would have braved any of it – thus enjoyed it – if it wasn’t for you.

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Tough Teacher

10 Oct

Here’s a peek at the rules in the classroom of Miss Bean, where her little brother is the only “real” student among a lot of make-believe classmates and a famous Smurf. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to “have fun!”

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Dry Erase Rules

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Keeping an eye on Smurfette - Row 1

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