I offer you an anecdote from this morning that will forever change your mind.
Five minutes before we are to leave for school, Juliette informs me she needs to go to the potty.
A few minutes pass. I call "time to leave" and am greeted with silence. Ominous silence.
Another minute passes. "Mommy! Something's wrong."
Indeed there was, keeping my beloved daughter's excrement company in the toilet bowl was their toothpaste cap.
Bless Juliette for recognizing flushing was not the thing to do in this instance. Nonetheless, there was the reality, cozied up to one another like two lonely forty-somethings a half hour before last call on Friday night.
Never forget this story when you are sorrowfully considering the greener grass of the stay at home parent.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Yesterday
Two years ago yesterday, that delightful little package of energy known as Genevieve Elizabeth Manise was placed into her mother's arms.
She screamed.
I handed her to her father.
Juliette howled.
Evie howled.
Juliette howled louder.
This momentous occasion was a lesson in the value of earplugs, and was chronicled in dueling banjos a few days later.
What would our world be like without Evie? We cannot imagine. She is as amazing and chirpy as ever. A complete and total blessing - for which we are eternally grateful.
She screamed.
I handed her to her father.
Juliette howled.
Evie howled.
Juliette howled louder.
This momentous occasion was a lesson in the value of earplugs, and was chronicled in dueling banjos a few days later.
What would our world be like without Evie? We cannot imagine. She is as amazing and chirpy as ever. A complete and total blessing - for which we are eternally grateful.
Monday, September 17, 2007
One Down, Thirty-four to Go...
So, the first week of school is over. The girls love their new classrooms, teachers, classmates, lunchbags, and backpacks.
I let them wear dresses every day to school and felt like a homeschool mom when I'd take them to the park in dresses. Since my hair is long right now and I've never been one for much makeup, I felt like declaring my reliance on The Wall Street Journal, '80's pop music, and art-house movies to the casual observers at the park. I immediately went home and did my toes, but regretfully forgot my eyebrows.
Pop quiz--
1. The girls picked their lunchboxes based on which of the following features:
A. Character depiction
B. Color
C. Thermal retention/ cold retention
D. Bonus Features
E. A & B
F. A& C
G. A & D
H. They never saw their lunchboxes before the first day of school.
2. How many calls regarding food allergies in Evie's class did Jennifer field in relation to Evie's school b/d celebration?
A. none
B. One
C. Two
D. Three
E. Four or more
3. How many days has Juliette been the last one to be picked up by her mother since the first day of school?
A. none
B. One
C. Two
D. Three
E. Four or more
4. How many billable hours has Jennifer completed during school time since the first day of school?
A. none
B. Less than One
C. One to Two
D. Three to Four
E. Five or more ( HA HA HA - can't even type that one with a straight face!)
5. On a scale of minus ten to ten, how clean is the house compared to the day before school started?
Minus ten - exceptionally dirty - the roaches moved out.
Minus five - is that a dead mouse I smell?
Zero - laundry piled high on Daddy's dresser, just like always.
Plus five - one could eat off the floor in the kitchen
Plus ten - the windows are done! Someone call the newspaper!!
So dear reader, how well do you know us?
I let them wear dresses every day to school and felt like a homeschool mom when I'd take them to the park in dresses. Since my hair is long right now and I've never been one for much makeup, I felt like declaring my reliance on The Wall Street Journal, '80's pop music, and art-house movies to the casual observers at the park. I immediately went home and did my toes, but regretfully forgot my eyebrows.
Pop quiz--
1. The girls picked their lunchboxes based on which of the following features:
A. Character depiction
B. Color
C. Thermal retention/ cold retention
D. Bonus Features
E. A & B
F. A& C
G. A & D
H. They never saw their lunchboxes before the first day of school.
2. How many calls regarding food allergies in Evie's class did Jennifer field in relation to Evie's school b/d celebration?
A. none
B. One
C. Two
D. Three
E. Four or more
3. How many days has Juliette been the last one to be picked up by her mother since the first day of school?
A. none
B. One
C. Two
D. Three
E. Four or more
4. How many billable hours has Jennifer completed during school time since the first day of school?
A. none
B. Less than One
C. One to Two
D. Three to Four
E. Five or more ( HA HA HA - can't even type that one with a straight face!)
5. On a scale of minus ten to ten, how clean is the house compared to the day before school started?
Minus ten - exceptionally dirty - the roaches moved out.
Minus five - is that a dead mouse I smell?
Zero - laundry piled high on Daddy's dresser, just like always.
Plus five - one could eat off the floor in the kitchen
Plus ten - the windows are done! Someone call the newspaper!!
So dear reader, how well do you know us?
Monday, September 10, 2007
Happy First Day of School!!!
After a brief show tune we headed off for our first day. Watch out teachers, here we come!!
Friday, September 07, 2007
Hello Open House Farewell Summer
Today was open house at the girls' school. I offer the following highlights.
Juliette's teacher, Mrs. R, is the iconic figure that heads a cult of preschool parents. Every parent that has ever had Mrs. R speaks of her in hushed tones as if in reverent awe.
Juliette made a leaf with her name on it for the door. She is very excited that she has show and tell every week. Panda will be the first object. Juliette also found the classroom computer (heavens knows what that will bring in way of requests at home.), checked out the loft, and settled in with a gaggle of girls to do playdough with letter stamps.
Evie was playing with trucks when I went back to check on her. She had informed her teacher, Mrs. P, that she would prefer to be called "Princess Genevieve" over Evie or just plain Genevieve. She had scoped out the dress up clothes and has learned how to sign herself in to class.
After open house, we went ice skating. Then they both came home and took naps.
As we say goodbye to summer, I offer the following farewells.
Farewell to the kiddie pool. Hello dive team.
Farewell zuchinnis (bikinis). Hello speedo.
Farewell sleeping until 8 am. Hello rush to get breakfast, dressed, and on 66 while HOV is still in effect.
Farewell naps. Hello going to bed at 7:30.
Farewell "what are we going to do today Momma?", Hello "Nothing!" in response to my inquiry of what happened at school today.
Farewell peanut butter and jelly lunches. Hello hyper observance of nut allergies.
Farewell spur of the moment adventures. Hello cleaner house.
Juliette's teacher, Mrs. R, is the iconic figure that heads a cult of preschool parents. Every parent that has ever had Mrs. R speaks of her in hushed tones as if in reverent awe.
Juliette made a leaf with her name on it for the door. She is very excited that she has show and tell every week. Panda will be the first object. Juliette also found the classroom computer (heavens knows what that will bring in way of requests at home.), checked out the loft, and settled in with a gaggle of girls to do playdough with letter stamps.
Evie was playing with trucks when I went back to check on her. She had informed her teacher, Mrs. P, that she would prefer to be called "Princess Genevieve" over Evie or just plain Genevieve. She had scoped out the dress up clothes and has learned how to sign herself in to class.
After open house, we went ice skating. Then they both came home and took naps.
As we say goodbye to summer, I offer the following farewells.
Farewell to the kiddie pool. Hello dive team.
Farewell zuchinnis (bikinis). Hello speedo.
Farewell sleeping until 8 am. Hello rush to get breakfast, dressed, and on 66 while HOV is still in effect.
Farewell naps. Hello going to bed at 7:30.
Farewell "what are we going to do today Momma?", Hello "Nothing!" in response to my inquiry of what happened at school today.
Farewell peanut butter and jelly lunches. Hello hyper observance of nut allergies.
Farewell spur of the moment adventures. Hello cleaner house.
Monday, September 03, 2007
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