Christmas card rejects

Last year, no christmas cards. I was still recovering fm my broken arm. The hardest part is choosing pictures. Here are a couple that didn't make the card...

This year, they are coming closer to the new year. Keep watching the mail!

Lice

Did I mention the great lice outbreak at LW? Our hair had to be up and our stuff had to be in plastic garbage bags for a week.

I volunteered to nit pick (one of the few times it was the actual task) and never knew my parasitology class would come in so handy.

It meant lots of fun hairstyles though!

300th Post and Counting

With all that is going on in the world this holiday season. There is some comfort to know some things are still the same -little girls love Christmas. Here are the things that haven't changed since I was little.

1. The Nutcracker is still magical. They both sat with rapt attention through the entire performance, except when stage whispers were utilized to ask specific plot questions. (yes, I am aware there really isn't a plot in the nutcracker, hence all of the questions.)

2. Advent Calendars are the highlight of the day. It is hard to wait for your turn to put up an ornament or open a box.

3. Silly Christmas songs are the best. Their father made up a song to the tune of Christmas Time is Coming. It is all they have sung or wanted to sing for two days now.

4. Christmas dresses are still slippery and itchy.

5. There is nothing more exciting than a wrapped package with your name on it.

What we are thankful for-

Juliette

Mommy

Deeaadddy

Gramma

Grampa

Evie

Evie

Daddah

Momma

Gramma and Grampa

Uncle Howard and Uncle Heidi

Uncle Gerald and Uncle Shane

Bruce

Jennifer
Jesus
Children
Job
Cheese



Jennifer

More than one bathroom
The anesthetic effect of television on children
Friends
Family
Chocolate

--

and we are all thankful for you!

I've been working on something new...

Are you ready for this? click on the picture when you are ready!

OT-Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

For my 40th birthday, I dumped Starbucks. It had nothing to do with world events or the sudden realization that they were an evil empire or that paying $2.75 plus tip for a caffeinated beverage wasn't worth it. I never drank coffee until I turned thirty, and I felt like a decade of whole hearted dedication to a single thing was enough. AND TRUST ME! IT WAS WHOLEHEARTED DEDICATION!!!!

So we're done. And like all breakups, it is the unanticipated consequences that bite you.

Do you really want to hurt me?? Do you really want to make me cry???

For now, I need to avoid all strip malls. Which is not easy in Metropolitan Washington.

I guess that's why they call it the blues....

Really, I need to avoid every inch of Washington. I was having a serious discussion with a colleague in his office the other day and I swear I couldn't take my eyes off the Venti cup resting on his desk. It was taunting my resolve which was only two days old at the time.

I ain't missing you at all....

I'm drinking tea again. Heavily.

Time can never mend, the careless whisper of a good friend....

And I'm lying to tea. Telling her I loved her all along, and that I didn't really mean the dedication to the point of obsession that Starbucks became. When will I ever see Ellie? Who will notice when I travel? Without the oracle, how will I know who I am?

Here they come, dogs of lust....

AND - I've fallen off the wagon. Only once, and it was because of social pressure. I was on a girl date with time to kill in between events. What else were we going to do???? Bruce would have understood and steered me to some highway where there are no Cracker Barrel esque tall green and white circular signs singing the siren song of espresso shots.

Don't answer me, don't break the silence, don't let me in. Run away and hide from everyone

Speaking of espresso, this Starbucks thing started getting serious only after Bruce and I returned from Italy. It was there I learned how good coffee could really be and began this elicit romance in earnest.

There's a tear in my beer, cause I'm crying for you dear, you are on my lonely mind

Maybe if I go BACK to where it all started I can exorcise the internal voices clamoring every time we pass a mermaid.

You oughta know...

That and make an angry break up mix tape....

Pics from First Day of School

Evie on her first day.

A good luck hug from big sis.

This is Juliette's first day of school.

And what she did when she got home....

Cox Farms

Juliette and Evie went to Cox Farms with Bruce and kids from Juliette's school yesterday. Here they are with some special friends enjoying all Cox Farms has to offer.

I don't know about you, but I wish I had gotten to go!

All work and no play makes this a dull blog

I can't believe a whole month has escaped with a single post. Work has been crazy and it has taken longer to get to a sense of routine because we are going to different schools.

Here is what is in:

Soccer!!! Coach Larry makes up super fun games and neither mom nor dad are involved in learning skills. BONUS!!

For reading - Evie loves Junie B. She relates heavily to the trouble Junie B unintentionally finds herself in. Juliette still loves Anne of Green Gables (but Avonlea is much easier to put down.) We are also loving "the Full Belly Bowl" by Jim Ayelsworth and we've been enjoying Eppossamundus's bd all over again.

Football! The girls both love watching the Redskins w/ their dad. It is all a ruse to watch cartoons at the end of the game, but he still hasn't wised up.

Singing in the Rain - Love that Gene Kelly - Love Debbie Reynolds singing the good morning song.

Painting - no change there - be checking your mailbox for new artwork soon.

Monkey Bars - both can go all the way across a regular set. They think they are preparing for the Olympics.

Free stuff - both girls read 15 books this summer and got a coupon book of discounts and freebies around town. Saturday afternoon, we did a treasure hunt tracking down prizes from coupons. They came home with paints, a belly full of ice cream, popsicles for the freezer and art projects. We're still going to - make ceramics, go swimming, and order pizza from the books. They love that they "earned" this stuff.

Here is what is out -

Big Heads. Actually, they were never in. Juliette isn't sure she wants to go to the harvest festival w/her dad because there is someone pretending to be an alien. She is terrified of anything w/a big head and announced when she got in the car today there were other kindergarteners who were afraid too.

Solidarity among kindergarteners can be a powerful thing.

After a pregnant pause

We are finally back from vacation and into the swing of things at school sort of. Juliette LOVES her new school so much she cried last night because I was going there for something without her.

The first day during her quiet time in her room, she lined up her stuffed animals and had class. She's done this ever since she was 18 months old at Thurgood Marshall and I still get a huge kick out of it. It always reminds me of that first time (which went on for months) where she would be belting out "circle time is over! over! over" in her little 3-pack a day voice.

Evie misses her big sister! Evie's school starts next week and she is ready to be back with friends. She's been practicing saying "I'm four" because next week is the big day. She went into the office yesterday and did a great job "keeping me company' - read little work was actually done.

Will post pics from both girls first day of school next week. Today we're going ice skating!!!

On the other side of the world

OK, just Portland. Had quite a bit of time in my hotel room here as I've been working working working.

It is more fun to travel with Bruce and the girls. For airline flights, their legs are shorter and they take up less room in the seat next to you. Also - a well equipped plane is an adventure for them. We flew Virgin America to LA and back for Hawaii. On VA, you can:

1. Watch Hannah Montana (which you aren't allowed to do at home)
2. Text between seats - this is a very exciting option for little girls just learning to read with no regular computer access
3. Order free beverages and buy snacks from your monitor
4. Play mahjong - which I did for an extended period of time and the girls did intermittently
5. Create your own playlist - now I get the IPod thing after creating a great playlist on VA and having to say goodbye to it when we landed.
6. Order any of several dozen movies - we never had time!!!

Contrast that to my flight to Oregon where - YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR WATER!!!!

Enough said.

The girls were champion flyers on the way home. It was a 15 hour day with about twelve of those hours being spent on airplanes. Red eyes aren't so bad for little girls if you can get them to sleep. At one point, Evie was stretched out across my seat and hers with her feet on the man against the window. Oops.

We are glad to be home, but we miss our fun and friends in Hawaii very much.

Next up, school days!

What have we been doing in Hawaii?

We've been going to the beach.

A whole bunch of beaches actually.

Visiting waterfalls.

Playing in the sand.

And playing with friends, of course!

All of which can make a girl tired.

What we did in LA

While we were in LA, we went to Huntington Gardens twice and hit the local Griffith Park pony rides and train.

Aloha

Our first morning in Hawaii. Mommy was up with the roosters.

Others followed soon after.

Gone to Hawaii

We're on our way for vacation - Juliette illustrated herself surfing.
Notice the big black crab w/ a smile close by. That is Daddy sleeping on the shore.

I got promoted up in swimming class

I'm swimming with five year olds now!!

Juliette in Fourth Position

We've been reading a wonderful children's story about the model Degas used for his "Little Dancer" sculpture called Marie in Fourth Position. Juliette* demonstrates fourth position for you viewers at home.

*Please note the $50 swim team swimsuit for the girl who decided she didn't like the competition aspect of swim school and dropped out after one week. Compare this to the $4 swimsuits I bought at Target at clearance last summer thinking ahead. Feel my pain. But I am happy it is being used for ballet practice at home!!!

Dumped

By my children.

For the babysitter.

Why? Her art projects are more fun.

Oh cruel world....

Wanted - OT

So, we all know that women love a good Cinderella story.



Are you aware that men have the same Cinderella fantasy and that it just goes a little differently?



It struck me this morning as I was digesting the remains of Wanted.



Why did I go see Wanted? Just like every woman in America over the age of thirty, I too am nuts for whatever James MacAvoy does.



Yes, he's short.

Yes, his nose is big.

Yes, his skin is pasty.



Nonetheless, his acting is AMAZING and he's had some GREAT parts in all kinds of GOOD movies.



Some not so good, but let's move on.



James MacAvoy is every man's fanasty cinderella character (Julia Roberts a la Pretty Woman). In Wanted and The Last King of Scotland both, he plays a disenfranchised youth. He is aware of what everyone expects him to do, yet he rebels and his life is quickly transformed.



He's suddenly rich or gets instantaneous access to what the rich have.



He meets all kinds of beautiful women.



He often gets them.



He thumbs his nose at conventional work and gets to kill people.



He feels sorry at first

but gets over it.



He suffers.



He triumphs.



He gets away.



Thus, Wanted will do well at the box office. Men will cheer when they watch the final scene. Women will wonder when he is next picking up another Jane Austen role...

Summer is here

We are at the pool every day there isn't thunder. Juliette is making great strides with swimming and Evie is staying longer and longer under water.

Last week was vacation bible school with friends from the day school, but not our church.

Evie kept calling it VBS.com (like pbs.com for kids) - it completely cracked us up.

My Magpie

I pause from laundry to offer the following list of contents of Juliette's bed when I went to change her sheets--

2 sinkrags from the kitchen
panda
6 other anonymous stuffed animals
4 books (2 stolen from Evie)
1 hairbow
1 pair of socks
1 neck soother
1 hairband
a dirty shirt
a quilt
a winter hat

No wonder she's always crawling into our bed, even with us it is less crowded there.

S T O R Y L A N D

So my brave sister and I just returned from a 5 hour round trip car ride with Ju Ju Bee and Lu Lu the Lobster girl to visit Storyland in northern NH.

This is their first theme park visit with their momma and they both did swimmingly well.

We weren't sure at first. Juliette burst into tears halfway through the teacup ride. The catch was she wasn't on it at the time - only me and Evie. But it stressed her out enormously to watch us whipping around in those teacups and laughing hysterically. After that she and I had a chat about how she didn't need to worry and no one was going to force her to go on any ride she wasn't ready for.

Juliette is a driver. She drove the swan boats, the cars (twice) the tractor, and also did several train/tram kinds of rides.

Genevieve rode the roller coaster twice and wanted to do everything that remotely looked scary. Going up to North Conway and visiting the Storyland of our childhood was a trip for me and Heidi. We had such fun reaquainting ourselves with the 3 bears house, Cinderella's castle, the swan boats and going on new rides too.

We both remembered different things about the park and we also drove by our Aunt's old place for good measure. She and her husband built a lovely Swiss chalet into the side of a hill with beautiful mountain views. We were especially pleased to see the new owners are keeping it up so nicely.

Funny to think of Juliette and Evie taking their kids to Storyland in 35 years. I have a feeling the old woman in the shoe will still be there.

Juliette Ballet

Evie Ballet

In case you are wondering....

Why you haven't seen pictures of the girls for such a long time, we had a flood in the basement during a heavy bout of rain and our guest room/office is completely deconstructed down to the cement block.

All furniture is in the living room, mattress, tables, desk, etc. willi-nilli. Our downstairs is in shambles and the computer has suffered a dislocation (although no damage!).

So, I've finally figured out how to put pictures on the laptop.

The above pictures are from a trip to the arboretum in April - the columns are from the Capitol Bldg. Aren't the lilacs lovely?

Another Cautionary Tale of Parenting--Banned from my own decade

Being 39, I am now old enough to buy compilations without shame.
In fact, I sort of revel in it. I know that IPods are way cooler, but they seem so

SOLITARY.

Which is funny for a New Englander to say, I know.

Last year, my sister bought me an '80's compilation for my bd. It has some classics - Tainted Love, Sweet Dreams, Obsession - it's only flaw is not including WHAM! which I'm sure has more to do with crazy license laws and George Michael's suits against his former label.

The first song on the cd has become a HUGE favorite with Evie. Seeing the reaction Evie got when singing it, Juliette of course glommed on and took over. I've made the non-singing lyrics smaller and the conversation normal size so you can appreciate my pain at being kicked out of the party.

Me-purple
Juliette & Evie-green
Juliette-Pink
Evie-Blue

Video Killed The Radio Star -
The Buggles
I heard you on the wireless back in Fifty Two

Screaming as though having a tooth pulled -!!!!!No!! Momma You CAN'T SING!!!!!
Lying awake intent at tuning in on you.
If I was young it didn't stop you coming through.

Oh-a oh - (breaking into hysterical laughter)

Why can't I sing?

They took the credit for your second symphony.
Rewritten by machine and new technology,
-!!!!!No!! Momma You CAN'T !!!!!
and now I understand the problems you can see.

Oh-a oh

I met your children (whispering)

Oh-a oh

What did you tell them?

Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Pictures came and broke your heart.

Oh-a-a-a oh - more laughter

And now we meet in an abandoned studio.
We hear the playback and it seems so long ago.
And you remember the jingles used to go.

Oh-a oh

You were the first one.

Oh-a oh

You were the last one. (whispered, of course)

No!!! Video Rock Star is OUR song!

Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
In my mind and in my car,
we can't rewind we've gone to far

Play it again!
No, Evie, it isn't over yet!

Oh-a-aho oh,
Oh-a-aho oh
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
In my mind and in my car,
we can't rewind we've gone to far.

Pictures came and broke your heart,
put the blame on VTR.

You are a radio star.
You are a radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star. ...

(You are a radio star.........)
---
Clearly I am NOT! Nor will I be invited to join in on the encore.

Think about this before you introduce small children to "your" music.

Maybe I'm glad after all that George Michael is so litigious, I would hate to lose either version of Freedom.

Rauschenberg Passes On

From the New York Times obit--

“I usually work in a direction until I know how to do it, then I stop,” he said in an interview in the giant studio on Captiva in 2000. “At the time that I am bored or understand — I use those words interchangeably — another appetite has formed. A lot of people try to think up ideas. I’m not one. I’d rather accept the irresistible possibilities of what I can’t ignore.”
He added: “Anything you do will be an abuse of somebody else’s aesthetics. I think you’re born an artist or not. I couldn’t have learned it. And I hope I never do because knowing more only encourages your limitations.”

I hurt my head where it is fuzzy

Genevieve fell head first off a six foot slide last night.

Later, she told me her head hurt where it was fuzzy - her hair.

BTW - Mulch does make a difference. In my day (who can believe I even started a sentence with that?) it would have meant a trip to the ER.

While I was gone, Juliette told a seven year old there was no tooth fairy. I knew that Santa stuff was going to bite me in the behind. Now she's out there unleashed, my daughter, dream killer.

Off topic - no jet lag for mommy. No jet lag really to speak of that is. Any block of sleep that lasts for more than five hours feels like a gift. Parenting has made me uber-high-functioning in Asia. Go figure.

Off off topic - in flight entertainment has vastly improved on intercontinental flights since my working days. British Airways, hands down , has more movie choices than HBO. O.K., slight exaggeration.

Books I've read lately - Geography of Bliss - now whereever I go, I'm trying to determine if people are HAPPY. Few are.

Unaccustomed Earth - even when she isn't great, she's good.

Water for Elephants - not as depressing as others had told me, but not a book you want to read before attending a circus.

Only three more weeks of school - come on, Summer!

Where I REALLY Stand

It has been a looooong time since I've posted for a few different reasons.

One, my hard drive crashed last week.
Two, I was hard at work preparing for a meeting in Singapore.
Three, I'm actually in Singapore.

The hard drive crashing couldn't have happened at a better time-the day AFTER we'd put the book for Singapore together-but there has been a tremendous amount of playing catch up with data (not backed up) and program installation that has kept me busy.

Leaving for Singapore, we didn't give the girls tons of notice about my trip.

Our plan was-

1. Talk about Singapore generally
2. Talk more specifically
3. The day before drop the bomb
4. Have them color envelopes they open a note from each day
5. Go
6. Have Gramma come in to manage the time I'm away

Steps 1-4 went swimmingly well. When we got to step 5, they happily jumped into the car to take me to the airport but when I jumped out of the car, both burst into tears. Sobbing - Don't GO, Momma!!!! It was gut wrenching. I almost cried.

I've emailed every day, but hadn't yet called. It had taken them awhile to settle into a routine but both were doing well.

Gramma and I discussed the potential impact of a call in detail while they were at school - would hearing from Momma set them over the edge again? Was it a was move??

I dialed the number, spoke with Evie for 15 seconds. Done.

Spoke with Juliette two minutes. Done.

No emotion. No tears. No nothing.

Neither wanted to speak to me.

They were watching Max and Ruby.

Now I know where I really stand.

Not another bodily functions post!

Yep, Juliette threw up on me while we were sitting in a chair reading last night. Here is a sampling of the thoughts that ensued.

1. Is this contagious?
2. I guess her stomach REALLY DID hurt.
3. Is there more?
4. Is this lunch and dinner?
5. Why is Bruce washing panda off before he gets Juliette off my lap?
6. How many papertowels will it take to soak this up?.
7. Does this mean I have to sleep on the floor?
8. I guess someone isn't going to school tomorrow.
9. Who knew something could soak in so thoroughly so quickly?
10. Nothing makes me want to throw up more than someone else doing it....

Random thoughts

Parenting has changed me-

I use way more exclamations!!!!

And have ethusiasm over strange things - e.g., look girls - A HORSE!!!!

I'm tickled over silly euphemisms - Juliette is calling tights "hosey pants".

And can survive on way less sleep than I thought possible. Five hours last night, the floor the night before that, the floor the night before that.... etc.

I've acquired classic new ways to threaten:
Withholding "no dessert for anyone who doesn't eat the offal I've prepared...."
I'm going to count to....
Etc.

And all of these things lead to a richer life where some days can last forever (and this isn't a good thing.), nights fly by in a few minutes and the years race on.

Cherry Blossoms - It was complicated

A still Sunday morning in Washington we set out to see the Cherry Blossoms.

Not a parking space for man or beast anywhere!! So we reworked our plan....

...and went to see Roosevelt - it was COLD!!!! He was TALL!

Later that week we tried again...

Success! A picnic among the blossoms -

- With a guest -

That someone chased away

What we did on spring break

There is no doubt that the highlight of spring break was aunty heidi's visit. We did the Air & Space kite festival, we went to a home and garden show (see above, painted faces courtesy of a house painting company), and we hit the zoo.

After aunty heidi left, we did clemyjontri, the baltimore children's museum, swimming at cub run, and a good friday service.

Maybe staying home for spring break wasn't so bad after all.

Channeling Ellsworth Kelly

Evie created this complex sculpture all by herself. She shows promise of a major outdoor garden installation some day, don't you think? Especially if the platform mirrors represent water....

Happy Easter Everyone!!

A Modern Day Miracle

There are no photo enhancements.

These are our children.

Smiling.

Within the 20-meter restraining order they have against the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.

And this was at THEIR REQUEST!

You gave me a gift

Evie, beyond having the only washboard abdomen in this family, loves fashion.

She is very particular about the clothes she wears and how her hair is arranged. It has nothing to do with matching or neatness or trends, she just has definite ideas about how she wants to look.

One of her most favorite looks is her polka dotted headband on her forehead a la Olivia Newton John in that workout movie. The polka dotted headband has been missing for awhile and I found it this morning and gave it to Evie after there had been many complaints about the top knot she was currently sporting.

"Oh! Thank you momma!!!!" Big hug & squeeze upon the presentation.

A few minutes later she wandered into my bedroom and stated

"When you found my polkadotted hairband, you gave me a gift!"

Happy Leap Day!

Today, to celebrate leap year, we are having all of the girls from Juliette's class over after dinner for a p.j. party.

No. They are not spending the night.

That many five year olds away from home and their momma for an entire night, do you think I'm crazy?

Just pjs, popcorn, my mom's best company cake recipe and toenail polish.

Expect a full report tomorrow.

He's Baaack!

Ryan B.

He has returned to Mexico and is continuing in his devotion to Juliette.

As you may or may not remember, after the holiday break he came back from school saying he wanted to play with boys during recess.

Juliette was absolutely devastated. In our culture where every media story is incomplete without the word "devastated" I was hesitant to use it fearing a reader might blow past it.

Make no mistake, this isn't casual devastation. She burst into tears during school, was inconsolable. Finally calmed down during the day. Cried on the way home with me. Cried later with her father. Asked us both repeatedly "Why doesn't he WANT to play with ME?????"

Devastated.

Since then, he has seen the error in his ways.

Juliette doesn't head butt. Juliette likes to play tag, hide and go seek, and cerebral games too. She also knows all of the words to take me out to the ballgame and hail to the redskins (as does Evie). So, while she isn't good for a slug in the gut or wear a different football jersey to school every day, she can run competitively during a sprint and keep up with him intellectually.

He's coming over Monday for a play date.

Juliette says she wants to play doctor.

I asked her to describe what she meant.

"Why, operate on the animals, of course!"

OT-Current Addictions and What They Mean...

Currently, I'm addicted to two things that didn't exist ten years ago.

Netflix and XM Radio.

You are probably saying in your head - what took you so long????

Actually, in my defense, I subscribed to Netflix before we got Juliette and found their selection of foreign films limiting. That was actually when I saw movies in the theater (last one in the theater was 27 Dresses - how pathetic for a woman who has actually seen all ten episodes of the very fine Decalogue). Anyway, since every art house theater in DC is gone - goodbye Biograph, Dupont 5, Dupont North - and a lot of times the art house theater in Fairfax has odd times, so I end up seeing more mainstream stuff - so now Netflix is a Tahitian orchid of culture compared to the old days when opera was more than an advertisement for the Met at the movies shown during "coming attractions".

We've seen and loved - Rescue Dawn, Maxed Out, No End in Sight. I liked Across the Universe and 3:10 to Yuma. What is also cool is that a bunch of friends just joined Netflix too so we are also exchanging lists and recommendations (hence 3:10 to Yuma).

Another digression- been watching the Jane Austen chick-fest on Masterpiece Theater the past month or so. This Sunday was the first half of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. (Which I first saw at Dupont North!) And it has me pondering - why do I love Jane Austen? Because just two days ago I hated the Sabrina remake with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond (yet I love the original w/Humphrey Bogart & Audrey Hepburn). How unrealistic that Linus would fall in love with Sabrina after two days? How even more unrealistic that Sabrina would return the affection - hello???? Mr. Darcy going for Elizabeth Bennet?????? Come on? Is it because I have to work harder intellectually - decipher dialogue and clever reparte - that I love one and disdain the other? Good old Jane Austen, great dialogue aside she is the emotional equivalent of a 1986 John Hughes movie and we love her anyway.

Anyway - XM Radio - loving to be able to choose radio that has no commercials and can suit any mood - folk, 80's, 90's, 50's, Soul, Classical, Alternative, 200 channels of choice. Love it. But I'm depressed by my choices - I know who Amy Winehouse is, but I can't say I've bought a CD by a current artist in more than four (?) years. I trend toward my demographic 80's when the choice is completely mine. Which also makes me wonder if I'll be asking for "I'm Your Man" again when the young people from the Scout Troop come to visit and do a few numbers for us in the nursing home.

What does it all mean? I guess I'm getting old and typical and I'm willing to shell out $22 a month to like what I see and listen to.

How sad.

Well, enough pondering. I'm hearing Juliette ask Evie not to pull on her underwear while she is brushing her teeth. I'm thinking an intervention is in order.

Is that Juliette eating ice cream?

Then, there must have been another photo adventure!

Check it out at http://juliettegoesclick.blogspot.com/

Hi Gramma!

I LOVE my new p.j.s!!!

happy birthday Uncle Howard!!

We Love you!!!

Betrayal

Betrayal comes in many forms as a parent. Many many forms.

Some examples - 1. sitting with another mom at a class party.
2. blanket statements "I only love Daddy" or "I love Daddy more" or "I don't love you."
3. immediately going to another authority source when the answer received is not satisfactory.

All of these can be tolerated, excused, and indeed called other things. But there are a few forms of betrayal that cut very deep, and we are going to talk about one of the worst today.

The bitterest form of betrayal is when you, the parent perceive yourself as sacrificial and tolerant and that behavior is not mirrored.

Let's talk for a moment about The Sound of Music. Faithful readers know the girls saw it last year on stage and it has been a constant lovefest of all things Maria and Lisle ever since. I didn't grow up with TSOM. Never even saw it until a few years ago. Sure, I had friends (Christine, Brian, and Mark) who would endlessly sing the lyrics into their twenties and could probably do so today if you called them up and did a request. Not only did I not participate, I just didn't get it. Now, having sat through the movie a few times I can say I understand a certain appeal but I don't quite get it and I definitely don't get both girls' obsession with it.

We sing all the time in our family. Way more than average I think, although I have no scientific basis for that claim.

Evie learned all of the words to Doe a Deer in November. Since then she has sung the song a minimum of three times a day (no exaggeration) and in fact some times it is as much as a dozen times a day (again, no exaggeration.) Three months later, if I never hear Doe a Deer again, I'd be a happy well adjusted person (the only way it will ever happen, I know.) Nonetheless, every day I applaud the song when it is sung and even participate when invited.

Here comes the betrayal part.

I LOVE Cole Porter and Gershwin etc. Before TSOM, we would listen and sing both regularly. Since Maria and that dratted Captain Von Trapp came along both have fallen completely from favor.

Sensing an opportunity in song round last week on the way to school I slipped in the ever clever, ever a crowd pleaser "Be A Clown" during my turn and had the girls join in.

Two days later, I tried it again and then the betrayal....

"Momma, I'm TIRED of THAT song!!!"

An Open Letter to Jose Mugrabi

Dear Mr. Mugrabi,

I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal about your unparalleled collection of 800 works by Andy Warhol. First, I commend you for your insight into collecting and the shrewd manner in which you control the market value of Andy's work. It is a brilliant strategy and demonstrates not only exceptional business acumen, but great market finesse and exceptional taste as well.

This message is really about my daughter Juliette.

Living in DC, Juliette and Genevieve have had substantial exposure to fine art, with a strong emphasis on contemporary and past century giants. Evie enjoys Edward Hopper, having visited the recent National Gallery exhibit twice, she can quickly spot his minimalistic brilliance. Both girls also really enjoyed the Jasper Johns show early in 2007 as well. Juliette enjoys almost any art period, but there is really only one artist that she LOVES, and that is Andy Warhol. I wish I could take credit for this as I love Warhol too, but it has more to do with her amazing uncles, especially her artist uncle Jerry who taught her to spot Warhol's work last summer when she was four and she has been hooked ever since. Today when we were talking about fun things to do in DC, she brought up going to see Andy Warhol at the Portrait Gallery and said it simply had to be on the list.

You may or may not know she turned five last week. Like her sister, Genevieve, Juliette is an adored little girl - doted on by friends and family. Her grandparents, aunt & uncle and parents all chipped in to get her a new bicycle. There were lots of other presents too, so we held the bike in the other room until last. Before we brought it out, after all of the other presents were opened, we asked her if she was disappointed she didn't receive any specific gifts (many hints had been dropped about the bike and she had been without one for a few months.) She thought about it for a moment, said she loved ALL of her presents, but had really been hoping for something by Andy Warhol. We think she meant stationary, but with the timing of the Journal article...

This is where you come in Mr. Mugrabi. You no doubt have something Warhol has done that Juliette would love - she is particularly fond of the shoe series he did early on (she has the calendar), the cats, and most of all the Marilyns. I expect your stockpile of Marilyn's is too valuable to part with, but do check with your assistant about some of the lesser known, less valuable pieces that come to mind when you think of Juliette. We would consider a trade of Juliette's art, and if you are willing to stockpile yet another artist this would be another chance to get in early as you did with Warhol.

It would make her fifth birthday even better, and would definitely help when it comes time to put her (and Evie) through college.

With respect and admiration,

Juliette's mom

Birthday girl on her bike-

Happy Birthday, Juliette!

We love you!!

The things we do for love

If only it were walking in the rain and the snow when there is no place to go and your feeling like a part of you is dying....

Miss Sugar retired, so we needed to find a new place for ballet.

So the things we do for love is really, more about getting up at 5:30 am to drive in your car and get a number (22 by the way) that will in turn allow you to register your child for ballet.

After I picked up said number, I went to Starbucks, natch, and went home to grab a shower.

Then I got the girls up, got them breakfast and took them to Sara's house (her mom owed me a favor) while I went back to line.

This isn't what I was supposed to do, I found out later. I was supposed to sit unshowered, uncaffienated, and wait my turn like everyone else.

I'm chalking it up to newcomer learning curve, but the other mothers aren't buying it.

Being # 22, I want you to know I got the last spot in Evie's ballet class, and although Juliette's friends made it in, Evie's didn't. These are people we go to school with and regularly see on the playground.

Now I am the mom who skipped the sitting in line for caffeine and a shower and their little lovies got bumped from their ballet class while they sat there and waited in line - unshowered, uncaffeinated.

These are definitely the things we do for love. However crazy and absolutely foolish they are.

They are also the types of things we hold over our children's heads at 12 and 13 to guilt them into going on family outings or taking out the trash.

Yep, I know what I'm doing.

What about the camels?

So, for better or worse, we've played down Santa around here. Juliette was/is petrified of the man in the red suit and Evie has followed her sister's cue (maybe out of collegiality or maybe from genuine fear, we are not sure.)

Here is a typical Santa discussion - scene: approaching the mall from the parking garage.

Juliette, hand tightening around mine in a death grip. "Will Santa be here????"

Me trying to seize a teachable moment, "No, he is only there at Christmas time, and what do we know about St. Nicholas?"

Juliette, bored from repetition but still not feeling safe "He is not real and the real St. Nicholas was someone who gave away everything and helped many children a long time ago..."

Me continuing, trying to stave off phone calls from angry parents "But we don't talk about Santa outside of our family because some children still believe in him, right?"

You get the picture.

A recent parenting lesson showed me that such knowledge does not transfer.

The tooth fairy is real - when I dared suggest otherwise I got an incredulous ???WHAT????

I learned that lesson.

That is why, today, there are shoes in the hallway and both girls are blissfully asleep at 2:30 in the afternoon. They are waiting for their gifts from the wise men. They know the wise men can't come until they are both asleep.

In my defense, it was entirely their teacher's doing. Epiphany is a big thing at their preschool. Everyone in king hats and going on pilgrimages... Juliette had to leave early, so her teacher slipped me a gift to sneak into a shoe.

Now Evie's shoe is full as is Juliette's. I haven't thought of anything for me or Bruce yet. An apple? A stick of cheese?

Juliette wanted to know what the camels would do while the wise men visited. I told her the wise men would have to use our hose and they could eat the grass, because the camels weren't allowed to come in the house.

Please don't judge me, but can the wise men plan to make regular visits? I'm willing to negotiate hay and carrots for the camels.