Haiti, Babies, and England

Ready to take on British pirates.


England: Elias is still dressing up in funny get-ups. Today after school, he put on this outfit. He then told me he was "concerned about going to England" I stopped because I had never heard him use that word in context. I asked him "What are you concerned about?" He said "Pirates." I told him we really didn't need to worry about pirates on our trip. (I refrained from telling him we will have to worry about explosives, though.)

Babies: Elias asked me today why men can't have babies. I told him because they don't have a uterus or a vagina. He said, "Yeah, men don't have cords either. They just don't have the right tools to have babies."

Haiti: Elias has been very concerned, and interested, in Haiti because of all the news. He keeps asking why the people died in Haiti and why we didn't have an earthquake here, but they had an earthquake there. I certainly did not refer him to our incendiary friend, Pat Robertson. Instead, we have tried to explain about natural disasters and ways to help people in need. He asked me last night if the money we sent will fix Haiti. I said I hope that it will slowly do so. Adelaide picks up on these conversations and she sweetly said, "We say "sorry" to people in Haiti." Yes, we do...

I gotta wash that gray right out of my hair

Many of you have inquired how the little imp made out. After the cornstarch, which just made her look like she had a really bad case of dandruff, we tried baby oil. It seemed that the baby oil did a fair amount towards her hair becoming less slick. I think there was something to the interaction between the molecules in the Vaseline and the baby oil. However, it was not a panacea. The next night I used my own shampoo and the following morning she began to look pretty normal. Here are some shots of the girl with clean, shiny, and beautiful hair! Any shampoo companies out there wanting to make her your corporate face?

Native American Pirates

Most of us know that Disney movies are not a bastion of political correctness. In fact, as a woman I have a hard time watching some of the stories. I try to keep my opinions to myself, but was surprised when Elias looked at some Disney characters on his sticker chart--Ariel, Snow White, and Cinderella--and then asked "Why do they all have such big breasts?" Funny what the kids hone in on. Yet, I don't want to deprive them of such classics as Snow White and Peter Pan. So, I have to make some idealogical compromises:) In these pictures, Elias must have blended the "Indian" characters in Peter Pan with the pirates. This is the outfit he proudly created.

The saga continues

So, we tried regular hairwashing the first night. Last night, we tried cornstarch and today baby oil. She still is a greaser. We'll try Dawn dishwashing detergent tomorrow. They even advertise that they help endangered species--like penguins in oil slicks. This is going to be one great rehearsal dinner, Adelaide!

Adelaide and Vaseline Don't Mix

Last night, I got out for supper with a friend. I have not been out at suppertime without the kids in about 4 months. When I came home, I went to check my email only to find that the words "child, vaseline, hair" had been googled. I didn't think much of it until Adam showed me the pictures he took of Addie last night. Apparently, she had a grand time with the Vaseline while Elias and Daddy were finishing supper. Needless to say, the Vaseline has been moved to a higher shelf. And, today Adelaide looks like she belongs in the movie Grease. I don't know how long it will take to get this gunk out of her hair.



Change author...

This is Adelaide's father. The story is that I was in change of feeding the kids and getting them to bed while Melissa went out to meet a friend. Adelaide tends to wolf down her dinner pretty quickly, and that night was no exception. She finished her food way before Elias and me, so I excused her from the table. To my delight she went upstairs and played very quietly. Things were too quiet. I went upstairs to investigate why she was silent. I saw her standing by the window sill of the bathroom with a jar of vaseline in her hands. Then she turned around, and she was coated, and she cackled like a fiend.

That night I managed to get most of it off her through scraping. (As it turns out we don't have a single comb in the house.) Now she just looks like a greaser from the 1950s. I am going to buy her a switchblade and a leather jacket. Perhaps she will join a gang led by Matt Dillon.

Once in a Blue Moon

Yesterday I was up on the third floor doing deskwork. Elias was playing "quietly" I told him that when the timer went off he could watch a video. There was the usual bouncing and thumping and talking that usually accompanies an Elias "quiettime." However, after about 10 minutes I noticed a complete hush. At first, I was sure he was merely looking at a book, but soon I realized that he might be asleep. I snuck in and saw him fast asleep on the couch. The reason this is so amazing is that the last time he fell asleep, during the day, was in June. Adam and I were off in Media and he had a sitter. She sent us a text of the boy dressed in an Elmo costume fast asleep on the couch. So, twice a year Elias seems to nap. And, yes, he was up to about nine because of the break in the afternoon.

Good-Bye Christmas

Elias has asked every morning since Christmas Day, "Is it still Christmas?" Of course, it was until Wednesday. On Wednesday I got highly motivated and took down the tree and the decorations with the kids. The crowning moment for the end of Christmas was not the vacuum cleaner they turned into a sleigh, but attacking the gingerbread house. No holds barred. They started to try and remove the candy with their hands. Alas, it was so stuck by that paste, aka known as frosting, that the whole process devolved from there. After a certain amount of time, I said we just have to let it go. Let my gingerbread people go! I got out a plastic bag and hurled it out the backdoor only to hear the "gingerbread' crack against the pavement.

2010: The New Year Underwater

Madeline: In an old House in Media

Elias had a wonderful New Year's reunion with his dear friend, Madeline, and her parents. Adelaide had just as much fun. The kids were at each other's sides most of the two days and they held hands much of that time. We took in a train ride to downtown Philly and saw the Macy's light show. Everybody sampled local pizza and then the next day we celebrated New Year's with a visit to a very nice aquarium. The grown-ups enjoyed homemade cookies, fresh baked bread, and lots of great conversation after everyone went to bed. We stayed up to a grand 10:30 on New Year's Eve, but it still felt like a party to us.

Post Christmas Play

Since I was down and out for about a week after Christmas, the kids and dad fended for themselves. We spent a lot of time in our PJ's. In these pictures, Adelaide has agreed to be dressed up by Elias. They were really co-operating, which means that Elias was directing and she was acquiescing. However, after a while, she gets the bug to tease him and things can fall apart.

Lately, Adelaide has become much more aware of things we tell her or even say around her and she retains them. The other morning, I noticed she was low on diapers. As I often do, I said out loud, "We need to buy more diapers." When we were driving home from a wonderful day at the aquarium, Adelaide saw the grocery store and said, "Mommy go shopping." I said, "No, we have enough food. I was there yesterday." She then piped up, "Diapers! Mommy, diapers!" After luaghing, we pulled up and got a box. In addition, to reminding me of things, she will also say, "Thanks for my laundry or you did a good job reaching my book, Mommy" It so makes me appreciate her.