Me
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| 2008-2009 |
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| 2009-2010 |
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| 2010-2011 |
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| 2011-2012 |
Rowan
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| 2010-2011 |
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| 2011-2012 |
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
School Pictures: The Annual Retrospective
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Your move, French Fry
Dear French Fry,
Yesterday morning, you sent notice that you were considering moving out...or moving in, depending on how you look at it, I suppose. Mom and Dad went to the hospital just before 5 am to make the arrangements for your move. By the time they hooked you up to the computer, you were sending smoke signals every five minutes.
And then you went, "psyyyyyyyych!!" and went back to sleep.
Not cool, French Fry. Not cool.
Since you have reconsidered your plans to make an early exit/entrance, I must ask that you now respect the paper chain that Rowan and I spent more than a half hour working on on Friday night. We painstakingly decorated each link, counting down the days til your official move, investing WAY more time and attention than my mom anticipated we would when we sat down to start.
Rowan and I are taking turns every morning removing a link and looking at how many days are left.
So please mark your calendar accordingly, French Fry. I can't express how disappointed we'll be if we get to the end of the chain and get no baby in return for all of our hard work.
Thank you for your consideration.
Your Big Sister,
Jillian
Yesterday morning, you sent notice that you were considering moving out...or moving in, depending on how you look at it, I suppose. Mom and Dad went to the hospital just before 5 am to make the arrangements for your move. By the time they hooked you up to the computer, you were sending smoke signals every five minutes.
And then you went, "psyyyyyyyych!!" and went back to sleep.
Not cool, French Fry. Not cool.
Since you have reconsidered your plans to make an early exit/entrance, I must ask that you now respect the paper chain that Rowan and I spent more than a half hour working on on Friday night. We painstakingly decorated each link, counting down the days til your official move, investing WAY more time and attention than my mom anticipated we would when we sat down to start.
Rowan and I are taking turns every morning removing a link and looking at how many days are left.
So please mark your calendar accordingly, French Fry. I can't express how disappointed we'll be if we get to the end of the chain and get no baby in return for all of our hard work.
Thank you for your consideration.
Your Big Sister,
Jillian
Monday, February 27, 2012
Out of service
At the ripe age of five, although I like to consider myself well-schooled in the ways of the world and the people in it, I continue to learn new things every day.
Like this weekend, for instance, I learned that the art of replacing an empty toilet paper roll is one that is second nature to girls, but very foreign and challenging to boys. And while my dad seems to grasp the overall value of the practice, the details of it remain a bit foggy, which is why he tends to put the roll on backwards -- where the paper dispenses from underneath the back, rather than over the top.
A minor inconvenience for most us. But emotionally distressing to Rowan, who frantically batted at the roll on Saturday shouting, "IT'S BROKEN!! IT'S BROKEN!!"
Like this weekend, for instance, I learned that the art of replacing an empty toilet paper roll is one that is second nature to girls, but very foreign and challenging to boys. And while my dad seems to grasp the overall value of the practice, the details of it remain a bit foggy, which is why he tends to put the roll on backwards -- where the paper dispenses from underneath the back, rather than over the top.
A minor inconvenience for most us. But emotionally distressing to Rowan, who frantically batted at the roll on Saturday shouting, "IT'S BROKEN!! IT'S BROKEN!!"
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Would you like a baby with that?
After many weeks of careful contemplation, Rowan decided on a name for the new baby:
French Fry.
Fairly gender neutral, I suppose. Which is a good thing, because she is standing FIRM on this one.
French Fry.
Fairly gender neutral, I suppose. Which is a good thing, because she is standing FIRM on this one.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Open for busyness (again)
Last fall, I wrote about the commencement of construction on perhaps the most important room in the house: The Playroom. I gave a cheerful update the following month before a deafening four months of radio silence on the subject.
Sadly, none of that silence could be attributed to being too busy playing in my new playroom. The project hit a few...uhhh...bumps in the road. Much in the same way you might describe the Himalayas as bumps in the road.
Without recalling the various boring (and more than mildly unfortunate) details, the man from the village came to give the basement the final official look-see on a Friday last month before declaring an official end to the 5-month saga that was The Finishing of the Basement.
Two days later, the rains came. The kind of rain that comes pouring out of the ceiling, creating a retention pond of sorts right in the middle of the playroom. And the guest room. Which is how only five days after hosting the first playdate in our new digs, the social calendar was once again marked "BUSY" for another three weeks of construction.
On the good news front, six months after the madness began, one month after it ended, four weeks and one day after it returned, and one week after it ended AGAIN, the dress-up wardrobe's back on the rack, the toys are back in the toy bins, the trains are back on the train table, the water's back in the pipes and we're back in the playroom.
Everything where it belongs.
We are officially open and reopen for busyness.
Sadly, none of that silence could be attributed to being too busy playing in my new playroom. The project hit a few...uhhh...bumps in the road. Much in the same way you might describe the Himalayas as bumps in the road.
Without recalling the various boring (and more than mildly unfortunate) details, the man from the village came to give the basement the final official look-see on a Friday last month before declaring an official end to the 5-month saga that was The Finishing of the Basement.
Two days later, the rains came. The kind of rain that comes pouring out of the ceiling, creating a retention pond of sorts right in the middle of the playroom. And the guest room. Which is how only five days after hosting the first playdate in our new digs, the social calendar was once again marked "BUSY" for another three weeks of construction.
On the good news front, six months after the madness began, one month after it ended, four weeks and one day after it returned, and one week after it ended AGAIN, the dress-up wardrobe's back on the rack, the toys are back in the toy bins, the trains are back on the train table, the water's back in the pipes and we're back in the playroom.
Everything where it belongs.
We are officially open and reopen for busyness.
Our Playroom
Daddy's Playroom
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Girlz n the Hood
Yesterday Rowan and I partook of the morning ritual that is wardrobe selection. Rowan likes to carefully consider all of her options before making her choice, and yesterday she opted to go a bit more casual than usual in order to wear a hood "like Miss Liz," her teacher at school.
So imagine her delight upon arriving at school to find that the cosmic forces had truly aligned because MISS LIZ WAS WEARING A HOOD, TOO. Photo op!!
This was not a total surprise, because both Miss Liz and Rowan subscribe to the same school of thought when it comes to selecting school fashions -- it's practically unthinkable to think practical. Which is why although she passes her time daily with the three and under set, Miss Liz always looks super fashionable in her skinny jeans, trendy sweaters and sensational heels, perfectly accessorized by a choice selection of rings and bracelets, which she sometimes lets Rowan borrow.
Rowan, too, has a tendency to dress like she's going somewhere far more happening than nursery school, usually opting for an item from the semi-formal section of her closet. Or at the very least selecting a dress of some kind, because pants and a t-shirt are UNTHINKABLE.
Although our school claims to show no preference in its teacher assignments, one has to wonder if it is mere coincidence that Rowan has been paired each year with a fashion mentor of some kind.
Which is why it truly is concerning that Rowan will have to transfer to a school a bit closer to home next year in order to eliminate the two hours my mom spends transporting us to and from school daily. And while my mom insists that the quality of education will be comparable, what if the school teachers dress like they're...GASP!...going to school?! What common ground will Rowan possibly find?
And speaking of ground, word on the street is that the playground sand they use at the new school STAINS YOUR CLOTHES.
Needless to say, Rowan has some VERY serious concerns about the transfer.
G-d save the wardrobe!
So imagine her delight upon arriving at school to find that the cosmic forces had truly aligned because MISS LIZ WAS WEARING A HOOD, TOO. Photo op!!
Rowan, too, has a tendency to dress like she's going somewhere far more happening than nursery school, usually opting for an item from the semi-formal section of her closet. Or at the very least selecting a dress of some kind, because pants and a t-shirt are UNTHINKABLE.
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| Rowan and Miss Liz last fall. Ignore the t-shirt in this photo. It was Halloween and Rowan was dressed up as a normal kid. |
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| Random post-school photo of me and Rowan |
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| Rowan and I all dressed up because it was...wait for it...Thursday. |
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| 2010-2011 School Year: Not planned, my friends. Just fashion destiny at work! |
And speaking of ground, word on the street is that the playground sand they use at the new school STAINS YOUR CLOTHES.
Needless to say, Rowan has some VERY serious concerns about the transfer.
G-d save the wardrobe!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Ice, ice baby
It will come as a shock to no one when I confess that I love princesses.
In the fall, I had my first opportunity to meet a princess first hand at a birthday party and, like most girls my age would have been, I was speechless because...well...that was one BAD weave.
When we met again on Wednesday night at Disney on Ice, though, it was apparent that someone must have staged an intervention, because Ariel looked GOOD. And I should know, as I was seated in the FRONT ROW!
On the menu for dinner? Popcorn, pop and cotton candy.
Because when Yaya and Nannie take you out on the town, it's first class all the way.
In the fall, I had my first opportunity to meet a princess first hand at a birthday party and, like most girls my age would have been, I was speechless because...well...that was one BAD weave.
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Concerned that smiling could have been perceived as my tacit consent for such a fashion faux pas, I erred on the side of caution and went for apathy, with just ahint of disapproval. |
On the menu for dinner? Popcorn, pop and cotton candy.
Because when Yaya and Nannie take you out on the town, it's first class all the way.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Ski pass
Upon our arrival in Steamboat last month, the first official stop was at the ticket office to secure our 2011/2012 Season Pass. In a town where kids ski free, the pass is less recreational status symbol and more accessory of convenience, for those who find it uncool to stand in line at the ticket counter daily. Nonetheless, it was essentially a necklace with our photo on it -- a total must-have item for the under-five set.
After all was said and done, despite the skier's season pass, Rowan decided to take a pass on being a skier this season. A promising start on Day 1 led to an epiphany on Day 2 that she is actually more of a tell-me-how-it-was, warm-your-piggies-by-the-fire-with-a-cup-of-hot-cocoa kinda gal. Maybe it was the constricting gear. Maybe it was the ski pants she insisted were too large to look fashionable. Maybe it was the acrobatic split-like stunt she did. Whatever it was, her skiing career ended almost as quickly as it began.
Instead she found joy in attending open gym at the local gymnastics center, being pushed around the ice-skating rink on a sled, visiting the library, exercising her artistic skills at the Arts and Crafts Gym and frequenting the local bounce house. Because in keeping with Rowan's preference to do things her way, a successful ski trip does not, in fact, need to involve skiing.
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| On our way to the ticket office, the excitement was palpable |
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| Rowan getting fitted for gear, while casually showing off the season pass bling |
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| Getting acquainted with the joys (and general discomfort) of ski boots |
If you thought the runs in Wisconsin were short...
Instead she found joy in attending open gym at the local gymnastics center, being pushed around the ice-skating rink on a sled, visiting the library, exercising her artistic skills at the Arts and Crafts Gym and frequenting the local bounce house. Because in keeping with Rowan's preference to do things her way, a successful ski trip does not, in fact, need to involve skiing.
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