What we did on our Summer Vacation

Grandma Linda and Grandpa Bob came from Idaho for a 10-day whirlwind of activity. Sometimes I feel let down when summer comes to an end, because despite my best efforts, we didn't get to do half of what I wanted to do. But now I think I can send the kids to school without any regrets. For those of you who are considering next year's vacation, just think, all of these outings were day trips from our house (hint, hint).

Trip #1: Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross House, Carousel at Franklin Park

Trip #2 : Boardwalk at Ocean City and dip in the ocean at Brigntine Beach:




Trip #3: Lighthouse at Cape May

Trip #4: Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Teardrop Memorial (The Teardrop Memorial was a gift given to America in 2005 by the Russians to memorialize 9/11. It is a beautiful memorial, but not many people know about it. There aren't even any signs to it. But they are re-doing the pier it sits on, so I'm sure it will become a hot tourist spot in the future.)

Trip #5: Sesame Place

Trip #6: Valley Forge

Trip #7: Downtown Philly and the Art Museum. We ran up the steps, just like Rocky!

We had a lot of fun. Thanks for coming to visit, Linda and Bob!

Tritan's 12!

Tritan turned 12 this week. Was it really 12 years ago that he was a new-born infant, and I was a new mom struggling to nurse, nervous about his jaundice, and yet so proud of my little man. I never liked to babysit much but with Tritan, I felt like his mom right away. Bathing him, rocking him, burping him, felt like I'd been doing it for a thousand years. That's not to say I didn't have my struggles: I had to learn what his cries meant, learn what calmed him, learn how much to feed him and when. For the first time in my life, my sole responsibility was taking care of him. I wasn't in school, I wasn't working, and it was a struggle to know how I should be spending my time. What do you do with an infant that sleeps the better part of a day only to wake to eat and then sleep again? But we figured it out. While being a stay-at-home mom has not always been easy, being a mom is the best.

Here are some things that I love about Tritan:

• He has always been a good eater. When he was a toddler in AZ, he would salsa right out of the bowl! Now he gulps down half a pizza, a quarter-pound cheeseburger, or bowl of spaghetti without a problem. He loves soup: Italian Wedding Soup, Chili, or Clam Chowder are particular favorites. He loves Cheesestakes, too (we are in S. Jersey!)


• He is really good at figuring out technology. He loves to spend time on the computer and can even design his own games. His school teachers say if they ever need help with their computer programs they just go to Tritan instead of tech-help.


• He is an imaginative artist. He has a unique style of drawing and loves to draw comic-books. But I also think he has a great eye for colors and what goes well together.


• He is a great helper and very obedient. He usually comes running when I call him. He is a good example for his younger brothers and sister.


• He is very funny. He loves to take colloquial sayings and make them literal. He loves Calvin and Hobbes.
  
• In Alabama, he ran a kid's marathon, one mile at a time. I took him to the track with me on Sat. mornings sometimes and we'd run a lap or two together. I enjoyed running with him and the conversations we would have.

Now he is 12, going to middle school, and getting the Priesthood. A friend at church said, "I always cringe when the kids graduate from primary; they're not safe anymore." She has older kids, and so maybe she knows something I don't, but I think he's going to do great. Sure, I'm nervous about sending him to middle school, but there are so many more opportunities for him. We had a rough time with him when we moved here 2 years ago--I think he feels comfortable and confident now and he'll only get happier and more accomplished as the years go on.

We went to an all-you-can eat buffet for his birthday and today he graduated from Primary, received his Faith in God award, and received the Priesthood. It was great to have Grandma Linda and Grandpa Bob here for it. I hope he knows how proud of him we are!

Back to school

There is nothing that makes you want to send your kids back to school like back-to-school shopping.
They are so excited to go shopping for notebooks and pencils that you think surely taking 4 kids to Target will be a piece of cake. But each kid has a different list and each list is in a different format, so that when you are standing in the midst of the Back-to-School promo center, kiosks full of pencils and protractors (protractors, why are there protractors, nobody needs protractors, where are the erasable pens?!), kids jumping around you "What do I need? What do I need? What do I need?" you can barely keep your thoughts straight.
"You need a 3 2-pocket folders"
"I need 3 folders?"
"No, that was Athena. You need 5."
"O.K. Here's 7 folders."
"No, you only needed 3."
"Oh." 5 minutes pass as they try to figure out which 4 to put back.
"Here's some book socks."
"We don't need book socks. We got them already, remember?"
"What do I need?" Apollo asks this every 3 seconds although all he needs is one folder, baby wipes (in a different section of the store) and a smock.
"Don't you already have a pencil pouch?"
"I don't remember where I put it." Should I buy a new one now, or go home, spend 20 min. trying to find last years pencil pouch, and in all likelihood have to come back and buy another? In goes another pencil pouch.
After 30 min. or so of mayhem, we have a cart full of school supplies but are still missing composition books (really, Target, no composition books?), a particular Casio calculator, plus a 2-subject notebook (really, teachers, 2-subject? note to teachers: notebooks commonly come in 1 subject, 3-subject, and 5-subject. Manufacturers are obviously wary of even numbers.)
So then we have to go to Staples. Which does not make back to school shopping *easy*. The kiosks of supplies are set so close together, you can't maneuver a cart through, and though they have 14 different kinds of composition books, the regular 2-pocket folders are hidden on the bottom of the furthest shelf. (Turns out Athena needed 7 after all.)
Now the kids are bored of this and are twirling in the office chairs while I try to instruct them to pick out soft-covered binders. It takes 3 times to get their attention.
Like a treasure hunt that has gone on too long, we haul our loot to the van listlessly.
We run into the grocery store to grab dinner items--kids stepping on each other's heels and yelling too loudly. We run into a neighbor (with out her kids).
"How're we doing today?" she sings brightly.
"We're ready for the kids to go back to school." I say tiredly.
"Really? I just love having the kids home. I hate sending them back in the fall."
I grind my teeth and smile.

Saltine days

Saltines. They are not fancy, but they are like the perfect food.. You put them in your mouth and the saltiness perks up your taste buds. They have a satisfying crunch until it turns into comforting creaminess and just before you swallow, they taste almost sweet. Sure, there are better foods out there--fancy, special occasion food that you crave all year long. But what do you have in your 72 hour kit? They go with everything, they're inexpensive, and you can eat them when you can't stomach anything else. I practically lived on them when I was pregnant, and then again when we were starving students--saltines can stretch hamburger like nothing else.

There are days that I call saltine days. They are just ordinary days that nothing much happens, but everything just seems to flow and there is a balance between productivity and fun and everybody seems to be happy all at the same time; these are my saltine days. The past few weekends have been full of saltine days. Maybe it's because I can feel the angst and bustle of school right around the corner. Maybe it's because with one kid on the way to middle school, I know the years of hanging out in family bliss is at a precipice, if only because once they are in YM/YW they are insanely busy. Or maybe I've just come to appreciate these common ordinary days together.

Saturday I took my long run in the morning and came home to Brian and the kids finishing up the lawn work. Tritan had finally figured out the key to enjoying mowing (having a large, cold water bottle handy before you begin) and had not only done a great job, but didn't whine or complain once. Paris had fertilized the lawn and Athena was doing the dishes inside.

Once everyone had showered and changed we went to lunch at Five Guys--a compromise between the fast-food cravings of the masses and a mom who just read Fast Food Nation. Not that anyone was complaining about eating at Five Guys. The kids told Brian what they wanted and then 2 went to save a big table for the six of us, while two more squirted ketchup into those little cups. Is it admirable or scary that my kids have well-rehearsed jobs for eating out?

We talked about Tritan's birthday which is on the 19th. We explained to him that we have so much money for his birthday...he could either do something big and get smaller presents, or do something small and get larger presents, etc. Perhaps we botched that one up because he decided what he really wanted (despite spending every moment allowed playing and creating video games) was books and underwear (despite having a Gameboy, Wii games, and video-game creation software on his list) and that he would like to eat a restaurant (despite having arcades and amusement parks in the mix). We tried to explain it again, but he was pretty adamant about getting books and underwear so we went to Barnes and Nobles after lunch.

I have to admit that I could spend all my birthday allowance at BN too. There is something about a book store for me that is akin to going to an amusement park. There are so many slick, shiny books. All of them displayed with intriguing covers and dust jackets that promise this thriller will titillate you, this memoir will inspire you, this self-help book will change your life! My pulse quickens and it's almost too much--I want to sit down right there and just read my way through the stacks--but where to begin?? Luckily, my kids love to peruse the stacks too, and they each found books soon enough and started flipping through them while Apollo was overjoyed to find the Thomas the Train railroad set completely unoccupied.

Brian imprudently observed earlier that morning that we had just paid off our van. Never say that sort of stuff out loud. Never. The universe does not like to see you make your goals. I don't know why, but you say things like that and boggarts and gremlins come out of the woodwork to make your life miserable. Just saying.

So of course, throughout the day, Brian has observed that the car is not turning over nicely and so while we are in BN he takes it to NTB to get the battery tested. Sure enough, it needs a new battery. Yet, despite the small set back, it couldn't have gone better. Brian discovered the problem before we were stranded somewhere, we had the extra money since we're done making van payments, and NTB is right down the road from BN, and where better to spend an extra hour or so waiting for car work to be done?

Tritan ended up getting 3 books (and I got 1) and then we went grocery shopping at Wegmens. Which if you don't have a Publix, is a pretty good second. I gathered the produce and the kids typed in the codes and printed out the scannable stickers for the produce. The kids tasted cheese while I perused the international aisles. No one was in a hurry and everybody helped. We danced in the aisles to the muzak. They asked for organic limeade and I said sure. They asked for Danimals yogurt and I said sure. I threw in store baked mini cookies without them even asking. It was like a well-organized pas de six.

Saltine days. I hope we have a seven-year supply.

Last week was cub scout camp. I was roped into going all week last year and enjoyed it so much I volunteered for the whole week this year. Tritan had computer camp and Athena and Apollo were able to come with me. Athena participated in camp as part of a Girls Group, and they get to do everything the Cubs do--shoot bbs, archery, crafts, swimming. Apollo goes to the Tot Lot where they do games, crafts, and swimming.
This year the theme was Knights, Castles, and Dragons. They had a blast making shields and tunics, learning how to "sword" fight with rolled up paper swords, meeting greyhound dogs and stately steeds. They get to go swimming every day (sometimes twice a day if it's hot) and somehow still get in knot-tying, bbs, archery, and first-aid.
Once, when I was taking off my hat to go swimming, I asked Paris if my hair looked ok, and Paris replied, "Yeah, Mom, you never embarass me." Words to cherish.

playing games

petting rescued greyhounds


part of our "den"

Apollo got to dress up too!

learning how to fight like a knight

riding a "dragon"

Chatty T

Tritan is usually the shy one in our house, but he's becoming quite chatty lately. On Saturday, we were shopping at Bed, Bath and Beyond, and Athena noticed that her favorite store (Justice)was next door, could she please, please look around? We let her go with Tritan with strict orders to stay together. We turned up a few minutes later to find Athena salivating over high-tops and arm socks. Tritan, on the other hand, was telling everyone who looked their way: " I don't want to be here. She dragged me here."



Tritan also went to his computer camp this last week. He looks forward to it all year, and mows the lawn without complaining (most of the time) to help pay for it. It is held at Ryder University in Princeton, so he just rides back and forth with Dad. Brian *had* to go to a Depeche Mode concert with his boss (worst boss of all time) on Monday so he wouldn't be able to drive him home. I was with the other kids at Cub Scout camp (more on that later), and was going to have to drive up to Princeton after camp to get Tritan (not horribly excited about that). Brian's co-worker Anne happens to live in our development, and offered to drive Tritan home (so nice). Apparently he talked her ear off the entire way home. One of the tidbits she related to Brian was Tritan's scheme to get more computer time: "When it's Paris' turn to use the computer, I just go turn on the TV to a show I know he likes, and pretty soon he starts watching the TV and the computer is free! More computer time for me!"

The computer camp was great--he learned how to manipulate characters and change textures. Yeah, we don't really understand it all either but Tritan had a great time and made some new friends.

BTW--Brian said the Depeche Mode concert rocked! There were a few more breaks (because, let's face it, they're old) but the music was great and it was a terrific show. It must be horrible to work for a boss you can rock out with!!

Getting to the pointe

Some of you wanted to know whether Athena chose to do soccer or dance this fall. Does this answer your question?

She is taking dance one night a week this summer and her teacher suggested she buy pointe shoes now, since it can take a couple of trys to find the right pair. Then she will be all ready to go this fall. This happened just before soccer camp, so I'm not sure it was a fair trial, but she is way excited to dance on pointe. But she did say she wanted to do soccer camp next summer,too. We'll have to see.