It Was a Happy Thursday!

Thursday thursday THURSDAY! Thursday thursday THURSDAY!! Hip hip HOORAY!!


Yes, folks...We are that much closer to a great big Happy Friday!

Stretch your toes...
Reach for the stars...
Do a happy dance!

My children and I are celebrating life this week.
It feels glorious to be well after the dreaded sickness that was the stomach virus.
Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but I never want it in my house again.

The lovely and talented Julia, au pair extraordinaire is still recovering.
Julia had been given the task of airing out the house today.
GERMS BEGONE!!!
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!
I BANISH THEE!!!

Every window will stay open in my house today even if it means we are all wearing our hoodies indoors.

Fresh air is the best medicine. 
...unless you are an allergy sufferer.
Then I say...
...Please stay on your current medication and breathe it all in safely!
Be well.
Stay healthy.
I hope that you have enjoyed your Thursday.
Ours was serendipitous.
We ate it up.

We had a much needed library visit complete with story time and math tutoring. Then on to shopping we went. before we knew it it was time to go home. The little green house was appealing to all.

 Chloe marched on...

 The window box was given a window...

 Chloe made art...

 While Gracie made funny faces...

 ...and a bed for frog, complete with headboard.

 Chloe named them He and She.  They went with her everywhere.

 Addi sat on me...on the swing.

 He and She lost arms and Chloe became Dr.Chloe.

Then it got chilly.
Friday awaits.
Then onto the weekend.
I bid thee farewell.

My House WAS a War Zone.

My family and I are on the mend.
We have been struck down not once, but twice from the stomach bug that is plaguing most of the East Coast.
It was horrible.
It was disgusting.
The living room became "sick quarantine."
My poor husband became our caretaker...
... bathroom and laundry cleaner...
... household disinfector...
...cook...
...storyteller...
... and "well" child caregiver with our Julia.
They were the lone adults standing and Julia was fading fast!

In essence, Dad became Super Dad
...better known as me...MOM.

I mean no offense when I say this. I would have been a slobbery, nasty mess on the couch without him. -----Wait...I kinda was anyway...but I was a better mess thanks to Jim.

My guy didn't know what he was in for.

Now and again I'd wake from my sickened coma to hear:

"Daddy, I miss Mommy."
"I don't care! I want to go in the living room!!" With a response like,"No. Don't! Get away from that room! You'll get sick!"... followed by scampering footsteps.
or
"Dad...Dad...Dad...Mom doesn't do it that way."
or
"Dad...Mom usually let's us have a little snack or apple before bed."
or
"Dad...are you listening? You're not listening."
or
"This isn't fair...I miss our couch."
or
"Dad...Daddy...I didn't do my eye patch yet." (Gracie is a good reminder of things.)
or
"Come on girls, let's go work out downstairs."
or
Chloe: "Daddy don't forget our story."
Grace:"Mom reads us a story at night."
Chloe: "Not that one"
Grace: "We read that one. Not that one Dad."
Jim: "Ok...How about this story. Do you know this one?"
Grace: "NO."
Chloe: "OK."

I remember thinking:
My poor, poor guy. --- Man, our girls are critical. --- I hope that he survives them.
He's trying so hard. --- I can't believe that he cleaned the bathroom so many times! --- Damn, I'm lucky.
--- I hope that the girls did their homework and reading tonight.

We survived and Jim never got "the bug."--- Lucky devil.
Unfortunately, Julia got some kind of bug...I made my trusty, side kick sleep today.
 I returned to work.
Thank goodness for moms! Bannie came over and took over! (aka my Mom)
Addi went back to school...on a scheduled 1/2 day. --- Good timing for her. She'll get more rest.
Grace and Chloe were given lots of Mommy hugs.
Gracie told me that it was "so good to have me back, Daddy just isn't the same as you." then gave me a huge kiss on the cheek.
Chloe told me that she "missed me." then gave me giant Chloe hugs.
They both played beautifully with their found big sister and told her how much they missed her.
We stumbled on happy accidents.
As the sun went down we made art in its light.

 I knew Where the Wild Things Were...

They were in our living room!

 Towers fell...

Gods and Goddesses were born...

 Animals roamed...

 It was a circus.

Today we relaxed after homework.

Books...They Are Magical.

Books have power. They inspire. Books transcend time and turn us into travelers. They allow readers, big and small to journey to extraordinary places and gain experiences beyond their wildest dreams. A book can set you free... if you let it.

Jim and I can proudly say that we are raising readers.
He and I are both readers.

Some of my fondest memories are of our newly married years. We had our second apartment then. This was our first "together" venture into the suburbs. It was adorable, charming and cozy...meaning small, but consisting of just what we needed. ---A bedroom, galley kitchen, bathroom and living room, which doubled as dining area. Our over sized "L" couched sat snugly in this dual functioning room. We were content on that couch. Jim stretched out across one length and I often curled up against the arm of the opposite side. There were nights spent in complete silence. We weren't angry with one another. We were so in love that speech didn't matter. ---In love with our current books as well.
Why speak...
...when you can read?
Now and again we'd steal a kiss or a glance over a dog eared page.---That was enough. It was magic.

Jumping ahead a decade...
I'm happy to say that the "magic" is there. It's just different.
We are so overwhelmed by the daily happenings of life that "what used to be" rarely happens.

Pleasure reading is done in the bathroom, while on the toilet...if lucky!
I take that back.
I shouldn't have said "pleasure reading."I take great pleasure in reading to my girls.
The word should be SOLO...That's it, SOLO READING. Reading alone for pleasure.

Here I go again, counting myself one of the lucky women club.
I'm not unlucky for of lack of SOLO reading time...
I am lucky because the value of a good book in hand has been passed onto my children.
Oh... how lucky I am!

Addi has told me that her favorite way to end a school day is right beside me. (I'm getting teary thinking about how beautiful this is.)
We each grab our current "read" and head for her bedroom. This is our "big girl time." Quiet moments that we steal together. We lay beside one another...sometimes I read aloud. I just pick up from wherever I left off in my book and she listens. My daughter enjoys stories. She enjoys the written word...any written word. Addi, who is far from an infant still relaxes with the sound of my storytelling. I treasure this.

---I need to travel back in time...

My Mom had bought a pink, touille chair with matching ottoman for Addi when she turned one. This chair has been very well used by all three of her grand daughters.
It is the reading chair.
No matter how many times we moved (and there had been quite a few until we settled in the little green house close to eight years ago)...
... the reading chair has always been placed in a cozy bedroom corner, with proper reading light, night table, cozy rug and hoards of books.
I have multitudes of photos depicting pudgy babies and toddlers with books in hand and looks of determination or awe on their angelic faces, while planted in the reading chair.
Again, I count myself lucky.
Those photos are amongst my treasures.

Here I go...I can't help it.
Here is another one of my lists.
---MY TREASURES---

*My family and friends (I'm in love with them...most of the time)
*Making memories (stuff isn't that important...get out and do something!)
*Art (of any time period...look and learn)

*Books (of many kinds...read and learn)
*Music (of any genre...if it makes your body move...dance on!)
*Documentation (literary or visual...journal away! Take photos! Leave your mark...I'll probably keep it!)
*Smiles (I sign most letters as: Smiles, Billie)
*Comfortable sneakers (I don't leave home with out them)
*My camera (it will always be my first "baby")
*Down Time (to do most of the things on this list)
*My Crueby (she is the doll that I carried with me as a little girl. I have had many replacements thanks to my Mom...the survivor Crueby is in my room. She has been cuddled by my girls and scares my husband. He finds her to be freaky.)

I did it again. I had a Mommy, mental moment...Did I stray too far?
I got lost in my own thoughts. Three kids later...this is what happens to the best of us...
Back to books...

All of the girls had brought home books from our last library visit. Chloe's choices were like candy. Automatically appealing to the whole family! Her sisters found them piled on her vanity stool and begged me to read one at bedtime. All three were mythic in theme.
They promised adventure, lovely illustrations and faraway places. Perfect for little Chlo Chlo.
Perfect for all three girls.
Our bedtime ritual includes apples and crackers to snack on, "self" or quiet reading, then a story read by Mom or Dad.
Last night I read East of the Sun and West of the Moon.(tales from the North). The story told was The Godmother. 


A young girl was raised by her godmother. The girl is unaware that her loving godmother is the keeper of the sun, the moon and the stars. She accidentally, on separate occasions, disobeys her Godmother's warnings, setting them each free into the wild universe. Her Godmother punishes her by making her  the most beautiful woman in the world(I know...doesn't sound bad, just wait) and by taking her voice. Then she banishes her.
The lovely young girl marries a Prince. He does not care that she can not speak. They have a child and the godmother takes him saying,"now you will know how devastating it was for me to lose the Sun." The princess is powerless. The QUEEN BELIEVES THAT SHE HAS KILLED HER CHILD. The Prince defends her. Can you guess what happens? Two more babies..each taken. Prince can't ward the Queen off. Princess is about to be put to death. Godmother appears with the children and states that she wanted her god daughter to suffer the way that she had (evil woman). The beautiful Princess now has her voice. If she had been given her voice back earlier she would have been able to defend herself and tell that she loved her children more than the sun and the moon and the stars. They family is reunited and all ends happily.

My children looked at me curiously. It was magical. Every night I tell my girls that I love them more than the sun and the moon and the stars. 

Addi: Did you know about this story before Mom?
Me: No.
Addi: Really?!
Chloe: (was sound asleep)
Gracie: Mommy, it's what you always tell us! That's what you say to us!
Me: I know. This is very a special story. Goodnight girls...I love you more than the...
Grace: We know...more than the sun and the moon and the stars. (smiling)
Me: Forever and ever.

...One more reason to love books.

Bugs, Tents, Shade on the Porch and Memories

According to one of my friends there is a stomach bug that has been rapidly moving its way up the east coast. I found out today...the day after it got me!
There were two casualties of "the bug" in my home. Addison and I were both home from school today.
I swear, only teachers and moms feel guilty over being sick!
After a night of violently puking I found myself in the bathroom at 6:20 a.m.
I was not throwing up this time.
I was on my way into the shower and had my day's clothes piled high on the counter.
Jim walked in...
He looked at me as if I had five heads and said:

"So...What are you planning on doing? -Puking on some students...or just finding a corner of the school to puke in?"

In other words--- Billie, are you nuts????

I turned slowly, said,"What??"
His response,"Call in. Go back to bed."

Like a child being scolded, I lowered my head...
...mumbled a low, "I know...You're right."
...and walked out, with the intention of logging in my absence on-line.
 DAMN IT!
The time to successfully report an absence had been deemed off limits.
I had missed the cut off time!
This had never happened to me before.
It was 6:30 a.m.
I knew it was late, but now I felt like an unreliable, loser.
I thought to myself ---Maybe I should go in.

Jim popped his head into the living room and chirped,"It feels good to always be right!"

OK...Reality check. Yes...He IS RIGHT.

I left a voice-mail at central office (the next and only option).
I called a colleague with the hope that he hadn't left for work and could deliver a back up plan for my students. RING RING RING...PICK UP!
OH GOOD>>>YOU'RE HOME!
...There's the teacher guilt. They will lose a day on their projects and be thrown off course but at least now they will be doing something that relates to the current project. Stomach problems really bite.
I got off of the phone, feeling better, knowing that my plans would be delivered.
I started to make breakfast for the kids in my drowsy, nauseous state...it would be another twenty minutes before Julia was officially "on-duty."
So...I made the eggs and toast.
...Packed the three lunch boxes.
...Nearly threw up in one.
THEN UNPACKED ONE.

Addi was deemed my partner in sickness for the day.
She had wandered in clutching her belly.
It was before 7am. ADDISON typically gets dragged out of bed by yours truly.
Uhhh Oh...something was wrong.
She spoke in that "I don't feel so well" voice.
You know the one. Slightly drawn out, barely audible and whiney. (I had it earlier with Jim.)
I took one look at her and told her to "head to my room and cuddle up in my bed...I'd be joining her soon."(sound familiar?)
I stayed up long enough to see Grace and Chloe off to school, then I stumbled back into bed.
Addi slept with me for a bit then asked if she could watch cartoons.
I muttered something...what exactly...I don't remember. She was gone and I had my bed to myself.
I slept until close to noon. (sure sign that something was wrong with me)
I woke up feeling groggy, but better.
The sun was shining and flowers were beginning to bloom outside. I heard the tv and saw Addi on the couch. I didn't care how crappy we felt I was not willing to waste a gorgeous day. It's just not in me.
With my insistance Addi brushed her hair and we chilled out on the porch, enjoying a fine afternoon.

Chloe came home and we ate lunch outdoors.
It was a scorcher! Chloe built shelter from the sun. She and the dog enjoyed her tent...
...until it collapsed.
...then was rebuilt.
...then collapsed again.
...then was built again.
Julia played assistant to the architect today.
This went on for most of the next few hours. Chloe is one determined kid! I reminded her that 1/2 of the porch was in the shade.
...NO MATTER! SHE WANTED HER TENT!

Addi wanted it too, but she was deemed too big and not allowed in...
...especially after destroying it once while attempting to lay in it!
Poor Addi. So misunderstood by the smaller sisters. She'll grow into her long limbs eventually.

The sun worked wonders for me.
By the time Gracie strolled off of the bus...singing (as always) and picking flowers along the way...

I was back to my old self.
Stomach thing be gone!
Wooo Hooo!!!

By 4pm we were packed into the caravan on a mission to by plants for our front garden.
I let the girls choose.
We left the store with a cart overflowing with lavendar, pink pom-pom daisys, white daisy's, a shrub dripping with Japanese bells and my all time favorite...Heather. (How did they read my mind?)
This led me to tell stories of old.
My mind happily wandered to the day that I married their Daddy...
...carrying Heather in my bouquet.
...cutting into a cake adorned with dried Heather.
...while guests sat at tables surrounding dried Heather and vintage jadite arrangements.

The day was beautiful...tummy trouble and all.

The view from out front door.

Here are some photos of our after dinner, Spring stroll. The perfect ending to an odd, but lovely day.

"Mom, can we cook it?"

My beautiful bunny.

It's Crock weather again!

Our neighbor's yard is the greatest!

Reflections in shiny cars are lovely this time of day.

Addi spied something in the grass!

Our neighborhood.

Chloe rolls on...

Grace finds treasure everywhere we go. This is a soft leaf...we think!

Chloe's walking shoes.

Thank you for the portrait Addi...now Mommy exists.

Gracie wants to cook the onion grass for dinner...
I think that she and Chloe are  in on this together.

Spring... Farm Time!

I had made a promise to my children the other evening.
The promise needed to "stick."
It was "stuck" in my children's minds.
It couldn't and wouldn't be broken!

"If the weather was nice out we'll ditch gymnastics and go to the farm."

Those were my words.
It was another beautiful day.
Ninth period Media Class drew to a close.
The bell had rang.
After reading 29 work related e-mails...
...and responding to all that needed my attention.
...and hitting send on my attendance roster...
I BOOKED IT OUTTA THERE!
I bolted for the doors and flew home.
Senior citezens beware!!!
I was worse than a soccer mom on route to the big game.
I wanted to go to the farm as badly as my kids.

I pulled up and saw my girls running through the yard.
They were drenched.
... clad in swimsuits and ruffled ballerina skirts.
As beautiful as the moment was I wasn't in the mood to embrace it.
I had a one track mind at the moment AND PROBABLY SOUNDED PRETTY GRUMPY as I shouted:
"Kids...What's up? Let's get changed! You knew that we were going to the barn as soon as Mama got home. Let's get moving...Go Go Go...Let's get dry!"

They looked at me as I walked up the driveway...
Their faces showed instant recognition.
---That's right...The barn! ... They were off and running...Julia was right beside them Saying," Come on girls let's get dry."

I slowed up, reminding myself to break out of high school mode and back into family mode...took mental note: I was not allowed to be a Spring downer when everyone was happily enjoying the warm weather in our own yard. I chatted with my kids about the fun that they were having.

They were super excited to be squishy and wet.
Super excited to be shoeless.
Overjoyed to be in skirts rather than pants...
...and loving the fact that Addi was in attack mode with a super soaker!
Even the dog was wet. Streaks of water had left lines in his fur.

My addition was: "Let's go have more fun!"

Julia came into the kitchen and told me all about how the kids had come home from school wondering if they were going to gymnastics or not. She hadn't given them a definite answer. My answer. (in my head...not out loud) Don't doubt me. If I say we'll do something... we'll do it.
Out Loud I said something like,"It's nice out. So of course we're not going to gymnastics. We're going to the barn. Do you want to come?"

Julia, au pair extraordinaire truly is wonderful. She loves to be with the girls and has more patience than Jim and I combined. Sometimes I wonder if she's human. Could she be a gentle au pair robot?
However, there are some things that only experience and parenthood can prepare you for.
Like:
*Sometimes it's ok to stray from your own rules...especially if it will avoid a tantrum. (this rule does not apply to babysitters. Always listen to the parent rules.)
*The couch is an acceptable place to sleep on a school night... especially if a child is wrestless. or chasing monsters in their heads. (we all need sleep)
*Homework comes first. (True...as much as I hate sounding like a "Mom"...I am one.)
...Please remember that this rule can be bent. If the homework has been defined as easy by your child and can be done within 5 minutes in the morning! (I've skipped HW for the beach before...can you blame me?)
*It really is OK to bribe your kid. (whoever deemed this a "no-no" obviously, was not a parent. Just watch out for toy traps set by wise children. Dates with Mom and Dad make great bribes and we all love them.)
This could go on forever!!!  I don't want to bore you. Soooo...
---Here's The Best One---
*ALWAYS- I REPEAT- ALWAYS- Stay away from questions that will give you a YES or NO answer.
For example: Do you want a turkey sandwich for lunch?
Answer: No.
...Lesson>>> Give multiple choice answers. This allows your child to maintain a sense of control over their destiny. You have "reverse psychologied" your kid. Are they in control?...NO. Do they feel in control?...YES! ...proud and happy and confident...while attaining decision making skills. (I'm talking about the kids here.) What they don't know is that all of the choices have been predestined by you!! They are all  A-O-K- with Mom or the current grown up in charge.
>>>Live and learn.

Enough of that.

We saw lamas.
I saw students?! (yes...They are everywhere...even jogging through barnyards!)
We fed goats, sheep and a really cute cow!
There were balancing acts in the farmyard and rockers to be rocked in.
We enjoyed the newfound Spring weather.
I of course, clicked away...camera in hand.
Then I remembered to stop being the person on the other side of the lens.
I put the camera away.
It was time to just BE.

After that we abandoned the car...
...deciding that it needed some extra barn time and we needed some pizza!
The five of us walked down the road to one of our favorite Main Street pizza places,
Nina's.
What could be better than outdoor seating in March?
This is rare in New York so we took advantage of it.
The girls ordered their food and colored their kiddie matts.
Chloe, tired after a day in the sun and a long walk was shot.
The sun began to fade over the horizon and so did her good mood!
Chlo Chlo was tired and cold.
She wanted to leave but no one else did.
They were hungry.
They weren't done coloring.
I, on the other hand, saw the expressions of the faces at the other table.
We were destroying their dinner.
TIME TO GO.
I asked for the food to become a take out order.
NO PROBLEM.

The waitress seemed happy that we were leaving too.
We must have been ruining her chance for a good tip.
Addi and Grace stayed with Julia at the pizza place while I piggy backed sleepy, whining Chloe to the barn yard and our car.
QUICK POTTY BREAK IN THE BARN.
Then off we went.
Everyone was happy again.
We ended our day with great food...served at home.
...with me as server.
...as usual!
Warm showers for all followed.
...and a snuggle session on the couch while we watched our favorite family tv show.

Life is good!