So after school the Spills frequently likes to engage in a little dress-up. Today she headed upstairs to the tickle trunk, and helped herself to some clothes. I could hear her humming away to herself, yanking things on.
All was well till the sobbing started. I ran to the bottom of the stairs.
"What's wrong?"
Wordlessly, weeping and shaking with despair, she held up the white skirt that was part of her bride outfit. It was ripped down the side. The damage happened some weeks ago when Spills' friend was over and tried the skirt on. Her friend is a few years older and consequently a little too big for the bride outfit. Spilly had been unaware of the damage, and I'd completely forgotten.
"I think we can fix it," I said, hoping I remembered how to use the sewing machine. It's been a long time since home economics.
We hauled the sewing machine out of the basement, threaded it somehow (it's amazing the things you remember), and managed to sew a seam that was sort of headed in the right direction. When we were done, Spilly put on her skirt and pranced around with great joy.
Then she said, "Mommy, does this look like YOUR wedding dress?"
"You've seen my wedding dress. It was big and poofy with yellow roses."
"Where is it?"
"Upstairs in the cedar chest."
And then you guessed it. The little minx talked me into going upstairs and hauling the thing out. Along with the world's largest and most in-your-face crinoline.
"Can you put it on, Mommy?"
"I...suppose it's possible I could," I said.
"Do it! Do it ! Do it!"
.....And thus it was that when Daddy came in from doing manly things in the garage with various tools, he found his two women sitting in front of the tv in their wedding dresses.
And he just sighed.
"I'll go get the camera."
Monday, April 14, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Family Night
Spills is howling out a tune in the bath at the moment and banging on the side of the tub with what sound like playmobil toys (or, as we call them in our household, "Bordies"). She is in high spirits, having monopolized the meal of the people beside us, at the Japanese restaurant we ate at tonight.
She was very much egged on by the people at that table, who had a one-year-old daughter. I am willing to swear that the mom was a teacher just finishing up her maternity leave, because she spoke to Spills in that you-and-I-are-on-the-same-level way that some teachers are able to do. Also, they had a lengthy discussion about how great math was. At the end, there was a very tender farewell, with hugs all around. Sometimes I have difficulty remembering what it used to be like to go to restaurants and be anonymous. I think I liked it. Although there's something to be said for being the parent of the party animal.
After dinner, we headed off to Scholar's Choice to find a gift for Spilly's boyfriend Robbie, who is turning four tomorrow. We decided upon a cool snails board game and the book, "Harry the Dirty Dog." Spills wanted to also get him a miniature radio, some dolls and a flexible frog ring, but we decided against these in the end.
And now, I am hearing ominous splashes for the tub. Spills is yelling, "Rock and Roll" in her best vibrato. Think it may be time to draw this blog entry and the bath to a close. Good night!
She was very much egged on by the people at that table, who had a one-year-old daughter. I am willing to swear that the mom was a teacher just finishing up her maternity leave, because she spoke to Spills in that you-and-I-are-on-the-same-level way that some teachers are able to do. Also, they had a lengthy discussion about how great math was. At the end, there was a very tender farewell, with hugs all around. Sometimes I have difficulty remembering what it used to be like to go to restaurants and be anonymous. I think I liked it. Although there's something to be said for being the parent of the party animal.
After dinner, we headed off to Scholar's Choice to find a gift for Spilly's boyfriend Robbie, who is turning four tomorrow. We decided upon a cool snails board game and the book, "Harry the Dirty Dog." Spills wanted to also get him a miniature radio, some dolls and a flexible frog ring, but we decided against these in the end.
And now, I am hearing ominous splashes for the tub. Spills is yelling, "Rock and Roll" in her best vibrato. Think it may be time to draw this blog entry and the bath to a close. Good night!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Spring? Really??!!
So Spills has been sick as a dog but is back on the road to Healthville. To celebrate, she and I planned to go out after school with her big-girl two-wheeler. The one she is worried about riding, because she has not instantly become perfect at it.
Before we left, she said, "I think we're just going to walk around the block."
I said, "Oh no, I thought we were going to ride your two-wheeler."
"No, I think we're going to walk."
"Why?"
"Because I like to walk," Spills said with dignity.
We headed out the door and began to walk along the sidewalk. I said, "I guess you're too scared to ride your bike."
"I'm not!"
"I think you are."
"NOT!!!!"
This went back and forth for awhile and then I let up for a bit. Until I couldn't resist the urge to make chicken noises. She wasn't amused. I kept it up. And finally she turned around and started stamping away.
"Where are you going?" I said.
"TO!!! GET!!! MY!!! BIKE!!!!"
So a short while later, there we were merrily humming along the sidewalk, me at a brisk walk and she on the mighty two-wheeler. We made it midway around the block before running into a friend of hers from kindergarten who was on his way to the park with his Grandma. After we parted ways, it occurred to me that Spills had not yet ridden her bike all the way to the park.
I said to her, "Hey, wanna hear about something that is a VERY incredible challenge?"
"What is it?"
"I think I know a way we could ride your bike TO THE PARK."
"How? How?"
"I think if we cross the street over there and go along that road, we might get to the back entrance to the park. And your friend is going in the front entrance. So we might meet up with him over there!"
The whole way over, I kept commenting aloud about how great it was to be able to ride your bike to the park. After all, walking to the park takes forever and is very boring. Riding your bike to the park takes about two minutes and then you have more time for playing.
We made it just as her friend arrived. They proceeded to have a fabulous play for more than an hour. I had a great chat with his Grandma. Everywhere you looked in the park were joyful kids racing around, and crazed-looking adults who had been starved all winter for a good chin-wag amid greenery.
Spring. I think it might finally be here. I hesitate to say that too loudly though.
Before we left, she said, "I think we're just going to walk around the block."
I said, "Oh no, I thought we were going to ride your two-wheeler."
"No, I think we're going to walk."
"Why?"
"Because I like to walk," Spills said with dignity.
We headed out the door and began to walk along the sidewalk. I said, "I guess you're too scared to ride your bike."
"I'm not!"
"I think you are."
"NOT!!!!"
This went back and forth for awhile and then I let up for a bit. Until I couldn't resist the urge to make chicken noises. She wasn't amused. I kept it up. And finally she turned around and started stamping away.
"Where are you going?" I said.
"TO!!! GET!!! MY!!! BIKE!!!!"
So a short while later, there we were merrily humming along the sidewalk, me at a brisk walk and she on the mighty two-wheeler. We made it midway around the block before running into a friend of hers from kindergarten who was on his way to the park with his Grandma. After we parted ways, it occurred to me that Spills had not yet ridden her bike all the way to the park.
I said to her, "Hey, wanna hear about something that is a VERY incredible challenge?"
"What is it?"
"I think I know a way we could ride your bike TO THE PARK."
"How? How?"
"I think if we cross the street over there and go along that road, we might get to the back entrance to the park. And your friend is going in the front entrance. So we might meet up with him over there!"
The whole way over, I kept commenting aloud about how great it was to be able to ride your bike to the park. After all, walking to the park takes forever and is very boring. Riding your bike to the park takes about two minutes and then you have more time for playing.
We made it just as her friend arrived. They proceeded to have a fabulous play for more than an hour. I had a great chat with his Grandma. Everywhere you looked in the park were joyful kids racing around, and crazed-looking adults who had been starved all winter for a good chin-wag amid greenery.
Spring. I think it might finally be here. I hesitate to say that too loudly though.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Sunny Sunday
We packed our day with sunshine and a lot of tramping around, by heading to the zoo first thing this morning. There we met with Spilly's good friend Simon and Simon's mother. It was "Teacher Day," so Simon's Mom and I got in free. Love getting into things free!
Spills hasn't been to the zoo in several months. It was interesting to see the change in her from the last time we were there. She and Simon roared around the place pretending to be orangutans and mandrills and gibbons. They clip-clopped back and forth in front of the grizzly bear's den, trying to make the sleeping bear think they were deer so it would wake up and try to eat them. They made blubbing sounds at the fish. They also insisted on jointly pulling the wagon that we'd brought along, which made us all wonder why we'd brought it in the first place.
After the zoo, it was home for bike riding in the beautiful late-afternoon sunshine. I took my bike around the neighbourhood, narrowly missing numerous street-hockey and soccer games. Spills and her Daddy set off with her new bike and had made it laboriously about three-quarters of the way around the block by the time I got back. I hung out with them the rest of the way.
When we went back inside, I got online and booked our camping weekends for the summer. We'll be going to three different provincial parks--Craigleith, Kilbear and Earl Rowe. Of the three, we've only been to Earl Rowe before, so it should be a fun new experience to try the other two parks.
All in all, a very peaceful family day. Which may well prove to have been the calm before the storm, as Spills has started sneezing explosively....
Spills hasn't been to the zoo in several months. It was interesting to see the change in her from the last time we were there. She and Simon roared around the place pretending to be orangutans and mandrills and gibbons. They clip-clopped back and forth in front of the grizzly bear's den, trying to make the sleeping bear think they were deer so it would wake up and try to eat them. They made blubbing sounds at the fish. They also insisted on jointly pulling the wagon that we'd brought along, which made us all wonder why we'd brought it in the first place.
After the zoo, it was home for bike riding in the beautiful late-afternoon sunshine. I took my bike around the neighbourhood, narrowly missing numerous street-hockey and soccer games. Spills and her Daddy set off with her new bike and had made it laboriously about three-quarters of the way around the block by the time I got back. I hung out with them the rest of the way.
When we went back inside, I got online and booked our camping weekends for the summer. We'll be going to three different provincial parks--Craigleith, Kilbear and Earl Rowe. Of the three, we've only been to Earl Rowe before, so it should be a fun new experience to try the other two parks.
All in all, a very peaceful family day. Which may well prove to have been the calm before the storm, as Spills has started sneezing explosively....
Saturday, April 5, 2008
New Additions
Well, Spilly and I bought bikes today. Not just any bikes! These are fancy-schmancy swanky bikes. Spilly's is pink and white. Mine is a dusty blue. Spills has stars on hers and tassels and a wicker carrier at the front. Mine has a flower.
The last time I bought a bike was 16 years ago. I was amazed to discover that bikes have come a long way in that time. For one thing, you no longer have to move a lever to switch gears, toggling it slowly back and forth until it finds the "sweet spot" of the next gear up or down (or, in the case of my 16-year-old bike, whatever gear the bike decided it wanted to shift into). Now there's a swanky switch I flick, and the bike INSTANTLY shifts gears. Who knew it could be that easy???? Also, they now have women's "comfort" bikes with amazing shock absorbers that make you feel like you're riding on buddah.
I was very impressed with the guy who helped us. He took lots of time to measure me and the bike and did all kinds of adjustments to the bike's height and the length from the seat to the handles, etc. Since I'm the world's shortest person, I am very used to bikes feeling way too big for me. But THIS bike...ahhhhhh....it is exactly the right length and height for me. I didn't know that such things existed.
Spills, as usual, won herself a new ally in the Spills-will-conquer-the-world campaign. She engaged our salesperson in a lengthy dialogue about a wide range of topics. He said, "You're something else," several times. The upshot: she left the store with a number of complimentary items, including the coolest ladybug bike bell I have ever seen (its wings actually open and close). I might note that I was not offered anything of a complimentary nature.
The last time I bought a bike was 16 years ago. I was amazed to discover that bikes have come a long way in that time. For one thing, you no longer have to move a lever to switch gears, toggling it slowly back and forth until it finds the "sweet spot" of the next gear up or down (or, in the case of my 16-year-old bike, whatever gear the bike decided it wanted to shift into). Now there's a swanky switch I flick, and the bike INSTANTLY shifts gears. Who knew it could be that easy???? Also, they now have women's "comfort" bikes with amazing shock absorbers that make you feel like you're riding on buddah.
I was very impressed with the guy who helped us. He took lots of time to measure me and the bike and did all kinds of adjustments to the bike's height and the length from the seat to the handles, etc. Since I'm the world's shortest person, I am very used to bikes feeling way too big for me. But THIS bike...ahhhhhh....it is exactly the right length and height for me. I didn't know that such things existed.
Spills, as usual, won herself a new ally in the Spills-will-conquer-the-world campaign. She engaged our salesperson in a lengthy dialogue about a wide range of topics. He said, "You're something else," several times. The upshot: she left the store with a number of complimentary items, including the coolest ladybug bike bell I have ever seen (its wings actually open and close). I might note that I was not offered anything of a complimentary nature.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Morning Rituals
Much as I hate to leave my little family in the morning, I do enjoy the process of getting out the door. Because Spilly is a woman of habit, and her habits tend to be quite entertaining.
After breakfast, she helps me into my coat and hands me my lunch bag and purse. Then she pushes me bodily toward the garage door, while saying soothing things like, "It'll be okay, you don't have to worry, sweetie. You'll be home again in no time."
She's being me, you see, and I am supposed to be her. I have absolutely no idea how the game started, but it's ironclad.
"Okay, Mom," I say. "And will we play together after school?"
"Yes we will, sweetie."
"And will we have a snack?"
"Yes, sweetie."
"And will we sing songs and do crafts and have stories?"
Big sigh. "YES, sweetie, but you have to go now."
Massive push out the door.
"Good bye, sweetie. And sweetie--don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Slam.
After breakfast, she helps me into my coat and hands me my lunch bag and purse. Then she pushes me bodily toward the garage door, while saying soothing things like, "It'll be okay, you don't have to worry, sweetie. You'll be home again in no time."
She's being me, you see, and I am supposed to be her. I have absolutely no idea how the game started, but it's ironclad.
"Okay, Mom," I say. "And will we play together after school?"
"Yes we will, sweetie."
"And will we have a snack?"
"Yes, sweetie."
"And will we sing songs and do crafts and have stories?"
Big sigh. "YES, sweetie, but you have to go now."
Massive push out the door.
"Good bye, sweetie. And sweetie--don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Slam.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The April Fool
Spilly is entranced by the idea of April Fool's Day. She thinks it's just great that people go around all day doing crazy things to each other. She thinks it's even better that people yell, "April Fool's!!" She practised a lot today. Here are some of her more noteworthy pranks:
1. Mommy, I'm going to put Daddy in the garbage. APRIL FOOL'S!!
2. I think there's a monster behind the piano. I think you should go and look. APRIL FOOL'S!!
3. [poking adult vigorously] APRIL FOOL'S!!
4. [leaning around the corner of the door wearing a fish hat] APRIL FOOL'S!!
5. Sidney is back in the bathroom. APRIL FOOL'S!! (Sidney is our resident spider. Mommy doesn't like Sidney very much.)
6. I'm full and I don't want any more supper. APRIL FOOL'S!!
7. Monty was telling Ribbon that from now on Ribbon is Monty's pet. APRIL FOOL'S!!
8. Let's sneak up behind Daddy and yell APRIL FOOL'S!! ....APRIL FOOL'S!!
9. We're not eating dinner right now, we're eating breakfast. APRIL FOOL'S!!
10. From now on, Daddy is Mommy and Mommy is Daddy. APRIL FOOL'S!!
....It's pretty clear to me who the fool is in our family.
1. Mommy, I'm going to put Daddy in the garbage. APRIL FOOL'S!!
2. I think there's a monster behind the piano. I think you should go and look. APRIL FOOL'S!!
3. [poking adult vigorously] APRIL FOOL'S!!
4. [leaning around the corner of the door wearing a fish hat] APRIL FOOL'S!!
5. Sidney is back in the bathroom. APRIL FOOL'S!! (Sidney is our resident spider. Mommy doesn't like Sidney very much.)
6. I'm full and I don't want any more supper. APRIL FOOL'S!!
7. Monty was telling Ribbon that from now on Ribbon is Monty's pet. APRIL FOOL'S!!
8. Let's sneak up behind Daddy and yell APRIL FOOL'S!! ....APRIL FOOL'S!!
9. We're not eating dinner right now, we're eating breakfast. APRIL FOOL'S!!
10. From now on, Daddy is Mommy and Mommy is Daddy. APRIL FOOL'S!!
....It's pretty clear to me who the fool is in our family.
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