Beachy Keen

We've had fantastic beach weather here in Hilton Head.

 Despite the initial terror, Lucy has really warmed up to the water. She was even jumping waves with C and J.

 Your eyes don't deceive you. It really is all FIVE of us!

 And all 3 of them.

 Really, 2 pictures of me in a post. And, of course, my Birdie.

Pool Party

For Jackie's spring break, we headed to Hilton Head. Literally 20 minutes after our arrival, the kids were already in the pool.

Lucy found her groove and thoroughly enjoyed the music on deck.

 After sufficient pool time, Jackie used her Easter money to order refreshments from the pool ladies.

 And Cameron made some fast friends doing cannonballs.

 For whatever reason, the kids enjoy the hotel room almost as much as the pool and beach.

 And Lucy insisted on being a big girl napping in the big bed, NOT her pack-n-play. Thankfully, she loves her sleep mask!

This post brought to you by the Power of Lysol

Or rather it's un-scented, allergy-free $25/bottle alternative. Which has been used in large quantities b/c we had our annual dirt delivery! WOOHOO! This year, Dave overestimated a tiny bit with 20 yards of dirt. The giant pile of dirt was super cool to all the kids on the street. And it was 2 days worth of fun and dirt in ears and toenails.

But it only lasted 2 days b/c Dave rented a BobCat to move it all. And you could hear the collective roar of excitement from all the kids when the BobCat arrived. It was only here for a day, so I didn't get a picture of all the kids climbing on it with permagrin.

 I've been trying to get rid of this slide for 2 yrs and the kids keep coming up with new uses for it.

Dave put about 12 yards of dirt in the garden, so we had a little left over.

The smaller pile of dirt is temporarily housed in the back of the yard. It's equally as entertaining!

As always, the garden is a group effort. Dave did all the major work (besides moving it, which is another post b/c that was SUPERFUN!) and Deane the Machine planted it- with the "help" of many little hands. Deane plants b/c I have a black thumb and she plants with love.

So this is the final product! Watermelon, tomatoes, beans, peas, cucumber, canteloupe, basil, oregano, marigold. Still to plant: sunflowers, more blueberry bushes. Thanks Deane and Babes!

BTW, if you need some dirt, we have a little extra. Just bring your BobCat.

We're Still Standing

Thanks to everyone for inquiring about the tornadoes in NC. They were SCARY! Thankfully, we are unscathed. On Saturday, we spent the day in Raleigh at the Farmer's Market, IMAX and Marbles, which is on Saunders Street. We left about 1p. A tornado touched down on Saunders Street at 3p. Too close for comfort.

Sunday we met some friends at Touch A Truck. It's a local event to raise $ for charity. Every truck you can think of parks in the lot at a local mall and the kids climb on them, sit in the driver's seat, etc. But you can not get in the back of the cement mixer (much to Jackie's chagrin).

The best part was the Flight For Life Helicopter b/c they watched it leave too! And of course, face painting. Because we neeeeeever to that!

They did let the kids beep the horns as much as they wanted. In every vehicle. Did I mention there were semi's and busses there with really loud horns?

Tennis Anyone?

Jackie started tennis lessons last month. Our neighbor coaches and asked if we wanted to join her 8-wk class. Of course!

J was super excited! She couldn’t wait to get her new tennis racquet - or as CamO calls it, her tennis rocket. And her cool new tennis shirt. (J pictured here with Miss Angela, her coach).

3 weeks into it, the new tennis rocket is sweeeet. The t-shirt still hasn’t come and tennis lessons are ‘boring.’

“How much longer do I have to take tennis?”

  

...til your t-shirt comes, JBird.

Maybe we can see if Angela would teach tennis lessons in our community! Then I wouldn’t have to drive so far when the kids decide this is boring after 2 weeks.

Sneezing & Wheezing

Allergy season is upon us. In full force. And this is the first sickness since strep throat pre-surgery. So we’re due. The kids are skilled at setting up their own breathing treatments. Can’t say I’m proud of that skill, but it is what it is.

Pine pollen is everywhere! The inside of my sunglasses are yellow after an hour outside w/ the kids. This is a pic of pollen in our screened-in porch! The dogs track in yellow paw prints. But it’s only for a few more weeks. I hope.

Meat Bias: Is it genetic? A case study.

For the record, I’m not a fan of meat and haven’t really been for as long as I can remember. I’m not a card-carrying member of PETA. I simply don’t like meat. I can tell you what I don’t like about meat, but then you’d stop eating it too. Since Oprah’s meat remarks had a drastic effect on meat consumption a few yrs back, I’ll restrain, lest I cause more of an economic crisis. Raw cookie dough-bring it on!

So, Jackie has never really liked meat. Even as an infant, she wouldn’t eat pureed chicken in applesauce. Or turkey with rice... Once I even tried to give her a jelly and ham sandwich. Yeah, I really did. Seven years later, she still doesn’t eat meat. According to J, processed meat, as in turkey hot dogs, is not considered meat. It’s just hot dogs. Once she learned that ham comes from pigs, she stopped eating ham. “I don’t eat PIG, Mom. Ugh.” Or turkey. Or beef.

Recently, I managed to sneak some chicken fingers on her plate while she was watching a movie.

J: “Mom, are these really fingers from a chicken?”

Me: (Trying very hard not to laugh, but realizing the implications of my response) “Umm, no. They’re actually chicken breasts.”

J: “What?! Why would I eat chicken breasts?”

Me: “I don’t know, JBird. Why would you eat chicken fingers?”

J: (closely inspecting her chicken fingers) “Is this meat?”

Me: “What?! Nooooo! It’s chicken fingers! Like hot dogs!”

J: “Oh. Ok.”


So the other day, I was making a soup with...(gasp)...beef tips in it. I was cubing it when J walked in the kitchen.

J: “What’s THAT mom?”

Me: “What do you think it is?” (Best parenting line EVER!)

J: “Pig?”

Me: “No.”

J: “Turkey?”

Me: “No.”

J: “Deer?”

Me: “What?! No.”

J: “Chicken?”

Me: “It’s beef, Jackie. It comes from a cow.”

J: “Oh my God. I’m not eating COW! That's disgusting.”


And there you have it. Another generation of meat-haters born!

BTW, DON’T even think about telling JBird bacon comes from pig!

Muck Eye

Although it sounds like Lucy is speaking another language, this is actually English.

Translation: Mighty guy. Mighty guy. Brave and strong and true. Mighty guy....

Thick As Thieves

These 2 are inseparable. Plus, I only have to parent Lucy half as much b/c Jackie's doing all the work!

Cameron likes having his alone time- especially when Jackie is occupied w/ Lucy. Then he can play with her Polly Pockets without being noticed.

Dinner and A Show

It's a well-known fact that when Jackie puts on a show, she pulls out all the stops - the costumes, music, wardrobe changes, home-made microphones, back-up dancers- the whole nine yards. And now she has a few protege's.

Jackie even recruited 1-yr-old Addie. The girls are so eager to participate, dress up and learn from The Master Performer.

They come up with their own routine's involving basketballs, devise their own dance sequences and a whole lotta improv.

 They even have a regular DeeJay. Although, his choice of music doesn't necessarily fit the Creative Director's vision.

CamO and Grandad did a line dance number last month. And they got rave reviews!

The clear favorites are HSM and Annie. But occasionally a love song is played out in the romantic quarters of the garage. This one was Swan Lake.

Self portrait of The Great Performer.

Gluten-Free: Before and After

A few months ago, we decided to try a gluten-free diet for Cameron. We didn't think it would be exceptionally restrictive considering his already restrictive diet. Really, he ate like 4 things anyway. So we got rid of the pretzels, cereals and that was pretty much it for our little man.

Within a week, his skin was noticably less iritated, and he scratched sooooo much less! Prior to gluten-free, he wore a size 2T pants and they fit perfectly. Now he's too tall for 3T pants! I can't tell you what a joy that is.

Cameron has occasional flares, but nothing compared to last fall. He weighs only 4 pounds more than his little sister, but this little guy is actually absorbing the nutrients he does get. That's reason to celebrate!

Goosey Goosey

Since I last blogged, Lucy Lu has made some serious changes. At the New Year, she decided she was done with diapers. And that was it. She’s been out of diapers ever since. (She wears them at night, obviously).

Lucy calls herself Goosey Goosey. Her favorite characters are Pinkalicious & Sponge Pants, aka SpongeBob SquarePants. When I scold her for hitting (which is a favorite activity these days) she cries for Jackie Mommy. Every day, Lucy wears a ballet skirt -- in lieu of jammies at night, over regular clothes during the day, to the playground. Everywhere. And, like her big sister, she changes outfits at least 4 times a day. Her next skill will be laundry sorting and folding.

Proud Moments in Child Rearing

As a parent, there are really wonderful moments watching your child make the right decision or use their best manners. The rest of the time, we hope no one is watching. At least, no one that doesn't have kids.

The other day, I dropped of CamO at school without his busom buddy, Leigh. I should have known flying solo was a recipe for disaster for Cameron. But I reasoned that having Lucy with us would be a great distraction. So we got into class and all the teachers welcomed CamO with huge hello's and great big hugs. He fell to pieces. He grabbed my legs and sobbed. And Lucy called him a crybaby. "Crybaby Cameron" she repeated like 6 times. Just to make sure he heard. Oh he heard, alright! And so did the teachers and rest of the parents dropping off their kid. Lucy and I left the crybaby and ran out the door as fast as we could.

Just like most seven-yr-olds, Jackie has the ability to use the phrase "damn it!" appropriately in context. For example, she was doing her homework and she kept mis-spelling a spelling word. She said "Damn it! I can never remember how to spell people!" Then she slammed down the pencil. So proud of my Jackie Mommy.

This afternoon, Cameron and Leigh were running around the yard belting out "Beverly Hills! Beverly Hills! CHIHUAHUA!!!" They were screaming it over and over at the top of their lungs. I said "What are you yelling for?!" CamO said "We're singing to God!"

Pictures of Home

A friend of ours asked the kids to draw 'a picture of home' for a project she's working on.

 Cameron drew all the essentials. And no extras. (The slash marks are grass). Jackie drew our whole family thinking about our deceased fish, Oreo. (He has xx's for eyes.) AND we all have our ages on our clothes, just because.

Lucy refers to Jackie as 'Jackie Mommy'. Whenever Lu is in trouble, she asks for Jackie Mommy to rescue her!

Boys just wanna have fun

Cameron and Tanner have found new ways to have fun outdoors.

BTW, Jackie is doing great! Let's hope this continues!

And congratulations to our dear friends Jackie and Chris Miller on the arrival of their baby boy, Michael Charles. Yipee big sis, Lauren Kate!

The End of Hibernation

As spring approaches, it’s time to awake from my online hibernation. What better thing to blog about than Jackie’s recent surgery? Hopefully this is the beginning of healthier seasons to come!

Jackie’s surgeon was the same one who put tubes in CamO’s ears 3 yrs prior, so we knew we were in good hands. He took out Jackie’s tonsils, adenoids and her wiggly tooth up front. She was a trooper & had no reactions to medications, thank God! She was eager to get to her hospital ‘hotel room’ for a good night sleep, which is ironic b/c she hadn’t slept well a few nights back.

Two nights ago, I was OOT for business and Dave was On Duty. He said Jackie helped put Lucy to bed in the pack-n-play (rather than the crib b/c Grandad and Grandma Holly were staying in L’s room for a weekend visit). True to form, Jackie climbed in the pack-n-play with Lucy and slept there all night. Together. In a tiny pack-n-play. Dave tried to extract her, but she wouldn’t have it. She woke up the next morning and announced “I had a really rough night!” When she got home from school, she told Dave that she was tired all day b/c she slept so terribly and had such a rough night. Right now, J is snoring the night away.

(J wouldn't let us photograph her pre-op, so Alice was happy to oblige. Alice is in her hospital gown, courtesy of the Ferguson's.)

Cameron & Lucy came to visit J in the hospital this evening. CamO was so taken aback he didn’t want to sit on or near the bed and only blew kisses to Jackie. Lucy made herself at home next to Jbird and ate all of her leftover dinner.
 BFF’s Hunter and Leigh made presents and pictures for Jackie. Hunter wasn’t convinced we would stay with Jackie all night long, so he called his BFF just to make sure she was okay. The picture is of Jackie on the phone w/ Hunter. Jackie's drink of choice was root beer, or as Cameron calls it, fruit beer.

Since we were all comfortable in the “hospital hotel” Cameron and Lucy took a quick shower in the handicap-accessible bathroom in Jackie’s room. The nurses were a bit surprised to see so many naked babies running around a hospital room. I’m sure they’ve seen crazier stuff. One can hope.

The most notable part of the day was when Jackie asked her surgeon if he could put her tonsils in a glass jar for her to keep. After fighting back a laugh, he promised he would keep her tooth in a jar and give that to her. So the toothfairy will visit us in the hospital tonight!

I’m looking fwd to a night with just my Birdie under the watchful eye of nurses and the hospitalist. Wish us a peaceful night!