ZimWex Family Blog

A girl of adventure...

I got to attend Ruby's 2nd Grade Publishing Party last week.

Below is the text of her latest story...Not at all lacking in imagination!

"Lucky lived in a mountain with her mom, dad, two sisters, and a brother.  She lived a peaceful life, but also, Lucky is a girl of adventure.  She's gone to every place you can think of right now.  But there is one place she didn't go: NYC! She really really really really really wanted to go to NYC. Tomorrow she can go!

She packs and packs, then goes to bed.  In the morning she put her luggage and a zipline on her g-i-a-n-t giant flying c-a-t cat, Then she jumped on her cat and was off!  She saw a lot of buildings.  then...she was hovering over Manhattan. She smelled hot dogs. She saw pretzels.  She saw cars zooming by.

Plop! Lucky and her cat landed in Central Park! Lucky got into a boat nearby and she rode and rode.  The she saw a duck.  She docked her boat and chased after the duck.  Then she crashed into a bush in the z-o-o zoo.  Click! She was locked in!!

Then she remembered she had clipped the zip line to her belt. Then she said "excuse me, sorry for chasing you." "That's ok" said the duck.  "Can you fly out and tie one end of the line to the tree near the giant cat?"asked Lucky.  "Sure" said the duck.

The duck flew out and tied the rope to the tree. Then Lucky zipped across.  Then she leaped on her cat.  A cat named Kala with a  giant head. Lucky took Kala home. She knew that she couldn't keep Kala because she kept trying to eat her goldfish.  So she donated her to Julie Case, her detective friend."*

She then does a tie-in with her friend Polly's book about a girl detective...

She made a little clay figure of Lucky (who I think is so very cool).

But this girl is cooler...

Proud of my girl.**

AZ

*Okay, so it doesn't really end.

**And wishing I could buy her a portable clip-on zip line.

Right Now

I am...

Helping Ella make her costume for today's Egyptian tomb presentation at school.  There are robes, belts, chokers, and lots of eyeliner...

Nagging Jerry to finish working on his tabloid newspaper about The Red Scare and the Crucible.

Amazed at what he can do on the computer, graphics wise.  My children's knowledge of how to make things look professional on the computer FAR surpasses my own....

Cuddling  up on the couch with Ella to watch American Idol, which we have long since embraced.

Rooting for Jessica Sanchez.*

Wondering how she made such a spectacularly bad song choice this week.

Wishing I had a wardrobe (and body) like J Lo's.

Planning our trip to Mexico Sunday. Back to the Mayan Riviera!

Worrying that somehow Ella's passport will not be rush renewed tomorrow.

Chastising myself for finding myself in this position yet again. How many times do I have to miss the expiration of my kid's passports before I learn the lesson?

Marvelling that this is the TENTH time I have applied for a passport for one of my children.

Unwrapping  a honey lemon Ricola cough drop for the cold I appear to be getting.

Staring at the three parking tickets I got this week and thinking about paying them.

Delivering Girl Scout Cookies. Forever.

Smiling as I finished Reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to Ruby tonight. 

Certain that my Harry Potter accents are better than ever.

Reconsidering my afternoon cappucino. Could I do without it?

Awaiting Tanya's return home from London after a week.

Accepting that I am unlikely to get a pedicure prior to my trip.

What are you all up to right now?

AZ

*And Erika Van Pelt..that girl has a cool voice!

 

 

 

How we say goodbye.

Sometimes I am in a tiny bit of a hurry, as anyone who knows me will tell you.  Often, by the time I have gotten to the point in the morning when I am saying goodbye to Violet, who is the last one dropped off in her classroom, I am thinking, "How can I get out of here quickly?".  In my head already is the mounting list of "What's Next".  I find myself longing for a quick drop at the front door.  Kindergarten dropoff, however,  has a 15 minute period in which you can hang out with your child before the rain stick is gently turned, soothingly indicating that it is time for the parents to go.*

Violet has a little routine for what we do next.  And though I confess that I am often thinking, "Seriously? How much longer will this go on?", I thought I would write it down here, so that I could remember it someday when I get a quick goodbye two blocks from school.

Here goes:

1. An Eskimo kiss

2. A butterfly kiss

3. A massive kiss**

4. A hug

5. Walk to the door

6. Run and jump into my arms.

7. Repeat eskimo kiss

8. Repeat butterfly kiss

9. Repeat massive kiss

10. Repeat hug

11. Eskimo kiss across the room

12. Butterfly kiss across the room

13. Blow a kiss

14. Hug ourselves and say goodbye.

And that, my friends, is how Violet and I say goodbye.  And at the end of the day, it's pretty cute.  Its so easy to get thinking about the other very important things coming up in my day, like getting to the cobbler, and getting the groceries, or even meeting a friend for coffee, that I sometimes totally miss how sweet it really is.  Though I don't think I can take a single additional added element....

AZ

 

*And sending children all over the room into fits of hysterics.

**A Massive Kiss is a very huge kiss on the lips (and her favorite kiss).  

Why I Love These Sweatpants.

So...

my son Jerry is not exactly a fashion plate.*  Jerry's fashion choices, since the age of 3, have chiefly revolved around minimizing the numbers of buttons, snaps, or zippers involved.  Ideally, his outfit would have none.  So a typical day for Jerry is a teeshirt or long sleeve tee shirt and sweat pants or athletic pants.  Pity the fool who trys to get him to wear a polo shirt or jeans.  Don't get me started on suits or even button down shirts.**

This has been infuriating occasionally frustrating as a parent, but I have long since given up trying to make him dress differently.***  

However, a conversation I had with Jerry the other day completely altered my perception on how I felt about these clothes, in particular the sweatpants.

We were having a talk about drugs, alcohol, and peer pressure, because believe it or not, these are things that 7th graders need to be equipped to talk about and deal with.  Oy. I had heard of some kids his age who had recently found themselves in a stressful situation where they felt pressured into going along with something they didn't want to and figured the time was right to talk to Jerry about it.  So, after we discussed some nuts and bolts of drug and alcohol abuse, we began to talk about peer pressure, and how I could help him if he needed ways to say "no". The rest of our conversation I will write as dialogue.

Jerry: "Mom, I don't really care what people think of me. I'm not really a follower."

Mom: (thinking he's sweet, but not completely convinced):  "I know, but its still good to talk through these situations".

Jerry:(Persisting): "Mom, look at these sweatpants."

Mom: (Surprised): "What?"

Jerry: "Do you think if I cared what people thought of me I would wear pants like these every day?"

Mom: (beginning to get it, stifles a laugh)

Jerry: "People are always telling me not to wear sweatpants, and to put something nicer on.  But I'm still wearing these.  I really don't care what they say."

Mom: (thinks to herself, "Bless you child" and "Where can I get you more of those sweatpants?")" I guess you have a pretty good point there."

As far as I'm concerned, he can wear the sweatpants to his wedding.

AZ

 

*See Violet en Vogue for a study in contrast.

**Yes, there have been tears....(on both of our parts)...when he is asked to don a shirt with more than one button.

***If we consider long the past few months.

Now we are Six.

I am borrowing the format I used for Ruby 2 1/2 Years ago...seemed time to use it again!

When I was one, I had just begun.

When I was two, I was nearly new.

 When I was three, I was hardly me.

 When I was four, I was not much more.

 

When I was five, I was just alive.

 But now I am six, I'm as clever as clever; so I think I'll be six now forever and ever!

Happy Birthday, my sweet Violet!  You make us happy every day.

AZ

 

In which she forces them to eat new foods:: #2

On tonight's menu....

Macaroni and Cheese that does not come from a box

This is a recipe of my friend Diana's from the school potluck cookbook.  With two children, and this mother, it was a hit, though I probably would go a tiny bit easier on the optional onion the next time.  My youngest child suffered through it one slightly too cheesy elbow at a time, but nonetheless, by drinking water in between bites, managed to get to the end.  My eldest son, and total food wimp most picky eater, refused to try.  About an hour later, he decided to try (because I hadn't given him any other food).  Again, he lost confidence before the first bite. Finally! (at about 8:15 PM) he ate a very small portion.  Victory? The mere fact that there are general histrionics when macaroni and cheese  is served is enough to put me over the edge!

Sauteed Spinach

Simple spinach sauteed in garlic and olive oil.  Not new for me to cook, but new for me to ask my children to eat.  Three children at the table tonight said unprompted, Great Spinach! The other one has, ahem, yet to try it.

Baguette

Clearly not new. But good! And uncontroversial...

Brownies not from a box

Yum, yum, yum. And what else would you expect with one pound of butter and several cups of sugar? they are good and gooey and rich!

So, now you are getting the idea of what qualifies as new in my family.* How did it come to this? But, in any case, I am having fun with the idea of finding new stuff. Next week, chopped liver!

These recipes, I feel I cannot reprint, because if you email cookbook@lrei.org  you can order you own cookbook and support our school.  There are lots of great recipes in there, including from some fabulous chefs like Mario Batali! 

AZ

*Literally any change from the exact recipe  they are used to.

 

Ingredients for a perfect Mother's Day.*

First off, breakfast in bed, prepared very loudly and with some yelling at each other.

Look how well they know me!

Scrambled eggs with a big glass of cranberry juice and a big jar of tabasco...

fruit salad with whipped cream...

homemade crescent rolls...

chips and salsa!!

Even a few roses...

There was just a teeny bit of a mess afterwards...

But we ignored it and watched TV...

And took a walk..

And got some more food! 

And to the river playground.

Best of all, we finished off the day with a screening of (what else?) The Sound of Music!

Thanks kids.

You are the very best.

AZ

*admittedly, quite belated!

 

Field Trip 3:: Tintagel Castle, or where Mommy threw the fifth tantrum at the gift shop

You all know how this one ends.

But let me show you how it began.

A hike in the rain...

With a pretty spectacular view...

To the ruined castle at the top where King Arthur MAY have been born..

Violet is becoming an expert at posing for the blog.

This was a room with a view, huh?

Pretty.

The Mists of Avalon?

It just kind of fuels the imagination.

So, you can see why the tantrums in the gift shop were kind of a downer.

ON THE UP SIDE, however, we made it through THREE, count em THREE gift shops today without incident.  The only difference that I can put my finger on? My complete freak out at the last gift shop.  Perhaps thats what it took.  We shall see....

On this summer solstice....

we enjoyed  a few things....

So...we are out on Long Island for a week without Tanya.  No camp, no school, etc.  Some loyal blog readers MAY remember Camp Zimwex  which debuted at this time last year.  This time around, with the same lack of structure, I decided to try something new, because, well, putting together a camp again just seemed like A LOT of work. So...this year, for each of the five week days that we are here, one of us gets to plan it.  The plans have to be something that everybody can do together.  Everyone has to do them with minimal complaints.  And then, of course, lots of candy, ice cream, dessert and random movies are planned as incentives for everyone COOPERATING!!

Today, was Violet's Day.  Which she was terribly fond of.*  She chose to take us to do the following things:

Feeding cygnets and ducks at the pond in town.  

 

Though those big swans can be mean and scary and make a girl go running!

 Painting on the lawn

 

(After this somehow I never picked up my camera again...)

Swimming and playing categories in the pool.

A trip to the beach AND pond, complete with pond swimming.

A dinner at the Candy Kitchen with peppermint sundaes for dessert.

A late-night hammock swing, firefly gaze, and impromptu game of charades with flashlights.

I think this week is going to work out just fine.

AZ

*Though a bit of a dictator, truth be told.

A perfect moment.

Today was helping parent day at nursery school.  And I'll be frank, after helping in the classroom 3 days a month for the past nine years, sometimes there is a wee part of me that would rather not spend the day at the nursery school.* Though I usually really enjoy it,  it can also be more than a little exhausting to be with a group of 15 three-year-olds for the day.**

Nevertheless, today was our day, and Violet and I headed off this morning, hand in hand, "skipping"***, and admiring just how big our shadows look in the morning.  The morning wasn't especially exceptional in any way. It contained all the normal parts of the day--reading stories, helping with the collages, building with blocks, cutting up snack, monitoring the kids in line...All fun.  Then came the part of the day where the kids go to the yard.  Typically the Helping Parent stays inside and cleans up the classroom.  If your kid likes, they can stay in with you.  Sometimes Violet definitely runs right out to the yard with her friends, but today she wanted to clean with me.   So we settled into a little routine; at first her wiping up the tables and clearing the dishes, while I washed them. 

When she finished, she pulled up a chair to the sink to "help" me with the dishes.  I gave her the drying and took the washing.  She took to the drying right away, commenting "This is the perfect job for me, Mommy".****  I suggested a "cleaning song".  What else?  I figured we would get a little "Whistle While you Work" or some such thing.  Instead I got a 15 minute original song about washing dishes.  For any of you out there who have read the Frances books, it reminded me so much of Frances' original compositions.  It was hysterically funny, very sweetly sung, and, well, long.  

 

Suddenly I was overcome with my own very good fortune.  Watching Violet dry the dishes with me as if it was the most important and fun thing she could be doing in the whole world, smiling her big Violet-y smile, and singing so sweetly, I felt as if I wanted that moment to go on forever and ever.

Of course, in reality, it was time to move on with our day and onto other tasks.  So I gently suggested she find an ending for her song.    Which she did, in short order.  By killing the song's protagonist (the little girl doing dishes with her mother).  Yup.  When I gently suggested that she shouldn't be killing herself off, she sweetly said, "It's not me, Mommy, it's just the girl in the song."  Oh.  Of Course.

And, frankly, it was the quickest way to end the song.

AZ

*Or really wants to delegate to the other mother.

**Not to mention the fact that going three hours without looking at the cell phone makes me realize just how serious my addiction is!

***really an advanced gallop.

****Which Mommy was very excited about and so will now probably abuse her good will and make her dry tom any dishes at home until I kill all of her joy of it.