Sonora and Christopher, discussing their future with me over Play Doh:
Christopher: When I grow up, I'm going to be a Daddy. A big, strong, Daddy. [Makes muscle pose with arms]
Sonora: And I'm going to be his wife. [Spoken with sublime assurance]
Christopher: Yes, she is going to be my wife.
Sonora: Here, give me your play doh.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Interlude
After the hustle and bustle of moving, we had a great visit with Grandma Sue and Mr. James. And of course, Mandy. Sweet puppy, she endured Xman's endless companionship - he thinks that he is a puppy. And Sonora's loving attentions were also graciously received. The sheer relief of adult conversation and the FOOD made it a vacation for me as well.
Unfortunately, we brought an unwelcome visitor with us... a GERM. Which we promptly gave to Sue. Sonora had an ear infection, and X and I both got sinus infections. A visit to urgent care and the pharmacy completed the festivities. Poor X got the worst rash I have ever seen, he could hardly walk, a bad omen for the next leg of the journey.
Then, a welcome visitor showed... Juli! Woohoo! Fireworks! Parades! Confetti! I had planned to reward whomever showed up to be my slave, I mean savior, with a beach day at Clearwater Beach. But events, exhaustion and diaper rash worked against us. We recouped, the kids commandeered Aunt Juli, and I forced Sue to repack my car. We would soon be ready for Part Deux.
Unfortunately, we brought an unwelcome visitor with us... a GERM. Which we promptly gave to Sue. Sonora had an ear infection, and X and I both got sinus infections. A visit to urgent care and the pharmacy completed the festivities. Poor X got the worst rash I have ever seen, he could hardly walk, a bad omen for the next leg of the journey.
Then, a welcome visitor showed... Juli! Woohoo! Fireworks! Parades! Confetti! I had planned to reward whomever showed up to be my slave, I mean savior, with a beach day at Clearwater Beach. But events, exhaustion and diaper rash worked against us. We recouped, the kids commandeered Aunt Juli, and I forced Sue to repack my car. We would soon be ready for Part Deux.
We have been having a great time with Christopher and Kateri while Jennifer & Steve take their big kids to the public pool for Family Swim evenings. They come over and play in the sprinkler with Sonora & Xavier. The other night, after sprinkler play, I plopped Sonnie, Christopher & Xavier in the bathtub in their suits to rinse off the grass & mud. Here is a conversation overheard in the bathtub:
Christopher, to Sonora: Are you my best friend?
Sonora: Yes. Yes I am.
Xavier: Roooooooooarrrrrrr! (apropos of nothing)
Christopher, to Sonora: Are you my best friend?
Sonora: Yes. Yes I am.
Xavier: Roooooooooarrrrrrr! (apropos of nothing)
Naptime
Are we there yet? 
Wake me when it's over.
Boy, Interrupted.
Cozy.
Award winning video.
We are still recovering...
PS, I checked sunrise and sunset times, we are getting about 45 minutes more daylight every day right now than in Miami. No wonder we are pooped!
Our Excellent Adventure - Prologue
Part the first: In which we make the familiar trek from Miami to Grandma Sue's house in Land O Lakes.
No wait, back up. In which the movers come and take away all our stuff to Albuquerque. Miraculously it didn't rain that day, as it had poured on the original day we were scheduled to load.
I could go farther back, to when Sue and James came to my resue and helped me pack, but then I might keep backing up and never finish this. I am depending on you all to remind me of holes to fill in this narrative - that's what comments are for, right?
Christine, our lovely and dedicated babysitter, deserves a medal. We picked her up at 7:30 AM and dropped her off at about 7:30 PM. She rocked and rolled for 12 hours straight to entertain and distract Sonnie and Xman without any significant break in the action, not even a nap.
I love that girl. Couldn't pay her what she was worth. Thanks, Christine! That left me free to keep an eye on the movers and answer any questions, etc. Also allowed me to do the majority of cleaning after the movers left so we could split the next morning early.... which didn't quite happen due to our landlord's cellphone snafu (he lost it, and we only had each other's cellphone numbers for contact info, hahahaha, not funny).
The next morning I loaded up the car while Sonnie fretted. Finally, she snapped: "NO! MORE! PACKING! I DON'T WANT TO MOVE! I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO OUR REAL HOME!"
Note: I totally agree with you on that one, girl.
Bad Mommy Moment: She leaned on the babygate I had up so they could look out the door and see me loading, and knocked it over. I was trying to get the car loaded so we could GO, we were all beyond our specified tolerances. Instead of comforting her wails I yelled. Really yelled. Sorry, girlfriend. Not proud of that.
Finally hooked up with the landlord at noonish, gave him his keys, and started to back out the driveway. When I realized I left a cooler bag of sippy cups in the fridge, which I didn't want to replace. Of course he was marking his territory, I mean visiting his long lost restroom and didn't hear the doorbell or my frantic knocking at both doors while kids screamed in car (please don't report me)... Finally, got the cooler bag and backed out of the driveway. Sigh. Bathed in sweat and tears. And realized the gas tank was empty. Gaaaaaah! But easily remedied and FINALLY on our way out of town. Wheeeeeee!
A bit of luck - still no rain, only a few sprinkles on the way up. Bye Alligator Alley. Bye McDonald's at exits 101 and 170. I will miss these things, amazingly. I will NOT miss the last part of the journey, since we no longer take 275/St. Petersburg to get to our Tampa house, instead taking 75 all the way up to Land O Lakes.
Ah, sweet relief pulling into the driveway of Grandma Sue's and Mr. James's house. Little did we realize an unwelcome guest rode with us.
No wait, back up. In which the movers come and take away all our stuff to Albuquerque. Miraculously it didn't rain that day, as it had poured on the original day we were scheduled to load.
I could go farther back, to when Sue and James came to my resue and helped me pack, but then I might keep backing up and never finish this. I am depending on you all to remind me of holes to fill in this narrative - that's what comments are for, right?
Christine, our lovely and dedicated babysitter, deserves a medal. We picked her up at 7:30 AM and dropped her off at about 7:30 PM. She rocked and rolled for 12 hours straight to entertain and distract Sonnie and Xman without any significant break in the action, not even a nap.
I love that girl. Couldn't pay her what she was worth. Thanks, Christine! That left me free to keep an eye on the movers and answer any questions, etc. Also allowed me to do the majority of cleaning after the movers left so we could split the next morning early.... which didn't quite happen due to our landlord's cellphone snafu (he lost it, and we only had each other's cellphone numbers for contact info, hahahaha, not funny).
The next morning I loaded up the car while Sonnie fretted. Finally, she snapped: "NO! MORE! PACKING! I DON'T WANT TO MOVE! I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO OUR REAL HOME!"
Note: I totally agree with you on that one, girl.
Bad Mommy Moment: She leaned on the babygate I had up so they could look out the door and see me loading, and knocked it over. I was trying to get the car loaded so we could GO, we were all beyond our specified tolerances. Instead of comforting her wails I yelled. Really yelled. Sorry, girlfriend. Not proud of that.
Finally hooked up with the landlord at noonish, gave him his keys, and started to back out the driveway. When I realized I left a cooler bag of sippy cups in the fridge, which I didn't want to replace. Of course he was marking his territory, I mean visiting his long lost restroom and didn't hear the doorbell or my frantic knocking at both doors while kids screamed in car (please don't report me)... Finally, got the cooler bag and backed out of the driveway. Sigh. Bathed in sweat and tears. And realized the gas tank was empty. Gaaaaaah! But easily remedied and FINALLY on our way out of town. Wheeeeeee!
A bit of luck - still no rain, only a few sprinkles on the way up. Bye Alligator Alley. Bye McDonald's at exits 101 and 170. I will miss these things, amazingly. I will NOT miss the last part of the journey, since we no longer take 275/St. Petersburg to get to our Tampa house, instead taking 75 all the way up to Land O Lakes.
Ah, sweet relief pulling into the driveway of Grandma Sue's and Mr. James's house. Little did we realize an unwelcome guest rode with us.
Impressive, no?
After.
Before.Here's a look at what I packed into our car, and how Sue packed it all into the back of my car so we had room for Juli to ride with us:
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
How the Mighty Have Fallen
Add this to the list of things I never thought I would say: Thank God for Barney.
We successfully resisted the purple dinosaur for 4.5 years. Sonora barely knew he existed, except for a couple of close calls with Barney toys and books. But she (Sonora) chose a $5 Barney video for Xavier at Target the other day. I died a little inside, but didn't make Grandma Sue put it back. And am I glad for that.
Tonight after a long and energetic day, she went to sleep with a smile. We watched the video at bedtime and she looked more relaxed and happy than she has since the Big Move started. I think it was pure escapism, and for that I salute you, Barney.
We successfully resisted the purple dinosaur for 4.5 years. Sonora barely knew he existed, except for a couple of close calls with Barney toys and books. But she (Sonora) chose a $5 Barney video for Xavier at Target the other day. I died a little inside, but didn't make Grandma Sue put it back. And am I glad for that.
Tonight after a long and energetic day, she went to sleep with a smile. We watched the video at bedtime and she looked more relaxed and happy than she has since the Big Move started. I think it was pure escapism, and for that I salute you, Barney.
