Monday, September 27, 2010

I Made It!

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I made both this adorable (if I do say so myself) wool felted toadstool as well as successfully navigating a weekend as a solo parent with both girls while Cap was in NYC for work. I rewarded the Girl Gang with a trip to the ice cream store at the end of the weekend.

Jeannine and Jamie came over to entertain me on Saturday afternoon while Clara and Addie ransacked the house. Jeannine taught the grown-up girls how to felt wool critters. Jamie made a luscious red-lipped fish, Jeannine adorned a sweater for Chloe and presented Eliza with a cute little purple felted bird which is already covered in slobber. It's so easy and oh so fun. Be prepared if a little elf sends you something woolly for the holidays!

On the temporary single mom home front, I actually got Addie to her swim lesson, fed both girls more than cereal, went grocery shopping for such necessities as bananas and white wine(got carded, woohoo!), learned a new craft and even, yes, even took both girls to Mother's Beach all by my self. I went to bed last night at 8:30 to recover.

So glad Cap is home now, reading books to Addie while I sip white wine and tippity tap away at the computer. Next weekend I'm thinking I should slip off to a spa. Aren't I spoiled?

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Pen Pals


Addie continues to send Great Grandma Kathy little drawings every now and then and sometimes she gets a letter in return. Grandma Kathy drew Addie pictures of her doggies Imp and Rascal and even a self portrait. I admit though that I'm stumped by the bottom one.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Afternoon Worker

I wanted to capture a photo of the girl's first day of school. Really, it's just like any other weekday since they are both in school full time, year-around and neither of them are switching classrooms or teachers. Still, I thought it would be a good idea to record the day. Or try to.

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Oh Eliza, look over here! Where's Addie? Addie!

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Girls! Look over here at Mommy!

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Hey, Sillyhead! Can you smile? Eliza - look over here!

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Ok! Sit by your sister. Can you do a regular smile?

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Regular smile please! Can you sit a little closer?

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Well, that's a pretty good smile. Eliza, what's wrong? Addie let go of your sister!
Oh forget it.

A week or so into the new school year, Ms. Amy announced that Addie was ready to be an Afternoon Worker. This means no more naps and during that time she can pick some work to do on her own. This could mean painting, language lessons, math or whatever she chooses. Addie thinks this is quite an honor and is very excited.

I had to go pick the girls up early last week when Eliza had a fever. I went into Addie's classroom and her entire class was sitting in a circle in the foyer listening to a story. Where was Addie? "She's with Ms. Amy." said Ms. Layla. I thought, uh-oh, she's in trouble. Instead, she was in the very back of the classroom quietly working in watercolors at a table while Ms. Amy prepped the classroom for the afternoon. Ms. Amy said that she frequently likes to spend some time alone while the other kids read. Her teacher keeps a special tray just for Addie in the closet with watercolors, brushes, sponges for blotting and a cup for water. It was really so sweet to see her concentrating on what she loves in the peace of her classroom. Addie's a pretty amazing little girl and I love that her school encourages her interests. Go Montessori!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

The Birthday (Tea) Party

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"O Looking-Glass creatures," quoth Alice, "draw near!
'Tis an honour to see me, a favour to hear:
'Tis a privilege high to have dinner and tea
Along with the Red Queen, the White Queen, and Me!"

For Eliza's first birthday celebration, we had a tea party -- of sorts. Plenty of homemade sweets and dainty tea sandwiches adorned the pink table but instead of tea we drank champagne with our friends and family. We gave Eliza a cloth bound book of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with the intention of adding to the collection over the years as a birthday tradition. The birthday girl was pretty sleepy during the celebration but stuck it out to enjoy her first taste of sugar.

I was lucky to have my Mom here to plan and execute the panne cotta, creme brulee, mini birthday cupcakes and sugar cookie birds we prepared as well as the delicious smoked salmon and cucumber, radish and fresh mint cream cheese tea sandwiches. Thanks Mummers!


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Cake fingers

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Addie helps with the party decorations. She even learned how to use the paper cutter!

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Addie also helped glitter these little pink birds.

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Pretty tea sandwiches

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The kids table with tea-sized peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

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Panne cotta and lots of hand made pink tissue paper flowers

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Pink frosted sugar cookie birds as party favors

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The after-party

Happy Birthday Eliza! Check out more photos of her birthday party here.

Happy Birthday Eliza Wren

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Happy First Birthday Eliza!

I am lucky and blessed to have such a beautiful, healthy and miraculous little girl in my life as you. Thank you for being such a pure delight.

I love you!

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Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Young Jedi Knights

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A big pop culture milestone occurred in Addie's life on August 13, 2010.

Addie watched Star Wars.

Four years old seems a little young, but Cap insists that he watched Star Wars when he was four and Addie does like scary movies so what the heck. Earlier that week she informed me:

"I can watch Star Wars when I'm ten and go see Lady Gaga* when I'm nine."

The scene in the trash compactor had her unnerved but otherwise she seemed to enjoy it. When the movie was over, we asked if she liked it. She said she did but wanted to watch Transformers again. She loves comic book characters and action heroes which thrills Cap. "Is Iron Man a stormtrooper?" "Tell me a story about Spiderman again."

Of course Eliza is in Jedi training too, but she'll have to wait three more years before she can become one with The Force.

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*I had the chance to see Lady Gaga at Staples Center a few days prior and Addie was rather jealous. Really I was jealous of myself. She's amazing if you get the chance.