First Talk (featuring Ginger Art!)

You might remember when Hazel gave her first talk about a year and a half ago. In that post I explained The Gideon Method, which we use for creating and giving talks. Worked great.

So when Ginger was recently asked to give a talk in Primary at church, we decided to try the same route. The topic she was given was "The scriptures teach that the gospel shall be preached in all the world." The theme for the year is "I know the scriptures are true" so all the monthly topics have to do with the scriptures. I figured we could work with that.

So one afternoon while Poppy was sleeping, Ginger and I sat on my bed with our scriptures and a notepad to brainstorm. We talked about the scriptures. We talked about preaching the gospel and missionaries. And we pretty quickly came up with the talk. I pretty much just wrote down exactly what she said, and rearranged it slightly. Then I gave her 5x7 cards and markers and stood back. She wanted to do all the art herself, which is perfect because she knew exactly what each picture meant to her, and it made the memorizing almost effortless. We practiced the heck out of it for about a week, then on Sunday she stood up with confidence and delivered it like a pro. That's my girl.

"The Scriptures Teach that the Gospel Shall be Preached in All the World"
by Ginger Hickman
September 4, 2011

In Matthew 24:14, Jesus says, "This gospel shall be preached in all the world." He's talking about missionaries.
(Jesus is in the middle and the others are "people.")

Missionaries can be a boy or a girl. Girl missionaries are called Sisters and boy missionaries are called Elders. Missionaries work very hard to be obedient and represent Jesus Christ.
(This one is a girl missionary. You can tell from the hair. Apparently.)

This is my Aunt Natalee. Right now she is on a mission in Romania. In a recent letter she said, "Missionary work really keeps you on your toes." That means you have to be prepared for anything because you never know what might happen.
(Ed's youngest sister; you can follow Nat's missionary adventures here.)

This is my cousin Thompson. Next year he'll go on a mission. He wants to go to Russia, but he'll go wherever the Lord says.
(Taken outside the Newseum when Thompson was evacuated from William & Mary for hurricane Irene and stayed with us for the weekend.)

When I grow up and be a missionary I want to go to New York to help teach the gospel.
(The black one is Ginger - "because missionaries wear black" - and the gray one is the Statue of Liberty.)
I know the scriptures are true. I know the gospel is true because the gospel is in the scriptures and the scriptures are true.
(This one is Ginger's scripture case - it's green with pink flowers on it.)

Dinner Swap, Week 1

OK, Week 1 of the Dinner Swap is done and it was faaaabulous! I feel like a crazy person one day and a queen in the lap of luxury three days. If this week is any indication, worth it. Usually we'll swap Monday through Thursday but since it was Labor Day this week we did Tuesday through Friday. Here's the low-down.

Tuesday (my day)
Thai Steak Salad (prepared components with assembly instructions - recipe here)
Egg rolls (frozen from Costco, cooked, dipping sauce included)
Mixed fresh tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, kiwi)

It was a good day for me to go first because it was the first day of school for everyone else, whereas Hazel has been in school for a month already. I kept my whole day clear, save one small errand, and paced myself on prep throughout the day. But despite doing everything you can ahead of time, there are just some things you have to do in the last hour, so that makes the afternoon a bit hectic. BUT it was much easier this time than the two summer trials, probably because my expectations, and execution, were more realistic. And this time my kitchen was just really messy, and not the grenade explosion it was the last two times. Good thing, because my dishwasher is broken and I am handwashing these days. Ah, takes me back to New York...

I think it helps to make something you're very familiar with - I've made this salad at least six different times - it's a favorite at our house. It helps to know what can be done ahead, and how much work each step is. Overall it was very doable (and delicious, in my opinion!) I left at 5:38 and the three drop-offs took about 20 minutes. Not bad.

Wednesday
Pineapple Meatballs over linguini
Fruit (watermelon & grapes)
Homemade wheat bread

What I did from 4-6pm instead of making dinner: Baked an afterschool banana snack cake, and sat down and ate it with the girls. Then since I wasn't cooking dinner, I made a big batch of breakfast burritos* for the freezer. Then I did some math "homework" with Ginger (counting household things and then graphing them) while Hazel did her homework, and then I read Poppy a book. Then I laid down on the couch and read a magazine until dinner came. Call it a life of luxury.

But poor Shanna! It was her day to cook, and she had meticulously planned out her day to time things right for a 5pm delivery. But her kids' school bus was late. And later. And it kept not coming. For 45 minutes she stood out in the rain waiting for that bus, when she really needed to be in her kitchen getting everything done. Which just goes to show how stressful cooking day, and especially that last hour, can be, no matter how well-planned. And which is why we have a generous 1-hour window for delivery (5 to 6pm). So she meant to bring it at five and it came closer to six. To her it was horrifically stressful. But to me? Well it just meant I got to read a few more pages of my magazine. No big whoop.

Hickman Breakfast Burritos: Cook 1 lb. bulk breakfast sausage, pour into a big bowl. In same pan cook 1 bag Simply Potatoes diced potatoes and onions according to directions (about 15 minutes, turning every few minutes until browned and crispy; their Southwest hash browns are also good in this), I also add some seasoning salt; pour into the bowl with sausage. In same pan scramble about 8 eggs with a splash of milk and some Mrs. Dash; add to bowl. Grate about 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese and add to bowl. Mix it all up. Add scant 1-cupfuls onto large burrito-size tortillas, roll up with ends tucked in, and wrap individually with plastic wrap. Place in large Ziploc freezer bags (about 4-5 per bag) and freeze. To reheat, partially unwrap and microwave for about 1 to 2 minutes. Makes about 9

Thursday
Tender slow-cooked beef au jus
Red-skinned mashed potatoes
Steamed broccoli
Onion-rosemary focaccia

What I did instead: Sat down at the counter next to Hazel - while she did her homework I slowly sifted through the "Thursday Express" weekly folder full of finished work and flyers. Got the girls a snack. Took about 10 minutes "Mommy alone time" in my room - started a new book while I was in there (I got a stack from the local Borders at 70% off.) Came down and sent the girls upstairs to clean and play. Had a nice long talk with Ed on the phone, who's in Phoenix all week. Knocked out a few blog posts. My kitchen counters stayed clean the whole time! AND. Incidentally it was a wicked rainy day, lots of thunder and rain coming down in sheets. Very happy I didn't have to deliver that day. Or cook. Or do anything but wait around for a fabulous dinner to come to me!!!

Friday
Herbed tilapia
Carrots with dill
Zucchini Carpaccio

What I did instead: It was the first sunny day all week so when we got home from picking up Hazel, the girls got in swimsuits and I filled up the baby pool and water table out back for them. Kept an eye on them outside while I caught up on email and worked on some of the many blog posts I have backlogged in my head. Then when the girls came in I gave them all a small handful of M&M's and performed my "I-Don't-Have-to-Make-Dinner" song and dance. Helped them get dried off and dressed, and held Poppy and sang with her and kissed her until dinner came. What a great Friday afternoon.

And here is a direct, unsolicited, unedited quote from Ginger just now - "Mom, you know why I like dinner exchanges?"

"Why?"

"Because I get to talk to you when you're supposed to be making dinner."

If that doesn't sum it up nothing can. Laaaaa for the Dinner Swap!!!

Dinner Swap

This is definitely the coolest, most functional, positively life-saving idea I have heard in a long time. Some friends and I are doing a Dinner Swap.

Have you heard of this idea? You make dinner, lots of it, one day and deliver it to the others. Then on the other days someone brings you dinner. Genius.

First I will tell you why I need this so badly. Then I will tell you how we put it together. In my next post, I will tell you how it's going so far.

This is perfect for people like me - lots of kids (lots means more than one), late-working husband, and I think this is the kicker - at least one kid in school. Something about that 4pm hour when all the kids have come back together and there is mayhem and homework and dinner prep and usually some kind of crying makes me slightly suicidal. Case in point - a few weeks ago when Hazel had her first night of homework. It was 4:30. Poppy was screaming hungry so I put her in her high chair and filled her tray with kinda-sorta healthy stuff to keep her happy and quiet. I was trying to work with Hazel on her homework - first, to understand what she was to do, then to help her understand, then to help/supervise her doing it. Ginger was climbing all over Hazel because she was both bored and jealous of the homework. So I gave Ginger a new coloring book to keep her busy. Then Hazel was distracted by the coloring book. Then Poppy ran out of snacks and started screaming again. And who was making dinner? That's right, no one. I think we had popcorn and cereal that night. I need someone to bring us dinner. As often as possible.

So a few friends cooked up The Swap. One has a sister in another state that does it so we got her details, and put our own group together. We did two trial runs in the summer with whoever was in town. It was a good experience because I realized cooking for multiple families is a different way of cooking, one I'm not used to, and my efforts were way too ambitious, leaving me exhausted and depleted each time. But having the others bring me dinner was like heaven, so I resolved to stick it out and adjust, pacing myself differently.

Here's how we're doing our group:

• It works best if there are four families. We have eight so we are doing two groups of four, and rotating each month. The plan is to do this just during the school year, or at least through December and then reevaluate.
• Dinner consists of a main course and two sides. Each family receives four adult portions. We each have 2-4 kids so this works out just right, maybe with occasional leftovers. Also makes it easy to multiply recipes since so many serve 4. So each time you are making 16 servings. There does not have to be meat. Use the suggested budget as your guideline. Dessert is not required (but you know me...)
• We pitched in to buy enough 8x8 square pans for each group. Other than that we will bring the food in disposable or otherwise non-returnable packaging (Ziploc bags, Gladware, etc.) Eventually they will all get recycled back into the group and you don't have to worry about getting anyone's Tupperware back to them.
• Suggested budget is $45 for each person's four meals. So far I have gone over budget each time. Not sure if it is set too low or I need to change. I am not making gourmet stuff here. For now I am just focusing on being able to plan, make, and deliver the food; once I get that down I will work on reigning in my budget.
• You do not need to provide condiments (butter, ketchup, salad dressing, etc.) unless they are specific to your dish. When providing salad dressing, give it separately so it doesn't wilt the veggies plus some kids don't like dressing.
• Besides the dressing thing, we do not cater to any pickiness. There are no food allergies in our group so anything goes. It's a great chance to broaden our kids' palates and teach them you eat what you get. You can't ever say, "Please don't give us ____." And you can't ever say "We didn't like ____."
• Dinner delivery is between 5-6 pm. Text everyone when you're on your way. If they're not home, leave it on the doorstep. No need to chat at the door - everyone will have a van full of kids waiting. Some things you can bring uncooked, if they are better freshly done, like noodles for example. Or if a dish is best hot from the oven, text everyone to preheat, and deliver it a little early so they can cook it at home.
• We have a loose policy about letting everyone know what you're bringing, just so there aren't blatant duplicates like three nights of lasagna. I planned out my first 3-4 weeks and just emailed them to everyone. Some did the same, others just a quick email the week of. Everyone plans differently. I do not even care as long as we're getting dinner and I am not cooking it! Heaven!

We are starting for real this week. I will let you know how it goes.

Summer of Kelly

Hey, y'all.

That's how Kelly always greets us, and I have developed a surprising fondness for the warm southern saying. All part of what I call "The Kelly Effect."

I've composed this post a few different times, and have always failed to do justice to Kelly or what I really want to say about her. So I'm going to just do my best and keep it short.

Kelly is an enthusiastic soul from a small town in Florida. Her life story is astounding, due in part to her adventurous nature. In June Kelly felt the call of the road and decided to give D.C. a whirl. We didn't know her beforehand, but through a church email I felt a prompting to offer her short-term lodging while she looked for a place to live. A part of me hesitated to let a stranger in, but a larger part knew something good would come of it.

Kelly arrived in her black Buick on July 3 and quickly set herself up neatly in a corner of our office. An air mattress, some clothes, and a generous warmth that quickly filled our whole house. Kelly loves to wash dishes. She admittedly loves fast food but is also a vegetarian ("I'll have a Big Mac but sub tomatoes for the meat.") She loves jewelry and can fix her own car. The girls swarmed to her like bees to honey, and so did I. She has a laid-back way that made her willing, no, happy, to play games with them, watch them do tricks, make art.

Between work and church responsibilities, Ed was gone most of July, so Kelly was like a roommate to me, too. After the girls went to bed, Kelly and I would wash dishes, talk, eat ice cream, and watch chick flicks. Early on we discovered a shared crush on Scott McGillivray, and a Twilight rivalry (she's Team Jacob but she has only seen the movies, not read the books, so she doesn't have the whole picture.) She regaled me with stories of her twin sister Kerry, who went and got married in Vegas during Kelly's time with us. And her "Daddy", who's never been farther than Alabama in his whole life. And her brother "Bubba" who turned 22 during July, and how she wishes he would do something with his life. I learned quickly her signature phrases - "Hey y'all", "What's going on?" and "I'm only a text away!"

And the babysitting! One night I went out to the movies with a friend! On a weeknight! And then we went out for a cupcake after! One Sunday morning I was stricken hard and fast with strep throat. Ed was at a meeting so Kelly stayed with the girls while I went to Urgent Care. One time when Ed was in town we had a date - a DATE! -, and Kelly babysat. Sure, she put on Poppy's diaper backwards but no harm done and we all had a good laugh on it. Several times I ran some night errands, which I never could have done otherwise.

Kelly was with us for five weeks, then she moved into an apartment nearby so we still see each other. But it was terribly sad to let her go. She is like a sister, a friend, an aunt. What I really want to say, and give ode to, is that her month with us was like a balm. I was sick for most of it, and tired the rest of the time. I was lonely without Ed, and her cheery companionship provided distraction and comfort when I would otherwise be spending my time self-medicating with bad TV and cheap chocolate. She helped with the kids when I was stressed out and worn down. And, a few times when I felt so overwhelmed by inadequacy, discouragement and near self-loathing, she kindly piped up with a compliment that there's no way she could have known I needed.

Here's a picture of Kelly with the girls. You can just see how much they love her. I still didn't do it, or her, justice, but I needed to try. Because of Kelly, it was a great summer.

Art Tuesday: Painting Cookies

You knew it was coming, right? Inevitable. Of course, somehow, someday, there would be baking on Art Tuesday. At first I thought of decorating cookies. King Arthur Flour sells some cool-looking food grade markers I wanted to try. Or, if not, just frosting and sprinkles - who doesn't love that? But then I poked around the internet a bit and found this idea.

You make "paint" out of egg yolks and food coloring, and brush it on raw sugar cookie dough cut-outs, then bake. And you end up with a shiny, slightly crackled, remarkably vibrant painted cookie. Perfect!Painting Cookies
What you need:

• Sugar cookie dough (I use this recipe)
• Egg yolks (2 for each color you want to make)
• Food coloring
• New clean paintbrushes
• Water
  
• Cookie sheets lined with silpat or parchment

What to do:
1. Prepare: Make sure you use NEW paintbrushes and wash them really well with soap and boiling water. Also make your sugar cookie dough ahead of time (allow for chill time.) Roll out and cut into desired shapes. Stack with waxed paper between them and refrigerate until ready to use. They're much easier to paint when they're cold and stiff.

2. Make the paint: Stir 2 egg yolks with 2 tsp water. Add a few drops of food coloring and stir until you get the color you want. So pretty!3. Paint: Set up each kid with a work station - a plate, brush, bowl of water for rinsing, and a dough shape. Don't forget to preheat your oven for the baking! Now paint, paint, paint and put them on the cookie sheets as they are finished. Bake them when a sheet is full. Of course, as fun as painting cookies is, we could not resist the call of the sprinkles. So I baked some of the cookies plain and dipped them in a white glaze (from this recipe) - sprinkles, sprinkles, sprinkles!

Shaken

About 20 minutes ago I was standing out on our back deck with Poppy and Ginger, filling the plastic pool from the hose. Both neighbors have been having work done in and out of their houses so when a loud vibration started I thought nothing of it. But when the entire deck, shed and house behind me shook violently, my heart stopped and my mind raced. Drilling? Massive vehicle? Surely not...an earthquake?

In a few seconds it was over and I brought the girls inside, too freaked out to think clearly. In a hurricane, get to a bathroom. In an earthquake...? In or outside? My elderly neighbors came over to see if we were OK and to make sure they weren't going crazy. Things had fallen off their shelves. Pictures had swung on their nails. My friend texted to see if we felt it. I went online to get some news. 5.8 or 5.9 apparently, and felt from NC to MA. Centered near or around Richmond, maybe?

I just talked to the UPS guy and asked if he's seen any damage. He said no, mostly car alarms. He was walking on a driveway and didn't even feel it. Said his fiance in Fredericksburg (halfway to Richmond) had to evacuate the building where she works for stuff falling. I am anxious to get Hazel home from school and gather my chicks under my wings.

Needless to say, we are...shaken.

UPDATE: From the Post. Gotta say, the suggestion this was a foreshock is not comforting.

Art Tuesday: Fill the Canvas

We had to skip or reschedule a couple Art Tuesdays because of travel and illness - the ups and downs of summer! - but we are back on track for at least a few more weeks.

This week the project was simple, yet one none of the kids had done before. They each received an 11x14 canvas ($2.99 for a 3-pack at Michael's!), and chose a paint brush.
With a paper plate for a palette, they chose four colors from the array of glitter paint offered. A glass of water for rinsing, and a paper towel for dabbing, and they were off to the races.

The objective? Fill the canvas. That's it. Which is harder for some artists than others, depending on style and paintbrush size. But a worthy goal for all.Poppy kept busy running around chasing a tennis ball, yelling, eating Goldfish, etc. The usual.
Fill the Canvas
What you need:

• paint brushes (thicker than thin)
• paint (tempera, glitter, acrylic, whatever - maybe not watercolor for this)
• a canvas for each kid
• rinsing water
• paper plate palettes
• paper towels

What to do:
Give each kid a canvas, paintbrush, water cup, paper towel and choice of paints on the palette. Tell them to fill the canvas, even to the very edges. Hint: Dry by placing them on overturned bowls so they are easier to lift without touching the edges.

First Day, First Grade

It's pretty anticlimactic to go back to school a scant 5 1/2 weeks after you got out. It was hot then and it's still hot now. But it pays back later when we have off-peak breaks in nice weather. we did our best to pack the summer full of fun, but it was also dappled with disappointments - cancelled swim lessons for rain, cancelled playdates for sickness, etc. Regular life stuff, which unfortunately my girls take pretty hard.

But we checked off over half of the stuff on my lengthy "Summer Fun" lists, so that's pretty good. The rest I'll just have to do with two girls because Hazel is back to school! And now she is a "grader", as the kindergarteners call the older kids. And Ed and I are taking that term to the bank. "Graders can shower without help. Graders can make their own lunch. Graders help more around the house." Et cetera.
This morning we sent her off in style - new jumper from Mini Boden. Backpack and shoes still good from last year. Ginger wore her new backpack (empty) in honor of the occasion. Hazel's missing two teeth currently, and growing her bangs out (hence the bangs-braid - there are also a lot of clips and headbands holding them back these days.) We didn't do a lick of math or reading practice over the summer (I'm defiant that way), but we did learn about art, swimming, space, Amelia Earhart, farm animals, root beer floats, fish, pizza, idioms, music and of course baking. Always baking. It was an awesome summer.
And although Hazel's back in school, summer's not really over for us. In August we have a family reunion, a beach trip, more Art Tuesdays, pool passes, and lots more fun adventures. We'll just have to work around the school schedule.

The Name of the Wind

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was my first delve into "fantasy" and I was reluctant. But a friend with trusted taste recommended it so I reserved it through the library, and by the time it came up my turn I had totally forgotten. Why not, I said. I've been on a pleasure-reading hold for a long time. The last few I tried I couldn't get into. I figured this would be the same, and even if I liked it, no way could I finish the almost 700 pages in the 3 weeks I had it from the library. WRONG!

Finished it in 2 weeks and I am a very slow reader. The first 100 pages were especially slow, trying to get my bearings. Trying to figure out what this new world was all about and what would be important for later. But once it gets all set up and takes off it is SO EXCITING. A perfect escape.

It's kind of fun learning about a "new" world, what constitutes magic, what the physical laws are, who can do what, the superstitious/religious traditions, social structure, etc. Similar enough to our own to relate (i.e., money = power), but different enough to tickle the brain and keep me awake. Plus I have come to adore the main character. Excellent, excellent characters, pacing, and just enough twists and turns.

The hold-my-attention-ness of it reminds me of "Outlander" but thankfully without the monumental amounts of graphic sex - take note - it's clean! Good for prudes and youth as well as anyone else. I can't wait in the library queue for the second in this trilogy so I have ordered it and will then trade it on paperbackswap. But the third isn't written yet! I'll just have to savor the second and try to read it extra slowly.



View all my reviews

Art Tuesday: Bubble Prints

Among other things, summer is bubble season. And colorful. And a good time to make messes. So that was Art Tuesday this week.

No clever picture books. No famous artists. Just us. And soap, paint and straws.

Bubble Prints
What you need:

• aluminum pie or cake pans
• tempera paint
• bubble solution (or make your own, see below)
• scissors
• straws
• paper (printer, construction or watercolor)
• newspapers
  

What to do:
1. Cover the work area with newspapers. This is a splattery project!

2. In each pan, combine 1 cup bubble solution and 1/2 cup tempera paint. Stir well. (To make homemade bubble solution, combine 3 cups water, 1 cup dish soap and 1/4 cup corn syrup.)
3. **SUPER HELPFUL TIP: Cut one or two small holes in the straws - this will still allow blowing but help avoid accidental "sipping"!

Stick one end of the straw in the paint solution. Gently blow until pan is just overflowing with bubbles. Some may pop in this step and splatter on the newspaper and kids' arms and faces.
4. Place paper over bubble pile and lower down, allowing the paint bubbles to pop against the paper.
You can do multiple pops and/or colors on each paper for a cool look.
These prints can make nice background "mattes" for photos in frames, or, laminated, cool placemats. I did a few prints on heavy watercolor paper and plan to frame them for more homemade art decor in our family room if I ever get the darn thing painted and rearranged. I've only been planning it for a year.

Backpack Time, Yet Again

Some of you may think it's still summer, but for us, mid-July is practically back-to-school. Hazel goes into FIRST GRADE August 2. Which means school supplies and a detailed wardrobe assessment. Her Land's End backpack from last year is still in good shape, though the mesh water bottle holder is wearing through, what can you do?

Then, come September, Ginger will go back to preschool. And this year, as a 4-year-old, she will stay for lunch two days a week. Which means the girl needs a lunchbox. So I poked around a bit online. Liked what I saw at Garnet Hill, and then when I read closer, I really liked it. This summer (through August 9), if you buy a kids' backpack you get the matching lunchbox free. And free shipping.

GH's backpacks are average in quality I'd say, and their greatest flaw is lack of reinforcement across the bottom where holes are sure to wear. But what I really love about them is the sternum strap. My kids can barely keep a backpack on without one so I did a home-sew job on their packs last year. I can't believe all kids packs don't have them. But Garnet Hill does so that is a double-bonus point in their favor.

Ginger picked the aqua/cherry blossoms set. Pretty cute.

Art Tuesday: Abstract Art Pillowcases

This week's Art Tuesday was not exactly a start-to-finish project, but rather a combination of a la carte art components. First, we discussed the concept of abstract art - that sculptures, drawings, and paintings do not necessarily have to look like something to be great art. Combinations of lines, shapes, and colors can evoke energy, mood, feelings and images to both artist and audience.
Next, we discussed the idea of planning and sketching. Leaning on last week's Seurat lesson, Seurat made dozens (hundreds?) of sketches and plans before painting La Grande Jatte.

Those both being said, we gave the kids white paper and nice art pencils and encouraged them to do some abstract sketching. Kids are way better at that than adults, at least in my house.

Finally, we handed them their blank canvases (white pillowcases) and medium (fabric markers) and told them to recreate a finished copy of their sketch in color on the pillowcases.

Ginger was especially focused on this project. Her sketch was not abstract; I think this first introduction to abstract art did not sink very deep. She drew our family. But the concept of sketching and planning drove home - she must have done three or four sketches before being satisfied and taking on the pillowcase. Sorry I forgot a picture of the final project - it took her so long the rest of us had moved on by the time she finished.

So this project doesn't really have a supply list and directions. It was abstract! But any one of these components - abstract art, planning, pillowcases - would be a great foundation for any number of art days.

"Chris" & Goo

Here's how the text thread went with my friend this afternoon -

G: Edward barbies are on clearance at target. $19!! Just thought you should know. :D

Me: Did u buy them out?!

G: No. I'm not the big fan...Still here. Want me to pick one up? 2 left.

Me: Yes just 1 pls.

G: You got it!

So a little while later she showed up with my new distance-impulse-buy. I thought the girls would make good use of a boy doll to play father/brother/husband/son/boy cousin roles with all our girl dolls. And if we're going to have a boy doll, I can think of none better than this extra tall romantic vegetarian vampire with sparkly skin!

I pulled him out of the box and showed him to the girls. I told them his name is Edward. They just laughed, thought it was a joke because their Dad's name is Ed. So they decided to rename him: Chris Edward Contagible. That is what they agreed upon.

Hazel wanted to know about the movie he's in; I told her I'd tell her when she's older. Knowing how it affected me, let's avoid that obsession as long as we can!They immediately got out their green goo they made at camp last week and started making stuff for him. Here is his jumprope. And here is a purse for whoever he marries. (He is currently betrothed to at least two dolls, Ariel and Golda, and is cousin to Mulan, who our girls call Muland.) I love a purse with long straps. And since I've started writing this post they've made scarves for his children, a rug and a fireplace for his house (note to self: fireplaces in real life probably shouldn't be made of "goo.") Oh, my, and Hazel has just gone upstairs to get a bunch of dolls to be his family. And Ginger just told me, "Whew, all this carpenting is making me tired. But I can do it! A carpenter never gives up!" I may have written this post too soon, this may be an hour or more of play.

Yeah, it's a good day at our house.

UPDATE, 11:23 pm - "Chris" joined us at the dinner table. He sat on Ginger's lap and ate part of her food. We checked his legs to see if they are sparkly - no. Hazel begged again to know the story of "Twilight." I resisted. Our friend/houseguest that is staying with us saw the doll and wanted to take me to bat over the Edward/Jacob thing. But it came out she's only seen the movies, not read the books, so she only has half the story. In the movies, yes, Jacob wins. In the books, I don't think so.

UPDATE, 8/7/11 - Poppy has adopted "Chris" as one of her favorite toys and carries him around the house saying his name. She likes to put him to bed in boxes with a small blanket over him, comb his hair, and hold him during diaper changes. Tonight she wanted him for her snuggle lovey when she went to bed. It's safe to say he has been lovingly embraced by our whole family.

Camp Week!

Phew. This last week the girls went to summer camps. Ginger was in "Vacation Bible School" 9 to 12 every day at the local Presbyterian church - there was a cafe/cooking theme where she learned "God's recipe" for her, including Bible crafts, stories, and verses each day, plus of course songs, cooking and playground time. Her friend Charlotte from our church was in her class, and me and Charlotte's mom seemed to be the only ones daring enough to park in the Mormon church parking lot across the street during pick-up and drop-off. There was a color each day that they dressed in, and lots of other cooking-Bible theme stuff that was hard to get the straight story on, but Ginger loved it. And it was cheap.

Hazel went to lacrosse camp. We've always kind of had lacrosse in mind for her, at least to try, and rising 1st-graders are the youngest that can start, so we decided to jump her in. Rented a stick and mask, bought and molded a mouthguard, and showed up the first day to Marymount campus, where we checked her in and she ran off to the field, immediately starting to toss a ball with another girl. She'd never touched a stick before, never seen the game played. Hazel is just that kind of kid. Camp was every day 9 to 3 - she ate lunch in the cafeteria, mostly root beer floats and the occasional slice of pizza from what I can tell, and a dip in the college pool after lunch for a break from the heat, then back on the field for drills and scrimmages. Campers - about 50 of them - were age 6 to 17, and Hazel was the very youngest. After the first day, the coach told me cheerfully, "She is such a character!" and "Everyone knows her name!" Hmm. Hazel's end-of-day reports were as spotty as Ginger's, but she seemed to love it, especially all the socializing with older girls. Check out this sportsgirl:
And Poppy, well as usual she went to Mommy camp. But on Monday morning she must have felt the buzz of something new happening, because she kept trying on both of the other girls' backpacks, and squawking protest if we took them away. So I hunted down Hazel's old toddler backpack, put Poppy's cup in it, and there. She was ready for her week. She wore that backpack every morning out to the car, and held it on her lap once buckled in. By Wednesday she figured out how to unzip it and to her delight found some fruit snacks in the pocket for her trouble.As for me, I was a busy bee all week. Between the 9 o'clock drop-offs and the 12- and 3 o'clock pick-ups, I tried to get Poppy her naps and also get some serious to-do tasks done, like:

• Scheduling our HVAC maintenance
  
• Calling our health insurance to clarify some points of coverage
  
• Setting up a consultation to finally have my mole removed (yes, that mole, the one that frightens children and distracts adults)
• Hiring an interior designer to help me finally, once and for all, pick some darn colors to paint the family room and downstairs
• Hosting an Art Tuesday
• Preparing a four-family meal for a dinner exchange some friends and I are trying
• Doing a 4-meal session at Let's Dish (more on that in another post)
• Cleaning out and taking inventory of the freezer
• Constantly picking up the entire house
• Doing everyone's laundry
• Catching up on both blogs
• Balancing the budget
• Getting over a cold
• Two trips to the library
• Helping the girls sort and count their piggy bank money, run it through the Coinstar machine, and buy food for the Arlington Food Assistance Center (an outreach project of Ginger's Bible school)
  
• And of course watching a few shows from Netflix and the DVR - currently obsessed with Firefly and Income Property.

Now that camps are over, we are just realizing it is a holiday weekend. And that it's July. This is our one big summer month since Hazel goes back to school the first week of August. Things on the calendar include but are not limited to - a sleepover at Grandma's, a trip to Pie Gourmet, swimming lessons, a show at the Discovery Theater, several playdates, Art Tuesdays, getting the darn family room painted, and maybe even a date with Ed! But that might be asking too much.