Sunday, December 23, 2012
At Aunt Sis's
Wonderful stopover with Ken's lovely Aunt Sis and Uncle Ed in the Chicago suburbs before heading up to Wisconsin. Great chance to catch up... and wait out the blizzard that shut down parts of the interstate on the way to Madison.
Sledding
Complete snow gear, but wet gloves. Fortunately Henry and I wear the same size, so we could swap.
All set!
Making the acquaintance of the snow.
(Will we see any on the East Coast this year?)
Another round of sledding anyone?
Works better with a free ride on the back way up. Thanks, Grandpa Ken!
All set!
Making the acquaintance of the snow.
(Will we see any on the East Coast this year?)
Another round of sledding anyone?
Works better with a free ride on the back way up. Thanks, Grandpa Ken!
Reading
Henry, too immersed in Tintin...
...to stop for lunch.
Meanwhile Esti and I are reading Frog and Toad: "The Shivers." A meta-ghost story about how fun it is to be scared and cuddle up together.
Isn't it?
...to stop for lunch.
Meanwhile Esti and I are reading Frog and Toad: "The Shivers." A meta-ghost story about how fun it is to be scared and cuddle up together.
Isn't it?
Happy solstice
My mom is eating mangoes in Brazil. Straight from the tree. Well, to each her own.
We are enjoying a foot of snow in Richland Center, Wisconsin. Last night we drove to some nearby Native American "effigy mounds" for a little celebration.
Happy winter solstice, everyone!
We are enjoying a foot of snow in Richland Center, Wisconsin. Last night we drove to some nearby Native American "effigy mounds" for a little celebration.
Happy winter solstice, everyone!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Saturday Morning Fever--a Playdate
Henry's classmate Harriet and her family came over for brunch of Saturday. Harriet brought over the following multi-media piece. That's Henry on the left (you will have to click on the picture to see the whole thing). The other figures are Harriet (in the middle under the disco ball) and her best friends in the first grade.
Friday, October 05, 2012
On maternal instinct
Tonight I am in Memphis - flew here last night after classes for a "Global Hamlets" symposium at Rhodes College today; returning tomorrow afternoon. It was fun. Went pretty well. I didn't miss my kids at all till the post-conference dinner at my friend Scott's house, with his two cute kids (6 and 19 months) and extremely pregnant wife. In fact I rarely miss my kids when I'm traveling till I go to a colleague's house and see his. Meanwhile Ken is stuck at home with the kids. I hope he is at least getting to sleep. My parents said they'd come take the kids tomorrow, which is a huge help.
Last weekend I was in Scotland, at a conference on the "global crossroads of Arabic literature." Oh, it's all so global. The conference was great, with lots of smart people and a few really good friends; Ann and Jean drove out from Wisconsin for the occasion to help Ken and spend some time with the kids. Among other things Ann brought Esti a couple of dolls and a dolly car seat and dolly stroller handed down from one of her neighbors. Apparently Esti wouldn't part with them; even fell asleep at naptime still cradling the toy stroller in her arms. She is a very good, even irrationally good mommy to her dolls.
I am feeling mightily puzzled by this whole maternal instinct business. At home I'm a pretty ferocious tiger mom (on which more later). But I seem to have no problem going away at every invitation, saddling everyone else (my parents, Ken's mom, Ken's dad, but mainly of course Ken) with housekeeping and child care and coordination of the various lessons etc., then of course collapsing exhausted for a day or so when I get home, then running to teach.
So basically I just have to be the center of the universe all the time.
What the hell?
Last weekend I was in Scotland, at a conference on the "global crossroads of Arabic literature." Oh, it's all so global. The conference was great, with lots of smart people and a few really good friends; Ann and Jean drove out from Wisconsin for the occasion to help Ken and spend some time with the kids. Among other things Ann brought Esti a couple of dolls and a dolly car seat and dolly stroller handed down from one of her neighbors. Apparently Esti wouldn't part with them; even fell asleep at naptime still cradling the toy stroller in her arms. She is a very good, even irrationally good mommy to her dolls.
I am feeling mightily puzzled by this whole maternal instinct business. At home I'm a pretty ferocious tiger mom (on which more later). But I seem to have no problem going away at every invitation, saddling everyone else (my parents, Ken's mom, Ken's dad, but mainly of course Ken) with housekeeping and child care and coordination of the various lessons etc., then of course collapsing exhausted for a day or so when I get home, then running to teach.
So basically I just have to be the center of the universe all the time.
What the hell?
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Esti is three!
Our beautiful girl had a beautiful birthday party, meaning that there was the right ratio of adults to kids (2.5 to 1), everyone was in a good mood, the cake came out tasty, and at no point did the birthday girl melt down and start sobbing on the floor.
In general, except as concerns her brother, Esti is a model citizen. She misses Nirmala and Romesh (45 hours a week for two years = not trivial) but has made the transition to Little Tufts beautifully. The doctor at her 3-year checkup - where she did not cry when she got her flu shot - described her as growing nicely, coordinated above her age level (running while pumping the opposite arm to the leg that's moving: apparently a 4-year-old skill, who knew? I still can't always do it), 86th percentile height, 70th weight. She blew out the candles on her birthday cake in one decisive puff. Whatever happens, this girl can hold her own.
In general, except as concerns her brother, Esti is a model citizen. She misses Nirmala and Romesh (45 hours a week for two years = not trivial) but has made the transition to Little Tufts beautifully. The doctor at her 3-year checkup - where she did not cry when she got her flu shot - described her as growing nicely, coordinated above her age level (running while pumping the opposite arm to the leg that's moving: apparently a 4-year-old skill, who knew? I still can't always do it), 86th percentile height, 70th weight. She blew out the candles on her birthday cake in one decisive puff. Whatever happens, this girl can hold her own.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
