An Obsession I Can Support, A Sighting, And One of Those Transcendental Moments

I’ve said it before: It is so much fun to share things I loved as a child, with the kids.

One of my favorites? "Really Rosie".

I’ve mentioned it here before, so it’s not exactly news. Nerd alert: I bought the "Really Rosie" book and soundtrack before I even had kids. And Leo has been a fan for a while, but his interest has escalated in his latest obsession, which is listening to one specific song on the soundtrack: "One Was Johnny," while reading along with the book. Leo is the king of the repeat button.

I love it. And did I mention he also sings the song? I mean seriously, he belts it. I'd like to find him some more books that come with CDs with music. He loves them. Another favorite is this completely random freebie I got at work. He can listen to that one on repeat too, while he flips through the book's pages. So many of the CD/book combos seem to be simply just stories read aloud though, and there seems to be something about the music that Leo particularly enjoys. And he's totally learning something too. Evidence: he pointed to the word "jail" (which is in the lyrics of "One Was Johnny") and said it clear as a bell this morning. Too cool, right? I mean, shouldn't all six year olds know about jail? (ha ha)

Daycare (where Leo is full-time for the month of August until “real school” starts the day after Labor Day) drop-off has been a bit of a disaster lately. I'm told he's fine a few minutes after I leave, and I believe it. I’m not sure why drop-off has been so bad, except my hunch is Leo doesn’t like walking into a classroom brimming with four and five year olds. Too much noise, too much shrieking, too much stimulation and for some reason, someone is always crying. So can you blame him for wanting to hang out in the hallway or an empty classroom instead?

Of course, he can’t do this. And I still worry about him sneaking off when a teacher isn’t looking. So yesterday we brought the “Johnny book” as Leo calls it, with us to school. We rocked out to it on the drive. When we arrived to school, Leo brought it inside, and promptly sat down on a bench in the garden where the rest of his class was doing a water project. When I left, he was reading and singing, his little legs crossed, his small body swaying to the music in his head.

Pick-ups have been dreadful lately too for some reason. Everyone is hot and sticky and hungry. No one wants to get into their car seat, everyone wants a snack that doesn’t exist. My temper is short and I feel immediate guilt when I begin to lose it because, remember, I haven’t seen them all day, couldn’t I at least keep it together for a couple of hours?

But last night we had the “Johnny book” and Leo and Ellie climbed into their car seats like it was just the thing to do. No one whined or cried or lost their patience. And then we three sang about the cat who chased the rat and the dog who came in and sat, all the way home, up the winding hill that leads away from the school, passed the forest of deciduous trees that I swear are showing tiny hints of autumn. It was there, amidst the singing that Ellie declared “Mommy! I saw a dear!”

And I’m sure that she did.

Really

I have a semi-annual physical today. I don’t get one every year, I just figured it would be good to get checked out. I have been so tired lately, I mean extra tired. I know, I know, I can hear the laughter from here. As well as the groans. We’re all tired. But I’d be lying if I said I have this secret hope that the doctor is going to take one look at me and insist I be admitted to the hospital for exhaustion. Just for a couple of days—a long weekend maybe? Isn’t that what the celebrities do?

Honestly I think the doctor is going to laugh in my face and say you have two small children. Of course you are tired. Now go take a vitamin and drink some coffee and leave me alone Lady.

In other news, it’s going to be in the mid-80s here these weekend. Considering I turned the heat on this morning, that feels weird. But it will be fun. Maybe we’ll barbecue.

And since I’m being all random today: Last night during dinner the NPR station suddenly went all fuzzy (until the kids can actually voice their specific preferences we will listen to Fresh Air during dinner, dammit) so I switched over to iPod mode. Without thinking I played the soundtrack from “Really Rosie,” one of my all time favorite childhood films. It’s definitely one of the best things about being a parent, and really one of the most moving I think, to share things with your kids that you yourself enjoyed as a child. To see Leo boogying in his chair to “One Was Johnny” in between bites of grilled cheese, well I could not be happier. I know I’m a sap, but I did get a little teary-eyed.


And OMG it's on freaking YouTube. Of course it is. I can watch the WHOLE thing. Why am I just finding this out?

Side note: Wow the animation is REALLY bad (sorry, daughter of a former animator, I'm a bit of an animation snob, I come by it honestly).

I remember it like it was yesterday, toddling over to the Portland State University Film Department (my mom was a student and my dad was an instructor so I went to daycare at the university child care center) where we got to sit in a college classroom and watch movies on creaky projectors (can you imagine it now, in a time when kids have freaking DVD players in their rooms?—well not my kids but in theory some kids do…). That’s when I fell in love with Really Rosie and her tales of “Chicken Soup with Rice” and “Pierre.”

So. Much. Better. Than. Dora.

Happy Heart Day

This was what our kitchen table looked like last night, much like the homes of families across the country, I imagine. Side note: There are FOUR Davids in Leo's class. That must get confusing.

I went with last year's leftover Elmos. Not too creative, I know but honestly, at their age, does anyone really even look at the valentines? I found this cool looking set at Tarjet a few weeks ago. They're all vintagey.



I think I'll save them for when the kids are a little older (who am I kidding? that's when they are actually going to care and not want my cool vintagey valentines). Anyway, they're punch out cards with little envelopes that you have to "make" (tape together). They are based on images from Little Golden Books, which I love.


These are the valentine themed art projects Ellie brought home. They had asked for a milk cartoon a few weeks ago and this strange little creature above is the result. I expected it would be for a mailbox for the valentines but...no. One of the cards was quite sweet, it was signed "To Mama Erin and Mama Maya." And I am always a sucker for anything with a hand print.

And of course, a holiday wouldn't be complete without me trying to get a group shot. Excuse Leo's evil red eye. Stupid iPhoto doesn't fix demon eyes very well (or maybe it's my lack of photo editing skills). By the way, I am all about the dressing up for whatever holiday it is. I realize the actual day is tomorrow but Leo is having a party at his school today (Ellie's was yesterday) and it's Valentine's Eve and there's no school tomorrow to dress up for, so there you go.



When he feels like it, Leo can really pose. Here he's doing his best to get his arm around Ellie. Most times she wants nothing to do with it.

Here's the best picture I could get of Ellie's Valentine's jeans. And if you squint you can kind of make out the heart buckle.

Whatever, Ellie. Look at hammy little Leo here in his Valentine (OK, it's a red t-shirt) outfit.

And me? I look forward all year to the day I get to wear these:

Old School

This is totally random but I love the fact that Starbucks is using their "old school" logo on their paper cups now (I couldn't find an image with the paper cups so I'm using this shot of the ceramic mugs but the logo is the same. You get the idea). They are doing so to promote their new Pike Place Blend. It reminds me of the good ole days when Starbucks was pretty much just, well, coffee! And I have such fond memories of making the pilgrimage to the "mother ship" aka the original Starbucks store at Pike Place Market in Seattle. These kinds of small things excite me, just like I get a little giddy when I see that Starbucks is using their holiday cups (it usually happens right before Thanksgiving). They have a different design every year. To me, it means the holiday season is on its way. What can I say? I don't get out much.
We won't talk about how my New Year's Resolution was to stop spending money on coffee and make it at home or get it free at work. Sigh.