One Fine Day at the Memphis Zoo

Who knows how many lovely Saturdays we have left before it's too chilly for outside time? So, we picked up Papa and loaded up for a trek to the Memphis Zoo, one of our favorite family fun places in the city! This was the first time Amelia really noticed the animals--she pointed and giggled, first at the giraffes, then at the zebras, polar bears, pandas and seals. The animals put on a great show for us!

Election Day (aka The Nerd Superbowl)

In the days and weeks leading up to the elections, we talked often to Molly and Rebecca about the process and about the issues pertinent to this year's race. See my blog entry from February 12 to see how I tried to approach the issues for young children. We didn't talk much about African-Americans and women and how historic this year was in terms of the big picture. I focused on reasons why people choose to vote for a particular candidate and, for that matter, why people choose to vote at all. Molly learned in school about electoral votes, the two political parties (including their symbols--her favorite part), the voting process. I wanted to take them with me to vote but ultimately, I am glad I didn't--I voted early and waited in line for 2 hours. The excitement of seeing Mommy vote would have been significantly diminished by the tired, hungry, bored, annoyed feelings that occur after waiting in line when you're 4. I'm lucky to keep them entertained for 20 minutes at the grocery store.

Anyway, the girls knew I supported Barack Obama and they knew my reasons, at least some of them. They have beloved family members on both sides of the aisle, so we were very careful to explain that people make a choice based on what is important to them and that supporting a different candidate is fine as well. We talked about John McCain's service to our country as a soldier and as a Senator. I told them very sincerely that whoever won the election would be our next President and would therefore have my respect and support.

For election night--which we call the "Nerd Superbowl" in our house!--I printed out US maps, labeled with state names and numbers of electoral votes. We had a blue marker and a red marker. As the states were called, Molly colored in the state and made a list of electoral numbers in red and blue columns. By the time they went to bed, only a few states were colored in. I would have let them stay up, but it was a school night and they were both bouncing off the walls by 9:00--which is already past their bedtime.

When they awoke the next morning, Molly's very first question was "WHO WON?" I got a bit teary as I explained how historic this was, explaining in very simple terms what slavery was and about segregation (which they had encountered from watching "Hairspray," but that's another story!). Rebecca looked puzzled. She said she "hadn't even noticed" that Barack Obama's skin was a different color from John McCain's or from her own. This occured to me: With each new generation, we are pushing that prejudice and bigotry further into history, making it a laughable sidenote: "we did WHAT to each other!?" We--and the country--must be doing something right if our daughter didn't notice the color of someone's skin. Maybe it's possible that ALL babies will be born into a world where "you can do anything" is not just lip service. It's real and right in front of us. That is something you can't deny, no matter whom you voted for.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Every other year or so, we plan a family Halloween costume theme. We were the Winnie the Pooh characters two different years. Two years ago, we were Peter Pan characters. Peter made the Tiger Lily costume and his Captain Hook costume that year. Actually designed and sewed them--pants and shirts and all. This year, we weren't planning a theme. Rebecca was going to be a black cat, Molly wanted to be the Statue of Liberty. This had been decided months ago. But plans changed. The two of them got together and decided a theme would be better. Rebecca was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Molly was the Wicked Witch of the West. Amelia was the Cowardly Lion. I was the Tin Man, and Peter was the Scarecrow. He made my costume--an elaborate and perfect concoction made of concrete peer forms and a mixing tray spray painted silver. For his costume, he used his pirate shirt and added straw, found a hat that he pulled apart to make into a scarecrow's cap.









We were able to wear our Oz costumes multiple times. Our whole family went with our friends Jen, Court and Sage, to the Zoo Boo. Peter and I hosted our Sunday School class's Couples Costume Party. And finally, on Halloween night, we did a little T-or-T in the neighborhood then went to Luke & Kristy's party, where kids AND grown-ups were dressed up. The kids did a little more T-or-T there, too.


Zoo Boo


the ladies at the party


the kids at the party


the guys at the party



trick-or-treat round 2

Rebecca still fulfilled her black cat desires, wearing that costume to her school party that day. Aunt Meredith in Thailand was also a black cat, and Rebecca's teacher at school was, too. I wore my green M&M costume to work--the Tin Man costume was too bulky for that!



So now our home is filled with candy and we're already talking about next year's costume options. Can you tell how much we LOVE Halloween!?

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Since she has become a reader, Molly reads anything she can get her hands on. She reads street signs, notes from school, and food carton labels. She was looking intently at a 20 oz lemonade bottle one day. I thought nothing of it. Later that day, I was getting orange juice from the fridge and was jiggling the carton around while I got a glass out of the cabinet. "Mom, is that a drink that you need to shake well before enjoying?"


As you most likely know, I am a big proponent of breastfeeding. Both Molly and Rebecca nursed until they were over age 1, 16 months and 13 months respectively. It's a gift we can offer our children, and I loved the connection I felt while doing it. So, Amelia now has 8 teeth and had started to slack off in requesting to nurse as she turned one. About 4 days went by without either of us offering/asking. Then she got fussy for no apparent reason one day and I offered again. She stopped crying, looked me straight in the eye and said, clear as a bell, "Nah!" and walked away. Consider her weaned!


It's a digital age. My kids do not remember a time when one had to wait for a picture to be developed before they could see it. They know how to put in a DVD and play a CD. They know how to make a call on my cell phone. But the depth of this digital world struck me the other night as I was reading to Rebecca. "Mom, can you pause it?" "What?" "Can you pause the book? I need to go to the bathroom." HeeHee!