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!

Pumpkin Guts

The Sunday before Halloween, we enjoyed a gorgeous fall afternoon on our deck transforming two plain old pumpkins into Jack-o-Lanterns. Molly plotted her design ideas and asked each of us to vote for our favorites. The bat/stars/moon design won. For the second J-O-L Pete carved a happy merry-not-scary face. Quincy the dog perched quietly under the table. By far the most exciting part of this afternoon was the removal of the pumpkin innards. Rebecca--who loves all things gross--was entranced by the stringy globs. Molly tried to play it off as though she was also fascinated, but a mother knows when her child is actually not so into it. Before the bat was carved on Pumpkin #1, Molly had retreated to her room. Rebecca, though, was in it to win it and relished every slimy handful. Amelia slept through the whole thing, but I'm sure she'll be into it next year. We placed them on the two entrances to our front porch on the steps and they glowed quite nicely on Halloween night.

The Crafts Fair was, well, fair.

Somehow in my mind, the Pink Palace Crafts Fair of yesteryear was very kid-oriented. I am certain the last time I went to it was on a school field trip in about 5th grade, so we're taking more than 20 years ago. There were craftspeople demonstrating their talents, interacting with us, letting us try to to help out. There was fudge and honey candy and apple cider. Having only recently immigrated back to Elvisland, this was the first time I've been since the location changed, and it was much bigger, seemed more polished, more hands-off, and was simply lacking in the magical harvesty atmosphere I recall. Perhaps I am simply older and more jaded. But I felt like I spent all my time making sure the girls didn't touch things, steering them away from things that cost more money, even after we paid a small fortune to get in. I kept saying to my friend Jen that next year--if I muster up enough courage to return--we should come without the kids. And that's too bad for them actually. I do think something has been lost there. What was once a simple fair with homemade puppets and Christmas ornaments is now some kind of huge commercial venture where children have to watch their step and keep their distance.

However, since they don't have anything to compare it to, the kids seemed to have fun. I tried to direct them to the things that matched my own memories. They liked watching the weavers and trying out a small loom. They enjoyed petting a goose and some bunnies and a pot-bellied pig. They were a little taken aback when I encouraged them to eat what I THOUGHT was honey candy but was actually just a beeswax clump shaped into a bee! Rebecca, wrinkling her nose: "Mommy, I don't think I like honey candy." That's when I realized my mistake! Oops! Amelia had her little feet propped up on her stroller and drew delighted giggles and smiles from passers by. One lady even asked for permission to take her picture, looking so relaxed. The girls had fun with their friend Sage, too. Not a lost day, just a day that didn't quite live up to my expectations....

It's Fall Y'all!

The drive from Memphis to Dyersburg takes about 1 1/2 hrs. One morning I left early (and that's a sacrifice for me, my friends) to attempt to capture the cotton fields and small towns along the way. Good timing--only a few days later, these cotton fields had been harvested.






Back at our house, we are all decked out for a harvest Halloween! We've got scarecrows, mums, & pumpkins. Inside you'll find witches' hats, ghosts, fun lights and a Halloween miniature fun town.

Amelia Turns Uno

the duck cake, made by Kake Deevas--a little disturbing to cut into the head, but quite tasty


with the "smash cake"--can you tell how very tired she was? used her pointer finger to eat a wee bit at a time!


cousin annsley kisses the duck prize from the rubber ducky matching game in the duck pool. (notice a theme here?)




amelia meets "abby cadabby" who sings and dances--just like amelia herself! yippee!



the birthday girl in her push-along/ride-along from granna and papa



face painting on the deck. our friends jen and court stepped up to do the honors, as the kids lined up for a turn.



bubbles! cousin charlie and amelia enjoy the fun. again, note amelia's sleepy self--not crying but not smiling either! ready to crash!