Mom and Rhys

Rhys and I took a "fun trip" together.

I've taken both kids to visit my mom on their own but this was just a fun, quick getaway, thanks to my employer! I was able to bring a guest - so Dom and I decided Rhys would be the lucky attendee. He was excited but wished it would have gotten him out of school instead of over the weekend.

So, one quick flight to Chicago.

And lots of fun seeing good friends - the Nolidans - before getting ready for the big PARTY.

The Shake Shack was a big hit on Rhys - not sure P agreed. :)

Followed by an amazing afternoon at the Maggie Daley plaza. Wow - that is one cool urban playground.

The only tickle in the day was that I had booked us at the wrong hotel...instead of House of Blues, I had us at the Hard Rock ... but that's ok, it was a quick 5 minute cab ride to the right destination.

We ended our visit with a trip to the ChristKindleMarket ... VERY busy on that mild day...but we both gave it two thumbs up!

Claudia is awaiting her turn...where to next?

Fun with Zhjo Zhjo: Christmas 2015

My dad is always up for an adventure and loves to try new things.

When he came in town to celebrate Christmas - but really to go see Star Wars with Rhys - we checked out the very fun "Craft Brews" shop, a new restaurant in Clayton, Star Wars, Carriage rides, nature walks and more.

Daughters

There are so many fun things I get to enjoy with Claudia now...like getting our nails done, together!

She likes to be the "worker" who comes over to fix things - now it's "fixing our kitchen" - Dom and I really want to update our kitchen...and are going back and forth between a "cheaper" solution (I love IKEA and STL finally has one!) - or taking out a wall and opening up the kitchen to the dining room which means new furniture as well -- a bit more expensive solution but might make us happier here in the long term.

Now we need to start meeting with contractors...fun times ahead, I write in jest.

And here's Claudia getting ready for her  date with Dom last Friday night for dinner.

Rhys and I stayed home and ordered pizza and watched a movie on the couch. Pretty good deal all around I think.

Halloween 2015

We had a great Halloween weekend. Pumpkin carving party on Friday followed by a neighborhood party on Saturday with drinks to end at a neighbor's house.

The suburban life is not bad at all. :)

Here's our Morph Demon.

And C was a Lynx for school (she didn't want to wear her costume - something to do with the cast I think.)

But she donned it on Halloween! Look at the pink streaks in her hair.

And the "blood" dripping from her mouth

Who is that cute guy? Our neighbor and R of course!

Trooper

Having a cast for two weeks didn't hold her back after all - once she got used it.

The new kind even allows you to get it wet - even though C said it felt funny - we didn't have to worry about showers and baths.

Now it's off and she is almost back to normal and ready to be admitted back to gymnastics (fingers crossed).

Our first cast!

We made it almost 8 years of parenting without a broken bone....now, we aren't sure C's elbow really is broken, but the pediatric ortho put a cast on it just in case. (Scooter accident last week...visit to ER...first Xrays...then follow-up appointment six days later...= cast.)

This is one unhappy, angry, young patient...the tears (of anger = and maybe a bit of fear) were something to behold. The tearing up of the Xray photos...that too was something to see. The ripping up of the protective paper on the examining table...well, that too, I won't soon forget.

Don't mess with the Metal Tiger...that's for sure. She vows NOT to wear her Vampire Bat costume tomorrow or on Halloween b.c. the cast ruins the look...we will see.

Friends

My daughter loves her neighborhood friends. She gets along with many kids at her school but is hesitant to sign up for new things: soccer, basketball and Daisy Scouts to name a few. She gave up tennis for gymnastics (again) mainly, I think, to be with her two neighborhood besties. These girls are in and out of house all week long. It's pretty cool - I must say.

But I was hoping to be a Daisy Mom this year so I could make some new friends too! But at this point she is firm in her denial. Next time, I don't think I will ask her if she wants to do it...and just sign her up. That must be the way most parents do it...right?

Looking for the Silver Lining

Our October and Halloween festivities continue...we hit all our popular spots this year - Party in the Patch, the Fall Festival at the school and Pumpkinland. (Right about now, I think a "Thanks Mom and Dad -you guys really are trying to make our childhood a great one" is due.)

The funny thing is that all of a sudden Rhys is almost too old for some of these activities.  It's been five years in St Louis. And while it feels like a short time to me...when I see how they have grown from 0 and 2 -- it's clear we may not have many more years left at these first favorites and will have to move on to the next level of autumnal activities geared toward older elementary kids

But he managed to squeeze in and have fun after a rocky start at Pumpkinland.

I'm trying to find the silver lining to a plumbing issue we have right now.. and there isn't one except that I have cleaned the kitchen like crazy.

Hoping it is all fixed by the end of this week - after weeks of trying to fix on our own, diagnosis, bring out plumbers, receive a crazy high bid and one low bid...guess which one we are going with - and please let us not regret it.  This mama can't take one more thing this week.

A picture is worth 1000 words

There is one thing I know to be true...I love these children.

We did a quick photo shoot as part of a fund-raiser for their school. Dom and I were going to sit it out - so I didn't even get ready before taking the kids to the park (Ok, who am I kidding - I'm not in yoga gear and glasses so it was a step up from my normal clothes)...but once there I couldn't let the opportunity go without a few good shots with my kiddos, wrinkles and all!

After my mom died - it was so important to me to find photos of us together. So I want to have these for the children if they want them...to remember and to know how much they were loved when they were young.

Learning

Scenes like this make my heart happy. I love this boy.

Daddy Daughter time

Claudia loves her dad now - after years of not being too fond him.

She's flip-flopped - and now often asks for Daddy time versus Mama time.  Good thing I got my fill her first four years! :)

School Days

School days and routine are well established by now. 

And I've been able to enjoy some time in the classroom as the mystery reader (Rhys guessed at the end of the five clues it was me!), Centers helper (Claudia was skeptical I would do a good job, but she said I actually did...phew! My Kindergartner is a hard grader all ready. 

And even Dulcie made it to the classroom for Show and Tell - not sure how it all went but it looks like an enthusiastic beginning. 

Just like that -- Autumn is here! 

Remembering Nanny

Look at the Carlson cousins...Marvin and Maria would be proud to see all these great-grandchildren lined up in a row.

Rhys is the oldest down to Thomas born just before my mom died (middle name August for my mom's oldest brother)... and maybe one day there will be more to add (pressure is off me!).

I had a great visit to Minneapolis. It's been almost five months since my mom died....and it was long overdue to get together with some of the people who loved my mom the best.

We have to do this more often...and not just around funerals -  and there are no more marriages to celebrate...at least for the next 20 years.

Children do better (it's been proven!) when they know their family's history...and extended family and cousins are very important in that regard - as are aunts and uncles and great aunts, etc...

I'm glad my children are getting to know some of my relatives - even though they now live around the country -and to form friendships with each other.

Let's make it happen next year - and this time without the grieving part. My mom would have loved it.

We Love Michigan

All year, the kids wait for their week in Michigan.

It's true - and shows up on all their school work.

Every year (yes, we've only done this trip for four years but it is now EVERY year in Rhys' mind), we go to Redamacks (and now we decided we really don't like the food) and make our list.

And every year, no one wants to join me in Blueberry picking.

But we did cross most everything else off the list.

Lots of beach, Uno, Go-Kart, Mini-Golf, Outlet Shopping, dining out, horse back riding, surf camp, more Beach,  grilling out, eating foods we never eat at home, and lots and lots of Uno.

We can't wait to go back next year!

Swimmers

Summer in St Louis means lots of pool time...

The kids swim six or seven days a week - and sometimes more than once a day.  I wonder why each child has four swim suits, when I would have the just one, and I realize, it's a different world down here. It's hot and steamy - and the pools are fun and accessible.

Leading to some tired children, and sometimes, cranky evenings.

Unmooring

Almost four months. And the children keep growing and changing.

Already Rhys is talking about changing in his electric scooter for a goKart (my mom bought him the scooter). I can't stop their growing.

Then I think, how did my mom carry on without her mom all those years ago?

Soon after my nana died, she got divorced, remarried, divorced and remarried again - and fought Breast Cancer number one. Well, all that was all over about six or seven years - but still, quite a lot of big life decisions being made.

She was without an anchor in many ways at that time. I think if my nana was alive, my mom would have made different choices as she would have had that support from her mother. And I can start to understand more now how bereft and unmoored she really was.

Don't worry - I'm not unmoored...but I am bereft.

Three More Weeks

...until school starts. Really?

Yes, I couldn't believe it either.

Here's the proof! Camp is over! Six weeks in the bank and we are done until 2016. Both kids LOVED  this camp this year and can't wait to go back. I said - yes of course, honey, you can go back. (working mom and dad = summer camp until you go to college...but yes, let it be your choice, children.)

Claudia and Rhys have also been enjoying time in the neighborhood with the friends. From water balloons, to bike riding and the NERF gun wars, it's been pretty fun for all of us.  (Girls with their favorite Mom and Neighbor - MP!).

A girl and her cat

And this why we have a cat. :)

Fourth of July St Louis Style

Another Fourth of July weekend has come and gone.

We love our family traditions...and it's so cute/rewarding/makes my mom heart sing - when the kids refer to things we "always do."

So off we went to the Webster Groves parade for the fourth year in a row.

Despite a slow start to the candy distribution  - it soon became a deluge for the Oldham kids. (Where's the candy, please?!)

Mom and Dad did pretty well this year, too - finding a candy or two that the children were willing to share and to sweeten good ol' Dad up.

Followed by the neighborhood bike parade/race.

Rhys was the oldest one this year! wow.

We then headed off to friends' country club for dinner and fireworks - and swimming! - Ah the life we lead.

Happy Independence Day!