Today is Ethan's actual 8th birthday. In sharp contrast with the weekend activities, today was a normal day. We took Ryan to gymnastics in the morning and then went to Ethan's kung fu class. I made cupcakes last night which he shared wit hall his friends at kung fu. We gave him the choice of going to his friends' house, going to a play place, or going to a park with some other friends. Of course he chose going to his friends' house since his Pokémon-playing pals were going there.
He played Pokémon Stadium Battle and then they played together with the Wii. Even the delights of the electronic world couldn't keep him indoors though. He spent most of the day outside with Ean, Indy, Ben, Josh, Sam, and Ryan. I just realized that he managed yet another all-boy play day. After playing for hours, I had to tear him away so he could go to his gymnastics class. Now he's sound asleep, happily holding one of his new Pokémon figures.
Eight years ago tonight was a very bittersweet night for me. I had a beautiful new son, but I had lost his twin sister. She had a seizure in utero and was stillborn. Tonight I am, once again, happy and sad but for a completely different reason. My beautiful son is 8 years old and, somewhat selfishly, I don't want him to grow up. I know this almost cliché, but as much as I relish his growing independence, I miss the things he's outgrown. I look forward to the person he's becoming, but I know there will come a day when his birthday night will be a time he wants to share with friends, in a world I can never share. I want to keep him safe and protect him, but I also want to help him grow. I have conflicting desires, but I know which one will triumph. His birthday is just a reminder that my job is much harder than I ever imagined.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Down to 4 boys and 3 mommies
Ethan's birthday party was wonderful. The guys ate tons of cereal and a gallon and a half of milk at breakfast. They woke up at around 5am, but I told them that it was too early. Oddly, they all laid down and went back to sleep until 6:15am. Even more oddly, they played quietly and let the two youngest, Arden and Ryan, sleep until 7am.
After that, it was all playing all the time. They went on the trampoline. They run through the house. They played with their DS's. They decorated the yard with streamers and balloons. I have to say here that Ben was especially helpful. He organized the decorating, helped make sure the little guys were included, and helped calm people down when people had conflicts. In addition to the 10 boys that slept over, another 10 kids came for the party.
Here's a small part of the crowd at our place today with Ethan front and center opening his gifts.
He got so many wonderful things. I honestly can't pick out a favorite gift he got this year.
Of course, no birthday is complete without a cake. Since his theme was Pokémon, it's only fitting that the cake was a Pokéball. Ethan was extremely pleased that he thought of having the cake color match the colors on the Pokéball. The red has strawberry cake. The white was vanilla cake, and teh brown has chocolate cake. I baked teh cakes and Esther formed them into the Pokéball.
The kids really liked playing on the swing set and the trampoline, but the grown-ups seemed to prefer sitting in the shade.
Now it's 8pm and all the kids but Doran and Amory have gone home. They are staying until tomorrow when their dad will come to take them back to Salem, MA.
I know a lot of people would boggle at the thought of having that many kids, and I did too at first, but it's really a lot easier to watch 12 kids than 3 or 4. With 3 or 4 kids they seem to brake up into 2 with 1 left out or 3 with one left out, but with 12 they formed groups that formed, reformed, shifted, and changed. It was easy enough to keep them occupied and happy. The downside is that having 12 would cost far more than our budget allow. I guess I'll have to settle for occasionally having an extra 10 spend the night.
After that, it was all playing all the time. They went on the trampoline. They run through the house. They played with their DS's. They decorated the yard with streamers and balloons. I have to say here that Ben was especially helpful. He organized the decorating, helped make sure the little guys were included, and helped calm people down when people had conflicts. In addition to the 10 boys that slept over, another 10 kids came for the party.
Here's a small part of the crowd at our place today with Ethan front and center opening his gifts.
He got so many wonderful things. I honestly can't pick out a favorite gift he got this year.
Of course, no birthday is complete without a cake. Since his theme was Pokémon, it's only fitting that the cake was a Pokéball. Ethan was extremely pleased that he thought of having the cake color match the colors on the Pokéball. The red has strawberry cake. The white was vanilla cake, and teh brown has chocolate cake. I baked teh cakes and Esther formed them into the Pokéball.
The kids really liked playing on the swing set and the trampoline, but the grown-ups seemed to prefer sitting in the shade.Now it's 8pm and all the kids but Doran and Amory have gone home. They are staying until tomorrow when their dad will come to take them back to Salem, MA.
I know a lot of people would boggle at the thought of having that many kids, and I did too at first, but it's really a lot easier to watch 12 kids than 3 or 4. With 3 or 4 kids they seem to brake up into 2 with 1 left out or 3 with one left out, but with 12 they formed groups that formed, reformed, shifted, and changed. It was easy enough to keep them occupied and happy. The downside is that having 12 would cost far more than our budget allow. I guess I'll have to settle for occasionally having an extra 10 spend the night.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Tonight 12 Boys, Still Only 3 Mommies
It's Ethan's birthday weekend and the first part of his birthday is a sleepover party. We told him he could have a total of 4 friends so naturally we have 12 boys including Ethan and Ryan. It's great. They ate pizza and cupcakes, jumped on the trampoline in the rain, played with their DS's, and giggled insanely.
12 boys and 1 girl. Anne (our next door neighbor) came over for the pizza and cupcakes.
After that they watched a movie (Purple People Eater: 1980s, B-grade, fabulous. Go thou and watch it.) and ate popcorn.
Of course you can't just watch a movie. You need to play with your DS while you watch the movie.
12 boys and 1 girl. Anne (our next door neighbor) came over for the pizza and cupcakes.After that they watched a movie (Purple People Eater: 1980s, B-grade, fabulous. Go thou and watch it.) and ate popcorn.
Of course you can't just watch a movie. You need to play with your DS while you watch the movie.Some quotes:
Ba (noticing that Doran is wearing a t-shirt advertising the members of a family not his own): Doran, where did that shirt come from?
Doran: My house.
Anne: There are 12 boys here?! I will count them. (She goes to the living room doorway.) 1-2-3-4-5- 1-2-3- They are hard to count when they are moving.
Ken (Coming in to drop off Beckett and Sawyer): How many boys are here?
Ba: 12
Ken: You can smell the testosterone.
Now the boys are all in beds, and sleeping bags, and on couches. They have their blankets and stuffed animals. They are whispering frantically to each other: "Shh." "Go to sleep." "You go to sleep." "I can't while you're talking." "Shh!" "You shh!" "Move over." "Get off the blanket." "It's my blanket." "Is not." *Hard tug on blanket* "Oh, it is." "Move your foot." "That's not my foot." "It's my foot." "Well move it." "OK." "OK." "OK." *Maniacal laughter* in chorus: "OK-OK-OK-OK" *Laughter* "Shh will you!" "Right." "OK." *Groans* "Not again."
This is the life. I can't imagine a better way to spend a Friday night.
Ba (noticing that Doran is wearing a t-shirt advertising the members of a family not his own): Doran, where did that shirt come from?
Doran: My house.
Anne: There are 12 boys here?! I will count them. (She goes to the living room doorway.) 1-2-3-4-5- 1-2-3- They are hard to count when they are moving.
Ken (Coming in to drop off Beckett and Sawyer): How many boys are here?
Ba: 12
Ken: You can smell the testosterone.
Now the boys are all in beds, and sleeping bags, and on couches. They have their blankets and stuffed animals. They are whispering frantically to each other: "Shh." "Go to sleep." "You go to sleep." "I can't while you're talking." "Shh!" "You shh!" "Move over." "Get off the blanket." "It's my blanket." "Is not." *Hard tug on blanket* "Oh, it is." "Move your foot." "That's not my foot." "It's my foot." "Well move it." "OK." "OK." "OK." *Maniacal laughter* in chorus: "OK-OK-OK-OK" *Laughter* "Shh will you!" "Right." "OK." *Groans* "Not again."
This is the life. I can't imagine a better way to spend a Friday night.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Swords and Looms
Today we made swords from PVC pipes, foam insulation, and colored duct tape and/or making portable tapestry looms using wood, screws, and wing nuts. We had 15 kids and 6 mommies (including us and our guys) play, eat, make things, and have fun.
Sawyer and Beckett opted for the basic silver duct tape.
Silver was popular. Chloe, Tessa, and Teo all chose that. Deva went with full-on color.
We did get the adults to participate. Stephanie and Peg had never used power tools before.
Esther showed Peg how to use a saw and the drill! Stephanie learned, too, but I didn't get a photo.
I think Peg likes her loom. Karen has screws and wing nuts. She has a loom, too, if all the holes will ever line up.
Stephanie made a loom, too. She said it's picture perfect.
Ethan and Ryan and the other kids somehow managed to avoid having their photos taken. I'm not sure exactly how that happened. We'll have to photos of them when they take their swords out to battle.
Sawyer and Beckett opted for the basic silver duct tape.
Silver was popular. Chloe, Tessa, and Teo all chose that. Deva went with full-on color.
We did get the adults to participate. Stephanie and Peg had never used power tools before.
Esther showed Peg how to use a saw and the drill! Stephanie learned, too, but I didn't get a photo.
I think Peg likes her loom. Karen has screws and wing nuts. She has a loom, too, if all the holes will ever line up.
Stephanie made a loom, too. She said it's picture perfect.
Ethan and Ryan and the other kids somehow managed to avoid having their photos taken. I'm not sure exactly how that happened. We'll have to photos of them when they take their swords out to battle.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Alphabetize, avalanche, and gardening
Friday is cleaning day in our house. Ryan and Ethan cleaned their rooms, though I have to hand it to Ethan. His room has pretty much been clean since last week. I managed to get all the laundry washed, hung out, and taken in before night fall. That has to be a record.
I got into the garden today. The seedlings are coming along nicely, so I took the time to move around some plants. The back fence now has a nice row of hosta and pother plants. Ryan thought the I had dug up a row of dirt for him personally. He got a few Rescue Heroes and one of their vehicles and created a scenario in which they were stuck in an avalanche. He informed me that I could take all the dirt I wanted as long as I didn't free said vehicle.
Ethan has found that he can battle and trade Pokemon with his friends while talking to them through the DS all via our wireless internet. In order to do this efficiently, he has to be able to locate his Pokemon quickly and easily. This prompted him to learn first letter alphabetization. Score one for the unschooling concept.
Clean rooms, freshly laundered clothing, rearranged plants, alphabetizing, and an avalanche overcome all make this a good day.
I got into the garden today. The seedlings are coming along nicely, so I took the time to move around some plants. The back fence now has a nice row of hosta and pother plants. Ryan thought the I had dug up a row of dirt for him personally. He got a few Rescue Heroes and one of their vehicles and created a scenario in which they were stuck in an avalanche. He informed me that I could take all the dirt I wanted as long as I didn't free said vehicle.
Ethan has found that he can battle and trade Pokemon with his friends while talking to them through the DS all via our wireless internet. In order to do this efficiently, he has to be able to locate his Pokemon quickly and easily. This prompted him to learn first letter alphabetization. Score one for the unschooling concept.
Clean rooms, freshly laundered clothing, rearranged plants, alphabetizing, and an avalanche overcome all make this a good day.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Boys' Group
We got to spend the entire glorious sunny afternoon with our friends from northern and eastern Connecticut. Shelley and Lori each have two wonderful boys whose ages just happen to coincide perfectly with our guys. We went to Addison Park and then for a walk in, well actually, I have no idea what the name of the nature preserve was where we went after that, but it was great. Ethan and Ryan had a blast. Ethan taught the other boys his version of rock paper scissors in which you can say any noun after you say shoot and then you figure out who wins. This means that if I say the conventional scissor and Ethan says human, he wins because humans can use scissors. On the other hand, if I say the conventional rock and he says computer, I win because rock smashes computer. All the boys thought this game was big fun. They threw sticks in the water, ran ahead of the mommies, and climbed piles of dirt. Life is good when it's warm out and I don't have to say no or stop.
Here are some photos I took of the day:
Here are some photos I took of the day:
I have other photos, but that's all blogger will let me upload. Shelley, Lori, if you want the others, I'll get them to you.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Stitches, Spring, and Sports
To say we've been busy is a bit of an understatement. Along with the regular assortment of play groups, play dates, gymnastics and kung fu classes, we've had house guests, holidays, and even a trip to the emergency room. Ryan fell down and split his lip open. Five stitches, one puzzle, and one dump truck later he is stitch-free and happy.
Spring has found us outside much more often. Ethan and Ryan now get up and run outside to jump on the trampoline. Despite my warnings that they shouldn't flip over in mid-air, I know they are doing exactly that. I could try to work up to being truly upset about it, but I know that I would do the same thing if I could.
Their birthdays are coming up soon, Ethan in May and Ryan and June. Ethan had said that he wanted a Wii, but abruptly changed his mind last week and now wants Pokemon themed gifts. I'm a little surprised by this since he loves to play with his friends' Wiis, but knowing how much he adores all things Pokemon, I'm not completely shocked.
Ryan wants a spy-themed party. No surprise there at all. we're going to assemble a spy briefcase for him with a magnifying glass, a light in the shape of a pen, a flashlight, a lock-picking set, and such. I need to start checking thrift stores to find a second hand briefcase.
In the meantime, the library playgroup has moved into the park, and we'll start running a sports program again this year. This year instead of having baseball every week we'll have different sports like kickball, frisbee, horseshoes, and croquet. That will have to wait until May though when the weather is less soggy and jackets are, more or less, optional. For now, we'll enjoy the sunny days and bounce on the trampoline to keep warm.
Spring has found us outside much more often. Ethan and Ryan now get up and run outside to jump on the trampoline. Despite my warnings that they shouldn't flip over in mid-air, I know they are doing exactly that. I could try to work up to being truly upset about it, but I know that I would do the same thing if I could.
Their birthdays are coming up soon, Ethan in May and Ryan and June. Ethan had said that he wanted a Wii, but abruptly changed his mind last week and now wants Pokemon themed gifts. I'm a little surprised by this since he loves to play with his friends' Wiis, but knowing how much he adores all things Pokemon, I'm not completely shocked.
Ryan wants a spy-themed party. No surprise there at all. we're going to assemble a spy briefcase for him with a magnifying glass, a light in the shape of a pen, a flashlight, a lock-picking set, and such. I need to start checking thrift stores to find a second hand briefcase.
In the meantime, the library playgroup has moved into the park, and we'll start running a sports program again this year. This year instead of having baseball every week we'll have different sports like kickball, frisbee, horseshoes, and croquet. That will have to wait until May though when the weather is less soggy and jackets are, more or less, optional. For now, we'll enjoy the sunny days and bounce on the trampoline to keep warm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)