January 17, 2010 by Barbara.

After Reid’s swimming class last week, I said, “Reid, if you fall asleep on the way home and stay asleep when we get there, I’ll give you a dollar.” Ken heard me and said, “If you do that, I’ll give you two dollars.” Reid confirmed, “You’ll give me three dollars if I go to sleep,” and we told her that she had understood us correctly. I’ve never given Reid money to perform a task. I try not to offer rewards since I need for her to do what she should independent of what bribe I can access. And that Tuesday night, I was joking. It was a safe thing to offer money for because it wasn’t going to happen.

Except. Except that Reid pretended to fall asleep when we turned onto our street. When we got home, I told her that I knew she was awake but would carry her in if she would come to my side of the car. Reid was shocked I could tell that she was faking and wanted her money anyway. This was my first warning of things to come. I said that I would pretend that she was asleep and it would be okay. I carried Reid upstairs and laid her on her bed and left the room. Her pretending to be asleep and me pretending that I was fooled.

Until Reid realized that Princess was not beside her. While we looked, Reid was crying. I told her that we’d find Princess. But that wasn’t why Reid was crying. The jig was up. Neither of us could fake our part - Reid was obviously awake and she saw her $3 disappear. My explanation that Daddy and I had been joking, had never expected her to stay asleep went over like a lead balloon. I ended up promising to give Reid the $3 and never to make such an un-funny joke again.

Fast-forward to this week… We never discussed falling asleep and certainly no money was discussed. Once again, Reid feigned sleep just before we got home. I carried her up to bed and took her coat off, all while she faked sleep. It seemed like she *might* fall asleep for real if I left her alone. Ten minutes later, Reid came downstairs with a look of reproach on her face. Apparently she thought I’d climb into bed with her, even though she was already fake-asleep. We trouped upstairs and she fell asleep for real. I was glad we didn’t have to have another discussion about sleep bribes.

Not that Reid has remembered to collect her $3 yet.

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January 16, 2010 by Barbara.

Reid says, “Bonne fête!”

Imagine us singing “Happy Birthday to you”. Or better yet, imagine Reid singing it since I can’t carry a tune in a basket. Reid’s song includes, “How old are you? Cha cha cha!” I think that she learned the cha cha chas at school. I don’t sing them and neither does Uncle Ken. Did it surprise you that he doesn’t sing them? ;+)

Reid also says, “tyghjkbnmsdgh”, which I think means, “My dad is going to roll his eyes when he realizes that I’m still awake but my mama and wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday on the very day.” We were busy ladies today and had lots of fun but it would have even more fun to have gone to the bridal show with you. Reid would have loved to see the dresses, wedding favours and all that stuff. She’d have tried to talk you into some wild things while I would have just said, “What do you think?” or “Whatever you choose will be lovely.” I’d never try to tell you what to do. Reid gets her bossiness from Uncle Ken, you know.

It’s amazing to me that you are old enough to be going a bridal show but I guess you must be. You probably had to wait until this birthday to be “legal”. I remember going to Detroit when I turned 21. I guess it was like that for you, too. In my head, though, you’re that round-bellied toddler that clung to me during swimming class, the little girl who came to highschool with me one day (though I can’t remember how I managed to get permission for that, thanks to my faulty memory) or maybe that trying-so-hard-to-be-older girl who was a bridesmaid in my wedding. I *know* that you’re a grown woman - or almost - but since I remember you when you were a girl, I’m choosing to ignore it. It’s a strange thing, really, since I enjoy having adult nieces to talk to and hang out with but I am nothing if not strange. But this is supposed to be about you.

Sulienne, we wish you great joy and happiness this year. You are a delight to be with and we treasure the time we spend together. Thanks again for joining us at the Nutcracker and if you have anything else on your life list that would be suitable for a young girl and an oldish woman, Reid and I are up for it. Uncle Ken tries to avoid ballets but he might be interested in other adventures.

Happy Birthday!

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January 16, 2010 by Barbara.

I should have made a New Year’s resolution to update the perpetual calendar I have at home with the one at the office. Somehow, they’re out of synch and I only  realized on Thursday that I missed John’s birthday. This is it, though, I’m going to be on time after this one. I hope. All this to say, “Happy Belated Birthday, John”.

Around our house, John is something of a rock star because he has Big Trucks. And Reid is a girl who likes big trucks. I’m in awe of anyone who can back up without looking in the rear view mirror. Ken may or may not be impressed by the backing up but I think he secretly likes the big trucks, too.

Reid asks me when she can go for another ride in John’s truck and look at all of the trailers at the shop. I need to work on my organizational skills, though, since we didn’t manage it in December. If the hauling stuff from place to place stops being fun, maybe John can start offering kids truck-themed birthday parties. He can lead tours through the stop (no safety hazards there ;+), break them into small groups for tours of the truck and a variety of trailers and each could pull the cord that blows the horn (I’m sure the neighbours won’t mind). Pam could bake truck-shaped birthday cakes and Donald could tie balloons to look like trucks. It’d be great, I tell you.

But not as great as I hope the year to come will be for you. I hope the next year is even better than a truck-shaped balloon and cake. Enjoy and have fun!

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January 15, 2010 by Barbara.

Reid was trying to spell out “I love you” in finger spelling on the way to school yesterday. She remembered how to spell and form the letters I, L, O but needed help remembering how to form the V and E was forgotten because it is silent. I showed her the Y, O and U as well, since we were at a traffic light and I had a free hand. Reid asked for the W, though, and it took quite a bit of convincing before she believed me that there is no W in “you”. Finally, I had to resort to, “You’ll have to trust me on this one.” It sounds better than, “Because I’m the mom,” but it amounts to the same thing.

It made me think of a story Aunt Karin told me about when Reid was in Wheatley over the summer and Aunt Karin and Uncle Dave took her to Wheatley. Reid wanted them to play “I Spy” and Reid spied something that started with the letter Y. Uncle Dave and Aunt Karin guessed everything that the could possibly think of - there aren’t many words that start with Y - but didn’t guess whatever it was that Reid had spied and she wouldn’t tell them the answer, pleading for them to guess again. Aunt Karin finally said, “water” and Reid was delighted to say that that was the right answer. Aunt Karin explained what sound Y makes at the beginning of the word and they were all happy. Or maybe Reid was happy and the others were relieved that the game was over.

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January 14, 2010 by Barbara.

Reid is increasingly interested in reading, finally agreeing to sound words out when prompted. Her passion, though, remains math. Tonight she chose to work in an addition book while I got supper together. At first, Reid told me the numbers that she was adding together and then she gave the answer. After a bit, she started regrouping the pictures of items to be added and then asking me for the answer. When I told Reid that it was she who needed to practice addition, she assured me that she knew the answers but wanted to know if I did. When I hesitated in answering a question, Reid would offer the initial sound of the correct answer. I was tempted to defend myself - the delay was due to distraction not an inability to work sums less than 10 - but that would have seemed ungrateful since she was giving me hints.

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January 13, 2010 by Barbara.

View More Wordless Wednesday Participants, look at my previous Wordless Wednesday entries, or check out the cute babies and kids at 5 Minutes for Mom.

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January 12, 2010 by Barbara.

Ken’s oral interaction test is scheduled for January 19th. He is working even harder to prepare for it than he did for the grammar and comprehension tests. Or, at least, it seems that way to me. Reid’s and my job is mostly to give him time to study. We speak French to him sometimes but we discuss “home” topics and don’t use the same vocabulary as he will in his test and so its not as helpful as might be. I thought of going away for a weekend or two but its nice to see him for breakfast and supper at least. Our plans have morphed into staycations instead.

On Saturday, we went to that Home Depot Kids’ Workshop and then straight to Kindermusik. We ate our lunch in the recreation centre, where Reid discovered that the lentil couscous I’ve been trying to get her to try for years is actually yummy. Too bad I didn’t feel the same about Reid’s bagel with cream cheese. After class, we had planned on going to Play It Again Sports but Reid fell asleep but I’ve extended the “don’t wake a sleeping baby” rule to prohibit waking Reid, regardless of her age. We slowly made our way home via a circuitous route to prolong Reid’s nap.

Once home, Reid applied the stickers to her calendar and then it was time for a power skating session that was offered in place of hockey. I wish the power skating happened more often. Reid enjoyed the drills - and going to the other end of the ice for the first time - and she needs the skills development. Ken came along to watch. He and I have some of our best conversations sitting in the stands, me trying to absorb all of his extra body heat and both of us thinking of what we want to tell the other. We try for a good conversation at swimming lessons, too, but the heat saps the ideas out of our brains and there is no touching.

On Sunday morning, Reid and I went to the Canada Agriculture Museum for our first visit since the fall. It was sooo cold! I remembered why I don’t usually go to The Farm in the winter. Our arrival put us too late for the rabbit and cow care sessions and before the afternoon sessions started but we were able to say farewell to the ram, about whose departure I had read on Twitter, and visit the pigs, sheep, bull and donkey in the main barn and the cows and calves in the dairy barn. The cows are suffering from ringworm - which they said doesn’t actually involve worms - and we weren’t able to touch them. The calves were behind a door. They’re so cute it’s nearly impossible not to touch them, or rather, they would find it impossible not to touch the people. They are lickers and nuzzlers to a one, those calves.

We ate our lunch sitting in the parking lot and then went to visit my friend, Carol, and her husband in the rural part of Ottawa. We took our snowshoes with us and were out for about an hour, walking along the Jock River and then through a field of pine trees. It was a sunny day and the landscape was quintessentially “winter in Canada”. Carol’s two dogs - one of which is nearly as big as the pony Reid rode when we were at Deerhurst and the other is smaller but still large - accompanied us. They rolled in the snow, ran away and came bounding back, occasionally sniffing at Reid. She was the tiniest bit hesitant at first but only for a short time. She has come a long way from her fear of Zoëy, the smallest (and cutest) Yorkshire terrier I’ve ever met. I thought that the big walk might have worn Reid out but she stayed awake for the whole trip back. Carol and Michael live near one edge of Ottawa and we’re close to another. The city might not be densely populated but it is widely spread out.

I made Madras chicken curry for Ken’s half-birthday, which we were celebrating belatedly. He’d requested a cherry pie, too, but I’d spent too much time away from the house to deliver it. I substituted three store-bought cupcakes that each had a plastic hockey jersey on the top. Reid and I got Senators jerseys (Go, Sens! Go!) and Ken got a Canadiens jersey (Boo! Hiss!).

And all of a sudden, our weekend was over and it was time for bed.

Speaking of the Montreal Canadiens, do you know what the “H” on their jersey signifies?

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January 9, 2010 by Barbara.

I took Reid to Home Depot for their Kids’ Building Workshop on Saturday morning. She asked why I was taking her instead of Ken. Like I haven’t taken her more than he has, though he took her to the last workshop. I’m not sure whether Reid thought building was the sort of job that a Daddy would do or whether she thought he was better, regardless of gender or if there was a third answer. It’s hard to know which would be a better answer.

The project was an interesting one - we made a perpetual calendar. There were 8 nails involved, which meant there was just the right amount of hammering required before Reid could paint. Reid did most of the hammering, for the first time, and her aim was much improved and we didn’t bend any nails. Maybe having Ken at that last workshop *was* better. ;+)

Mid-way through the workshop, I started wondering whether Lowes or Rona also offer workshops for kids. I’m pretty cheap, as you might have noticed, and free activities for kids are high on my list of things I like to spend time on. I’ve done a bit of research and see the Rona has a Little Hammers Club and Lowes in the US does as well. I couldn’t find any info on the Lowes Canada site but I’ll call. It turns out I’m not all that loyal.

If you’re looking for Reid on the morning of the 30th, you should check Rona. All that’s to be decided is whether she is stuck with second-choice Mama again.

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January 7, 2010 by Barbara.

I thought I’d make two resolutions this year:
1st to send a message every day so that Grandma Joyce would get into the habit of checking her email and so that I had a better record of what we did and what I was thinking of; and
2nd to send a message to mark everyone’s birthday. We’re so far from all of you but we think of you lots and it seems like I should tell you once a year, at least.

So far, I’m 0 for 2 on those. Since diets don’t have to start on Monday, I’ve decided that New Year’s resolutions don’t have to start on January 1st, though early January is good.

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November 28, 2009 by Barbara.

6:31 - We’re on the train, in our seats with the tables open in front of us. Reid has many questions, about how I knew what seats we were in, what the leather bits at the top of the seats are for (we called them antimacassars when I worked at Woodside National Historic Site but I don’t know if the Victorian term has stuck), whether the engineer wears a seatbelt and if so what if s/he needs to go to the bathroom. Reid was pleased that she has the window seat so that she can see out and so that she doesn’t have to sit beside someone she doesn’t know. She added that she does like to look at old people. I’m hoping the 50ish man across from us doesn’t realize she meant him when she said this.
6:40 I asked Reid if she could sing in a whisper. The look she gave me was equal parts surprise, insult and confusion. I explained that some people were probably trying to go back to sleep and mystification took over. Sleep, now? The adventure is just beginning!
6:46 And we’re off. The car we’re on is mostly full.
6:58 Reid has found markers in her backpack and is turning her garbage bag into a hand puppet.
7:01 The snack lady stopped by for a visit. We bought a chocolate chip-banana muffin (it almost seems healthy with the banana) and an apple juice. When the hand puppet is finished, the snack will provide a diversion. The man behind us chose a bag of chips. It seems a much less healthy choice for this time of the morning but I remember reading that people should think of muffins as “fat sponges” and maybe it’s no better than the chips.
7:17 Reid asks, “Mama, can I watch your iPod.” I remind her that she meant to say “may I” and she rephrases her question.
7:18 Before I’ve had a chance to take my iPod from my pocket, Reid is asking where “the” iPod is. Having been a student of French, I’m aware of the importance of articles. It’s a family resource now, I guess.
7:55 I convinced Reid to pause the video and come to the bathroom. Her bladder is much stronger than mine.
9:36 After Dora, Diego, Super Why and Sesame Street podcasts, the iPod has outlived its attraction. Its now time for Reid to recline her chair, adjust the tables, rinse and repeat.
10:43 Time for Princess to have a nap. Reid says she is going to have one, too, and I’m afraid she will. We’re too close to Toronto for her to sleep and awake refreshed. She’ll be grumpy if she falls asleep and I won’t be able to carry her and our bags.
11:11 We calculate that we have 15 minutes before our train is scheduled to arrive.
11:13 Reid hits the wall. When I refuse to let her change the rules of I Spy in the middle of my turn, she starts to cry.
11:18 I’m banned from playing again for seven months. Reid doesn’t know all of the months in order consequently, my punishment doesn’t include January, February, March, April, May or September. Next we’ll be talking about briar patches.
11:26 On time arrival in Toronto. Hooray.
11:36 Veggie burger for me, original for Reid, fries for both of us from Harvey’s. The 5-minute wait for a veggie burger dragged into 10. I complained and ended up with a free meal. We had to hurry to catch our train I would have rather paid and had my food in 5 minutes.
12:45 Nap time. Please, please, please.
1:13 Reid asks to sit on my lap
1:16 Must. Pee. Now. I thought she was faking but I don’t play Russian roulette.
1:21 Start of 15 snuggly minutes. No sleep but actual rest.
3:05 Reid has made friends with the 11-month-old girl in the seat in front of us. They’re non-napping comrades. We’re almost to Chatham and I am looking very forward to seeing Melissa and her boys.
3:31 We made it safely to Chatham. Now for the craziness that is my side of the family.

Posted in Holidays, Vacation, Barbara's family | Print | 2 Comments »