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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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.

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November 6, 2009 by Barbara.

Reid and I were talking last night about how in only 6 days, we’ll be at the Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls. She said:

The water slides are fun. The storytelling tree is fun. You can be noisy and the staff won’t mind. It’s the kind of place you’re supposed to be noisy. And the decorations are cool.

Reid returned to the subject of being noisy at the Great Wolf Lodge and I agreed, with only a small caution about not being *too* noisy but she is correct. It’s a family-oriented hotel without doubt. For an adult, the decorations might sometimes slide from “cool” into “kitch” but for a kid, the animal silhouettes on light shades, the animated forest creatures on the wall over the fireplace and all the rest are a non-stop delight. Once we add in people from Wheatley and Leamington, it’s obvious that the Great Wolf Lodge is a great place to be.

For the record, Reid also knows that it is a convenient place to stay. She told her teacher that it’s half way between where her aunt lives and where we do and so it’s a good place for us to go. This is proof, to me, that she is always listening since I’m pretty sure that I’ve said something similar myself.

Now if only the Great Wolf Lodge would hire Reid to be write advertisements for why people should go there… We’d take payment in free nights lodging.

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September 2, 2009 by Barbara.

Reid was a bit trepidatious as we left for school yesterday but she didn’t say anything outright and neither did I. After the obligatory photos of Reid leaving the house, Aunt Pam drove us to school and I took a couple more pics of Reid going inside. We walked to Reid’s classroom - the same one as last year - and she asked me to walk in front while she hid behind me. This made me remember a middle of the night that I’d had. I leaned down and reminded her of how she’d been worried on her first day of junior kindergarten and then told her that there would be new kids or kids who were new to the classroom who might be sad. I asked her if she’d be extra-sweet to those kids. Reid seemed to straighten her shoulders and went into the classroom.

N (her teacher) greeted Reid enthusiastically and Reid was drawn in. We went to Reid’s cubby and put her things away. When Reid tried to put on her indoor shoes, they didn’t fit. Those same shoes that I bought in July, that were a bit loose, seem to have shrunk while sitting on the table waiting for school to start. Lucky for me, her teacher decided to waive the “inside shoes” rule just for the day. I had to ask Reid for a kiss when we went back to the main part of the classroom or she would have otherwise wandered off to play at one of the tables.

I had to wait about an hour for a group meeting with the principal. I’m pretty sure I was the only parent of a Senior Kindergarten kid to stay. The mom of one of Reid’s friends asked me why I was staying and I had to answer that I’m a bit of an overachiever. I’m glad that I attended as the principal covered some topics that I’d have learned about eventually but not before wondering what was happening for a while.

Reid was home from school and playing outside with the neighbour kids by the time I got home. She volunteered very little about her day, even when I asked leading questions. Some days Reid will talk and talk about something but she usually keeps her school life to herself. Her first day of senior kindergarten was no exception.

This morning I offered her the chance to spend the day with Grandma Joyce, Aunt Pam and Brianna instead of going to school. Reid refused, saying that she missed N. I’m hoping that this enthusiasm for school lasts. (Last year’s troubles are still fresh in my mind, though Reid didn’t mention them.)

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August 27, 2009 by Barbara.

Last Saturday, Aunt Karin and I had decided to have Italian food for supper - were almost at the restaurant, in fact - when we noticed a sign on an adjacent restaurant advertising a lobster fest. We instantly and simultaneously decided we wanted lobster and, since the restaurant with the sign didn’t seem kid-friendly, we headed to Red Lobster. (I love my GPS!) I said that I wondered if there would be a special that included shrimp. Reid piped up from the back seat, “I want shrimp!” That caught me off-guard. I offered Reid shrimp on her birthday and she wouldn’t even touch one. Aunt Karin explained that Shea had ordered popcorn shrimp one night and Reid had tried it and liked it. Of course, if Shea ate cardboard covered in sawdust, there is a very good chance that Reid would like it. At the restaurant, Reid ate breaded shrimp and some cooked in garlic butter and then turned her attention to the crab legs. Fighting to get to the food, especially when tools are involved, appeals to Reid. She was less interested in the lobster tail. I think it seemed to mundane, laying on the plate, waiting to be eaten with no tail to pull off and no exoskeleton to be cracked.

I’m always pleased that Reid will try most foods but it might be okay if she turned her nose up at some of the more expensive ones. ;+)

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August 25, 2009 by Barbara.

Uncle Roger told me that he and Reid were at Seacliffe Park one day last week when Reid got into a sticky situation on the climber. He noticed that she was hanging from the bars as she said, in a normal voice, “Help me, please.” Uncle Roger told Reid that her if she was in trouble she needed to yell loudly. He said that I may have said not to yell but that I would agree it was okay when she needed someone’s help. Reid replied,  ”I yelled as loud as I could without hurting my ears.”

I love this story for two reasons:
1. Uncle Roger didn’t try to undermine my rules about yelling while teaching Reid a lesson about self-preservation.
2 Reid seems to have managed not to roll on the ground laughing at the very suggestion that she *needs* to be louder. It’s not advice I’d have ever expected Reid to be given.

I would’ve been tempted to say something about Reid risking broken bones to prevent hurt ears. And Reid might’ve ended up with a phobia about playground structures. It’s good Uncle Roger was there and not me. ;+)

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August 24, 2009 by Barbara.

Reid has been sharing little snippets of what she did last week while in Wheatley and environs. The information will trickle out as this week goes on and things remind Reid of what she did. I know already that she had an excellent visit, though. As proof, I offer the fact that she cried for the first 10 minutes after we left Aunt Karin behind. She cried because she didn’t want Aunt Karin to leave and also because Aunt Pam and Grandma Joyce wouldn’t be at our house when we got there instead of waiting until the weekend. Finally, she cried that we should move to Wheatley because Ottawa was too far from her family. I was sympathetic, tried to help her focus on the fun she’d had and reminded her of how long it had been since she’d seen Daddy and her other friends. Reid wasn’t entirely convinced but she eventually stopped crying and fell asleep. All this to say, I’m glad Reid had fun but I wish she didn’t cry when I take her home.

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August 21, 2009 by Barbara.

When Reid was in Wheatley in July, she really wasn’t interested in speaking to me on the phone. At one point, someone told her, “but Mama misses you.” Reid’s response was, “Mama misses me because I’m all that she has but I have my cousins and grandma and everyone and I’m busy.” I think we’re at the same point in this week away. I’d love to hear from Reid and she is busy again. Until I see her tomorrow, I’m going to wander around with the fragment of Tina Turner’s “Missing You” running through my head:
I ain’t missing you at all
Since you’ve been gone away
No matter what my friends say.

Poor, poor me, forgotten so easily.

And lucky, lucky Reid to have such good relationships with all of you in Wheatley, Leamington and Windsor. And Harrow. If I forget to say “Harrow”, Reid adds it. Sometimes we remember Tilbury, too, but sometimes we forget - not that we ever forget you, Sari. And I’m not even sure where Chantelle lives.

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