Does anyone else feel like a complete criminal when told that they have a library fine? Why do the library volunteers look at you as if you are personally trying to destroy literacy in America? Yes, all nine of my books were overdue, but only by two days, which is pretty good for me considering that little white due date receipt never makes it home. Instead it gets grabbed by Luke's sweaty little fist and shredded to small bits (or occasionally completely eaten) on the car ride home. My children are skilled in the fine art of library book hiding. I'm on to them slipping books under the couches and mixing them into our own book shelves, but seriously, I can't compete when they zip them up in backpacks or wedge them behind the blinds in the living room window sill. And, because the library shelves are placed claustrophobically close together, Luke and Ethan can simultaneously grab about six books apiece in 2 seconds, meaning I walk out of there with way too many books to keep track of. Of course, the real nightmare starts when I decide to try and pick a book for myself. Today it went something like this: "Mommy's looking for a book really quickly, just try to be quiet okay, and then we'll go look at the kid's books." "But Mom," says Ethan in his most unquiet voice, "Luke stinks, I think he has di-arena Mom!" Then Luke, in an even louder voice, replies, "NO LIKE IT di-arena!" That's about when the dirty looks and "shushing" from the cranky retired people started. So, in the interest of time and less library fees, we just grabbed two children's books today. I was excited that Luke picked the classic Babar, but a little less excited when I came home and read it to him. The illustrations are still as charming as I remember, the story slightly more disturbing--Babar's mother gets shot by a hunter and then he marries his cousin Celeste . . . ewww. Anyway, the good news is that despite the "di-arena" false alarm I managed to grab three whole books for myself! Sometimes I think they should invent a game show (in the vein of Supermarket Sweepstakes) in which a mother has 1 minute to grab as many classics as possible while maneuvering a double stroller through the rows--I could totally win. I would start in the B's and pick up all the Brontes, Browning and Buck, while reaching across to Dickens all at the same time. Then with my winnings, Will & I would retire early and volunteer at the library, where we would waive all overdue fines for parents brave enough to take their children to the library.
He was so wet we had to change his entire outfit. And yes, we have to use a spray bottle to get his hair to cooperate. Running the comb under the sink doesn't cut it.
What no one told me is that hair is only a blessing if you have girls. If you have boys it is a daily battle to tame the mess, culminating in even worse battles at frequent trips to the hair dresser, which costs me my money and all my pride. For example, did you know at Supercuts it's apparently a law that they cannot cut someone's hair unless that are wearing that black cape? I do because Luke is phobic about that cape and practically seizes the minute they try to put it on him. I also have had the experience of Luke throwing up the gummy bears I tried to bribe him with on that black cape because he hates it so much. I've taken him to special children's haircutting stores where they have toys and balloons with no success. We've bought a home haircutting kit and put him in a high chair in front of the TV, still no success.
I can dream right?
2. After reading this about the challenges of Valentine's mailbox construction, I opt for decorating red gift bags with Valentine's stickers. Use a lot of tape to fix Luke's bag after he ripped it in a moment of sticker frustration. Check.
3. Let Ethan help me make dough for heart shaped sugar cookies. Frost and decorate them AFTER kids have gone to bed, thus avoiding sprinkles all over the entire house. Feel guilty and save a few for them to decorate themselves on Thursday. Check.
4. Take kids to the Valentine's exchange at their weekly music class. Explain to them what a Fun Dip is and how to execute it. Raid their treat bags when they're not looking and eat a few chocolate hearts and one rice krispie treat. Check.
5. Still to do: Compose amazingly romantic, witty and eloquent card for husband--always the challenge since I happen to be married to an English major who writes beautiful love letters and poetry that always put my feeble attempts to shame.
Rather than wait to do a final year-end review, I'm going to try highlighting a few books throughout the year, while my memories are still fresh. I realize I'm possibly the last person on the planet who is just now reading Tuesdays with Morrie (I won't bore you with a plot summary), but I recieved it from a friend at our Christmas Book Club exchange and finally got a chance to pick it up this week. It was a quick read, written in a simple style, but like all good books it provoked a variety of complex thoughts and feelings for me. However, the passage that struck me the most is when the author and Morrie discuss family:
Here's a sampling of what they've put this poor little condo and its contents through . . .
In the past hour:
In the past day:
In the past week:
In the past month:
In the past 6 months:
In the past year:
And these are only the things that I can remember!
Amazingly: they rarely break their toys, never rip their own clothing, and have never cut themselves on broken glass--we have to note the good with the bad I guess
Ethan, always our map reader . . .
Will & Luke braved the dolphin splash time
