Surprise!!!!

So in the midst of the No-No trauma that I told you about the other day Andrew and I made a last minute decision to go on a family vacation. Andrew was already planning on taking a solo trip to Florida from Wednesday to Friday to visit his parents. But at the end of that trying day we both were just completely drained (it kind of just topped off the not-so-great last few months) and neither one of us was feeling great about being apart.

So we quickly looked into our options and determined that by maneuvering a couple of things we could all go to Florida. So we rebooked tickets for all us, leaving Wednesday and staying until Monday, and booked a hotel in Orlando for Saturday-Monday. Thank you Southwest miles and Sheraton points!! Since it was only 1 day away we decided to keep the change in plans a secret from the kids.

I will say that while the one day I had to pack and get ready was very hectic it was also very nice to only have 1 day to think about it! And we did a pretty good job remembering everything and getting it all in order.

On Wednesday morning, Andrew and I woke up at 4:45, got dressed, and finished packing a couple of things. Just as we were bringing the last bag downstairs Julia got out bed and headed for our room which she found empty. We found her at the top of the stairs looking at us with a very confused expression on her face. We told her she needed to get dressed and get ready because we were going to Florida!

It took a minute or two to sink in but when she realized what we were saying - that we were going to visit Grandma Su-Su and Grandpa Herb she was so excited she was jumping up and down with a huge smile on her face. So we quickly got ready and headed out the door! What a great surprise!

Waiting for takeoff!

Silly Benjamin

This is how I roll!

A Traumatic Day

A Traumatic Day
The one in which a bunny is lost, a family grieves, a mother feels guilty, and a child makes a new friend.


Last Monday we had one of our worst days - No-No was lost and we were pretty sure it was for good this time. We couldn't find him at bedtime the night before but Julia was so tired that she was alright going to bed without him.

But the next morning was a different story - we needed to find No-No! We searched the house, no luck. We searched the cars, no luck. We searched the yard, no luck. We searched everything again, no luck. So we began retracing our steps. On Sunday we had been out at the doctor's office and running errands and I distinctly remembered Julia bringing No-No into the car and having a bad feeling about it but not saying anything because she was sick and I didn't want to upset her.

So now I'm sick to my stomach thinking that he fell out of the car somewhere and I didn't see it. So we drove back to all the places we had been, combing the parking lots around where we parked and checking the lost & founds. No luck.

We arrived back home a mess. Julia was crying, I was crying, Benjamin was a bit bewildered but not helping the situation because all he would say was "no-no? where's no-no?" so right when I thought I had Julia on a different topic, we would start all over again.

We had a long conversation about how No-No was probably on an adventure, how maybe there was someone else who needed him now. At one point, through her tears, Julia said "I hope No-No is with someone and not alone while he's lost." At which point I cried harder for my empathetic little girl. (I'm tearing up again just writing this!).

That afternoon we took a trip to a toy store to find another special friend. Maybe jumping the gun a bit, but it had been a very long morning and we needed a diversion and something to make us feel better. So off we went. On the way there, Julia said "maybe we'll find another friend exactly like No-No." So there was another round of conversation about No-No being unique and irreplaceable (I know this for a fact after spending many hours over the past couple of years searching stores and the internet for another one) but how we could find another friend that was special in its own way.

Thankfully, we did find a suitable animal at the store - a cute, chocolate colored bunny who was promptly named Co-Co No-No. There was still some sadness but we were getting through the day. On the way home there was another conversation about No-No that went like this:

Julia: I miss No-No
Me: I know but remember I think he's off on an adventure exploring new things.
Julia: I think he's playing hide-and-seek…. a really hard hide-and-seek… in the basement. Do you know how to play hard hide-and-seek, Mom?
Me: No, Julia. I'm sorry. No-No must be really good at it because Daddy and I both tried very hard to find him.
Julia: I think he's really good at it.
Me: Maybe. We'll just have to see.

Things were overall ok for the rest of afternoon and evening. I think Andrew and I felt the worst. We were both exhausted and drained and feeling like awful parents for losing No-No. Bedtime was a little rough but Julia eventually went to sleep with Co-Co No-No and a three foot shark she had scored at IKEA a couple of days before.

After bedtime I headed downstairs and started cleaning up a bit. I brought a couple of things to the basement to put away and on my way back up the stairs I noticed a box under a basket… and in the basket I spotted a red truck. Suddenly, a conversation I had with Julia the day before flashed back to me:

Julia: I need to find the front to this truck
Me: It's downstairs, in the basement, go and get it.

AHA. So I grabbed the box - no luck. My heart sinks. But I take out the truck and there, under a doll blanket, is another box. A little plastic box that's closed. I open it and squished in with about 200 pom poms is No-No!

Honestly, I cannot remember the last time I have felt such tremendous relief. I ran upstairs and Andrew and I were practically jumping for joy. I bounded up the stairs to the kids' bedroom to give him to Julia, anticipating some great reaction. However, she was still sick (hence the doctor visit the previous day) and we had given her Benedryl before bed. She was out like a light. There was no waking her. I couldn't believe it!

I had to wait until the next morning for the reaction - which did come and was as delighted as I expected. She was incredibly surprised and very thankful. And now she has two special No-Nos to love.

The End.

ps. No-No is now banned from playing hide-and-seek!

Nature Hike

One of our activities this fall has been taking regular nature hikes with a few other families. We've had our share of wet rainy hikes but overall it's been a great experience and we've learned quite a bit. The last one we went on was at Roger Williams park (we've actually done three there) and we were looking for leaves from sweet gum and tulip poplar trees. 

Each week we've had just one or two different things that we are looking for and the kids really enjoying collecting as many of the item as they can! This particular day it was cool but nice and sunny and Andrew was able to join as well. A beautiful day for a walk in the woods!

After the hike we took a break by the lake for a snack and the kids decided they were snakes that were coming to get us! 

Everyday Moments - Dinnertime

I'll be honest, dinner in our house is not a very relaxing time. But I have to imagine that is the case for almost all families with small children.

We do make a point to sit down and eat dinner as a family almost every night and we also make a point to almost always have everyone eat the same meal. There may be some variations (Julia doesn't like sauce on anything, Benjamin eats fewer vegetables, Julia eats more vegetables, etc.) but everyone gets the same basic ingredients.

The refrain around the dinner table currently goes like this:
"Julia, please sit and eat your dinner"
"Benjamin, please sit in your chair"
"Julia, you need to eat more meat"
"Benj, sit down"
"Julia, stop drinking your milk and eat your dinner"
"Benjamin, we don't stab the table with the fork. You're hurting the table."
"Julia, you can't have more peas until you eat your meatloaf."
"Benjamin, we sit in our chair, you're going to fall and hit your head"

and so on...

Here's a short glimpse into the end of one of our dinners. I actually took the video because Benj was copying almost every word we said and I wanted to remember what he sounds like right now. But it's also a snapshot of the silliness that occurs around here. And yes, he is eating a lemon (Julia had started it and he had to try it as well).

Uh-oh

So this is what happens when someone gains access to the spice cabinet!

Lots of practice with motor skills like pouring (and sweeping up)!!! 

Reading to her Little Brother

I witnessed this in my bedroom the other morning! 

The audio is a little difficult to hear but Julia is reading the animal book to Benjamin. At the beginning she says to him, "I'm not reading this to you unless you're sitting next to me" and at another point when he is goofing off, she says, "that's enough Ben." Definitely the big sister! But I'm loving the overall closeness and bonding!