A Call for Help

For all my artistic & crafty friends & acquaintances, I have a request. Help me how to figure out how to reupholster a chair using fabric from a maternity shirt that I love, but won't probably ever wear again.

Grandma Gifts

Cami and Graham love their "Grandma Jeanne blankets." Each child received one shortly after their appearance in this world. One of Cami's many ways of showing her great love for Baby Rose was sharing her Grandma Jeanne blanket; but Rose received hers two days ago during an unexpected package day (thanks to Grandma & Grandpa & the awesome Seguine family -- more about this later.)My fantastic mother-in-law didn't want Cami or Graham to feel left out of the package opening ceremonies, so Cami received the "best game" (for her): Candy Land. (I've played a lot of Candy Land in the last forty-eight hours -- Tricia, I've even won.) Graham got a collection of Nerf-y-soft sports balls, which have been played with, too. And Baby Rose spent the night wrapped up in her very own coral-colored Grandma Jeanne blanket.

Boy Toys (for girls, too)

Graham & Cami started watching Thomas the Tank Engine on Youtube recently and now trains are becoming the family obsession. Books from the library, educational websites, and more Youtube videos showing real footage have invaded our lives. Jason even took Cami & Graham to a train museum in Pennsylvania last week & both kids have asked to go back every day since.

What makes me the happiest about all this, though, is that an often-neglected toy has become a huge hit with Graham. For Cami's "fourth Christmas" (she keeps track of things by how old she was) we gave her the IKEA train set. She thought it was fun for about a day & then it's spent most of its life in the playroom being ignored. Until last week. Graham is in love & (amazingly) Cami isn't being possessive about it. My little boy will sit in the kids' room pushing train pieces around the circle & "few the tummel" (translation: through the tunnel) for forty-five minutes at a go.

And so, Jason and the older kids are at IKEA this morning, buying extra track & a few extra train cars. My belief that the simplest toys are the best has been confirmed: now I just hope that the extender pack doesn't ruin it.

Verdict is In

Jason has wondered several times whether or not Rose would have an innie or an outie. Late last night it became official: she's got an innie.

No Damage Done

Cami, after backing into a chest of drawers, "I think I broke my brain!"

Cami Comment

I should just start tagging blog entries with "Cute Things Cami Says" or "Grahamisms" or something like that. I know, I know. It's easier to be organized if you start that way, so maybe I'll put off the procrastination. Or maybe not.

Yesterday while Jason took Graham for a haircut, Cami & I took a little walk with Rose in the baby sling (love it still -- Arlene, you are my hero for making it!). As we were going to meet back up with the men in our lives, Cami revealed what she thinks of ATMs. "Mom, can we go to the bank & buy some money?"

Rose's Life: She Belongs in a Garden

Thursday, 17 April 2008

I love Rutgers Gardens. I don't know why so few people in this area go there. It's gorgeous any season. Even in winter when the fish pond is frozen over there are amazing things to see -- like the etchings that leaves have left in the ice.



On her second day home, Rose got introduced to the wonders of nature from the safety of the baby sling. So she slept as Cami and Graham climbed flowering magnolia trees, ran among the lilac bushes, and played in the dirt. I'm so glad we went that day. The sunshine & the flowers fed me in ways that food can't. And when we returned this past Tuesday, the magnolias had lost most of their flowers -- Gardens have to be experienced continuously or else you'll miss something extraordinary. Sort of like childhood & parenthood.