Thumbs up!

The cast came off today!  Watch out world---Cate is back in action!

A Comment on Raccoons

As we were driving in the car last weekend, Maggie overheard me comment on my intense dislike for raccoons. 

Maggie:  Mom, why you no like raccoons?

Me:  I just don't.  Do you like raccoons?

Maggie (nodding her head):  I like them!

Me:  Hmmm.

Maggie:  They not scary!  They no say "roar!" and they sleep in trees.

Me:  Well, I think they're kind of scary.

Maggie:  They not!  You should stay inside.  Or you can stay in car.

Girls Day Out

Jazzy Hair

Cate picked out this very fancy feather today with her Claire's gift card. 

After I showed her this picture she said, "Wow.  I look grown-up with my hair all jazzed like that."

Crazy Hair Day

Ben participated in Vacation Bible School this week.  One of the theme days was "Crazy Hair Day." 

Not wanting to be left out, Maggie convinced our babysitter that she needed "crazy hair" as well.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Cate's fractured wrist has put a damper on our water play this summer. 
While Cate was at Wildlife Camp last week, Ben, Maggie and I tried to spend as much time as possible outside. 

Some highlights:

 Laying out at the pool

Showing off dance moves at the splash pad

Picnic in the park

Kick Me With Your Best Shot

As we were driving to the pool today, I glanced back and noticed Ben's eyes were closed. 

"Cate," I asked.  "Is Ben asleep?

"Well, if I kick him he doesn't say anything," came the reply from the backseat.

I guess that answers that question.

Ben, poolside

I Have a Little Shadow

Maggie at the Splash Pad

In her words, "I runnin'.  I runnin',  And it sprinklin'!"

Go Cubs!

Ben's t-ball team, the Cubs, had it's first game tonight.

Ben played outfield and, for an inning, stood on the pitcher's mound.

It quickly became clear that even in t-ball, this field position requires some skill. Not because the person occupying this spot is expected to pitch the ball but because the majority of hits off the tee do not make it out of the infield.  Therefore the "pitcher" is kept pretty busy stopping the ball and then throwing it to the first baseman.

Ben seemed to enjoy every minute.  The only indication of boredom occurred towards the end of the third (and final) inning when Ben shouted to me from the pitcher's mound, "MOM!  CAN I GO TO THE PLAYGROUND NOW?"

Ben, pre-game

Ben, with his cheering section

Ben, batting

When I asked him what his favorite part of the game was, he replied, "Being the catcher in the middle of the field."

Word of the Day: Neckbrain

neckbrain

noun 1. a projection of the thyroid cartilage at the front of the neck that is more prominent in men than in women.; 2. another word for "Adam's apple"

Example: Ben and Mommy are in the kitchen.  Ben places his hand on Mommy's neck and says, "Is that your neckbrain?  Does it hurt when I touch it?"

Happy Campers

This weekend we camped with friends at Lake McBride, a notable event for several reasons. 

First, it was the first time we had ever camped together as a family.  Second, it was the first time I have ever camped in my entire life.

Seriously.

I am 34 years old and, until Saturday, I had never spent the night in a tent.

With the exception of a 20-minute meltdown from Ben and Maggie at bedtime, it was a great time.  We swam at the beach, the kids dug holes to China, we grilled burgers and hot dogs, roasted smores and cooked up pancakes for breakfast.

In my (very limited experience) I think the essential ingredient for a successful campning trip is to go with friends.  Our groupt consisted of 6 adults and 10 kids ranging in age from 20 months to 10 years.  The kids  completely entertained each other from 6:00-10:00 and the adults could actually talk!

I actually started AND finished several conversations.

It was truly amazing.

There was no fighting, tattling or crying (well, at least until bedtime...).

Cheers! 

 Cheeseball(s)

Everyone say, "I love camping!"

Marshmallows

Chris and I joked that we have definitely spent a lot more money on much less relaxing vacations.

Short Cast

Last Thursday, Cate got a short cast.  If the next set of X-rays look good then she should be able to get this cast off in two weeks.

The new cast is much, much lighter than the previous one.  Cate said, "It feels like I'm carrying a purse with nothing in it!"

Weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's

As mentioned previously, Cate and Ben spent last weekend in Harlan with Chris' parents and their cousins, Ava and Sophie.

They went hiking in the woods, watched Sleeping Beauty, and camped out in the basement.

They were particularly excited to show us the things they built with Grandpa Jerry.  Cate built a table and Ben built an easel.  We had fun painting them last week after they got home.  (Maggie had to content herself with painting a little treasure box from Ben Franklin).

Sweet Dreams

It's bedtime.

Cate and Ben are (supposed to be) reading quietly in their beds.

I am in Maggie's room, singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

We hear a small crash from the bathroom and then, 10 seconds later, a larger crash.

Then:  silence.

Maggie immediately looks at me and says, "Where Cate and Ben?"

I stare at the ceiling, praying that whatever catasrophe just occureed is easy to fix, "Well, they're supposed to be in their beds."

Maggie shakes her head and says with conviction, "He not."

Cate, Rebecca, and an Update

Cate and her American Girl doll, Rebecca, now have matching casts.  (Thanks Grandma Sheila!)

We had a follow-up appointment in Orthopedics last week and, according to the X-Ray, Cate's wrist looks great and is healing quite nicely.

In about a week she'll get a new, shorter cast (Cate is hoping for pink this time).  The second cast will be on for 2-3 weeks and then, hopefully, will come off for good.  Her activity will still be restricted (no t-ball, for example) but she'll be able to resume biking and swimming.

She is also hoping the doctor gives her the go ahead to try the monkey bars again. 

She fell when she was attempting a renegade stunt, leaping from the stairs to the pole and then shimmying to the monkey bars.  According to Kindergarten gossip this trick is banned during recess (for good reason, apparently) and, therefore, must be attempted outside of school hours. 

Rather than making her more cautious on the monkey bars this injury seems to have made her more determined than ever to master this feat.

As I've indicated in previous posts, having a broken wrist has not impacted Cate's activity level. 

At all. 

Last week we took Ben rock climbing at the campus recreation center.  I was watching Ben get buckled into the harness and when I turned around Cate and Maggie were both scaling the practice wall. 

On Friday, I caught Cate balancing precariously on top of our staircase railing.

"Cate!" I said.  "You need to get down!  What if you hurt your wrist?"

"Mom," she said, puzzled.  "I can't hurt my wrist.  It's in a cast."

At first, I couldn't wait for Cate to get her cast off.  Now I'm almost tempted to ask the doctor to keep the cast on for another week, just to be certain the bones have healed.  I look at many of the activities Cate does (or would like to do) and can think only of the many ways she could potentially re-injure an already delicate wrist.

Somehow I don't think even the doctor's orders to "take it easy" will suffice in this case.

Mags

Cate and Ben spent the night with Grandma Joan and Grandpa Jerry so Chris and I had Maggie all to ourselves today.

We had lunch with Grandma Sheila, who was in town for the dance recital, and after naptime headed downtown for the Iowa City Arts Festival.

Maggie wanted to "go to the librarian" so we did.  After checking out books we played on the playground and then had pizza and ice cream.

It is not often that Maggie gets to call the shots (all the shots!) and have Mommy and Daddy all to herself. 

And it was a rare treat for us to be able to focus on Maggie.  To listen to her sing and be silly.  To allow her to spend 10 minutes deciding what kind of ice cream to order.  To let her do everything BY HERSELF.  To not have to rush her along because we're trying to keep three kids on a schedule.

I feel, more acutely than ever, that I need to savor days like today because I know that my baby will not be a baby for much longer.

Just Dance

Cate's dance recital was Friday night.  She clearly enjoyed every minute of it and being in a purple cast from her wrist to her shoulder did not slow her down.  At all.

Maggie and Ben stayed for the entire show.  Maggie eyes were riveted to the stage during the first act.  Once the dancers left the stage she turned to me and said, "Where the princesses go?  I want see the princesses!"

Little Ladybug

Before the show

Dancing, with cast