A Matter of Perspective

Ben:  Mom, how did your class go tonight?


Me:  Well, it wasn't great.


Ben:  It was bad?


Me:  You could say that.


Ben (nodding sympathetically):  Did someone throw up on the floor?

A Rose By Any Other Name...

Ben:  Hey Mom.  Is "Pierre" a name in France?

Me:  Yeah, it is.  Why?

Ben (laughing hysterically):  PEE-AIR?  That's a really gross name.

Cece and her Bubby

"Cool" Steve

There are a lot of people named "Steve" in our extended family.  And because our extended family is so big the kids often have a hard time remembering who is who---confusing great aunts and second cousins.  Keeping track of all of these relationships is even confusing for the grown-ups!

We were talking about where to go on vacation last week when Ben said, "We should go visit Uncle Steve."

Ben has been dying to go fish with my Uncle Chris, who lives in Washington, so I assumed he was referring to him.

"Oh," I said.  "You mean Uncle Chris, in Washington?  That would be fun."

"NO,"  he said. "Uncle Steve!"

"You mean my Uncle Steve who lives in San Francisco?  That would be fun too."

"NO," he said.  "Not that Uncle Steve."

"You mean Grandpa Steve?  In Idaho?  It would be fun to visit his cabin again."

"NO," he said.  "UNCLE STEVE.  The cool Uncle Steve."

Suddenly it all made sense.  He was referring to my cousin Steve, who is really cool---young, tall, good looking, flies helicopters and has an awesome dog named Rosie---and who made a huge impression on Ben when we saw him at Christmas.

"Oh," I said.  "You mean my cousin Steve.  He lives in Florida."

"That's what I said!  Do you think he has a pool?"

"I don't think he has a pool but he probably lives close to the water," I said.

"Cool,"  Ben replied.  "I bet he has alligators too."

And when you're 7, nothing could be cooler than having alligators.

Baller

Ben is playing basketball through Iowa City Parks and Rec right now.  It can sometimes be a challenge to get him excited about new activities but Chris and are thrilled that Ben seems to enjoy basketball. 

He is a very active and very social kid so it helps that he has friends on his team and can socialize while running up and down the court!

His team, the Celtics, had their first game on Saturday.  Ben is a ferocious defensive player (as seen above!).  He was thrilled to make two shots during the game as well.

The rest of us passed the hour cheering for the Celtics and trying to keep Cece off the court.

Go Hawks!

Iowa vs. Wisconsin

I don't have any photos of Ben because he was curled up on my lap for the entire game. Knowing how few opportunities like this I have left with him made me treasure every second!

Pinewood Derby Debut

Cece watches intently.  (Such a big girl!)

Talking Shop

Just happy to be here...

Waiting at the finish line

Ben's car is number 14

Although his car did not place in the top 3, he won the award for "Best Scout Spirit."

Family Fun Night

Face painting! And glow sticks!

And beads!

The reason we stayed in Iowa City and missed the gymnastics meet was because I was the co-chair of our elementary school's Family Fun Night.  Games, dancing, pizza, face painting, prizes and a photo booth ensured that our Saturday ended on a great note!

Ben and Maggie

Saturday was a very unusual day for our family.  Chris took Cate and Cece to a gymnastics meet in Illinois, while I stayed at home with Ben and Maggie.  I realized a few minutes after Chris left how rarely I have just Ben and Maggie by themselves.

We definitely packed a lot of activity into our day.  While Ben was at basketball practice, Maggie and I took advantage of the heat wave (40 degrees!) and spent time on the playground. 

Then we headed out to the mall.  Maggie was adamant that she wanted to get her ears pierced.  I truly did not think that she would go through with it---especially because the little girl ahead of us in line was hysterical.  Crying, sobbing and begging her mom to take her home.

When it was Maggie's turn I asked Ben to hold my phone and take a picture.  He quickly shook his head and said, "I don't want to watch."

But Maggie sat very still and, although she was scared, she didn't cry.  She was incredibly proud of herself and spent the next 10 hours telling anyone who would listen, "I just got my ears pierced.  I didn't even cry...and I'm only 5."

We planned on going ice skating but a hockey tournament led us to the Children's Museum instead.  The theme for the day was "Once Upon a Saturday" and Maggie enjoyed all of the crafts. 

Cinderella was helping make fairy wings at one of the stations.

"Why don't you have wings?"  Maggie asked.

"Well," Cinderella replied.  "I don't need wings.  I have a fairy godmother."

"Oh," said Maggie excitedly.  "I do too!  I have a fairy godmother and a fairy godfather."

This totally cracked me up because she was quite serious as she always refers to her godparents as her "fairy godparents."  Cinderella wasn't sure what to think.  

The three of us had a lot of fun and it made me realize how much Cate (as the oldest!) and Cece (as the baby!) dictate what we do and when we do it.  I think it was nice for Ben and Maggie to be able to call the shots for an afternoon.

Boys - Part 2

Having never been a boy I find some aspects of "boyhood" to be confounding (see previous post).


Yesterday Ben came home from school with a tale that had me perplexed from start to finish.


Me:  How was school?  Anything exciting happen?


Ben:  No.


(Conversation unfolds around us for a few minutes).


Ben (perking up):  Oh, I forgot.  I almost got sent to the principal's office today.


Me (betraying no hint of emotion):  Really?  What happened?


Ben (words tumbling out):  Well, me and [names of four friends] were playing "Cops and Robbers" at recess.  I was a cop and everyone else was a robber.  Then I decided to be robber too.  And my other friend.  And we were kind of tackling each other--you know, to go to jail?  Then this kindergartener came up and he wanted to play too.  But he knocked [other kid] down.  Then [another kid] dove at my boots and wouldn't let go so I almost fell.  Then Mrs. Alt-Farmer came down and yelled "What's going on?"  and the kindergartner ran away.


Me (thoroughly confused):  Um, so were you playing or fighting?


Ben:  I'm not really sure.  But Mrs. Alt-Farmer had us hug and say sorry.  She had to catch the kindergartener.


Me:  Oh.  Then what happened?


Ben:  We played it again at the next recess.

Boys

Chris:  Oh, Ben.  You've had those socks on for two days.


Ben (shrugging):  So?


Chris:  Well, you should probably change your socks Bud.


Ben (not a bit concerned):  I've had this pair of underwear on for four days.


Chris:  I think we need to talk about that...

Trick Or Treat...FOREVER

Even though we're only two months into 1st grade, I feel like Ben has really matured.  Some of the things that come out of his mouth sound very grown-up and he's developing a very cheeky sense of humor.

The other day we were scrambling to get out the door (surprise, surprise...) and one of the kids asked me a question about why I was taking a particular item to the business school.

"Oh," I replied, just wanting them into the car. "It's a long story."

"Start now, finish in the car," was Ben's immediate response, a response which cracked me up at the time because of his nonchalant delivery.

While Ben is often impulsive and probably tunes out much of what I say 80% of the time, there is also evidence that he is listening a lot more closely than I realize.  (Or maybe he just doesn't listen to me...hmmmm).  He seems to pay particularly close attention to what his teacher, Mr. V, says.  And what Mr. V says is pretty much treated like Gospel at our house.

"Mom," Ben said from the back seat of the car earlier this week. "Mr. V. says you can trick-or-treat until you're 18."

"Really?"  I said, a little skeptical of where this conversation is going.

"Yeah, maybe even until you're 19," came the reply.  "You know, because you're technically still a kid."

"Wow"

There is silence while Ben and I both consider the possibility that he still has more than 10 solid years of trick-or-treating ahead of him.

"But I'll probably do it longer than that.  I'll even go when I'm a grown-up," Ben finished.

Football!

Chris and the kids went to the Iowa game on Saturday.  It was the perfect day---great weather, the Hawkeye Express, Fun Zone before kick-off, and delicious concessions.  The Hawks didn't play well until the very end of the game, barely squeaking out a win, but you can't have everything, right?

A Week of Family

 

Following the triathlon on Saturday we spent Sunday in Zearing, Iowa celebrating my Grandma Hyland's 90th birthday.  All of mom's eight siblings and the majority of my cousins were in attendance.  It was a great day and I'm so glad that we were able to be at the party.

 

My uncle Tim came to Iowa City for a few days at the end of the week.  My kids loved having him here and loved all of the attention they received from my cousins Leslie and Rachael. 

 

There's nothing my kids like better than a new audience who hasn't seen all of their tricks. 

Reunited

HyVee Kids Fit Triathlon 2014

Before the race

Heading to the starting line

Ben, ready for the swim

Waiting for Ben to cross the finish line

Post-race photo with their cheering section
Ben earned 14th place in his division and Cate finished in 11th place. 

So happy that my brothers were back in Iowa for the weekend!  We miss them!

Chris and I couldn't be prouder of their hard work. 
Special thanks to Grandpa Doug and Grandma Sheila for watching Maggie and Cece during the race.

With their Tri Team

Half Naked Photo Bomb

Missing Teeth

Due to circumstances that I can no longer remember Ben's two front teeth have been "dead" for several years.  Since they were baby teeth and X-rays indicated that the roots were not damaged our dentist, Dr. Molly, said that the teeth would eventually fall out on their own.

Last month Ben pointed out that a sore had formed along his gum line, near one of his front teeth.  It didn't seem to bother him (e.g., no complaints) so the sore kind of slipped my mind.

Then I ran into Dr. Molly at the gym and mentioned it to her.  She indicated that it probably wasn't serious but that I should bring him in.  She suspected an abscess and thought, perhaps, the teeth might have to be pulled.  I did not share this possibility with Ben prior to our appointment.

After examining Ben, the dentist called me back into the exam room.  She confirmed that it was an abscess and using very comforting language indicated (rather vaguely) that both teeth would need to come out.  She and I discussed the tooth extraction for a few minutes, in rather vague terms, for fear that we would alarm Ben.

I was thinking about the best way to approach the subject with Ben when he looked up at Dr. Molly and said, "Oh so you want to pull my tooth?"

Dr. Molly was clearly surprised at his matter-of-fact response and said, "Yes Ben.  I think that's the best choice to get rid of the abscess."

Ben shrugged, "Okay."

"But Ben," I interjected.  "She's going to remove both of your front teeth.  Not just one."

"Yeah,"  Ben said.  "Okay."

And he really was okay.  He handled the entire procedure like a champ and the abscess disappeared within a few hours.

I saw her a few days later and she asked how Ben was doing and complimented him on his poise during the procedure.

"He was great,"  I said.  "But you know if we're ever in a position where Maggie has to have teeth pulled...."
Dr. Molly finished the sentence for me, "Yeah, we'll probably all have to be sedated."

First Day of School 2014

3rd Grade

1st Grade

Mags, getting in on the action

My Crazy Crew

My Crew