edamomie

An Exploration of Parenting by the Vowel

Mother’s Day Mayhem May 18, 2013

Filed under: Eats,The Unknown — edamomie @ 9:23 am
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U: The Unknown (Mothers Day Outcome) and E: Eats (Strawberry Cupcakes)

Last Sunday marked my ninth Mother’s Day. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it does not mean Day Off. Not that I don’t appreciate the Hallmark and florist-supported day, it’s just that expectations must be realistic. Unless you are at a remote getaway vacation slash spa trip with your girlfriends, you are probably going to have to do some of your normal tasks and chores. And children, despite their best angelic efforts, will slip back into their needy behaviors at times during your day. Here’s a recap of year nine.

 

Strawberry Cupcake Love

Strawberry Cupcake Love

Mother’s Day Eve Prep Work:

I’ve heard that some moms are pampered over the full weekend. Guessing that is not the norm. I work pretty diligently on Saturday – laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc – to make sure Sunday starts off on the highest note possible. This year I did four loads of laundry, shopped with my daughter, Ava, to pick up dessert recipe ingredients and made my fave spinach quiche ahead of time on Saturday = clean kitchen Sunday and an easy brunch.


Mother’s Day Morn:

Did not sleep well the night prior – - up watching a romantic comedy til 1:00a.m. A few emotions and allergy triggers later, I awoke feeling low-energy and puffy. I hollered downstairs in usual form to my weekend morning tv-obsessed kids, “Church this morning! Come up in 10! I mean it!” Ava, my nine year-old, oft the most challenging to drag away, bounded upstairs and hopped into the shower. No sign of my seven year-old, Calvin. When he did surface, the little negotiator launched into the boringness of church and how he’d get much more out of religion if we could just stay home and read the bible for an hour. Just Ava and I went to mass.


Mother’s Day Late Morn:

Home from church and the quiche is due out in five. At the table, everyone acknowledged the day and post-brunch I opened a framed photo of the family at my brother’s wedding, a red satin lipstick case and a babushka doll tea-strainer. Great. Thanks all. Now I can make my loose-leaf tea. And since we’re in the kitchen loading up the dishwater with brunch dishes, let’s just roll right into cupcake-making.
 
Ava loves strawberries and after a Saturday online recipe search for Strawberry Cupcakes and shopping for ingredients, she’s ready to dive in. There is a mixer, strawberry gelatin, strawberry jam and food coloring involved – what messy, colorful fun! Witness the strawberry cream cheese frosting dying process here:
 


 

This was a fairly time-consuming recipe to make and instead of the 12 cupcakes it said it would yield, we ended up with 26 cupcakes on our hands. The frosting also made way too much in my opinion, but then again, we just spread it on conservatively because we don’t have a fancy swirl-twister frosting-tipped dispenser or whatever its called.
 
Come to find out, the drive to make cupcakes came from her American Girl magazine, which cleverly showed the best way to eat a cupcake – - cut it horizontally across its mid-section and place the bottom portion on top of the frosting so essentially you have a frosting filled cupcake. Had I known this, we might have split the cupcakes first, then frosted their middles so the ends wouldn’t be as crumbly. Next time!


Mother’s Day Aft:

The kids went outside to play, my husband ran some errands, and I fell blissfully asleep on the sofa in the sunshine, listening to the kids’ laughter from their outdoor escapades. For this, I was thankful.


Mother’s Day Eve:

Calvin and I planted four plants I picked up from our school’s plant sale the day prior (one of which passed already on Tuesday in the 97 degree heat). I made a kid-friendly dinner (= microwave laziness!) around 5:30, then headed out at 7:30 to meet a co-worker, who’s also a mom, at a coffee shop. We agreed that it was a fairly good day and that getting a jumpstart on work for the week would allow us to sleep better that night.
 
I came home by 10:30, did the usual straightening and kitchen tidy-up, kissed the sleeping children on their cheeks, checked my inbox, unplugged and rolled into bed. A stellar day. One to be very thankful for.

— Happy Belated Mother’s Day! (delayed post due to normal duties post-Sunday May 12).

 

The Dogs are Barking April 22, 2013

Filed under: Independence,The Unknown — edamomie @ 11:17 am
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I: Independence (or lack of…) and U: The Unknown

Dreaming of Dogs: All About Brand Loyalty

Dreaming of Dogs: All About Brand Loyalty

My nine year-old daughter, Ava, has  been dreaming about dogs for a good year now. Off and on. From Yorkies to Pomeranians. Dinner-time quizzes and questionnaires, weekend bursts of chore-activity to show stellar responsibility and more.

 

After a recent trip to the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley, she is slowly swaying me toward strongly considering getting a dog. Her interest level is so keen right at this moment. Her younger brother, seven year-old Calvin, is not quite as keen. He’s a bit lukewarm, in fact. Ideally, he’d have the same level of interest as her. Or I would, for that matter.

 

Pitbull Mix

Pitbull Mix

My husband grew up with dogs. I did not. I am definitely a tougher sell.  I think I’m being hit up now because the family thinks the sleepless nights of the toddler years are long forgotten. I’ve had a good solid four years of predictable nightly sleep patterns. Am I ready to be sleepless again?  …maybe let’s forgo puppy stage and get a fully grown dog then? It’s an option, but not one that Ava is too excited about.

 

Pleeeeease take me home!

Pleeeeease take me home!

For the sake of pursuing this dog-scenario, let’s say we all agree to get a puppy. How to find the right one for our family is the question. The humane society doled out sheets of info in helpful categories based on dog traits and characteristics: Toys, Spaniels, Retrievers, Property Guards, Pointers*, Sled Dogs, Herding Dogs, Scent Hounds, and Sight Hounds.

 

Then we hit up the library straight after our visit to check out “Everything Dogs,” “Dogs for Dummies, and my personal fave, “Weimaraners*.” Ava is also able to reference recently library books from school: “Yorkshire Terriers Are the Best!” (mid-March) and “Pomeranians Are the Best!” (mid-April) and multiple online sources.

 

I would say we’re an active family. Active in two senses: 1. we’re on the go (weekends at the grandparents; sports/eve activities, etc) 2. we’re physically active (running, biking, etc). So we need a dog that is fine being on their own for long stretches of time, but when we’re around, they’re eager to be very active and run fast! Leaning toward Pointer here with top as Weimaraner. But would our city lot allow for enough fenced-in outdoor space (which is a requirement for this breed)?

 

Just try and say no to me!

Just try and say no to me!

We do not need barking. This would rule out Ava’s front-runners in the Toy category including her beloved Yorkie. What about allergies? In this case, Labradoodles are the preferred choice for low-dander coats. However, they fall in the Retriever category which warns “Don’t expect unsupervised freedom in the house until after two years of age.” I’m beginning to believe it’s like finding a mate  – you definitely have your must-haves and the rest of the stuff, you need to overlook!

 

To dog-lovers out there: What’s your advice on breed, appropriate age for kids to have a dog, puppy vs dog, over-thinking, costs, training, etc? Need to be enlightened so we don’t end up barking up the wrong tree.

 

— all photos via Instagram and Instapics at instagram.com/jengilhoi

 

Xmas HoaX : Elf on the Shelf December 26, 2012

Filed under: The Unknown — edamomie @ 11:24 pm
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U: The Unknown

“Christmas gift parent advisory: do not buy the Elf on the Shelf. It is advertised to change places in your house while you are sleeping but it doesn’t. We returned our first box and haven’t had any better luck with the second. So far the elf has just been sitting in the box. The kids have been so disappointed. Just giving everyone a heads up on this.” - -Facebook post by my husband, December 24.

 

Elf on Wilde Roast's Shelf

Elf on Wilde Roast’s Shelf

Okay, so we know that as parents we actually have to move the elf ourselves. Most chimed in with comments on his Facebook page that conveyed that they (wink, wink : )) understood that we knew what our role was. However, we did have one person suggest that I call her because “…my brother and wife have had one for a few years and what they do is hilarious I plan to get one on sale for next year. It’s not what the elf does – it’s what you do with the elf.” Now that response, Michelle, is hilarious.

 
The Elf is mainstream holiday culture. We got ours last year. In a culture where easy and consistent access to technology is available to our kids, the Elf for parents represents a third-party way to impose a looming threat over their Christmas gifts. Gifts that by the way, are totally technology related.  We’re guilty too. We put restrictions on technology and tv time saying that the Elf would then give Santa the green light to deliver presents on their wish list, which included a Wii.

 

Box-Resistant Elf

Box-Resistant Elf

Parents are willing to pay $29.95 for this small Elf in a big box with a story. At least I feel better when I look at the mother/daughter team that chose to capitalize on this tradition. We take him out the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) and he works for a month. That’s about a dollar a day. Worth it, I’d say.

 
Our Elf is pretty boring. Others, as witnessed by Facebook posts and photos, have elves that are much more mischievous. Some fly paper airplanes, some get entangled in toilet paper, others make a mess in the kitchen or slide down the banister (see Pinterest for ideas).

 
I’m making a promise to get more mischievous next year – that is, if my future 8 and 10-year-old will even pay attention. I, in intro-Elf mode, have to say the guilt of forgetting to move him nightly mirrored the times when I’ve forgotten to leave money from the Tooth Fairy. I have made up a ton of excuses as to why the Elf might have chosen not to move from his post from the previous day.  That was as creative as it got.  Next year, I’ll be armed with new ideas!  Any Elf on the Shelf stories to share? Michelle?

 

Raising a Red Flag October 14, 2012

Filed under: The Unknown — edamomie @ 10:50 am
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U: The Unknown

To Flag or Tackle?

To Flag or Tackle?

Are you ready for some football? Yes…. and no. My 7-year-old is ready to play – mentally and physically – but is he safe? I think not. He’s playing flag football through the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation program where the only piece of protective gear for his program level is a mouth guard.

 

If the program were about the fundamentals, drills and strategy, I’d be less concerned. However, this group of first graders is playing football for the first time in an organized program (unless they have played through a private league), and it’s mostly about contact in a game. They spend 30 minutes on drills during their Wednesday night sessions and the remaining 30 minutes on Wednesdays plus another hour on Saturday mornings playing ball.

 

I have been challenging my husband for years on signing up our son, Calvin, for football. He’s an advocate, I’m into other options. The writing has been on the wall – he would play somehow, someway. We’ve signed up for some football alternatives – namely soccer. When Calvin was five, he and his sister two years older, kicked it on the soccer field. And after a freezing cold fall season when asked what they liked best about the game, the unanimously agreed that it would have to be the sideline. A tad bit infuriating to hear.

 

7 Pound Weights for Sideline Downtime

7 Pound Weights for Sideline Downtime

One night this season, my son complained of an injury and lobbied not to go to Wednesday night football. I sensed the injury was a ploy so insisted that we go to support the team and listen in on the coaching strategies. After all, my husband is the head coach (he signed up as assistant and was immediately promoted to head, as does oft happen in these programs) and since he was out of town, I was in charge of getting Calvin to the game. He stood on the sideline before sneaking away to the nearby park to hop on the swings with his sister. I reigned him in. Then he couldn’t resist the urge to kick around the soccer ball with a 4-year-old on the sideline who was there because his older brother was on the team.  I let him kick it out. Clearly, there  was no injury. Twenty-five minutes into practice, I pulled Calvin aside and noted that he looked ready to play. Finally he agreed to get in the game.

 

The boys have varying degrees of  skill sets, physical size, interest and understanding of the game. Practice and games can be quite chaotic. Just two grades up, on the field adjacent, third-graders practice in full gear. There might be more contact, but at least they have pads and helmets. I would vote to make it mandatory for first and second-graders too. It is challenging to pull an opponent’s flag off of them without getting caught up in the speed and momentum (It can be done – see the video below where Calvin goes in for a touchdown (green team, jersey #7) and his opponent swipes and holds high Calvin’s flag). It doesn’t happen as often in practice, but a few teams our own Green Lanterns have played this season have been very physical – tackling, not de-flagging as the rules of the game instruct.

 

I’m not trying to be extreme, rather, encourage that programs mandate protective gear. At least then I could be more relaxed on the sidelines. But not totally calm because I foresee the escalating contact and hits to come if he continues with football. Coincidentally, the other team’s quarterback goes down screaming on the last play of the game due to a twisted or broken ankle. Game over.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoying watching my son play as much as the next mom, but in light of recent research about concussions and long-term effects of the game, you can bet I’ll keep pushing alternatives. Calvin says he’s ready to play soccer this spring and as much as I dislike the term, I could get used to being called a Soccer Mom.

 

Check out the video of Calvin’s touchdown: 

 

School Supplies: A Scavenger Hunt September 19, 2012

Filed under: The Unknown — edamomie @ 9:33 pm
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U: The Unknown

(Limited) Supply Aisle

(Limited) Supply Aisle

The premature start of school for my 7 and 9 year-olds jolted me out of a rather enjoyable summer daze. It was August 22. That night we diligently went to our school’s open house to meet their teachers. The weekend prior to the visit, I located my daughter Ava’s school supply sheet that was sent home with her at the end of third grade. They must have sent it home early because collecting all of the specific stuff on it can be a summer-long task. I couldn’t find my son, Calvin’s list.

 

The school asks that we drop off the supplies the Wednesday before school starts – at the open house. I argued my point, we don’t have Calvin’s list so it doesn’t make sense to shop in advance. They didn’t like going into their new classrooms empty-handed. Again I reasoned, maybe they don’t actually need all of the stuff on the list or they need different stuff. Plus, what were the four tennis balls on Ava’s list needed for? Later I would find out that they cut an incision in them and they cover the chair legs to cut back on all of the noise as kids fidget and slide around in their chairs.

 

Mix and Match: Too Much Time

Mix and Match: Too Much Time

We meet Calvin’s co-teachers first. The two teachers are on two days a week and rotate Fridays. That should keep them enthusiastic, fresh and ready for their 26 first-graders.  My daughter’s fourth grade teacher is on her own with, to my shock, 34 students. We confirm pick up and drop off schedules, carefully handwrite our emails about seven times and check out the class roster.

 

Armed with Calvin’s list now, we do not pass go and head immediately to Target. Having lists isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does take most of the fun out of shopping for supplies. There are list sub-divisions: child’s own stuff, community stuff, nice to have stuff (needed throughout the year); brand name requests (no Rose Art, Triconderoga No. 2 pencils) and notebook specifics – 100 page, purple cover, 1 subject and wide-ruled. Some supplies overlap between lists. There is little room for individuality (save for the pencil box) and depending on when and where you shop, little chance you’ll find everything in one quick trip.

 

Yeah, We Need ONE Yellow One

Yeah, We Need ONE Yellow One

We didn’t go to our usual home-base Target and it threw me off a bit. I KNOW there is a  school supply section in the back of the store – it’s been there since June. My overly eager kids comb the supply aisles near the check out for quite some time until the lightbulb comes on. We head back to the designated area. It’s a bit picked over and we spend way too much time contemplating matching notebooks and folders and what stuff goes to which kid’s classroom.  To add to the challenge, the list items are not sequestered to the supply area. We actually find stuff in every area of the store from band aids to tennis balls. Ninety minutes and $90 later, we head home.

 

We don’t actually have everything yet. I’m ready to give it a rest. When my Mom arrives on Saturday I enlist her for moral support. This trip we are without Calvin and we vote to head to Office Max in uptown because of its close proximity to the day’s earlier outing. I don’t have the highest of hopes. I’m pleasantly surprised that they have the 3mm erasable ink pens in the specific brand required. My daughter tracks down a salesperson who helps us unload nearly an entire bin of notebooks to get to the last of 10 notebooks required – one with a yellow cover. I would call it a 45 minute, $60 trip.

 

Six Bags of Supplies

Six Bags of Supplies

At home on Sunday, the supplies that took us 2 hours and 15 minutes to find and $150 to buy, are divided as needed and set in stacks by classroom. We are ready for the first day, Monday, August 27, in plenty of time. We arrive with all the stuff at 7:15a.m. Monday and I bid them good first day.

 

 Now I realize we haven’t done one bit of school clothes/shoes shopping yet. Intentional on my part – that’s in the budget for late September. Besides they wear shorts and flip flops August through mid-September anyway and there are better deals on clothing in retail stores. At least we can take some liberties with that and choose their new clothes just in time for September 17 school pictures. I tell myself I’m very savvy… but it’s probably just procrastination. Speaking of which, it’s time to call it a blog post – there’s homework to do.

 

It’s an Uphill Battle July 12, 2012

Filed under: The Unknown — edamomie @ 10:47 pm
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U: The Unknown

Biking Bridge Along Minnehaha Parkway

Biking Bridge Along Minnehaha Parkway

Exploring around Minneapolis has been an adventure. Recently my 9-year-old, Ava, and I set out on the newly paved Chicago Avenue that added designated bike lines last summer. We chose a Sunday morning 9:30a.m. time slot to begin the trek.

 

From our neighborhood, it was a 10 block commute in the Chicago Avenue lane to Minnehaha Parkway (around 51st Street in Minneapolis). Despite having a bike rack —  it is not the most hassle-free bike route option – I really prefer setting out from our house when possible. After losing the Saturday battle for a bike ride together, I took a rain check from Ava. Now she owed me a sunny disposition for our Sunday morning ride.

 

Smiles, sunscreen and moments later, we set out. It was a hot several-city block ride to the parkway with one moderately steep hill. There were a lot of whiny complaints, which I tuned out. Her main focus was the hills – - what a drag to have to endure the uphill battle.  But what about the downhill coast that most often followed closely after?, I asked. She glared. There’s a lesson here – No Pain, No Gain; Just Do It, etc. And believe me, I pulled out all the major athletic ad campaign slogans throughout the journey, hoping something would stick.

 

Historic Highs, but Uphappiness with Hills

Historic Highs, but Unhappiness with Hills

We reach the parkway and jump on, heading east towards the Mississippi River, which literally feels like you’re entering a stream of swimming fish or hopping on the light rail. We wind around and discover tons of tennis courts, parks and bridges on the path as well as very seasoned bike riders. I am a bit concerned for her safety on her new bike so we alternate: her first, me following, and vice versa. I like to be in front when we’re approaching a major intersection and in back when we’re coasting intersection-free.

 

We stop just north of Lake Nokomis on the pathway for a photo and a water break (along the parkway, there is no shortage of bridges to see, as seen in our photo).  We cross up the way from this bridge over the vehicle traffic in the pedestrian/bike cross walk. I witness a near accident between veteran bikers – one riding in the car lane and one crossing over in the ped/bike lane. Glances are exchanged. Ava and I are glad we played it safe and held back for that one.

 

We have an open, towering view of downtown over Lake Hiawatha before we cross a bridge and continue east. Curiosity pushes us further. We come to the light rail path along Hwy 55 (Hiawatha) and we turn right (south) and after a short while (.5 miles max), we arrive at the Historic Longfellow House and Gardens (photo opp here) where no biking is allowed. The various options along the bike path have us a little confused, but we cruise by the Princess Depot and head east to cross the River Road. We arrive at Minnehaha Falls, where we have driven to and hiked numerous times. Biking there is a new experience.

 

Pulling Over at Mile Six for a Water Break

Pulling Over at Mile Six for a Water Break

We pause for a moment on the bridge that overlooks Minnehaha Falls. We make note of the Dairy Queen for future trips, then turn and head back home. We have helmets, but not other official biking gear. I’m overly cautious – - it’s difficult with the winding trails to make sure Ava and I pass slower riders safely. Lot’s of “On your left“‘s are spoken.  We arrive home and I make a mention of our 5 mile exploration and begin to detail it out to my husband, “that’s more like 8 miles,” he says. Okay, I guess so – -”we” were having too much fun that I may not have calculated it correctly. It’s about 11:oo so we rode for 1.5 hours.  I consider the journey and agree with him.

 

I’m sure the paths will be more crowded later in the day with cyclists that plan full-day routes. Next time, after Freewheel Bike installs her carrier rack, we’ll pack a lunch for the midway point. Hopefully, there will be less complaints about the uphills, seeing how she screamed with delight on the long downhills. I can hardly resist dousing her spirit with a words of wisdom moment, “Life is an Uphill Battle,” but I leave it be.  She is already wondering about our next outing… and that’s a good thing.

 

Trekking Around the Twin Cities June 13, 2012

Filed under: The Unknown — edamomie @ 10:16 pm
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U: The Unknown: Biking with the Family

I’ve never been an avid biker. Don’t get me wrong, I like biking just fine. I rode bike all around my small town when I was young. I even used my bike a bit in college. When I moved to the Uptown area, my bike resided at my parent’s home. Finally, my trusty Trek of fifteen years found its way back to me when I became a home owner.

 

Bikes on Carrier

Bikes on Carrier

Still it lay dormant. Two children on the scene demanded way too much attention to get in a two-hour bike ride. I could have attached the Burley and pedaled away, but as a runner the most appealing and efficient plan for me was to push the Burley. When it became laughable and nearly impossible, I let my 4 and 6 year olds off the hook. No more Burley. I eyed my bike again when they were 5 and 7. I bought myself a new bike and Craigslisted to find a tandem for my old bike so my husband could ride with the five-year old. Ironically, my old black bike (purchased new in ’87) and our newly acquired tandem bore the same sticker from Okoboji Bikes, a bike shop in Okoboji, IA.

 

We rode very few times that summer. The next summer, when they were 6 and 8, we turned the page. The kids could ride bike while I ran. The pacing was good, but three miles was about all my youngest could take. To avoid vehicle traffic, I would load up the bikes on the carrier and head to the uninterrupted paths around the lakes. I cursed this carrier, because bikes could be difficult to strap in – truthfully, it hindered my enthusiasm for family bike outings. 

New Trek on the Trail

New Trek on the Trail

 

Now, in the summer of 7 and 9, some of us in the family have renewed energy. I look back to May when my nine-year-old, Ava, decided she detested her bike, or rather the color: pink. I could barely get her to ride it during Walk and Bike to School Week (May 2011 post). When she did, it was apparent that it was way too small. When her birthday came around, we upgraded at Freewheel Bike to a 24″ black Trek with a shiny black seat, seven gears and adjustable pedals to increase her range when she’s ready. We threw in a sleek silver helmet.

 

 The bike balance is now set again. Calvin moved from the bike he had outgrown and now prefers his hand-me down from the neighbor boy. As a result of the upgrades, we have two bikes to sell on Craigslist that are perfect for a 3-5 year-old boy and 5-7 year-old girl. The new balance allowed us to turn another page - I can now run while they bike. We can go from our house around the lake and back, which is about five miles.

 

This is great, although I’m still not biking. I allowed myself to consider that Ava and I would go biking and not ask the boys to join us. Last weekend we tested this out (it helps that the boys have started golfing together). Ava loves to explore so I began with that premise. Could we get the bikes on the carrier rack and head to relatively carless path? After looking at trail maps, we settled on the Big Rivers Regional Trail with a midpoint on our route that would connect across the river to Fort Snelling, one of her favorite places to wander.

 

Bike Racks at Historic Fort Snelling

Bike Racks at Historic Fort Snelling

At age nine, our speed is more paired and I can get in a workout. We set out at 10:30a.m. and headed north. We crossed over a few roads and get a glimpse of the lengthy bridge we’d have to cross to head west to Fort Snelling. Ava was intimidated. I was a bit unsure too. We continued on for a while, then turned around to head back when the path abruptly ended. On the way back, Ava votes to bypass the bridge and head back to our car. In hindsight, a very wise decision. Had we crossed the bridge, our total route would have been 11 miles.

 

About a mile out from the car, she needed a coach. There was whining before she pushed forward a few more times to finish our route. We had a picnic at the site overlooking the river, which improved our moods dramatically. I calculated our route as eight miles long (not the five I had anticipated). We got back to the car around 12:15. She would not let Fort Snelling go. We stopped off and wandered around the grounds to see how the bike trails connected for future reference.

 

No doubt there is much to explore on bike in the Twin Cities area. We’re planning to seek out new bike routes at least once every weekend during the summer. I’m hopeful that trail accessibility, historic sites, restaurants, entertainment and parks along the way will keep us on Trek to reach our goal.

 

Sun, Surf and SanDiego April 14, 2012

Filed under: The Unknown — edamomie @ 8:21 am
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U: The Unknown

Exhuberance!

Exuberance!

On a recent trip to San Diego over the kids’ spring break, my eight year-old daughter and six year-old son got their first taste of the ocean. It was sweet. Ava was mesmerized by the crashing of the waves and quite exuberant with her discovery of the movement. Never mind the chilling temperatures. Calvin, on the other hand, treaded in lightly. Up to mid-calf actually before he was quickly knocked over by an incoming wave – enough to keep him a safe distance away for a few days.

 

It was a four-day vacation. We had opted out of LegoLand due to a visit to Legofest in May and kept Disneyland at bay. With a shorter-trip, I wanted to have enough time for relaxation. The vacation rental condo we rented in Del Mar fit the bill with its relaxed vibe, flip-flops always allowed, proximity to the beach (1 block) and restaurants and shops all within walking distance. Nearly everyone we passed by on our walks had a dog, which only fueled Ava’s quest to proposition me with more reasons why we should get a dog.

 

She had four days to be persistent. But it was day one, let’s relax. I was reminded that with a party of four of all ages and interests, a good vacation takes a lot of forethought, planning and buy-in. In general we agreed what not to do and each person made their cases for the things that they wanted to do. Kids: San Diego Zoo, movies (their room had bunk beds, video games and large plasma tv (they were a bit awestruck)), beach and hot tub; My husband: surfing, Torrey Pines Golf, watching the Masters; Me: whale watching, Balboa Park (Space Museum), Coronado Island andLa Jolla.

 

Emulating the Surf Stance at the CA Surf Museum

Emulating the Surf Stance at the CA Surf Museum

Despite planning efforts in advance, at vacation go-time you’re out of your routine, in a new place on the map with numerous variables – sleep deprivation, food shortage and spirit for adventures. I told the kids traveling is work and we don’t always know what to expect. We agreed that we certainly didn’t expect half of the passengers on the whale watching cruise to have motion sickness, Calvin being one of them. We also didn’t anticipate that it would take 50 minutes to get our order right at Smashburger - Is this California’s idea of fast food? And lastly, upon our late arrival, we did not plan for all the goodies on the Easter Egg Hunt at St. James by the Sea to be found by 10:32.

 

I countered these disappointments with the good fortune of other happenings. Like the interesting people we met in the shared condo hot tub - the kids instantly made new friends although there was a bit of one-upmanship from Calvin – “Well, you might have one big ocean, but we have 10,000 lakes and that equals one ocean.” We also had the chance to reconnect with my husband’s cousin and family including the kids’ second cousin, Mila, who is a mere two days younger than Ava. And at the somewhat crowded zoo, the kids had two times where they had front row seats to the action with the alligators and tigers. Oh and let’s not forget GPS. Love.

 

When we arrived home we did a recap of our trip: Day 1: stood mommie up at the restaurant, too obsessed with the ocean to be bothered with lunch; late lunch at Stratford Cafe Day 2: whale-watching, lunch at Prado in Balboa Park (lovely), more ocean, hot tub, Del Mar Pizza Day 3: Tour of Torrey Pines, brunch at the HashHouse (Sage Fried Chicken) in the Hillcrest neighborhood, the zoo, dinner with cousins, guitar and singing. Day 4: VG Bakery (signature crumb donut), trip to Oceanside (just up Hwy 101) for walk on the pier, surfer observation and visit to the CA Surf Museum where Soul Surfer’s swimsuit and board are on display, beach time/ surfing for Chad with coaching from an avid surfer in the family and dinner at Jakes Day 5: packing  up, Easter service in La Jolla and $28 worth of pastries, milk and coffee from Amore Restaurant.

 

She Sells Seashells by the Seashore

She Sells Seashells by the Seashore

We compared the itinerary with our pre-vacation picture and activity match-up. We made a three by five grid of 15 spaces and me and kids each choose 5 things we wanted to do. I’d say they fared well with theirs. Me not so much, missing Coronado, Space Museum and the Salk Institute. Ultimately it made for a more restful, balanced trip – opting for more beach time than museum/day trip stuff.

 

Project Boulder Extraction

Project Boulder Extraction

And as it turns out, Ava remained drawn to the water and collected everything from seashells to flowers and Calvin remained dedicated to his task to remove sand around a huge boulder (shown here with the new Lifeguard Lookout in the background, scheduled to open June 2012).

 

I asked the kids if they’d like to live there - - emphatic yeses from both. Surprise. We also talked about preferences on going to new places or coming back to places we’ve previously visited. The new factor won out with one caveat: it needs to be near an ocean.

 

What good family vacations have you taken? What made them good or not so good?

 

You Can Find Me in the (Book) Club March 24, 2012

Filed under: The Unknown — edamomie @ 12:19 pm
Tags: , , , ,

U: The Unknown, Book Club

YarnDolls: It's a WrapThe last book club I was part of lasted two novels. Many in the club of four did not even finish one or both. We were all busy parents with very little ones at the time – probably five or so years ago. We began, knowing we just might be kidding ourselves. Even when that quickly proved to be true, we kept up the front with husbands so we could still get together. Maybe we would just rent the movie version of the book and dub it the Movie Club.

 

So recently, when my 8-yr-old daughter, Ava and I were invited to join a mother/ daughter book club, I cautiously accepted.  The first meeting was in January and we waited too long to track down the book: The Van Gogh Cafe. Come that Sunday of book club, we went anyway, not having read a single sentence. For the next round, we vowed to get the book early and finish it. 

 

Round two wasn’t until March 18 – two months out. I recommended Esperanza Rising, a book we had purchased the day we struck out looking for The Van Gogh Cafe, to book club’s next host. It was a lengthy book of 262 pages, given the typical short reads we would consider. However, since it was winter and we had nine rather than six weeks until the next time we would meet, she must have figured it was an okay bet.

 

YarnDoll In the MakingThe group is six mothers and our third-grade daughters. In our breakout sessions where the girls play and burn off some energy, us Mom’s catch up on school-related topics, the random drinking laws in Wisconsin, experiencing what’s it’s like to be awesome at any sport vicariously through our children and everything in between.  I tried mommy/ baby playdates when Ava was little and I remember feeling uninspired, wondering, is this all there is? This time around, in this format, it works for me.

 

It’s an involved club. 4:30-5:30 girls play/ moms chat; 5:30-6:30: dinner/ more chatting; 6:30-7:15: book discussion. 7:30 adjourn. This particular time, the host had one activity (a recommend from the book)  – making yarn dolls. We had another birthday party engagement 3-5, so Ava missed out on this. Really quite precious. We did our own at home later.

 

The host took care of making dinner – enchiladas and tacos – and the guests supplied the rest of the dishes. Based on the Mexican theme, one mom brought this amazing tres leches cake from a Mexican-owned bakery on Lyndale and another made guac. Due to either time constraints or lameness, I brought super salty store-bought chips and some salsa.  The host had some good beverages on hand as well as the hibiscus tea based on the recipe in the back of the book.

 

When it’s time to discuss the book, one veteran book club leader starts the conversation. She has had experience with this stuff – choosing the books, leading the discussion – due to her eldest daughter’s book club she’s belonged to for years. The book at hand, Esperanza Rising, tells the story of a girl born into a privileged life in Mexico. This character seems most relatable to them because Esperanza is about their age. Early in the story she encounters death and the loss of her home that soon causes her to suddenly move to California, leaving all she’s known and one person in particular, her Abuelita (grandmother), behind.

 

Yarn Doll + Esperanza Share the Same 'DoHer new life in California on a farm is hard work and she doesn’t know how to do any of it. She faces even more adversity over the course of the harvesting season – from peaches to asparagus – and as the title indicates, she eventually rises above it. Some of us in the group have finished, others not. We are 18 pages out from the end. Regardless, we still have some good discussion and sometimes the girls get a little shy or silly or might have an attitude. Ava says little except to raise her hand to recommend the next book we’ll be reading.

 

I know it’s early in the club, but there’s a few things going on that I like: 1. As girls enter into tween phase, it can be difficult to connect with them – this is something we do together (we actually read together and out loud, taking turns; you could also just read it independently)  2. I find out what’s going on at their school (some Mom’s are in school volunteering daily and we’re all involved in different things at school we share what we know)  3.  We can show the right way to have a conversation in a setting that’s not school teacher driven.  4.  With the mix of ages, it gives them the opportunity to gain some confidence talking among adults and verbalizing their thoughts.

 

I grew up in a small town – it was easier to know your kids’ friends’ parents. You knew what was going on at school – the whole community knew. In the city, we have to make deliberate efforts to create these connections and be in tune with important issues. Getting together – whether book club or other – is working on many levels for us. Hopefully we can stick with it through August, when it’s our turn to host. I’m sure we’ll rise to the occassion.

 

I See Now the Dark Side You Have Turned To March 6, 2012

Filed under: The Unknown — edamomie @ 11:01 pm
Tags: , , , , ,
Darth Gangsta Halloween

Darth Gangsta Halloween

U: The Unknown (the force)

In a round about way that’s taken me nearly 34 years, the StarWars sixtology (technically the StarWars Film Series) has come together. From IV, V and VI to I, II and III, I finally get you, Darth. Luke and Leia – I feel your pain. And I still want those braided buns.

 

After my 6-yr-old son’s Halloween 2011 obsession with Darth Maul and the dual lightsaber, I succumbed to the fact that I should probably familiarize myself with the modern-day addition to the series of I, II and III that would be Phantom Menace, The Clone Wars and Return of the Sith respectively. Calvin had brought home books from his school’s library and pleaded to buy the full-blown Star Wars Visual Dictionary (only $13.40 online). I had a mental block as I tried to accept all of the characters prior to the first and original film. I could barely get through any of the StarWars books with him.

 

The Visual DictionaryBut he remained so persistent that by January 1, I had agreed to the Netflix rental task of ordering I – III, otherwise known as the prequel trilogy. Lucky him –  he still had the blank slate to watch these in order and see the story unfold, not remain fixated on the wars of 20 plus years past. Naturally, we started with I, the Phantom Menace. By the end of III,  I am not claiming I fully comprehend the series’ magnitude, nor do I know who inhabits which planet and why only Jedi can operate a lightsaber. It’s probably about the force.

 

In watching the newbies to the series, you can certainly appreciate what Lucas and team were able to achieve in 1977. The old school Star Wars had the perfect amount of dialogue and action. There is so much action and special effects going on in the prequel movies that it’s difficult to take in. My kids might not agree. I feel an Avatar and even Shrek-like vibe inserting itself. Intro the most controversial character in our household – JarJarBinks. Adults: cannot stand. Kids: love.

 

@yoda. Tweet I willWe watched I and II twice, then had a month-long hiatus before the final prequel arrived on Friday. It was highly anticipated. Finally the saga of Darth would come full circle. It was a mess of hot lava, lightsaber-sliced body parts and then the deep, breathy voice of Darth as his eternal mask is sealed. I thought it a bit unsettling for a 6 and 8 year-old. Ava, my 8-yr-old, wept for Padma. Calvin rolled through the action and drama no problem, having successfully learned the disordered verb/noun sentence structure (follow @yoda on Twitter you must) for the language of Yoda. I see now the dark side you have turned to.

 

And because it’s commonly thought that the prequels didn’t live up to the originals, we all understood that they would soon all be digitally remastered and come to a screen near us in 3-D. I think we won’t partake. The chilling sound of a lightsaber still conjures up a shiver. No 3-D necessary. The force – - from 1977 – - is still with me. What about you?

 

 
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