Fairy Houses

Lest you think that I have no construction ability what so ever just take a look at these fairy houses! I few months ago I brought home a book from my school library about the building of fairy houses which included photographs. The girls were fascinated. We have taken to constructing some in our own yard.

Here is Alexa adding sea shells from our extensive collection to act as... baby cribs of course for the baby fairies. Can't you just see them setting up shop as we speak?

Honestly the way this summer is going we would have been better off building the little buggers some rafts.

Growing Up

You know you are growing up when you can pour your own cereal into the bowl. All three bowls of Rice Krispies cereal- Chloe's new favorite- that she ate for breakfast this morning.

And look who is zooming on her bike all big! My friend Jason found this bike all abandoned and needing an owner. He tightened a few bolts (yeah, see everyone who knows me know of my limited mechanical abilities) and dropped it off for Alexa. She loves it! Each day since she has asked to go bike riding. So, off we go in a loop around the neighborhood. Thanks again to him for thinking of her when he saw it. He is probably just making sure that someone else is trained to be my water biker on the next marathon!

Chloe has taken it upon herself to walk/run the dog while Alexa rides. It is actually mostly a run which impresses me about both of them. Since neither Chloe nor the dog are known for their desire to exert themselves. She takes a special thrill in wiping him out so he falls asleep when we get home.

And me? Well, I get to feel grown up because I picked out my own furniture. See my new office addition? I had a bed in here for when guests came, but the frame broke while being moved. I had been thinking for awhile that a futon would be more practical for us. Since it is located in my office. I posted an ad in the local paper to give the old one away. I had a lot of calls, but first come first serve. A woman came to get it for her daughter to sleep on and off it went. So now I will take reservations for the new accommodations. It is more comfortable than the old bed. Chloe picked out the cover which she likes to point out is washable. "You know Mommy just in case someone spills on it." Uh, yeah, I still said no eating or drinking on it. I paid the extra $25 for the delivery guys to put it together. I mean who was I kidding when I even thought about it? It was enough of a struggle to get the cover on! I would still be sitting there with bolts, wood, and directions all over my floor clutching my complimentary Allen Wrench and muttering.

Grammie Sharon Visits

We had company this weekend. Grammie Sharon came to visit from New Hampshire. Grammie visits are always fun for all of us, myself included. Grammie likes to spoil us. She took us shopping at April Cornell on Church Street telling the girls that they needed to help her pick out something for Mommy (a late birthday gift). Which went something like this:

Chloe or Alexa (it alternates as they pick items off the racks): Mommy how about this? This is really pretty.

Me: Oh that is a rather bright flower pattern,

or I don't know if I have ever seen that much embroidery on one shirt,

or Um that is a pretty bow on that jumper.

You get the idea.

I did get a beautiful skirt and top despite my handy assistants. Grammie also bought the girls each a very girly dress. They were very excited. She went on to have her own shopping time on Church Street to get some travel basics for her month long trip to Europe in September (including seven days in Paris!).

Other treats for me included a nine mile run ALL BY MYSELF! It was a good run. I am still trying to see if I can get enough long runs in this summer to be ready for a fall marathon. I usually try to set a 13 mile long run as my base, and then build from there. We shall see if I make it. I still have some time before I will know for sure. I have some other guests coming that I can shove off babysitting tasks on (too late to change those plane tickets now people).

Plus, Grammie cleans for me... here she is slaving away cleaning up the kitchen while I get the little people off to bath and bed. And no that isn't a new frock she bought to wear in Paris. She actually took the rug outside and shook it out. Huh. Is that how it is done?

It is a big treat not to have to clean up the kitchen after getting everyone tucked in.

Grammie also brought me some goodies from her old house in Maine that she sold. She gave me a weed whacker- practically new. And this...

a drill thingy. Excellent. It will have a lot of uses I am sure. Now I just need to figure out how to use it. So the question is, what sucker do I rope into showing me how? Start working on your patience now Curry. Yep your job as a brother-in-law is never done. See why Ryan won't leave Arizona?

Other big events?

Look at this.

Can you read it?

It says, "Alexa." Yep, she did it all by herself.

She is kinda proud can you tell?

Single Parenting

Having started this blog it has made me curious about what other people write in theirs. So from time to time I do a little searching on the topics that I write to see what other people are writing. Last night I read about the topic of single parenting. While I don't really like that label and try not to connect myself. However, I have become rather attached to the song by Clem Snide lately with the line, "When we become what we're running from." So in an effort to be more accepting of myself- it is what I am. I read quite a few blogs on the topic. Some people came to this life style by choice, some as a result of death, but most were similar to me- divorce.

I think the similarity in every ones was about how hard it is and how tired you get. I was thinking about that this morning while I ran a 6 with the girls. There is this hill along the route for 6. The funny thing about this hill is that I have run it hundreds of times alone and never gave it much thought. But when I run it with pushing them in the jogger it is a beast. I am breathing hard and my pulse rate is really high. I dread it coming and feel weak when it is over. I think that is what being a single parent is like for me. Everything that you don't even give a second thought to doing by yourself becomes five times harder.

• grocery shopping


• running out to grab milk/bread


• getting to work (that is a three hours just to get everyone up, dressed, and dropped off)


• mowing the lawn


• shoveling the drive


• dropping the car off for repairs (that was this week, we walked the mile and a half home and back)


• dating (we won't even go there)


• clothes shopping (can't remember the last time I tried anything on before buying it)


• house cleaning (it never ends!)


• laundry (I think it multiplies)


• having to go to the bathroom while your out some where (drag them in too)


• using the computer (Alexa on my lap as we speak)

I could keep going but you get the point. You get use to it. You plan. You pack. You organize and accept that it will be like this for a while. The good out weighs the tough. The laughs out weigh the tantrums (thank goodness) and you learn. As they get older it is getting easier. In another ten years they can stay home while I run and do a quick errand.

Just to prove my point here they are swinging all by themselves yesterday while I cook dinner. That was not the case last year. I already look at that development with a little sadness.

Home work

So I can imagine you have been wondering what is up with the house? Did she finish the porch? I hope it hasn't kept some of you up nights- if so I apologize humbly. Here I have been posting away about summer fun with the girls and not a peep about my home renovation work. Well, rest assured my fellow readers...all two of you... I have been working. It has been slow, but I have been working.

So here it is the front porch.

Beautiful, no?

It took awhile to get through. There has been a lot of rain so having enough dry weather to dry everything out and paint has been tricky. Also I can't work on it and take care of the little people too. So that slowed things down a bit. Luckily they go to bed early, and it stays light late so I can work in the evenings. I did realize the other night I was sitting out and painting the railing on a Friday night. I tend to forget what day it is what with me being on vacation and all. I have to admit that felt a smidge pathetic when I realized, but given that I have distant memories of the last time I was on an actual date. I figured it isn't like I had anything really exciting to do anyhow. Plus it allowed for some people watching, which in this neighborhood is always interesting. Did you know there was such a thing as male capris? I had no idea!

Summer Camp

Chloe is at the age where a lot of children attend summer camps. Some of these camps are over nights and some are just day camps. I have students who attend one camp after another for the entire summer. These are often the same students who have multiple activities going on during the school year often two a night. As a teacher I always shake my head at these parents because their kids are often exhausted. As a parent I have no intention of involving my children in more than one or two activities a year. Enough to give them experiences, but not to the extent that our entire time as a family is spent shuttling them from on activity to the next. Besides how do you pay for all this stuff?

Never the less I have been hit this year with my first battery of, "What camps does your daughter do?" questions. So here it is... I call it Camp Mommy.

We have read aloud, water play, field trips, photography, art activities,

creative building,

cooperative group play,

and imaginative role playing that involves other household members (featured here as an evil dragon trying to attack the princess and her good friendly dragon...thus needing to be contained).

The staff is highly skilled, on call 24/7, and sadly underpaid- I vote everyone chips in to get her a nice massage.

Really who could ask for anything more out of a summer?

Pet Show

Last night was the 30th Annual Children's Pet Show at Battery Park. Since we have our beloved Cabbie I scanned the categories to see where he might be able to participate (you can enter three).

Longest ears... probably not

Cutest dog... we tried but he didn't even place... Golden Retrievers get all the glory.

Craziest tail...well, he has none

So, we hit upon Best Costumed Pet and Owner.

Ladies and gentlemen may I present the first place winners!

The hummingbird bird,

the butterfly,

and the flower..

We had a little wardrobe malfunction at show time, hey ask Janet Jackson it can happen to the most seasoned performer. We overcame the problem and walked away with the first place prize bags. See it isn't all about looks! Our costume idea came from Chloe- bet you guessed that!