The Little Comedienne

You'll have to forgive me, for lately life has been a whirlwind of change and busy times. However, I have a quick quote to share with you.

Last week, we had the living room carpet cleaned.

Mind you, when we moved in, it was brand new and beige. A shade chosen by the previous owners. Not the carpet we would have chosen to work well with two small children, but that's how it was when we got here. We knew from the get-go that it would get dirty. We were very liberal with bringing drinks in the living room, letting the kids walk around with juice boxes, pretty much anything. So of course, within a few months, juice spilled and we would sop it up with a towel. But of course the sugars would attract dirt and it would dry into an ugly mess.

Then we couldn't take it any more so we called Chem Dry. The guy came in and did a deep clean and used really hot water and carbonation to break down the sugars so that not only would the stains disappear but they would not attract dirt again and have the same spots reappear weeks later.

After the Chem Dry guy was done, I left the house to give the carpet some time to dry. Max and I had lunch on Willie's lunch break at a delicious vegetarian restaurant in Fountain Valley. After we took Daddy back to work, Max and I went to pick up Zahra from school. I explained to her that the living room carpet had been cleaned and that we couldn't bring drinks in there any more. Unless it was something that would just leave vacummable (did I just invent a word?!) crumbs, it would have to be consumed on the tile floor in the kitchen or dining area.

Her response was classic, comical Zahra: "Awesome! That means we can just mess it all up again!" She was totally joking but it was pretty funny how she came up with that response so quickly.

Ah... my dear little comedienne.

Wagon Walk

Just before I took Auntie Sis to the airport, we all needed to get out and go for a walk outside. It's fun that Zahra and Max can still fit in the wagon, and for the most part, get along.

Zahra loves her little brother!

I love to see the two of them together, when they hold on to each other and just look like they're having a great time.

This shot is kind of blurry because I'm pulling the wagon as it's racing down a hill and trying to take a picture at the same time. Not an easy task! They thought going down the hill was so much fun...

A little while later, after walking around our complex for awhile, it seemed like a good idea to let the kids get out and walk around a little. I wanted to take a picture of them in the trunks of this olive tree, but it was almost impossible to get them both to stay there...

It's funny how much Max looks like a baby here. (Yes, I know he's almost 15 months old so it's not like he's very old yet, but you know what I mean, right?) Sometimes it seems like he's growing up to be a little boy, but every once in awhile, the baby-face pops through.

Of course Zahra wanted a turn to pull her brother around for awhile....

Then we decided to sit down and I was trying to have Auntie Sis get a group shot, but getting all three of us to look at the camera at once truly was impossible. Plus, Zahra wouldn't stop being silly. She kept putting that little pillow over her face and head because the sun was shining in our eyes. (Do you think we could all fit in that Smart Car back there?)

Wake up, Little Z

On some school mornings, Max wakes up before Zahra. This day, we went in together to try and wake the Sleeping Beauty. For a couple weeks now, Zahra has been sleeping on the floor, technically underneath where her bed should be. I moved the mattress from the top, where it should be, and put it on the floor, so at least it would be cushioned. She likes having the sheet hang down to make a little enclosed space where she feels more safe. Max was ready to find his big sister and wake her up.

But she was sound asleep. Notice the little purple flashlight (one of the presents we gave her for her birthday). I wonder if she ever finds it in the middle of the night and turns it on to see if she can see anything. For this little one, you have to hold down the button to keep the light on, which is nice so the battery doesn't run out since it can't be left on.

A few minutes later, two happy kids. I have noticed that Zahra is much more amiable on mornings when Max is immediately there when she wakes up. When it's early and it's just-Mom, we can have quite the frustrating time with grumbles, eyes that refuse to open, hiding under the pillow, thrashing about, you name it. But sometimes Max is sleepy, too, and since he doesn't need to get ready for school like Zahra, I usually let him sleep until he wakes up (which, more often than not, happens just a few minutes later when we are downstairs). I think he senses that he's alone upstairs and so he sits up in bed and calls out, "Mawm?" (It sounds more like that than the rounded-O sound in mom.) I rush up to get him and he's just sitting there, with his legs crossed, rubbing his eyes and looking bewildered, then immediately happy to see me when I walk in the room. To witness that expression of joy, just because you walk in a room, is truly a wonderful feeling.

Hodge-Podge

When Auntie Sis was visiting us at the beginning of the month, we went out for breakfast at the Harbor House (on PCH). When Max smiled for this picture, the waitress happened to be walking by. She was so surprised that he would actually smile for the picture, although personally, I think it was a big happy coincidence. I think this actual moment in time must have been just before or just after he gave that big grin.

Max eating french toast and eggs. He must have been really hungry, because when the waitress put the food on the table, Max shrieked and almost jumped out of his booster seat. It seemed like he could hardly wait for me to cut up the bread and put some on his empty plate. He must have heard something from outside and was looking back to see what made some sound.

Later that day, after we picked up Zahra from school, we went to Target so that Auntie Sis could find some flip-flops. She had brought lots of cold weather shoes but wanted something lighter. While we were waiting for Auntie Sis to decide, Zahra tried on some adult-sized boots. It was hilarious to watch her try and walk in them.

Ever the clever little boy. Max kept putting this little bucket on his head and walking all over the house. If you got down on the ground close to him, he would try to put the bucket-hat on your head, too...

The under-the-table GIANT! Or wait, he's still just a toddler with a dirty shirt. He looks so big here. I guess that's what happens when you lay on the ground and take an upwards shot of a baby.

Yet Another Polliwog Award

Yesterday, there was another ceremony in Toad Hall for kindergarten awards. Zahra got another Polliwog Award for reading books with her mom (and grandma). This was what Max was doing while we were listening to names being called (notice his crazy hair). Since I had already posted a blog about this, I really wasn't going to do another one. Except yesterday the kids celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss. By wearing pajamas. To school. (I wish they had pajama day once a week! It was so easy to get Zahra ready in the morning.) So I thought it would be fun to take pictures of the kids in their PJs. Zahra's class even had on paper hats and bowties like the Cat in the Hat.

Here is Zahra, graciously accepting her award and shaking the principal's hand.

Thumbs up, Mom!

They counted. 67 kids got Polliwog awards. Then a select few got another award where they got to go to the principal's office and pick out a book to take home. The official award said that she read a goal of 4,000 pages, but this was something that Mrs. Dreifus had mumbled when announcing this particular award. How they calculated this for the kindergarteners, I'm not sure. In any case, Zahra went to the office and picked out another copy of a book we already own! ("Lola at the Library." When it was in regular rotation, Zahra used to always insist that I inserted "Zahra" every time it said "Lola" in the book. The girl in the book is little and black and has cute little pigtails. I wondered if Zahra kind of identified with her. She would even get mad if I would mistakenly read "Lola," as it clearly said on the page, and forgot to remember to add "Zahra" instead. It's hard to remember to read things that aren't actually on the page!)

Waiting as everyone got counted...

My favorite little reading buddy!

Maxwell Shoe-y Hands

Lots of times, Max will pick up shoes and bring them to you. Sometimes they belong to you. Sometimes they belong to him. Sometimes they belong to a guest. It doesn't matter. He likes to pick them up and carry them around. Sometimes I think when he brings me his shoes, it's his way of saying, "Hey, put these on me. Let's go outside." What he really means, who knows. Today, he put his little shoes on his hands and walked around the house. I was washing dishes in the kitchen and he walked up to me, put his hands in the air, and had a huge grin on his face. Like it was the coolest thing he'd ever done! He was so proud of himself. So I gave him a hug. And grabbed the camera.

He kept them on his hands for quite awhile, just walking around, banging on stuff, dropping them, picking them up and putting them on again. Great toddler fun!

It was like he kept trying to say, "Hey, Mom! Look what I can do! I've got shoes on my hands! Wow!"

My little happy Maxwell Shoe-y Hands.

Jog-a-thon 2010

This morning, there was a jog-a-thon at Zahra's school. It was a fundraiser to help the school earn money for special programs, art supplies, field trips, and "extras" that the school would otherwise be unable to provide for the students. We dropped Zahra off when school started at 8:00 and then Max and I hung out for awhile since the jog-a-thon wasn't scheduled to begin until 8:20. He finished what was left in the juice box that Zahra had partially consumed on the way to school.

When we crossed the street and went back on campus, the kids were still getting ready, so Max and I decided to walk over to the farm that's part of the school. We stood at the fence and looked in while we waited. Max yelled gibberish emphatically at the animals. Since they're are used to hearing kids yell all the time (as the chainlink fence is all that separates their area from the playground), a few of them took it as an invitation to come over and greet my little boy.

"Hello, Mr. Goat."

(I was a little worried that Max would keep sticking his chubby little fingers through the fence and that the goat would come over and try to nibble on one, but the goat never got close enough. Whew...)

Then I noticed that Zahra's class was starting to warm up. Max and I headed over to that part of the playground to capture the action. Here's Zahra, in her huge (size: small) jog-a-thon t-shirt/"dress," stretching with her classmates.

Zahra and Nahomi, standing around before the action began. Zahra really wanted Max and I to come join the group, but we had to hang out on the other side of the divider line. Before the activity even began, Zahra complained, "I'm tired!" (I think she really meant, "I'm bored"). I had gotten her to sleep earlier than usual, but she has been kind of sick lately, so maybe she really was a little under the weather.

Before the Race: The card pinned to the back of her shirt, to keep track of how many laps she made. The kids got entered to win prizes equivalent in number to the amount of laps they ran (for example: 10 laps, 10 chances to win). (Alfie Kohn's theories about being "Punished by Rewards" come to mind.) I don't think the prizes were actually that much of an incentive for Zahra. I think she took sheer delight in running around with her friends and classmates just for the sake of running. Honestly, I think she forgot that there was really a reason the whole thing was even happening!

More stretching. I wish she could really touch her toes without bending her knees! I do stretches at home every day (though usually at night, before bed) and sometimes when Zahra sees me, she tries to follow along with whatever I'm doing. I've noticed she isn't very limber any more (not like the rubber baby brother), and I don't really remember often enough to get her to stretch every day. Since she doesn't see any progress and doesn't think that the stretches feel good, she doesn't really like to do it.

Stretching again. Not exactly Zahra's favorite part of this morning. But soon enough, she'll be having fun...

Listening to Mrs. Conton give directions. Off to the left is the teaching aide, Mrs. St. Pierre. For some reason, when Zahra talks about her, she always calls her "Miss Pierre." I think she really likes her, because every time there is a holiday (Christmas or Valentine's Day), she always wants to include Mrs. St. Pierre in whatever we're preparing to bring to school.

Lively music began to play and announcements were made over the PA system. Here they go! Then we see Zahra completing the first lap of the jog-a-thon. Definitely not tired yet. Still ready to run a lot more times around the track...

Pulling off to the side of the track to get her lap marked off on her tally sheet... I think there was at least one or two laps that didn't get recorded, but I guess this isn't the Olympics anyway.

Although it's not centered properly, I like this shot since it captures her braids flying in the air as she runs along. (It was so hard to get good shots with all the chaotic kindergarten and first grade kids running around!)

Running with friends. Next to her in the red pants is Gracie, then Lian or Leah (the two girls in her class look somewhat alike to me and their names are so similar, I always get them mixed up!), and Kylie. They look like they are having such a good time!

A little while later, she found her friend Kyle and they held hands and raced around the track together. One of the things that Mrs. Conton had mentioned at the parent-teacher conference (did I already mention this?) was that Zahra has a lot of different friends and will play with both girls and boys, which was somewhat unique, in that many of the other kids are not that open. I think it's neat that she choses to interact with a lot of different kids. There are still particular friends that she mentions from time to time, but overall, I think she has fun with almost anyone she plays with at school.

During the "cool down" phase, Zahra and Kyle continued to walk around as the activity drew to a close.

One of the moms is holding a box of popsicles. Look who's all ready for hers...

The final tally: 14 times around the track. Not bad for a first time. Bessie said in years past, they had a smaller track set out for the kindergarten kids. This year, they ran around the same track that the rest of the school did. There were times when Zahra seemed to be getting tired or slowing down, but when I would yell, "Go, Zahra, go!" she would perk right up and break into a sprint. It was awesome!

After the jog-a-thon was over, she still had some energy left to run to the tables where the kindergarteners eat snacks and lunches. The light at the end of this jog: popsicles! (And yes, even today, she's still jovially calling them "popiscles! popiscles!")

Max in Maine

Enjoying popiscles with her classmates

The end of a good morning: Way to go, Zahra!