Month: June 2010

Whistler’s Mother

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Eleanor has recently figured out how to whistle.  She’s very proud of it; it took her several weeks of practice to get to the stage where she is now — just barely tottering through “Hot Cross Buns” — and takes any opportunity to show off her new skill.

Whenever we arrive at a friend or family member’s house, she enters the front door whistling.  I usually have to point out what she’s doing in order to garner the appropriate level of appreciation.  (“Um, Eleanor’s whistling.  Not spitting at you.”)

Whenever I’m away from the family for an extended period of time, Eleanor always reminds me of her new skill within moments of my return.  “Mom, while you were gone at your thing, did you forget that I know how to whistle?”

Also, she’s always quick to remind me that, “if you ever are going through the house and need some music, Mom, just let me know and I’ll whistle for you.”

The other kids have tried picking this up, but without success.  Jeffrey just isn’t all that interested, while William often confuses whistling with high-pitched screaming.

“AAAAAAA!” he’ll yell, usually when I’m merging the car onto the freeway at rush hour.  “AAAAA!  Listen, Mom!  I whistling!  AAAAA!”

Crikey, my aching ears!

Birthday Week

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My birthday (which was yesterday) is the same week as the my sister-in-law’s and mother-in-law’s birthdays.  I call it the Cake-‘n’-Candles Triple Crown.  My parents were out of town, so my mother-in-law took the opportunity to fill in and spoil me good:  Dinner AND a movie!

Here’s what I gave her, by request: Brian and I used to make little films based on folktales starring our kids.  We haven’t made one for a long while owing to outdated technology, but we’ve recently acquired a Flip camera and find the filmmaking 100% easier.

The kids decided to do “Sleeping Beauty.”  It’s pretty silly, but fun to watch.  Be sure to stay for the credits.

Mesa Verde, HO!

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The children had been begging for a trip to Mesa Verde for months.  Jeffrey is obsessed with all ancient cultures, while Eleanor and William just love sleeping in a tent.  Over Memorial Day weekend, we decided to oblige them.  For those of you who don’t know, Mesa Verde National Park is home to one of the oldest and best preserved collection of Native American buildings, most dating from between 500-1200 A.D.  In my opinion, living in the West and skipping Mesa Verde is like going to Peru and skipping Macchu Picchu.

Here is the basic theme of the entire park:

Yes, let us speculate.  Because the Ancestral Puebloan people (not “Anasazi” anymore) kept no written records, everything we know about them is 90% conjecture.

And what does the park feature?

CLIFF DWELLINGS!

PIT HOUSES!


NATIVE AMERICAN DANCERS!


PLUS, THE WORLD’S MOST DISGUSTING MUSEUM EXHIBIT!


This looks more like old cheese than bread.  Brian and I initially saw the “Chewed Bread” exhibit when we last visited Mesa Verde in 2001.  We thought it so bizarre that it became a running gag for the rest of that trip . . . and for the rest of our marriage, really.  Whenever we see a museum exhibit, diorama, illustration, or film that depicts native-type people grinding grain, one of us leans over and says, “Mmmmm, chewed breeeaaaad.”  And the other is obliged to shudder.  It’s good to see some things never change.  (Oh!  Oh!  And notice the alternate recipe for “Chewed Bread Rolls” in the upper left corner.  Shudder.)

The kids were THRILLED with this trip, although Jeff may have been occasionally disappointed at times — I think he thought our explorations would be something more along the lines of Indiana Jones and the Metate of Doom.  I didn’t sleep a wink the entire time we were there (can’t sleep in a draft, which is what tents do best), so I’m more than a little happy to be home.  Onwards to the washing machine, O campfire-scented clothes!

Oh, and keep in mind that the Ancestral Puebloans did all of the above with no pack animals, no metal tools, and without the wheel.  Yeah.  They never got around to inventing the wheel.  Chew on that.

Congratulations, Ellabelle!

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Eleanor officially graduated from preschool last week.  Would you believe the tiny little blue robes?  The tassels are proportionate to the rest of the outfit.  I’m not sure what Ella will do with hers . . . hang it from the rear-view mirror of her tricycle?

Both grandmas and one grandpa were able to come, as well as her dad and Wimmy.  Note the tiny little corsage on her wrist — that’s from my mom.  She thought she was doing something really funny and clever, but when she went to the florist’s shop for it, she found out that people buy preschool graduation corsages all the time.  Huh.

And would you believe that Hallmark makes three different preschool graduation cards?  THREE.

Anyway, it was a happy day for her.  Her teacher, Miss Annette, gave her the “I Can Do It Award,” based on Eleanor’s general persistence.  The diploma states that she is now a “master of rhymes” — nursery rhymes, although it really does sound like the name of a two-bit M.C. circa 1993.

On to kindergarten, my girl!