Posted by: Jessica
on Jul 30, 2010
It's getting to be that time of year again; football jerseys are out.
Posted by: Jessica
on Jul 26, 2010
Bridget has gotten into her "story tapes". Brendan had some cassette/books from when he was a kid, but only a few with both the storybook and tape that match up. The other day on eBay, he came across an auction of some tapes and books some of which we had the book and not the tape and vice versa, plus some new ones that we didn't have yet -- like Mary Poppins.
They came today. And in a really awesome yellow suitcase case to boot. Now she's got the matching tape for It's a Small World and Alice in Wonderland. In addition to the aforementioned Mary Poppins, the other new set was Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby.
According to the Wikipedia article:
"The phrase is considered by most Americans to be an ethnic slur. However, since most Americans have never heard the phrase and have no knowledge of its origins, it is ludicrous to make this assertion."
I guess if Wikipedia says it's not racist, it must be true? It just doesn't quite sit well with me for whatever reason. I feel like we should give it a listen to hear how bad it sounds. And then get rid of it. Maybe sell it and then donate the money.
Ideas?
********
And... I listened to it. The story itself is not so bad: Rabbit escapes from Fox and Bear. But the tape, oh the tape. Since the story is from Song of the South, the tape sounds pretty much like the SNL skit.
Posted by: Jessica
on Apr 26, 2010
This past weekend, my college roommate Chris and her daughter Evelyn came for a visit. The girls are only 5 months apart and they had a lot of fun together. It was Bridget's first sleepover, and they stayed up late late late on Friday night giggling and being silly in her room. There were a lot of reasons why they couldn't sleep. And endless stream of reasons. Eventually though, they did go to sleep. (Not that anyone really cared they were awake. Who hasn't stayed up late at a sleepover?)
There was a lot of running around the house, making messes and general four-year-old (Bridget is almost 4, I think of her as 4 at this point anyway) shenanigans.
Saturday afternoon the girls all went to see The Nields do a kids show at Jammin Java. I haven't seen The Nields since college. It was a lot of fun. (Though since they are originally from the area, there was an abundance of friends and family, and it sort of felt like we were the only ones there who didn't actually really know them.) Bridget spent a lot of the time standing front and center at the base of the stage (she really wanted to get on it) and just staring at Katryna. She's that perfect age where she will just dance and spin and not really care (or know) that anyone is watching her.
Once Chris and Evelyn left on Sunday, Bridget declared herself officially bored. And then took an EPIC nap.
Posted by: Jessica
on Mar 9, 2010
Since today was sort of stinky, we will revisit yesterday -- a spectacular day.
There was "chalking"...
Digging...
Spinning...
Swinging...
And all around loveliness...
Posted by: Jessica
on Feb 11, 2010
Yesterday was one of those days. A Terrible Awful No Good Day. Or at least, it ended badly. Bridget did not nap. Not a single wink. Boy did she need a nap, too. By three she was bouncing off the walls and driving us all crazy. Poor Johnny is working on a tooth and so he's been cranky and not wanting to sleep a whole lot and generally needy. The snow was falling and blowing and we were all inside. Together. For the fifth day.
There was a brief point where the snow ended and the sun came out briefly and so I went out and shoveled the drive. I'm sure this is why my mother always shoveled when I was growing up: to get away from us. Plus, it's quiet outside just after the snow stops. I thought, maybe that break would be enough. But alas, it was not.
By 4:30 and after a whole lot of whining we had all (and by we I moslty mean myself) had just about enough. So I got Bridget in her PJs and fixed her some eggs and toast and had her ready for bed by 6. Man did she need to sleep. Of course, she fought it the whole way. Johnny went down at about 6:30 and she just started yelling for her Dad. She'd already tried Mom and I told her that I'd have to take "her guys" (whatever stuffed animal she's picked for the night) away if I came back in. Switching it up was her way of trying to get around that.
But I went in instead and she was not happy. I had her hand over her guys and she just started bawling. Asking for dessert. Wanting her Dad. So I asked her, "Why do you want Dad?"
"Because I love him. You're mean to me. You only love Johnny."
That killed me. So I explained to her that I am not mean because I like it, that there are rules and she has to follow them. It's bedtime. After some hugs and assurances that yes, I do love her, Johnny just needs extra attention right now, I back-tracked a little and let her have just one guy (instead of the usual two) and promised her I'd tuck in the other one after she went to sleep.
And of course, by now it was around 7. Her normal bedtime.
Beer and some emails to friends and family made me feel a little better.
We are on-track for a better day today. And that's all I can really ask for.
