the OTHER mother

Carrie, Calling All Ninjas

Did you know that there’s a Ninja Class in Texas?

You might think this is a joke, but it’s a True Story! A girl that is 6 years old named Carrie started a Ninja Camp.

Now you might think that an adult is the leader of the camp, but you guys read half of the note and you know that the person doing it is 6. She knows how to be a Ninja.

She can walk quietly like in the olden days. She can spy on her moms. She is good at climbing trees. She can stand as still as a tree. She can balance as good as a cup.

If you want to learn Ninja skills, come to Carrie Chamberlain Reagler. Her phone number is 713-x82-78x9.

If your son or daughter wants to be like a Ninja, then you can come to Carrie’s house and celebrate your holiday here.

Runaway Cody: A Birthday V-Card for our Valentine

Marcia's birthday is on Valentine's Day. Pearl, Carrie, and Cody (with a special cameo by Finn) made this video in honor of the special occasion. Happy Birthday, sweetheart!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

On Thankfulness

Carrie and Pearl made these books over the Thanksgiving weekend. I chose a few pages from each book. The first four are Carrie's, and the last four are Pearl's.

I'm thankful for Ninjas spying.

I'm thankful for friendly dolphins.

 I'm thankful for rocks everywhere.

 I'm thankful for my sister.

 

A few pages from Pearl...

I'm thankful for my loco cats and screw-loose dog.

I'm thankful for amazing climbing trees.

I'm thankful for watermelon.

I'm thankful for homeschooling. 

Pearl Has a Guardian Angel

Transcription: 

I have an Angel

with a song. She has a

butterfly. She trails thunder.

Panthers dart around

her. A velvet mask is

in her hand. Silver breezes

whisper around her. Inchworms

and lemons are swirling

around her too! Her skin is like

the moon shining above her.

Then she fainted! Crash!!!!

 

P.S. She hit the flower pot.

by Pearl, age 7

Black Cat and Green Sprite Go A'Haunting

Halloween 2011

The New Season Brings Soccer

This fall Pearl and Carrie are excited about soccer. Although they both have lime green Seattle jerseys in the pictures, they are on different teams because of their age difference. I guess they're on sister teams.

Carrie has this to say about the sport:

What I like about soccer is that I get to play front field. That means I get to kick the ball and score lots of goals for my team. But the kids follow you wherever you go! That's all of my report.

Lately she has me read books about Mia Hamm to her at bedtime. And when she wakes up the next morning, guess what Carrie's been dreaming about?

Pearl and Carrie Have a Deal for You

Pearl and Carrie are selling magazines with their Girl Scout troop. Here's their video sales pitch (time 1:30). If you'd like to make a purchase, click here please.

Babysitting the Bunnies

This month we have been babysitting two huge bunnies for some friends. Here are a few things we have learned from this experience. According to Carrie and Pearl:

• They're very messy.
• They sit in their poo poo.
• They stomp.
• They scream.

Baba can a few more details.

• When you are told that bunnies are litter box trained, your follow-up question should be to request a percentage.
• When told that bunnies are large, you should ask if they attack cats and dogs.
• Remember the stories about goats eating anything and everything? Well, bunnies are similar. Bye, bye, cowboy hats. Bye, bye, wicker baskets.
• Baba and Pearl are allergic to bunnies. Or hay. Or both.
• Achoo!

Behind the Scenes

Last weekend we had a fun dinner with our cousins, Erin and Abner. Afterwards we got to watch a movie being made. It was about the Pony Express. It was a production by the one and only HorseyWorks Studios. Is everybodoy ready? Lights, Camera, Action!

Note to longterm readers: you may recognize these actors.

 

 

My Chapbook "Dear Red Airplane" is Out!

Copies of my chapbook "Dear Red Airplane" arrived in today's mail. The book is published by Seven Kitchens Press. I say the chapbook is out--which is true--however it is already sold out. Seven Kitchens is a micro-press, and they specialize in publishing artful booklets in very small print runs. All the copies sold during the pre-order phase. If you'd like to encourage the editors to do a reprint, you can contact them here. 

Arkansas Visit

The Crazy Cousins

 

 Marcia likes hiking.

There's nothing like a creek.

Our guide to Garvan Gardens reads her map.

 

 

Father's Day and the Two-Mom Family

Pearl and Carrie are going to writing camp this summer, and Carrie's class did a Father's Day project. Since she doesn't have a dad, this could be tricky or awkward, but she is fortunate to have two wonderful teachers.  They know that there are all kinds of families and that Carrie has two moms, also known as Mama and Baba. And so the teachers invited Carrie--all the kids, really--to write about a guy, whether it's a dad, grandparent, cousin, or family friend.

In the past Carrie (age 5) has always chosen to make cards for Pop and Papa, her grandfathers, but this year the lucky winner is... Uncle Russell. Since the girls were infants, Russell has been vying for favorite uncle status. He would whisper in their little ears:

Who's your favorite uncle?

Uncle Russell!

Uncle Russell!

Pearl, Carrie, and Russell have their very own WWF wrestling program, which Carrie mentions in her poem.  They have special fighting monikers. It's always Pearl and Carrie versus Russell the Muscle.  It's pretend wrestling, of course. Unfortunately, the line about Uncle Russell living in Costa Rica is pretend too (if only!).  Carrie's poem and portrait appear below.  Happy Father's Day, Russell. We love you!

Art Cars 2011

Each year we look forward to the Houston art car parade. This rabbit was both Pearl and Carrie's favorite. Carrie liked the Easter eggs and stuffed animals on the hood and hub caps. Pearl liked the eyelashes, the heart-shaped nose, and the evil teeth.

 

Our neighbors made the Pee Wee Herman art car. It is completely covered with Peeps, the Easter candies. 

I liked the cardboard box car, a throwback to all the boxes that our childhood imaginations brought to life.

Cousins, or A Care Package for Sarah

 
Carrie adores all her cousins, but she has an extra special love for her cousin Sarah. Carrie has the same birthday as Sarah which is perhaps why Carrie perceives a heightened connection between them. She oftens tells her stories that are her *memories* (fantasies, actually) of their many adventures together. In reality Sarah is 14 and Carrie, 5. In these tales, however, Carrie is 6 and Sarah is 5. Fancy that! 

This post is a e-care package for Sarah from Carrie. 

Carrie made three drawings for Sarah. They are rolled up like a scroll and tied with a "bow," a pastel tie-dyed string that reminds me of dental floss.

 
Carrie and Pearl did rescue a baby bird last week. Carrie and Marcia took it to an animal rescue center where it is being nursed back to health. In the picture, however, the heroes are Carrie and Sarah. The sign between the girls and the tree has one of those DON'T symbols on it. Nothing pleases Carrie more than doing things she's NOT supposed to do.

 

I was not given any explanation on this picture so I'm not sure what to say. Feel free to take a stab at it. 

Carrie is trying to learn to draw more skillfully so she models pictures after Pearl's. I love that the sky has both a sun and a moon in it.

So, Sarah, I hope you enjoy these. We miss you!

 

 

Pearl is 7

Yes, Mama and Baba are reeling in disbelief. Today Pearl is seven years old!

At school part of the birthday ritual is All About Me Day. So Pearl brought in a few photos of herself. I thought that I'd share them with you.    

 

Officers of the Heart

There can never be too much happiness, right? This year Pearl and Carrie made their gingerbread house a Joy Office. A Joy Office sounds like a pretty great place to me. I think the government should definitely be taking notes!

Carrie Turns 5

You may recall that it was Carrie who planned my birthday party this year so you might assume that her own birthday would receive even greater enthusiasm. And you'd be right!

Carrie's party theme was... interesting. As in, very. Have you ever been to a Chinese horse party? This five-year-old loves horses, and she's learning Chinese (or at least she thinks she is). So in addition to the trusty steed pictured below, she had the bakers draw a picture of a horse with the Chinese symbol for horse beside it. We gave chopsticks, Chinese candy, and fortune cookies for party favors. Carrie help choose everything for the great occasion. 

There are many more photos of the Chinese lanterns, petting zoo, and birthday cake on Marcia's facebook page. 

 

Pearl's Groove

Pearl is in first grade this year. She's doing well in school and can read chapter books on her own. She likes Junie B. Jones, the A-to-Z mysteries, the Magic Treehouse series, and any true story about animals. Pearl joined a soccer team at the Y this year. Her team is improving, but they still haven't scored a point. She's pretty good though. I've been impressed with her athleticism.

Pearl's very favorite activity is still acting out stories that she makes up. Home is for acts, as far as she's concerned. Her favorite tv show is Avatar: The Last Airbender, and her favorite character is Aang whose job, although he's just a child, is to save the world. She wants to be Aang for Halloween.

In her acts, she combines characters from Avatar with characters from other stories that she and Carrie like--Scooby Doo, The Lion King, and the Hunchback of Notre Dame--with characters from their original stories--a baby named Baby, dog brothers Alex and Johnny, and Pearl and Carrie are always characters in the stories too.

Pearl still loves to draw. Her drawings are like comic books, often done in the format of sequenced squares. She loves to make them funny by placing the characters in unlikely places--kings in cages, cats hanging upside-down from trees. She still loves animals. They love her too. As do we, Mama and Baba, so very very much!

Vision + Quest, Grrrlville Style

Adventure with Dragons and Treasure by Pearl

Fairy Tale by Carrie

The Princess Within

They say that every young girl imagines themselves a princess, but I never did. Just to verify this assertion, I double-checked in with my mom. She confirms it. This Baba skipped the princess phase with no regrets.

Of course They say a lot of things, but I suppose that most of them are true.

 

Here's the story of my recent birthday. I walked into the house at 5:30 pm on a Wednesday afternoon. Pearl and Marcia were doing the usual things, and Carrie was *hiding* behind a chair. She jumped out, yelling in her loudest voice: SURPRISE!

Carrie (let's call her Party Planner Junior) had worked out everything--decorations, food, and activities. Baba's favorite color might be blue, but at this birthday party, all was pink, pink, pink. Everyone got a pink princess cap except for me--as the honoree, I got to wear the tiara.

We ate drank, ate, opened presents, and other jolly activities. Then the two younger princesses performed a special birthday dance for the elders. Carrie seemed to be air-bending while Pearl's moves resembled break-dancing.

And while the royal children "did their thing" so did the royal kittens. Napping in the laundry, naturally.

 

For this *princess*, parenting has taught me one thing: never say never. Celebrate.

When the Grrrls Go Back to School

I know, I know, they've been back in school nearly a month now. They're learning the ropes, memorizing the rules. They are back, and here are the pictures to prove it.

Home Is Where the Art Is

New house, blank walls. You know the story. So yesterday, while Marcia was completing a work project, Pearl, Carrie, and I whipped up an art project.

I read about this project here and was planning to do it on my own, but the grrrls were interested in helping. The white lines are made with painter's tape, and each field is a different color, so it really is easy enough for children.

I like the way they turned out. Pearl's comment = they look like they were painted by real artists! Carrie's comment = don't worry Baba, I'll finish them tomorrow while you're at work.

Meet the Secrets

The Secret Kitty Club has somehow exceeded its own lofty ambitions, and today Grrrlville welcomed not one but TWO new kittens. Meet Casper and Finn!

 

The brothers are very sweet. Everyone seems to agree except for Cody (the dog) who is still unsure.

Grrrlville on the Move

We moved. Correction: we moved!

I asked Marcia to make a list of what she likes about the new pad. Here's her list:

• the French doors in the master bedroom 
• the decks
• the red front door
• the sparkling pool
• the trampoline
• chandelier over the claw foot bathtub
• the glass doorknobs
• the windows over the farmhouse style porcelain sink
• the hardwood floors
• the little white porch swing
• quirky little nooks in the hallway
• gigantic pine tree that's shaped like a bonsai
• magnolia trees
• solar-powered gate opener
• flagstone path connecting the cabana to the main house
• that the house is painted a Menil shade of grey

Papa and Nana came to help us move. (Nana and Papa rule!) Here's Nana's list:

• the white porch swing in the front yard
• the beautiful landscaping a la better homes n gardens
• Marcia's little nook of an office--so adorable
• all on one level
• of course the pool!
• my little adorable cabana

I asked Pearl for her list but she was in dog mode and all her answers were in a foreign language, i.e. barking. I waited a day, and she made this list.

• the pool
• the big yard and the trampoline
• the "other" house
• I love that we don't have to walk Cody as much because of the yard.
• the good hiding spots!
• my bunk bed
• that we kept almost everything that was in our old house
• There's going to be lots of fun things going on there.
• I feel good about almost the whole thing.
• I like living close to a donut place.

Carrie says:

I like the bunk beds, and I like the trash can because it opens "like this."  [In the kitchen one of the cabinets pulls out and is a trash can. Top secret!]

 

This Is Me, Bald

I'm sure that Carrie (age 4) is not the only one out there who wonders, on occasion, "What would Baba look like if she were bald?" Motivated by generosity, no doubt, Carrie has provided us with this artistic rendering that answers the (above) question. Grrrls with crazy hair find this picture particularly hilarious, by the way. So now you know.

This is a picture of me when I was six, which is Pearl's age now. For some reason, it seems to me the photograph of a writer. In retrospect, of course.

The Secret Kitty Cat Club

There's been a lot of whispering in Grrrville lately, but it's not me--I swear it! The Secret Kitty Cat Club is so secret that I haven't even been invited.

As you may recall, our cat Moriah died in December. She was 20 years old, and I got her when I first moved to Houston. The day she died, Carrie had an idea: let's get Baba a kitten! 

Marcia explained to Carrie and Pearl that when someone loses a loved one, you let them grieve for a while. You give them time. And they've been patiently waiting. A birthday kitten, maybe that would be the best way?

Well, the plot to buy Baba a kitten has definitely thickened. Pearl seems even more excited than Carrie. The whispering has become almost deafening! And my next birthday, Sept. 22, is not so far away.

The Secret Kitty Cat Club has meetings, minutes, everything. I imagine there's even a gavel and Robert's Rules, although I can't say for sure. According to these notes--which I "borrowed" from the kitchen counter for an hour or so--the big event is in the offing. But until then, I know nothing! And neither do you, okay?

 

Pearl at Writing Camp 2010

Carrie at Writing Camp 2010

Kindergarten, Coming to a Close

This is Pearl at the Awards Ceremony in her class at Kindergarten. She was very serious about it, as you can tell. Pearl has had a wonderful year with an amazing teacher and friends. I just keep thinking: WOW. WOW. WOW.

Spring Flings Itself Into H-Town

These girls are springing into all sorts of new things.