the OTHER mother

Pup Squad's Pups: A Report by Carrie

At Saturday afternoon my whole family was in our car. My mom Marcia was driving us to Pup Squad. We arrived there. I went inside Pup Squad's adoption center. After looking at Pup Squad's puppies, I got to talk to Fran. I asked Fran how old was Pup Squad. She said 4 years old.  Also Fran told me how she loved dogs.

 

I'm talking to Fran, the Pup Squad leader.

 Fran is the person who helped us adopt our two dogs, Cody and Scout.

Christy was very nice.

After I stopped talking to Fran about Pup Squad, I talked to another volunteer named Christy. She joined Pup Squad in January 2009. At home Christy has a mama dog that is sick is going to get healthy.

Then when I finally finished interviewing Christy, I went to go look at these dogs. How fantastic they were! 

Oh but this dog looks like our dog Scout. Except for the purple shirt!

I looked over to a window and there I saw another puppy. It was off to the side, almost in a corner maybe. I walked over to the strange dog, but I liked it a lot.

I walked over as quickly as I could. I asked Christy if I could play with this dog. She said the puppy might want to sit on the couch with you.

 

I think she liked me too!

 

A Pup Squad puppy waits to be adopted.

 The end.

By Carrie, age 6

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.

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.

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!]

 

Pearl at Writing Camp 2010

Carrie at Writing Camp 2010

Spring Flings Itself Into H-Town

These girls are springing into all sorts of new things.
  
 

Spain Colored Orange Rocked

in the rain Sunday afternoon at Discovery Green, ushering in a deluge. The music stopped and the kids started. They played in the rain with extreme delight, exhibiting a fervor that I suspect is reserved solely for children.

Spain Colored Orange

Kindergarten Begins for Pearl

Here are pictures of Pearl's first moments in kindergarten.

Pearl's classmate Nathan shares a funny book.

(Thanks, Diana, for taking these photos. We forgot our camera.)

Winter in Summer Conundrum

Back at the Ranch

It's the last week before school starts in Houston, and Marcia took Pearl and Carrie horseback riding again today. This time the cowgirls shed no tears. They rode through the forest. The rancher let them feed and groom the horses. You may recall that this was on their list of challenges made earlier this month. Do you think Carrie is proud of herself?

The Other Mother Voted Best Houston Blog!

Houston, we have a winner! All thanks to you, dear readers, The Other Mother has been voted the 2009 Parents' Picks Best Blog in Houston. I'm still in a state of disbelief! Wow, wow, wow!

Dodge Rambler

1. Pearl starts kindergarten in one week! Pearl starts kindergarten in one week! Pearl starts kindergarten in one week! I'm hyperventilating. Is this for real?

1.5. Both girls will be at new schools. Also they will not be at the same school. Lots of change.

2. The girls took swimming lessons in June and August. They've made a lot of improvement with the help of their cool teacher whose name btw is Cricket.

3. BAD news: Lori Hahn might stop blogging! Make her feel the love!

4. My knee is bothering me.

5. Next month Marcia and I are going on a getaway.  Yes, a weekend away. Just us! If you have suggestions for a wondrous destination, let us know. Both of our passports have expired, so it can't be in a foreign country.

Count Along with Carrie

Carrie, ready and waiting for the beeper to beep, saying that her lunch was ready, is counting.  At the end of the 29 second video, it's a dog who distracts her from her agonizing wait. A dog named Daisy. And when lunch arrived, she insisted I take "that black thing" off the burger. Yes, friends, she ate it without the meat. Carrie was in true form today. Wish you were there!

A Lizard a Day

Pearl's latest pet-endeavor involves the lizards in our garden. She catches one every morning, keeps it as her pet all day long. It stays in a plastic "habitat" she got from Target. She names the pet and then renames it. Often her cousins Sarah and Max are the honorees in these monikers. She lets the lizard watch Dino Squad with her. And then at night, she lets it go free.

The Girl Who Thought She'd Love Horses

For the last month of summer vacation, Marcia got an idea. She got the idea from our friend Annie's SprogBlog. Annie tells about her children's amazing hikes and feats in the wilderness. Annie believes that achieving a big challenge over the summer helps a child start the new school year with greater self-confidence. Makes sense, right?

Marcia read to the girls some of the stories about Aidan and El.  Then she asked Pearl and Carrie to come up with a challenge for themselves. Pearl said she wanted to learn some tricks in skateboarding. Carrie said she wanted to try to ride a horse. They both want to improve their swimming. Carrie wants to go camping in the living room. Pearl also wants to "climb to the top of the Grand Canyon." 

Except for the Grand Canyon one, all the suggestions seemed within reason. So as I go to work each weekday, the grrrls are blazing trails all around H-town. Watch out for them!

The Skaters

Pearl, Carrie, and Miles met Coach Johnny at the skate park this morning for their first day of skate camp.  Pearl and Miles were really "into" it, but Carrie spent much of her time with Coach Mommy instead.

A Girl Who Loves Dinosaurs

Here's Pearl hanging out with a neighborhood triceratops. If it weren't for Pearl I might never have seen the beauty of dinosaurs.

A Houston Visit with my Parents

My mom and dad (a.k.a. Gram and Pop, although Carrie calls both sets of grandparents Nana and Papa) spent a few days in Houston this week. My mom was here for her checkup at M.D. Anderson. She got an excellent report!

Mom also was the one who arranged for us to meet Nat and Alex Wolff and see them in concert. My mom rocks!

Mom and Dad got to meet their newest grandson, Cody. He did not eat either of their shoes.

Dad read Pearl one of her Magic Tree House books. She's really into the time-traveling adventures of Jack and Annie. This is her first chapter book series. Carrie showed Dad that she hasn't yet destroyed the ark that he built.

Pearl and Carrie understand that grandparents are the best. And they should know!

Dock Dogs!

Today you can see the Houston finals at Discovery Green.

The Gipsy Kings Play Songs of Love

Fun Running the 1K for Kids

This year both Pearl and Carrie wanted to run in our neighborhood 1K race. Pearl faced the event with great fear last year, but this year she seemed more at ease. 

Carrie was thrilled to get to run this year. She has admired Pearl's ribbon all year long.  She wears it like a necklace some days and believes that because of this medal, Pearl is a hero.  That's what Carrie wants to be when she grows up, a super hero! So she has had this race on her radar for quite some time.

Carrie felt confident she would win in the 14 and under age bracket.  Marcia waited for her at the halfway point turnaround. Carrie was walking by then and cried when she spotted Mama. Marcia asked her, "What's the matter, Carrie?" Carrie shook her head sadly, saying, "My super powers failed me."

Despite this setback, Carrie crossed the finish line in due time, and received a ribbon. It was exactly like Pearl's!

Iconographic

The Art of Cars in Houston

We Heart Saturdays

A Beautiful Afternoon at Discovery Green

I took the kids to Discovery Green this afternoon. It was my first outing in quite a while so I must be recuperating from my malady. It's about time. I'm so ready.

Go Texan for the Rodeo Season

In some places there are seasons like autumn, winter, or spring. In lack of those, Houston has come up with its own. The last three weeks of March mean the blooming of the azaleas and the rodeo.  Since it's tricky to dress up as an azalea, pretty much every school in Houston celebrates the rodeo instead.

Green Day 1 at Discovery Green

Discovery Green, our favorite Houston park, rebooted its programming Sunday. Naturally we were there, loving it, grooving to tunes by Spain Colored Orange.

Yes, that's Pearl with a green bird on her head.

Carrie observes a game of chess. Note the classic Montessori pose, hands clasped behind her back.

Carrie climbs on a priceless sculpture by Jean Dubuffet.

Pearl was hugging everyone.

The Many Ways to Catch a Fish

The whole gang had the day off. After lunch outdoors at Cedar Creek, Pearl decided to catch tadpoles in a plastic cup. Patience led to success. She caught two and Carrie, one. Marcia agreed they could come home with us, thinking we'd release them--as frogs--into the garden. Matter of days, right? It was too late when we realized that they are not tadpoles but small fish, bringing the pet count in Grrrlville from two to five. My head is spinning.

What About Love: Some/thing New

We have a new pup named Cody. He was a sweet little Jekyll of a boy until exactly 3 weeks after his arrival. On day 22 he transformed himself into 100% pure Hyde-bound hell-on-paws animal chaos. Grrrlville was pretty chaotic before we adopted this fellow.  What were we thinking?

Cody has a lot of Marley in him. He aspires to bipedalism.  He loves fun and food, and his definition of both of this items is extremely broad. He's scared of Moriah and water.  Pearl and Carrie adore him.  When visitors arrive as our door, Carrie warns, in the loudest voice she can muster: HE'S NOT TRAINED.  She's right about that.

Cody loves the chill winter days. He runs awkwardly, in an unpredictable lope, gulping down gallons of wind and chasing the brittle leaves. He is my boy.

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Note: This post is part of a blog carnival celebrating Freedom to Marry Week 2009. Feel free to write your own post on your blog or facebook page.  Then leave the link to your "something new" post, and I will share it with the group. Check out the other posts on this topic:

About.com Lesbian Life by Kathy Belge

Adventures in Babymaking

Susan Naomi Bernstein on Facebook

The Birmingham-Luther Family Blog

Bloogs Blowing By

Books, Yarn, Ink

A Child Chosen

Crunchy Granola

Don't Lick the Ferrets

The Fine Art of Me

Grumpy Granny

Hahn at Home

I Should Really Be Working

I'm a Mommy Too!

Julia's Dream

Kimizone

Lesbian Dad

Life: Apply Liberally

Life is Messy

The Longest Road - Yet Untraveled

May the Beauty

Mother Issues

SoCal Mom by Donna Schwartz Mills

Shrike & Whozat

Somewhere over the Rainbow

Spacey Stacy

Steady Happy

Stidmama

Stoney Moss

Tales of a Female Husband

The Thousand Insect Nation

Tina-cious.com

Today's the Day

Two Chicks Nest

Up Popped a Fox

Whistling Leaf Blower

Woolverine