the OTHER mother

Chanukkah 2012

 

 

 

 

Carrie's K-9 Police Party

Carrie has been planning her own birthday parties for several years now. For those of us who believed she'd never top the Chinese pony party, well, we were wrong. 

Christine, who trains police dogs, came to do a demonstration for the kids.

HPD Officer brought K-9 Gunner to meet everyone. He answered dozens of questions (from kids and adults) and even brought the birthday girl a Houston Police K-9 tee shirt!

There were puppies to play with -- courtesy of the Pup Squad Rescue group, the organization who helped us adopt both Cody and Scout.

 Pretty wow, right? Happy 7th birthday, Carrie!

Carrie Likes Karate

Here Carrie leads her karate class in the creed. [Video = 30 seconds]

Black Cat and Green Sprite Go A'Haunting

Halloween 2011

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. 

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.    

 

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. 

 

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.

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!]

 

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 Break 2010

Greetings from Galveston Island. If there's one thing we've learned about parenting--and it's possibly the ONLY thing we've learned--it's this: there's an amazing chemistry between kids and beach. It's golden. 

Pearl Turns Six

Yes, SIX! Can you believe it?

 

This year the theme of her birthday party was dragons. We had a gigantic red dragon pinata with yellow spikes and orange wings. Almost her entire Kindergarten class came to celebrate. It's making me feel totally nostalgic, this birthday, so I though I'd share with you a few sweet memories from the days of yore.

Birth of Pearl (2004) with special recipe for smothered okra

Pearl's 3rd Birthday (2007)

Pearl's 5th Birthday (2009)

Kindergarten has been a great year for Pearl, so far. She loves it all!

Really Roxy

This past weekend our friend Kevin gave Pearl and a dozen other neighborhood kids their first surfing lesson. We traveled the one hour to Galveston beach in a caravan of minivans and station wagons.  Marcia and I were amazed that Pearl not only stood up on the surfboard but stayed up. We, the parents, were squealing like teeny boppers at a Jonas Brothers concert. Pearl, however, remained completely nonchalant. Just another day.

Pearl's New Bike

Sometimes You Ask Yourself...

How did we get here?

Tonight was the first parent night at Pearl's new school, so Marcia and I both attended, and Marty the babysitter came to hang out with Pearl and Carrie. We are delighted with all the people at the school and feel fortunate to be a part of the community. The teachers are professional and passionate and attuned to the individual child. Our teacher said she wanted to be Lucy Caulkins when she grew up. I was impressed with that.

Nevertheless, the feeling of being parents in a PTA is a bit of a shock to the system. We didn't notice any other two-mom or two-dad families at the event. The discomfort was nothing a good frozen margarita with salt ($4 special on Ladies Night) couldn't quell however. When we got home, the babysitter told us Pearl's last words before she went to sleep. She sat up in bed and screamed: MARTY, I'M IN KINDERGARTEN!!!

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.)

Greeting the Teachers

This week we got to meet Pearl and Carrie's new teachers at their new schools. Anxiety ran a tad high at these events, but we really enjoyed meeting teachers and classmates, and we got to check out new classrooms too.

In this photo Marcia is reading the girls a book called First Day Jitters, the story of Sarah, who is so afraid on the first day of school that she decides she won't go. The surprise at the end is that Sarah turns out to be the teacher of the class! Pearl and Carrie thought this was very funny indeed.

Winter in Summer Conundrum

Question of the Day: Kindergarten

Since Pearl starts kindergarten next week, we've been thinking a lot about our early school experiences. What do you remember about kindergarten?

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.

Happy 1st Birthday, Cody

The kids have put this little dog to the test, and he's passed. Flying colors! Happy Birthday, Cody!

More Blankies Galore

As you may recall, Carrie's blankie is falling to pieces and then some!  And it seems to be the only one of its kind on planet earth.  I have worked on the remnants with my oh-so-limited skills a time or two or more. This past week Marcia found a real seamstress/grandma (although not our grandma) who did a wonderful job solving our problem--for now at least. And Carrie is now up to FOUR blankies.  Just like Owen in the Kevin Henkes story, she is totally pleased!

Carrie Can Represent

Carrie (age 3.5) has been a little slow to do representational art. I think that she feels like she can't do it as well as Pearl so she often doesn't try. But check this out! She seems to be suddenly drawing things with a vengeance!

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!

California Vacations: Recent Past and Past Past

Here are some more photos from our vacation. Yes, we go to Santa Monica every summer. For the truly curious, here are links to our previous trips to LA, 2007 and 2008.

Happy Birthday, Maya!

Happy 6th Birthday to you, Maya! We love you so much!

Blogging for LGBT Families on our 12th Anniversary

Mombian sponsors the Blogging for LGBT Families blog carnival each year to orchestrate our hundreds of voices in praise of LGBT families around the world. Feel free to join in.

This year Monday, June 1st, is Blogging for LGBT Families Day 2009. It is also Marcia and my 12th anniversary. Lots to celebrate today--love, families, and happiness.

Marcia and I first met because two of our mutual friends wanted us to meet. It was awkward and artificial. It was not a date, but it was most certainly SET UP. We were helping one of the aforementioned mutual friends move into a new apartment. We "ended up" in the same car for each run. It was 5 months later that we decided that maybe they were right. I guess they were.

Last year we both forgot our anniversary. We managed a little better this year, even arranging a date night at an outdoor concert featuring Esperanza Spalding this past weekend. A dozen years together. That's something, I think.  Something big. Wow.

Love is what it's all about.

Thanks, sweetie. And happy anniversary!

My Great Big Fat Weekend in the Big 'D'

I've always appreciated Marcia. Well, almost always. But this past weekend the appreciation was manifold!

Up until now, I've been the solo parent for no more than a single night. This weekend Marcia went to an unofficial college reunion and was gone four days. Yes, readers, FOUR DAYS! [Insert violin music here.]

At the same time, my G-dmother, who lives in Dallas, was celebrating her 75th birthday by doing her bat mitzvah. Much of my family was attending so I loaded up the kids and drove to the Big D.

As you might already know, the bar/bat mitzvah ceremony is traditionally a coming of age ritual. The adult bat mitzvah has become more common in recent years because most of Judaic history was not as Equal Opportunity as today's Judaism. Aunt Elise started studying Torah a year or two ago. Her children, her grandchildren, her brothers-in-law and cousins and all done their bar/bat mitzvah, and she decided that she could do it too. And so she did.

The service was very beautiful. The musicians played guitar, flute, and drums, the singers were all women, and the songs were more like Debbie Friedman compositions, rather than the traditional cantorial style. And although Aunt Elise, through date of birth and luck of the draw, got the most boring Torah portion ever, she somehow still managed to deliver a poignant, thought-provoking, and moving sermon.  Congrats, to my wonderful g-dmother!

As for solo parenting, the challenges were many, but nobody got hurt. At the hotel, my brother told me in the first hour that one his goals for the weekend was to give his kids (four of them, twins Pearl's age and twins Carrie's age) as much pool time as he could so they'd be comfortable in the water before starting swim lessons next week. That sounded good to me so I quickly adopted this goal for our family and spent many hours in the water.

The benefits of this plan were (at least) two-fold. Not only do the girls seem ready to become starfish next week, but they were also SO tired by bedtime that they didn't even miss Marcia. At least they didn't mention it.

That, friends, was my Marcia Appreciation Weekend.  On Monday (Memorial Day) we were all happy to be reunited in H-town.

Photos by David Reagler (a.k.a. Dad/Pop)

The Graduates: More Circumstance Than Pomp

These are the cousins, Tillie and Louis, who graduated from Pre-K last week. They're Pearl's age, five. We did their naming ceremony together, all three of them, in May 2004.