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Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Polar Express, Santa Photobomb, and a Surprise
Tonight was a bit surreal. I was dreading it, actually. The art teacher at Fin's school was holding a Polar Express fundraiser. She has been holding lots of creative fundraisers this year that take so much work I really like to support them when I can. She is working to raise enough to bring in an artist-in-residence to work with the kids. She is so young and new and adorable. She was dressed like an elf and had made each of the kids a handmade, glittery golden ticket. After teaching for twenty years, she will probably toss a case of pipecleaners in the middle of the room and tell the kids to have at it for the rest of art class, but for now she is shiny and enthusiastic and the kids haven't gotten to her yet.
The fundraiser was based on Polar Express. We met up at the school for cocoa and cookies. Santa was there as was The Conductor. Then, we boarded the "Polar Express", actually "Expresses", and headed to the boardwalk at the beach for the light display. We returned to the school for pizza and popcorn and Santa handed out gifts. I was dreading this because I didn't know of anyone from Fin's class going and I knew she would be annoyed and bored to be stuck with just me. Luckily, Fin's best friend in class, K, was available to go with us. Fin was thrilled. I could have told her we were touring the dump and she wouldn't have cared as long as K was along.
A bit about K. Fin loves her. LOVES her. The way she gets obsessed over things; giraffes, cheetahs, dinosaurs, that is how she is about K. I don't mind one bit. First, Fin hasn't had a very best friend at school since her best friend, B, suddenly transferred from the school a year and a half ago. They went through pre-K and K together and Fin thought she hung the moon. All last year she asked about B and, because of some tragic events that led to her transfer, I could only tell her that B was at another school now. Fin was broken up about it and would talk about B whenever we did anything fun. She wanted to share it with her. She became good friends with A last year but Fin and A often brought out the worst in each other and I never encouraged that friendship. Fin can become a delinquent all on her own, thankyouverymuch. Then, this year, Fin was seated at the same table as K. She became so enamoured with her and, to be honest, so did I. Polite, sweet, and so very smart, K is a terrific little girl. She was the only first grader to make straight A honor roll for the first semester and she pushes Fin to work harder in school. K seems a bit on the shy side and restrained in a mature way. I think maybe Fin could be good for her, too, with her lack of restraint in so many ways, many of them fun. I am so pleased they are friends and I was extremely grateful to K's mother for allowing me to take the girls tonight. It really made Fin's evening.
Back to our evening. We walked into the school gymtorium for our snack and there was Santa! One glance at Santa's profile and Fin wrinkles up her nose. "That's just Mr. M.!" Her kindergarten teacher. She refused to have anything to do with him. We had snack and then the very authentic looking conductor called, "All aboard!" Everyone was given lighted necklaces and we climbed on board the Polar Express... which was PACKED. And hot. And smelled like fifth graders. Before we even got to the interstate, I had stripped off my coat and my sweater and promised the startled woman sitting with me that I would go no further. I spent the entire ride out to the beach pressing my face against the window and telling Fin to stop bouncing in her seat. Really, stop bouncing in your seat. Stop it. No bouncing. Can you hear me? Repeat what I said. Now repeat it without bouncing. Good grief.
The lights were beautiful. The kids on the bus were amazed and felt the need to narrate the whole thing but not at the same time. They were like a really disorganized Greek chorus hopped up on sugar. "Look! Santa is stuck in the chimney! Look! The fish is jumping! Look! Santa is stuck and the fish is jumping! Look! The fish is there and Santa is there!" You get the idea.
The drive back to school was faster and cooler because the kids had the windows open for the light show. We arrived to popcorn popping and stacks of pizza. Santa walked around taking pictures with the kids. Except for my kid. That's ok. This particular Santa and I have two years of experience working together and over her head, so we had it covered. It is my favorite Fin with Santa picture yet.
We dropped K off at home and headed home, totally exhausted.
Then, I went to download the pictures and found that Fin had spent our weather-delayed morning staging an impromptu photo shoot.
I hope Fin and K are friends for a long time. I hope that art teacher can hold on to her enthusiasm. And I hope Charley gets into cat heaven one day; she's earned it.
The fundraiser was based on Polar Express. We met up at the school for cocoa and cookies. Santa was there as was The Conductor. Then, we boarded the "Polar Express", actually "Expresses", and headed to the boardwalk at the beach for the light display. We returned to the school for pizza and popcorn and Santa handed out gifts. I was dreading this because I didn't know of anyone from Fin's class going and I knew she would be annoyed and bored to be stuck with just me. Luckily, Fin's best friend in class, K, was available to go with us. Fin was thrilled. I could have told her we were touring the dump and she wouldn't have cared as long as K was along.
A bit about K. Fin loves her. LOVES her. The way she gets obsessed over things; giraffes, cheetahs, dinosaurs, that is how she is about K. I don't mind one bit. First, Fin hasn't had a very best friend at school since her best friend, B, suddenly transferred from the school a year and a half ago. They went through pre-K and K together and Fin thought she hung the moon. All last year she asked about B and, because of some tragic events that led to her transfer, I could only tell her that B was at another school now. Fin was broken up about it and would talk about B whenever we did anything fun. She wanted to share it with her. She became good friends with A last year but Fin and A often brought out the worst in each other and I never encouraged that friendship. Fin can become a delinquent all on her own, thankyouverymuch. Then, this year, Fin was seated at the same table as K. She became so enamoured with her and, to be honest, so did I. Polite, sweet, and so very smart, K is a terrific little girl. She was the only first grader to make straight A honor roll for the first semester and she pushes Fin to work harder in school. K seems a bit on the shy side and restrained in a mature way. I think maybe Fin could be good for her, too, with her lack of restraint in so many ways, many of them fun. I am so pleased they are friends and I was extremely grateful to K's mother for allowing me to take the girls tonight. It really made Fin's evening.
Back to our evening. We walked into the school gymtorium for our snack and there was Santa! One glance at Santa's profile and Fin wrinkles up her nose. "That's just Mr. M.!" Her kindergarten teacher. She refused to have anything to do with him. We had snack and then the very authentic looking conductor called, "All aboard!" Everyone was given lighted necklaces and we climbed on board the Polar Express... which was PACKED. And hot. And smelled like fifth graders. Before we even got to the interstate, I had stripped off my coat and my sweater and promised the startled woman sitting with me that I would go no further. I spent the entire ride out to the beach pressing my face against the window and telling Fin to stop bouncing in her seat. Really, stop bouncing in your seat. Stop it. No bouncing. Can you hear me? Repeat what I said. Now repeat it without bouncing. Good grief.
The lights were beautiful. The kids on the bus were amazed and felt the need to narrate the whole thing but not at the same time. They were like a really disorganized Greek chorus hopped up on sugar. "Look! Santa is stuck in the chimney! Look! The fish is jumping! Look! Santa is stuck and the fish is jumping! Look! The fish is there and Santa is there!" You get the idea.
The drive back to school was faster and cooler because the kids had the windows open for the light show. We arrived to popcorn popping and stacks of pizza. Santa walked around taking pictures with the kids. Except for my kid. That's ok. This particular Santa and I have two years of experience working together and over her head, so we had it covered. It is my favorite Fin with Santa picture yet.
We dropped K off at home and headed home, totally exhausted.
Then, I went to download the pictures and found that Fin had spent our weather-delayed morning staging an impromptu photo shoot.
I hope Fin and K are friends for a long time. I hope that art teacher can hold on to her enthusiasm. And I hope Charley gets into cat heaven one day; she's earned it.
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Christmas I Almost Became My Mother
When my parents came to visit over Halloween, my mom made the off hand comment, "I've pretty much finished Christmas shopping." On October 30th. There is seriously something wrong with that. She explained that with us coming home over Thanksgiving and a couple of December trips planned, she didn't want to feel rushed. It never does any good to remind my mother that she is retired and can shop at 11am on a Tuesday if she wants to, it won't work. She feels the pressure anyway.
I am not my mother. I am a procrastinator. With three family birthdays in November, I frankly feel pleased if I get something out for them before the end of the month and no way I am thinking about Christmas until the date starts with "12". Sure, I pick up stocking stuffers throughout the year, but nothing big. That is to be done in December, as God and Macy's decreed.
But, this week, as I found myself sitting in my still-decorated-for-Halloween home, it suddenly occurred to me... I have a lot to do! I need to get cracking on gifts, there are winter clothes to buy, there are Christmas pictures to take, Christmas cards to order, Santa to visit, not to mention decorating. I told myself that this year I would not plug in the 18" pink, Hello Kitty, fiber optic Christmas tree and tell Fin to wait for Grandma and Grandpa's house for real decorations. I have a ton of them, I just never get around to putting them out. This year, I will.
All this week I have hit the internet hard each night, browsing, comparing, changing my mind, and eventually buying necessities like winter coats and some gifts. I have been doing pretty well. Yey, me! Tonight, after Fin went in for a haircut, we swung by the mall to get her a couple of pairs of jeans. As we walked past center court, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but Jolly Ol' St. Nick and line that was clear. Woo hoo! One problem... my daughter in a distinctly non-Santa shirt of brown with flowers on it.
If we were going to do this, we were going to do it right. We pulled into a Gymboree where there was a red duster sweater in Fin's size hanging on the clearance rack. (I mentioned to the saleswoman that it was odd to have a red sweater on deep discount at Christmas and she said, "That is our fall red, which is different from our winter red." Ok, weird Gymboree people. Thanks for the cheapo sweater!) I paid, asked her to cut off the tags, and changed Fin in the "changing room", which was a shower curtain in the back next to the television. All was fine, though. Fin was game. She just had one problem with this whole whirlwind thing. She still didn't know what she wanted for Christmas.
And that was reason #2 I was jumping on this opportunity. You see, in my flurry of buying, I found, researched, and bought Fin's big Christmas gift, the one that would normally be from Santa. It wasn't anything she had asked for or had even seen before, but it was something I knew she would like. But there is only one big gift at Christmas and, if she asked Santa for something else, no way could I buy that, too, and have the gift I had found be from me. I had been nudging her with some help from Nancy toward asking Santa for a "surprise" this year. I assured her that Santa brings really great presents when allowed artistic freedom. I told her that some of my best presents were when I asked Santa for a surprise. Of course, being Fin, she said, "What were they?" I instantly forgot any present I had ever received in childhood. Well, not true, but the ones I could think of wouldn't have appealed to Fin. Can you imagine her getting excited over a Girl Scout uniform? I said, "Toys! Big toys! Nice toys! Better toys than I could ever think to ask for."
There we were, in line behind one other family. Fin looked Christmasy in her red sweater. Santa had a real beard and looked jolly when he wasn't taking slugs off of his water bottle. It was November 19th and I was getting ready to put two big check marks on my Christmas To Do list; visit Santa and secure a blessing for the all-important Santa gift.
Fin smiled for the camera. Woot! She told Santa she wanted a surprise. WOOT! WOOT! And we walked away having accomplished much in about 15 minutes. I might have some of my mom in me after all!
I was practically floating out to the car with relief when Fin said, "If I change my mind about a surprise, I can still write him a letter, right?"
I am not my mother. I am a procrastinator. With three family birthdays in November, I frankly feel pleased if I get something out for them before the end of the month and no way I am thinking about Christmas until the date starts with "12". Sure, I pick up stocking stuffers throughout the year, but nothing big. That is to be done in December, as God and Macy's decreed.
But, this week, as I found myself sitting in my still-decorated-for-Halloween home, it suddenly occurred to me... I have a lot to do! I need to get cracking on gifts, there are winter clothes to buy, there are Christmas pictures to take, Christmas cards to order, Santa to visit, not to mention decorating. I told myself that this year I would not plug in the 18" pink, Hello Kitty, fiber optic Christmas tree and tell Fin to wait for Grandma and Grandpa's house for real decorations. I have a ton of them, I just never get around to putting them out. This year, I will.
All this week I have hit the internet hard each night, browsing, comparing, changing my mind, and eventually buying necessities like winter coats and some gifts. I have been doing pretty well. Yey, me! Tonight, after Fin went in for a haircut, we swung by the mall to get her a couple of pairs of jeans. As we walked past center court, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but Jolly Ol' St. Nick and line that was clear. Woo hoo! One problem... my daughter in a distinctly non-Santa shirt of brown with flowers on it.
If we were going to do this, we were going to do it right. We pulled into a Gymboree where there was a red duster sweater in Fin's size hanging on the clearance rack. (I mentioned to the saleswoman that it was odd to have a red sweater on deep discount at Christmas and she said, "That is our fall red, which is different from our winter red." Ok, weird Gymboree people. Thanks for the cheapo sweater!) I paid, asked her to cut off the tags, and changed Fin in the "changing room", which was a shower curtain in the back next to the television. All was fine, though. Fin was game. She just had one problem with this whole whirlwind thing. She still didn't know what she wanted for Christmas.
And that was reason #2 I was jumping on this opportunity. You see, in my flurry of buying, I found, researched, and bought Fin's big Christmas gift, the one that would normally be from Santa. It wasn't anything she had asked for or had even seen before, but it was something I knew she would like. But there is only one big gift at Christmas and, if she asked Santa for something else, no way could I buy that, too, and have the gift I had found be from me. I had been nudging her with some help from Nancy toward asking Santa for a "surprise" this year. I assured her that Santa brings really great presents when allowed artistic freedom. I told her that some of my best presents were when I asked Santa for a surprise. Of course, being Fin, she said, "What were they?" I instantly forgot any present I had ever received in childhood. Well, not true, but the ones I could think of wouldn't have appealed to Fin. Can you imagine her getting excited over a Girl Scout uniform? I said, "Toys! Big toys! Nice toys! Better toys than I could ever think to ask for."
There we were, in line behind one other family. Fin looked Christmasy in her red sweater. Santa had a real beard and looked jolly when he wasn't taking slugs off of his water bottle. It was November 19th and I was getting ready to put two big check marks on my Christmas To Do list; visit Santa and secure a blessing for the all-important Santa gift.
Fin smiled for the camera. Woot! She told Santa she wanted a surprise. WOOT! WOOT! And we walked away having accomplished much in about 15 minutes. I might have some of my mom in me after all!
I was practically floating out to the car with relief when Fin said, "If I change my mind about a surprise, I can still write him a letter, right?"
Monday, September 27, 2010
Birthday Picture Wrap-Up
Nancy sent me some pics she took over the weekend and tonight at dinner.
The birthday extravaganza ended with cupcakes at school then Fin and I met Lorna to see Legend of the Guardians and met back up with Nancy for dinner.
So, the year 7 celebration has ended. I think it is going to be a great year!
.
The birthday extravaganza ended with cupcakes at school then Fin and I met Lorna to see Legend of the Guardians and met back up with Nancy for dinner.
So, the year 7 celebration has ended. I think it is going to be a great year!
.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The World According to Noie
When the party was wrapping up and everyone was cleaning up, I gave our friend Noie my camera and asked her to take some pictures. How delighted was I to get these great shots when I unloaded the camera?!
(Every great artist does a self-portrait.)
(Every great artist does a self-portrait.)
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