Gonna Ramble On...

What Happens When They Get Older

2012-01-31T10:25:00.000-08:00

I have two daughters, ages 11 and 7. First of all, that statement alone is a bit surreal. Am I really so old that my kids are 11 and 7??? For me, most of my childhood memories seem to begin consistently from age 7 on, so lately I find that I compare their experiences to my own. And wow - things are different, aren't they? Times were certainly simpler (cliché, I know) and I was so naïve at 11. My 11-year-old constantly amazes me with her savviness. I am seeing big changes in her, too. Changes I am not ready for. Because life is so busy, something will catch me off guard and smack me in the face and I realize she is growing up right in front of me.

For example, she had a get-away trip with her Dad and sister this past weekend. (Several dads have been taking the girls on quarterly camp outs since the kids were Kindergardeners and keep the trips going). I was overseeing their packing, making sure they didn't forget essentials like toothbrushes or underwear - the stuff they would easily make do without, even thought it would drive me crazy. My oldest was packed and I noticed her bunny doll on her bed.

"You forgot to pack Bunny."

"Oh, I'm not taking it."

I freeze and stare at her as if she just told me she was going to give away her iTouch (the most prized possession for any 11-year-old).

"What? But you always take Bunny. You never sleep without it."

"Mom, I haven't done that for about a month. YOU keep putting it on my bed when you come in my room."

"Oh, okay. I didn't realize that."

2002 First night in her Big Bed.
(Brown Bunny is on the right. It looks so new and fluffy in this picture.)

As I walked away I found myself tearing up. She has been sleeping with that doll since she was three and got her "Big Girl Bed." My Step Mother, Susan, who died after a long battle with cancer before my daughter's first birthday and whom I miss every day, gave it to her when she was a baby. I have always loved that of all the playthings to choose from, THAT doll was the one that became her bedtime lovey.

"When [someone] loves you for a long,
long time, not just to play with, but REALLY
loves you, then you become Real."

She literally couldn't go to sleep without it. Once when she was four we stayed at a Galveston hotel. After we had checked out and drove off, she realized it had been left in the sheets in the room. We turned around to have housekeeping find it in the laundry - there was no choice! It has gone to summer camp with her every year. It was always in her backpack on trips, close at-hand. Whenever she was upset about something I would find her clutching the doll close to her for comfort. It was her most-loved toy, like The Velveteen Rabbit.

All weekend I walked past her room and saw the lonely bunny on her bed and then start to tear up again. How can she be away and not want her bunny? When did this happen? It's like all of a sudden she's changed from being my little girl to my big girl and I had no idea. That's what happens when they get older.

But I've still been putting Bunny on her bed when I notice it on the floor. I can't help it. It is probably one of those things she rolls her eyes about (just because that's also what happens when they get older). But she still lets me do it, and so I do. Because that's also what happens when they get older.

Long Stay-cation Weekend

2012-01-18T09:23:00.000-08:00

This weekend we had a four day weekend for the Martin Luther King holiday on Monday, then a teacher in-service day on Tuesday. We did not plan ahead for any out-of-town trips, so instead enjoyed our own city - Dallas, Texas, as if we were visitors here.

After an early 2nd grade basketball game then a mid-year carnival for our kids' summer camp, BOTH girls were invited to sleep away at friends ON THE SAME NIGHT. Non-parents: this is a rarity. Normally to have adult time away we must arrange babysitting services either with any of our local SMU college student sitters ($ $ $) or with my in-laws (and we all know nothing in life is free).

So after dropping our second child off, Chris and I decided to head down to the Katy Trail Ice House and enjoy the mild January afternoon sans kids.

Much to our surprise, we were not the only ones with this idea. There was literally a line to get in, but since we were there *KID-LESS* and no schedule, we waited and watched people on the patio... and their dogs... and their kids in strollers. Apparently anything goes. Note to self -- bring kids and dog next time as it is not only encouraged here, but seems to be expected! Once we were granted entry (about 20 minutes), we sat inside (the sun was fading and therefore the temp was dropping) and watched the SF/NO playoff game while enjoying various local Texas beers.

After the game we did something we NEVER do: went to a movie. Normally, we are live music goers and typically will spend our free evenings at music shows, sporting events, or out with friends. The dinner and movie thing is not something we do together much. We decided on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but because of show times we had to see it at the mall rather than a stand alone theater. First of all, I cannot remember the last time I was at the mall on a Saturday night, much less to see a movie there. It was so crowded! We waited in line at the credit card kiosk only to find it was not functioning properly, so we each got into separate kiosk lines to race and see whose line would be faster. Chris always wins these races. He has a knack for picking the fast track. Once we secured tickets we had about an hour for dinner. Our mall is what I consider upscale and has great dine-in restaurant choices. We headed straight downstairs to Lombardi's Cibus Italian. We love most of the Lombardi restaurants and Cibus was not disappointing. Love the Taverna Foccacia: YUM! After dinner we went upstairs to the theater, purchased beer and wine FROM THE BAR (new for this theater and also why it was an acceptable choice for us) and then were lucky to find two seats together that were not in the lower neck-cramp section close to the screen. The movie was pretty good and we both enjoyed it, though it was very long. I had already seen the first GWTDT a couple of years ago and honestly do not understand why it was remade, but they are both worth watching.

Sunday the kids stayed at their sleepovers until nearly lunch time. We had a nice quiet-hang-out-around-the-house day and watched The Golden Globes award show. The gowns, the jewelry, the winners/losers, Ricky Gervais - what's not to like? Monday I went to spin class, grocery shopped, cooked in and picked up a movie from Redbox. My 11-year-old wanted to see The Help and I decided they she and my 7-year-old could watch it with me. I have read the book and saw the film last summer. It is a wonderful story and the film (in my opinion) does the book justice (which often is not the case).

It does have a rating of PG-13 and we are very cautious about what we let our kids watch. The rating is obviously for the adult content of the emerging civil rights issues, one character suffers a miscarriage, there is continuous cigarette smoking and drinking, and some language - the "S" word specifically. Well guess what? My kids know the "S" word, that it is a cuss word adults may use (yes, they have overheard ME use it), but that it is not an appropriate or creative word choice and children do not use it (No shame in "do as I say not as I do" with me). We discussed what a miscarriage is so they would not be alarmed by this scene (which was not graphic). They are both in-tune with civil rights and how ignorant society used to be. And how timely for us to watch The Help on MLK Day! We talked about how black people were treated, how the white children were raised, how women were expected to be pretty and get married rather than smart and independent, and how admirable the main characters are for doing what they felt was right even though it was not widely accepted. I feel we made the right decision in allowing them to watch it and they both were glad to have seen it.

Tuesday I decided to take the kids to The Dallas Museum of Art's current exhibt: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier. It closes in February and I have been dying to see it. To get there, we took the Uptown Trolley, which drops right at the museum. (We take the trolley often - it's free and the kids love riding around in the 100-year-old trolley cars. We even had Kendyl's 11th birthday party taking 12 girls on the trolley to dinner and then off to a second destination for dessert.)

The exhibit was fabulous! The garments were amazing and the way they were displayed was incredible. The holographic talking, blinking mannequins captivated all of us. There was even Jean Paul G himself telling you about the exhibit. We each had our favorites and I've posted pics of them below to share. I highly recommend this exhibit to anyone so go see it if at all possible! Go! Go! GO!

Chelsea of course loved the mermaid gowns. There were several and
this one was one of the first you will see upon entering the exhibit.

We all loved the Leggy Can-Can Gown

Kendyl's favorite: Camo Ruffle Gown (L)

Amazing bead work on the Cheetah gown (center) - there is no actual pelt, it is ALL beading!

One of my favorites was the Sweater Dress over Tulle on the right. I could wear that anytime, right?

And this feathered Sailor gown!

And of course the infamous cone-shaped corset he designed for Madonna was there,
along with many, MANY, cone-bra corset and cage-dress designs.

I loved exploring our own city and discovering what it has to offer. What a refreshing getaway that we didn't even have to pack for. I hope you had a wonderful MKL weekend, too!

2012 My Year to Blog

2012-01-07T06:42:00.000-08:00

Girls in Charlestown, 2011

Well, I have been meaning to blog for a LONG time. Resolution #1 - here I go. Wow! How friggin hard was this to set up??? Templates, backgrounds, colors, and TITLE for Pete's sake! That was my biggest hurdle! I've changed my mind so many times - even set up the blog once and have gone back to change the name and address. At first it was "Dappled in Happy." Which I am. Usually. But, after letting it sit I stewed over it and decided it was too cutesy or, I don't know, gave the impression that my life is rainbows and lollipops. Not so. I love music and am a Zepplin fan. And I ramble on about things. Hence my need to blog. And life rambles on, no matter what. So there ya go. Perfect.

So in keeping with this resolution, I have also decided to create two private blogs to my daughters, one to each of them. The intent is to journal my thoughts, lessons, reflections that I want to share with them, even though it may not be timely subjects for them when I write them (they are 11 and 7). When they are older (and would appreciate my words and efforts) I will invite them to read the blog I am writing to them. I don't know when I will decide to share them, but I hope it will be a special gift to them. They are set up, ready for posts. I shall try to post at least one meaningful entry each month. 2012 - my year to blog!