Category: Elena

Cape May, Esh Style

.Reading time 3 minutes.

If you’re looking for a charming, sea-side vacation with slightly dated hotels, Cape May is the place for you!  There was not a chain restaurant or chain motel in sight, which is good or bad, however you prefer your vacations.  I like the no-chain thing, Gene is more chain-oriented.

 

The cape is only a two hour drive from our place, and we really knew nothing about it.  Actually, I knew there was a beach, and I knew there was a free zoo.  So Esh-style is to decide about two days ahead, that hey, no work for Monday, the soil is too soggy to farm,  we could handle a weekend getaway, since 2008 held no vacations for us.

 

The problems with vacations is that I want so badly to relax, I want so badly for my kids to have a blast, I want so badly for my husband to get some downtime, that I get stressed trying to make it all happen.  And then it defeats the purpose.

Slouchy duo Spot a rock redish glasses Mighty thrower

 

So I wake up at 6:30 the first morning. (Actually Brandt, the scheduled alarm clock, woke me up.)  And I’m thinking.  We have to go to the beach!  We have to go to the zoo!  We have to go the pool!  We need to eat breakfast!  We need to sleep in!

 

Luckily we did all those things.  On day #1 we did the beach and the pool.  On day #2 we did the pool and the zoo.  And like vacations are, it was 60% bliss and 40% torture.

 

I found out that my dear daughter has the same problem that I do.   At the entrance to the zoo there was a merry-go-round that she wanted to go on.  We promised her that when we leave, she can take a ride.  While we were at the bears she asked about the merry-go-round.  While we were at the camels she asked about the merry-go-round.  The entire time at the zoo all she talked about was the merry-go-round ride she was going to have.  Finally I sat her down and talked to her. 

“Elena, we are at the zoo!  You wanted to go to the zoo yesterday and we’re finally here.  You got to see a zebra, and a lion! Just look at the animals and have fun looking at them.  Don’t worry about the merry-go-round.”

As you can guess when we finally exited the zoo the merry-go-round was not in operation.  They had covered up all the plastic horses with canvas tarps.  And as you can guess, many, many, tears ensued.

 

So later we went to Kmart and she took a ride on the little electronic helicopter.

Enjoy the moment!

Andrea

 

On my Kids and Kittens

.Reading time 3 minutes.

The other day I was feeling like I had been kind of neglecting Elena’s psychological wellbeing.  You know what I mean?  I hadn’t been ignoring her that day, but I hadn’t been super affirming either.  So I gathered her in my arms and said: 

“Elena, you know what, you are a really good older sister to Brandt, I just love when you…”

She interrupted me. “Mom, just stop talking!”

Well, I guess I won’t worry that she has a good self esteem.

She’s at a really cool stage right now.  Just a tad naïve.  When she’s being naughty, she’s scared to death I’m going to find her, so she gives me little warnings.  I’ll hear her voice in the bathroom. 

“Mom don’t come in!  Ok, Mom?  Don’t come in right now.  Don’t look at me Mommy.”

Could this be a tiny sign she’s doing something I don’t approve of?
Usually, yes.

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Here she is with her
best dolly friend, Larisa.

Brandt has discovered one of life’s great pleasures:  eating.  He walks around munching food all day long.   He’s not even on the percentile chart for weight anymore.  Yikes. 

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His other great loves are his Daddy and the outdoors.  Combine the two and I get stressed.  I open the door to let him play outside and he’s fine.  Gene comes home.   Brandt tears across the driveway, running after him, regardless of whom or what is coming.  There is lots of wailing and crying going on if Gene can’t absolutely, right now pick him up and carry him as he chores.

Oh yes, before I forget, he already loves to pick on his sister.  Purposefully he’ll grab her doll (or her book or any object really, that she has in her possession) and run away with a little grin plastered across his mug.   I would punish him more, but it’s just so cute.  (And by the time I get there, she has righted the situation by snatching it back)  Ah, such a harmonious, peaceful home.

 He really is a lot of fun.  He’s very happy-go-lucky, unless you steal his potato chips. 

These kitties have entertained the kids for hours.  I would advise any mother to invest in kitties for her offspring.  They’re great if you don’t mind incessant meowing and constant feeding and littering that seem to be a part of their nature. 

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Have a great week everyone.  Yes, we have about two more kitties to give away…Any takers?