Pool Volunteering

Julia has been volunteering at our town pool's swim lessons these past two weeks, working as an aide to the swim instructors.  She is really enjoying working with the kids, and I love seeing how engaged she is with them.

She has her share of tough kids, too; those who refuse to participate or who don't pay attention.

Then there's this kid.

JULIA: (showing me a bite mark on her flesh) Some kid bit me!  He was just like, "I'm gonna eat you!" And chomped into my arm!

Today, after Julia was finished volunteering, she noticed a rash on her legs.  By the time we got home, the rash had spread to her arms as well.

Both kids jumped to the most logical conclusions.

MADELEINE: I blame the boy that bit you!
JULIA: I think I have leprosy.  Or the Black Death.  I'm gonna DIE.

To assuage Julia's fears, I took her in to the doctor so we could get a more realistic diagnosis.  Julia maintained her stance that she had leprosy, but the doctor concluded that she had a mild heat rash and suggested antihistamines.

When we got home, Madeleine had some good news for Julia.

MADELEINE: Julia!  You definitely do NOT have leprosy, because I looked at pictures and that's not what your rash looks like!

The rash went away after Julia took allergy medicine, so it seems like she dodged that leprosy bullet.  Here's hoping tomorrow is free of bite marks and rashes all together!

A Visit to Boscobel House and Grounds

Yesterday, the Rowe family went to visit Boscobel House and Grounds in Garrison, NY, with some family friends who live nearby.  When we arrived, both girls were moaning about how hot it was outside, but they got a chance to cool down inside the Visitor Center, where we waited in line for tickets.  While we waited, Madeleine began to peruse the Center.

MADELEINE: Mommy?  What are we gonna do at this place?
ME: It's a historical site.  It will be a little bit like the Shelburne Museum in Vermont, where we get to explore outside but also inside a historical building.  See?  The walls all have information about the history of this place on them.

Madeleine then wandered from wall to wall reading all about the background of the place.  (Unfortunately, this trip provided several opportunities to completely fail my children in the knowledge arena:)

MADELEINE: (looking at a mapped layout of Boscobel house) Mommy?  What's a drawing room?
ME: Ummm....

Yeah, that's not a question I can answer.


JULIA: (pointing to the mountains in the distance) Mommy?  What mountains are those?
ME: Ummm....

                                           Some mountains that I obviously couldn't name.


ANYWAY, Madeleine was delighted upon finding a map of the grounds in the Visitor Center.

MADELEINE: A map!!  Mommy.  *I* will be the...what do you call it?  The...
ME: Navigator?
MADELEINE: Yes!  I will be the navigator!


So Madeleine led us off. 

MADELEINE: First let's go to the FORECOURT! 

We made our way to the Forecourt via the Great Lawn, which offered the scenic view above.  Madeleine got antsy to get to the Forecourt so we moseyed on over to enjoy live music and an Ice Cream Social.  Julia SHOCKED the living daylights out of me by declaring herself too full from lunch to get ice cream, but Madeleine was all in.  We sat on the shaded lawn while the kids enjoyed ice cream, then headed into the historic Boscobel House.

This house was right up the kids' alley.  It has been preserved to look as it would have in the early 1800's, when it was built.  Each room was fully furnished, with items like an antique grandfather clock, a telescope, a wooden clarinet and flute, and toy dolls on display. 

JULIA: This house is REALLY cool!
MADELEINE: Can we move here?
JULIA: It's so neat to look in all the rooms!
MADELEINE: Can we move here?
JULIA: Mommy, did you see the bedroom over here?
MADELEINE: Can we move here?

Here's a glimpse of what one of the rooms looked like:

                                                                       Dining Room


Eventually the kids were ready to leave the house and head back out to the Forecourt, where guides were teaching children how to play games from the 1800's.  The musician who had been performing before we headed into Boscobel house wrapped up and a really great jazz quartet began to play:

ME: (glancing at Madeleine) Are you okay, honey?
MADELEINE: I'm just really worried that we're not gonna get to see all the things on the map.  We still haven't walked down Maple Lane or seen the Herb Garden.
ME: (pointing to the road adjacent to the Forecourt) Well, that's Maple Lane.  You can just walk down it if you want.
MADELEINE: No, Mommy.  KIDS are not allowed to walk down there by THEMSELVES!
ME: Sure you can!  I can see you from here.
MADELEINE: No, then an adult who works here will think that I'm LOST.
ME: Are you saying you'd like me to come with you?
MADELEINE: (nodding eagerly)

So we headed on down Maple Lane, which led us back towards the Visitor's Center.

MADELEINE: (sighing blissfully) Oh, I just LOVE Maple Lane. Mommy, imagine walking down here in the FALL!
ME: That would be really beautiful.
MADELEINE: Mommy? Can we just LOOK in the Gift Shop to see what the prices are?
ME: I guess so.

We entered the Gift Shop and Madeleine found paper dolls that were only $5, so I agreed to buy them for her.  As we stood in line, I lamented the fact that I was missing the jazz quartet.

MADELEINE: Mommy?  I didn't really WANT to stay for the whole concert, so I'm really glad we're in here right now.
ME: Oh.  I really wanted to stay for the concert so I'm kinda sad we're inside.

Luckily, we were able to hear the music as soon as we exited the Gift Shop.  We headed to the Herb Garden to fulfill Madeleine's dream of seeing EVERYTHING on the map.  Madeleine was absolutely enthralled with the Herb Garden.

MADELEINE: Mommy!  Come into this really cool part and look!  Mommy, this is my favorite part of the whole place.  Mommy!  You HAVE to take a picture of me here, you just HAVE to!

So I did:

Soon after, the rest of our party joined us in the Herb Garden, and we headed to our cars just as a random rainstorm hit.  The girls repeatedly talked about how glad they were that we had gone to explore Boscobel, and Madeleine was relieved that we managed to see EVERYTHING on the map!

Fashion Statement

Most people don't deliberately wear two different flip-flops.

MADELEINE: I'm not "most people." I'm not even PEOPLE.  I'm a PERSON.

She just wanted to mix and match.  She was so excited to show off her style.

MADELEINE: Mommy.  I showed Coach Tori the latest fashion!

Pretty stylish, no?

Mad Science

Yesterday, I took Madeleine to a Mad Science show at one of our town elementary schools.  The show was a part of Park and Rec's weekly Children's Theater, so not only were parents with children present, but kids in the various town camps attended with their counselors.  This made for a somewhat loud and rambunctious audience, although Madeleine diligently and eagerly raised her hand every time she wanted to answer a question, rather than shouting out.  I could literally see the earnest fervor with which she raised her hand, stretching her body to its limits. 

She raised her hand for pretty much EVERY question and volunteer opportunity, and luckily was called on twice.  The first time she was called on, she had an answer that I hadn't even considered, and I was amazed by her understanding of scientific properties.  The scientist had been trying to get an egg to fit into a bottle, and asked the crowd for ideas on how to make this seemingly impossible feat happen. 

SCIENTIST: Yes, in the blue shirt?
MADELEINE: (looking down at her shirt and then pointing at herself in disbelief)
SCIENTIST: Yes, you.
MADELEINE: Maybe use the torch?
SCIENTIST: Go on, say more about that.  Use the torch to do what?
MADELEINE: Like, to make a fire inside the bottle.


Okay.  The torch wasn't even out with the other supplies at the moment.  The scientist had used it in a previous presentation of "magic" paper, coated so that when lit on fire it would immediately dissolve into air.  How Madeleine knew to use fire in the bottle in order to make the egg fit was a mystery to me, but it turned out to be the right answer.  Rather than type it all out here, if anyone is interested enough to know more, you can read about this "trick" here: https://www.homesciencetools.com/article/egg-in-bottle-project/)


Well.  My kid is a smart one.  At least that's what I was thinking until she got called on to answer another question.  This one was about what would happen when dry ice was placed on a metal spoon.  Dry ice, we learned at the show, is solid carbon dioxide, and is -109 degrees Farenheit.

SCIENTIST: What do you think might happen when I place this piece of dry ice on the spoon?
MADELEINE: (raising her hand in desperate eagerness)
SCIENTIST: Yes, in the blue shirt?
MADELEINE: (looking down at her shirt and then pointing at herself in disbelief)
SCIENTIST: Yes, you.
MADELEINE: Maybe it will melt the spoon?

Okay.  I'm no scientist, but I'm *pretty* sure that substances at -109 degrees aren't capable of actually MELTING objects, let alone melting spoons at room temperature.

Needless to say, this was not the correct answer.

After the show was over, Madeleine explained her answer.

MADELEINE: Well, I didn't really know, so that's why I was like, "maaaaybe it will melt the spoon???"

Hey, I give her props for the courage of wagering a hypothesis.  She thoroughly enjoyed the science show, regardless of the rowdy kids amongst us, and I won't be surprised if she's putting on a Science Show of her own for me within the next few days!

Rainy Day

If you were going to the town's outdoor pool to volunteer as a Swim Lessons Assistant for three hours on a day that is 65 degrees and pouring rain, would you:

A) leave your swim bag with EVERYTHING important in it (including, but not limited to, your dry clothes, your towel, and your cell phone) on the bleachers in the rain

or

B) put your swim bag in the locker room to keep it and its contents dry?


Julia chose A.


I now have the dryer running in the hopes that I can get her bag and clothes dry before I have to pick her up.  I did leave her the sopping wet towel from her bag, for all the good it will do.

Lake Activities

We spent our weekend visiting grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in Vermont.  It was a HOT weekend, so most of our recreation took place on Lake Champlain so we could cool down. Nana and Gramps got to take us out on their new boat, which led to Madeleine's first opportunity with tubing!

She really wanted to try tubing, but got cold feet once she realized she needed to wear a life preserver.  Julia didn't help matters by freaking out, either.

ETHAN: Madeleine, this life preserver looks a little tight on you.  Let's find one that fits better.
MADELEINE: But I like this one.
ETHAN: Yeah. but honey, if you want to go tubing, you need a life preserver that fits so it can keep you afloat if you fall off.
JULIA: I don't WANT her to go tubing!  I'm scared she's gonna DROWN!
ETHAN: Julia.  She's not going to drown.  Your sister is a strong swimmer.
JULIA: But what if she falls under the boat?
ETHAN: That's not gonna happen.
JULIA: But what if-
ETHAN: Julia.  Calm down.
MADELEINE: But why do I need to wear a different life preserver?
ETHAN: Just in case you fall off the tube.
MADELEINE: But I don't want to wear a tight one.
ME: Honey, you need one because it's possible you'll fall into the lake.
MADELEINE: Is there a big likelihood of falling?
ME: Well, yeah...I always fell at least once when I went tubing.

That was it.  Madeleine was FREAKED.  No tubing for her.

Aunt Sarah came to the rescue like a MAJOR hero!  Terrified as she is of open water, Aunt Sarah decided that she would try tubing first to set an example for Madeleine and Julia.  Trembling on the inside, Sarah put a bright smile on her face and took the plunge as the first one to try tubing:

This was exactly what Madeleine needed.  After seeing Aunt Sarah tackle the tube, Madeleine gained the courage to try.  And a good thing she did.  She had an ABSOLUTE BLAST:

"This was the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!" Madeleine exclaimed in utter glee to EVERYONE she encountered after we got off the boat. 

Meanwhile, Julia decided there was no way she could summon the courage to go tubing, but she opted to jump off the boat with Aunt Sarah once it was still in the middle of the lake.  Except that when it was time to jump, Julia was frozen with terror.  She held hands with Aunt Sarah, but when they got to the count of 3, Julia's body went stiff with fright and she couldn't move.  She eventually determined that Aunt Sarah would need to lead the jump and pull her along.

AUNT SARAH: Okay, One, two, THREE! (jumping first and pulling Julia in with her.)

Aunt Sarah, who had no life jacket on, fully submerged under the wather.  Julia, who had a life jacket on, simply bobbed about without her head going under.

AUNT SARAH: Woo-hoo!  We did it!
JULIA:  (in near terror) That was SCARY! (frantically doing a panicked swim back to the boat ladder.)

Yea, that's right.  Julia, who DIVES OFF DOCKS INTO PONDS AND LAKES FOR SWIM TEAM, found it terrifying to jump with a life jacket on and not even go under water.  This kid is going to do an OPEN WATER MILE SWIM this coming week, for the SECOND TIME in her life.  Somehow none of that is scary, but this sure was.

So, to sum things up. 

Madeleine:





Julia:

Jumping into still water with a life jacket and not even going fully under water: TERROR.


Seems about right.

Road Trip

We Rowes are on are way to Vermont to visit the rest of the Rowe clan.  Despite us all eating a bagel breakfast in the car around 9:15, the girls were begging for lunch at 10:30 when we stopped at a rest area.

Julia chose a piece of spanakopita and sliced apples.  Madeleine asked for a hot pretzel or popcorn, both of which I refused her.  I wound up buying her a chocolate protein bar and a container with granola trail mix, grapes, and some cubes of ham and cheese.

When the girls delved into their lunches about an hour later, Julia ate all of her food, proclaiming its deliciousness multiple times.  Madeleine ate her chocolate Kind bar, the M 'n Ms from her trail mix, and two cubes of ham.  She felt compelled to apologize to her ham and kiss each cube before eating it. She shunned her grapes because there were miniscule white splotches on some of them.

So, basically, Julia had a balanced lunch with spinach, feta cheese, and apples, while Madeleine essentially had chocolate with a splash of pork.  Sounds about right.

You gotta do the best you can when on the road!

Change-a-bel

Madeleine made up a new hand-clapping game, and I was lucky enough to play multiple rounds with her!  In this game, after reciting the chant that Madeleine composed, one player must turn around and count to ten while the other player changes something about her appearance.  The player who turned around must then correctly guess what has been changed.  This is followed by another chant, and then the roles are switched for who counts to ten and who changes appearance. 

I even got it on video.  See it first here!  I know this is bound to become children's hottest hand-clapping game as soon as it goes live!

Fairies and Mermaids

Madeleine decided to make herself a coloring book, comprised of images of fairies and mermaids that she had printed from online:

Apparently, after coloring a particular mermaid or fairy, Madeleine gives said mermaid or fairy a name and important title.

For example:

                                                        Kasey Sparkle, The Tooth Fairy

                                               Petunia Poppy, Fairy of the Magic of Nature

     Alanna Dumbledore, Daughter of Aberforth Dumledore, Fairy of Magical Artifacts

                                                    Lilliana Shells, Mermaid of Treasure

                                    Jessica Caves, Mermaid of the Civil Rights Movement

                                                           Ariel, Fairy of the Mermaids




While Madeleine is busy creating fairies, Julia is busy creating highly intellectual questions.

JULIA: Mommy?  If there was no pee or poop in it, would toilet water be, like, SAFE to drink?

Good thing she's thinking ahead, in case we ever have a severe water shortage over here.

A Week at Hogwarts

Madeleine really enjoyed the Summer Explorations class she took this week, called "A Week at Hogwarts."  The only down side was that she got sorted into House Slytherin, based on a random draw from a hat, but she still got to wear her Gryffindor robes for dress-up day!:

(In fact, she wore the Gryffindor robe again today, even when it was NOT dress-up day!)


Even when Madeleine wasn't at her class, she was playing "Harry Potter" in her mind.  I walked into the bathroom this morning to find out a whole conversation was going on in her head.

MADELEINE: I'm talking to an IMAGINARY Draco Malfoy, and he thinks he's so smart, so I'm like, "Oh yeah?  What's ten times eight?" and he's a Pure Blood, so he's like, "I don't know" and I'm like, "What's nine times nine?" And he doesn't know.

So Pure Bloods are dopes?  Is it because there's too much in-breeding?

If Madeleine had her choice, instead of being in Slytherin at class, she would choose Hufflepuff.

MADELEINE: Hufflepuff is the best.  Their message is about spreading kindness and liking EVERYONE.  Hufflepuffs are all HAPPY and CHEERY.

Well, she may have been sorted into Slytherin, but I think Madeleine is definitely a Hufflepuff at heart.

Throwback Tuesday?

Today's throwback comes from Auntie Shannon, who recently texted me two old photos of the girls.  I think these might be top contenders for "Most Photogenic Kids":

 I told Shannon that this one looks like Madeleine got scared by a ghost while she was mid-poop.

And here we have not just ONE but TWO kids with their eyes closed.  NAILED it!



In recent news, Julia proved that even though she got all A's this year, she's not afraid to miss a beat from time to time.  Last night, as she was showering, she began calling for my help. 

ME: (entering the bathroom) What's the matter?
JULIA: The shower is, like, NOT working.  Something's not right.
ME: What's happening?
JULIA: The water temperature won't change, even though I pushed the cold down so far that it won't go down any farther.
ME: You're trying to get it warmer?  Sometimes you have to wait a minute.
JULIA: No, I pushed the cold all the way down, but it's still hot.
ME: You're trying to get it COOLER?
JULIA: Yeah.
ME: Honey.  If you want to make it cooler you need to turn the cold water HIGHER, not LOWER.
JULIA: (suddenly enlightened) Ohhhhhh!  I got mixed up!  Never mind.  I was just...I just got confused.


#WINNING.

Interview

Madeleine decided to revive the Rowe Family Newsletter, and dove right into a feature interview with her sister:

I hope you readers all feel that you know Julia on a deep and personal level after reading this tell-all interview!

Fourth of July Recap

Well, the Fourth of July has come and gone, and we Rowes enjoyed the town's festivities once again.  On the evening of the 3rd we went to see the town fireworks, spectating from a less crowded location than the main town field.  We still had a decent view of the show; however, Madeleine, who has been a fireworks enthusiast over the past few summers, was quite the critic this July.  Her main complaint was the use of color; or, I should say, a specific combination of colors.  Every time a firework that was red and green exploded, Madeleine would shout reprovingly, "It's! NOT! CHRISTMAS!"  That's right.  Green and red are EXCLUSIVELY patented for Christmas use only.  None of this Fourth of July red and green nonsense.

                                                             Unacceptable fireworks.


Let me point out that this is the kid who STILL whispers "Sparklies yay!" to herself when we drive by houses that have anything festive of ANY KIND on them.  As in:

MADELEINE: (to herself) Sparklies yay!
ME: Madeleine, are you seriously saying "Sparklies yay" about the houses we're driving by?
MADELEINE: (self-consciously smiling) Yeeeahhh...
ME: But there are no Christmas lights anywhere.  It's July.
MADELEINE: But I *liked* their decorations!

So I don't really get it.  If "sparklies yay" can be used to show admiration for completely non-Christmas related outside decor, why can't the fireworks be Christmas colors?  Shouldn't that elicit the greatest of ALL "Sparklies Yay"s?!?

On July 4th itself we went to see our town parade, and thankfully for Julia, there was no band of clowns this year!  Nothing at all to be scared of without clowns.  Musket shots being fired?  No worries.  Fire engine sirens blasting our ear drums out?  No biggie.  Clown band?  TERROR.

                                                               SCARY CLOWNS, 2015


 We enjoyed lots of different parade acts, from a steel drum band to African dancers to Chinese ribbons to an old-timey jazz ensemble:

The parade weather was HOT and the weekend has grown even hotter; that is, until some heavy thunderstorms hit this evening.  Julia and Madeleine were watching "Harry Potter" movie #3 when the storms started, and they only had to run upstairs in a panic two to three times during the movie.  You'd think they were scared of the Dementors or something from the film, but it was the thunder and lightning that sent them fleeing every time.  If only they could "Expecto Patronum!" the storm, all would be under control!

Hope you readers all had a happy and safe 4th and are enjoying the weekend!

Dentist Appointment

Madeleine, on her most recent dentist appointment:

"Well, I *am* looking forward to a BALLOON, and...a new colorful toothbrush.  I really love colorful toothbri.  Get it?  OctoPI, toothBRI?"


She's a genius.  And I really love genii.