MADELEINE: I woke up at TWO in the morning.
ME: Uh-oh. Did you fall back asleep?
MADELEINE: Yes. Mommy? It took me a long time to fall back asleep. I was laying there and I was like, "maybe I should play a game on my computer." But...that's not very RELAXING. Then I was like, "maybe I should read," but then I thought, "No, I'm too TIRED." So THEN I decided to play with my FEET!
ME: Oh. Okay.
MADELEINE: It was FUN!
Yeah. I so wish I could know what it's like to be in Madeleine's brain.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Sunday, September 15, 2019
The Kids Run a 5K
Every year since its inauguration 6 years ago, I have run a 5K road race that my friend put together as a fundraiser for Alzheimer's research. This year, for the first time, the girls ran too!
Given that this was their first time running a race longer than one mile, the girls understandably had some concerns and questions. Julia, however, decided to go all Worst-Case-Scenario with her worries.
ME: Okay, do you girls have any questions about how the race works?
JULIA: Yeah. What if I get dehydrated and PASS out?
ME: You won't. They have a water station on the course
JULIA: What if somebody PUNCHES me in the FACE?
ME: Um...they won't.
JULIA: What if I pass out and DIE?
Our Q and A session started to feel a bit unproductive.
As it turned out, their worries were for naught. Julia managed to run the whole thing without issue. She finished in 26:50, at an average of 8:38 mile pace, which is pretty darn respectable. Madeleine did a run/walk combo, but when I saw her at the final hill leading up to the finish, she was running energetically, not in the least discouraged by the incline. Here she is at the finish line!:
I have to say, I am pretty impressed with these two first-time 5K runners!
ME: I can't believe you girls ran 3 miles!
MADELEINE: We did 5K.
ME: Right, you did more than 3 miles. You did 3.1!
MADELEINE: No, we did FIVE! Five miles!
I had to burst her bubble and explain what 5K means.
Regardless of the distance, I'm proud of them for trying something new, despite their nerves, and making it to the finish. Madeleine, however, appears to be less impressed with me. This afternoon, Ethan did a treadmill run while the girls had a swim workout.
ME: So Daddy ran on the treadmill, you girls swam, and I sat on my butt and played games on my phone. I was like, I already ran today, I'm gonna be lazy.
MADELEINE: Yeah. Mommy. We ran the SAME amount as YOU this morning, and WE did a workout and you did NOTHING?!?
Ugh, I'm such an underachiever. Good thing I always have Madeleine to tell me like it is!
Given that this was their first time running a race longer than one mile, the girls understandably had some concerns and questions. Julia, however, decided to go all Worst-Case-Scenario with her worries.
ME: Okay, do you girls have any questions about how the race works?
JULIA: Yeah. What if I get dehydrated and PASS out?
ME: You won't. They have a water station on the course
JULIA: What if somebody PUNCHES me in the FACE?
ME: Um...they won't.
JULIA: What if I pass out and DIE?
Our Q and A session started to feel a bit unproductive.
As it turned out, their worries were for naught. Julia managed to run the whole thing without issue. She finished in 26:50, at an average of 8:38 mile pace, which is pretty darn respectable. Madeleine did a run/walk combo, but when I saw her at the final hill leading up to the finish, she was running energetically, not in the least discouraged by the incline. Here she is at the finish line!:
I have to say, I am pretty impressed with these two first-time 5K runners!
ME: I can't believe you girls ran 3 miles!
MADELEINE: We did 5K.
ME: Right, you did more than 3 miles. You did 3.1!
MADELEINE: No, we did FIVE! Five miles!
I had to burst her bubble and explain what 5K means.
Regardless of the distance, I'm proud of them for trying something new, despite their nerves, and making it to the finish. Madeleine, however, appears to be less impressed with me. This afternoon, Ethan did a treadmill run while the girls had a swim workout.
ME: So Daddy ran on the treadmill, you girls swam, and I sat on my butt and played games on my phone. I was like, I already ran today, I'm gonna be lazy.
MADELEINE: Yeah. Mommy. We ran the SAME amount as YOU this morning, and WE did a workout and you did NOTHING?!?
Ugh, I'm such an underachiever. Good thing I always have Madeleine to tell me like it is!
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Curriculum Night
Tonight was Curriculum Night at the Elementary school, so I attended a presentation by the 4th grade teachers and got to explore Madeleine's classroom. My favorite display of work was the Hopes and Dreams wall, listing what each child hopes to accomplish in 4th grade. Madeleine has a very lofty goal:
"My goals are to get faster at reading and to stop global warming."
Now THOSE are some hopes and dreams! Atta girl, Madeleine! Let's hope she can stop global warming this year, whether she becomes a faster reader or not!
Now THOSE are some hopes and dreams! Atta girl, Madeleine! Let's hope she can stop global warming this year, whether she becomes a faster reader or not!
Monday, September 9, 2019
School Morning
Madeleine was reading in her room this morning before school, and upon seeing the time on her bedroom clock, she jumped to attention.
MADELEINE: Oh! It's 7:50. I better get ready. Besides, I need to go pee, and that usually takes TWO MINUTES.
ME: Okay, go ahead and get ready.
MADELEINE: Well, actually, more like ONE minute and FIFTEEN SECONDS.
Impressive. I can say with total honesty that I have absolutely NO idea how long it takes for me to pee. I'm clearly not bringing my A game here.
MADELEINE: Oh! It's 7:50. I better get ready. Besides, I need to go pee, and that usually takes TWO MINUTES.
ME: Okay, go ahead and get ready.
MADELEINE: Well, actually, more like ONE minute and FIFTEEN SECONDS.
Impressive. I can say with total honesty that I have absolutely NO idea how long it takes for me to pee. I'm clearly not bringing my A game here.
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Luna
Madeleine brought home a stone from the Mediterranean Sea, which I thought was going to simply be a souvenir. Not so, however. Madeleine decided that Luna is her pet rock, which in itself is even more complicated that it sounds. Luna is a pet rock but she's ALSO a pet dog, a stand-in for the real dog that Madeleine is convinced I'm going to let her get after I see how well she takes care of Luna. Madeleine regularly takes Luna out, which consists of either taking the rock outside, putting it down on the lawn, picking it up, and bringing it back inside, OR putting the rock on a paper towel, thus wasting a paper towel. Madeleine also feeds Luna, taking a handful of some of our human food, putting it up to the rock, then asking the rest of the household if anyone would like to eat the food. We even took Luna on a walk with us, which resulted in this situation, in which we crossed paths with two different neighbors, each with dogs.
DOGS: (barking wildly at each other)
MADELEINE: Aww, the doggies are barking. I think they realize that Luna's a doggie, too.
Madeleine is convinced that her plan will work; she will be SO responsible with Luna that I will allow her to get a dog.
First of all, I don't think she realizes that a rock is a TOTALLY different situation than a dog. When Luna goes outside, she DOESN'T PEE OR POOP. There is NOTHING to clean up. Secondly, I have ALREADY been asked to take on some of Madeleine's Luna responsibilities, and this is a ROCK.
ME: Okay, honey, you gotta leave for your play-date.
MADELEINE: Okay. Wait. Mommy. While I'm gone, can you, like, just put Luna on a paper towel, and put a few balls of paper down to clean up?
I didn't do it.
Anyway, I guess it's time to introduce you to our newest pet. Here is Luna, therock dog:
If anyone is interested in pet sitting, let us know!
DOGS: (barking wildly at each other)
MADELEINE: Aww, the doggies are barking. I think they realize that Luna's a doggie, too.
Madeleine is convinced that her plan will work; she will be SO responsible with Luna that I will allow her to get a dog.
First of all, I don't think she realizes that a rock is a TOTALLY different situation than a dog. When Luna goes outside, she DOESN'T PEE OR POOP. There is NOTHING to clean up. Secondly, I have ALREADY been asked to take on some of Madeleine's Luna responsibilities, and this is a ROCK.
ME: Okay, honey, you gotta leave for your play-date.
MADELEINE: Okay. Wait. Mommy. While I'm gone, can you, like, just put Luna on a paper towel, and put a few balls of paper down to clean up?
I didn't do it.
Anyway, I guess it's time to introduce you to our newest pet. Here is Luna, the
If anyone is interested in pet sitting, let us know!
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
First Day of School
These kiddos started the new school year today!
How is it possible that they are in 7th and 4th grade?!?
Julia, on her experience riding the same bus she rode last year: "I felt like a cool kid 'cause I was in 7th grade!" She had a good first day, discovering she had friends from swim team, from her cluster last year, from her elementary school, AND even from preschool in various classes. Perhaps the highlight of the day, however, was the boy who mistakenly tried to pee in the girls' bathroom, only to be told "This is the GIRLS' ROOM!" by Julia's friend, leaving Julia and her friend cracking up in the aftermath.
Madeleine enjoyed her first day as well, although the thing she's REALLY enjoying is the new tv series prequel to "The Dark Crystal." Apparently, at recess, she named one of her friends Brea, after one of the tv show's main characters. As we walked home from school, her friend announced wearily, "Madeleine kept talking ALL ABOUT The Dark Crystal at recess!" Madeleine could barely sleep last night over her excitement about the show and her idea to be one of the Gelflings for Halloween. So I suspect there will be some school writing about the characters - or some thinly veiled plagiarism of the story - in the days to come!
Happy 1st day, girls!
How is it possible that they are in 7th and 4th grade?!?
Julia, on her experience riding the same bus she rode last year: "I felt like a cool kid 'cause I was in 7th grade!" She had a good first day, discovering she had friends from swim team, from her cluster last year, from her elementary school, AND even from preschool in various classes. Perhaps the highlight of the day, however, was the boy who mistakenly tried to pee in the girls' bathroom, only to be told "This is the GIRLS' ROOM!" by Julia's friend, leaving Julia and her friend cracking up in the aftermath.
Madeleine enjoyed her first day as well, although the thing she's REALLY enjoying is the new tv series prequel to "The Dark Crystal." Apparently, at recess, she named one of her friends Brea, after one of the tv show's main characters. As we walked home from school, her friend announced wearily, "Madeleine kept talking ALL ABOUT The Dark Crystal at recess!" Madeleine could barely sleep last night over her excitement about the show and her idea to be one of the Gelflings for Halloween. So I suspect there will be some school writing about the characters - or some thinly veiled plagiarism of the story - in the days to come!
Happy 1st day, girls!
Monday, September 2, 2019
School Preparations
The new school year begins tomorrow, so the girls have packed their bags and finished up their summer homework.
Here is the Reading Log Madeleine will hand in, complete with all the honest details of her Summer reading:
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