Author Archives: Vale

In Case Of Emergency…

23 Oct 2013

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This week at Laurel Hill, Lucy is participating is a Fire Drill week: a fire drill each day.
What happens is, they sound the little fire alarm, and the kids all go to Bike Deck and get counted.
It’s cute and not particularly stressful.

Yesterday, Lucy did get scared, but I wasn’t there, so the details are unclear.
I gather she was having trouble finding her shoes, (they’re still lost) and unfortunately that’s when the buzzer sounded. The rule is that you must wear shoes on bike deck, so that may have been a part of her conflict.
She told us many times last night that she didn’t want to go back to Laurel Hill if they were having another fire drill. I talked her into it by promising to talk to her teachers, and also by putting her in tennies (less drama in the shoe department).
It worked! Today was smooth: Lynn held her hand and she even got to sit in Lynn’s lap.

Concurrently, another funny bit of conversation unfolded this morning.
Let me set the scene: Mark stayed up late last night. Then he got up for a work conference call at 6 am. Naturally he went back to bed at 7:15 when he could. I got up at 7:30. I’ve been leaving 25 minutes early this week so I can work in the kid drop-off line at Clarendon. (It’s our class’s week to volunteer, and I use that drop off line religiously.) So the plan was to leave Lucy in front of cartoons while I was gone. I told her Daddy was downstairs if she needed anything. We’ve done this a lot, so no big deal. I did the morning at school, and came home almost an hour later. As far as I could tell, Lucy hadn’t budged. So I sat down to check my email.

Five minutes later, I look up, and Lucy is not there. I get up and see she’s gone downstairs – What? She’s going to wake up Mark! I get her out of our room as fast as possible, and when we’re out of earshot I scold her. “What were you doing? It’s not okay to wake up Daddy when he’s tired and trying to sleep!”
(She just had an unimportant question for him.)
“I’m home now – ask ME whatever you need!” Then I realize I had told her she Could go down there (While I was Gone). We’re now in a confusing/gray area, and I feel I should try to explain.

We talk. We get to the part with me giving examples of an emergency, where she Would want to wake up a sleeping parent…
Did you spill milk all over the kitchen floor? {no.} So don’t wake up daddy.
Did you have a pee pee accident? {no.} So don’t wake up daddy.
Is there someone knocking at the door? {no.} So don’t wake up daddy.
Did a kitty get outside? {no.} So don’t wake up daddy.
Did you get hurt? Like you fell, or you bonked your head? {no.} So don’t wake up daddy.

By now Lucy wants a turn. Pause – She thinks of her emergency.
She replies,
If there was a humongous mean dinosaur who stepped on our house and made a giant hole!
:)

So. Cal. Weekend – Part II – Crvarich Cousins

17 Oct 2013

We woke up the morning after Disneyland, excited for more fun. Bring on the cousins!
{Click any pic to see it larger}

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I’m full of nostalgia for the Sheraton logo – it reminds me of all the Sheratons we stayed at when I was a kid.
Also full of gratitude for this starbucks grande nonfat latte with an extra shot and 2 pumps of vanilla, that Mark ordered and brought to my bed. :))
Maybe less gratitude for my balcony dancer who had too much energy.

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Whataryagonnado.
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So. Cal. Weekend – Part I – Disneyland

17 Oct 2013

We had a whirlwind weekend… I’m posting everything so be warned. :) Saturday was Disneyland.
{{Click the photos to see them larger}}

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We got started early (8:30am)! Minnie and Mickie were there to welcome us. (Oscar passed on the photo op.)

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Since it had only been 14 months since our last Dinseyland visit, Oscar still remembered everything clearly and wanted to head for Fantasyland right away, which I thought was sweet.

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First Babysit For Hank

11 Oct 2013

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We had the sweetest visit today!
Madie and Hank came over, and then Madie slipped out to have a quick lunch ‘sans babe’.
Hank is so precious. I think about if I’m ‘up to the job’!
I didn’t get a chance to clean the floors, vacuum, and all the general pick up I would have done in prep for his visit! (We were gone all weekend and I didn’t have time.)
Trying to remember my own kids at his age (2 1/2 mos) is foggy. I have a vague recollection of passing them off on Madie (Cole & Kiera too!) Not sure if they felt the same as I do with Hank, but I do know that I’m excited to return the favor! I just love the whole thing. Hanging out with my awesome little nephew is what’s it’s all about!!

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