Happy Noon Year!!! (say what?)

Happy Noon Year, Everyone!

What's Noon Year? You ask? Noon Year is a very clever idea my friend Sarah, a fellow "homie" (e.g. friendly homeschooling parent) shared with me. Our neighborhood homeschool group wanted to celebrate New Year's with the kids and Sarah proposed having a Noon Year Party where the kids counted down to noon, rather than midnight. LOVE IT!!! My friend Laurie, another "homie", agreed to host the event at her house. It was a blast!! Here's how the party went:

1. Party Hats: Laurie had the kids decorate paper crowns with glitter glue, feather, sequins, etc. to make fancy party hats.

2. Noise Makers: The kids put 5 scoops of beans in between 2 cups which were then taped together. Instant noise maker. (Not that kids ever have a hard time finding something to make noise with.)

3. Bubbly: It was sparkling cider for the little ones and mimosas for the mamas (my oh my, I love a good mimosa. Hey, top mine off, would ya? A little more...a little more. Perrrfect!).

4. Count Down & Ball Drop: Laurie had a toy clock on the table which let us know when noon arrived. Her husband then lowered a "ball" made of pine cones and garland from their balcony as the kids counted down from 10 to ring in the Noon Year.

5. Toasts: We explained to the kids what it means to make "a toast" and for what occasions you might make them. Each child and parent then took a turn offering a toast for the New Year.

6. Storytime: Gotta rock that global knowledge, so next the kids listened to a story about Chinese New Year. (Chinese New Year start Jan 26 by the way. Can't wait!!!)

7. Turning Over a New Leaf: I love me some clever and this activity was certainly that. Laurie handed each child a new leaf and had them put it on the floor. She explained what a "resolution" is and how it means to do something different, or turn over a new leaf. Each child then made a resolution and literally turned over their leaf. So simple it's genius! My daughter is still talking about that one.

8. Full Circle: Laurie then explained about a year coming "full circle" and illustrated the point with cookies that had the middle cut out (so they were a ring). The kids didn't really grasp the concept. They were too busy "grasping" the cookies. But cute idea nonetheless.

9. Reminisce: The children learned that at the New Year we "reminisce" about (or, "remember fondly") the good things from the year before. Her daughter Hannah presented a poster board adorned with photos depicting fun and important moments from her year (from riding in a real horse-drawn carriage at her Aunt Kristi's wedding to the birth of her baby brother, Lochlan). Another cute idea.

10. Take Home: The kids had a couple papers to take home on which to write their New Year resolution and to predict the things they might do in the coming year.

The lesson was awesome (and that's not just my mimosas talking) A big party-hat off to Laurie and to Sarah for such a great kick off to 2009.

Keep It Simple, Stupid!

As much as I purport myself to be the "teacher" in my daughter's life, so often it seems that she is the one "schooling" me. Case in point: Emerson asked for a fish tank for Christmas. Santa didn't disappoint but decided to bring just the empty tank and supplies so that Em could pick the actual fish out herself.

Flash forward to us in the fish aisle at Petsmart. An array of glorious goldfish before us. I gravitate to every "flashy" fish in the tank...ones with spots, ones with extra shiny scales...and then finally on one fancy-finned lovely that I swear to God looked like it was wearing a fluffy black hat and black lipstick. I had it named in an instant: "La-di-da", because the fish looked like it would say that to you: Well, la-di-da! The fish actually looked smug. And I was in love with it. And I WANTED it.

The sales clerk came to assist Em with her selection. Poised atop her father's shoulders (for better view), she picks out the two plainest, most nondescript fish in the mix. I baulk. Then I ask, "Honey, don't you want this fancy fish? Look, she's wearing a hat!! How silly. How special!" (yeah, I was working my agenda pretty hard. I'm not proud of it, but there it is).

"No, Mama" Emerson replies resolutely. The clerk had already plucked her plain-jane "pescado" from the tank and plopped them into their travel bag. "Are you sure?!!" I ask urgently. "Yes, I'm sure". She doesn't even look my way. She's in her happy place, envisioning grand adventures ahead with her new fish pals.

I turn my attention to my husband. "Hey...is that tank big enough for THREE fish? It's big enough, right? It's totally big enough, yes?!!" (I repeat this about ten times as we walk toward the check-out counter). My husband finally turns to me and says in a I'm-going-to-act-like-I'm -joking-but-I-am-SO-NOT-joking tone of voice, "It's HER present."

And then I shut up.

I still want that fish. I really, really, really, really want that fish. But I shut up. Because it is Em's present. Her present. Her moment. Her choice.

Later that day Emerson and I take a walk around the neighborhood. She stops, as she always does, to pick up every rock along the way. Not fancy rocks...just plain, boring rocks. Hunks of gravel. Nothing special. Only to her they are. She leaves a few of her rock discoveries in select mailboxes along the way, wanting to share their simple beauty with her friends. I doubt any of them will give the rock a second glance, tossing it over their shoulder as they ferret the more interesting mail out of the box...having no idea that they just tossed a little girl's sincere gesture of love to the ground.

And then my heart catches in my throat because I realize this is one of the things I love most about my daughter: her ability to see something extraordinary in something the world finds plain ... and her overwhelming compulsion to share that simple beauty with others. She marvels at rocks. She adores a good stick. And she loves her plain, very un-fancy fish.

I give her hand a squeeze and feel a swell of appreciation both for her and the new fish swimming blissfully in the tank next to her bed. "What's up, Mama?" Emerson asks in response to my hand squeeze.

"Nothing" I respond. "I just really love you."

I say it just like that. Plain and simple.

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UPDATE: Are you freakin' kidding me?!!! Fate, you are a cruel, cruel mistress. Not three hours after I was done typing this post, I went upstairs to put my daughter to bed and wouldn't you know it: the freakin' goldfish is dead! Dead!!! The simple bastard is dead! I bet my fancy fish wouldn't have keeled over that quickly.

Em cried a river while extolling lots of Shakespearean laments ("Oh, the world is dead! Dead! The world is dead inside me."...and "I was in love to have that fish, now my heart is broken"....and "Oh, my poor fish, my poor goldfish. I hope you swim great in heaven!"). We held an impromptu funeral by the lakeside...made a grave for the fish in the sand and Emerson made a most dramatic eulogy. Now we're back to the pet store tomorrow for a replacement fish.

I am so feeling like the dad from "A Christmas Story" who lost his glorious Christmas turkey to the neighbors smelly hounds. I just want to shake my fist at the heavens and shout: "Bumpuses!!!"

Ah, well.

Homeschool Party in da HOUSE!

I love it when a plan comes together. I had big visions for Em's 5th birthday party. Five is a milestone year, afterall. And as part of the month of mirth and merriment (yep, we celebrated her birthday five times leading up to the big day), I planned a humdinger of a homeschool birthday party. The theme: Winter Solstice. (Em's b-day is 12/21, same exact day as Winter Solstice).

"Wait...you threw a homeschool birthday party?" you ask (meaning to imply: Uh, that sounds totally NOT fun). Well, I sure did. And the party kicked ass!

Here's what we did:

First: The kids made glitter scented pine cones (purpose: solstice celebrators bring elements of nature indoors during the bleak winter months to remind them of spring's beauty). The pine cone craft was quick and easy (paint pine cones with glue, toss them in a bag with glitter and spices, tie a ribbon on top: Wah-la!!) making it perfect activity for the 5+ year olds and their 2-yr old siblings.

Second: The kids learned about wassailing (which is pretty much a merge of Christmas caroling and Halloween. Basically kids would sing songs door-to-door but if you didn't invite them in for wassail, they'd play pranks on you). I sang the wassailing song for the group (you know: "Here we come a wassailing upon the leaves so green") and then I served warm cups of homemade wassail...which HELLO, turned out AWESOME, if I do say so myself. So so yummy.

Third: We crowned Emerson the "Lord of Misrule" (history: As part of the ancient pagan Saturnalia celebration, from which many solistice traditions derive, a Feast of Fools celebration was held. A subdeacon or peasant [person of low-power] was crowned the Lord of Misrule for the festival and was in charge of leading the revelers in merry mischief and much partying). I made a Lord of Misrule hat (a garishly decorated New Year's Eve hat) and crowned Em. She then led her guests in a rousing game of "Emerson says", which included lots of hopping on one foot and running in circles "faster, faster, FASTER!". Each of the other children then took a turn as the Lord of Misrule. Needless to say...5 years olds getting to be "the boss"...yea, this was a huge hit.

Fourth: We made Yule Logs...and OMG...these turned out so beautiful (see pic above, which doesn't do them justice). All the moms kind of stood around oohhing and ahhing at them. We're all a bit reluctant to actually burn them. (history: a yule log is a regular log decorated with elements from nature: leaves, branches, flowers, etc. and then burned on Winter Solstice, which is the longest night of the year, to help bring light and warmth to the dark winter.) We wrapped our logs in hanging moss and wrapped that in red raffia. Then the kids tucked all sorts of snippets in between: clover, fern leaves, flowers, berries, etc. Each child then wrote three wishes for the new year on white paper and we tied the wishes to the logs and curled the paper strips up. Seriously...these turned out bea-u-ti-ful!

Fifth: After lunch (everyone brought their own) we went out on the dock over the lake and talked about why solstice celebrators might miss the sun during the winter. The kids took turns thanking the sun for its many gifts: warmth, light, energy, helping plants grow and then took turns making a wish for the earth and the people that live on it. Lastly, each person went around the cirlce and voiced a birthday wish for Emerson....everything from lots of playdates together to much inner happiness. This was a very sweet part of the party.

Sixth: We had cake! Of course we had cake. Can't have a party without birthday cake. But, in keeping with the theme, I made a traditional solstice sun cake. Okay true, my friends are still doing situps trying to burn this thing off (It had FOUR sticks of butter in it.) but I was being "authentic", right? Anyway, the cake was a hit (although, to save my waistline, all leftovers were deposited in the trash can as soon as the party concluded. I bet my wasitline wished I'd done the same with the four batches of cookies I baked during the holidays as well).

And that's all she wrote.

It was a lovely, lovely party. The kids had a blast and learned a few things about Winter Solstice along the way. The parents had a blast (mostly because we didn't have a bunch of kids running around like maniacs. Other than a little free-for-all after lunch, the kids were engaged the entire time).

Most importantly though, what did Emerson think? When the party-goers departed. We collapsed on the sofa together for a cuddle. "So Lovebug, how did you like your party?" I asked. "Oh Mama," she replied "It was so nice. That was the best party ever."

(sniff, sniff)

All worth it!

"Good Yule", Everybody!

Holiday Traditions & an E.R. Scare

Yikes! Small scare today. After a great week exploring holiday traditions (we covered Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and St. Lucia Day), Em had to go to the E.R. this afternoon. Not because of the holiday lessons, of course, (Fear not...no Michael Jackson-esque heads-set-on-fire scenarios here. Our St. Lucia head wreath had felt candles, thank you very much). No, our drama was that Em had blood in her urine (and lots of pain when she went).

Eeeek!!! Blood from 5-year-old "girl parts" ?!!! Uh, yep ... that sent this mama straight into a tizzy. (Sorry out-of-state business client who graciously agreed to a Sunday afternoon conference call. Meeting ubruptly adjourned!!!). And as "holy shit" as I was in the moment, my husband went even wackier. Our drive to the hospital resembled every bad "daddy-racing-the-pregnant-wife-in-labor-to-the-hospital" sequence you've ever seen (minus the fishtail spin into the parking space). I seriously almost lost my breakfast in the backseat.

Anyway, Em is fine now (and I have to say: a two and 1/2 hour visit to the E.R. at Arnold Palmer? Not bad. Not bad at all. I know people who spent the entire night in the E.R. So, we were in and out, relatively speaking. Plus Arnold Palmer has a play castle and a pirate ship! Hello?! Why don't adult hospitals have those? We get scared, too, ya know!).

Emerson's diagnosis? Possibly a UTI, but more likely a viral infection. Labs will be back in a couple days to confirm but a round of antibiotics is in the works already. Regardless, the experience served up a much needed reminder to be so, so, SO grateful for my normally healthy child. So, so grateful.

Well, time to head off to bed. Em is sleeping in Mama's bed tonight. I'm happy to cuddle her close, even if I do get her elbow in my face most of the night.

Fieldtrip to the Tattoo Shop

Halfway through our charming Thanksgiving week lesson plan (Bistro Tip: I'm in love with the book Thank You, Sarah for this topic, btw), Mama got a little idea in her head: "I think I want to get my nose pierced".

It's a logical leap to make, yes? Pilgrims, pumpkin pie...self-inflicted facial punctures... Well, I guess the idea wasn't exactly Thanksgiving inspired; I've been toying with the idea for years, but for some reason, the Friday after Thanksgiving was the day when I just had to get it done.

So, like any modern mother of a very hip, almost-5-year-old, I headed off to the local tattoo shop with family in tow. My husband videotaped (while laughing at me). My 18-year-old GodSister gave veteran advice (she pierced her nose last year). And my enchanting daughter stood by my side patting my arm soothingly and saying "There, there Mama, you'll be just fine. Be a brave girl" like I was off to the pediatrician for my booster shots. She then watched every step of the process with rapt attention (and macabre fascination), firing off questions left and right...with one in particular asked repeatedly..."Does that hurt?", to which I replied in the affirmative (Because seriously, that shit HURRRRT!)

So, was I able to turn the experience into a "teachable moment"? Damn straight! In the 48 hours after the deed was done, we talked about whether or not a person changes on the inside just because they look different on the outside (the answer: no!). We talked about how/why to keep wounds clean. And, we discussed how metal conducts heat and cold (a conversation inspired by my bizarre ability to actually feel the metal in my nose "refrigerate" when the weather dropped to an unseasonable 44 degrees one night). We also explored photos and talked about how nose piercings are common and considered culturally beautiful in India.

Hmmm...let's see: lessons on inner-beauty, personal hygiene, metal as a temperature conductor, and world cultures...all from a visit to a tattoo parlor and having a pen-tip-sized stud pierced through my left nostril? Wow. Either I am the greatest bullshit artist of all time, or I'm really starting to get the hang of this homeschool thing.