Sunday, November 08, 2009
Dear Dr. Gooch,
Posted by
Jordan
at
10:58 PM
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Labels: daily life
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Saturday Survived
We didn't quite make it to the beach. Only as far as Charlotte's crown jewel, IKEA. Today's visit to our favorite Scandinavian Super Store isn't worth talking about at all exept for the moment when we shared a Lingonberry drink and Lucy and Hazel hogged the potato chips, Seth said, as serious as he has ever been,
"I want new sisters."
We finally made it home just in time to prescribe frozen yogurt for sore throats and a eucalyptus bath for shared sniffles before bed. After the "undesirable sisters" were tucked away snug, Seth, who has been staying up later, asked,
"Why do Santa and Jesus know everything?" He didn't let me delve too deeply into that before he was sidetracked listing off what he wants for Christmas: (I took note)
a new scooter, like Lucy's, except it sparks
a gingerbread house kit
a toy speedboat
Then he drew a picture of the boat to show me what it looked like in his head.
We miss the Dad, but we're doing all right. If we can just change Seth's mind about his sisters.
This one didn't end up making the flight to Louisiana with her biggest fan. Hopefully, this means Dr. Gooch will have a true vacation (the kind you used to have before the kids came). You know.
Posted by
Jordan
at
8:07 PM
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Labels: Seth says
Friday, November 06, 2009
I Want To Go To There
I'm thinking *beach escape*. It's only a few hours away. I'll let you know how it goes. Also, no cooking or dirtying of the kitchen of any kind (except watercoloring). I can't smell anyway. How can I cook when I can't smell? Watercoloring on the beach?
Posted by
Jordan
at
9:58 PM
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Labels: sickies
Firsts and Lasts Happening Now
-Only one napper left (and only one nap)
-My oldest just figured out the Moon isn't really talking to the Bear in Happy Birthday Moon.
-My first girl dressed herself in a coordinated outfit. Purple skirt, purple shirt, purple socks. It's a start.
-We only have one remaining "free flyer" and she's taking advantage of that with her Dad this weekend.
-A spelling bee.
-Property taxes
-Tulips, Fritilleria, Hyacinths, Crocus, Muscari, Narcissus, and Peony bulbs in the garden ready for Spring.
Posted by
Jordan
at
9:41 AM
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Labels: all in the family
Thursday, November 05, 2009
The Garden Just Before Noon
This is our second North Carolina Autumn.
I'm floored
at the Fauna
we find
so late in Fall.
Plus, I'm eating young beets and their greens for lunch while I dream of snacking on snap peas in another week or so. Then there are the carrots and the lettuces. I love you soil and sunshine. You are magical. Look at those flowers in November!
Posted by
Jordan
at
5:00 AM
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Labels: garden delight
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
My Seed
Posted by
Jordan
at
10:33 AM
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Labels: hard hat happenings
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
The Rashrey Factor
I often take advantage of drop-off line time at Seth's School to call my sisters. One day I called Ashley (middle in this picture, but oldest of the four girls) and wondered if she was getting excited to go to Korea for Thanksgiving (even though I had invited her to spend the Feast Day with us) and if she wanted to leave smiley Eli in our care while she was gone. Of course, Ashley had already made arrangements for the babe to be watched in their absence. Then, I asked, "what are you doing for Christmas?"
"You just love having people come visit, don't you?", she asked.
"No! I mean yes, but I just miss you!"
Ashley has a rare quality. I don't know the name for it. It is transparent, and guileless, and honest, but kind all at the same time. It is the quality that makes you trust her. It makes you want to hang out with her and do whatever she asks of you. It is the same quality that made me want to marry Dr. Gooch. If you could only have one quality it is the one to have. I'll call it the Rashrey factor.
Happy 33rd, big sis! Gove your luts.
Posted by
Jordan
at
10:27 AM
6
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Labels: birthdays
Monday, November 02, 2009
The Party
I puttered around the kitchen all day. Dr. Gooch put the bulbs in the garden outside. The children--who knows what they did. And finally, party time arrived. We had "Pygmies and Blankets" (Pigs in a Blanket), salt and pepper potatoes, super large grapes, Cheesy Breadsticks, and scratch Vanilla cake with Dark Chocolate Frosting. And I ask, is it all worth it? Only if you have a Hazel.
Posted by
Jordan
at
8:45 PM
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Labels: Hazel's Birthday
Hazelnut
Dear Hazel,
You were five days late. I was hoping to celebrate Halloween in the hospital but you weren't ready quite yet. Our biggest baby at nearly 9 pounds you were our only surprise! We didn't know if we'd have a brother or a sister for Seth and Lucy. It didn't matter to Seth, he fell in love with you immediately and you two still have a special bond. You and he are known to have quite extensive WWF matches on the rug after the evening's bath--the soundtrack of which is a continuous stream of laughter from both corners of the ring. And the next moment you are spinning in dazzling princess attire with Lucy. What versatility!
Yesterday you came down with a fever in the afternoon. Feeling rotten and hanging around the toilet you were worried you would throw up on your cake and presents today and it would ruin everything. I am certain, with your strong will, that nothing will interfere with such a celebration. You requested cake with a pink flower on it and pink presents. We'll do our best to comply.
You are at the age right now that leaves your parents at a loss. You won't take "no" for an answer and your determination floors us. From that position, we still love to watch the unusual tenderness you show for us and your fellow rascals. You call people "Sweetie" and still love to be picked up and hugged and kissed on-even though you are getting so big and grown up.
You love yogurt and cereal and a bite of whatever everyone else is having. You have the boomingest voice of all your siblings and love to use it for both shouting and singing. You are so smart and love to show how much you know by chatting with strangers in Harris Teeter, the guys working on the yard or fence, the UPS man, and anyone with ears, really. You have your father's charm.
You insist, lately, that everyone call you Hazelnut (thanks to your buddy Mac) and of course they all comply. Yesterday, after church we all sat on your brother Seth's bed eating Halloween candy. You plopped down in the middle of it all, leaned back on your hands and said, "So, how's it goin' you guys."
I love my three-year-old teenager. Happy Birthday, to the Third turning Three!
Mom.
Posted by
Jordan
at
6:00 AM
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Labels: Hazel, Hazel says
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The Ten Highlights of Our Halloween
Posted by
Jordan
at
7:32 PM
12
comments
Labels: Halloween
Friday, October 30, 2009
Room With A View
Posted by
Jordan
at
11:37 PM
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Labels: Cicada Cottage
This Week, 3 Years Ago
Posted by
Jordan
at
12:01 AM
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Labels: Angle of the Week
Thursday, October 29, 2009
"Picking up Things" or "In a Wad"
Lately, over here at the CC, "Maddening" rhymes with "Motherhood". The rascals are staging a coup against their mother and they've even roped little angel Avery (not even two!) into it. I went to fetch her from her nap (an activity that would have brought me great joy pre-coup) and she had somehow rolled her crib over to the dresser and through the slats opened the drawers and emptied dispersed widely the contents. This is their main tactic: spreading things all over for me to pick up.
When I gasped and said, "Avery! No!!" (not in reprimand, but in a "how-could-could-this-be" outburst), she stood staring at me, silent, until the lips began to quiver and very convincing sobs began to seep from her seams. I knew better than to fall for it though (It is all a part of the coup).
Toddler on my hip, we sauntered into the family room and there, on the rug, her older brother (6 years) had somehow collected every possible choking hazard in the house and spread it in plain view and reach (and was nowhere to be found). But, I did find him, he was in the basement with his father who was encouraging him to use latex paint with his regular clothes on (the ones that cost money and he wears to school) and hit is fingers repeatedly with a hammer. At this sight, my knees trembled (not from fear, but from the betrayal). Was my Dr. Gooch a part of the coup?
Then there was the deep (and surely saliva coated) finger swipe marks in the dessert on the countertop (Hazel?), the rose petal pile neatly place on the front porch near the rose bush now barren of blooms, the poop stewing in the toilet(s), and the Mr. Potato Head parts stuffed in the musical instrument box and vice versa--to name a few.
I was slowly being beat down by the forces of my own progeny and their papa. Wounded and weary, I left the children to their own evil devices downstairs and deciding to lose myself in laundry, I entered the girls' room to gather soiled shirts and skirts. Suddenly there they were in plain view. The socks. Not just dirty, which is expected. Not inside out, which is just annoying--but tied in multiple, super-strength knots.
I collapsed, defeated, to the floor and could have sworn I heard from the rooms below, four tiny cackles and one big guffaw.
Posted by
Jordan
at
12:01 AM
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Labels: mental states
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Real World "I Spy"
Posted by
Jordan
at
3:01 PM
3
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Labels: Seth
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Your Pumpkin, Personalized
Seth went for the classic Jack-o-lantern design. Hazel flitted in and out of the carving session so Dr. Gooch headed up her grinning ghoul, Lucy failed to specify so I dolled her pumpkin up with lashes and lips--she was sorely disappointed and claimed she had her heart set on a scary squash, but in the end warmed to the glowing gal.
They are lighting the porch of Cicada Cottage now ready for the festivities. We made one more stop at Surplus Syd's today in downtown Carrboro and our costumes are complete--now for the kids' getups!
Posted by
Jordan
at
9:26 PM
9
comments
Labels: Halloween
Wild Geese
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting — over and over announcing your place in the family of things.
Mary Oliver







































