Are you a Nerd or a Geek?

We had quite a discussion on nerds and geeks while the four kids were building marshmellow buildings and such.
I asked what is a nerd. Venice said, a smart but weird person. the rest more or less agreed. I asked if anyone knew a nerd, they all said yes. I asked if any of them was a nerd. Casey, with a hearty laugh...said - I am a nerd...I am weird....they all laughed. So then I asked what is a geek...hard to define. Venice said - smart and weird...I said that is a nerd...so are a geek and a nerd the same. No, she didn't think so. Finally after much struggle, she came up with a geek and a nerd are similar but a geek is more mature....so I asked Casey, was he a geek or a nerd.....much laughter...then it was decided he is a geek. I asked Xander if he was a nerd or a geek...he just laughed. They had a lot of fun laughing and trying to figure this all out.

I had bought some large marshmellows and some tiny ones. So I brought them out on the table after Teiya, Xander, and Venice had their fill of rice. I also included toothpicks and choc chips. They had a great time building structures. Casey built robots, dumb bells and other stuff. Xander did buildings, dumb bells and snow men. Teiya did buildings, a choc chip holder, and what I thot was a wagon. Venice built buildings and made smores. They had a lot of fun while building and eating. They also ate some strawberries and Teiya and Casey ate tangerines.

On the outing (which is secret)....Xander finished his project first, so I wandered around with him and the owner took us back in the deep recesses of the place. He was fascinated.
Granny

Venice Goes Commando

Got a txt message from Chris today:

chrisrbailey: um V was going commando

She fixed it before going off to school, which was good as she was wearing a skirt today.

Wasp Sting

Poor Venice. Got her first wasp sting tonight. OUCH! Baking soda poultice in place. Daddy reading stories to her. Calming down.

Questions about Mom

A friend sent me this questionnaire and I had the kids complete it:

Xander - Age 4
Venice - Age 6 and 3/4

1. What is something mom always says to you?
X: I love you.
V: I love you.

2. What makes mom happy?
X: When I say I love you to you.
V: Hugs and kisses.

3. What makes mom sad?
X: When I'm being bad with you.
V: Seeing us hurt.

4. How does mom make you laugh?.
X: By tickling me.
V: She tickles me.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
X: Me
V: Cute

6. How old is your mom?
X: About 16
V: 37

7. How tall is your mom?
X: 3' 7"
V: 5 feet, I think

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
X: Brain Bender.
V: Hug me

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
X: Go on the computer.
V: Works on her computer.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
X: Don't know.
V: Helping people that are poor, which is a good one.

11. What is your mom really good at?
X: Tic Tac Toe
V: Hugging and kissing us.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
X: Checkers.
V: Remembering to bring my water bottle to school.

13. What does your mom do for a job?
X: Work on your computer.
V: She takes care of us.

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
X: Hamburger
V: Spinach

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
X: I do things without you asking me to.
V: When you say "good job ice-skating". Taking good care of me.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
X: Barker
V: Jerry Mouse

17. What do you and your mom do together?
X: Play checkers and maybe chess.
V: We bake treats from my cookbooks.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
X: We like hugs.
V: We both like same styles, like heart earrings.

19. How are you and your mom different?
X: You're tall and I'm short.
V: We have longer hair and shorter hair.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
X: You kiss and hug me.
V: Cuz she says she does all the time.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
X: Hugging.
V: That he's nice.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
X: Red Robin or Wendy's
V: Home. No no no, Hawaii!

Venice Starts First Grade

Venice has begun First Grade. Wow. The days leading up to school we talked a lot about all the old friends she would be seeing again. She seemed to be a bit nervous, but not too bad. We were all excited for a successful first day. And it was! She walked right into her classroom, found a seat and was great when we hugged and kissed goodbye. Yay!


















The next two days followed similarly. On Friday (school started on a Wednesday), I got a call from the school that she had a sore throat and wanted to come home. It was only a few hours before the end of school and I knew that Strep Throat was going around the classroom, so I didn't think anything about it. Picked her up, went to see the Dr. just in case. Enjoyed our weekend.


















Then, on Monday, I was across town and got a call just before lunch time, that Venice was in the office crying and wanting to come home. I think she was claiming her tooth coming in was hurting. I drove to the school in a huff, with mixed feelings. I realized that she was starting to manipulate the system, that she probably wasn't sick on Friday, that she's not really sick right now, that she just doesn't want to be at school. Here we go again.

So, I drove to school swearing into the air, frustrated, angry. I brought Motrin with me and found Venice in the office. I gave her the medicine, just in case her gums really did hurt. Then we proceeded to talk. I asked her what was really going on. I finally got her to confess that she's sad in school. She missed her Kindergarten teacher, wasn't used to her new teacher yet and didn't like to be away from Mom for so long. She just wanted to be at home. At this point, my anger was gone and I was heart broken. I was sad it was so hard for her.

We talked about several issues. One, that she got used to her Kindergarten teacher, and that she would get used to her First Grade teacher as well. That it's boring at home and she'll have lots of fun things to do at school. And that it's the law, she has to be in school. After many minutes of tears, and her saying through a brave front, "I don't know how to stop crying." and then to, "I guess I can try." I walked her to her classroom, handed her off to the teacher with encouraging words, and walked away from my crying daughter.

I drove home in tears, myself.

When I picked her up from school, she was fine. She had been a little sad for a few minutes after I left, but had picked herself up, cheered up and the afternoon volunteers never knew anything had happened in the morning.

Phew. One week under our belts. We've had a few additional bumps in the road, one involving an owie on the hand and chocolate bribes to get back to class, but for the most part it's been smooth sailing and she's enjoying school now. Phew.

Inappropriate Jokes

So, I can't even remember what kind of game we were playing at breakfast. This discussion has taken me by surprise and all other memories have been jolted out of my brain. We were probably playing some word game where we were pretending to be animals, or making fun of animals, etc. When out of nowhere, Venice says, "And I have a small beaver in my underwear."

Chris and I looked at one another, tried to keep straight faces and say nothing. But of us were furiously thinking, "Move on, talk about something else, don't make a big deal out of it, don't bring attention to it..."

Jiichan's Outing

We hadn't gotten into the car at Casey's school, and the two were talking about where we'd go today - they usually wait til they're strapped into their car seats and I'm pulling away from the school before they talk about where we're going....this time they thot Chuck-E-Cheese, then, no - McDonald's, then, no - the Science Factory, but that, too, was no....then they thot maybe Granny&Jiichan's basement - well, maybe, cuz they hadn't been there for a while - in the end, they said no to the basement...

Venice said she was hungry and asked where we were going for our treat, and I said I didn't have anything specific in mind, but we could go to Ben&Jerry's after wherever we went - they both thot McDonald's was the place to go, so I said ok....Casey said that it wouldn't be a regular Jiichan outing if we didn't have a treat...!

Then, Venice remembered that she needed to be home by 5:00, and I said I knew that and would be keeping track of our time....she then said that we could go to our favorite place for outdoors since it was such a nice day, and we could keep the other places for times when it was cold or rainy - Casey agreed - Venice asked if we could go to Skinner Butte Park and play, and then end up going to McDonald's for our treat afterwards - I said I didn't know if we'd have time to do that, that I was concerned that we wouldn't have time after Skinner Butte - Casey said why not go to McDonald's first, and then go to the park - Venice chimed in that we could go there, eat our ice cream, not play on the structure, and then go to the park, and that would give us enuff time for both....I suggested that if we did that, they could take their cones with them in the car, and we could drive to the park and eat ice cream at the park, thus saving time and giving them more time at the park - they both thot that was the greatest idea...! - on the way to McDonald's Casey said this was the best outing ever...!!!

At Skinner Butte they pretty much played by themselves while I watched - they play so well together, and there's a pretty even give and take between the two....at one point I didn't see them from where I was sitting, and waited thinking I'd see them come running around the play structure - they didn't, and it had been maybe 20 mins or so - maybe less, but I was anxious not seeing them, so it felt like that long....so, I went looking for them - I found them lazying in a big open mesh tube, just curled up in the bottom of it, drinking their root beers and talking - pretty cool, that...

The two of them are getting very athletic around all the structures - both climb without much fear, and sometimes it scares me where they climb - Casey is getting to the point where he's Venice's equal in where he climbs, getting more athletic....they both are like monkeys, and at times cause me to catch my breath - I try to stay close enuff so that I can scream if I think they're getting beyond their capabilities, but far enuff away that I don't stifle them in their explorations - I know, that probably scares hell out of the parents to hear this - sorry about that - I do love to see them carefree and unself-consciously enjoying themselves, and each other...

It was a very good day...!

Jiichan...

Venice Wants to Live in Portland

A week after our trip to Portland, OR, Venice says, while in the car, "When I grow up, I want to live in Portland." I ask her what about Portland did she like? She answered, "They have the [Jamison Park] fountain, the trollies," she paused, "and really good restaurants." I laugh, not only at her "cuteness" but at the fact that she says she likes the restaurants there... she probably ate only French fries while on our trip as she didn't care for many of our meals.

Xander loves his big sister

So, on our long drive back from California, Venice had a meltdown. Xander listened to the whole power struggle between Venice and me. At one point, I was ignoring Venice as she was making comments that did not deserve a response. She was chanting, "I'm stupid". As I was silent, Xander replied, "Don't say that." and, "Venice, stop saying that." Then, Venice said, "No one in the whole world loves me." After a few seconds of silence, Xander said, "I do." Is he the best brother or what?

Venice's First Loose Tooth!

Venice came into the kitchen this evening, around 5pm and said, "My tooth is kind of loose." I asked her to show me and she wiggled it with her finger. Yep! Loose it is! Very. And you can see the new tooth breaking through below it. So we're thinking the Tooth Fairy is going to visit us VERY soon.

Kindergarten: Day 4

Monday, the first day after a "too short" weekend. Venice woke up tired and said she didn't want to go to school. We mentioned seeing her new BFF and she replied, "He doesn't go to school on Mondays or Tuesdays." Hmmm. Seems like a lie. We encourage her to get ready and she does. This morning went by without any tears. At her classroom door, she asked if we could walk in with her. We said we couldn't and she seemed at peace with the decision. When we picked her up, she mentioned she had met a new friend on the playground, this one a girl. I think she's happy to find a girl to be friends with too. Yay, Venice!

Kindergarten: Day 3

So, waking up today was VERY difficult. Venice was very tired. When I opened her curtains, she complained as to how bright it was. When I turned on the light, she said it was burning her like the sun. Um... dramatic much? We were basically forced to pull the covers off of her, she did not want to get out of bed. She kept saying, "I'm not going to school today." "I'm never going again." "You can't make me go!" This back and forth ended up in a crying fest. She was sobbing and not really cooperating in getting dressed for the day. Oh yeah, it's also picture day today. Can you say "puffy eyes"?

We finally got her dressed and her hair done pretty for picture day. She calmed down in her room alone while we made her breakfast and she actually ate a decent breakfast. A miracle. Then off to school. She was great leaving the house, in the car, and walking to class. At her classroom door, we saw her table-mate crying. I showed Venice and mentioned how she was sad to come to school too and how Venice was sad that morning, that it is ok, many kids feel this way. I'm not sure Venice heard a word I said, she was "in the zone" ready to charge right into the classroom. Not to mention, her new BFF had arrived and had walked up to her and waved. Venice turned to me, pointing to him and whispering, "That's him!" So, after a horrible morning, dropping her off was somewhat of a non issue.

While we were dropping her off, BFF's dad was there asking us what Venice's name was. He said his son talked about her all day yesterday. So, the feelings are mutual :)

When we picked her up. The first words out of her mouth were, "You have to meet BFF's parents!" I asked why and she replied, "So we can have stay-overs!"

So, it was a successful day. She reported about her day. It sounds like there were no crying episodes at school today. She took her photo nicely. She ate some lunch, which is good to know as we are worried she won't be getting food into her body with out us hounding her :) And she was in pretty good spirits after we got home. Much more lively than she was yesterday when she came home (she was pretty quiet and just played computer games all afternoon yesterday). She played puzzles, talked to us, and was jovial. She still wasn't the nicest to brother Xander, but hey, we're thinking we're doing pretty good here!

It's the weekend now. Yay! We'll see how Monday goes, but we won't think about that until Sunday night!

Kindergarten: Day 2 Part 2

After picking up Venice from school, we walked to the car. As we neared the car, I asked her if I could open her door for her. She replied with gumption, "Let it fly, man!" We all had a good laugh.

Kindergarten: Day 2

Thursday, Day 2: First long day (about 6.5 hours). When we walked up to the classroom, the teacher had just started the class. So we told Venice that we couldn't go into the classroom. Venice turned to give Daddy a hug. I asked for a hug, she turned to me and waved, saying, "Goodbye." Then she walked into the classroom all ready to go. No looking back. Wow.

When we picked her up, she was playing with a new friend and was all smiles. We wondered out loud if we needed to pick up her notebook and she put up her hand and said, "No!" with tons of authority and confidence. "We don't get to take them home until Friday." She did, however, mention on the way out, that she did cry that day. I had noticed her special blanket and photo album had been removed from her backpack.

She told us of her day. She told us about her new friend who she mentioned looks like a friend for our old town. Venice said that he was her boyfriend. She definitely seemed smitten.

Later that day, Venice noticed that she went to pre-school for two ages, age 3 and age 4. She wanted to know why you only go to kindergarten for one age, age 5. I mentioned that first grade comes next and she said, "NO! I only want to go to kindergarten!" Then she said she'd ask her new friend what he was going to do and she'd give us an answer the next day. She certainly has a new BFF!

Hopefully this means that Day 3, 4, 5, etc. will be successful.

Sleepover, When are they too old?

We have been discussing when Casey will have his first sleepover here. And the kids have been enjoying playing fairies together (going against the evil Jack Frost, saving the colors and jewels.) So, we have agreed to have the first sleepover and Venice says, "When Casey's here for the sleepover, I'm going to show him my jewels." Ahhh... innocence.

Venice skates alone!

Yesterday, Venice went ice skating with RooRoo, Poppi and Daddy. She used the 'walkers' that they have at the rink for a while, but then gave it a try by herself. She did great! She definitely loves to glide on the ice.