Holiday Archives - Page 39 of 46 - Enjoying the Small Things

Monday Goods…alien hatched just for you.

June 20, 2011 By Kelle

His Father’s Day wish did not surprise me. While I am often investigating opportunities for the next big adventure–scouring local event calendars, scouting out secret beaches–Brett is most happy at home, where routine and the presence of every family member accounted for, is his greatest thrill.

So, we repeated last year’s Father’s Day performance with a family swim, this year highlighted by the brilliant idea to incorporate a bar of soap which was used to slick down a long sheet of plastic leading into the pool. The boys dangerously slipped across our amateur pool slide on their bellies, like streamlined penguins, landing into the pool a few times and crashing into walls, screens and windows many times. Did I say brilliant idea? Sorry, overstatement.

Minus a few scrapes and bruises, Brett was happy. And later, we savored pork carnitas and some special time with Brett’s dad and little sister while Lainey performed a swim show for us. She instructed when and how we were supposed to clap.

*****

After Nella’s therapy session with our ITDS (Infant Toddler Development Specialist) this morning, Lainey was a bit reclusive and temperamental, probably nothing to do with sibling attention and everything to do with being four. There was dramatic stomping involved…and some forced line of “it’s not fair”–which is just funny because we never talk about anything being fair in our home, I don’t know where she gets it, and regardless, it’s a moot point because nothing in life is fair. Cowboy up. However, there is an easy fix for these blips–tried and true solutions that both boost my girl’s feelings and assuage my own unrest for unequal attention. It’s a date. Just the two of us. To anywhere. Today, it was Mel’s Diner where we sat side by side, dangling our saddle shoes from red bar stools and tapping our spoons together in miniature toasts. *Tink!* To Mama! *Tink!* To Lainey! *Tink!* To Macaroni & Cheese!

I taught her how to play Tic-Tac-Toe and how to construct the perfect cootie catcher. Very important things to know in life, of course.

My bottom line in parenting–in special needs, in friendship, in anything–is always this: Most of the time I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I damn well know how to spend time with my kids–how to have fun. This combination of time and attention, love and vivacious energy makes me feel like I know what I’m doing, and that confidence–whether it’s real or just a figment of my imagination– gradually grows until it cannot be denied; until I know with certainty that it’s working, that I have good experiences to fall back on, to lead me through the intimidating parts of the journey. Somewhere along the line, “I don’t know what I’m doing” becomes, “Damn. Look at us. We’re doing it.” I love that.

*****

There is a creative monster that dwells within me. If I do not feed him, I picture him clawing his way out of me in some bloody alien hatching scene. So, it is best to feed him. Okay, that was overboard. What I meant to say is that it is vital for my productivity and happiness to create things–to brainstorm ideas, take pictures, write, cook, craft or stare at a corner in my house wondering what color paint would look best or how I could rearrange the furniture to ignite some sort of creative revolution. This makes me happy.

It’s important for me to pass this on to my kids as well. Not so much because I want them to be Picassos or Van Goghs but because I want them to be happy. I want them to have outlets to express themselves, to have arenas where they are accepted and welcomed, celebrated and loved, even if that arena is a canvas or a blank Word document.

Another tried and true way for Lainey to calm the heck down or feel validated is for her to have the opportunity to make something. She too has a creative alien begging to hatch (still gross the second time, sorry), and the other day it manifested itself in what she called “hot-oh-cod-oh” pretzel cookies. Also known as a bowl full of her mischievous concoction of water, milk, two strawberries, a handful of pistachio shells, some Bisquick, a wad of chewed-up gum and two shakes of baby powder. Little dickens, she can be.

Creativity comes in more convenient forms when I’m guiding her with instructions. This weekend we made photo frames, a perfect gift and only costs–wait for it….a dollar. What you need: $1 wooden frame from craft store, a bottle of Mod Podge, a stack of magazines.

Baby who ransacks magazines, optional.

Lainey put the fun of “hot-oh-cod-oh” pretzel cookies behind her because plundering through Vogues and Marie Claires for occasional pictures of kittens was far more fun.

My final product, sans kittens.

I repeat, a dollar. I was going to send it to my sister for her new place, but I kind of want to keep it now. Besides, I think she’d like the one Lainey made better. It’s full of golden retriever heads from dog food ads on one side and pictures of strawberry pop tarts on the other. I have no picture because we still need to finish it.

Moving on.

*****

There is something happening with the relationship between these girls. Something spellbinding.

They’ve always loved each other, yes. There is idolization on Nella’s part, fierce protection on Lainey’s. I’ve posted pictures of their embraces, overused the word “love,” and tried to transform an ethereal emotion into words a handful of times. But things are evolving and emotions rooting into a deeper relationship that is taking shape. It will take me a while to find the words and string them together to explain what exactly I mean, so I will wait.

But I will tell you that many of the invisible shards of pain–the unnoticed ones that remain past the healing–well, so many of them have dissolved as I’ve enjoyed electrifying moments of bonding with my girls. They get each other. They play with each other. They make each other laugh so hard, we come running to see just what’s so funny.

And I want people to know that. When you see someone with Down syndrome, know that they have electrifying moments of laughter with their siblings. Picture them smiling so big, their eyes are squinting…and their head is tipped back, and their belly is quivering, and they are begging for their sister to do that funny thing one more time because the second time around, it’s going to be even sillier and they’re going to laugh all the harder. I think this tiny bit of imformation is powerful.

*****

I went to type this post earlier and had complete writer’s block, so I went to Costco and threw edamame, double A batteries and size 3 diapers into my cart to give myself a break. Came back, sat down, and it suddenly felt more comfortable. Sometimes, you need to give yourself a break.

Oh, and p.s. That creative monster? I said it was a “him,” but no. She’s a her. Pretty sure of that.

Winner of the Polka Dot Posies hat and flower combo: Comment #2, FEAS613. And FEAS613 happens to be Beth, a frequent commenter who just moved to Naples. So Beth, it’s time we meet. E-mail me, and I will personally deliver your hat and flower to you.

*****

Our new sponsor has me hook, line and sinker. My secret rule of house cleaning is that no matter how messy things are, you can trick anyone into thinking your house looks nice if it smells good.

My house just met the Muthaload with Jessica Clough’s Scentsy shop. I received a huge box of goodies the other day in the mail and ten minutes later, I was on her site, entranced by the selection of products to make your home smell inviting. Brett came home an hour later and, spellbound by the scent and my explanation of the new sponsor, declared–and I quote–“Dude, that’s awesome. Go order some stuff.”

Loving this mini electrical plug-in scent pot.

…and my new Margot warmer. The scents come in bricks. You break blocks off like ice cubes. It’s addicting.

The scent currently burning in my pot is called “Sharp-dressed man” which is basically code for hot guy, and if anyone tells you they don’t want the scent of a hot guy wafting through their home…they’re lying.

I saved the best for last. This is Brett’s favorite part. The Scentsy Buddy.

It’s a stuffed animal with a little pouch. You zip a scent pak into his belly, and he smells amazing. My girls love him and he is currently tucked beneath Lainey’s arm in bed. I think it makes an awesome shower gift. And there are some fabulous homey scents like cotton or lavender, vanilla and baked apple pie.

Check out the fantastic variety of scents and products HERE. A commenter on this post will win a free Margot warmer and Coconut Lemongrass scent brick, like mine. As always, if you can’t think of anything to comment, just tell me what are enjoying right now. I love to hear others’ inspirations and what makes you happy.

I’m off for a quick midnight run, post-rain.

Oh, and two repeated questions.

The light blue romper that Nella wears in this post? I’ve received over twenty e-mails on it. I’m sorry to say, it’s one-of-a-kind, purchased from a vintage Etsy shop when I was pregnant. Secondly, thank you for your sweet comments on the Father’s Day post. The story of how Brett and I met? It is written. Just hasn’t been shared…yet. It will come.

bunnies & chicks.

April 23, 2011 By Kelle

I don’t know why it’s so funny, but I laugh like I’m drunk looking at Easter Bunny pictures.

First, his entrance.

It’s just funny. He can barely get through the door because toddlers are up in his Justin Bieber biz. And while these kids are smiling, pawing at him, entranced by his presence, they are–simultaneously–terrified, uneasy, ready at any given moment to run crying to their mom if he twitches the wrong way. He never talks–just waves his large paws while adults stand awkwardly watching and taking pictures.

Lainey and Baylee stood and stared at him first–frozen.

Until they mustered up the courage to face him as a duo. It helped that Lainey thought to bring him carrots from our garden. Except when she went to give him the carrots, his paws couldn’t really grasp them very good. So she laid them in the crook of his thigh, unbeknownst to him.

I’m laughing watching the whole scene play out because I know that my kid just wants him to see that she brought him carrots and it’s not happening. She picks them up and replaces them, but he still doesn’t see. So she walks away while the bunny is left shaking other kids’ hands, having no idea there is a heap of carrots slipping inappropriately toward the crotch region. Funny stuff.

Our neighborhood has an Easter party every year and this year, it was fantastic. Baby chicks and bunnies–what’s not to love?

Even if this chick pooped in our stroller.

Lainey loves animals, but I’m not sure I’ve met a kid who doesn’t. She does however possess gentle instincts. She knows how to hold a baby chick without strangling it, that bunnies are best clutched tightly so they don’t hop away, and that little dogs don’t like to be dressed in baby clothes and pushed in strollers. Okay, we’re working on the last one.

FYI: red eyes on bunnies freak me out.

Nella was curious, yet cautious.

The rest of the weekend played out like cherished memories of my childhood. Lainey cried over what she was going to wear (“No, I’m sorry you can’t wear a fur vest, a winter bunny hat, and thick tights to the outdoor egg hunt.”), Brett and I stayed up late stuffing eggs and filling baskets, and then we sat back and watched proof that it’s always, always worth it.

In between gatherings and celebrations we snuck off to the beach, a different beach that always seems special when we visit. Maybe it’s the long tram ride we have to take through the mangroves to get there or the hidden bay that’s shallow enough to collect schools of minnows ripe for netting. We didn’t stay long but enough to make a castle, walk the shoreline and gather one large bucket of plain and common shells and one small cup of extraordinary ones.

I like the discovery of extraordinary shells, the celebration of once-in-a-while holidays, the big to-do over events that are special.

Easter dinner at the boys’ mom’s house.

But in the end, it’s the plain and common shells that sustain us. They come by the bucketful, and they are good.

Have you seen these human hamster wheels? We borrowed our neighbor’s. Loads of fun.

The balance of plain and extraordinary is a little tipped the next few weeks as we have some travel and will be shuffling around parenting duties, airline tickets, family celebrations, and nesting at home. I get a little uneasy sometimes when the scale tips, but I’m learning to let go and enjoy the ride. More to come.

I hope your family had a colorful weekend.

Congratulations to Mountain Aven Baby gift certificate winner, Commenter #615 V.wiest: I am enjoying the thoughts of spring as I eat a fresh roma tomato, a short weekend with my new husband who lives 3 hours away because he’s still in school AND I am reaaaallly enjoying being just over 7 weeks pregnant with our first little peanut 🙂.

V.Wiest, Please send your contact info to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net, and you’ll be able to pick out some cute baby goods soon!

Happy Monday!

Lainey’s bicycle dress, All the Numbers.

over easy.

April 17, 2011 By Kelle

Thankfully for me, Lainey’s activity of choice lately has been coloring. I like coloring–so much that often, after a while, she runs off to find something else to do and I am left coloring, happily, while laundry waits and kids make messes. I color like it’s my job–shading, highlighting, scribbling flecks of contrasting color into Barbie’s hair or deliberating much too long over Wild Raspberry or Hot Magenta for the stripes in Strawberry Shortcake’s shirt. I am selective in my crayon choice and have been known to choose colors based on their names alone. You would understand this if you’re familiar with Crayola’s Box ‘o 96, featuring Macaroni n’ Cheese, a warm soft orange, or Wild Blue Yonder, a murky mountainous blue.

I’ve also been known to throw out a perfectly good picture and start over if I’ve colored outside the lines or, God forbid, misjudged the intensity of Jungle Green (which, for the record, is far too vibrant for an eye color choice). So it has been a good parenting exercise for me to encourage the freedom of expression that’s so beautifully demonstrated by Lainey when she colors–sometimes out of the lines, sometimes all one color, but every time, her own style. And while I’m carefully gliding my yellow crayon (Laser Lemon, to be precise) along a flower petal to add depth and she’s decided Shamrock is a nice choice for Bert ‘n Ernie’s faces, I’ve come to the conclusion that not only is it okay, but it’s pretty cool that my girl does her own thing and stands by it. There are no rules to creativity.

But we do draw the line on where you choose to color (although a purple smiley face scribbled on the inside of the girls’ closet door begs to differ).

Nella breaks the rules.

Weekending…
My shattered phone has been replaced but before I synced my contacts, I enjoyed a calm weekend with a quiet phone–which overlapped to a vacant computer and a mama caved-in. Heidi calls it “the cave”–the secret place we retreat to when we’re subconsciously overwhelmed or too busy. It usually involves–without even intention–ignoring the phone, letting e-mails stack up and hibernating to the inner depths of our homes where we bake, read books or, in my case, color. Retreating to the cave is a necessary occurance for me–a replenishing inverse from the go-and-do-and-see times. I like both ends of the spectrum–the thrill of adventure and showing my girls new things as well as the comfort and convenience of routine and feeling settled.

Holidays make me feel settled, and traditions like dyeing eggs connect me to all the puddles of nostalgic happiness that dwell so fondly in my memory and fuel me to recreate them for my own family. So we did. We colored eggs this weekend.

I love that there is no reason behind this tradition. Or rather there is, but when I Googled the historical explanation, it didn’t excite me the same way that “because it’s fun” did. And I’m totally cool with doing elaborate things with my kids for no reason at all.

There is something strangely thrilling about dunking these pure and delicate little ovoids (the proper name, I learned) into cups of color and waiting while they transform. Or watching as Lainey leans over to carefully check their color progression, tipping them just above the color line with her spoon and, like a stylist refolding the foil after inspecting unfinished highlights, she says “not quite yet” and slowly drops the egg back down.

Nella, on the other hand, took every egg I handed her and threw it which, of course, thrilled her sister.

We had to remove her from the situation as Lainey didn’t appreciate the way she handled the eggs.

Just as in coloring, I held back my dyeing critique and watched, cringing, as Lainey did it her own way–plopping two eggs into one cup, dipping them quickly from one hue to another, mixing dissonant colors, cracking shells and yet completely satisfied with her results.

Turns out, the splotchiness adds to the beauty of her vibrant little egg art.

The weekend would not have been complete without the following bit of unearthly loveliness. I actually have to stop and gather my thoughts for a moment because it is quite possible words will not do justice the deliciousness that is–there needs to be some kind of drumroll here–Haagen Dazs Five Lemon (stop, applaud, bow–it’s worthy). Add this to your Bag of Tricks, fo sho.

My sister’s been telling me about it for a long time and I finally gave in and bought some while I browsed the grocery store waiting for Austyn and his friend to pick out a movie at the neighboring Blockbuster this weekend. You see that little hump of ice cream left in that picture? That’s what’s left after I used my finger as a spoon in the Publix parking lot. Only five ingredients–milk, sugar, eggs, cream and lemon–but more than five non-repeatable exclamations that followed my first bite. And I’m sure it’s like the coolest thing for a sixteen-year-old to have his friend along on the ride where his stepmom is driving twenty under the speed limit because she’s balancing navigating a steering wheel with shoveling ice cream with her finger.

Finally, our “caving it” weekend was completed with pruned toes.

Like life, we swam both ends of the spectrum. The go-and-do-and-see of adventurous jumps and loud splashes…

…and the calm repose of tranquil floats and quiet wading.

Our new $10 kiddie pool makes water play much more fun and accessible for Nella.

And it’s only April. It’s just beginning.

Looking forward to some upcoming traveling, out of the cave, and plenty more retreats at home, in the cave, where we belong.

Congratulations to the winner of the $40 gift certificate from The Meg Shop:
Comment #859, Kim: time. one of the things in my bag of tricks (for myself). observantly spent time. to find out what it is i need. often a couple of minutes is enough. take a breather, have a coffee/tea/wine and enjoy. simple as that. PS: that b/w pic of nella in her pjs has got to be one of the cutest ones ever! what a beauty.

Kim, please e-mail your contact info to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net, and you’ll soon be richer in the jewelry department.

Your “Bag of Tricks” were insightful, funny, and enjoyable to read. Thank you for sharing!

The full moon may symbolize crazy, hectic, frantic…

Left, Saturday night; Right, Sunday night