Lauren's Thoughts on the Moon

I've been keeping a journal of special quotes; things the girls have said that for one reason or another were noteworthy. And I've noticed a pattern.... Lauren has been thinking a lot about the moon.

August 25, 2009
"Nobody's in the moon. It's just the moon."

November 30, 2009
"The moon is following us!"
"The moon is watching us."

Whether it's just another one of her fascinations with space or a great imagination at work, I look forward to her future discoveries.

Day of Thanks--The Grand Finale

We set out to record what we are thankful for for fifteen days. Technically today would be day sixteen, but it's Thanksgiving.... We had to include today!

Brooke: "I'm thankful that we are upright this Thanksgiving, and no vomiting to speak of; okay, the night is not over, but there was no throwing up at the Thanksgiving table this year.... Can you tell I'm a bit scarred from last year's Rotavirus?! I'm also thankful for my precious little girls' independence. They got their jammies on and their teeth brushed without being asked or told! Yippee! But perhaps most of all I'm thankful that we were invited to someone else's home for Thanksgiving dinner. Not that I mind having it in my home, but more so the fact that we are actually invited to go somewhere. I'm pretty sure it's because they like us, and not just a pity invite. We had a great time. And since this is our last day of registering an official thank you post I feel I've earned the right to babble. I'm done."

Abigail: "You can't write what I'm thankful for. I'm just thankful for you. And I'm thankful for having Thanksgiving at the Thomans'. I'm just thankful for those things."

Lauren: "I'm thankful for you." That's me!

We hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving!

Day of Thanks--No. Fifteen

Brooke: "I'm thankful for my hair. It sounds trivial, but I really am thankful for my hair. I'll be especially thankful when I get home and get it cut and colored!"

Abigail: "I don't want to tell you. It's a beautiful surprise. You're asking lots of questions. I don't want you to ask the questions. I had a hard day, I don't want to be thankful."

Lauren: Asleep

Lets Say Thanks to the Troops

Many people want to send messages of thanks to the troops, but just aren't sure how to get in touch with them. The website http://www.letssaythanks.com/ allows you to pick out a card from many online selections designed by American school children, and write a personal greeting. There is even a section titled, From the Troops, where troops post messages to you, their supporters.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Day of Thanks--No. Fourteen

Abigail: "Mommy, do you know what I'm thankful for? For being in my jammies. What are you thankful for? Think about it. Did you decide what you're thankful for? What are you thankful for? I need you to be thankful for something."

Brooke: "I'm thankful for a day at home, not going anywhere. Just me and my girls."

Lauren: "A frog, and a penguin, and a blankie, and a finger, and a picture."

If you are looking for literature on the subject of being thankful: Thank You for Giraffes by Vivian Husnik. Thank you, Shawn, for the recommendation.

Day of Thanks--No. Thirteen

Brooke: "I'm thankful for having my chores done so I can relax tonight and nurse myself back to good health."

Abigail: "I'm thankful for you; just you."

Lauren: "You know what I'm thankful for? Pizza.... and pop!"

Something to be Thankful For

Today Lauren and I picked Abby up from preschool and she came running down the hall declaring, "London was nice to me today!" Pleased, but slightly embarrassed, I quickly changed her train of thought. She could hardly contain her excitement, and continued to tell me about London on the way to the car, "I was a good example to her. I didn't punch her. I picked a leaf off her jacket and she was nice to me. Both London and Kyla were nice to me today."

I'm thankful Abby hears what we are telling her and continues to set a good example. I'm also thankful these girls were nice to Abby. But let's be honest, this is likely not the end of London & Kyla's blatant bullying. While I would like Abby to get along with these girls, I do not want her to pick up the bad habits these girls have previously displayed. So for Abby gaining a new friend, I am thankful. And for a week away from school and Abby's new BFF, I am especially thankful.

Day of Thanks--No. Twelve

Brooke: "Tylenol."

Abigail: "Not anything. I'm thankful for taking a shower."

Lauren: "I'm thankful for flowers and Thomas the train."

Day of Thanks--No. Eleven

Brooke: "I'm thankful for having friends in Ohio. Finally! And yes, I count the ones who come and stay with me, too."

Abigail: "I'm thankful for one thing. Flowers. I'm still flowers, too."

Lauren: "I'm thankful for a video."

Avry: "I'm thankful for my Hello Kitty video and for flowers."

An update on the penguin fire.... There is indeed a penguin humidifier at Target. I whole-heartedly feel this is the object of Lauren's gratitude. And I will express gratitude each and every night that she has not found fire; real fire.

Day of Thanks--No. Ten

Brooke: "I'm thankful for our parenting coop. Alex & Mindi, when do you officially move in?!"

Abigail: "I'm thankful for flowers."

Lauren: "I am thankful for candy."

Avry: "I'm thankful for flowers."

Day of Thanks--No. Nine

Brooke: "I'm thankful to have someone else cleaning up my kitchen tonight. Thanks, Alex!"

Abigail: "I am thankful for my little flower." I'll be thankful if she keeps that little flower for a long, long time.

Lauren: "I am thankful for my baby."

Avry: "You (her mommy) and flowers."

Day of Thanks--No. Eight

Brooke: "I am thankful for being able to attend the play Abby's class went to on their field trip today; for taking Abby out for lunch on a special Mommy date, and for Mindi for taking Lauren so I could do it!"

Abigail: "I'm thankful for you (mom). I'm thankful for Avry. I'm thankful for Mrs. Earnshaw, and for my Barbies. Is that enough?"

Lauren: "My leotard."

Our special friend, Avry: "I'm thankful for my mommy."

Day of Thanks--No. Seven

Brooke: "I am thankful for a house filled with three lovely ladies with great attitudes and fabulous behavior today!"

Abigail: "Flag. Probably not that. I'm thankful for an airplane. Just that. Can I have something to eat now?"

Lauren: "I don't want to do this. You cannot make me."

Okay, they DID have great attitudes.

Day of Thanks--No. Six

Brooke: "I'm thankful for Mrs. Hart and all of the great things Abby is learning in preschool!"

Abigail: "I'm just thankful for my elephant."

Lauren: "I don't want to. I told you I don't want to. I'm getting out of here. I told you, I'm not coming over there."

I can tell you what she won't be thankful for tonight.... missing dessert because refuses to follow directions! And I'm not just referring coming up with something to be thankful for. Oh, Lauren.

This just in....

Lauren: "I'm thankful for my friends, and Miss Kim (her gymnastics coach), and for Abby's teacher, and Rock."

I guess someone didn't want to miss privileges.

Day of Thanks--No. Five

Brooke: "I'm thankful for good friends. The kind you meet on your journey through life and take with you. The kind that make you laugh no matter how ridiculous the situation."

Abigail: "I'm thankful for paper, coloring, crayons, hair...."

Lauren: "I am thankful for the fire, and Cookie Monster, and Elmo, and the radio, and the light bulb, and books, and Kleenex, and a dress...." This went on for several minutes. I knew she was full of it when she said she was thankful for a dress. She doesn't like dresses.

Day of Thanks--No. Four

Brooke: "I'm thankful for the fabulous weather, even though I wish it would either just snow, or they'd stop playing Christmas music."


Abigail: "I am thankful for Lizzie Elephant and coloring."


Lauren: "I'm thankful for candy and for fire."


Determined to get to the bottom of this fire Lauren is holding so much gratitude for, the girls and I made a special trip to Target, which I am always thankful for. Lauren took us around the entire store, meandering through aisle after aisle and not once did she point out the penguin fire. By the time we nearly completed our loop I was dizzy and full of frustration. So it was time to get down to business and pick up the few items I'd drawn up on my list. I completely forgot to check the pharmacy area, where we had been on Monday.... I believe this to be the sight of the infamous, are you ready for this, penguin humidifier. I cannot say with 100% certainty that this is the object of her thanks, but I am almost positive this is what she is referring to each and every day.

Day of Thanks--No. Three

Brooke: "I am thankful for our beautiful home."

Abigail: "A stove."

Lauren: "I'm thankful for the fire and for a nest, like the duck has on Word World."

Okay, time to get to the bottom of this obsession with fire. I assumed she was referring to the fireplace in our family room. After all, she does like to stand in front of it with her daddy and toast her little buns. So finally I asked. Her response, "The penguin and the fire, at Target. I will show you." That's it! Any excuse to go to Target is good enough for me. Stay tuned.

Day of Thanks--No. Two

Brooke: "I am thankful for a good night's sleep."

Abigail: "I am thankful for you." Awe, thanks, Abby!

Lauren: "I am thankful for Tiger. And fire."

Should I be worried about that one?

Kicking Off Fifteen Days of Thanks

Fifteen days and counting until Thanksgiving. Someone said that finding something different each day to be thankful for is harder than you think, so we're putting it to the test. Here is the first of our fifteen days of thanks....

Brooke: "I am thankful for my healthy & happy little ladies."

Abby: "I am thankful for my baby, Lizzie Elephant."

Lauren: "I am thankful the flag and the fire."

I have no idea what fire Lauren is thankful for. I expect more of her random confusion in the days to come.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters

We never did run into London's parents at their preschool's Parents' Night. And when Abby attended a birthday party for one of her classmates, there was no London there either. But London is at preschool each and everyday, and her presence for better or worse plugs directly into Abby's day.

A conversation with a parent at the birthday party confirmed my line of thinking: London has not singled out Abby, this is just who London is. There have been other run-ins, and I mean literal ones, with other children in class and outside of school. From swing set assault to kicking girls out of the exclusive Long Hair Club, London seems to be that girl that takes pleasure in making others miserable.

As hard as it is, we try not to ask Abby directly about the class bully. But like the elephant in the room, she's there. When Abby & Lauren play school or gymnastics class there is always a London. And it is healthy; she's dealing with her on her terms in her environment, and she is very kind in relating to her. Wooh. BUT from time to time, particularly the time that comes after being with London at school, she acts like her. Okay, she acts like she has told me London acts.

In an effort to get to the bottom of things I confronted Mrs. Hart about Abby's behavior in school. Mrs. Hart, the true professional that she is, disclosed that she could not be happier with Abby's behavior in school. She did not bring up other children, so I pushed a little harder. "Abby mentions London and Kyla a lot, and how they are not nice to her and some of the other children," I emphasized. Again Mrs. Hart brought it right back to Abby, "Abby doesn't really play with them, she keeps her distance. Perhaps she is taking the behavior she sees at school and is trying it out on you at home to see how you will react to it." Bingo! That is exactly what she is doing.

So Geoff and I are keeping our heads high, knowing that these troubled times too will pass. We will continue to teach her the value of walking away from situations that make her uncomfortable, doing what she knows is right, and continuing to set a good example for those whose behavior is less desirable. And while the behavior of the "nasty" girls may not change, we can only hope that Abby's doesn't either. The good behavior that is.