Monday, November 19, 2007
Kezia's smile
Here's another funny story I just thought of. Yesterday Kezia's hula halau (class) was practicing in the park for an upcoming performance. Just before the dance started, kumu (the teacher) reminded everyone to smile big. You saw Nate's cheesy ear-to-ear smile in the turkey picture? Well, Kezia inherited it. Kumu beat the drum and the dancers began their hula. Kezia stood there front and center with her feet planted on the ground. fists on her hips, eyes wide open, and looked straight at her kumu with a silly joker, no-teeth-showing grin that took over her whole face. All the adults were chuckling. I was crying from *quiet* laughter, and kumu lost her beat because it was so captivating (and funny). Kezia hadn't been to a practice for a while, and isn't too sure of the steps anyway. So once she realized it was time to dance, she did the best she could, but I don't think it qualified as hula. Even so, she would pause every so often to cast that ear-to-ear grin at the audience. I whispered to my mother in law that at least she got that instruction down pat.
Young and innocent.
We had family home evening tonight and made a paper turkey with hand cutouts for feathers where we each wrote things we are grateful for. Everyone cut out their own handprint. Nate picked up Ivy's to show me. She cut the middle finger very well, all the way up around the tip. The other fingers she hacked off down to the second knuckle!! Nate and I both tried hard to keep in our laughs. I guess she wasn't too fond of the activity.
I love this earth
A couple of weeks ago, Nate and I took a walk alone to the beach at night. We laid under the stars and watched two separate storms off at sea. The one to the right was fierce, with lightening stricking almost constantly, and igniting an orange hue in the sky. At first I couldn't believe it was lightening. I breathed in the salty ocean air that seemed to hang in the stillness of that clear night and mentioned how nice it would be to just sleep there that night. I also told him that that is one thing I miss about the mainland--thunderstorms.
Well, I think Mother Nature heard me because at about midnight that night (we didn't sleep on the beach, thankfully) a huge storm crashed right above us. Kezia ran into bed with us and she and I got to enjoy the CRASH boom BANG of the thunder right above us, with the rain pounding the pavement and lightening casting shadows around the room. There seemed to be two storms, because one would be a bit distant and then all of a sudden a loud BANG would shake the building. I LOVED it!!! I fought sleep so I could hear the whole storm. I even tried to keep Kezia up a bit so we could share it together.
Then the other night I was driving and saw a shooting star. Seen them before, yadda yadda yadda. But this one was extraordinary. It sparkled. Not like a twinkling star, but like God tipped a jar of silver glitter over on its tail. I thought for a second that maybe it was a firework, but it was too high in the sky and too angled like a shooting star to be one. Has anyone seen that before?
And then the other day I was driving on the freeway. The sky to the right was a saggy draggy rainy grey and it highlighted a giant vibrant rainbow in its foreground. I got so excited I called to the girls to take a look. The colors were so bold. Then we noticed it was a double rainbow! And then we saw they were both full rainbows!! It was so cool, and this is coming from someone who lives in the "rainbow state"--it was the coolest rainbow I have ever seen. It was right next to the freeway. We passed through a valley of trees and the ends of the rainbow wrapped around the trees like candy wrappers. You know when you see a rainbow ahead of you and then you drive a bit and then it's behind you? Have you ever been in a rainbow? As we passed the valley, the rainbow was all around us to the right and shining through the windshield. It seemed to move forward at the same speed we were driving. And then, like stepping out of a colorful waterfall, we found ourselves on the other side. I had to keep reminding myself that I was on the freeway driving so I didn't get too distracted. But it was also cool to think that all of us people on the freeway were experiencing that same spectacle in the sky...and somehow driving straight.
Well, I think Mother Nature heard me because at about midnight that night (we didn't sleep on the beach, thankfully) a huge storm crashed right above us. Kezia ran into bed with us and she and I got to enjoy the CRASH boom BANG of the thunder right above us, with the rain pounding the pavement and lightening casting shadows around the room. There seemed to be two storms, because one would be a bit distant and then all of a sudden a loud BANG would shake the building. I LOVED it!!! I fought sleep so I could hear the whole storm. I even tried to keep Kezia up a bit so we could share it together.
Then the other night I was driving and saw a shooting star. Seen them before, yadda yadda yadda. But this one was extraordinary. It sparkled. Not like a twinkling star, but like God tipped a jar of silver glitter over on its tail. I thought for a second that maybe it was a firework, but it was too high in the sky and too angled like a shooting star to be one. Has anyone seen that before?
And then the other day I was driving on the freeway. The sky to the right was a saggy draggy rainy grey and it highlighted a giant vibrant rainbow in its foreground. I got so excited I called to the girls to take a look. The colors were so bold. Then we noticed it was a double rainbow! And then we saw they were both full rainbows!! It was so cool, and this is coming from someone who lives in the "rainbow state"--it was the coolest rainbow I have ever seen. It was right next to the freeway. We passed through a valley of trees and the ends of the rainbow wrapped around the trees like candy wrappers. You know when you see a rainbow ahead of you and then you drive a bit and then it's behind you? Have you ever been in a rainbow? As we passed the valley, the rainbow was all around us to the right and shining through the windshield. It seemed to move forward at the same speed we were driving. And then, like stepping out of a colorful waterfall, we found ourselves on the other side. I had to keep reminding myself that I was on the freeway driving so I didn't get too distracted. But it was also cool to think that all of us people on the freeway were experiencing that same spectacle in the sky...and somehow driving straight.
Ivy's "funny" fall
We went to a tribute dinner for the returning troops in our ward last weekend. Ivy fell off her chair onto the floor, followed by a plate full of food right on top of her. Of course, she was crying and I took her to the bathroom to clean her off. Some kids came in to see if she was alright, and, acknowledging the sad, pathetic reflection in the mirror, she let them know that yes, she was hurt, and as long as that image was looking at her with those tearful eyes, she was going to continue to be sad.
A little bit later we left the party. Kezia said it was the best party ever because they had cake and ice cream. (I felt no need to remind her that we left before it was even served). I asked Ivy what her favorite part was. She said, "When I fell on the floor and my food fell on top of me and the kids looked at me in the bathroom. It was so funny!!" And still today she will tell you how funny that was.
A little bit later we left the party. Kezia said it was the best party ever because they had cake and ice cream. (I felt no need to remind her that we left before it was even served). I asked Ivy what her favorite part was. She said, "When I fell on the floor and my food fell on top of me and the kids looked at me in the bathroom. It was so funny!!" And still today she will tell you how funny that was.
Prayers and personalities
At night, the girls say their own prayers. This is when their personalities really shine through. Ivy, our affectionate one, bounces around the room during her prayer giving everyone hugs and saying "And thank you that I can give Daddy a hug, and thank you that I can give Kezia a hug...etc" Kezia is our sensitive one. She seems to really understand that she is very fortunate for having all she has. She prays for the people who don't have enough money, or food to eat, or house to live in, or whatever. It is sweet. I do find it funny though, when she prays that the person who doesn't have a bed to sleep in will find one to sleep in. I think that ought to be followed up with a prayer for the person who is already in that bed!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Ivy reading?!?
Saturday I was painting the entrance to our condo. I asked Ivy to please stay away and do her own thing while I painted. She pulled out a couple of books to look at, and while I am painting I hear this: "ba-ba-ba-ba-oooo-ooooo-oooo-ooooo-ka-ka-ka-ka". It went on for long enough to catch my attention and I looked over to see what she was doing. Her little finger was underlining the letters of the word "BOOK" while she sounded out the letters!! It was like the scene of a movie where a boy's pet dog opens his mouth and speaks English, followed by the cliche line, "I didn't know you could speak!"
I have not been teaching Ivy to read or sound out letters at all. I guess it all was learned through the Leap Frog movies "Letter factory" and "word Factory", and observing Kezia's learning. Today in the car she was sounding out words as well while reading a book: dog, fog, bog, etc. Well, I guess they're ready when they're ready. She has been spying letter shapes in objects, too. Often she would say, "Look, Mom! It looks like an X (or a T or an H or whatever)". Smart kid, shocked mom.
A funny thing about Ivy: I teach the preschool class on Wednesday mornings and my friend takes Ivy with her son to a music class. Ivy loves it, and she better, because it costs $13/class!! Every time after class, we ask Ivy what she did, and EVERY TIME it is the same answer: "We sing Ba Ba ba" $13 too much, I think.
I have not been teaching Ivy to read or sound out letters at all. I guess it all was learned through the Leap Frog movies "Letter factory" and "word Factory", and observing Kezia's learning. Today in the car she was sounding out words as well while reading a book: dog, fog, bog, etc. Well, I guess they're ready when they're ready. She has been spying letter shapes in objects, too. Often she would say, "Look, Mom! It looks like an X (or a T or an H or whatever)". Smart kid, shocked mom.
A funny thing about Ivy: I teach the preschool class on Wednesday mornings and my friend takes Ivy with her son to a music class. Ivy loves it, and she better, because it costs $13/class!! Every time after class, we ask Ivy what she did, and EVERY TIME it is the same answer: "We sing Ba Ba ba" $13 too much, I think.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Kezia's shots
Today Kezia got shots. She would have been fine. She went there knowing she was going to get shots and excited for the stickers that she would receive. Then, the doctor, most likely one without his own children, told her that she was going to get "owies" that would hurt a bit and might make her cry. (Thanks, doc. Why don't you also tell her that medicine tastes like bile?!?) So during the painstakingly long time that the nurse was out of the room getting her 3 shots ready, Kezia's mind began to race, conjuring up images, I am sure, of 3 inch thick needles that require the hands of 3 separate nurses to hold upright. The vision of stickers soon tarnished. More would be required to calm this screaming, kicking child. But I came prepared: Candy. One swedish fish per shot? Ok. But the screaming didn't stop. Or the kicking. Or the thrashing. While the nurse was trying to place the shot. I thought for sure I would be the one vaccinated by slip of the needle. So I said, "ok, Kezia, how about getting a prize afterward from the store, like a book or a toy or a-" "A BOOK!! I WANT A BOOK!!! WAAAAAAA!!!"
So she survived. And here's the funny part. She got her two stickers, and pranced through the waiting room flashing them in the direction of the poor, unknowing children waiting their turn. We stopped at the bathroom and when I came out of the stall, I couldn't see Kezia, so I called to her. You know what she was doing? Standing outside the bathroom showing off her stickers to anyone who passed by! She deserved the stickers and the glory. I just wonder why I didn't pick some up for myself...
So she survived. And here's the funny part. She got her two stickers, and pranced through the waiting room flashing them in the direction of the poor, unknowing children waiting their turn. We stopped at the bathroom and when I came out of the stall, I couldn't see Kezia, so I called to her. You know what she was doing? Standing outside the bathroom showing off her stickers to anyone who passed by! She deserved the stickers and the glory. I just wonder why I didn't pick some up for myself...
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Day-After-Halloween:
"Do you want this candy?" "Can I have one of yours?" "I like this candy. It's pretty."
When you really don't know what is inside the wrapper, looks are all that matters. Ivy's goal was to fill her bag with goodies last night. It's a good thing that her bag was no bigger than a lunch sac. The girls had a great time. We were hoping to make it in time for a halloween parade at the church where they were going to do a trunk-or-treat, but a cranky 4 year old meant a late nap for Kezia, so we missed it, and barely made it in time for the trick-or-treating, which ended up being inside because of rain!
Yes, once again, we went to the trunk-or-treat, a tradition that I am not too fond of ("It's safe for the kids.") I like the old-fashioned house to house begging, without the feeling of mistrust of fellow humans, just because there were some malicious psychos who made the news years ago. Anyway, because of the rain and because Kezia and Ivy would be able to see their friends, we decided to go. Afterward, we got to hit a few houses, too. So now we are fully stocked...again. I have a friend whose husband is from Tonga. Apparently it is outrageously expensive to get candy there, so they let their kids choose 10 pieces for themselves and then ship the rest off to Tonga. I am hoping to join them in their endeavor and rid our house of all (most of) this junk.
Despite my subtle, gentle efforts to convince Kezia to be a blue fairy with Ivy, there is no pulling away a four year old girl from being a princess. So Kezia wore her worn out, ragged princess dress and was happy. But at least I got some cute pics of both of them in their fairy costumes. Nate and I grabbed the funniest things we own: a screaming rubber chicken, a parrot puppet, a sunhat, clownwigs, and nasty pregnant pants with fake pockets and became clowns somehow.
Ivy is now hacking up a lung, just like Kezia was on Sunday. Hopefully it won't last long. Something funny about Ivy: She likes the male gender. For instance, usually when kids have a baby and an adult animal, one is a baby and one is the mommy. But for Ivy, it's baby and daddy. Anyway, occasionally, she pretends to be "da man" and goes around the house announcing, "I'm da man", just like one of us would say it if we were saying we were really cool. Ivy is calling me to go play with "da man", so I guess I should sign off.
"Do you want this candy?" "Can I have one of yours?" "I like this candy. It's pretty."
When you really don't know what is inside the wrapper, looks are all that matters. Ivy's goal was to fill her bag with goodies last night. It's a good thing that her bag was no bigger than a lunch sac. The girls had a great time. We were hoping to make it in time for a halloween parade at the church where they were going to do a trunk-or-treat, but a cranky 4 year old meant a late nap for Kezia, so we missed it, and barely made it in time for the trick-or-treating, which ended up being inside because of rain!
Yes, once again, we went to the trunk-or-treat, a tradition that I am not too fond of ("It's safe for the kids.") I like the old-fashioned house to house begging, without the feeling of mistrust of fellow humans, just because there were some malicious psychos who made the news years ago. Anyway, because of the rain and because Kezia and Ivy would be able to see their friends, we decided to go. Afterward, we got to hit a few houses, too. So now we are fully stocked...again. I have a friend whose husband is from Tonga. Apparently it is outrageously expensive to get candy there, so they let their kids choose 10 pieces for themselves and then ship the rest off to Tonga. I am hoping to join them in their endeavor and rid our house of all (most of) this junk.
Despite my subtle, gentle efforts to convince Kezia to be a blue fairy with Ivy, there is no pulling away a four year old girl from being a princess. So Kezia wore her worn out, ragged princess dress and was happy. But at least I got some cute pics of both of them in their fairy costumes. Nate and I grabbed the funniest things we own: a screaming rubber chicken, a parrot puppet, a sunhat, clownwigs, and nasty pregnant pants with fake pockets and became clowns somehow.
Ivy is now hacking up a lung, just like Kezia was on Sunday. Hopefully it won't last long. Something funny about Ivy: She likes the male gender. For instance, usually when kids have a baby and an adult animal, one is a baby and one is the mommy. But for Ivy, it's baby and daddy. Anyway, occasionally, she pretends to be "da man" and goes around the house announcing, "I'm da man", just like one of us would say it if we were saying we were really cool. Ivy is calling me to go play with "da man", so I guess I should sign off.
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