Anne of Green Gables and my 5-year-old

Madeline and I have completed one of my motherhood goals. We read "Anne of Green Gables" out loud and when we finished it, we watched the movie together.

It made me so happy. Anne Shirley is one of my favorite characters and reading it as an adult was even better than reading it before. The story is richer than I remembered and the descriptive imagery is beautiful.

I choked up a couple times, all when Marilla thinks about how much she loves Anne but can't tell her. I just love how the little red-haired orphan girl adds color to Matthew and Marilla's lives.

And y'all know I cried when Matthew died.

I asked Madeline what her favorite part was. Here is her answer: "The ball, Ms. Stacy, the two classes, school and Queens, and the poem. I liked all of it. I can't get over it! Oh, and the White Sands Hotel!"

I'm pretty sure her love now rivals mine.

We watched part two of the movie while Joe had a late meeting and took girls night to the outer atmosphere. We did our hair like Anne's. We painted our nails blue and purple. We ate graham crackers.

Here are some of my favorite interjections of hers while we read.

When Matthew doesn't have the courage to buy a dress with puffed sleeves and instead buys other items:

"But it's OK. Everybody always needs sugar and brown sugar tastes good so 20 pounds is OK. Matthew's OK. He's really nice."

When I showed Madeline where Prince Edward Island is on a world map:

"So where does her bosom friend live?"

When Matthew died in the book:
"Oh, death is so sad."

But when we watched Matthew die in the movie:

"Oh no! Who will watch Anne when Marilla goes to Carmody?"

And finally, my favorite. When we started watching the movie together:

"Oh! Marilla has the same glasses as Harry Potter!"

"Anne of Green Gables" AND Harry Potter?! People, my work here is done.

OH NO IT'S A BL2 TOO!

So I was on the couch with Joe, debating whether or not to blog tonight. I'm reading "The Night Circus" and really wanted to get back into the story.

But then we started talking about the "Excited Train Guy" video (again) and that's reason enough to blog. This clip MUST be shared. I really, really wish I could invite you over, serve you some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and watch you watch this video. That's how much I like it. Joe and I have possibly watched it a good 2000 tomes.

Did you get chills that have absolutely NOTHING to do with how cold it is?? I could watch that clip every day of my life and always enjoy it.

Now since it's too late for a weekend wrap-up or Monday recap, let's do a phone dump.

Madeline discovered her life calling. It's rhythmic gymnastics.

I taped a long ribbon to a pen and she's still carrying it around the house.

On Friday night, we checked out the Indianapolis Art Center's Open House. It was slightly ridiculously just how much fun we had. Madeline wanted to try everything and we didn't say no. She made a set of earrings, a pottery bowl, drew a picture of a still model, created a mini blanket on a loom and more. Plus, BRICS served up free ice cream. She chose Georgia Peach. I chose Oatmeal Cookie.

We tried to convince Caleb to take up woodworking. He refused and just wanted to grin instead.

And those overalls? Possibly my new favorite thing. Especially when the onesie gets ruined and he becomes Huckleberry Caleb.

I know what you're thinking and yes. Yes. His roly-poly sides are amazing to squeeze.

On Saturday night, we went to my cousin's baby's baptism and celebrated at another cousin's home. After the sun set, Madeline decided she wanted to learn to dive.

Joe took Monday off and we went to the fair with the Indy Geek Girls, thanks to the Indiana Family of Farmers.

I think this is the first year ever that I haven't gone multiple times and on both free days. I just couldn't handle the heat last week. But Monday was beautiful and started off drizzling, much better than scorching.

Madeline had her annual date with a cow.

Caleb got his first green fair hat. I think this now brings our green hat total up to eight.

Madeline and I rode the big wheel, her favorite part of the fair.

She waited so patiently for the wheel to move and then was downright giddy during the entire ride. Oh, how I love this little girl.

After seven hours at the fairgrounds, we were downright filthy and exhausted and all of us needed a wash.

I spent yesterday prepping for kindergarten. Madeline spent the day with Sandy by her side.

Today we had my parents and Peter over for breakfast to celebrate my mom's birthday. Then we met friends at the park. Then I took a two-hour nap. Amazing.

And now we're all caught up.

I think the best way to end this post is to say if you didn't watch the Excited Train Guy, please go do it now. Please.

A good week

It's been a good week. I'm too tired at the end of every day to write out the long minutia but these have been very happy days.

Lots of tea-sipping, snuggling and reading "Anne of Green Gables" with Madeline.

Lots of being chased and getting caught by a happy, crawling Caleb.

Lots of much needed, long overdue household work, the kind that I dread but feel proud of when completed because clean socks and floors are truly loving on my family.

Lots of playing on my new phone which ends by watching Madeline play on my new phone.

Lots of the goofiest actions I can think of to make Caleb belly laugh.

I don't want to start school yet and just enjoy the freedom of summer but Madeline asks for "kindergarten homework" all the time so we've started a few things, including reading lessons.

This is how excited she is to do the lesson: yesterday, I told her we couldn't start it until her room was cleaned. A short while later, she called me into her spotless room with her bed all ready for the lesson, complete with the textbook, her two favorite chapter books at the moment, Sandy and Merida.

Goodness, I love being a mom to these kids.

Why I laugh every day

We listen to the Disney Pandora station a lot and Madeline loves looking at the soundtrack cover pictures as each song is played.

"Do you know what 'Tarzan' is about, Mom? Because all I know is a man is in his underwear and that's disgusting."

Recently, Madeline wanted to hug a friend good-bye but he was distracted and didn't want to. She walked to the car in tears. Once in the car, I turned around to look at her and she lifted a sad, little face: "It just breaks my heart, Mom."

You need to know two things for this next one. 1. We haven't let Madeline watch "Brave" yet. 2. She and I are reading "Anne of Green Gables" together.

"I'm kinda in the depths of despair about 'Brave.' I just really want to see it."

Clearly she does. I think this picture communicates just how often Madeline thinks about that movie.

And so it begins...

We've waited a long time for this. Even before I was pregnant with Madeline, Joe and I talked about putting our kids in soccer. I know there will be times when I will wish we were having a lazy Saturday morning but for now, I'm excited to watch my totally-not-little girl run around like she's Mia Hamm and cheer on her teammates.

Soccer is here.

She is so excited and slides on her Umbros, shin guards and pink cleats like a pro.

Even Caleb is happy for his big sister. He's awfully proud. (I think he's also hoping for a share in her post-game snacks but he won't admit it.)

Soccer begins and we are ready.

In which I did not buy every item in IKEA

My mom, the kids and I took a trip to IKEA on Friday. You all know I mainly went for the meatballs, right? (They were delicious.) I was very proud of myself for spending the least amount I've ever spent at IKEA. 

It was tough but I kept reminding myself of Joe's disappointed face if I brought home one more bowl or candleholder. (I passed up these bowls. I totally regret not buying two.)

But I did get some great jars, the big leaf which I've wanted for about three years and some handy supplies for school.

For the last couple of years, my mom and I have done this IKEA trip right before she starts school again and I just really love it. It's fun to catch up on the drive to Cincinnati, the meatballs are always tasty and we always snap pictures of our favorite rooms, dreaming about how we can recapture the coziness in our homes.

This was my favorite room, complete with a dancing kid in a neon yellow, Hello Kitty shirt. Whoever she was, she was awesome.

And no trip to IKEA is complete without coming home and wanting to re-do EVERYTHING in my home. 

On Saturday, we visited The Inventorialist's pop-up shop. It was even cuter than I expected and full of adorable items. I spied these letters for $1 each and Joe put it together using cheap trim from Lowe's, yellow spray paint we already had and a piece of old wood we've been wanting to use. I love it.

One of the biggest excitements of the weekend (for Madeline and me) was that I got a new phone. My Palm decided to be awful a couple months ago and I've been using non-edifying language when talking about it. Also, it was lost from Thursday through Saturday so if you tried to reach me, try again and I'm sorry.

So on Saturday night, I finally got a new phone. I really like it but Madeline is IN LOVE with it. She keeps talking about it almost like how she talked about Caleb when we brought him home from the hospital. So much love.

The first thing Madeline said when she ran in our bedroom on Sunday morning: "Can I play with your phone?" 

She's addicted to taking photos with it. This was her very first photo. I hadn't even brushed my teeth.

She thinks the reverse camera option is stellar.

 But after having a phone for so long that took such bad photos, I'm a little addicted myself.

Even Caleb just wants to mug for the phone.

And so begins a week of home decorating and picture-taking.

When a sick day is equivalent to a snow day

Jen posted this on my Facebook wall today. This is the part where I confess to be wildly obsessed about the Olympics but also ate a slice of chocolate cake for breakfast. 

Most nights, I write a snippet in my Mom's One-Line-A-Day journal. For the last 13 days, it's started like this: "M's still sick." We haven't left the house for nearly two weeks because I want her to get rest and I also don't want contaminate anyone else.

Which is why I talk about the Olympics like they're my lifeline. Because they are, clearly.

We had plans to hang out with friends today because I was just sure she would be over this by now but sadly had to cancel when it was clear Madeline might be better but is not completely better.

After I texted my friend, I wanted to lay my head down on the table and cry at the prospect of another day without human contact. These days can only end with me carrying on a conversation with my kitchen window unless I want to talk about Meena, Cindy or Sandy for the billionth time. 

But then my mom called and asked if we could come over for the day, knowing full well of the unclean beings we are.

She's a good mom.

So after Caleb woke up from his morning nap, we spent the rest of the day at my parent's house. It's one of my favorite things to do. 

But if you thought a day at my parent's house mean we did something different, you'll be disappointed. We watched Olympics all day again and, again, it was awesome. My parents have On Demand which I've come to realize is amazing awesomeness. 

There were so many Olympic options, not to mention being one click away from "Giuliana & Bill" or "The Pioneer Woman." We watched bio after bio on the athletes. I was super impressed after hearing the story of Lolo Jones and Missy Franklin's piece just sealed my love for her forever. Since gymnastics airs around 10 p.m., Madeline hasn't been able to watch any of it but we were able to show her tons of it today.

Sidenote: I think I could watch McKayla's vault every day of my life and it would never get old. How is that humanly possible, people?? Also, before young men are introduced to the pommel horse, are they asked if they want to have children in the future? Because I fear for them every time I watch that apparatus being used.

We also showed Madeline some of the equestrian events but I turned off after several minutes of listening to her yell, "SANDY! SANDY!" over and over again.

Today's bit of dairy: pizza with black olives, green olives and mushrooms. Did you know mozzarella is divine? Because it is, folks. Divine.

Sidenote: I think I eat olives every time I visit my parent's house. I guess this is how traditions begin.

Then we came home to Joe after he worked a very long day. Once the kids were asleep and Olympics turned on, I may or may not have had more cake.

"I haven't ordered dessert in two years." BWAHAHAHAHA.