Braggart.

I know it's not polite to brag and such, but since this is our blog about our children, I figure this is the place where there's an exception.

We had Ruby's school conference on Tuesday, and her teacher started by saying, "This is probably the best report card I've ever written."

'Nuff said.

Well, one thing more. She said Ruby was a classroom leader without being bossy. While I find this hard to believe (the not bossy part), I'm very proud of my girl.

Nice job, Rubes!

Cookie Dough.

Last fall Cici was part of a fundraiser for school and was asked to sell tubs of cookie dough. To fulfill the obligation, she and I sat down at the dining room table, I handed her my phone, and we just started calling our relatives and closest friends.

It turns out we have some very generous friends and relatives.

In particular, a college friend of Adam's who also lives in our city - we call him Pasty - purchased a lot of cookie dough. He wanted me to find out how much he needed to buy in order for her to "win" and I told him numerous times that I had no way of knowing how much other kids were selling. He ended up buying A LOT.

When all the cookie dough arrived and we picked it up for delivery, the fundraising coordinator pulled me aside and told me Cici had, in fact, sold more cookie dough than anyone else in the school. About $500 worth.

The grand prize was 2 tickets to Smucker's Stars on Ice, and we thought it only fitting that she go with Pasty since he probably put her right over the top. He called yesterday to tell us he also intends to take her to brunch at one of our city's finest and fanciest restaurants. She's excited to get dressed up and go claim her prize.

It's a fun little adventure for her today, but also an opportunity for me to thank all of you who supported her in this effort. Thank you for supporting her school, and her, and for being such a loving network for our family. And just think, if you buy the most cookie dough next year, you might just get to see the world's best skaters with my daughter!

Thanks, everyone!

Words of the Day

Ruby recently made a necklace for her 100-days of school celebration. She was describing this necklace to us, and explained that it was made out of Cheerios. Having seen the necklace I added that it was actually made out of Fruit Loops and she had done a lovely job.

Cecilia: What's a fruit loop?

[Melissa smiles smugly to herself.]

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Ruby takes a huge swig of ginger ale. Ruby [eyes watering]: What a spike!

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During last night's dinner I ask Cecilia if she would like some barbecue sauce, and she tells me that she doesn't actually care for barbecue sauce.

Me: You don't? Why not?
Cecilia: It's too zangy.
Me: Zangy?
Cecilia: Er, tingy?
Me: Tingy?
Cecilia: Yeah.
Me: Uh, okay.

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Ruby telling me a story about one of her classmates: He was acting very ma-sti-tious!

Me: Mastitious?

Ruby: Yeah.

Me: Do you maybe mean mysterious or suspicious?

Ruby: Yeah.

Snuggle up.

Both my girls are snugglers - always have been - but Cecilia in particular loves to snuggle up with me on the couch at night. We only had a moment of this last night because I had class, but I was trying to imagine what things will be like when she's older. When I asked Adam if he thought Cecilia would still snuggle with me when she was 15, he offered a resounding, "No." And because I didn't like his answer, I decided I would simply create a policy (this is what I'm in school for, after all) and make her adhere to this policy by having her sign a document agreeing to snuggle with me always and forever. Adam thinks this will not work, but I think he's wrong. So there.

(Please forgive my hideousness in the above photo. It was taken early in the morning.)

Chit chat.

Most mornings Adam and Cecilia are the first ones awake, and then Ruby runs downstairs for her breakfast shortly after. I am NOT a morning person, so I'm a little slower to get up 'n at 'em. Around 7AM, when all three come back upstairs to start getting ready, Ruby crawls into my bed to snuggle up because she's not really a morning gal either. But what usually ends up happening is a few minutes of alone time for me and Rubes where we talk about all sorts of things, from her friends at school to what we should make for dinner tonight to the weird dreams she had last night. Some days it feels like we're really bonding, and other days I laugh until I have tears in my eyes.

Ruby. A great way to start your day.

Pajama Day.

On Sunday Cecilia told us that Monday was "Pajama Day" as part of their Valentine's Day festivities. They sometimes do this for special days or as a class reward, so I didn't give it a second thought. At bedtime she was giggling about how she wouldn't need to get ready before school because all she needed to wear was her jammies, and went on to add that she could also bring a blanket and stuffed animal. Fine fine. Go to sleep.

And off she went in her pajamas. About 1/2 hour later the phone rang, and it was my darling daughter on the verge of tears telling me that it was NOT pajama day. I told her we'd run some clothes to school ASAP and tried to reassure her that was not a big deal and not to worry. I also sent a Valentine's cupcake and a note telling her how much I love her because I was so worried about her well-being.

And then I hung up the phone and started to cry like the baby I am.

You know that feeling when you show up somewhere and realize you've done something wrong? You brought the wrong thing or wore the wrong thing or went to the wrong place? I hate that feeling. And, while I acknowledge that I'm more than a little neurotic, I think everyone has had an experience like that where they felt foolish in front of people they didn't want to look foolish in front of. Like the time my sister was giving a fake eulogy for a speech class in high school and actually started to cry. Because she was sad. About our mother's FAKE death.

At any rate, Cecilia was able to get changed without anyone discovering her error (thank goodness for a t-shirt under her jammies and snowpants over the top to buy some time). Because she's stable and lovely and has plenty of self-esteem, she came home laughing about the whole thing and wasn't nearly as traumatized as I was. I think her middle school years are going to destroy me.

But from here on out, no jammies to school unless I have something in writing.

Word Play and Play Play

We have a new game at our house called Bananagrams. It's similar to Scrabble in some ways, but you have the ability to continually rearrange your words. It's very fun and Cecilia and Dadam are regular players (and inevitably there is a "Mom! Can you come help me?!" so I get to play a lot, too).

But sometimes, because she's only 8, Cici has to check to see if she's spelling actual words, and sometimes the results are pretty hilarious. For example, yesterday I overheard her ask Adam if "tit" was a word. I chuckled listening to him explain what slang is, and Cecilia laughed at herself when she learned she was asking about a naughty word. Then, only moments later, she asked about another word that - frankly - is too vulgar for our gentle, regular blog readers (Hi, Linda!). In this instance he simply told her that, no, that was not a word and that was that. Yikes.

Ruby used a word the other day that I've been meaning to jot down here, and that word is "mastitious." Given the context I knew she was combining two words, mysterious and suspicious, but I think Ruby's word says it all. Also, totally adorable.


Finally, yesterday was Cici's last basketball game of the season and it was a NAIL-BITER! It actually game down the buzzer and the game ended in a tie. We are a little sorry to see the season end because she loved it so much and we had so much fun watching her, but we're already planning to put up a hoop on the garage once the warmer weather arrives for good.