Not-So-Loveable, Furry Old Grover

I've always loved Grover. There was no Elmo when I hung out on Sesame Street, and I still have a soft spot for the not-strong-but-wirey one. One of the first books I bought for Moolah was "The Monster at the End of this Book". It's one of my favorites, and still makes me laugh. I imagined the squeals and giggles at Grover's silliness every time I read it to my kids.

If you are not familiar with it, go here and read it right now before you go any further in this story.

I've read it to Moolah many times, but not recently. Two nights ago she picked it as her bedtime story. I read the first page. She did not want to turn the page. I assured her it would be OK. We turned a page and read it. She did not want to turn the next page. She was very sure that Grover was right. No more pages. Done. Now.

I was stuck. She was already scared and I had to get her through the book to get her unscared. We got Daddy. He cuddled her and told her it would be OK.

We got to the last page. That did not make it better. "But, Grover is the monster at the end of the book. He's a nice monster."

I went (quickly) through the whole book again, showing her the set-up. "See, Grover is afraid of the monster but the monster is him."

No dice.

"Grover is good friends with Elmo."

Nope.

"I don't want to sleep with that book." (For anyone who hasn't done bedtime with Moolah, she always sleeps with her bedtime book).

Daddy and I promised that we would take the monster away. We read her another very happy book. At the end she said "I want to sleep with this book, not the monster book." Happy thoughts included that "the monster book was gone."

I'm sad. I'll miss loveable, furry old Grover. I'm sure I'll be able to get him out again someday. But I'm sad that my girl didn't squeal and laugh.

Christmas

Moolah and her misfit doll, who has been given an appropriately misfit name: "Rudolph". Daddy and I suggested Red, Ruby, Rudy, Clarice and Sue as more feminine alternatives. Moolah is having none of it.

Moolah also got a tinkerbell sleeping bag. Ace wasn't as photogenic with his gifts. Santa brought him hotwheels, which he has driven all over the house. Sometimes the cars get to ride a school bus or a stroller.

"You put this tree way too high for me to reach. What did you expect me to do?"

Christmases past & present. The gingerbread recipe came from Oosje last year. The Bundt pan came from Gigi a couple of Christmases before that. It looked almost (but not quite) too pretty to eat. But, we learned that it is better cooked in boring flat square pans because the outer chewy parts are the best bits.

December in the Rainy (?) State

The Numbers

18 -- Inches of snow
10 (appx) -- Number of sled runs Moolah made
9 -- Days since the USPS has visited Strider's House
4 -- Number of hours it took Daddy to ride the bus to work
3 -- Most baths taken by Strider's Kids in a Day (it was something to do)
2 -- Number of Christmas presents in the house prior to 12/24
2 -- Number of days Ace has been to Daytime Family since 12/9
(Censored) -- Amount of money Strider's Family spent during a "family outing" to the grocery store once we were finally able to get out of the house

The Pictures

Birthday Story

The Rainy City is under siege from "The Arctic Blast". Last Sunday's 2 mile jaunt to Santa Bruch was the last time the kids & I left the house for several days. Daddy made it into work on Tuesday for a little while. The 6 - 10 inches that were supposed to fall on Wednesday really just amounted to 2 - 3 inches. By Thursday, we were able to get the kids to daycare and both parents to work. The forecast was for clear skies through Saturday afternoon, then more snow Sunday and Monday.

Moolah had asked for a party at her house "like Zoey had", but Strider's Drive was better suited to sledding than driving, so on Thursday I managed to book a music school for a party Saturday afternoon. By Friday morning, even Princess Leah, who walked to school through Alaska snow, was recommending a reschedule. So, we told Moolah she'd get a family party on her real birthday and a friends party in a few days. We filled and hung the pinata, and hung streamers for birthday week.

Friday at lunch, toddler conversation led from snow to cars to trains to boats, and to the idea that there are boats that are restaurants and even hotels. I had an idea. I checked and learned that Saturday morning the local dinner cruise company was doing a kids Cinnamon Bear Cruise. Cinnamon Bear was a holiday radio show from the 1930s that is still played in some areas every weeknight between Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is now a Cinnamon Bear book, and in the Rainy City, all of the major characters come cruise for Christmas. In 2 hours, kids get story time with Queen Melissa, pictures with Cinnamon Bear, a magic show, and a couple of sing-alongs. Plus hot chocolate, cookies and other treats. The entire staff is dressed as jesters or fairies, and everyone is in the spirit the whole time. We tipped off the staff and they got Queen Melissa to acknowledge Moolah from her throne and lead the entire cruise in singing happy birthday. It was really great.

From there we swung by Saint Cupcake, which is all about the frosting. She'll get strawberry ice cream cake for her party, as requested.

When we got home, she got to open her "big present". Lil had given her a dollhouse a few months ago, which is a favorite, and she had recently told us that she wanted "a dollhouse that is mine, not Lil's". Mama is very particular about dollhouses (stairs and doorways required. Dolls don't fly.), but couldn't get out of the house. Daddy went to the local specialty toy store and called me at home, so I could confirm his choices by looking online. He did very well. Both Moolah and Ace are enjoying it. And, Moolah doesn't like to use the stairs. "They can just jump," she says.

We ended the day with Mac & Cheese and cupcakes. Moolah smiled all day and reminded us regularly that she "is four now." Since then, she asks just as regularly "am I five yet?"

Special Birthday Update (Guest Blog by Daddy)

Moolah's birthday party had to be canceled due to inclimate weather (by Portland standards). Although, in the end, she had a fine fine birthday...

AND, she got her very own doll house. Here are the photos...

Snowy Sunday

List for Santa: Done

Last year Moolah was "too scary" to talk to Santa. Ace made good friends and played with his beard.

Today we went to our local Mom's Club Santa Brunch at the high school. Moolah was very excited that this would be her school "when I am 14 years old!" Moolah happily sat on Santa's lap. Ace unhappily sat there (professional photo will follow next week sometime). Moolah happily announced her list:

1. A doll like the one on Rudolph
   
2. A play house like the one at the party (that we had gone to on Saturday).

The play house was not a problem. It was made by a fellow Mamapreneur here in Rainy City and will be delivered to my office this week.

The doll was more of a challenge. Where to find a misfit ragdoll based on a cartoon from 1964?

I narrowed down specifics. "What do you like about that dolly?" "She has beautiful hair and a beautiful dress." I figured a redheaded doll with a red checkered dress would fit the bill. However, it was not to be found online (and I was not about to start hauling myself store-to-store looking for one). There was an "official" one that is now a collectors item available on eBay, but it really wasn't that great.

Panic almost set in, but I turned to one of my favorite sites: etsy.com. I found a woman in Arkadelphia, Arkansas who uses the nom de plume "Ophilia McPhee". Ophilia's (actually Jen's) site required Christmas orders by December 12. I found it on December 13. I contacted her with my desperate need. She said she'd try to get her done by mid-week and express ship her to me. She also said she'd share photos as she went.

I just checked my messages to see if I had an update. "Ophelia" said she worked on her all day and she sent me final photos at almost 2 am her time. I am so excited to get her!

Oh, and if you have/know kids and are looking for a great gift, check out her felt food. It is truly awesome!

Future Blackmail Photos: Moolah

These days, Moolah only wears "twirly" skirts or dresses. I finally reorganized her drawers so she could reach all of her dresses (pants, which are never OK, have been moved out-of-reach). She can also reach her shirts, tights, leggings and shoes. This leads to some very fine fashion.

And a few weeks ago at the park. (The kitty has become a park regular).

Future Blackmail Photos: Ace

The boy loves my shiny red shoes. He's worn them more than I have.

You've got to admit, he has the legs for them...

Oosje & Moolah: Memories to Cherish

Reading Tessy & Tab:



I don't know what happened here. I know that Oosje was in charge of supervising the bath, and that she ended up in the tub with Moolah with all of her clothes on, accompanied by much giggling. The rest I'll need some help with...

More Thanksgiving Photos

I finally downloaded a bunch of pics from my camera. Here are some good ones of Ace attempting to eat pie with a beater...

Holiday Decorations

In the Snowy State, Oosje and Bampa would take us hiking onto federal land to cut down our own Christmas Tree. Oosje was very picky. There was a year that I got a small tree for my own room except it had snowed so much that I cut the top of a large tree thinking it was a small tree. Oosje can still see it when she drives by. I think that was also the year all the cousins came and Drama ended up with hives. There was also a year that Oosje and Bampa accidentally cut down a highly illegal tree that should have been in the White House... and many more years.

In the Sunny State, Daddy mostly acquired his tree from storage, where the simulated (and allergy-friendly) Christmas tree was waiting for them.

In the Rainy State, Daddy and I have often gotten our tree from a lot, usually some Boy Scouts. However, we now live in the Christmas Tree Capitol of the Nation and I insist that we at least cut a tree from a local farm, preferably a small independently-owned one.

This year was a challenge. Ace is a fully functional battle soldier, without the ability to respond to orders. So, we looked far and wide for a tree that was not too tall, full at the top for plenty of ornaments, but sparse at the bottom in "boy reach". Alas, such a tree was not to be found. We realized that this year we needed a small tree on a table, with only a few prized ornaments. Moolah found one, Daddy cut it down, and we decorated it mostly with ornaments from the "Moolah" box, plus the traditional Opus topper and a few others. A couple of soft/safe/non-breakables went at the bottom. Moolah says "we should have a small tree every year."




I looked at our mantle and decided it needed a new treatment this year, partially to display some of the treasures from Moolah, and partially to display a few important things that didnt' fit on the tree. I wrapped empty boxes, bought candles, and was pleased with the results. Moolah asks every day if we can open the presents on the fireplace yet.






The final touch was the flying Angels, a tradition from my past given to Moolah for her last birthday by Oosje & Bampa. She has decided that they are not "angels" but "family" of "Mama, Daddy, Moolah, Ace and Strider".