Today was a great day with the kids. Just a typical Monday in January. A school holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. (Man am I rusty at writing - a writer writes, right?) My plan was to take it easy in the morning, find somewhere to go out to lunch, followed by ice skating for an hour in Potsdam and wind up the day with dance class for Jordan. I thought I would figure something out for dinner - somewhere along the way. I pulled a chuck roast out of the freezer and figured I could stick it in the crock pot sprinkled with Lipton Soup Mix.
Well things started to go a stray when Jordan came down with a case of the throw-ups late Sunday afternoon. It has been going around, Jake had it last week. I wasn't surprise, just disappointed it had to happen then - as if there is really ever a good time. She had a few rough hours, followed by intermittent sleep, until I finally talked her into slipping into her own bed at about 3am. We both must have slept hard, because we both woke up between 7a-8a, feeling fairly normal. Without the pressures of a manic Monday, we both worked on coming to with coffee and water (she wanted her apple juice but I denied her until I was sure she was really better). I talked her into taking it slow with a few rice crispies. Stephen fed Jake his morning cereal, and bagel. He wanted another bagel, and when I indicated he could have another if he got it himself. He helped himself to bag of bagels, and when two halves popped up he offered me one. He said, "I put two (halves) in in case you wanted one mom." I accepted gratefully, and wolfed it down.
Shortly after Stephen left for work, I remembered the inauguration was to happen today. Having no idea when it happen, I flicked on the TV to the AM news station. This is VERY atypical in this house. Like never. My kids actually have rarely seen network television - maybe the Macy's day parade, that's about it - ever. I made the exception to the rule for this time because I thought it would be a neat opportunity to follow up on a dialogue the three of us have been having since the Fall's election season. On our way home from church many Sundays, the news would be covering the latest in election news which would spur questions and discussion among the three of us. There had been some re-enforcement in school - Jake's class did a mock election and he 'voted' for Obama.
We let the TV run with its imagery of the Mall, the Whitehouse, and other symbolics in DC. We talked about the Capital, the President, the Vice President, the Presidents Wife, his daughters and whole lot more. There were times they were captivated, other times were ambivalent as we played battleship, and Jordan wrote cards. I encouraged their attention back to the programming at certain times, other times I let them play. Watching the ceremonies with the kids gave me a great sense of patriotism that I haven't felt in a long time. I hoped they gained even just a small part of a vision of our country, its history, its future and their role in it.
We facetime'd Aunt Julie & Fiona - she is a cutee! We also Facetimed Grandma Alice.
We made a mobile for baby Fiona. We also ate Oatmeal and Blueberries somewhere around mid morning. Jordan proudly pointed out later that both of those were her ideas, and good ones at that. We kept working through the list of things we all had made for ourselves. Jake played with his trains, Jordan & I finished the mobile. Jake & I took a few minutes to learn his new camera from christmas. I still didn't get the flash working. That'll have to be next time.
Somewhere in their I found a great recipe for slow cooker chuck roast, caste iron skillet biscuits & bar chocolate chips cookies. I nearly finished up the laundry by the time I tucked them into bed. We also spent 30 minutes outside (no longer because it was 10 degrees out), and bought girl scout cookies from the MacWilliams.
Busy, busy day - and filled with none of the things I had anticipated. We collectively blew off dance class under the auspicious of Jordan being 'sick'. In actuality, I rather think that none of us really wanted the hustle bussel of going anywhere today. She was ok to stay home and do her nails (another thing on her list).
Very grateful for the time we were given together today. As I pulled Jacob up to the top of the driveway on the tabbagon we got for xmas this year, it felt like I was stepping back in time to the days when I pulled him up there as a two year old. Time slips by so quickly. I heard a news story this week about how our memory warps over time and as we recall memories they change over time. I guess it is that along with all the sorrowful feelings of the time with the kids slipping away far to fast that is motivating me to make these posts once again. It is scary how difficult it is to commit words to the screen, but I'd rather believe that it is a healthy way of dealing with the inputs from today, and to hold on to them for the future. I hope that I can look back on this post, some day, without regret and sorrow. Rather absorb the words and the description of the great day we spent together when Jordan was 5, Jacob was 7 and I was thirtysomething (:)). Trying to keep a snapshot in my mind of this wonderful day for enjoyment in the years to come.
LJP
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