Chimera

So today was Pip's kindergarten screening.  It's sold as a no-pressure deal, parents get to meet the school principal, nurse, PTO folks, and some teachers, the kids get to check out the school and some potential peers -- all the while your kid is being assessed for any major strengths/weaknesses to help them assign classes.  I wasn't too worried and I was excited to check out the school and take one more step closer to the big K.

We were not given many details except that the kids would go to a classroom to be assessed and parents would stay behind for a group chat.  I told Pip this and he only got more and more nervous as we walked in.  We sat in the library watching all the other kids come and join.  Pip was wide-eyed and hugging me closely.  Once everyone was there the principal asked the kids to come to the center of the circle and then the teacher led them out.  All the kids slowly did as asked.  Except one:  Pip did not budge. Unless you count hugging me with a pincer grip budging. 

As the kids walked out I tried to presuade him to go but it was not happening.  The principal gave me the ok to walk him over.  As we went, last in line, a teacher tried to console him and get him out of his shell a bit.  I kept thinking ... this is my wildly social kid we are talking about here!!!  Ugh.  There's no point trying to explain to the teacher how "out of character" this is when you are in the midst of it.  So I hobbled along with him clinging to my leg into the room. 

All the kids were playing ... blocks, drawing, paydough, etc... Did Pip want to join?  NO!  I realized that I was going to have to pull the bandaid quickly ... there's no other way for this.  So with the teacher support I counted to three, she grabbed one end of him and I ran for the door. 

45 minutes later our talk was done and the teacher returned to the room, assuring all the parents their kids did fine.  I got a special "and even your sone was fine" comment to calm my fears.  Inside I'm like ... ARE YOU KIDDING ME!  I know he's fine.  I just want everyone else to realize this too, I keep thinking!

Anyway, the one thing I was told each kid would have to to would be to draw a picture of themselves.  I assume to assess fine motor skills and whether they understand the concept of self maybe?  So as we left, I wasked Pip if he was asked to draw anything?  Yep.  What did you draw?  Pip replies, very proudly and all excited "I drew a TIGER with a goat on top with a SNAKE tail!!!" 

????  WHAT ????

Me ... did you draw a picture of a person first?  Pip:  No.

Me ... are you sure??  Pip:  I just drew a TIGER with a goat on top with a SNAKE tail!!!

Uh-oh.  I think Pip may end up taking a special needs slot after all.

Fast forward 4 hours.  Dinner time.  I'm relaying the story to Phil and he's like:  COOL!  Pip, you drew the Chimera!  That's awesome. 

Um, what's a Chimera?  Apparently two headed beat with a lion'd body, a lion and goat double-head and a snake tail.  I didn't know this and I am fairly certain the psychologist assessing him didn't either.  Should be an interesting ride!

Easter Dinner

Katie and Jon hosted a scrumptous Easter dinner at their place.  It was amazing and I felt relaxed and at ease the whole time.  This is saying a lot as I rare feel that way even on good days!!!  It was just nice to have a glass of wine and know that no matter what happened we were together and it was going to be a nice time. 

The kids had a blast (of course).  Here are some pics:

Scavenger Hunt

When I was little my mom would hide our Easter baskets and leave riddle notes for us to find them.  We'd have to figure out several clues, each leading to another clue until we eventually got to the basket.  I loved it.  So I suggested we do the same for Pip and Viv and Phil took it to another level.  Since they can't read he drew pictures of where the next clue would be.  Vivie really didn't catch on to what was going on, but Pip did.  He was frequently stumped but eventually found the baskets.  Here are several videos of the action Easter morning:

http://youtu.be/apzLaXF9PUo

http://youtu.be/D5LTLgjveSA

http://youtu.be/Vy7fvjIchyo

http://youtu.be/ucZwnxj2hDU

http://youtu.be/2n8ANo7E1F0

Eyes wide open

Megan is getting more alert each day.  The upside is I get some quality time "talking' with her.  There is more crying as well, but that's mostly in the evenings.  Here are some happy moments:

Easter Hunt!

This friday our town held its annual Easter Egg hunt at the park.  Pip and Vivie were very excited!  I wasn't sure what to expect but figured it would be fun to find out.  There were 3 hunts for 3 separate age groups.  For each group they lined the kids up in a corral and then threw TONS of little egg chocolates in foils all over the place and let them loose.  Vivie went first:

Pip was by her side giving moral support but very respectfully did not pick up a single chocolate for himself. (In his Pirates hat of course!)

Check out the loot!

While we were getting ready for Pip's bracket the actual Easter Bunny showed up!  Pip and Viv were excited but no so much as they'd want to hug or touch him.  These things are best appreciated at arms length.

 Here is Pip lined up in the corral.



And one the hunt began.  For the most part it was a jovial and happy event.  But note the woman in the middle of it.  She was shoveling (and I mean SHOVELING) candy into her kids basket as if this would be the only candy he'd have ever in his life.  I found it a bit depressing but repressed the urge to say anything.

Here were are afterwards, braving the imprinted dirt and getting a taste.

I had a friend there as well and got her to take a pic ... much better than the timer!

Futile

Being at home for maternity leave, days are just passing me by.  I am actually enjoying this more than I expected.  Not that it's easy, but I find Pip and Vivie and I have formed a tighter bond and I love being with Megan.  The first few weeks were hard as Pip and Viv had to learn the hard way that whining would not longer be tolerated.  Lots of time outs.  Lots.  And thankfully the response has been noticeable and we aren't fighting each other nearly as much.  (I did have to have Phil install locks on certain doors, though, to prevent escape while at home).  If you want to think I am imprisoning my kids, perhaps.  But I have to do what I have to do.  (I asked Pip to clean up his Lego's one day while I was feeding Megan and Vivie was napping and instead he sulked for 5 minutes and disappeared.  Then I heard the garage door opening.  I had to rip Meg off and run outside to find him half into the neighbors yard and looking VERY guilty.  Locks became mandatory.)

Anywho, back to only reporting happy stuff, I haven't had much time for pictures.  Not only of the kids, but of me as well.  So I tried to use the timer.  This NEVER works!  Check out my awful attempts!

Snuggle Bunny

Megan has been fighting many nasty swells of baby acne which make me so sad since I am convinced it must hurt a bit.  Every time it seems to be clearing it comes back with a vengence.

So I haven't been taking many pictures of her but I couldn't resist some of her snuggling up for a nap.

Pirates

Check out Pip in his Pirates Tball uniform!

He got to pick his number first ...  what number do you think he picked??

Meanwhile, fairy Viv is unimpressed and amusing herself with Homestar Runner instead.

Key-Waa-Laa!!

Pip and Vivie have invented a little game called "Koala!" but pronounced "Kee-WAA-laa!!".  It involveds grabbing only Daddy's legs and holding tight, forcing him to drag them where ever he wants to go.  I do not like this game.  Thus it only works when you grab Daddy's leg.  Here it is in action:

http://youtu.be/n91DC0EewF0

Don't kill my husband!

Pip and Vivie demonstrating that they think their Daddy in indestructable!

http://youtu.be/WQ3QmuUGXiY

Coach Z

Check out Pip and Viv's Coach Z impressions. 

http://youtu.be/G9cH0clz1-M

http://youtu.be/1jR11_yJnsQ

Blocks rediscovered

Pip and Vivie finally gave up trying to make me entertain them CONSTANTLY and found the wooden blocks.  I've been wondering when (if ever) they would realize they actually have toys they can play with.  They seem to forget after the 15 minutes of newness wears off.  Today they found the joy again in these oldies, but goodies.

Megan

She's a love.  A total cuddle pie sweet pea.  I love to hold her.  I love to run my chin over her super-soft hair/fuzz.  I am not sure why in the world I found this all so overhwelming the first time around.  If I've learned one thing from having Megan it's that I should have savored those moments with Pip when I had him all to myself instead of being so stressed out all the time.  Here's some pics of my newest love.

Tee Ball

I realized just in the nick of time that Pip missed signing up for Tee Ball.  I called the local rec department and while we did miss the deadline, they were able to add us to a team and we didn't actually miss the first practice.  I ran down to town hall to sign up and then to the store to get Pip his first glove.  That very night was his first practice. 

I was half embarassed and half proud of my little man.  He was shy and reserved, afraid to leave me and Phil to join the team.  I had to send Phil and Vivie away to get him to let go of Phil's leg.  He still refused to catch with the other kids so put Megan in the sling and grabbed a ball and began to throw with him.  Coach Jay saw me trying to integrate him and threw a couple of balls Pip's way, as if by accident, and asked Pip to throw them back to him.  In no time he transitioned from throwing with me to throwing with Coach Jay.  I quiertly stepped back and soon he was in the group. 

I have to say, Coach Jay is covered in tatoos and sports the full thick Boston accent, but he is clearly in tune with the kids and put in extra effort to get Pip out of his shell.  I was very appreciative.  He picked Pip to bat early and gave him LOTS more time there than was his due.  Here's his first batting practice!

http://youtu.be/z1bNhdQv66U
http://youtu.be/E0AKHYwtazE
Maybe he did too good of a job because Pip went from refusing to participate to being one of three major ball hogs on the team.  None of the kids seems to understand what to do in the outfield.  So when balls come out there they pig pile all over each other to get them ... clearly not understanding any concept of position or T-E-A-M.  Coach Kenny has his work cut out for him.  Pip was covered in mud and probably seriously bruised by the time it was over from running, sliding, and banging into his teammates every time a ball came anywhere near them.  This one is hard to see, but if you keep your eye on Pip you can see him sliding into his teammates and eventually coming up with the ball.

http://youtu.be/R95ey8kG7Es