Category Archives: Family Matters

Call Me By My Real Name

Today was the annual field trip to the pumpkin patch with Kulia’s preschool.  This is our third time through but the first time we have gone without Leina.  On the way over, Kulia and I were talking about meeting up with her little school friends.  I was very excited to finally meet these kids she talks so much about.  Kulia, however, was a bit concerned about my behavior.

“Now mommy,” she began,  “when we get there, call me by my real name.”

“What?” I replied. ” Real name?  What do you mean?”

“You know!  My real names.  Nothing silly.”

“Oh, ok.  Can I call you Peanut?”

“No.”

“Bitty?”

“No.”

“Ku-wee-wee?”

No.

“How about Honey?”

“No, mommy, only my REAL names!  Only use one of my three real names!”

“Ok, all right, I won’t call you any silly names.  Can I call you Kulia?”

“Yes, you can call me Kulia McLaughlin Baby.”

“Whaa? Wait, what are your names?”

“KULIA…MCLAUGHLIN….BABY!”

“OK, so I can call you Baby?  That’s ok?”

“Yes!  It’s my real name you know!”

So there you have it.  Her three real names.  And no silly ones please!

Strangely Efficient

I’ve been hit by a “doing” bug lately.  I want to get stuff done.  Finish projects, get organized, and tackle the untidy heaps around my house.  Odd, huh?  Usually when this bug hits me, I get all excited and started and am then struck down by a horrible cold during which time all my hard work falls apart.  As I lay on the sofa, watching my house decent into chaos, I vow never again to try and take control.  Obviously, I have forgotten this vow because I’m feeling invincible!  (Probably should not be saying this with H1N1 circulating but I’m a bit of a dare devil at heart you know.)

So, I finished painting that last few bare spots my beautiful butter yellow.  I weeded down my magazine pile that accumulated while I was in Hawaii.  I actually cleaned the bathroom even though I do not have a guest coming over.  I know!  That’s how invincible I am feeling.   I’m still running around like crazy during the week trying to get this whole school schedule sorted out but I’m kind of starting to enjoy it.  I’m a notorious home-body and I forget that it’s nice to get out of the house too.  This week looks like gorgeous fall weather and I’m getting revved up for the big fall cleanup of our yard.  I know Kevin must be dreading it but I love pruning roses, raking leaves, and packing away the squirt guns.  I do love me some tidiness.

To add to my general super power feeling, I have officially finished my very first Christmas present.  Yes, that’s right.  One down, too many to count left to go!  It feels so good to start the Christmas pile in the present closet.  I’m tempted to mail it right now but I figure that may be a bit rash.

Cleaning, organizing, producing, happy….. oh yeah, I’m so getting the flu this week.  Ah well, until then, I will continue this reign of efficiency!  Onward!  Hooray!

My Favorite Thing

October has become my favorite month since moving to Oregon.  In San Diego, October was sort of a wash.  It just sort of slipped by unnoticed.  Palm trees do not turn colors in the fall and rain does not fall from the sky.  October was unmemorable.  But here, in Oregon, October is one hot mamma.  Every sense is caressed.  Your skin feels the nip in the air, your ears hear the cries of migrating geese, your eyes are blinded by the color of the leaves against a cool blue sky and the food!  Time for fresh hot bread, thick dense soups, casseroles and decadent desserts.  The much maligned rainy season of Portland doesn’t kick in until November so I love running outside every chance I get bundled up in wool coats, mittens and scarves.   Crisp, fresh, beautiful.  And, of course, October ends in a bang with Halloween which is one night where everyone gets to be a kid.

To welcome October properly, I took the girls on a hunt to find their Halloween costumes.   Gone are the days of Disney princesses and fairy wings.   Leina wanted a real Halloween costume this year.  She wanted to be a girl vampire with a long purple dress, black cape, sharp teeth and blood dripping from her mouth.  She made a list, in true Leina fashion, of each item and even colored a picture for those of us who can’t read yet.  (I hope she didn’t mean me!)

Kulia?  She wanted to be a fairy but Leina soon talked her out of that costume.  Leina insisted that a girl vampire had to have a black cat.  Ergo, Kulia would be a black cat.  After a few tears and earnest negotiations, Kulia was talked around to Leina’s scheme and soon embraced her role as vampire kitty.  Satisfactory costumes were found and worn all day long.  So as I puttered around the house, I was followed by a very bloody vampire girl and hissingly cute black cat.   I’m thinking even after Halloween, these costumes will be favorites in our dress up box.  They would not submit to a photo but I have 31 days to wear them down.  I’m pretty confident I will capture them on film eventually.

So I’d like to give a big warm Hello! to October.  So glad you are finally here.  Now, I’m off to don a nice warm coat and enjoy!

Routine Needed

I am still struggling with our new morning routine.  I am so not a morning person.  I like to start slow and gradually build speed.  Over the summer, we’d get out of the house around 10am.  Now, we have to be moving by 7:30.  Talk about a shock to the system.  Luckily, Leina is a total early bird so she pops out of bed at 6am and hits the ground running.  Most mornings, Kevin and I are the ones dragging and it’s Leina urging us to get going.  What a reversal of  roles!

Aside from the early start, the girls both adore school.  Good teachers, good friends and lots of recess time.  I thought I would have more free time on my hands but apparently, this is not to be.  Instead, our calendar is suddenly packed with school activities and finding a quiet moment is harder than ever.  I guess I’m in the big leagues now.

Kat and I have begun our annual Christmas Craft season and it feels so good to get my hands busy again.  I have several different project scattered throughout the house.  I love picking something up and working on it for a few minutes or so.  It feel like such a luxury to curl up on the sofa and stitch for a few minutes.  Just heavenly.  However, as these are mostly Christmas presents, I will be unable to post pictures for a while.  I suppose I will just have to amuse you with my witty banter instead.  So sorry.  Please bare with me!

Day One

After six years of waiting, it’s finally here.  Leina’s first day of Kindergarten!   We are extra lucky because a new school just opened up this year right down from our house so Leina gets a brand new school to start her student career in and it is gorgeous.  New floors, new bathrooms, that special “new” smell throughout.  Ahhhhh.  It was a bit crazy at drop of with swarms of families and cameras everywhere but Leina took it all in stride.  Maybe it’s because she’s already six but she wasn’t fazed in the least.  No tears, no fears, no first day worries.   Just her usual quick kiss and then “shoo-shoo mom”.   I’m so glad we decided to hold her back and make her the oldest instead of the youngest.  I have no doubt she will breeze through this year with flying colors.   She is more than ready to tackle everything Kindergarten has to offer.

Bring It On!

Bring It On!

Due North

My kids are officially oriented. Both children have learned where to put their backpacks, how to find the girls’ room, and the quickest way to the playground. Up next, their first official day alone in class. If orientation is any indication, they will both breeze into their new role as Student without a backward glance. I find myself not crying over lost babies but trying to figure out how much “me” time I can squeeze into a measly 6 hours a week. If only Oregon did full day kindergarten. Sigh.

For now, I’m just trying to remember to take a picture of each kid before they head out the door for their first day of school. Ah, the burden of being a mom!