Meredith Jubilee and Madeline Jane

Back to Work

2012-01-10T08:05:00.003-06:00

Hopefully I'll hop on here soon and fill the place up with some Christmas pictures.

In the meantime, here's a great pic that Ginger took of Meredith playing a game with Maddox at the new Chess Club that Ginger helped start at Peabody.

Quotables

2011-12-19T19:47:00.002-06:00

Meredith, upon arriving at our East Memphis destination, and after asking "how much longer?" approximately 67 times: "Mom. Is this South America?"

Madeline, after I said, "Let's go kiddos": "WE'RE NOT KIDDOS. WE'RE LAREAUS."

Saturday with the Spickler Boys

2011-12-18T16:39:00.003-06:00

Speed racers. Approximately 200 laps of the kitchen/living/hall/guest bedroom were made.

Sharing a snack of crackers cheese. As we say.

Advent: Expectation, Anticipation, Preparation

2011-12-12T05:52:00.003-06:00

This year, we celebrated Thanksgiving at home. Because of that, we were able to start Christmas earlier than ever. Our Christmas tree came home from Easy Way on November 27. Pandora was set to the the "Frank Sinatra Holiday" station, and good times were had. It should be noted that Madeline pretty much potty trained herself over Thanksgiving, and her method of potty training involves wearing only a pull-up when at home.

Concentrating.

Just right.

You've got an ornament on your face, Meredith.

We even made it to the Peabody this year--our first time to see the tons (almost literally?) of gingerbread and the wall of a Christmas tree. It's been a beautiful Advent season, and we're grateful to God for the way he's blessed us with time and space and peace to enjoy it all this year.

Doesn't Take Naps Anymore

2011-12-11T15:26:00.001-06:00

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Mommy, Daddy, and Mer at Nut Remix

2011-12-09T19:05:00.002-06:00

Chris was just about to smile...And mommy was just about to get in trouble for using her cell phone...

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What Happened in November

2011-12-01T21:48:00.008-06:00

WARNING: If you aren't ready for some SERIOUS Lareau blogging, then click away now. This may be my longest post ever.

It's been a long time since we really documented anything, and there's lots of growing going on here. I'd better get busy. November was crazy because Meredith got sick for 10 days, we all helped do a big fundraiser at Mer's school, and then I got sick for 7 days. Oy vey. So here are some pictures to trigger my memory. Because despite nagging fevers, it really was a great month.

We'll cheat a little. Cause it's not just November we missed. Here's Mer dressed up as a "Regular" Fairy (this will make sense in a minute) and Madi dressed up as a tiny dancer.

And here's Mer dressed up as Superhero Tooth Fairy for a Halloween party. (She's over there on the right, looking more princess bride-y than anything, but she never hesitated to describe herself as Superhero Tooth Fairy). I don't think I need to mention that this was her idea. Lesson learned (not that it's not perfectly okay to be the Superhero Tooth Fairy): don't allow children to nap until it's time for a Halloween party. They will absolutely wake up with insane costume requests, and you will not be able to rise to the occasion. This is experience from 2 years and 4 Halloween parties, so take notes, folks.

Kayle and Rick came for Thanksgiving. It was so wonderful to have them here. Kayle and Mer made the pumpkin pie, which started out as "aw, this will give them bonding time," and then I went to bed with a fever. It ended up as "girls, yall better make the pumpkin pie, or there won't be any dessert." They rose to the challenge and it was perfect.

The girls had lots of good play time outside because...

we smoked the turkey. Credit where it's due: Chris smoked the turkey. And he did an amazing job. It was INCREDIBLE.

However, it started out purple. You don't see this in the food magazines, folks. This is what cranberry brine does to the turkey. But it was all good. Trust me.

See? Oh yeah, babe.

We're thankful for aunts and cousins, cause otherwise, Meredith would soooo rarely have her hair dreams come true.

So Mer's hair looked amazing, and so did the table. All thanks to Kayle. Thank you God for our family!

You know what? I'm stopping there. I'm not sure yall can handle all this. I'll be back with more, soon.

Astute

2011-11-24T14:17:00.001-06:00

Madi is suddenly becoming wise.

She came to snuggle with me after her nap.

Me: I love you, Madeline. You're a good girl and a kind girl and a smart girl.
Her: hmmm. Except sometimes I'm not.

True. True.

She then promptly spilled a full glass of water and wanted me to photograph the two squares of toilet paper she brought to clean it up.

Nothin' but awesome. Truly.

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Princesses Cheer for Tigers

2011-11-06T15:13:00.002-06:00

The girls played together all day. As I worked in the kitchen, they passed me and went upstairs. They were relatively quiet up there, which is surprising given that they were preparing something that was the opposite of quiet. In about ten minutes they came down, and it was immediately apparent that whatever was coming should be filmed.

The original "cheer," followed by the whispered counting and the follow up cheer is how this was performed each time they presented it. Which means it was a plan. Which cracks me up.

Another Video That's Actually Not Interesting but Will Be Sweet To Me in Ten Years

2011-11-04T12:22:00.001-05:00

Husband, Dad, Arsenal Fan

2011-11-01T12:34:00.002-05:00

Most of you know that my husband, weirdly enough, started an Arsenal fan club here in Memphis. The group--the Memphis Gooners--are recognized by the official Arsenal web page, and listed there so that poor wandering Arsenal fans can find their ilk when in Memphis.

Check out the page to see some of his endearingly-serious-about-this writing as well as a couple pics of the Lareau bambinas.

http://www.arsenal.com/usa/fanzone-usa/usa-supporters-club/memphis-tn

Computer Lesson

2011-10-27T15:03:00.001-05:00

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A Room Full of Girls, Just Waiting for a Boy

2011-10-21T06:21:00.003-05:00

We're having donuts and Tom and Jerry this morning with the King girls. The King parents are off to the hospital, and we're all eagerly anticipating Baby Edgar's arrival. It's like Christmas in October!

Madeline at (a little more than) Two and a Half

2011-10-16T07:42:00.009-05:00

Madi 2.5:

Perhaps not as nutty as we once thought.
When determined to be nutty (some might say defiant/disobedient) she is incredibly strong willed.
This, however, is coupled with a complete aversion to punishment. 99% of the time she cries tragically at even a fake spanking (You know the sort -- where you only make contact with the diaper and she probably didn't actually feel anything).
She's still funny. She has an ear for funny phrases and noises and repeats them at funny times.
I can't tell yet if she's shy or not, but she's definitely happiest in groups if she's being held. She's super affectionate--patting and scratching our backs all the time. But make no mistake--she clings. (Which I've just decided to enjoy.)
So, she can be clingy in a group, but at home, she plays more independently than Mer usually did/does. She doesn't mind being on her own. She "re-boots" best by sitting on our bed with a stack of books.
She tells people to call her Madi-Poo. We don't know where this came from. Needless to say, it's not exactly the nickname we might have chosen. If you call her something silly, like "Crazy girl," she'll correct you and say, "No, I Madi-Poo." Awesome. She's correcting her teachers, too.
She's a weird eater. Won't eat if she's tired. Likes to eat the same thing over and over--3 bowls of sweet potatoes, 4 containers of yogurt. Overall, favors fat over lean. My girl.
Meredith loves it when her sister quick steps/stomps through the downstairs rooms.
Meredith loves it when Madi dances spontaneously (and there's usually not music). What's not to love?

Now We Are Six

2011-10-05T07:20:00.006-05:00

Now We Are Six

A. A. Milne

When I was one,

I had just begun.

When I was two,

I was nearly new.

When I was three,

I was hardly me.

When I was four,

I was not much more.

When I was five,

I was just alive.

But now I am six,

I'm as clever as clever.

So I think I'll be six

now and forever.

She is, you know. Clever. And all it implies. The man who gave us Winnie the Poo was a genius, as any fool knows, and he nailed the age of six. She is clever. Meaning aware. Meaning not so little anymore. And it's all going to be more complicated now.

Don't worry. She's still very much a little girl. But she is becoming more Meredith in all she does. Stronger, funnier, weirder, smarter, more frustrated, more focused...

Here's a list of Meredith attributes. Sorry that I have no choice but to filter her through the lens of Kate.

* she's a really good speller. YES!

* she can dance like you would not believe.

* she doesn't care enough about handwriting. (I am trying not to say a word. I am fully aware that handwriting matters not a whit.)

* she's still obsessed with the empty Sears distribution tower at the end of the street, and would like to raise money to help restore it. I have mentioned that people need food and water, but she feels we should address that AND the Sears building.

* she makes eye contact with me, and we laugh at things. This is awesome. Obviously.

* she tries really hard to learn things, when she's in the mood to do so. Which is, praise God, more often than not.

* she is either completely, endlessly patient with her sister, or not at all. This reminds me very much of me.

* she loves to go out to eat. Again, she is my daughter. Like me, though, she is not terribly picky. "Out" is not complicated.

* she is weirdly responsible about some things. "Mom, my map of Kenya is due in TWO weeks. When are we going to start?!"

* she adores Chris and ranges between miffed and furious when his schedule takes him away from her. And does not hesitate to lecture him.

There's so much more. And there always will be. Love you, Mer.

Birthday with community group.

Combined birthday with Lea. They are literal BFFs. Born 2 days apart and have been hanging out since they were 3 months old. Their parents, brilliantly, decided on a combined party this year.

Opening the birthday box from Marme. Hilarity ensued. There are many pics equally as good as this one, and we weren't prompting them.

Party in the sun!

Happy Birthday, Meredith!

2011-09-28T08:56:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday to the most amazing 6 year old 3-d map maker with large hot pink flowers in her hair anywhere, ever.

Madi Jams to the Dulcimer

2011-09-22T11:36:00.002-05:00

Despite being exhausted by a napless afternoon (and her own generally awful behavior), Madi was able to do a little jam dance when we came across this dulcimer player in Mountain View, AR.

Sunday Morning at the Park

2011-09-17T18:35:00.002-05:00

2011-09-11T21:11:00.003-05:00

Cousin time.

Running.

Lyndi and Hadley.

Craft time.

Cold morning on the porch.

Swingin' and readin'.

Perfect Lake Day 2011

2011-08-30T12:13:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Josh for producing a fab video while the rest of us were sleeping. Thanks to the fab Mills for being amazing hosts.

Perfect Lake Day August 2011 from Josh Spickler on Vimeo.

What Happens When You Have Girls

2011-08-19T07:35:00.002-05:00

At some point on our CO vacation, we filmed this gem. Most of you honestly won't want to watch it. But it does a pretty good job capturing what we're in for with these girls.

Apologies: We're sorry we bought Kidz Bop 19. We're sorry they're not in car seats. I would recommend those with serious car seat issues (you know who you are) not view this film. I would also apologize to Katy Perry, the songstress of the original "Firework," but I feel that's just not necessary.

2nd Year of Soccer, 1st Pair of Cleats

2011-08-16T18:53:00.002-05:00

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Madeline, Meredith, and Hadley

2011-08-13T08:10:00.002-05:00

Friday at the park!

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Aaaand We're Off! First Grade!

2011-08-11T13:30:00.002-05:00

Adam, Meredith, and Ariana outside the classroom.

Meredith signing in.

Serious face. Locker!

Finding her desk--while her dad hangs around the classroom as long as possible.

Danger Hiking

2011-08-02T17:35:00.002-05:00

Holding Cousin Evan

2011-08-02T17:02:00.002-05:00

Evening Walk

2011-07-30T23:44:00.001-05:00

We Made It

2011-07-29T21:36:00.002-05:00

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Kansas

2011-07-29T08:54:00.002-05:00

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Lunch in Tulsa

2011-07-28T14:03:00.002-05:00

So far so good on the mother of all Lareau roadtrips. The New Atlas Grill was an easy exit from the highway in downtown Tulsa. We ate fabulous food and took a few laps to stretch our legs and see some of the city's gorgeous Art Deco buildings. Now, onward and upward.

By the by, Mer thought the story of Atlas a bit silly. The lack of gravity would make his task impossible, she explained--as if the rest of it were plausible.

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Dawn on the Road

2011-07-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

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Running Free Among the Priceless Works of Art

2011-07-27T07:57:00.005-05:00

We haven't done a kids event at the Brooks since Meredith was about 2. This weekend we took Keddi and braved the Saturday morning mayhem for The Impressionist Revolution show that's there now. It couldn't have been cooler. The girls made amazing hats from butcher paper, then folded paper boats, and then did a scavenger hunt through the exhibit itself. There were details to find, animals to count, wagon tracks to analyze, and rewards for each correct answer given to a volunteer.

Let's be clear, any actual rewards should have gone to me (and mostly to the guards) for preventing Madeline from destroying any works of art. A high point was finding her climbing on a column to reach one such priceless item. And now I've been sarcastic, which Meredith hates. But if there was ever a time...

Luckily the end of the exhibit has a pretty impressive children's room. Hats for dressing up, a "cafe" for philosophical pontificating, and more.

Part two of the morning was a performance by the students at New Ballet Ensemble. They re-enacted Degas paintings that were projected behind them in a completely fluid and beautiful way. And did lots more besides. I am consistently blown away by the quality of ballet here in Memphis. I recognize that I know nothing about ballet, but it's always accessible, inspiring and relevant. And that's something.

August 13 is pottery day for kids at the Brooks. We might just have to check that out.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-07-13T08:14:00.003-05:00

Came home from working late at the coffee shop last night to find that Chris and the girls had made cupcakes and a beautiful sign and put presents on the table (thanks Mom and Dad!). It's already been a great birthday -- not least because the girls and I have each already had two cupcakes!

On the Deck

2011-07-10T12:54:00.004-05:00

It seems that most family visits end up with some of us sitting on the deck playing 20 Questions. Or some version of 20 Questions. More like 172 Questions.

Uncle Stan and Keddi were great competitors. When Mer left the deck for awhile, she checked on them to be sure they were still playing on their own. Madi was mostly content to share a chair with her sister.

Evergreen Neighborhood Parade

2011-07-03T15:57:00.001-05:00

Dear heaven it was hot. Festive, but hot. Thank you Trinity United for cold lemonade.

Summertime Sisters

2011-07-01T17:12:00.006-05:00

Watermelon on the front porch. On the way to the pool, so sticky is OKAY.

Fixing each others hair.

Meredith raking mulch. Meredith wearing knee socks in July.

Sweet girls.

Interview with Madi

2011-06-26T14:19:00.001-05:00

This one just falls into the category of "my baby is growing up, and I'd better record something before that happens."

Helping Out

2011-06-25T19:14:00.002-05:00

Our church does three "Weekenders" per year. Fellowship, study, and service. The service for this one was cleaning up the Peabody Elementary playground, which was pretty easy for the kids to get excited about, since it's theirs and all. Meredith and Adam helped move stepping stones so we could freshen up the wood chip path.

Happy Friday

2011-06-24T15:25:00.002-05:00

Bubbles

2011-06-18T14:58:00.001-05:00

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Did I Ever Tell You About the Time She Finished Kindergarten?

2011-06-10T07:16:00.010-05:00

Kindergarten graduation probably ranks as one of the top 5 days in Meredith's life. The whole year was a blessing--full of surprises, creativity, love and friends. Much of the joy was thanks to Olivia Malland, the world's most amazing kindergarten teacher.

Evidence of Ms. Malland's amazingness? Each student received a huge binder scrapbook full of their work, pictures of them, captions, and reminders about their entire year. It was easily the highlight of the day for Meredith. Ms. Malland surprised them with the books in their classroom after their program, and Meredith would not walk away from the table until we had looked at every page--no small feat.

Mer with Kelcie and Ethan. Adorable, obviously.

The kids did lots of songs in the show, but each Kindergarten class also did their own song. Our kids sang the alphabet backwards, which I found impressive. I can never get past X when I try. Mer had her first speaking part: "Saying the alphabet is easy, but this year, we learned to say it backwards." She nailed it, microphone and all. She's so much cooler than me. Here's part of the song:

After a great Kindergarten program, the party moved to Central BBQ. It was a gorgeous morning on the deck. The pinata was a hit.

And we narrowly avoided an uprising when Kelcie and Lea realized I had chosen not to shake ALL the candy out of the pinata when it hit the ground.

There was a dance party, of course. Blake and Tyler had moves.

And so did all the parents.

After more dancing...

...there was more fun. Walt's Nana and Putty took Walt and Mer to Chuck E. Cheese. At around 5:30, Meredith decided it had been a good day. She put herself to sleep in a guest bed.

If She Can Just Stop Talking...

2011-06-09T13:25:00.004-05:00

Is there anything better than a nap after a swim? The trick, with Mer, is that you have to find a way to get her to stop talking for about 90 seconds. If you can accomplish that, the sleep hits comically fast.

Kangaroo Info

2011-06-07T11:55:00.002-05:00

Mer: Mom, today we did research and learned that a kangaroo has only two predators.

Mom: Really, what are they?

Mer: Dingos and men.

Meredith bursts into melodramatic song, musical style:

MY DADDDDD IS A KANGAROO'S PREDAAAATORRRRRR! HE HUNTS THEM AND KILLS THEM! DINGOS AND MENNNNNN.

Ballet at the Shell

2011-06-02T09:10:00.002-05:00

Dancing on stage at the Levitt Shell.

Stars.

Wee dancers.

Breakfast with Madi

2011-05-24T08:36:00.001-05:00

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America, Kenya, Mexico and Overton Park

2011-05-22T08:50:00.007-05:00

May has been chock full of goodness. Two weekends ago we started with Peabody's AMAZING International Festival. Each grade learns about a country (Kindergarten focuses on the U.S.) Then each classroom is divided into stations, and the children man the stations. In the stations they lead visitors through games, puzzles, maps and more--some even perform short plays! This is Meredith with her station team (Tyler and Lea). They learned the regions of the U.S. and what food is grown in each region.

The whole festival was so impressive; we could have wandered the classrooms all day. Dad was a particular fan of Kenya. (That's a Kenyan flag tucked into his glasses, not a head wound).

After a little craft time with Keddi we headed out for Mexican food on Summer Avenue. After giant helpings of guacamole, burritos, and more, we walked over to the Mexican popsicle (paleta) store--La Michoacana. Honestly, you can't ask for much more out of a Friday night.

The next morning we celebrated cousin Hadley's second birthday. It was cold and windy at Overton, but the kids had the time of their lives and napped for hours afterword. I call that a success.

Hadley was pretty happy.

And Madeline quickly set to work "borrowing" Hadley's presents. Good times.

Memphis, Spring 2011

2011-05-17T07:32:00.004-05:00

It's been an amazing spring in Memphis. Our city—so often plagued by the poor self esteem of your average 7th grader—is bouncing back. Honestly, I don't know if you can call it a bounce. We've been down a minute, as we say here; and by "minute" we mean 'round about 1878, when the yellow plague hit. All of that only makes the recent surge of hope feel all the more powerful.

THE BASKETBALL: Our basketball team displayed amazing heart—and the fans displayed just as much spirit. And I know none of you are silly enough to think sports don't matter. If you are, just be quiet and go watch Hoosiers.

Photo credit: www.espn.com

THE RIVER: Our river is stunning as ever, and despite some drama queen national news outlets, we're perfectly fine here in the Bluff City. That doesn't discount those who are hurting as a result of the flooding--and thanks to loving churches and a city government that is paying attention to all the right things for the first time in a long time, I know that those who are hurting are also receiving assistance.

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, and one more thing: President Obama dropped in to visit a school that many of us love, in the neighborhood where I'm blessed to work.

Photo credit: http://blackwaterdog.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/be-still-my-beatin-heart/

I love Memphis. And, girls, since this is all for you—I pray that when you read this it baffles you. Because I have a hunch that you'll be mostly unaware of the inferiority complex and the stifling past. You're just going to know the beauty that's being forged from those things.

Happy Birthday, Hadley!

2011-05-11T20:51:00.000-05:00

In honor of cousin Hadley's birthday, we'll post a few overdue Easter pics. We love you, beautiful girl!

The Zoo! And Ice Cream!

2011-05-06T16:16:00.002-05:00

Surprise trip to the zoo after school. Meredith almost levitated with joy.

Then downtown for some river watching and some Maggie Moo's. Not too shabby, as spring days go. (Meredith had blue).

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The Rain Stopped

2011-05-03T15:05:00.003-05:00

The river is still rising, but the rain stopped. The illness that has plagued our family for days also seems to be abating. The girls and I headed outside to soak up some Vitamin D.

Here's a performance that I recorded, the likes of which I am lucky enough to get to enjoy QUITE frequently. After this, Meredith also had me interview her about her showbiz career. Turns out her stage name is Alabama Tripper. I'll just let you contemplate that, because I have no idea what to say about it.

Rainy Day Commercial

2011-05-01T09:45:00.002-05:00

This is Meredith's commercial for her rainy day invention. And, no, she hasn't seen Grease.

Think Show!

2011-04-29T14:59:00.001-05:00

Meredith and I spent some time this afternoon checking out her class's Think Show projects. Lots of fabulous letters to Obama, bubble maps comparing presidents, and each student's project showcasing one president (we got Teddy). Mer was deservedly proud of all the great work.

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And Now Presenting: Madeline at Two

2011-04-24T21:12:00.005-05:00

I am late with this post because I've been chasing Madeline. And I have a hunch I'll be chasing her for years.

This will probably be our last stat report, so let me be sure to include it: she's in the 90th percentile for her height (50th for weight, and without going into detail, her head is still large). There are a few tall genes in our family, so it'll be fun to see if she's got them or not.

Let me tell you about the genes we already know she has: intensity, passion, humor. Yep, she's reminding me of Chris in a lot of ways. Madeline loves to connect with people; she seeks them out and makes jokes, laughs, pulls on them, etc. She has a LOT of love and hugs and sweetness. She feels strongly about things and is not easily dissuaded from her intentions (okay, that might be me). She is great at sharing. Except when she's not, and then she's really, really, really bad at it (even for a two year old).

She often calls us mommy-daddy (I've heard I did this). She says "thank you much." She does funny things with her eyes, very knowingly attempting and achieving hilarious results. She pouts better than any child in the history of the world. It is a powerful, powerful pout. And yes, I need to get a picture. She is potty training herself. And in case you ever heard of a child doing this and thought, "oh, wow, that would certainly make things easier," let me assure you that is NOT the case. She "reads" out loud to herself. She talks a lot in real words - but also likes to have conversations in pretend babble...Which is pretty fun.

She loves her sister, and her sister loves her. They are so good at comforting one another; coming running when the other is crying and patting backs and such. There are tea parties and school sessions and there is fury, but mostly there is fun.

She is very quiet and very loud. She dances without music. She runs incredibly quickly, very often in the wrong direction and very often away from me. She "draws" carefully; tiny circles and straight lines. Or, on the table. She's probably not going to be easy to parent. She's probably going to push us and stretch us and break us. And she'll be worth every minute of it.

Madi at Two: Obsessed with Arsenal

2011-04-13T12:25:00.003-05:00

Chris bought this kit for Madeline a couple months ago, and she has since worn it more often than any other item of clothing she's ever had. Once it's on her body, I have to use bargaining and persuasion to get her to change. Today, to her great delight, the children at her school were invited to wear a tee shirt supporting their favorite team. She also yells "Arshena!" whenever she sees this or any of the other Arsenal supporter items throughout our home. Oh yes, she makes her daddy proud. And she makes us all laugh.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Madeline!

2011-04-11T12:33:00.003-05:00

Happy birthday, sweet Madeline Jane. We're going to celebrate your birthday properly: with a birthday WEEK. More to come...

Ballet, Again

2011-04-07T16:10:00.003-05:00

While sister's in ballet, we play in the spinning orange chairs. A lot.

Meredith's Letter

2011-04-06T08:04:00.002-05:00

Well, she froze up a bit in front of the camera, but this is Meredith telling about a letter she wrote at school today. Not earth shattering or anything, but hey, 2 year olds don't have the market cornered on cuteness.

The Baby and the Jasmine

2011-04-05T09:34:00.002-05:00

Success!

2011-04-03T11:41:00.003-05:00

If you follow us at all, you know that Meredith is obsessed with sales of all sorts. She has held several impromptu sales in our front yard, and all have been unmitigated flops. I am pleased to report that at this very moment, at our neighbor Rick's garage sale, the brownies are selling like hotcakes. Put this one in the W column. Thank heaven.

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Spring Break

2011-03-31T07:07:00.005-05:00

I'm being a terrible blogger, of late. Since April is full of birthdays, surely I'll do better next month. In the mean time, here are some pics from our Spring Break trip with the fam. Most of which are stolen from mom. Wow, I'm inconsistent AND a photo thief. I promise, I'll make up for it.

First, allow us to welcome you to historic Branson, Missouri. Where there's not much history, but there are lots of large fake bears, gorillas, Mount Rushmores, Cape Cods, Taj Mahals...I could go on and on.

We tried to see more of Natural Branson. There was a lot of rock skipping, and that's always good for the soul.

There was also a lot of coloring, by kids and adults alike. Also good for the soul.

Keddi and Madi in the lighthouse (see aforementioned "Cape Cod").

The girls even played in the pool. I am not going to tell you the temperature of that water, because you would send the authorities immediately.

The girls had lots of quality conversation with Papa. And they spent a lot of quality time in this, their favorite spot. The bottom of the stairs. Weird.

At the end of every darn good evening is a darn good walk, followed by a rest in a gazebo.

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Sweet

2011-03-12T07:19:00.001-06:00

Madeline's Got Mad Skillz

2011-03-08T12:47:00.002-06:00

Breakfast

2011-03-04T09:41:00.002-06:00

It was early. Ten after six. Chris was at the gym, and I was helping Meredith dress for school. Madeline wandered off. This is what Mer and I found when we got downstairs. Little peach helped herself to a breakfast of chocolate chips. Not surprisingly, this girl knows how to start a Friday RIGHT.

Reading

2011-03-03T20:03:00.001-06:00

She's hitting her stride, yall.

Tonight she read all 62 pages of Green Eggs and Ham without missing a beat. But what was fun was the way she owned it. She repeated lines throughout the book, not because she had missed a word, but because she didn't feel she had done the line justice with her dramatic interpretation of it. She's not always so patient with herself in the world if academia, but this was different. Sam WOULD express his sorrow over his friend's cowardly palate, or Meredith would not turn the page.

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Happy Birthday, Dr. Suess!

2011-03-02T09:14:00.001-06:00

...from Daisy Head Mayzie and her crew.

Adjectively Yours

2011-02-16T20:23:00.002-06:00

Meredith and I went to the library today during our 40 minutes of pre-Madeline time. We did the same stairs/escalator/elevator routine that brings joy to so many little Memphians. We picked out a book about emergency vehicles, cause we're toeing that line twixt fascination and OCD. And we practiced our spelling words. It went something like this.

Me: Meredith, spell frog, as in "The frog jumped."
Her: That's fine, mom, but if you want to be more adjectively, you should say "The green frog jumped onto the pretty lily pad in the pond."

Well. She's right.
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My Girls After School*

2011-02-08T20:55:00.003-06:00

* I have chosen to capitalize "after" because it is 5 or more letters. This note is for JBS, who probably will never see it. Nevertheless.

Also, Meredith was the guest photographer for several days at Window 365. You can go here to see what she saw.

One for the Grandparents

2011-02-03T07:48:00.002-06:00

Well, it's not too exciting, but it's happy. So if you're stuck in your house (my poor Texas friends!) or you're a grandparent, enjoy.

Good day sunshine!

2011-01-26T15:54:00.003-06:00

Behold, the sun! And so, the below mentioned 6 year old Walt and 5 year old Meredith went for a sprint. Or nine.

Who's in Charge Here?

2011-01-25T12:21:00.002-06:00

Last night I gave Meredith a big hug and said "Let's just stay right here. I think 5 is old enough. Is that okay?"

Now she's used to that kind of nonsense from her dad. But I'm usually the stoic. The practical one. So I got a speech from her. She pulled back and looked me in the eye, and gently explained:

I'm sorry Mommy, but I don't control that. Did Walty turn 6?

Yes.

Well then don't you think that I'm going to turn 6? And then 7? And then 8?

I promise, Mommy, it'll be okay.

Says who?

Snowy Rooftops, Glowing Sears

2011-01-21T15:33:00.004-06:00

Self observation. We Southerners get stupidly excited about snow. But you know what? We're done with it pretty quickly. Like, say, 24 hours. Like, say, one 24 hour period per year. That'll do.

Snow Drive Singing

2011-01-20T20:47:00.001-06:00

Meredith sang a rather patriotic ballad while we took a snow drive this evening. Our apologies to Native Americans, who don't seem to get proper respect in this, um, song.

Peaceful Painting

2011-01-16T13:30:00.002-06:00

There is not much as peaceful as when Meredith and I work together at the dining room table, both totally absorbed in what we're doing. Lately, we've been discussing Jackson Pollack. I don't know how he came up in conversation; we absolutely do not sit around having erudite discussions about artists and their work. But somehow he did come up, and Meredith is fascinated and genuinely loves to look at his work online. I have to say, I'm grateful that she has not yet started incorporating his drip technique into our home painting sessions.

And just for fun, here's my new blog. It's a 365 project - I'm taking a picture from the same upstairs window everyday this year. It's terribly boring, and probably won't even approach fun or interesting until we're further into the year and I do a slideshow. But I'm enjoying it. So in case you are incredibly bored, or need just one more thing to distract you from what you're supposed to be doing, here it is: http://windowview365.blogspot.com/.

Madeline: 21 Months

2011-01-11T16:00:00.001-06:00

Still the huggiest baby I've ever known. Still crazy. New nickname: Madly. Sometimes, when I'm cooking, she'll run into the kitchen and do a graceful but strange dance - spinning, arching, waving arms. Music not required. Loves Barnyard Dance and Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb. Loves other mommies and will fight for their laps. Basically cannot get, or give, enough love. Mimics everything Meredith does. Everything with the exception of the really good behavior. Not so interested in that. But good in her own way. And good natured. Reminds us to feed Maggie the cat. Reminds us to pray when we sit down to eat. (But doesn't really eat).

These are post nap pictures. Otherwise, she's generally moving too fast to get a picture.

Snow Movie

2011-01-10T16:40:00.003-06:00

At one point, Meredith and I had a long conversation about whether or not snow was clean. I tried to explain that the water that comes from the tap has been cleaned; that which falls from the sky has not. She countered that God makes the stuff that falls from the sky, so it has to be clean. Eventually I got her to understand that people tend to make dirty that which God made clean. I said "It's fine to eat it - enjoy it! We just probably wouldn't want to eat buckets and buckets of it." From behind me I heard a full mouth say "But mom, I've definintely eaten buckets and buckets of it."

Here's a scene from our mellow morning in the snow.

Christmas in Memphis

2011-01-06T13:35:00.007-06:00

Around here, we're still invoking the name of the holidays as an excuse for over-indulging. So don't call these pictures late. Just look at them as an excuse to go eat another bon bon.

We set a huge fancy table for Christmas Eve dinner. Everyone helped. Dad polished the above featured gravy boat 'til it shined like the top of the Chrysler building (yeah, we also watched Annie over the holiday).

I carved the turkey breast, and dad offered moral support. Or something.

As is traditional at the holidays, we all laid aside dignity and donned our paper hats. We looked gooood.

Stockings! Who needs anything else when you have Hello Kitty bandaids?

So many were missed this Christmas, but we were also blessed to spend time with lots of loved ones. Blessings abound!

Getting Ready for Christmas in Memphis

2011-01-02T09:34:00.008-06:00

We've never been home in Memphis for the holidays. Traveling and seeing family from all over the country is always exciting, and we missed that. We sorely missed the folks we didn't get to see. And there's also something to be said for the total relaxation provided by being AWAY. But there's a lot to be said for being home.

The Christmas season starts (in my mind) with the observation ballet class. Parents are allowed to watch a normal class, since we're not really supposed to be peeking in the windows on normal weeks. This observation class was a little strange. They had been out of class for a couple weeks because of Thanksgiving and Meredith has suddenly (sadly) become self-conscious. She didn't really enjoy it, and afterward said it was because "I didn't really have any moves." Growing up is for the birds. Madeline was there to spice things up, though. She never for a minute considered that she didn't have a clue what was going on, and participated in almost every aspect of the class. And did a darn good job, too.

Another marker of the Christmas season: The Nutcracker at the Orpheum. Do you know that they have $5 tickets? There is probably some generous corporate sponsor I should thank for that. Because the seats are great and the production is gorgeous. And frankly, I'd pay more than $5 just to sit in the Orpheum. I fall in love with it again every time I visit.

What's better than a school Christmas party? A school Christmas party when your dad is in charge of games.

And your teacher is amazing enough to bring a chocolate fountain into the classroom...

...And you and your friends almost die from happiness.

Of course there were numerous Christmas projects and crafts, but the best might have been the impromptu scarf making session. We had been given a bag of fabric scraps, and since Keddi was in town, Meredith knew that sewing was a possibility. But then we hit on the idea of fleece scarves - no sewing required, just cutting. Meredith is a pro with the scissors, so with very little help she was able to make matching scarves for herself, Madeline, and cousin Hadley. She wrapped them and gave them to the girls for Christmas. And they were a hit. We need more of this gift making and giving for next year, but it's a start.

The kids at church did an incredible job learning a series of Christmas songs this year (thanks to Ms. Kathy!) and performed them at a nearby nursing home. Again, Madeline could think of no reason that she shouldn't join the show, and even made up hand motions to the songs she didn't know.

And here's a short video of the performance at Neighborhood Church.

Final sign of the season: family photos. We're so thrilled to have a few pictures of all four of us that don't involve bathing suits or Halloween costumes. Thank you to the talented Gretchen Shaw! (And if you're in a wintry wonderlandy sort of mood, you really should check out these pics she took.)

And we leave you with this. Our friend Jeff has a great little band, Jeffrey James and the Haul. They played a wee little Christmas show at Shangri La, and I'd say that was one of the best holiday moments for our family. Just good clean holiday joy.

Christmas with 2 Kings

2010-12-22T16:38:00.004-06:00

Adele and Lea King joined us today for some co-op childcare and some: constant snacking, cookie making, constant correction of one another's pronunciation (big girls), babbling (little girls), and dancing (everyone [not me]).

Great Gift Idea

2010-12-16T11:55:00.005-06:00

I'm so proud of my brilliant sister in law - Beth (AKA Elizabeth) Lareau - who is working at a fabulous little ebook publishing company in NOLA. They're doing some great things - publishing great ebooks, producing clever accompanying video clips (think the "extras" on your DVDs) and selling ebooks on flash drives - so you still have something to wrap. Or to drop in the stocking, as the case may be.

Check out one of their promotional videos below - just a little Christmas story about a virgin birth - in current day Midwest America. Go to http://www.booksbnimble.com/ and see all the fun stuff. Support New Orleans. Support small publishers. Support clever.

Comedic Timing

2010-12-13T16:09:00.000-06:00

She's got it.

Christmas, Santa and Water

2010-12-09T08:47:00.002-06:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Memphis. I love that the Advance Memphis Christmas party is always early in December - it's a great way to start the season (oh, and also it's where I work, so then I get to check that off my list). Anyhoo, above is a pic of Meredith and Walt with Santa at the Advance party.

And speaking of Santa, we're not speaking of Santa too much this year. It's not that we're avoiding the topic - at all. But Meredith is much more interested in - and obsessed with - a project going on at Neighborhood Church. We're trying to raise $5,000 to build a well in Peru for a village that doesn't have access to clean water.

PLEASE hear me when I say that Meredith is not some perfect angel child who cares more about those who need water than about her own Christmas list. Because I could tell you some stories about her behavior the last few days that would probably cause you to ask me if I've been parenting AT ALL, or just letting her do as she wished for the last 5 years. That said, I think she does grasp that we're working together to help something good happen for people who have less than we do. It's about having a goal, and wanting to be part of working toward that goal. She insisted on having a yard sale last week. She even rang a bell the ENTIRE time (thank you, Salvation Army). But it was cold, and she didn't have much to offer. As you might imagine, it didn't go so well. So now she's doing chores to earn money.

There is no shortage of worthy causes, and this is not meant to pressure you into giving. But if you haven't gotten around to doing any research this year, and if you're overwhelmed by the mailers you're getting, you can consider giving to Charity Water, and as a bonus, making Meredith super happy. Watch the video below. Click here to give, so that it will go to NC's fund for Peru (click "Create Account;" it's quick). And let us know you did, so Mer can experience all of the joy. katelareau@gmail.com

Thanksgiving

2010-12-06T08:29:00.002-06:00

Casual Cool

2010-11-23T12:26:00.002-06:00

Oh, who me? I'm just casually hanging out with my hand in my pocket. NBD. I'm cool like that.

Camping

2010-11-18T07:32:00.007-06:00

Spot the sprite throwing rocks from the hill.

It's been too long since I posted, so I thought I'd share pics from a camping trip we took a couple weeks ago. Shelby Forest State Park is about 20 minutes away from our house. It's gorgeous. We were also lucky enough to get the site right next to the playground. Not that the playground position allowed for any relaxing, since Madeline never met a playground obstacle that gave her even a moment's pause. Even after it was completely dark, she kept heading off blindly into the woods in the general direction of the playground.

It looks innocuous, but this slide hurled children toward the ground at speeds approaching 30mph.

But still, there was a campfire. If the day ends in a campfire, it was a good one.

Punkin' Up

2010-11-06T16:25:00.003-05:00

Hair sprayed pink, check.
Big girl helping us apply tattoo, check.
Let's rock.
Harlan T. Bobo rambling and singing about a third of every song is better than a lot of folks at their best. And, anyway, look at that river!

Spin, baby, spin.
Meredith isn't crazy about meat. Unless it's Central BBQ. Good to the last drop.

Halloween, Kindergarten Style

2010-10-29T12:38:00.005-05:00

Peabody Elementary let the kids dress up for Halloween - if they came as their favorite book character. Meredith is Belinda the Ballerina, a character featured in a series of books covering the exploits of a prima ballerina with incredibly large feet. She took toe shoes to school (handed down by a real ballerina) and having toe shoes is so exciting, I think everything else has just been icing.

As you can see, some students backed into the whole book character thing, but at least now they know that Spiderman didn't start with Tobey McGuire and Kirsten Dunst.

Sweet and Also Strange

2010-10-22T17:55:00.001-05:00

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But why can't I go into the ballet class?

2010-10-21T15:39:00.001-05:00

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Working Breakfast

2010-10-21T08:14:00.003-05:00

In order to accomplish all her goals today, Madeline had to have a working breakfast. Very serious stuff.

Conversation

2010-10-13T07:51:00.002-05:00

The pic above is from the LuvMud 5k this past weekend, where Meredith once again impressed me with her ability to roll with the punches. The day was much longer and hotter than we anticipated, and you and I both know that Meredith did not PLAN to be a part of the mud experience. But she rolled with it.

But what I'm really here to tell you about is a conversation. On the way home from school yesterday, Meredith started asking a lot of questions about war. I don't know where that came from, though I could guess their names rhyme with Balt and Badam. Anyhoo, the conversation stopped when we got home and unloaded the car, and I forgot about it. This morning we drove to school together. We were sitting silently at a red light when she said, "Now, Mom, let's get back to this war thing."

And we did. Cause I know I enjoy starting the day with a little Vietnam and Civil War education. Oy.

Madeline: 18 Months

2010-10-12T12:20:00.017-05:00

Madeline. 18 months and 3 days.

I promised a post and I'm delivering. 'Cause she deserves recognition for the major developmental milestone we've reached. Drumroll please. Ladies and gentlemen, Madeline Jane Lareau has slept through the night 4 out of the last 7 days!

Now before you start paging up screen and getting confused, yes, Madeline is A YEAR AND A HALF OLD. Some kids start sleeping through the night just a teensy bit earlier. Like, say, 16 months earlier. But that's cool. We have arrived and we are happy to be here. Just imagine the changes you may start to see in the Lareaus! The adult Lareau average bedtime may move from 8:30 to 9. Anything seems possible. And in all seriousness, everything they say about tubes/adenoid removal changing your life? True.

Front porch peek a boo.

Remember awhile ago when I posted about the boundless possibilities for the personalities of babies? How they're just a bundle of mysteriousness? Well, the mysteriousness is fading here and it is being replaced by big hugs, significant ornerinous, a huge sense of humor, lightning speed and lots of courage. She's at least as social as Meredith: she threw the doctor a fist bump today, unprompted. She also took 3 shots without a tear. She only runs, which means when she falls, she falls hard. We're working on learning to walk, if you know what I mean. She scales playground equipment that other children (we will not name names, but will whistle in Meredith's general direction) did not attempt until they were solidly 3.

The run. It is a serious run. If her shoulders are hitched up, she means business.

And did I mention that she snuggles? And puts her head on your shoulder, just like you used to imagine a baby would?

She likes to read often and repetitively and gets pretty mad if you don't acquiesce. She's an incredibly ornery eater and I spend far more time guessing what she might eat than actually feeding her.

The sense of humor.

Oh, and she loves her sister, especially delighting in picking her up after school. We walk around the corner of the building and our walking-training ends as she sprints to find Meredith and hug her.

There, a proper update. For posterity. For when she's president. Of a rock climbing club, or something to that effect.

Idlewild Strikers-W, Arsenal-L

2010-10-04T20:20:00.005-05:00

*bonus points if you can spot Mayor Wharton in this picture

Well, Arsenal had another heartbreaking loss, but the Idlewild Strikers were able to balance out the weekend with a definitive win in their first game of the season (or first game of most of their lives, whichever you prefer). Luckily, Aunt Harriet (she's Dutch, and it's a long story) was there to take pictures, because we showed up with a dead camera.

Someday when they're in the Olympics, we'll note that Lea passed to Mer for a goal in their first game. And that they've been hanging out since they were 3 months old. You know how Bob Costas loves the emotional angle.

5

2010-09-28T12:13:00.003-05:00

Dear Meredith -

The night before you were born, I laid awake thinking about how I couldn't wait to hold you. But I was also scared. As I'm sure you'll understand someday, childbirth is a little intimidating. But my point is this, the night before your fifth birthday was considerably more fun and less anxiety ridden. We stayed up late getting ready for your day. Late for us is 8:45, since your new Kindergarten requires your presence at 7:30. But still, we stayed up late. Your daddy wrapped your presents. He's incredibly good at that. I made cupcakes. Lemon, because that's what you requested.

You woke up early on your birthday. But because you're getting older and wiser, you didn't beg to go downstairs or dramatically proclaim your state of near starvation. At least not for 5 minutes. Nope, you crawled into bed with us (your sister was already there, because she doesn't really like to stay in her crib past 5) and we had a few more minutes of peace and quiet. Finally you and I got antsy and we snuck out of bed. I got you some of my socks, because it's cool in the mornings now, and you've always gotten a kick out of wearing my socks. We went downstairs and I started the coffee while you put toppers on your cupcakes. Rings with huge jewels for the girls, and giant plastic bugs for the boys (or vice versa, to each their own). You put the toppers on in a certain pattern, because you and all your classmates are obsessed with patterns right now.

Coffee was brewed and so I made your breakfast. Cinnamon Life, because nothing else will do. And grapes, because that makes me feel better. Then I put a ridiculously big magenta bow in your hair, so that no one would forget it was your birthday. I took it off a flower arrangement I got last week, because your mommy is the queen of reduce/reuse/recycle. By the time you read this you may be a little weary of my re-using skills, but trust me girl, you looked fabulous.

And then you were off. I have no doubt that your daddy lingered in your classroom for 20 minutes, at least, as seems to be his routine now. I have no doubt that he reinforced your status as the Queen of Birthday Land. I'll be there in half an hour with your jeweled and buggy cupcakes. Can't wait.

I love you, Mer.

Momma

Vintage

2010-09-23T16:02:00.001-05:00

There's a picture of me in this dress somewhere, too. Strangely, it's not digital.

Guess What Letter We're Studying?

2010-09-17T08:43:00.001-05:00

Morrissey and Soccer

2010-09-12T20:53:00.003-05:00

There are few things that Chris loves more than Morrissey and soccer. Hopefully, Meredith will see her way clear to an appreciation of one or both of those things. Soccer got off to a great start on Saturday morning, and by the time she's maudlin and 14, the Morrissey will probably be just what the doctor ordered.

Tubes In, Adenoids Out

2010-09-09T11:03:00.004-05:00

We thank God that Madeline's surgery was a breeze. We had to be there at 6:15 am. Not surprisingly, of the 12 or so kids that gathered in the surgery center over the next hour, Madeline was the loudest. All the rest of the parents and kids were acting like NORMAL people act when it's way too early to be up. Madeline was running around the center like a maniac and talking/yelling the whole time. She HATED her hospital gown (who can blame her?) and spent several minutes shrieking and trying to pull it off.

She didn't cry too much as she came up from the anesthesia and she has now been asleep for about 3 hours. We left the center, ran errands, came home, and still she slept. I'm not complaining, since she slept very little last night. One of the ears was infected again, so we're glad that we went ahead with the surgery.

All's well that ends well. We're grateful to LeBonheur East Surgery Center - every nurse and doctor was amazing.

Biker Family

2010-09-07T13:47:00.004-05:00

So, a few months ago we got all kitted out to be a biking family, thanks to Craig's List and the generosity of friends whose kids have grown (it happens). We have a seat for Madeline on the back of Chris's bike - or we have the option to put both girls in a trailer that Chris pulls on his bike. I'm not allowed to have anyone on my bike but me, because I fall over sometimes. Whatevs.

Yesterday we took a ride to Overton Park. Madi chilled on the back of Chris's bike and Meredith rode her bike there and back on her own. Not surprisingly (thanks, Mr. Murphy and your dang law), she did it all without incident... until she hit the tiny bump that leads into our driveway. Awesome to end the huge ride with skinned knees.

Overall, though, it was a great ride. And there will be many more.

Verbal Volley

2010-08-28T07:51:00.012-05:00

An after-school conversation:

Me: What did you do today that was interesting?
Mer: Oh! We had Russian!
Me: Wonderful! Did you learn how to say anything in Russian?
Mer: Oh, of course. We learned how to say hello!
Me: Really? So...how do you say it?

LONG PAUSE

Mer: Mommy, do you know any Russian?
Me: Nope. None at all.
Mer: Well, in Russian, you say hello "mini bien hello."

I'm just sure you do.

Neither Here Nor There

2010-08-26T21:09:00.004-05:00

I don't have much to say, but needed a therapeutic blog post. The truth is, I'm not doing so well with this whole kindergarten thing. I missed Mer too much today. So I took pictures of Madi. That's all.