From the crazy lady crying by the talking tree

Dear Papa,

Today, it has been 6 long months.

And I'm still discovering things that make me ache for you.

Today's find: the cheesy animatronic characters in the Great Wolf Lodge lobby show.

Including the Disney-esque Indian maiden who sings a lovely song about nature, demonstrating several points of the typical native stereotype along the way.

We came here with you just about 3 years ago and I remember us all gathering to watch the show. You were such a good sport about it. About the water park. About the ridiculous "nature" theme that is nothing close to natural. About the silly wand magic quest that had everyone running up and down the halls.

We had cake and birthday presents. Henry took his first steps. You made yourself at home, wandering through the attractions in your classic outfit and clipped on keys.

Speaking of stereotypes: during that trip, we also went to the closest Indian casino and hit the seafood buffet. Ah - good times.

Thank you for being up for almost everything we suggested. For always finding the fun in things. For appreciating being together much more than being in a specific place or doing a specific thing.

Missing you,

M

A mom's detective work

Henry,

We are still working to get your skin condition(s) solved. We were doing so well with the eczema for a while and then it seemed to come back. Or maybe you have something else, we don't know.

We are thinking allergies so we had your blood tested. They ruled out milk, soy, fish, shell fish, strawberries, and wheat as possible culprits. So now, we are wondering if it could be these guys:

Dust mites! 

They love humidity and guess what we have been creating in your room to help with your eczema - HUMIDITY!! Could our "cure" be causing the problem? Could these things possibly be anymore gross???

In this theory's favor:

• The circumstances created by the humidifier look suspicious.
• I have no other theory.

Not in this theory's favor:

• I couldn't find much dust. Running the vacuum all through the house didn't even fill it up a quarter of the way.
• So gross that I don't want this to be the problem.

But after reading about them, I am going to have to clean the house anyway. So here I go...

1. Dust all surfaces with wet cloth - done.
2. Get allergy approved bed covers (cha ching) - ordered.
3. Administer Claratin (also cha ching. I have new financial sympathies for allergy sufferers!) - done.
4. Vacuum house s-u-p-e-r s-l-o-w-l-y. Done.
5. Vacuum all the drapes. Done. 
6. Air out rooms - done.
7. Wash all bedding, stuffies and upholstery in HOT water - in process.
8. Freeze pillows and mattresses for 48 hours. Um, I guess we need a walk-in freezer? Or maybe Mr. Freeze could stop by when he makes parole?

Stay tuned for the startling conclusion...

Making it hard to stay mad

Him: "But mom,  I had to wake her up to tell her about my movie dream."

Me: "What did you dream about?"

Him: "I had a dream about a dragon. But it was a nice dragon. And it ate a WHOLE polar bear."

Forever expanding my definition of gross

Me: "Why do you have a bone in your room?"

Her: "Oh, that's a deer bone. Daddy found it for me...I chew on it sometimes."

Highlights from a long weekend

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

We celebrated with equal parking for all makes and colors of cars.

And new fashions for all shades of Barbies.

Now locker-sized for convenient storage

Mixed fortunes

Paper fortune tellers have been multiplying in the house since Lucy came home from Kindergarten with one last week. Wonderful - something to do inside during January downpours! And look at all of this writing practice!

Lucy's scripted fortunes are pure sweetness:

• You are fantastic
• I hope you have a Merry Christmas
• You are my light
• You shine in the sun
• Everything you touch will be yours
• Santa will give you everything
• Purple is sparkly

The ones Henry dictated to Daddy for his are a bit more mixed:

• You look like a troll and an ogre
• You forget to poop in the potty
• You drink punch
• You wear underwears
• You like to swim strokes
• You like beans and rice
• You are bad!
• You are my friend

All the fun reminds me how fortunate I am to have you both. Awwww. Cheesy but so true.

xo,

Mama

Holiday happiness

Fresh snow, happy kids, extra warm pool, great food, and lots and lots of family...I'd say Santa came through for all of this year - don't you think?!

See photos here.