Walking to Starbucks

This morning our whole family walked to Starbucks in Saco to enjoy the beautiful weather, wonderful Starbucks concoctions, our books and each other. Along the way Kirsten and I demonstrated to Jenna the intricacies of sidewalk navigation and how to be a good and safe pedestrian. It was a glorious morning, and the sun was warming the air to an unseasonably warm temperature.

At Starbucks we ordered our drinks, found some comfortable chairs and began to read, play our iPod/iPhones and talk. It was wonderful. After a little while Hayley looked quite tired, so I offered to hold her on my lap as I read. She squirmed around a bit to get comfortable and dozed off to a restful sleep. Then she puked. All. Over. Me. Where in the hell did all that oatmeal come from, and how did two oatmeal packets turn into quarts of oatmeal vomit?

Photo: Kirsten Uhler

Dorothy, a frequent Starbucks customer and barista, kindly got me two clean wet washcloths so I could begin to remedy this embarrassing and completely disgustingly awful situation. When the worst of the vomit was off the chair and floor I went to the bathroom to clean myself. Kirsten had already rushed Hayley off to the women’s restroom so she could continue to purge the putrid oatmeal from her unusually gargantuan stomach.

After the chunks were off my shirt and shorts I walked home to get the car–alone, and soaking wet.

Hayley and I have now showered and life has returned to its usual blissful state. Hayley seems to be feeling well, but is carrying a bowl, just in case.

The Dyer Library here in Saco hosted a Harry Potter Extravaganza: a film premier party for the upcoming “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Jenna was especially excited about it because she has been reading and enjoying the Harry Potter series. She just started the seventh and final book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

The Harry Potter Extravaganza was well done, and the girls had a good time. They had their fortunes told by Professor Trelawney, played games, colored Harry Potter pictures, and made wands. Hayley dressed as Hermione Granger, Jenna dressed up as Cho Chang, and Skye as Ron Weasley. The girls even convinced me to dress up as Professor McGonagall.

Cho, Ron, and Hermione

Professor Trelawney (in background) just told Jenna's fortune.

Coloring

Professor McGonagall, Professor Trelawney, and the head of the Slytherin house conducted a “sorting ceremony.” The kids each appeared in front of them, announced their character name, and were then sorted to the appropriate Hogwarts house. When Skye introduced herself, she said “Bloody hell, I’m Ron Weasley!” (in a British accent) Everyone laughed. She won two Cinemagic movie tickets for best costume, and decided she would bring Brent to see the upcoming Harry Potter film.

Skye being sorted into the Gryffindor house

Professor Trelawney, Professor McGonagall, and head of the Slytherin house conducting the sorting ceremony

Jenna as Cho Chang during the sorting ceremony

At one station the kids were instructed to estimate the number of jelly beans (“Bertie Bott’s Beans”) in three different jars. Hayley correctly guessed amount of beans (300) in the largest jar, and won the jar of beans. She’s quite the little math whiz! She was so excited. When she told Brent about it later, she said she “earned” the beans.

Hayley estimates the number of Bertie Bott's Beans in the jar.

Hayley and her prize

Skye enjoys the cauldron cakes, acid pops, licorice wands, and pumpkin juice.

We love the library, and usually go twice a week. The Dyer library does a great job with their programs. It’s nice that we can walk there, too. :-)

Kirsten and I feel very fortunate that Hayley had Mrs. Arnold this year. She has great command of her students and exudes compassion for them.

Hayley was Star of the Day

Hayley got to sit in the rocking chair

Hayley reads her book to Kirsten

The Flying Dog, illustrated by Hayley Danler

The slideshow was phenomenal!

Hayley's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Arnold

She’s very nice to me. I also like that she’s nice to Skye and Jenna.

I also like my mother because she keeps me healthy.

I love my mother.

My baby, Hayley, turned six last Thursday. I love you, Hayley!

A new Sansa mp3 player.

Hayley loves her new mp3 player

Kirsten prepares Hayley's favorite dinner, baked potatoes

Hayley frosted her own birthday cake

Skye taped the lid well

I'm wicked excited to play catch with Hayley

Thanks for the gift, Jenna. :)

Kirsten put trick candles on Hayley's birthday cake

Skye did a great job scooping ice cream

Brent: What is so great about Family Night?

Hayley: I think it’s so great because we can all get together and have a time to be together and, like, spend time with each other.

Brent: How many numbers are there?

Hayley: Infinity and beyond.

Brent: If you could choose any ice cream toppings, what would they be?

Hayley: Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Marshmallows. Hot fudge.

Brent: Would you like to have another brother or another sister?

Hayley: Sister. They aren’t so, like, wild, like you are.

Brent: Why are boys smarter than girls?

Hayley: I don’t know.

Brent: Why do kids have to wait until they’re 16 to drive?

Hayley: Because they can see better and they can learn how to drive.

Brent: What are three things you can do with a banana?

Hayley: Peel the skin, eat it, put it in cereal.

Brent: What is your favorite book?

Hayley: Germs, Germs, Germs.

Brent: Why is Dad so great?

Hayley: Because he wrestles with me and takes care of me.

Brent: What is so fun about wrestling?

Hayley: When you tickle me. And I like when I tickle you. Getting unstuck.

Hayley: Would you rather be rich or poor?

Kirsten: Rich.

Hayley: If there only could be one animal on earth, what would it be?

Kirsten: Elephants.

Hayley: If you were stuck on an island what five four things would you bring?

Kirsten: A knife. Something to light fire with. Some kind of blanket or sleeping bag. A laptop with a wireless internet connection.

Hayley: Would you rather be a grown-up or a kid?

Kirsten: I would rather be an adult.

Hayley: What would it be like to be a boy?

Kirsten: I’d probably be messier. I’d probably like sports more. I’d be rougher. I probably wouldn’t be so sensitive.

Hayley: Would you rather be lightning or thunder?

Kirsten: Lightning, because I could make electricity.

Hayley: Would you rather be rain or snow?

Kirsten: Snow, because it’s pretty and you can see the crystals. And it could melt and turn into water.

Hayley: Would you rather be a mouse or an elephant?

Kirsten: An elephant, because it’s bigger and more powerful.

Hayley: Would you rather be an insect or a person?

Kirsten: I’d rather be a person.

Hayley: Would you rather be a servant or a princess?

Kirsten: A princess and be served by a servant.

Hayley '09

Jenna '09

Skye '09

I wanted to learn about how they make paper because it was the only thing I could think of. I liked learning about how they make paper.

Paper is made from fibers that come from plants and trees. The fibers are beaten and mixed with water to make what’s called pulp. Then you put the pulp on a fine screen called a mold. Then you let it dry. Then you take the paper off the mold.

Egyptians made another kind of paper called papyrus 4,000 years ago. The word “paper” comes from the Greek word papuros.

Hayley made a stuffed fish in her art class. It’s isn’t a fish you could filet and eat for dinner. Nor could it swim in the ocean. It’s mostly made of paper. They drew with oil crayons over the paint. With the red crayon Hayley made lipstick. Then they cut out fish shapes, stapled the edges together and stuffed them with newspaper.

Hayley's stuffed fish (with lipstick)

Jenna’s art teacher, Mrs. Noble, had Jenna’s class make self-portraits for the museum exhibition. Jenna chose the fabric for her shirt because she likes birds and nature. They used paint for the background. Jenna made the mouth small because she doesn’t shout or smile with her teeth showing. She chose long brown hair to match her own. She said to me, “I like putting style into my artwork.”

Jenna's self-portrait

Skye’s art teacher, Mrs. Digregorio, read a book titled “The Fairy House” about a girl who makes a fairy house out of materials she find in nature. Mrs. Digregorio had the fourth graders make their own fairy houses. The materials for Skye’s project were partially gathered from our back woods. Skye’s fairy house has two fairy-size beds, a table with chairs and a spear.

Skye's fairy house