Kittens and Creations

First the kittens: so being the suckers we are (well really Patrick) we acquired not one but two new kittens this weekend. We went to get just one but Patrick and I both liked the one that Evie did not pick more and.... so... there you have it, a three cat, one dog and 11 coop chicken family. (I think the second kitten reminded Patrick of his favorite cat from when he was little, Headly) We once again allowed Evie to name them and after Oliver was vetoed she decided on Frere and Jacque... a homage to her favorite song. So here they are the newest Lacroixs:



Aside from copious amounts of time watching kittens play, Evie has been making some pretty awesome creations. Today alone are three notables. This morning she put some playdough in a little basket, coated it with plastic beads and then started to weave this elaborate tale about how it was a nest and the plastic beads were fairy seeds. We then placed (at her request) the fairy seed basket out by the front door where they could "be happy outside but not get too hot."

Then after school today she went out back to play in the yard while I made dinner and called me out to see here "wedding cake" (What you couldn't tell?) She then arranged our patio for the wedding... it still isn't clear who the lucky couple were... After the cake she came in a drew me the most awesome picture yet... and I say this not because it is particularly pithy, its just a self portrait, but because I think it is the first time ever she has drawn something that I could so easily determine what exactly it was! The scribbles at the top are her current version of her name, apparently she really likes v's.

For those of you who would like to know about my state of affairs... I am getting into the routine of school work, regular work and Mom work and starting to really enjoy myself. I have, however, realized that higher education, especially of the PhD type, is a really, truly selfish exercise. Hours and hours of time spent by yourself reading, writing and learning about all sorts of fascinating things that most people really don't care to know about. (This is of course unfortunate for those who are subjected to time with me because they have to listen to me dribble on about all sorts of esoterica) So let this be a warning to any potential out of town guests... you might just find yourself subject to my waxing poetic about the coolness of qanats or the beauty of biological soil crusts... and yes Patrick will accept your pity.

Zingers - Siblings

After watching three little baby hamsters play at school the other day Evie turned to me and said:

"Mommy, I don't want a little brother or sister, I would like a little brother pet instead. I think a little brother pet would be much better."

Labor Day 2010

We spent a lovely labor day up at the cabin. My folks took Evie on Thursday and Patrick and I joined them on Friday. Patrick and I had a fabulous time driving up sans Evie... we played the music loud and drove fast, two things that she decidedly prefers we do not do.


I had quite a bit of school work to do (two whole books to read and an abstract to write) but took enough down-time to go to the annual Christmas Bazaar up in Alpine. We got there early and as a result picked up some mighty fine homemade ornaments, pot scrubbers and a hat and bag for Evie. Back down at the cabin my dad was laying concrete and so we decided to get an impression of Evie's hands. It occurred to me afterward that the last time we tried this she was like two months old. Well much like the last time it was a pretty messy endeavor, except this time we could explain to her just how it had to be done and were able to try at least 5 times and get it right without her melting down. It seems like just yesterday that we had the "Plaster Disaster" and it is so funny to me that we intended to retry but didn't get around to it until almost 3 years later... it must not have been a priority.


Evie had a lot of fun doing the now typical (how happy that makes me... that she goes up to the cabin enough to have typical activities!) cabin stuff... playing in the sand, making forts and getting very messy. We won't be back up again for awhile but I am already looking forward to it!

A day in Poem

A (not so) little poem about my day today....

Wake up in the morning at quarter past five
Grind some coffee and double check an abstract whose deadline is nigh
Put the finishing touches on, submit it and I'm through
Take a look at my e-mails and see what else I need to do
Answer a few questions and now its almost six
Start a load of laundry and drink my morning coffee fix
A rumble from the hallway tells me Evie is awake
“Mommy is there something for breakfast you can make?”
I hand her a breakfast bar and she goes off to play
Patrick wakes up and asks what I have going on today
Around seven track down clothes for myself and Evie and then take a shower
Somehow that always takes an hour
Its eight am and we hop into the Subaru
Drop Evie off at school and say toodaloo
Drive to campus and park my car
Get another cup of coffee, the day is looking pretty good so far
Sit down for an hour and do a reading on the importance of river flow
Nine-thirty rolls around and its time for me to go
Ecohydrology class from nine thirty until ten forty-five
In depth discussions on vegetation and how much water it needs to thrive
An iced tea and conference call for work at eleven
Outside talking in the shade with a breeze that made it feel like heaven
Back to the book on river flow
Did you know a vegetarian diet takes half the water to grow
than a typical american one?
Clock strikes noon and the book is almost done
Wax poetic on the importance of a river
Write out discussion questions and hit deliver
Clock says its almost one
So long coffee shop, its been fun
Drive to Evie's school to meet some teens
They are going to build a fort next week for the kids by any means
Now its a quarter til two and I'm on the go
The fridge is bare so a quick stop at Trader Joe(s)
Back home again at ten till three
Kita and Oliver greet me with glee
Put together materials for a class I'll teach tomorrow
An edible aquifer for 2nd grade kids to swallow
Worked for an hour made a list of things I can no longer do
You didn't think I was totally insane did you?
Ten to four running out the door
Physical aspects of arid lands is what's in store
An hour of class on climate and then I am through
Rush over to Evie's school, later than usual, I hope she isn't blue
Find Evie playing on the playground
Pretending and laughing away not wanting to be found
Five thirty now and a quick stop at the store
To pick up a few things I forgot before
Home by six and Patrick is there too
Wow that day flew!
Make the pesto, boil some water, wash the dishes that are dirty
Dinner for all at six thirty
Seven or so and its time for bed
Read three stories, A Very Fairy Princess, Give a Mouse a Cookie and Skippyjon Jones
Then off to brush teeth with minimal groans
Set the “beepie” and cuddle for fifteen minutes more
Tell Evie the story about the magic skirt store
Quarter til eight and relaxation is near
I've worked pretty hard and I think I deserve a beer
Settle in with Patrick to watch a little TV
Up till about 9 and then off to bed with me

Zingers - Origins

A 12(ish) girl at a party this weekend: Evie where are you from?

Genevieve: I'm from a belly.

Storyteller

Genevieve has become quite the weaver of tales. She is always coming up with a scenario or story for the world she sees (or doesn't see) around her. Last weekend we took a short trip to New Mexico to the Gila Cliff Dwellings NM. On our hike up to the cliff dwellings we stopped to take a rest at a spot where you could see the cliff dwellings. Patrick was talking about the cliff dwellings and Evie chimed in that the cliff dwellings created by the furniture people who also created the logs we were sitting on, but then they turned into eagles and flew away. The pictures below are of the cliff dwellings in question, well worth the 2 hour curvy road to get to.


One of the cuter manifestations of the storyteller in her is during story time each night. Before she goes to bed every night I tell her a story on the fly. I usually ask her what she wants the general theme to be (princesses, fairies, magic, you get the idea) and then make up a story about it. For the past few weeks when I finish the story she will say, "No mommy you're not finished change the story to be...." and she'll propose a slight change to the story I've told (the location or the end result is somehow different) and then I retell the story based on her modification. It is a lot of fun for both of us.

Who knows maybe she'll be a ballet dancing, mud loving writer....

(Oh and for those of you who are concerned... I have indeed survived my (almost) first two weeks of school, work and mommydom... the first week was a bit scaring but the second week was down right enjoyable)