The Big Walk
Written and Typed by Apple-Apple
cj is woking to me and giving me hugs and then he wates for me to cariy him back to wher he was.i like to tele the storea of the big wack when cj tok the long whay that was the longist wack he did and he stel hasint wacked any farser.
CJ
At ten months … he’s walking, but can’t stand from a sitting position, so chooses to crawl more often; plus he’s super-crazy-fast on hands and knees. He’s scared of heights. He can climb stairs, but as soon as he gets about four or five up, he freezes. He has no teeth. He’s a natural drummer. He loves to hear singing, and tries to join in. He initiates chasing and peekaboo games which make him laugh hysterically (us too). Makes noises like an engine while pushing cars or trucks. Plays well on his own. Adores his sisters and brother, but likes his own space, and has a special grunting protest noise he makes when one of them is picking him up against his will. Has separate protest noises for: I’m stuck; put me down; I’m mad; someone’s stolen a toy from me. Loves to be outside, even in the snow.
Local Food Round-Up: Suggestions Welcome
Hmm. Haven’t been keeping up with the local food round-up plan. I’ve been doing it in my head, just not getting to here, lately. I’m blaming my dwindling determination and lack of follow-through on winter. Honestly, it’s minus 19 out there today. The chill is seeping through the walls. My fantasies about spring are growing more vivid by the hour.
My local food theme of the week is: Suggestions Welcome. We kicked off this theme on Super Bowl Sunday, when Kevin requested chili. I served it with cornbread on Sunday, then reheated it for Monday with rice. Tuesday I took a friend’s Facebook suggestion and made the garlic-heavy Ethiopian Lentil Bowl from Simply in Season, with homemade naan bread; this required frying it up with CJ in a backpack to keep him out of harm’s way. Last night it was leftover surprise, plus fried potatoes. Should have taken suggestions, because no one liked it (except, maybe, me). Complaints Welcome became the unintentional theme. Tonight I’m planning to roast a nicely-thawed chicken, as suggested by Kevin, with root veggies.
Okay, Fooey is screaming “Read me a book, Mom!” over and over again from the couch, and CJ is dozily destroying a cookie, and I need to snap out of the computer zone. Snap!
Impatience
Honestly, I don’t want to spend another day feeling this low on patience. I feel like a spring that wants to be sprung.
We were fortunate to get out in the snow and wind, and go ice skating at a neighbours’ (everyone skating but me and CJ, that is).
But still.
Excerpt from an ongoing conversation, which has been ongoing in this vein ALL DAY LONG (topic interchangeable):
“No one loves me,” sayeth Apple-Apple, lying on the floor behind me.
“We all love you,” sayeth OCM. “We just want you to take a bath.”
“No one ever plays with me. No one ever plays with me when I’m bored.”
“You just need to take a bath.”
“No, baths are yucky. Baths are disgusting.”
“Honey, you just need to take a bath.”
“No! You can’t make me have a bath anymore!”
I feel like George’s dad in Seinfeld screaming SERENITY NOW!
Patience, please!
The Flu
This Blog has the flu. Even though it got its flu shot. Apparently, the strain making the rounds wasn’t included in the mix. Don’t worry about me, however. I am fine. Touch wood and send skyward a hearty prayer.
My children, on the other hand; sigh. One has very nearly recovered the pink of health, and the other, suffering pallidly, is clad in green pajamas, a fuzzy hat with earflaps, and a giant blue blanket. Those affected are school-aged; the other two have thus far escaped. (Touch wood; pray). This morning, things are looking up: the kids are playing together–all four! And I am sneakily watching … as it all falls apart. Hmm. Excuse me, dear Blog, you’ll have to fend for yourself momentarily. Drink your tea.
I’m back. The lull has returned to the living-room. Children quietly reading books and baby happily knocking books off the shelf (his favourite upright occupation).
Last night I went out to shovel snow. That was actually a mental health necessity. I’d been indoors since Sunday; though Sunday we all dragged our post-Robbie Burns selves down to the theatre and while Kevin did clean-up, I played the grand piano on stage, and the kids danced. There are photos on the blog opposite.
My local food round-up evaporated when the Blog lost its appetite. But now that the Blog is cranky and hungry for toast (sure signs of improved health), I can tell you that we’re working with a Vegetarian theme this week. Which means the food is only somewhat local. I made a nice big red sauce from the freezer tomatoes and we’ve had pasta, we’ve had baked mac & cheese, we’ve had chili. The kids have been drinking the homemade grape juice as a special treat during illness. Tonight we’re planning corn bread and honey-baked lentils. And, as our stores dwindle, I am feeling excited about Nina’s buying club starting up again in the spring. Whoo-hoo!!! And an extra whoo-hoo just for the very thought of spring!!!