festival

Today, we attended Gwennie's first piano recital. Not only was she uncertain about what to expect, but since she got scheduled as the first participant, she was a little trepidatious about the whole thing. But she took it seriously, practicing "Party Cat" and "Knock Knock Joke" (which calls for her to knock on the piano cabinet after every musical phrase) repeatedly over the past weeks. And she did a really fine job; she feels proud of her performance. We even got a few pictures of her with her teacher, but since we had to borrow a friend's camera to get them, it may take us a few days to get them posted.

finale

One of the great moments of yesterday came when I arrived at the Library early, a little anxious about the interviews and specifically the presentation and Q&A. I was really buoyed when I saw, for the first time, the new banners installed on the facade of the building. I designed these for our upcoming science fiction exhibition, and tried to capture the same exuberance and over-the-top energy of the material (especially the pulp periodicals from the 40s and 50s, where the Library's collection is particularly strong).

interview

Printing on the common press while teaching last year's workshop

I'd been working toward today for the past two years. Since I joined the library, I have been attempting to join the faculty as a tenure track professor. Despite my doctorate, I do not have the terminal degree for the profession, so after managing to get the credential last summer, I've been waiting for a new position (Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts) to be posted. (Considering the rate of institutional time, I consider the half year to be relatively speedy.)

My day consisted of a formal presentation before the full faculty and staff, and then led through a series of additional interviews before various groups (including my colleagues at the library, the search committee, and the Dean). I feel that it all went really well, and look forward to hearing about the outcome.

The title of my presentation before the faculty

ulterior research

(These shots, of the children looking at the vitrine full of astronomy books from the library's collection -- which I'd loaned and installed at the Museum -- are not only documentation, but became a slide from tomorrow's presentation slideshow.)

outtakes

Grandad time

Check out these shots from the weekend before Grandad returned to Dallas. It's pretty easy to see what a good time we all had.

The kids actually requested this shot -- I guess they've been well trained.

expedition

With Grannie and Grandad here for a visit, our Saturday afternoon options were unlimited. But since Grandad was only able to stay briefly, he wanted to treat the kids to a fun outing, and so suggested that we head out to the local natural science museum. We stayed for a couple of fascinating hours, looking at the books I'd lent to the astronomy exhibit and examining the permanent collections. So Mama got her nap, and we got to look at snakes, gems, dinosaur bones, muskets, and to buy some break-your-own geodes. Thanks, Grandad!

feminine mystique

They'll probably have something to say about this when they're a few years older.

wardrobe

We've written about the children's love of costuming before. It goes without saying that in this game, as with most, Gwennie is the ringleader and mastermind. In this instance, she's dressed her brothers up as a princess and a ballerina. Gwennie's costume? She's the mother.

spelling lesson

Gwennie, always anxious to tutor her brother: Linus, what does L-I-N-S spell?
Linus: Cat!
Gwennie: No, C-A-T spells "cat." What does L-I-N-S spell? L-I-N-S spells "Linus!" What does C-A-T spell?
Linus: Dog!
Gwennie: No, it's the one I just told you about. What does C-A-T spell? What does D-A-G spell?

achoo

Linus came running from the kitchen to warn me that "the sloppy joes is sneezing!" (meaning was that the simmering liquid in the pan was spattering the stovetop.)

warbler

Casper has become very attached to singing, particularly in nursery. Noting his excitement, we've added a song to his bedtime routine. He generally chooses one of his favorites and calls it out ("Child of God" or "Popcorn Popping") as we take him to his crib. He's also very attentive to song parodies, and we sometimes invent songs about Linus or Toffee, to which he responds with fits of giggles. Once I sang him a snippet from an old Simpsons episode ("I gave my [boy] a chicken, it had no bones") which he not only remembered the next night, but then went through a period of demanding as his nightly sing-along.

backyard portrait

stump speech

These really are sweet kids. Yes, they're often going after each other, but they also help each other, share, and console each other when they're hurt or upset. Maybe the best you can hope for is that those supportive moments outweigh the rivalry and petty animosities. That will be our official story, anyway.

sarcasm

Casper has developed an ability to respond to ordinary situations with subtleties of sassiness that is, I think, uncommon in a two year old. Real snottiness is a matter of intonation, and I have to say that he has the tone down. It's a little surprising, because as verbal as the children are, neither of Casper's siblings have ever been like this; Gwendolyn is able to articulate her issues directly, and Linus is more sensitive and prone to freakout when he's upset. But Casper's answer to the power imbalance that is being the youngest of three is to use sarcasm to get a bit of an advantage. It's pretty effective -- especially with Linus, who just gets flustered. Here's an example, in which Linus was talking about his imaginary university, Secret Boy Class (where he sets the curriculum -- it's pretty much all construction and transformers):

Linus: You're never going to be big enough to go to Secret Boy Class!

Casper: I already go Secret Boy Nursery.

Linus: You're going to have to go to Home School.

Casper: Mama, I go to Secret Home School!

overheard

Jen: You know what you have?

Casper: What?

Jen: A good Daddy.

Casper: Also a bad Daddy!

grateful sunday

This week I am thankful for:

• The moms in my life. Today is my mama's birthday and Tuesday was Todd's mama's birthday. I'm so thankful for the love and examples of these two awesome women.
  
• Central heat. We've had some downright cold days and nights in Texas this past week (relatively speaking, of course). I don't like to be cold and I well remember living in Boston apartments, huddling around a small space heater. I am very thankful for the heat in my house and the cozy blankets on my bed.
• Todd's knowledge of the Hebrew Bible. We're studying the Old Testament in Sunday School this year and I'm loving reading and discussing the lessons with him.
  
• Gwendolyn's maturity. She's a good example to her brothers (most of the time) and is so willing to help me when I need her (most of the time).
  

instructions

Today, while they were each lying in bed trying to nap, Mama had to scold Casper about his constant talking: "Casper, if you don't lie down and sleep, Mama's going to leave."

His response was

"No, I leave --

I leave in Green Dave.

I get keys,

I get in driver's seat,

and I go away."

("Green Dave" is the name of Todd's car, the green Subaru)

victuals

Casper's becoming more of an eater -- at least, he's talking about food a little more than usual.

A few weeks ago, he asked us for an "orangetine" (that is, a clementine).

Casper: My eye is hurting, Mama.

Mama: Let's go get some breakfast.

Casper: That will help my body be healthy!

Daddy: What should we have for dinner, Casper?

Casper: Tandy Tanes! [then, going to Mama and pretending to chomp]: You're so tasty!

After Jennifer transferred the chocolate chips into large glass jars, Casper said, "I want to put the chocolate chips in my food storage." When we asked him where his food storage is, Casper led us to the corner of our hall closet, underneath the seldom-used coats, where he intended to cache the treats.

dinos

Here, each of the older kids is acting like a tyrannosaurus rex. They claim to be responsible for the cracks in the pavement.

ensemble

(Grandpa got these shots while they were here over Christmas.)

grateful sunday

This week I am thankful for:

• All the family that we've had in town. Everyone went home on Wednesday and oh how we miss them! The house is eerily quiet. We are so grateful for the sacrifices everyone made to get here and are thankful that all returned home in safety.
• The start of a new year. I really enjoy making goals and planning for the months ahead. It's rejuvenating.
  
• The wonderful father that Todd is. I love watching him play and interact with our kids. It's obvious how much he adores and respects them. It's also painfully obvious that he is the preferred parent, but I'm okay with that.
  

food and its hazards

Potatoes have been a source of contention in our home. First, it was the problem of identifying the tuber versus a similarly-named fruit, the tomato. (I can't keep track of which child dislikes which food.) With some trepidation, we introduced twice-baked potatoes to the children, and to our astonishment (really), Linus loved them. He later said, "Next time I get to choose a dinner, I'm going to pick over-baked potatoes! They were so yummy!"

An unrelated note: after suffering some gastric distress (no doubt due to something he ate elsewhere), he walked out of the bathroom and announced that "I think I have diary, Mama."

farewell

I don't know which is harder to believe -- that our visits with family are over, or that it's possible to spend a week and a half with guests in complete harmony and joy. I suppose that it's a testament to our relationships that we not only want to spend so much time together, but that we appear to be relatively good at it. We've also managed to create some great memories, from staying up laughing to MST3K, RiffTrax, and various comedians with Elisabeth to watching the children read and play inventive games with their grandparents. Oh, and food. Thanks so much, everyone.

wind down

On the last full day of our vacation, we simply wanted to spend as much time together as we could. Dad and I couldn't resist taking the press for a quick spin, but most of the rest of our time was devoted to talking, playing with the children, and recuperating from everything else we'd done. The recovery includes eating, which we took quite seriously on this trip (we capped off a string of good meals with a brie cooked in brioche). It would be hard to think of many more enjoyable experiences that we could pack into a week and a half -- at least while remaining at home.

Dad's game of Mega Structure, in which we used all the kids' blocks to make towers which we then demolished, may have better been called Mega Destructure

quests

While the rest of the family took a trip to visit the ice cream factory -- which was apparently quite a hit, and not just among the children -- Dad, Ian, and I drove Austin to purchase and move a "new" printing press which I'd been making arrangements to buy for around six months. Relying upon ancient Egyptian technology and only a bit of brute strength, we managed to get the half-ton machine across Texas and into the pressroom. We had a fabulous time on our adventure, and I'm hugely grateful to Dad, Ian, and Elisabeth for all their help in making it happen.

additions

Today saw the arrival of Uncle Ian, Auntie Sarah, Isaac, and Christian from Alabama. We have all been really excited for their visit, and were happy to see that they survived the long drive so well. The occasion was marked by Grandpa's revealing of the gift he'd made for the children -- wooden, painted, bejeweled swords. After a knighting ceremony, the play commenced, and hasn't ended yet.

carol

What a beautiful, crisp day! Because of our usual Christmas morning delivery of baked goods to friends and neighbors, it was after one by the time the children could check on he disposition of their stockings and the playthings Santa had left, and even later before we got around to opening the presents under the tree. We're so grateful for all our family and friends who made the day so memorable and fulfilling.

Eve

With Granny and Grandad here to celebrate with us, the children were in the wonderful position of having both sets of grandparents around them on Christmas. Though the children wanted it to come sooner, we eventually held our traditional program. It's likely that some of our choices may not become standard (no offense, Dad, but even your lively rendition and Lisbeth Zwerger's illustrations can't make "The Night Before Christmas" much of a poem -- and the transition to Luke 2 was a little rocky). But most of the night, especially Mom's telling of her John and Marjorie story, was pretty magical. The children were finally rewarded with a single present, chosen for them by their mother; naturally, it was the sleeper bottoms she had sewn for them. They were (surprisingly?) thrilled, with the exception of Gwennie, whose pant legs have still not been joined.

nature spot

Because we're approaching the end of the month, we decided to visit our nature spot for the last time. Grandma, Grandpa, and Auntie Buzz helped us find a little trail which we followed, discovering native Texas trees and a number of fun vines which the children wanted to swing on.