Adios Tooth #2

Violet: Mom, I lost another tooth today at school.
Me: Wow, no way.  Let me see!
Violet (opens her mouth to show me her new gap): I don't have the tooth though.  I lost it in the auditorium.
Me: How did you lose it?
Violet: I don't know.  We were watching a movie and it fell on the floor and I couldn't find it. But, mommy, can you call the tooth fairy and tell her that I lost it but it won't be under my pillow?
Me: Sure, I can do that.  I think she will also write you a beautiful note sprinkled with fairy dust.
Violet: No, it's ok, can you just tell her to bring the money.
Me: I am sure she will bring the money AND the note.
Violet: No, it's ok, I don't need the note...just the money.

Sick Day

The Annual, Evergrowing Kids Thanksgiving Picture (wow that was a mouthful)

Tree of Thanks

Morning Cuddles

Mommy's New Hobby

I call this image: Transvestite Cat

Ivy the Prima Ballerina

Fall Project

Mommy got crafty after a visit to the Botanic Garden

Halloween Medley

Violet and Ivy reenact Wicked

Gabby's 5th Birthday

The Very Generous Tooth Fairy

It feels like yesterday that Gene and I were carefully observing Violet's gums to see if a tooth is making an appearance.  Actually, it was 5 years ago but I remember the excitement vividly--her first tooth!  And now that very same tooth (or possibly a neighboring tooth) has fallen out, a sign that our little girl is really growing up.  I would be lying if I said I didn't get a little emotional. Okay, very emotional.  Violet has been waiting for this day a long time.  She started to talk about it when she was four, telling random people on the streets that when she turns five, she will lose a tooth.  

That same night she lost her tooth, she was visited by the tooth fairy, who left her 5 singles (one for each year of her life).  I later learned that the tooth fairy is also supposed to leave a note with some glitter, but mommy the tooth fairy was working late on a new business pitch and didn't have time to do the research must have forgotten. Violet was so excited to spend her money and here is what she bought so far: the first two dollars went to chocolate bars that she bought from Ivy, who was selling them for the school fundraiser; the third dollar went towards a stick of gum.  She still has 2 more bucks to spend and she plans on buying either a new toy or an iPhone.  

This weekend we visited grandma and grandpa and it turned out that the tooth fairy also came to their house and left some money under the pillow of the bed where Violet sleeps.  This time she left a whopping $20 bucks!  Gone are the days when she leaves a quarter or a dollar.

Fall in the Hamptons (Part 2)

Photobombed at the Zoo

Say it with your heart

Scene: Violet is washing her hands at the barn area of the zoo and a little boy presses the water faucet for her, so it can stay on.
We walk away and I ask Violet what we should say if someone does something nice for us. She answers, "we should say thank you". Good, Violet, that's right. Did you say thank you to the boy who held the water for you? I did mommy, but I said it with my whole heart. Umm, that's great but next time can you say it with your mouth too?

Fall in the Hamptons

Contrary to popular belief, Summer isn't the only time to visit the Hamptons. Fall is filled with a cool ocean breeze, apple picking, hay riding and lots of apple cider doughnuts.  

Ready for Take Off!

Ivy: Mommy, fuck it. Fuck it. Fuck it.
Me: Ivy, what does that mean?
Ivy: Shit.
Me: huh?
Ivy: Fuck it, shit.
Me: Did you mean...rocket ship?
Ivy: yeah!

9th Annual Apple Picking Trip

I've lost count but pretty sure it's the 9th annual apple picking trip.   Check out the bottom picture from Apple Picking 2008 (the earliest I can find).

Pre-marriage, pre-kids!

Back to School

Violet and Ivy are both back in school. They aren't in the same school but at least our routine hasn't changed much from last year.  We are doing the reverse commute.  Ivy is going to Violet's old school and Violet's school is a block way from Ivy's old school.  The routine is pretty easy so far.  We all wake up at 6:45am and by "all" I mean just me because my alarm rings.  I snooze it at least once before waking Gene up and then attempting to wake up the girls.  Both of them hate waking up and try to stay in bed as long as possible.  They pull the blankets over their heads or whine about how tired they are (one would think this would encourage them to go to bed early. not so much).  By 7:05am the whole clan is awake and the kids are at the kitchen table eating breakfast while we make Violet's lunch. Her menu doesn't change.  It's salami sandwich every single day.  After breakfast comes the hard part: getting dressed.  Someone always doesn't like their outfit or wants to wear different shoes or wants an Elsa braid instead of the Rapunzel braid.  There is always an invisible boo boo somewhere that needs nesporin, band aids and lots of love and care.  The worst part of the morning comes during teeth brushing.  It's like instead of asking them to brush their teeth we are asking them to donate kidneys.  They fight and yell and scream and protest and say it's not fair and finally give in when we threaten to leave them home alone.  At 8:10am Gene and Ivy give us hugs and kisses and take the bus to school.  At 8:20am, Violet and I walk outside where we immediately join a sea of people all walking in the same direction.  The crowd is so thick at times it feels like we are navigating Times Square. The energy is palpable.  We meet friends, neighbors, kids we went to daycare with, kids from camp.  The sense of community is felt as we all walk our kids to school and greet the crossing guards, teachers, the principal.  I feel great about the year ahead and look forward to her stories, adventures and accomplishments.

Ukrainian Princess

Are you done laughing?  Ok, I will wait....Still not done?  If you were born in the 80s, I don't care what country you came from, you likely have a picture that resembles the below atrocity.  Maybe without the ghastly haircut and socks with sandals.  Actually, probably with the socks and sandals. Apparently no one knew how to use scissors back then because haircuts had two styles: horrible and awful.  This would make a good ad for come visit Ukraine (in your time machine).

Rest in Peace Grandpa

When my dad passed away, words couldn't express what I felt.  I surely didn't try to write down or express my emotions because it wasn't just sadness but a deep anger at the cruelty of this world for taking him away from me.  It's six years later and I once again have to feel the loss of someone close, but this time it's with peace that I say goodbye to my dear grandpa. He lived a long and happy life and was passionate about his career in medicine and being one of the top anesthesiologist in Russia. He came to America in his 60s and quickly found a new job working for a travel company which allowed him to travel all over the world.  He was a jokester, albeit he had a very strange sense of humor.  When I was a little girl his favorite joke was during meal time, when his hands were greasy or dirty from dissecting fish, he would walk over to me and say, "you're such a good girl" and pat me on the head, resulting in wiping his hands on my hair.  He would do this over and over and it never got old and each time he laughed at his own cleverness.  As I sit here and vividly remember that story, I too laugh a little and wonder if I can get away with doing that to my own kids.  Rest in peach Leonid Abramovich Moyerman, you are greatly missed.

1...2...3...4...5...

In 9 years the Klayman clan went from 1 to 5.  Our newest addition is baby Noa who is tiny and cute as a button.

Happy Birthday to Me!