Introducing...

Our apartment is pretty crowded these days. There's Chris, and me. The girls - including the newest one. Our aging cats, Brontë and Cooper. We have hundreds of fish, a tank of crickets, and a hamster. So when Bela started bugging us about adding another pet to the mix, adding more responsibilities to our daily "to do" checklist, Chris and I instantly agreed. Yes! Of Course!

Now, Bela knows better than to ask for a dog, because we have promised them we will get one as soon as we buy a house. So she thought maybe a lizard. Maybe a snake? Yes! A snake! I thought it was a great idea.

"You know, Bela, little snakes and lizards like to eat crickets. You know, Bela, those crickets you caught last summer have made lots and lots of babies. We could really save on food if..."  her horrified expression stopped me there.

But no, no... she started thinking. No, definitely not a snake. Something.... cuddly.

And so, introducing...........

Mama Mia

Pumpkin - and yes. I actually sewed these little beds. Cavy cozy, if you will.

Mama Mia and Pumpkin!

Now, do not fret. Bela spent an entire week researching the ins and outs of all things Cavy (rodent family native to South America, including guinea pigs): What they eat, how to train them, how to make them like you, how to give them a bath, what kind of cage they need, what kind of toys they like, how long they live, what all of their little noises mean.  She watched countless how-tos on Videojug. When we picked up the cage and materials earlier in the week, she ran into the store and filled the cart with hay, treats, food. She was so well-prepared, she really made this mama proud.

We got these two piggies from The Critter Corral - a guinea pig rescue based out of Steger, Il. The woman in charge, Rose, has a network of foster care "parents" for her rescued guineas. I threw the three girls in the car and drove to Griffith, Indiana on Saturday to pick up this lovely duo. They are adults, rather timid, and were given up because the owner's children had allergies.

Before we left the foster care home, I asked the incredibly nice woman where most of the piggies came from and what the largest number rescued from one home was.  She said they came from all over and from all types of situations. The largest number rescued from one house was 33.

"Obviously they were breeding them, right? Why?" I asked.

"Oh you would never believe it. They were breeding them as food for their pet snakes. Apparently guinea pigs are more satisfying than rats. How awful. Who would do that?"

Right. Disgusting. Who would ever think about breeding one pet to feed to another? Shameful. Just shameful.

Mid-winter break

February is usually a sad, sad time around these parts. In a normal year, it represents the third or fourth month of dreary Chicago weather with no relief on the horizon. March might be the official start of Spring, but we all know that it can be the cruelest month of the year, taunting us with broken promises and the merest hints of Spring.

But this year we have a few things going for us: first of all, we only just got our second snowfall of the season that stuck around, and as I write this a few short days later, it is all but gone. The only remnants of our most recent snowfall are the snow-frosted dog turds littering the parkway directly in front of my parked car.

Second of all, most of the major museums have several *free days* for Chicago residents. This was perfectly timed, as both girls are enjoying a week off of school for their mid-winter break. Although in true Katie fashion I either mis-read or mis-calculated and ended up paying for almost every visit this week, the girls and I enjoyed many days full of adventure.

On Monday, February 20th, we made it to the Field museum, whose *free day* was in fact January 20th. But after a few moments of forehead slapping and apologizing, Chris and I forked out the $40 for the 4 of us to explore ancient Egypt. The girls have been spending a lot of time listening to the audio version of several Magic Tree House books, and Mae really wanted to see "all the dead people"  (mummies). As we climbed up the pyramid and then descended back down into the tombs, Mae complained about the abundance of "boring stuff" (pottery and interesting ancient artifacts) and wanted to see the "boxes with dead people" (sarcophagi).

A few mummies later, Mae started complaining. "I'm sick of seeing all these dead people. There are too many dead people. I'm tired of walking. This is boring. I want to eat. I want to go home."  

Wednesday was the highlight of the week. We spent almost 5 hours at the Museum of Science and Industry. We started on the third floor balcony and worked our way down to ground level. Twice. The girls ran in giant hamster wheels, competed against each other with brain power to move a small ball across a board. They studied the fetuses in jars and watched the conception to childbirth movie three times. They simulated tornadoes, avalanches, and tsunamis, and they spent two hours in the Idea lab on floor 1.

Friday we visited the Nature Museum, whose free day is every Thursday. We've been there several times before, but Bela had a nice time in the water exhibit playing with locks, dams, and levies. Mae liked the insect, amphibian, and reptile room. And they both spent a great deal of time trying to get a butterfly to land on them in Butterfly Haven.

The two days we didn't go to museums we spent at home playing, cleaning and working our way through the multitude of craft kits Bela recently got for her birthday. We braided 1 1/2 friendship bracelets, built and painted (but did not hang) a birdhouse, beaded 1 earring, and built 1/2 of a lego house.  We also prepared for the arrival of the newest members of our household - more news to come.

Spring break will roll through here in about 6 weeks. I'm actually looking forward to it. Maybe we can visit some art museums and the planetarium. Maybe we will get around to making a complete pair of beaded earrings.

This Moment

A moment from our week. Love these gals I'm surrounded by. Happy weekending, all.

This Moment

Ugh. Forgot again. Enjoy this photo from more than 5 years ago, when my big girl was little. 

The aftermath

I'm a bad blogger. Bad, bad, bad. It's not that my kids aren't cute, they are. It's not that we aren't doing anything. We have been. It's not even that I don't have any time. I have.

It's because I'm self-absorbed. And I had surgery. So I've been putting around all week thinking about myself and my surgery. Oh, and getting ready - importantly- for Bela's Big Birthday Bash. Ok. Not completely self-absorbed.

Bela turned 7 a month ago and we finally had the party. The one where we forgot that we live on one level, on the second floor (above two stylish, childless, thirty-somethings), in 1200 square feet (if you count the pantry and the back porch.) The party where we assume 12-14 7 year old girls will get along, will be fabulously entertained by Chris and me, and will go to bed at a decent hour.  We assumed wrong.

The funny part? They still had a good time. At least I think they did. There was a lot of giggling, screaming, gossiping, crafting, popcorn eating, and squealing.

Because I can't rehash the entire party here on the blog for future Bela, I have this photo which offers but a glimpse of what the rest of our apartment looked like when the last child left today. Enjoy. I know I am.

The 1 square foot between couch and magazine basket. Multiply this by the 1200 sq ft that is our apartment.

This Moment

A special moment from our week. Let's call it a very special carpe kairos moment. No words necessary. Have a wonderful weekend, all!

The Slumber Party

My first born recently celebrated her 7th birthday. Unbelievably crazy. She has changed so much lately, she seems so grown up to me. A lot of our clashes seem to originate from me treating her like she's 4 and her acting like she's 12. We really need to find a way to meet somewhere in between.

We are very different, Bela and I. She is so social. She desires - needs, even - a lot of people around her. She wants play dates, parties, sleep overs. I, on the other hand, tend to spend a lot of quiet time alone. I feel a little out of sorts in large groups of people, so my tendency is to avoid arranging the kind of social engagements that Bela so longs for.

It dawns on me that a lot of parent/child conflict most likely results more from these types of personality differences than from anything else. It's not what she does that bothers me, it's my inability to understand her motivation that drives me crazy. Every night when she goes to sleep I see her there in her bed, sweet as an angel and I'm so moved. And every morning when we wake up I promise myself I'll be more patient and more understanding than the day before. I promise there will be no fights, no yelling. But things don't always work out that way. 

And yet, I'm trying. I'm trying to take a deep breath when I get frustrated with Bela's absent-mindedness, her disorganization, her constant chattiness.  I remind myself that she is her own person, and she is 7. I've been doing a better job of this lately. Um, well, I think I have. Except for this morning; let's not talk about this morning.

I've also tried of late to be more social, for her sake. So we are having a slumber party to celebrate (belatedly) her 7th birthday. We have invited every girl from her class. They will all be at my house, all night. To combat that tightening I feel in my chest, I've been spending a lot of time on Pinterest, saving ideas I find on-line to make this party a very special one she will remember.

I plan on spending all next week preparing for her big night. I should have plenty of time seeing that I have to go in for surgery tomorrow and will be mostly house-bound for a few weeks. Nothing serious here, just a hernia my doctors are certain I acquired during Gil's delivery. The timing might be perfect, though. I have to put all my overly ambitious plans on hold and just hang at home. Plenty of time to make paper chains, paper stars, blow balloons, and bake treats.

Plenty of time to take a deep breath and try all over again, every day. That is, after all, what parenting is all about, right?