Way Back When-esday

As we are deciding on elementary schools, one of our criteria is to try to find out how well they will work with us if we were to decide to take the kids out of school to go to, say, Australia. Because we went to Australia in 2001 -- here we are at Sydney Harbor, with the bridge and opera house in the background -- and it is hands down the coolest place ever. We loved, loved, loved it, and we really want to take the kids back there when they are a little older. We want to take them a lot of other places too, of course. But looking back at this picture makes me remember that a family trip to Australia is at the top of our list.

School Choice

I've always been a supporter of school choice. The voucher system and such. It's the economist in me (I majored in economics in college). If a parent has choices and can cast a vote with that choice, the schools will improve in order to compete for students, and ultimately all the schools - and all the students - will benefit. I realize it doesn't always work that way, but in a perfect world, where parents had full knowledge, it would.

We have a little mini experiment in school choice working just that way in our neighborhood. HISD is a district of choice, meaning students can go either to their zoned school or to any other HISD school of their choosing provided there is room. To be sure, we don't have a perfect world with full parental knowledge. To the contrary, the public school application process is incredibly complicated, requiring a parent to understand multiple types of applications, multiple types of transfers, testing dates and matrices, Vanguard classes versus Vanguard magnet schools versus "regular classes" versus magnet schools and how all those interrelate, other opportunities such as I.B. programs, dual language programs, etc., etc., etc. Nevertheless, in our little slice of HISD in the Heights, there are multiple elementary schools competing for students via some or all of the above (including the two, Travis Elementary and Harvard Elementary, that we are considering for the boys). A choice of two phenomenal public schools, right here in inner city Houston. It works.

And I don't like it one bit.

Oh, I like it in theory. We have two fabulous choices. But what I didn't factor in is the fact that I can't make a decision.

Choice #1 is Travis Elementary. It is a Vanguard magnet school, which basically means that it specializes in gifted and talented programs. Great school. Been highly regarded for several years.

Choice #2 is Harvard Elementary. With a new principal in recent years, it is giving Travis a run for its money. Math/science/technology magnet. Working on getting an International Baccalaureate program. Lots of great things happening there.

Charlie tested into the Vanguard program at Travis Elementary. Joseph did not.* Joseph can still attend the school, because we are zoned there, but cannot participate in the Vanguard program. Both boys were accepted as magnet transfers to Harvard Elementary, so they can both go there too. Charlie would be in Harvard's version of the Vanguard class. Joseph might be allowed to "sit in" in such a class, too, but we we'll have to make our choice before we know about that. Three years down the line, Will and Helen can automatically go to Travis, but would still have to test into Vanguard in order to take advantage of that program. They would have to rely on a magnet or sibling transfer -- likely, but not guaranteed -- to be able to go to Harvard. The boys would LOVE the math and technology bent at Harvard, as well as the I.B. program. But if they are truly smart, they might benefit from the years of experience that Travis has in teaching "gifted" children. Can you see why this is difficult?

*Yesterday morning, Joseph wanted to know how many months old he is (we had mentioned Will and Helen being 22 months old). I told him 5 years old and 12 months in a year, so 5 times 12. It only took him a few seconds to answer "60." He then preceded to deduce what year Gramma was born based on knowing her current age. How does this kid not pass the Vanguard test?

Beautiful Spring Day

This past weekend started out cold - especially for the 8:30am t-ball practice! - but by Sunday it had warmed up into a beautiful day. We went to the zoo Sunday morning and had a great time. Then Sunday afternoon after naps, we did some spring planting. We planted some herbs, with the hope that we'll be able to use them in cooking. Rosemary, cilantro, oregano, and basil. Yum! The kids had a great time planting.

Everyone hard at work


Helen and Will in their cool new gardening gloves


Charlie - "More dirt, Mom?"


Joseph really enjoyed it, and Will enjoyed helping Joseph


Helen getting it just right

Makes my Monday

People often ask me how in the world we get four kids into and out of daycare alone. Especially since our daycare is located on a busy downtown street. Well, the method has varied over the past year and a half, depending on the age (and mobility) of the little ones. But for the last few months, this is how.

The kids get out of the car and sit on the ledge outside the building until everyone's ready. Then we go inside. In the evenings, the kids go out the door and sit on the ledge, and we put them in the car one by one. Granted, some of the other kids at our daycare sit nicely on the ledge like this as well, but we have four who do it! And really, it's not an option for us to have them running freely along the downtown city sidewalk (or street!). I'm always proud when I look over there and see them sitting so nicely together. It makes my Monday!

News Flash

Yesterday, for the first time, Helen actually used the potty (as opposed to just sitting on the potty, which she has loved to do for awhile).  

Just gotta record all the milestones.  When she's a teenager, I'm sure she'll be thrilled to know that her mother was not organized enough to put a single thing in her baby book, but was quick to write about her bodily functions on the world wide web.

Things we learned the hard way

It is impossible for one parent, alone, to teach twins how to roller skate.

Does this happen to anyone else?

I got up this morning at about 6:15. The kids got up at 7:00. I dropped them off at school from 7:45 to 8:00 (it's a lengthy process). I stopped in the tunnels to grab some breakfast, and got to the office around 8:30. I ate breakfast at my desk while I checked emails and blogs (some are work-related blogs, really!). I started researching some appellate matters, and have been doing that for about an hour. Now it's 9:45, and I begin to smell something. I looked all around my desk and my office and didn't see anything. Then, as I absent-mindedly put my hand to my head, it hit me.

My hand smells like kid poop!

It has been at least 2 hours and 45 minutes since I've changed a dirty diaper, and my hand has smelled like this the whole time. And I'm just now noticing.

Healthy Five-Year Olds

Yesterday was the boys' 5-year well child checkup. We love our pediatrician, who has a great touch with kids. Here are the highlights, in no particular order.

• Charlie was 43 1/2 inches tall and Joseph was 43 inches tall. This confirms that we made the right decision in adding a folded up pair of socks to Charlie's shoes to reach the 44-inch requirement to ride Space Mountain at Disneyworld.


• Charlie's blood pressure was 98/63 and Joseph's blood pressure was 100/61. I have no idea if this is within the normal range, but Joseph seemed satisfied that beating Charlie by 2 points on his systolic blood pressure made up for the 1/2 inch that Charlie beat Joseph in height.


• As proof that he is getting bigger, Charlie demonstrated his whistling skills to the doctor.


• Both boys wowed the doctor with their math skills. The doctor came in and, noting that they were both there for a 5-year appointment, asked if he could just do one 10-year appointment (a joke both boys totally got). Then he teasingly asked whether they needed shots and -- their steel-trap minds remembering that he told them, long ago, that there would be no more vaccinations until age 11 -- they pointed out to him that it would be 6 more years before they needed shots. That's when the doctor commented that they were very good at math, and I said that they love math. So Charlie volunteered that he knew what 5 times 5 is, but got it wrong (he said 20), and Joseph corrected him with 25. So the doctor asked what 7 times 7 was and they got really quiet. It looked like they were shy because they didn't know. So he started asking them further questions about football, soccer, etc.--topics he knows they love. They ignored him, refusing to answer. But I knew what they were doing. A few seconds later, having figured it out in their head, first Charlie then Joseph shouted, "49!"


• Both boys passed their hearing and vision tests. And they got to use the "big" eye chart with letters rather than the one for little kids with just pictures. I knew they would like the letters better. The nurse seemed surprised that they knew their letters, but surely most 5-year-olds do?

• The vision test was in Room L, which is the same room that Joseph got his infected head wound drained, without painkillers, during Will and Helen's 1-week baby appointment. He has been terrified of that room for the past 2 years, but yesterday, once I calmly explained that we would be in Room L but what we were doing wouldn't hurt at all, he not only went right in, but he went first!


• Both boys were in the 50th percentile for height (finally getting up to average!) and the 25th percentile for weight. Oh, how skinniness is wasted on the young.


• Keeping up the mean mommy persona, I refused to let them have lollipops after the appointment. I have reserved lollipops as a panacea for the bad things that happen at the doctor's office, like shots. Daddy would totally have let them have one.

Boys

We just got finished bringing in some groceries through the front door. As I was going to close the door, I checked outside. Charlie and Joseph were standing, back-to-back, on our FRONT sidewalk, peeing into the grass on either side. And Will was standing on the porch looking on with interest. I blame Cort. I just do.

I made Cort deal with it, and he told the boys, in no uncertain terms, that we can only pee in the back yard, not the front yard. Good. I'm glad we've got the ground rules down.

Helen and I are so outnumbered around here.

In Honor of Daddy's Birthday

Today is the day that Daddy catches up with Mommy and turns 38. We are both getting perilously close to 40. Lately, on a lot of the "mommy blogs" and on Facebook people have posted their kids' answers to a set of interview questions about their mothers. In honor of today being Cort's birthday, I turned it around, and last night I had Charlie and Joseph, both age 5, answer these questions about their dad.

1. What is something your dad always says to you?


C: "Nice things."
J: "That's hard. Can I give you a hug?"


2. What makes your dad happy?


C: "When we be good."
J: "No whining!"


3. What makes your dad sad?


C: "When we be bad."
J: "Whining!"


4. How does your dad make you laugh?


C: "Probably everything."
J: "Silly things."


5. What was your dad like as a child?


C: "Mmmm, I can't know that. Mom, do you know?"
J: "I don't know."


6. How old is your dad?


C: "38. He's gonna be 38."
J: "38."


7. How tall is your dad?

C: Holds one hand up as far as he can reach and one hand down as low as he can reach. "I think he's taller than that but I can't really put my hands that high. This is just how high I can do it, but he's taller."

J: "That's hard. Something inches."


8. What is his favorite thing to do?


C: "Play with us."
J: "Play with us."


9. What does your dad do when you're not around?


C: "Ooooh. I don't know."
J: "Look for us."


10. If your dad becomes famous, what will it be for?


C: "That's kind of hard."

J: "Ohhh, famous for what?" Then ensued a long conversation where I tried to explain the definition of famous to him -- essentially that a person is famous when everyone knows him. So then he answered, "Because everyone knows him."

11. What is your dad really good at?


C: "Slam dunking the basketball." (Here I must note that our basketball goal is usually set at 6 feet high.)
J: "Doing trash and recycling."


12. What is your dad not very good at?


C: "Probably nothing."
J: "Whining."


13. What does your dad do for his job?


C: "Help clean up with whoever's turn it is to be a kitchen cleanup helper."
J: "Trash and recycling."


(I think by "jobs," they are fixated on their chores, as both of these things are on the chore list.)


14. What is your dad's favorite food?


C: "Soup probably."
J: "Pizza!"


15. What makes you proud of your dad?


C: "Me proud of Daddy? So I make Daddy proud?" Here I explain that it's the other way around. "That he helps me."
J: Joseph didn't understand this one at all. I tried to explain for awhile, and then tried to give him some examples. So he answered: "Things that you said."


16. If your dad were a cartoon character, who would he be?


C: "I don't know, probably Daddy."
J: "What's a cartoon character?"


17. What do you and your dad do together?


C: "Play together."
J: "Play."


18. How are you and your dad the same?


C: "Probably like when we smile the same."
J: "We like doing the same things."


19. How are you and your dad different?


C: "When we don't smile alike."
J: "Because we're not the same years old."


20. How do you know your dad loves you?


C: "Probably everything. Everything."
J: "Because he hugs and kisses me."


21. Where is your dad's favorite place to go?


C: "Probably everywhere. Except places we don't go to."
J: "That's hard. I can't think. I'm thinking. Double Dave's Pizza - the one close to Daddy's office."