Basketball

Charlotte lives for three things: Basketball, Chocolate and Music. (No idea what order those go in formally -- so I alphabetized them to be safe.)

Last year for her birthday her Granddaddy gave her a gift card to Toys 'R Us. I took her when I could schedule at least an hour for her to walk around and explore and pick something she really wanted. She -- no kidding -- touched EVERY toy that was immediately front of her or below her. She didn't look up and didn't turn around...so I figure she roughly touched 25% of the store. It was amazing.

Lots of things got a reaction -- but nothing brought the sincere and awe-inspired reaction that she had when she walked into the sporting goods section. She turned the corner and grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop and take in the scene.

Charlotte: MOM!

Mom: Yes Charlotte?

Charlotte: Do you see it?

Mom: See what Charlotte?

Charlotte: The baskie-ball hoop....

Mom: Oh! Yes, I do.

Charlotte: Isn't it lovely.

Needless to say, she loves to shoot hoops and this spring has really been heading out in the backyard every day (when its not raining) to shoot hoops. She also had two fantastic weekends when she was able to shoot with my brother Tim (who for those of you who don't know is 6'7" and also lives for shooting hoops) and talks about it incessantly.

Here are a few of her "early career" photos. Here's hoping that she doesn't lose her ability to love something this much as she gets older.

HUMOROUS EXCHANGE TWO

Charlotte: Mom. I can't decide what pets I want when I grow up.

Mom: That's okay Charlotte. You have a little while.

Pause

Charlotte: Okay. I've decided. I would like three pets: a dog, a fish and a duck.

Ben: Charlotte, you can't have a duck as a pet.

Charlotte: Why not?

Ben: Because they like to swim.

Charlotte: I will give him a pail of water.

Ben: He is going to want to swim around and get some exercise.

Charlotte: He can carry the pail and walk around.

Ben: A pail isn't big enough.

Charlotte: Well.....maybe I will just buy a house that has a pond.

Ben: Do you know what I would do if I had a duck? Pause..... I would pluck his feathers off. Skin him. Roast him. And Eat him.

Charlotte: BENNY! Don't eat my duck!!!!

Mom: Charlotte, when you grow up. If you go on vacation...do NOT leave your duck in Ben's care.

With great reverence...

Charlotte does everything with great deliberation...but this clip shows how much reverence she brings to "her music"

Inspiration

So...I have been inspired by my sister and bonus sister to get writing again. I don't know if anyone reads this...but I read theirs and enjoy it so much...so here goes -- its only been 5 months right.

We have had an amazingly busy year with Ben in 2nd grade and Lolly finishing preschool. I finally got traction at work and am busier than ever, and Drew has transferred to a higher profile job in NYC - and is engaged and enthused about his work again. Its nice....but we are all so incredibly busy!

We did soccer for both of the kids this fall. It was fun if not a bit hectic to keep both of the kids on their different schedules. Ben was totally drawn to the game, had some natural skills -- and the biggest grin stretched across his face as he ran up and down the field. Here's proof:






















Charlotte on the other hand had a different experience for soccer. Most 4 year-olds have an attention span of approximately 15-20 minutes. With this in mind our youngest kids soccer program is full of games that are used to help build ball handling skills. That did not suit Lolly... She was ready to rip 'em up and PLAY BALL! As evidenced here:




















So, when they started playing games like Simon Says with their soccer balls, she was a bit perplexed. She quickly moved to full blown disgust when she witnessed the ridiculous behavior of PUTTING YOUR HEAD ON YOUR BALL!!! Can you hear her? She's saying, "YOU ARE SUCH LEMMINGS!!!"

First Day of School

Wow! Ben bounced out of the bed, excited about his school supplies and new school year. He announced it was his first day of second grade, and asked his sister, "Aren't you excited for me?" She said, "Sure. Ben, it's my last day of school."

Art

So, in our house it is a priority to exercise your body...and your mind. Of course my kids are drawn to opposite ends of the spectrum - Lolly is drawn to anything with a ball and Ben can pass hours at his art table. Both of the kids have art at school on Thursdays. It is the reason that Ben bounds out of bed. From Charlotte I usually get a "NOT ART! I haaaaaaaaaaaate art!" To which I of course say - "Lolly, you exercise your body. You must learn to exercise your brain." I then get a "Okay Mommy."

I had a fantastic day with the kids several weeks ago where we went to a ceramic painting place. Not surprisingly, Ben chose a dragon and Charlotte chose a horse. Here are some pictures of Lolly painting her horse and her finished product.




Not long after, I enrolled Ben in an acrylic painting class. The class examined Monet's Waterlilies painting and then worked to create their own version. This was Ben's first time painting on a canvas and he loved the class. His art teacher also was incredibly encouraging and I can't say what a fantastic experience it was for him.

Here is his finished product:


I remember taking art class at the YWCA when I was a kid. I remember walking through the dark, painted cement block halls. Smelling the chlorine from the pool. Playing with charcoals and pastels and the joy I felt from those classes. I also still love being creative and hope that it is a tool my kids take into their lives.

T-ball

So, to say my family was into baseball is a gross understatement. We all played Little League, several of us played ball in high school and a few even in college. My father still coaches Cal Ripkin ball, my brother's "other woman" is the Red Sox, and I am just completing my first year as a T-ball coach.

It has been wonderfully fun. I heard reports that it was merely babysitting -- but we have eleven beautiful and vibrant kids who are so eager to learn, and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and helping them learn to love baseball.

I wasn't sure how Ben was going to take to baseball. He has shown aptitude but has demonstrated zero interest. I decided to coach tball because I wanted to help introduce him -- and to be honest - I wasn't sure he'd play if I wasn't involved. What I have gained has been so completely fantastic. The chance to help expose him to a sport I grew up loving, the opportunity to watch him experiment and learn the skills in baseball, and an up-close and personal view of him interacting with other kids his age. As usual, I am always mesmerized by who he is and of what he is capable.

Part of the ritual he has adopted includes chewing gum...which I loathe...and of course, he adores. The other night at the game, I looked over to where he was playing first base (position I played). He was standing just off the bag, chewing gum, pounding his fist into his glove, cheering on his teammates "Let's go Bagel Chateau?" and looking like he had been playing for years. After the game I mentioned to him what a natural he looked like in that moment to me and how proud I was of him. He replied, "Mom, I love baseball. I'm never gonna quit." Uh oh...have I converted another baseball zealot?

Here are some photos from the opening day parade.

I love the silly look on his face in this photo:


Goofing around with one of his friends

Clarity

Mommy: Lolly what do you want for your birthday?

Lolly: That thing that is in Narnia that has a horn....

Mommy: A unicorn?

Lolly: No

Mommy: A centaur?

Lolly: No

Mommy: A griffin?

Lolly: No....Oh! A rhinoceros!

Mommy: Oh. Okay.

Lolly: And by the way Mommy, centaurs and griffins do NOT have horns.

I was told my daughter was impertinent. I don't think so...I think she exists with great clarity and hope she never loses it.

Playing in a Patch of Sunshine

On a cold sunny morning, Charlotte found hours of entertainment in building a track around the entire dining room, loading the train with animals and transporting them "around the world". It was wonderful to watch her so swept up in her imagination.

Humorous Exchange over Art

Charlotte: Why are you using my favorite color!

Ben: Sorry to burst your bubble...

Charlotte: I don't have a bubble...I have a purple destiny!

Extra Photos

These are some photos that I wanted to share...that really have no particular story. Just images of the kids being themselves.

My Brave Knights

We have been going for years to the Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo, New York, and it has been an annual end of the summer tradition. When we started going, we were able to spend the entire day there enjoying the entertainment and a beautiful late summer day outside...surrounded by a crowd of people dressed up like Queen Elizabeth, a tavern wench, Highlanders, Pirates, Fairies, Knights...etc. Each year the kids relationship with the Faire has changed. This year Ben decided that he MUST dress up....and of course, Charlotte followed course. It rained pretty heavily on us -- which is funny itself because we were running late, noticed the clouds, Drew said - what do you think should we go back for raincoats? And of course, I said no...there is no rain in the forecast - let's just go. We won't melt. Of course, we didn't melt...but we did get wet and quite muddy. We still had fun though.

Here are some pictures from the Faire and so you can see how "authentic" my little knights were in their garb -- and behavior.




Pulling the sword from the stone.



My fully grown hot-blooded viking.



And his offspring....Does this not look like it is cut from the movie Braveheart?!?!?!?!


Ben got a beautiful dragon painted on his arm. He loves doing this. It doesn't last long, but watching someone paint always inspires his own art -- and he came home and drew a dragon that was obviously influenced by this experience. Amazing.

New Life

Many of you know that I have taken a new job that is a job share. I love it. I sincerely miss my former dean because I found working with him to be so completely fantastic because I respected him, enjoyed his company and really found the work he was doing (improving PK-12 education) to be inspirational. That is quite unique to have a working relationship like that and it was really hard to end...except for the other crazy people who were driving me to drink heavily. Anyway....I am now off topic.

Since I started working this new job three days a week, I have had a little bit of trouble figuring out the new job, the new culture, the new rhythm (that is the hardest word to spell!!)of my week. I think I am on the cusp of understanding it better!!! I have changed my schedule and most weeks I will be working Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This is great because it allows my work week to be connected and my home time to be connected. The net effect is that I don't have confusion about which hat to wear or confusion about what my focus is for the day.

On Mondays, I keep Charlotte home with me -- Mondays with Mommy. It has been great to just have her around. We have done household projects together, run errands and just spent quite time talking and playing. It is so fantastic to be able to focus on her like this -- and it has paid off hugely.

I have also had more time to be involved with the both of the kids' schools. This was very important to me because Ben was starting in a new school with which I had no knowledge of or relationship. So, I have signed up for potluck dinner help, field trips and helping with class parties. I think he genuinely appreciates having me around too! And I have learned most of the kids in his class name and they have learned who I am.

My favorite thing is working with the kids and books. I have adored children's books my entire life. When I was in high school, I had a part time job at Harbor Books in Yarmouth, Maine. I loved it. One of my chief responsibilities was the children's section...I started buying books for my kids then....so we have hundreds. My specific roles at Ben's school are with library time and the book fair. I love going to help the kids with library time. I help them find books and sign them out and its fun to see Ben there and see how he functions in his school environment.

I am also involved with Lolly's school this year as the class parent. I have attended a field trip with her class too, planned a get together for the families so everyone could meet, and helped with their Halloween festivities. As a matter of fact, at Charlotte's Halloween party, there were several parents helping organize the kids around the party lunch and as I was wondering around helping the kids Charlotte called for my attention. When I turned around she said, "Momma, You a really good helper." Yes, that is the sound of my heart exploding :)

I tell you all of this because I am so excited to have all of this access to my kids -- but also to have the chance to work with a remarkably well organized and aggressive organization that is benefiting my community where I just happened to give birth to my kids. I think I am starting to get the ebb and flow of my new world. I now need to find time to paint the stairs/bathroom/kid's bedrooms/house, weed the yard, exercise, sleep, vacuum my car, organize my house, superclean my house, decorate, buy grown-up furniture and cleave many of our belongings that we don't need any more. Sigh...I think there will always be a to do list a mile long...but I think my kids are feeling like they have me more now than they have before and that is a one thing I can cross off the top of my To Do List.

New School Year

So there are a variety of hysterical (funny and crazed) antics that have happened at the Harteveld house in the last two weeks -- but a particularly funny one happened this morning. At Ben's school, the kids aren't allowed to carry money. In order to purchase hot lunch, we must load his account with cash and then he carries a PIN to school to access the account at lunch. I made him a little slip of paper for his lunch box -- but of course, Master Ben recreated it as a fantastic rainbow colored card. This morning he was a bit stressed trying to remember where it was, and he suggested it might be in his "laundry museum" NO JOKE!!! - after laughing I realized that he might not understand the implications of referring to his clothes hamper as a museum -- as if I leave the clothes in there like ancient artifacts!!!

Summer Highlights

So....how did it become September? We have had a very exciting couple of months. I started a fantastic new job and Drew became a licensed private pilot.

The kids had wonderful summers -- and grew like weeds!!! Ben graduated from Kindergarten -- to date, our best school experience by far! He attended Drama camp this summer and was Michael in "Michael and Meaghan's Cat". His proficiency in swimming is really impressive!! In typical Ben fashion, he developed his own way to advance his swimming skills -- channeling different swimming beings - swim like a sea turtle (underwater breast stroke), swim like a dolphin (plunging into the water from the steps with a big arch in his back) and swim like a mermaid (stacking his ankles and kicking them up and down like a fin). And he lost half the teeth in his mouth.

Lolly started sleeping in a big girl bed -- without a hitch! She played her guitar and wrote songs about all of us. Her comfort in the water grew exponentially! She started out being incredibly hesitant about even getting her toes in the water, graduated to leaping off her grandparents dock to proudly dipping her forehead in the pool. She also rode her first pony -- a huge deal for a girl who is completely obsessed with horses.


Laughing in our new big girl bed


Admiring her new horse jewelry box




Kindergarten graduation

First Pony Ride

The Train Ride at the Zoo



Jumping off Pop Pop and Gigi's dock at the lake

Anticipation

Walking out to the ring with Chuckles

Learning to turn

Determination

Where am I?

A special visit to Gari Melcher's, a famous artist, studio. Very exciting for Ben, who is trying out a painting prop here.

Lolly was begging for a boat ride much of our visit to Virginia. She got one Daddy style

and Pop Pop style.

Ben's gorgeous toothless face

Visits from two of the Uncs



Lolly turned three at the Fire House

A field trip to the Central Park Zoo -- Lolly with her best bud Gavin.

Ben in one of his plays.

Lolly giving Ben flowers from the family, because we were all so proud of him!

The day she wore pony tails...sigh....

Sharing my IPOD to watch Ferdinand the Bull

Look out Sheryl Crow!

A carousal with a dragon!!

First Day of School

I was amazed she didn't fall over with this huge backpack!

Posing

After Daddy prodding to "Smile!"

Getting on the bus.