smell and memories

A strange thing happened around noon. I walked out of my office and noticed a familiar smell. It couldn't have been true and I didn't try to locate it, but it quickly took me back to the gymnasium at Centerville Elementary. The halls of the Park Building smelled like school lunch today -- elementary school lunch. I think mostly the fake potatoes scooped with that big ice cream scoop, the back of which gently smashed a well into the mound to hold the light brown gravy. I could see the lunch set up: the tables on either side of the gym pulled out from the walls; trays; small milk containers; the lunch line; the bar where we placed our trays and waited for plates to be filled with hot food (and the potatoes); even the lunch ladies and Mr. Heinz (the friendly custodian) walking around reminding all the kids to take their trays and trash to the garbage. It was a pleasant and unexpected memory. My childhood was a good one.

About Kate . . . in context.

I received the email below from one of the kindergarten moms. Kate is a sweetheart and loves to share and help. I especially think it was thoughtful of the mom to take the time to share the story.

We were at Reuban's birthday party this evening and I just had to let you know how adorable Kate was with Pieper (Ashley's younger sister). I didn't let Pieper bowl I thought she would rather play the games. Kate noticed this and asked why she wasn't bowling and I told her why and Kate asked Pieper if she wanted to bowl and she of course said yes and Kate offered up her last 3 turns and helped Pieper get the ball, carry it over to the lane and throw/push it to the pins. It was very cute and she was so great with her.

About James . . . in context.

James was invited to go to lunch and the children's museum on Saturday with one of the boys from his school. They went and he had a great time. You never know, though, what your kid is going to say/share/ask. Looks like we need to inform James about the advice that "friends who want to remain friends don't discuss politics, sex or religion." At least he didn't delve into the sex topic (that I know of anyway).

I got this email from the boy's mom this afternoon:

Hi Julie,

I just wanted to let you know that Saturday seemed to go well with
James, Carter and Spencer. They all got along, and James was a model
child (seriously...why is he so well-behaved?). The only time of
slight concern was when I herded them all into a bathroom before going
to the museum. James was worried about the others looking at him, so
we did our best to make sure they looked away or covered their eyes. I
think it worked out okay.

The funniest thing was when he started talking about his dad's work.
He said he worked at the City/County building and the Capitol. I
asked him what he did and he said emphatically, "He's a Democrat!" I
asked him "a democrat what?" He continued with emphasizing that his
dad was just a Democrat. It was so cute.

Then he got really interested in me and our family. He asked if I was
a Democrat, and I said no, but I usually voted for Democrats. That
was followed by lots of other questions about how that worked. Then,
he wanted to know where we went to church. I told him we didn't. He
seemed really interested in that. He asked if I ever went to church
and I said that I did as a kid, but that I didn't anymore. I
emphasized that it was okay and that one of the great things is that
people are different and we get to be friends with all of them. (At
one point, he did say that he and Kate didn't like going to church,
but they went...so, I'm really sorry if he says something like "Tif
and Carter don't go to church" or use that as a reason why he doesn't
have to go.)

He is such a cute and inquisitive kid. It was really enjoyable to
hang out with him, and fun to try to field his questions. I hope that
I didn't bring him back confused or disconcerted.

Thanks again, it was fun, and we'll do it again sometime!

Here's my response:

Hi Tif,

Your email had Ben and me laughing for quite some time. I love your line about trying to field his questions. We do this on a daily basis. I'm not sure if James' brain ever shuts down. I run out of answers long before he runs out of questions. No worries about the bathroom. He didn't mention a thing about it to me. He is extremely private and would rather have an accident at school than use those open toilets in the hallway. And, I'm sorry about the church questions. I had heard about that part because he told me on Sunday morning that he didn't want to go to church (again) and that Tif and Carter don't have to go. Your explanation was perfect (although he didn't tell that to me). I just told him that all families are different and his goes to church. I hope his questions about the topic didn't make you or Carter uncomfortable. You never know what a five-year-old is going to tell you, right?

Most importantly, thank you for taking him with you and Carter. He had a wonderful time and it was so generous of you to share your Saturday with him.

See you sometime this week at pick-up.

Bowling at the Union

I took my kids bowling at the Union at the UofU last night. It was a perfect evening activity. One game in one hour. Our friends, the Hulls, joined us for the fun.

I thought the shoes looked pretty great on Robert.

James can be pretty intense and focused
(but I already knew that).

James with some great form and his
biggest fan looking on.

Kate insisted on a pink ball, even though it
weighed 4 pounds more than the ball intended for the kids.

Robert is every bit as big as James and Kate
and loved being part of the fun.

Lucas upon bowling a strike!

The outcome. Pretty random and pretty close.

Oh, and, I took Robert out in public with
this awesome rooster spray from his nap.

Kate and James can read!

Turns out both my five-year-olds can read! Who knew?

A day or so after Christmas, as I was organizing a few things, I cam across some beginning reading books I purchased some time ago. I handed one to Kate and one to James to see what they could do. I knew they had a handle on the sounds letters make and we have spelled a few three-letter words in the car as we're driving here and there, but I wasn't sure how all this would translate to written words on the page. It translated very well. Both of them sounded out the words to the first five books in the series. All of this was far more exciting to me than it was to them. James was willing to read a book for each of his grandma's. Kate indulged, but only begrudgingly and as fast as she could, which meant guessing several of the words after looking at the first letter and the picture. That's Kate. Way to go, Smarties!

Ice Cream Making Contest

The (first annual?) McAdams' family ice cream making contest was held the afternoon of New Year's Day. There were eight entries. Ben previewed bacon ice cream (surprisingly good!) on Christmas Day, but his contest entry was caramel apple ice cream. Becki's apple pie ice cream won first place. Andy's mango-peach was a close second and the only one to have its container licked clean by James.

The conversation topic that closed the get-together, though, was the rules for the boys' weight-loss competition to begin the following day. Good luck, boys!

Tasting time.

Scoring.

Kate devouring seconds of the mango-peach.

James finishing off the mango-peach ice cream.

New Year's Day sledding

I could barely get myself outside to snap a few photos, but Grandma spent at hour out there in the frigid temperatures the morning of New Year's Day because grandma's a good that way. The kids had a blast and kept sledding until they couldn't feel their fingers any longer. The sledded from Grandma's front yard right out into the street. Perhaps not the safest track, but there weren't many cars out the morning after everyone stayed up past midnight.

Happy New Year!

We said goodbye to 2010 and hello to 2011 with a party at Grandma Judd's. We banged pot lids at midnight (NYC time) and then enjoyed our traditional New Year's chocolate fondue. We devoured some cheese fondue earlier in the evening and played a few games as well. Happy New Year!