Andy and Dori

Elliot's life

 Elliot & I just finished all the Kate DiCamillo books (highly recommended - I loved them as much as he did!)  The last one we read, The Tale of Despereaux, was written in an interesting way, frequently addressing the reader directly.  When we were in the middle of the book, he told me he wanted to write the story of his life on the computer.  This is what he wrote (so far):

                     THE STORY OF MY LIFE......

 Once  upon a time there were to people one named dori. the other andy. at first, they did not even know each other, one time they meet in Louisiana and That my friend is were the story begins …   book the first, The wedding ...                     ok now reader well when dori saw andy they reader fell in love like crazy and that reader is when I was born. my uncle and first ant were there (and of course my mom),(and my dad) and reader, I cried for a moment and then reader, I became silent

------------------------------------------------

 A few days later, Elliot said he wanted to work on his life story again.  He ended up erasing the entire thing (I had a saved copy) and writing this Table of Contents:

------------------------------------------------

THE STORY OF MY LIFE                                           

                                                        RITEN AND ILLUSRATED BY ELLIOT JOHNSTON

3----------ELLIOT’S BORN

9----------TERRY                                                                                                                                             

9----------MINY CRUSH                                                                                                                                

23---------YAY! KENTUKY                                                                                                                             

24---------JORDAN’S BORN                                                                                                                     

26---------NOT  FAIR, JORDAN GETS TOO MUCH ATTENTION

No yard sale!

I've joked to neighbors several times that it looks like we're having a yard sale because of all the stuff that resides in our driveway and often is left in the front yard.  Well, last weekend there was an Open Gate Rummage Sale at the end of the block and so many people stopped at our house thinking that's where it was.  Wow.  Embarrassing.

Front Porch

Bike Day

Jordan's class had a Bike Day a couple of weeks ago.  The kids were encouraged to ride their bikes to school and then during the afternooon, they all rode around the block 2 times.  Jordan learned to ride without training wheels about a month ago and was one of 2 kids (both girls!) on a 2-wheeler which was so great for her.  She just beamed as she rode past our house.  (I'm going to really miss being down the street from Open Gate.)

She's the yellow shirt / pink helmet, 2nd from the back in this pic

Happy Derby Day!

 

The Girl Song / Happy Mothers Day!

Doda Roni made me a mixed birthday CD with many songs, including "Girls (we run the world)"  Jordan and Simon LOVE it.  Simon has listened no fewer than 30 times during the last few weeks (he asks for "The Girl Song"), alway dancing around the living room with moves reminiscent of Roni.

 

Jordan & Elliot wishing Savta a Happy Mothers Day.  Simon is dancing to The Girl Song in the background.

Shakespeare

The after-party after The Comedy of Errors

Elliot was Antipholus of Ephesus

With Alex (Dromio of Syracuse)

Sophia (Luciana)

Pachie (Antipholus of Syracuse)

Last Days at Open Gate

As I type, Jordan only has 3 more days at Open Gate.  I'm a little sad that it's ending - she has come such a long way this year and seems to really be enjoying school now.  She has a lot of friends who she feels confident with (not that she is totally confident - far from it) and she has developed so many relationships with the other parents.  It's sad that we won't see them regularly anymore.

"Small group" with Mommy Becky

In the Art Room - by far, her favorite place and where she feels safest.  On tough days, she'd be in here almost the whole day.

Being silly with Soleil

She's been working on this all year!  She can make it across now.

Simon in the nursery with Andrea and Lukie:  He's come a long way, too!  He used to hate being left here but now, he talks about it all morning before we go.  When it's time, he marches down the street, carrying his lunch box, walks right in the building, pushes through the gate and yells "Hi, Andrea!"  He loves going.  Next year, he'll be on the other side!

Napping with Lukie.

Bear and Mouse, by Mark Rader!!!!

Weekend in Arnold!

It was so disappointing to have to cancel our March trip to Arnold, CA.  We had pangstakingly collected snow clothes for everyone and build up the weekend with our friends with lots of back-and-forth communication.  But we were still in the midst of our 2-month long rotating sickness so we had to cancel.  Luckily, we were able to reschedule for  a weekend in late April and we're so glad we did!  The weather was perfect so the kids could explore in the woods and we still managed to find a final snow holdout and have an awesome time sledding.

Greer, John, Jordan & Elliot

Getting ready to watch a really bad movie.
The first night the 4 big kids all slept in this bed together and married couples shared beds with the little ones in the room.  The last night was musical beds.  In the end, Elliot & John were together, Andy & Jordan, me & Simon and Greer & Skye with Janet & Paul.

Jordan & Greer spent a lot of time collecting caterpillars

At the caves - Jordan took these pictures

Front Yard

Elliot with Megan, his "ES" (Education Specialist).  He loves her (and she loves him :) )

On this morning, Jordan was "reading" to Simon.  She would finish a book, and Simon would say "I'll be right back!" and run get another from his room for her to read him.  When he brought her the book for "Sunrise, Sunset," she sang it to him (words mangled and circular verses) for at least 10 minutes.

Hangin with Terry, Erin & Aidan

Sharing the chicks

Petra, Soleil, Athena, Jordan & Nate

Simon, 28 months

Simon is so entertaining in so many ways.  One is that he picks up things from Elliot & Jordan (and us) that are hilarious.  He also loves Bill Nye and watched several episodes multiple times, thanks to this winter's sickness.   A few things he's said recently:

To his cute (girl)friend Sophia, when he was trying to get her attention and impress her.  Holding 2 items and pressing them together: "Look, Sophia!  Opposites attract!"

When we were downtown discussing his desire for pizza.  "Yes!  I want some pizza . . . and some BACTERIA!" (with all syllables exaggerated.)

When he asked Jordan to have a snack with him on the front porch and she said No, that she wanted to eat at the table:

"Ohhh, fuck"  (seriously, we don't know where he got this.)

To Elliot, Jordan and a friend:  "Hey, what are you doing, kids?"

 

with his crazy sister

Finally! A playdate with Helen

There were some sweet moments for sure, but Elliot was a little disappointed to discover that Helen has a GREAT imagination and is in reality, not interested in his concrete plans to build a time machine using his lab materials and electronics components.  It was actually a little heartbreaking - he had build up their playdate SO much that he was frenetic when she was finally here.  After Helen called me over and told me she wasn't comfortable with Elliot dipping a plugged-in wall adapter into water and walked away, he ran around franctically, collecting other items for their project.  When I slowed him down to talk, I realized he was upset and when I asked if he was feeling disappointed, he burst into tears (which doesn't happen often anymore.)  But he recovered and they had a nice time playing.  But not building his time machine.

Building a castle

For the chicks

Spring

OCD

 

Chicks!

After 2 attempts, we now have 7 baby chickens! Mr. T, Jo-jo Fluffy, Gladice, Stormy-Thunder-Lightning, Crow, Eugenia and one more.  Jordan hands-down loves them the most.  Elliot's very interested, although Andy & I have both said on multiple occasions, "Elliot. they are chickens, not experiments."  Simon is mostly gentle, but occasionally bops one on the head.  The neighbors love them.

I enjoyed Jordan's outfit.

Liz with the 4 chicks Jordan gave her.

Jordan & chicks last time around (when she was 2)

http://andyanddori.typepad.com/blog/page/38/

 

Super Cheap Buy Online

Since Elliot has caught on to the fact that we often search for and order things online, he has been wanting to sit at a computer, searching for items he can order.  He has bookmarked dozens of pages on both my & Andy's computer - websites where one can buy cheap chemicals or rare elements.  Some of the sites he stumbles upon are not what he thinks they are, like: Skin Laboratory Glycolic Acid 35% Peel or Buy Discount Acid Cigars Online.

I frequently return to my computer to find strange searches in my search tab, such as one I just saw "mercury chloride super cheap buy online."

Happy Passover!

We had an unusual but wonderful Passover.  No Elliot and an intimate Seder the 1st night with just Doda Roni and we 4.  It was so great for Jordan - we went at her pace and answered all her questions.  The 2nd night, we Sedered with Roni again at her friend Evan's which was really fun - unusual and funny and very sweet.

 

Jordan finds the afikomen

This year, Doda Neeli flew Elliot out - alone! - for Passover at her house, along with Saba & Savta.  As soon as she told him the news, he started his pack list.  He then practically emptied his electronics supplies into a huge suitcase.  We explained about security and the fear some people have of crazy people trying to blow up an airplane, etc.  He handled it (below.)

 

Making matzah-meal pancakes

Matzah-brei

We went to Edgewood Park to go on a little hike in search of wildflowers (didn't find many.)

But we really enjoyed our 1st Passover picnic - pb&j on matzah!

Hanging with Friends

 

Happy birthday to me!

Andy sweetly stayed up late the night before making me a poppy-seed cake.  Then Doda Roni stayed with the kiddos while Andy & I had a little date.

Jordan & Doda Roni doing their morning stretches

All dressed up Doda-style to ride bikes to the coffee shop (although she then freaked out Jordan-style and they ended up staying home.)

Jordan's photo shoot

Good sport

I just thought this was really sweet.  I heard Elliot kind of shriek and when I came in the room, I saw that Simon (who is very interested in testing limits these days) had squeezed out an eye dropper full of color in Elliot's face.  Elliot was shocked and then kind of giggled which took the edge off for me.  I still took away Simon's colors but I wasn't upset which I probably would have been had Elliot not been so easy going about it.

Elliot's first crush?

Elliot might have his first crush.  Her name is Helen and they're in Wildchild Nature class together.  It started when they were carpooling and the driver got lost and Elliot & Helen spent the hour in the car talking about building a time-machine.  It seemed to Elliot that she was as interested in chemistry and electronics as he was!  So he started talking about her and about their time machine incessantly.  I'd often see him daydreaming and smiling and when I'd ask what he was thinking about, he'd say "Helen and our time-machine."  We're not sure if the crush is more related to the girl or the machine but he's written her several letters and e-mails and filled boxes of electronic components and scary liquids for her to keep.

Above is one of his letters: 

"Dear Helen, I got your letter and I'm very exsidid for our time mechin to.  I'm also very ekcidid to see you to.  Love, Elliot    Peplymegliene Hidyrate"

the envelope

After Elliot got better, Helen got sick so their playdate kept getting postponed.  Here is an email he wrote her while she was sick:

'Dear helen I really really really love you and hope your better soon – when your better I have a super-exsplosive packaging it’s from a save valt so camaflouge and unnociceable that you have never notice’t it in your life I also sent you rods of nickel copper iorn aluminum zinc e.c.t well anyway again really hope your better soon Love Elliot'

Goodbye sickness, hello fun!

Three weeks later, we are still appreciating our health every day.

The last remnent - now erased from the white board.

We've really been enjoying a very social few weeks, after being quarantined.  This night, Bonnie and family came over.  After dinner, Clare and Jordan were running around the house, screaming, while the boys (Elliot, Simon & Dexter) chased them.  It was so great to see Jordan so energetic after her gradual recovery - for days she had been so quiet and sluggish, sleeping 13-14 hours every day.  After dinner, the kids enjoyed popsicles as their Shabbat special treat.

Enjoying an evening with Margy, after Louisville lost to Kentucky

We finally had out "Celebration" with the Ehrlichs to celebrate our health.  Julia has started to kind of play the role of big sister to Jordan whenever our families get together, and it was interesting to see how Jordan & Julia kind of broke off together this night.  In the past, it's been Elliot & Julia with Jordan working hard to hang.

Sick

It has been a rough couple of months around here.  We've been hit with one virus after another and none of us is escaping.  There have been some pockets of joy throughout (below): visits from Neeli, Saba & Keith during which most of us were healthy.  But as soon as one of us recovered, another was hit.  Then the latest one hit hard and fast, getting me first and then the rest of the family all at once.  As I write this, Elliot & Jordan are still between sick and well.  When Elliot was first sick with the fever+stomach bug, he was so miserable for so many days that we started talking about the "celebration" we'd have when he got better - basically the meal of his choice.  But then when he was better, someone else was sick so the celebration had to be delayed . . . Now, 8 weeks later, Elliot & Jordan have planned a celebration to rival Mardi Gras.  Whatever - Andy & I will be happy to do just about anything once this family is healthy again!

Jordan reading to Simon when he was sick with the fever/stomach bug
 

This guy is such a sweet, easy going patient.  All he wants is the iPad.  (Weaning him off of it has been really, really hard.)

Elliot & I with the fever + sore throat combo

All 3 sick at once

Jordan watching Strawberry Shortcake while E & S watch Bill Nye

Elliot better; Andy sick (with Jordan & Simon)

Enjoying their coffees together

A few gems:

When Jordan was feeling better at one point, she said "No, I don't feel very bad.  Just like a drizzle."

When Elliot was on the phone with Terry after measuring a 104.3 fever, she said "Hey there, sicko!" and he responded, "I’m not a sicko, I’m feelin’ great!  I’m just lyin’ in bed, feeling comfortable, not using any of my energy!"

Only Elliot & Jordan got the last virus, but Simon also wanted to partake in the priveleges of being sick so he'd come in the kitchen and say "I'm just a little bit sick so that's ok.  I can take my drink in the living-loom."

OG Rain Walk

Jordan lost her partner

In spite of this adorable smile, this was a rough day at school for Jordan, between 2 illnesses

Elliot & Jordan adventure

 

We've been letting Elliot & Jordan go on little adventures by themselves.  It started with me allowing them to circle the block alone on their scooters as long as they promised to stick together and watch the driveways for cars.  Then they developed it into a little expedition, packing a backpack with snacks and water, a compass and anything else they thought they might need.  This day, after about 10 minutes, I decided to just bike past and check on them.  When they saw me, they invited me to stop & join them.

Uncle Keith

During Uncle Keith's visit, Simon was getting over his stomach big, Jordan was in the midst of the same bug and I came down with a new bug.  So Keith & Elliot had some nice days out together.  (Alana's Cafe, Fry's, Chipotle, Radio Shack . . . )  Unfortunately, this was the only picture I got of his trip - playing Sorry with Simon.