Max and Esme

Esme has been mentioning Carah frequently since our visit to North Carolina. She talks about what they played with together and will randomly insert an "I miss Carah" statement into her other conversations. Esme already has plans to show Carah her baby dolls and her big-girl doll and her dress up clothes and would like Carah to come visit us this weekend. So if you don't have plans on Saturday Carah - hop on a plane and come to New York!

The kids and I traveled to North Carolina during school break for an extended playdate with our cousins. It was lovely to see all my cousins in one go - the Gilmores and the Steeles. And Max and Esme had a great time with the next generation of Gilmores, McMahons and Steeles. The travel went smoothly, the weather was good, and the hospitality was excellent - thanks for a relaxing vacation. When we landed home at LGA Esme asked when we were taking our next plane trip - I guess we'll have to plan another one soon. I didn't bring a camera with me, but I expect Ryan will post a few shots over the next couple of days http://thehappygilmores.blogspot.com/ . Here's one of two happy girls.

I attended a parent/teacher meeting for Esme this morning and was told that she's a joy to have in class. She knows what she's supposed to, has a fabulous vocabulary, is independent and confident, displays affection and plays well with everyone. The teacher did ask me if Esme dresses herself - the occassional odd color combinations had been noticed!

Antiobiotics are a wonder. Esme was feeling much, much better by Wednesday and even went back to school on Thursday. After three nights of sleeping with Mommy she is back in her own bed and I am back in mine. Max has been a little jealous of the attention that Esme has received this week. He woke up one night earlier this week when Esme and I were up too - when he realized that she was sleeping with me in the guest room he said "no fair!" He counted her lucky to be able to stay home with Mommy and Daddy during the week... Today is Max's turn. It's "Bring your parents to lunch" day at school, so I'm on my way to join Max in the cafeteria. p.s. I can't find the plug to my camera, so no pictures until that shows up again!

Esme has a touch of pneumonia. After 3 days of a cold and cough she started running a fever that wouldn't go away. Her pediatrician couldn't see or hear anything, but sent us for a chest x-ray because Esme was so obviously sick. They saw a small spot, so we started antibiotics last night. She had a better sleep than the night before, and has already said more words this morning than she did all day yesterday. I stayed with her yesterday and Peter is home today. We're hoping she makes a miraculous recovery by tomorrow...

We've been in the habit recently of going out to dinner as a family on Friday evenings. Peter and the kids pick me up at the train and we generally go to the local pub for burgers, grilled cheese and chicken sticks. Last week the kids decided they wanted to go to different restaurant - one a little nicer, but where they still have crayons for the kids. About half-way through her spaghetti, Esme announced that she was finished, lay down along the wooden booth, put her head in my lap, and fell asleep. No complaining or acting up, just made herself comfortable and went off to dreamland. [I will note that it was not quite 7pm at that point. We weren't exactly keeping the kids up late!] Max and Pete and I finished our meals at leisure and then Max was treated to his first rootbeer float for dessert. It came deconstructed, with the icecream in a tall glass and a bottle of rootbeer waiting to be poured in. From the moment it was delivered, through watching the soda foam, to the ...

On Saturday morning I took the kids out for breakfast and then we stopped by Playland Ice Casino to watch a youth hockey game. (A friend of mine coaches his son's team.) Both kids stood up against the glass to watch, jumping up and down with excitement whenever the players would skate close to the sides. Max desperately wanted them to check someone into the boards where he was standing. Esme was interested in the 'striped' people and ran alongside the refs shouting boo. (Although I don't think she actually meant it in a bad way, just heard other people doing it!) Sunday we finally got to use the new sled that Santa brought for Christmas and took the kids sledding in the park. The snow was covered with a crusty layer of ice, so after the first run they decided going down the hill with Peter aboard was a safer bet!