Tales of Doom

Subtitled "If Only I Had Something To Report!"

You see, we should have had a super amazing past week and a half. Really, the calendar was full, the excitement level was high. But then...

Stellan finished preschool last week. Or did he? The afternoon before his last day, he started throwing up. So did virtually every other kid in 4 classes at his school. Apparently some sort of waterborne stomach bug affected everyone who participated in the big water slide on Wednesday's Water Day celebrations. So do I have photos of him and his teacher while he holds a certificate of completion? No. Do I have a video of him singing songs he spent weeks practicing? No. Instead, we spent 3 days cleaning vomit off way too many surfaces in our home.

The next week was also supposed to be amazing. I'm sure you can't have helped hearing about the transit of Venus, especially if you know me. I was all set to talk to thousands of Fort Walton Beachians as they oohed and aahed at the view through the telescope of Venus passing in front of the sun. That is not what happened. Here is what did happen: I spent the night inside the local science center showing about 50 people the transit of Venus via webcast from Hawai'i and doing some fun, but not as cool as a never-to-be-seen-again astronomical event, hands-on activities. So do I have photos of a Baby Bjorn-laden Momstronomer (it was Annie's first outreach) engaging excited throngs by a telescope? No.

I thought my luck had changed on my drive home, when I saw the sun peeking through the clouds as it was setting. There was even a rainbow to bring me hope and good luck. As I raced home, cursing the minivan in front of me for only going five miles above the speed limit, I knew I had to get my sun-filter adapted binoculars from the kitchen counter and then head for high ground in order to have any chance of seeing the transit. I hurried Stellan into the car (Rachelle was going to bed and Annie was already in the car, albeit out cold) and we raced away. I am sad to report we were not fast enough. By the time we got out of our forested neighborhood, the sun was too low to be seen even from the best spot I could think of. So do I have a photo I took of the transit which I saw with my very own eyes through an eyepiece? No.

But hope springs eternal. This week was also Girls Camp. And though I did not attend for the whole week (because I have a nursing baby, not for lack of desire), I had been invited up to teach the girls about astronomy on Wednesday night. Sadly, it was pouring rain on Wednesday. I called the director and we decided to hope things cleared up by Thursday. They didn't. Not on Friday, either. If you know me and my love of Girls Camp, you know how sad I was to have missed my free ticket to the funnest place in Northwest Florida. So do I have photos of 80 teen girls unplugged from their tech toys and enthused about the night sky? No.

At least my week was going to end well. Girls Night Out was all planned, an evening on the beach sipping mocktails and watching the sun set - sans kids. It's that last part that's the real kicker. But guess what? A huge storm hit on Friday night, and hasn't let up yet. Streets are flooded and power out in nearby Pensacola. I fear for our leaky roof and hope it doesn't collapse on any of my children in their sleep. Do I have photos of a relaxed and thirst-quenched mom taking a well earned break on the beach at sunset with 20 or so of her closest friends? No. We did have a Girls Night In at my house, which included tasty treats, Dr. Mario and Phase 10, so it wasn't a complete wash.

So if you were wondering why this post has no photos, and nothing exciting to report, now you know. Our summer vacation is doomed. I'm quitting now before it gets worse.


P.S. Did I mention I wanted to go to Pensacola on Monday? Oh wait, now I can't. See above for details on flooding and power outages.

Serendipity

I was walking down the greeting card aisle at the grocery store this evening all by myself. That's right, all kids at home, ostensibly sleeping. Then I look to my left and see Annie:

(In case you can't read it, the card says, "This too shall pass.")

About three cards over, I find Rachelle.

(The full text, including the inside of the card, reads: "Sometimes...you have to pick your battles.")

Even when I get away from my kids, I can't get away from my kids.

A Bird By Any Other Name

This is the story of how Annie got her name. To really do the tale justice, it's going to take some time. So please invest a few minutes to enjoy.

It all started when the Okaloosa Chamber Singers (of which I am a member) decided to perform Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzer, or "Love Song Waltzes" (link to YouTube videos of these pieces with the English translation in subtitles). There is a lot of nature imagery in the text, particularly about birds. And each week as I went to rehearsal, I would sing and think, "This baby needs a bird name." And then I'd go home and the feeling would wear off and I would simply chalk it up to irrational pregnancy craziness. But the next week, I'd be in rehearsal again and think to myself, "No, she really does need a bird name."

So Kevin and I started looking up bird names. We had to veto several from the start: Robin was out because of the prolific medical thriller author, Robin Cook; Wren was a name my brother and sister-in-law had considered but not chosen for their second child, and their third is on the way; Lark sounds goofy next to Cook; no Gail/Gale because she was due 2 days before The Hunger Games movie would be released; Ava is lovely but in the top 10 and the name of the daughter of a beloved friend. Looking at the rest of our list, we still didn't have any we really loved. It was time to take it to the experts.

Luckily, I know some experts. I contacted some of my former colleagues (and current friends) at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and explained the situation. Krista Fahy, Terri Sheridan, Rebecca Fagan Coulter, and Elaine Gibson responded with almost alarming speed and unbridled enthusiasm. I will include the complete list of names they offered, but first let's have some fun with names they did not pick:

Anything with "double-breasted," "booby" or "tit" in the name

Loons of all varieties

Cuckoo

After narrowing it down this far, the total list had some 75 or so entries. We studied them, pondered them, and then tentatively decided that Ani would be nice, as long as we changed it to Annie (too much Ani DiFranco angst association). However, since my middle name is Anne, and we both of buckets of relatives with the name Anne, we decided Anne would be her "real" name, and we would call her Annie.

The final test came in the delivery room. Kevin's family is full of red heads, and I wanted to make sure that our Annie wouldn't be one of them. I could just see her getting teased for be a little orphan through her entire childhood. Luckily, she does not have red hair. So Annie she is.

By the way, Annie was born 15 days before our performances (the conductor was a little nervous that I wouldn't make it), and loves the Liebeslieder. Every time I sing her #9, she calms right down. (Don't worry, I only sing the nice part.) She is also partial to #15, my personal favorite.

Here are all the bird entries, with duplicated removed and most of the original annotations from my expert crew (to whom my daughter and I are deeply indebted):

Akialoa

Ani

Harlequin

Eider

Heron

Ibis

Jaeger

Junco

Kea

Kioea

Lark

Merlin (perhaps better for a boy?)

Myna

Oriole

Parula

Petrel

Phoebe

Raven

Robin

Shama

SkyLark

Sora

Teal

Verdin

Vireo

Willet

Wren

And some descriptives that go along with bird names:

Ash

Calliope

Koa

Olive

Willow

Blue Kona

Pine

Rosy

Sage

Sedge

Winter

And that’s just North America…

Carolina (Chickadee and Wren—this one has a bubbly song of “teakettle teakettle teakettle tea”)

Raven would be bold and wonderful

Lark Aderyn (welsh for bird)

Deryn (derivative of above)

Aleta (Spanish for winged)

Leta (derivative of above)

Mavis (old English name for song bird)

Merle (French for blackbird; Merla could work for a girl)

Tori (Japanese for bird)

Alala (Hawaiian crow)

Nydia (from nest)

Fowler (Ha!)

True bird name derivatives:

Linnet (European bird)

Ani (groove-billed or otherwise)

Booby (kidding..)

Cacique (in the Icterid group. Also a Mexican cheese. Maybe not…)

Corella (Australian cockatoo)

Dacnis

Fody

Pipit

Rhea

Lourie

Grace is lovely (for Grace’s Warbler)

Sabine is a gorgeous little gull.

And then there is the Say’s Phoebe, scientific name Sayornis saya. Saya could make a nice name for a girl…

Colibri is the French for hummingbird.

I forgot about Paloma, which I think is lovely.

Let Me Entertain You

Stellan and Rachelle are both consummate entertainers on their own, but with their powers combined, they are pretty unstoppable. Please witness this hidden-camera capture of Stellan teaching Rachelle he learned in preschool and Rachelle and Stellan telling knock knock jokes.


Stellan and Rachelle: Let Me Entertain You from Krissie Cook on Vimeo.

Mea Culpa

Annie wants you to know that she's sorry that she has been taking up so much of her mom's time and not letting her keep up with the blog as regularly as she should. But honestly, who can resist a smile like that? Not Annie's mom, that's for sure.

500

This is the Cookie Jar's 500th post. We've come a long way, baby.



*I know some people would have opted for a classier family photo. But, in case the preceding 499 posts didn't indicate it, that's just not who we are.

Guess Who?

Who's got two thumbs and just as many ear infections?



This baby.

Special thanks to Jeannie for this awesome onesie!

Happy Mother's Day

Stellan's school prepared a lovely Mother's Day tea for all the moms. It was delightful - especially the awesome bonnet he made for me.
I'd like to echo the sentiment to all the many moms in my life - Happy Mother's Day! 

Reason #28,472 To Love Rachelle

Rachelle's fashion sense is really coming into its own. Exhibit A: she wore this bike helmet to the playground. I didn't mention it to her, but I couldn't help but see the resemblance to this classic SNL sketch:

GrandparentSplosion

What happens when you mix 4 grandparents, 3 children, 2 parents and 1 house? Lots of fun stuff. The Cooks' and Stewards' visits overlapped (because they were both here for Annie's blessing) for one extra awesome weekend. My kids never had it so good - the spoiling was rampant, bedtimes went unobserved, fun adventures were nonstop, and all children got all the attention they could  handle. Stellan had a huge cheering section at his t-ball game, Rachelle never lacked for someone to get her food (I dread hearing her little voice plead "hungee, hungee!" because I hear a hundred times a day), Annie almost never left loving arms. I guess what they say is true: the more, the merrier!

The Cooks Came Back

Because they can't resist us, or the leftovers from the May Day Sundae Party, Grandma and Grandpa Cook came back to visit. They were also here for Annie's baby blessing, and it was very special to have them with us.

Strawberry Picking Part Deux

It went so well with the grandmas, we decided to go strawberry picking again with Grandmaggie and Grandpa Steward. However, this time we went in the early afternoon (during what is usually nap time) after a big storm. We ended up with a big puddly mess. (And the fields were muddy too). The meltdowns kept coming until the frozen yogurt was served. Oh well, the strawberries still tasted delicious.

Grandmaggie and Grandpa Come To Town

Lucky for us, just as our kids were getting bored after two other sets of grandparents came and went, Grandmaggie and Grandpa Steward came to visit us. This is the first time that Grandpa Steward has come to visit since we moved to Florida 4 years ago, so I was especially happy to see him. They brought super fun toys with them, including stuffed animals that were spherical, that led to hours and hours of enjoyment. They were also here for Annie's baby blessing at church (which will get its own post). Now that they're gone, the kids keep asking for them and wondering when they're coming over again. Soon, I hope.

Annie's Baby Blessing

Annie's blessing (not unlike a christening in other churches) took place here at our LDS chapel with four adoring grandparents, two restless siblings and countless friends present. After church, we attempted a backyard photo shoot. (If you are wondering where Rachelle is, she crashed out on the car ride home from church and I knew better than to wake her and expect her to then cooperate nicely.) I know there are a lot of photos here, but please indulge me; a baby is only a new baby for so long.

May Day Sundae Party

As some of our faithful readers may be aware, May 1st marks a famous Steward family tradition - ice cream sundaes for dinner. It was so nice of Grandmaggie and Grandpa Steward to be here for it. I mean, flying all the way from Santa Barbara just to help us eat ice cream is really very nice. We invited a few other people to join us so we could spread the tradition. Will you be joining us next May 1st?