The Little Goalie That Could

Until today Doodle had played every position in her first soccer season except goalie. Today she played goalie in the first half and revealed to everyone that she may be small but she is mighty. The Dynamites led 1-0 at the half (in the bottom right photo Coach Mike is giving Doodle a high five for her efforts). Unfortunately the team lost their lead in the second half and didn't have time to come back, so they lost their last game of the season. The teammates weren't down for long because they found out that they won their division and got trophies. I'm proud of Doodle for how hard she played this fall; she's looking forward to the spring. Tomorrow: the dreaded parent/girl game.

Friday Funk

I'm feeling sorry for myself tonight for several reasons:

• In working with a colleague on a book that we are coediting, I am feeling jealous of her life. She has homes in Manhattan and the Jersey shore, a fulfilling career, and adult kids who are out doing good in the world. I don't want the girls to leave the nest yet (and maybe never), and my friend is a bit older than me, but I do want her life in 10-15 years.
• Doodle has a more exciting social life than I do. Tonight she went to dinner at a friend's house and then to see The Bee Movie with the friend's family. Tootle and I stopped at McDonald's for dinner and then went to the grocery store to pick up snacks for tomorrow morning's soccer game in 40 degree weather.
• I have to put away/recycle the girls' spring/summer clothes and organize the piled up fall/winter stuff in drawers. I loathe this job. I think I'll make Doodle my apprentice so she can be responsible for her own stuff in the spring.
• I am facing certain humiliation on Sunday. Doodle's soccer team caps off their season with a girls vs. parents game. I've never played soccer in my life, but my precious daughter expects me to do it. One friend is planning to send in her teenage son as her substitute. I can't copy her idea because even though Tootle would definitely play better than I can, she's on the injured list for another week. Doesn't Doodle realize that I'm certain to embarrass her?

Time to raid the Halloween candy stash.

Elephants, I Think

In advising someone about Disney World highlights for a two-year-old, I was reminded of one of my favorite Doodle stories. In October 2000, when Doodle was 2, we went to Disney World as part of a giant CCAI reunion. We had a blast catching up with our travel group and taking advantage of all the special character meet and greets CCAI arranged (Doodle loved hugging the characters and even let the Genie from Aladdin hold her). Doodle's favorite ride, and she loved them all, was It's a Small World, AKA "the boat ride" in two-year-old Doodle speak.

A few days after coming home, I told her that we were going to vote in the presidential election that day and that we might have to stand in line. The following exchange occurred:

Doodle: Boat ride? (said the veteran of Magic Kingdom lines)

Me: No, we're not going back to Disney World today (as that infernal song started to play in my head yet again). But there are elephants and donkeys.

Doodle: Elephants, I think.

My little prognosticator accurately forecast the election results.

Two More Weeks

Poor Tootle. She woke up this morning looking flushed and declaring that she didn't feel well. My instant diagnosis was sinus infection, so I called the doctor's office for an appointment. Two hours later, the doctor confirmed my amateur diagnosis, and we headed to CVS to fill the prescription. After lunch at home I loaded her back in the car for an appointment with the orthopedist. She fell asleep on the way there and cried loudly as the nurse sawed off the cast. The doctor decided that we need to protect the wrist bones for a bit longer (probably a good call for a kid who loves the monkey bars) so she got a new cast and a promise that it will come off in two weeks. When we got home, Doodle and her friend raced to sign the new cast. This cast is thankfully blue, so it won't show the dirt nearly as much as the glow in the dark one. The new cast also stops below Tootle's elbow so she has more mobility. Tootle went to bed early. I hope she has a better day tomorrow.

Rainbows

At Tootle's school classes are awarded rainbows for good behavior at lunch, walking in the hallways, at music, art or PE class, etc. The class with the most rainbows at the end of the month gets a prize. Tootle and her classmates may be in their first year of school, but they keep close track of their rainbows and work hard to earn them. Over the weekend, the girls and I went out to dinner. Service was very slow, but the time went fairly quickly as we talked and played games. As we finally finished our meal, the patrons at two separate nearby tables complimented the girls on how well behaved they are. Tootle turned to me and said, "Mom, we just earned two rainbows!"

The Ice Tour Cometh

Going to a Disney ice show is a lot like going to Disney World: the money is sucked out of your wallet, but everyone is thoroughly entertained. Tootle's glasses light up, and the hat was "free" with cotton candy. Doodle opted for a diary; she has already written a top secret entry and secured the diary's lock.

On Art and Mothering

Tootle's inner artist has emerged in the past few months. I had no idea that she could draw such a good horse, and the sheep is pretty cute too. The donkey is a bit squished at the edge of the paper, and she didn't put much effort into the floating house. Tootle's kindergarten class is reading Margaret Wise Brown books right now, so she decided to illustrate The Big Red Barn. Doodle wrote the title and felt bad that she messed up on the "g" in "Big."

Doodle asked to keep the drawing and then proudly declared "Our Boo Boo is growing up." Sometimes Doodle thinks she is a coparent and other times she regresses to her sister's level.