I don't usually blog from work. Something about time managment, training on ethical use of state property (yes, I do still work for the state of Illinois), or similar.
However.... I am actually laughing out loud reading over my class content evaluations for the summer semester.  I often have classes do this to comment specifically on topics, assignments, etc along with the more generic ones that they do through the university.  I read all of them and usually find some positive, some critical, and generally a few helpful comments.  This particlar evaluation strays a bit outside of the standard comments that I tend to get, obviously intended to amuse both the writer and reader, and deserves to be shared.  See below:

Introduction to coursse: YAY! The first day of school!

Chapter 1 and Chapter 2: Ya! Its time for school today!

Chapter 3 and primary documents (App 1-5)/ Collective Action Homework: Awesome! Homework!

Chapter 4/ Civil Rights Homework: Wow! This class is still interesting.

Chapter 5/ Paper Preparation/ Civil Liberties exercise:  Oh my God, I can’t stop taking notes.

Chapter 6/ Congress Homework:  Jesus, why do I care so much?

Chapter 7 and Chapter 8:  I'm still interested!

Chapter 9/ Judicial Decisions Homework:  The level of awesomeness of this class has reached critical levels.

Midterm/ Jeff Smith documentary: I want to be in Congress.

Chapter 11/ Research Paper/ Cong office visit:  Killed that paper.

Chapter 10/ Public Opinion Homework: What? I don’t want it to be over.

Chapter 12 and Chapter 13/ Interest Group Homework:  Dumb summer session. Why’d you have to be over?

Chapter 14 and Chapter 15: Yay, school’s almost over!


One more class, and then I get to be out for almost two months.  I have plenty of work to do, but am looking forward to a break from the day to day legwork of teaching.  So I second the last comment: Yay, school is almost over!

Happy Fathers' Day, Patrick... and thanks for the new floor!

Only the trim left to go and some details around the stairs... the couch (and the TV!) can go back.

We are all pretty tired at our house! 

Bye bye living room carpet!

To be continued....

A conversation with Mariel and Noella
Earlier this morning, getting ready to head to the library:
Noella: Moh Moh OOSH!
(translation: "More shoes," or "Put my shoes on!")
Mariel: Oosh, Noella, you want your oosh?
Me (from a distance): Mariel, lets use big girl words to teach Noella how to say them.  She needs to learn.
Mariel: OK.  Shoes, you want shoes?
Me: Thank you, Mariel.  Use big words with her.
A few minutes later I overhear:
Mariel: Noella, Timbuktu.  Can you say Timbuktu? That is a big word.

The Adventures of the Flahertys

The weekend started with Mariel's preschool graduation on Friday afternoon.  She's not actually going anywhere, since she is too young to begin kindergarden in the fall.  All of the kids take part in the ceremony, which included a play version of "The Grouchy Ladybug."  Mariel played a lobster (with whom the grouchy lady bug chose not to fight).

The kids all got to wear caps and gowns, and each got their own diploma.  Sitting up in the front of the room of parents, when Miss Crystal announced that she would read children's names and then they would get the diplomas, Mariel spoke up to make sure of what happened next: "And then we get cake, right?"  They did.

Next stop, dress rehearsal for her first ballet performance.  She was a "Baby Monster" in a version of Where the Wild Things Are. The rehearsal was absolute chaos, and they were running about an hour and forty minutes late.  We did not even leave until 7:45... about an hour after she is usually tucked in to bed.  Mariel was so patient and quiet and just waited by the side of the stage.  She was so enthralled by all of the "big girl" dancers that I think she could have just watched all night.  Her costume was a mix between a unicorn and pegasus, complete with fuzzy tail.

Saturday I got up early with the girls so Patrick could sleep in a few minutes.  We walked to a cafe in town (since the weather here has been so insanely hot and humid the only reasonable time to be outside is actually right around 7 am).  After girls' morning out we played on the back porch in the sand and water, and decided to just let the girls run around naked.  Patrick suggested bringing out the training potty, and before we knew it Miss Noella had decided that it looked like a good idea.  With a little coaching on how to do it (she was sure that her feet were supposed to go in the pot while she hung her behind over the back), she actually went pee several times.  She has become a big fan of this, and has now been asking to sit on the potty. 

Noella is very excited about toilet paper and wiping herself.  She is not excited about having to give that toilet paper away at the end of the process.  We have now had several instances of having to chase a toddler who is clutching urine soaked toilet paper to her chest while racing around the house screaming "MINE!"  We'll have to work on that. 

In the afternoon, we headed to the actual recital.  I had my first experience as a "stage mom," helping to do hair and corral small children.  The kids had fun coloring  and playing while they waited their turn.

Then, the big event.  Here is Mariel with two of her fellow Baby Monsters.

They all did great- they had a nice short dance and two bigger helpers to guide them through.  Since they were the youngest group (3 and 4 year olds) the audience was suitably adoring.  It was strange for me to see Mariel in the context of the entire dance company.  I tend to only see her with her age group or kids a few years older at the most; in that context she always seems older than she is.  It was almost startling to see her as one of the babies.  She enjoyed her time on stage, and was happy to take a private bow for us after the last curtain call.

Saturday night, a high school graduation party for our neighbor, who is also Mariel's babysitter and idol.  They had a bounce house for the kids, which was quite a hit.

Today we went to church in the morning, then out to lunch as a family.  We have not been out to eat much in the past two months because of all of the various constraints on Noella's diet.  We ate all of the wheat and dairy products we could get in our bodies.  After that, a trip to the zoo for a farewell party for Mariel's friend.  I forgot my camera, but it was a very fun party and Mariel was thrilled to get some special time in.  And now the girls are in bed and I think I am on my way.... our fabulous weekend of adventures is drawing to a close!