Maryam singing

For rehearsal after rehearsal, she would NOT do her solo. But she finally did! Here she is, singing Away in a Manger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqtQl4oAUKw

Hiking

Today Maryam, Jim, and I went hiking today. Maryam let me wear her in a wrap, which made us go so much faster. On the way back, she rode on her daddy's shoulders.

And she rode on Mommy's back, in a lovely, borrowed wrap.




She also wore the wrap herself.

Maryam is WILD!

As in, she's a tiger. Raaaaar!

Maryam and I went to a movie, out to lunch, and then enjoyed the Kids' Day celebration at Easton. There was face painting, balloons, and music. Jim cut out a ton of toys while we were gone, as he gets ready for the Hilliard Arts Festival.

Dress like a cow....

There are two things I'm a sucker for - free food, and costumes. At one point in my college days, I would dress up in costumes on the flights home, just because. And free food? That goes without saying.

A local chain restaurant here, Chick-Fil-A, had Cow Appreciation Day today. If you dress like a cow, you get a free meal. That was too good to pass up, so Maryam and I got on our spots, ears, and tails, and went out for a lovely lunch of chicken.

Here's a pic.

Saying goodbye

Maryam and I recently flew out to Washington for a visit. We did many great things, which I will blog about later, but one of the most important was saying goodbye.

On our last day, Maryam and I visited the site where my dear friend Maryam Rassoulian Stall's ashes are interned. It is a beautiful, peaceful spot, quiet and serene.






Here are some pictures of little Maryam. She brought her fairy wand with her. I felt like I was truly able to say goodbye here. Her space was not yet marked, and it is truly by the hand of God that as Maryam and I were walking down the trail, we saw Jeff, Maryam's husband. He showed me where her ashes were. I was not able to be there for the memorial service, but that evening was a sort of closure for me, and being able to see her husband was amazing and so right. I am happy she is resting there, and I know she is at peace in the hands of our God.

The name Maryam

On the first day of 7th grade gym class, I came out of the bathroom crying. This girl who I had never met before asked me what was wrong, and helped me out. She became one of my best friends. Her name was Maryam. Maryam Rassoulian Stall died yesterday, Saturday April 11th after a long and complicated battle with systemic lupus.

I remember the spring day I called her in 2006, asking if I could name my not yet born daughter after her. She said she would be honored.

Maryam my friend was only able to meet Maryam my daughter once. The last time I saw her was over Christmas, and she was in the hospital. I wasn't able to bring my daughter in to see her since she was in the ICU. I did show her a picture of how her namesake was growing up, strong and happy.

Maryam was only 32 when she died. She was in a lot of pain, and I am glad she is released of that. Whenever I say my daughter's name, I am reminded of my friend, of her strength, her beauty, her spirit. When Maryam is old enough to understand, I will tell her about her namesake - how her gentle kindness was so present, how her fiery spirit was there, too. I'll tell her how one 13 year old girl helped me when I was young, and became a lifelong friend.

Some cute toy pics

We're getting some new pictures for our website: http://www.happysquashtoys.com. Luckily for us we have a cute model willing to play with our wooden creations.

Warmer weather means

...viking hats!

As it warms up outside after a cold Ohio winter, we all tend to congregate outside for hours. Thursday was beautiful - 60 degrees! The boys brought out their Nerf guns, and Maryam had her viking helmet and her rockets. She's very anti-photo right now, so all my shots had to be done on the sly. She gets mad when I point the camera at her. The boys, of course, are hams for pictures.
Aidan was doing his best to look fierce.

When it was time to come in, you could hear Maryam screaming a block away.

Today we biked to the park. I love Spring - it's my favorite season. The summers here get a bit too hot and humid, and the winters can be so cold. I'm waiting a bit longer to start my tomato plants indoors for my garden. I can't wait!

The princess pirate

That is what Maryam called herself with these two silk scarves on.

Art area

We sold some exercise equipment we had in the basement, and used the money and space to create an art area, where the kids can glue, paint, draw, tape and create without getting my kitchen table destroyed.

We went to Ikea yesterday, and this is what we created.

The blue bins hold all sorts of artsy stuff, from paper to feathers to glue and tape and stickers and paints.

I saw some hanging cups in the bathroom area, and decided to be clever and use them to store markers, crayons, paintbrushes and pencils. They can be taken off the bar and will stand upright on the table or the easel.

Babysitting, Aidan style

"Aidan, please watch your sister while I make dinner"

"Thank you!"

Snow Day

Today school was cancelled for the boys. No surprise there - we had snow, then frozen rain, and then more snow on top. Things were bad.

Usually in the morning, Jim comes in and wakes me up at 7:15 AM. Today he didn't, because the university where he works was closed. That almost never happens.

So we're having a nice family day together. We played outside in the snow and got some great video footage of Jim sledding down the driveway. Picture a grown man running, sliding for about 1 foot, then rolling off in the snow and you'll have an idea what happened.

Then it was inside to watch Toy Story and eat popcorn. We're also playing with our new kitty, who appears to be in heat. Well, at least she's not pregnant.

I had a dream....

and in this dream I was told to get a black kitten and name her Spaghetti. Seriously!

So I told the kids, and of course they get all excited. Both boys promise to take care of her, and tell me that she would be their birthday and Christmas present. Both seem a bit weirded out that I would want to name a cat Spaghetti. But they'll adjust.

Last night I went on Craig's List, and the first listing was for a black kitten. I went and got her today. Her name is Spaghetti, and she is very sweet. Her owners were evicted and left her in their house with the door open. A good Samaritan took her in, and posted about her on CL.

We don't know how old she is - the woman who took her in thinks she's under a year. I have an appointment at the vet on Thursday and I'll ask what they think. She is beautiful, sweet, and very curious. She'll come up and chirp and nuzzle me occasionally. Maryam is in love with her. Frodo scares Maryam, and Spaghetti is smaller and not aggressive at all.

Frodo and she 'chirped' back and forth. He seems fine with having a sister. The only habit we need to fix is that she jumps on the tables and counters. I think she's going to do great! I can't wait to see what the boys think of her when they get home.

When toddler meets wall

"Oh look Maryam, Wayne's playing with hotwheels!". Maryam runs to Wayne, smack dab into the corner of the wall. Crying follows, and then she forgot about it in 3 minutes. I didn't, though. She still has a bluish goose-egg on her forehead, the poor girl.

Potty training 101

It may look like a hat, but it isn't. Really.

Roach pictures

I'm so glad my baby isn't afraid of bugs (like her daddy). I had no idea when I married Jim that he had a 'bad roach experience'. So while Maryam held the cockroach and giggled, Jim stood back and looked positively ill.

One of the best things about Columbus

is our science museum, COSI. Every time we go there Maryam has a blast. The kidspace has a big water table she likes.








There's the helicopter







and the tree house

and riding toys and costumes. It's a wondrous place. The rest of the building has exhibits for older kids and adults, but with Maryam I usually just hang out in kidspace.





At another visit (when I didn't bring my camera), she held a big hissing cockroach. She was the youngest kid to do that, the handler said. And she just laughed and giggled as it crawled around her.

Note her dress - it's my most recent sewing creation, and my favorite dress I've sewn for her.

How to diaper a baby. A picture tutorial by Maryam

Step 1: Put baby in booster seat and bring diaper over.

Step 2: Attempt to put diaper on baby.

Step 3: If step 2 is difficult, place another diaper on top of baby. Repeat twice.

Step 4: Repeat step 3 until baby is diapered or you can no longer see the baby

Step 5: Lean in and admire your hard work. Your baby is diapered. Horray!

Our trip out West

We went to Kirkland, Washington for Christmas. On the way there, Maryam was very careful to read the safety card in the seat back of the plane. She asked me to read it to her. It went something like this :There is a plane. And a baby! Look at the mask on the baby! Look at the fire! The people are happily getting out of the plane. See the raft? All the happy people are floating on the raft... She loved it.

When we arrived, we were welcomed by snow. Tons and tons of snow in a city ill-prepared for it. The roads were awful. Neighborhoods weren't plowed for well over a week, which meant that there were grooves a foot deep, and the car basically drove itself.

But we were able to make a lovely pregnant snow-woman. Mom donated her bathrobe for modesty's sake. Maryam loved it!

We were able to meet little baby Daniel for the first time. He's Maryam's cousin, and about 6 months old. He's a cute, very happy baby. I wouldn't know what to do with a happy baby - all I've dealt with is cranky. But I'm guessing that there will come a time when he's unpleasant - I'm guessing at around 16. Seriously, this kid is so laid back! When I was pregnant with Maryam I asked God that she be happy. She is, but she's also very stubborn and can be pushy and bite-y. Laid back she is not!

I was able to visit my dearest friend Maryam, for whom baby Maryam is named. That was one of the best parts of this trip for me.