Practicing Conversation

“Mommy, when I go to Winter Camp today will I know anyone? Asks Ronin.
“There might be some kids from Hockey.” I say.
“Mommy, lets practice conversation so I know how to make friends.” Says Ronin.
“First, baby you can ask a kid his name and then if he likes hockey.”
“Okay. Mommy I be me and you be you. Hi!” says Ronin
“Hi!” I say
“Do you like hockey?”
“Yes I do” I say.
“I play in Dollard at the civic center and I have a Montreal Canadiens jersey.” Says Ronin.
“See Ronin you can do this.” I say.
“Yes and I can also talk about Star Wars and playing soldiers in battle.” Say Ronin.
“Do you feel better now?” I ask.
“Yeah. Let’s go already!” Ronin races to the car.
Thank G-d for my well adjusted 5 year old.

An elf took Ronin's Santa letter

We put up our Christmas tree yesterday. The kids loved it. Autumn sang Hanouka songs the entire time. I couldn’t stop laughing. Ronin wrote a letter to Santa and placed it into the Santa letterbox we have hanging from the tree. The picture that he had drawn was of the family and Santa with a BIG bag full of presents for us because we have been very good this year.

“I helped Daddy move to Montreal, and I help teach Autumn a lot of stuff all the time!’ said Ronin. This morning Ronin ran over to the tree and told me “Daddy has a secret connection the Santa’s elves. An elf picked up my letter and Daddy said that the elf brings Santa all the last minute letters. It is lucky that we are in Montreal and so close to the North Pole now.” Said Ronin.

Looking outside it looks The North Pole.

CPE Hebrew Foundation for Autumn

I am such a good mom. I am. I want Autumn an Ronin in the best daycare that I could afford. When we arrived in Montreal we placed them into a daycare with one of their cousins. Within two week and seventy calls later I got them into another one, which was much nicer. They are very happy there. Ronin is learning a lot of French and Autumn is experiencing full time school in a very nurturing environment. In August I placed Autumn again on the waiting lists for the Jewish daycares. I applied and sent in all the applications. I followed up. Today Autumn got into the CPE Hebrew Foundation Pre-K for August 2011. I have already applied for Ronin to attend the Kindergarten in the fall as well. I am thrilled. Everyone will be learning Hebrew, French and English. This is a good day.

Hanouka Day 7

Last night Autumn and I played Princess Barbie’s. She changes their diapers and “they play in he pink car.” Autumn loves her Princess Barbie’s and calls them “my friends, mon amies”. Right now her favorite is Ariel. Ronin really likes Jasmine. He likes “her long hair and special earrings. Makes her a little more fancy you know.” Snow White gets playtime but she is definitely a rung below Belle.

Autumn:
“Momma, I love Hanouka and my presents. I love my friends and snow and pink. My Ronin is my best friend. Where Leno going?” and she chases after the cat and “wants to pet her soft on the fur.” As Autumn disappears I hear a meow and a giggle and realize that Autumn found Leno under the table. “Her tail is moving Momma.” Autumn says. “Be careful Autumn. Don’t make Leno stressed. Her tail moves fast when she has the stress,” Ronin informs us all.

First serious snowfall in Montreal Dec 7, 2010

I am being punished I know. The first snow in Montreal was billed at 2-4cm. After I googled and consulted Facebook friends (thank you Janet Blank) Okay 2.5cm = 1 inch. I woke up to 17-18cm. What the f is that? My addled brain calculated 7-9 inches. G-d I miss my inches and feet and my Fahrenheit.

So why am I being punished? Since that was my basic premise here. This is why. I have a temper and say things I shouldn’t say. Like this morning Ronin lost Autumn’s new Hanouka present from last night. When approached Ronin said he didn’t touch it. I had already scolded him for playing with it at 6:30am this morning and waking her up.

He did and was careless. I said “Maybe we should go into your room and throw away one of your toys?” I did this to inspire him into movement. I wanted him to care about finding something that he lost that belonged to Autumn. But it didn’t. I found the toy, which annoyed me more as I hate being annoyed over lost toys. Too petty for me but it drives me bonkers! So Ronin was annoyed at me for being mean and I was annoyed at Ronin was not caring and the snow came and punished me.

But we sang the shma the entire way there and we arrived just fine. Took me an 75 mins to get back home when it should have taken 15 minutes but everyone is safe. Sean will pikc them up and I have cancelled our haircuts for tonight. Like hell I am driving again today.

When we got to school Ronin kissed Autumn and said "I'm sorry I lost your phone. I do care. I will show you and not say it."

Ronin's new girlfriend Nov 2010

“I am going to marry Natalie.” Says Ronin
“Why Natalie?” I ask.
“Because she is a lot of fun and keeps Elias away from me. He uses (in a whisper) the potty words.” Says Ronin.
“That makes sense.” I say.
“I also like Hannah. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. She laughs at the potty words too!”
“Oh I see.”
“Mommy. Natalie and I broke up. She is too bossy. She tells me who I can play with. I don’t like that I think.” Says Ronin.
“Exclusivity, Ronin. That is what a lot of women want.” Says my mom.
“Yeah, well. I’ll marry her and have 9 kids. But for now I think I will look around. Daddy says I can see as many girls as I want but can only marry one!”

Lits bits of Fall

Snowed here in Montreal on Oct 30, 2010 at 10pm.

Ronin was Anankin Skywalker and Autumn was a Princess. Of course she was.

Ronin is speaking French and he has no idea what he is saying half the time. But he has a perfect accent. He comes home yesterday "maintenant maintenant mama no" Now Now No Mommy? He just loves the way it sounds. There is a new song everyday as well.

Autumn is a true Irish force of nature. "She loves school. It is the most fun!" and plays a lot with Ryan (said very affectionetely) and Tyler.

One week on to a new life in Montreal

WE have been living in Montreal for less than I week and this is what I hear in the backseat of my car after we pick the kids up from daycare:

“Mama, there were four bullies at school. I hit a girl who called me stupid.”

“Ronin, you never hit a girl!” Sean said.

“Ronin, no hit the stupid girl.” Autumn pines.

“Autumn, don’t say stupid. It is an ugly word,” Ronin said.

“BITCH!” screams Autumn.

Sean and I look at one another and I assure him that word has not come out of my mouth. A lot of four-letters come out my mouth but not that one.

“Autumn, use pretty words.” I say.

“I’m f@cking you!” Autumn says.

Sean and I look at one another. I did say FU on the drive up 87 somewhere around exit 30 in the Adirondacks because I thought a truck was going to hit me.

“Daddy, did you hear what Autumn said?” Ronin states.

“Yes Ronin. We have to teach her to use pretty words because she doesn’t know what
she is saying.” Sean explains.

“Autumn – say PUMPKIN!” Ronin commands. He knows this will distract her and he uses this a lot of get her to do things he wants versus what she wants.

“Pumpkin!” Autumn chimes.

“1.2.3 say Pumpkin!” Ronin says.

“Pumpkin” we all say.

“Pumpkins are orange and they are a fruit.” I add.

“Oh!” Autumn says. Two minutes pass. A lot of jibber-jabber.

“Mama. I’m f@cking you?” Autumn says.

“Pumpkin!” We all answer!

Ronin is a Super Hero Age 4

Ronin is all about the Super Heroes. Good guys bad guys. Who are? Today while he was skooting around on his new skooter he said "I am THUNDER BOLT."
I said, "I thought you were Captain America?"
He looked at me and said, "No mom, Captain America is my Super Hero name. My real name is THUNDER BOLT. That is the name I train under."

March 4, 2010 MILESTONE

When I went to put Ronin to sleep tonight he turned to me and said, “Please take the bucket of binkies away mommy. I am done with my pacifiers. They are for babies and I don’t need them anymore!” Yup. My little man is growing up and on March 4, 2010 he gave up is sousies, binkies, pacifiers and nuks!! He did it on his own – and said he didn’t want to see them anymore as he was DONE!

Afterward he said, "Mommy I promise to use the truth and say what I mean and he honest and filled with truth. I will not cry when you end the story and I will not beg for more. I will listen and be good and help you all the time. Since I am so good, can I have a Warrior Princess story?"

He also said, "Autumn is FAST like a dog and Ronin is fast like a Jet!"

Ronin and Autumn in Feb 2010

The stories that Ronin creates are fantastic. His imagination is blossoming and he wants to set the scene to tell us a story whenever he can. He also loves to perform physically. I took him to see Alvin and the Chipmunks as a reward for giving up his pacifier at school (he went cold turkey) and when we went to the theater we sat in the aisle. All the Single Ladies by Beyonce began and Ronin jumped out of his seat and started to shape his hips. Before I knew it he had jumped into the aisle and started tapping his toes and swinging his arms – with total abandon Ronin free-styled danced to his little heart’s content and I was very proud. His passion and commitment to fun made my little man smile and amaze the crowd.

Ronin says to me Saturday morning, “Welcome to my exotic animal shop, there is a poison toad, a bear, 2 macaws and a pelican, a three-headed snake, some bunnies, dogs, cats, and a goat. I just sold the cow to the mage on the ship. He is off to battle with the great Rogar and he needed to make sure that he had all his supplies.” Then his little sister, Autumn comes down the stairs, runs into my arms, kisses me on the lips and says, “I lol you mommy!” “I love you too Autumn” I say. She says “I lol my Ronin, daddy, mommy and baby Autumn.” Then she spins around giggles and runs for her dollhouse. After she plays there for about 20 minutes she remembers that she is hungry. ‘Mommy, I eat food, please?” And I say, “would you like some Cherrios?” “Autumn says, “yes with milk, mommy, I get spoon!” She opens up the drawer with her spoons, selects one of interest, and races me back into the family room. She runs over to her highchair, I pick her up, slide her in, and she starts to devour the Cheerios.

All day they play with one another. He falls down, she falls down, he jumps, she jumps, he says look at my foot, she falls to the ground, grabs her foot and says, “I got a foot!” She sings “Twinkle Twinkle” and “Row a Boat” and now she belts out at whim “Hey Ho! Blow the Man Down!” Let’s not forget the endless rendition of Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes follows by “Chicken Bells!”

Ronin says she talks too much and is too loud. He cannot hear himself think and he needs to think in order to have proper conversation!