The Collection

This was the content of the note I saw first thing this morning when I went downstairs to get a cup of coffee:

Chismas

every kind of si lly band there is that we don't have

J+8 (scribbled out)

J and S

I didn't need the "J" to figure out this was the work of Jessica, the ultimate collector queen. She absolutely loves things that are part of a collection, whether it's Care Bears, Webkinz, Silly Bandz or the Fairy Books, a collection of 101,407 fairy books that are themed in groups of seven books ("the weather fairies", the "rainbow fairies" the "pet fairies" etc.) "Foods that start with the letter Q fairies" and "neo-conservative leader fairies" rounds out that series.

Luckily Jessica picks things that are relatively inexpensive, and these collections don't always overlap (there was a heavy up period in Care Bear activity a few years ago, while the fairy books are within the last year). Although it's waned, I'll occasionally come home to see 25 Care Bears staring back at me from the couch, a sure sign that Jessica was watching a Care Bears movie.

I think she gets this from me. Out of the ten hats I own nine of them are some form of Giants hat (but each one is different, as Jessica would say). I also own most Rolling Stones albums, including buying Exile on Main Street in every form except traveling minstrel.

I am happy that Jess shows such devotion to her toys. And if this Christmas I can find "Sports Fairies" Silly Bandz with Barbie Fairy names in Care Bear colors, I will have hit the jackpot.

Thinking Ahead

The girls were glad to see me tonight after a quick business trip, running outside to greet me and excitedly telling me about their day. Jessica, in a clear example of thinking ahead, told me that for her next birthday party (about 9 months away) she "wants to combine her two favorite things - art...and sleeping."

I suppose we can do an art sleepover party. Not sure what exactly it means, but we have a lot of time to figure it out.

Sisterhood

Last week the girls and I went to the pool for the afternoon. At one point, Jessica needed to make her third trip to the bathroom. Jess asked if Stef could go with her - again - at which point Stef said no. I offered to take Jess, but she gave me the "I'd rather do math homework for 4 hours a night" look.

As Jess left, Stef asked me why Jess always asks her to take her to the bathroom. I said, "Probably because she feels safer if you are with her."

Without saying a word, Steffi got up to join her sister. As they returned, I could see them quietly holding hands.

That's why Stef is a great sister.

That's Rough

This morning Jess and I went to the clubhouse at the Scotch Plains Country Club to get her fitted for her soccer uniform. Walking out, I showed her the putting green to the right of the building. "Wow, this grass is very, very short," she said. "Why are there three sizes of grass?" she asked.

I explained that the green has the shortest grass, that the next level is called the fringe, and the tall grass is called the rough. "Oh," she said after a moment. "So our yard is the rough." "Yes, exactly," I replied. I cut the grass when we got home.

Back in the Day

A couple of weeks ago the whole fam was in the car, and we were talking about the grumpy tendencies of someone who, shall we say, lives in a vacinity close enough to us that our family has had occasion to witness his grumpy tendencies (okay, he's a neighbor). I mentioned that my guess is he's not a grumpy old man, just a grumpy man. Steffi asked me what I meant. I said, "He's old school. He probably was very strict and would yell at his kids over anything at any time. Look at the way he talks to his family now; he doesn't tolerate anything. It's not his fault; back in the day that's the way dads were."

Steffi sounding perplexed, said, "But you don't scream and get mad at us and you're a dad." I was going to say something about getting mad sometimes, but instead took the compliment as a sign that my kids see me as a dad and not a big dude to be afraid of and avoid. I suppose back in the day this approach would make a grumpy man even grumpier, but considering the way people run the world today perhaps all that grumpy child rearing wasn't the best approach.

Soccer stuff

The girls last soccer games of the year took place this week. Stef helped lead her team to a goal with a great throw-in to a teammate who passed to another girl who scored. Stef's team hasn't lost a game in 2 years, but they gave up a goal in the last minute to tie. Her coach is great so I hope she continues to play and he's her coach. Jessica had 6 goals in her game - the last one involved her and her opponent running neck and neck down the field - Jessica kicked the ball in, followed by her and the other girl flying into the goal. She also hustled back on defense repeatedly to knock the ball away. She definitely had her game face on - especially when I cheered from the sideline and she would shoot me a glare. Luckily she told me afterward it didn't bother her.

The girls and I have been playing soccer in the yard, desperately trying not to hit my car or the plants. We are 0 for 2 in that regard. We are also watching the World Cup. Every game they ask me who I want to win, then root for that team. They will watch for 20 minutes or so before they revert to 95 percent of Americans and not care. Saturday South Korea was up 2-0 on Greece and Steffi said that Korea should let Greece score - that's what her coach would do so the other team doesn't feel bad. I told you he was a good coach.

Fresh Perspective

Last night the fam was in the car and we passed a Subway (the sandwich shop, not the rail system) and I said, "I haven't had a Subway Sandwich since Steffi got sick eating one." Jessica asked, "What do you mean Steffi got sick eating from Subway?" After we all explained the particulars of Steffi's first experience with what we expect was food poisoning, Jessica seemed outraged. "Wait a minute, you mean Subway EAT FRESH from the commercials?" Their food is fresh!" Loren explained that while Subway makes fresh food, perhaps this particular store didn't follow all the rules. Jessica mumbled something about "they should all be fresh" and got her first "taste" of how reality doesn't always match an advertising claim.

I don't have the heart to tell her about BP's ten year "beyond petroleum" advertising campaign touting, clean, renewable energy sources and environmentally conscious practices.