Pepita

New Year’s Affirmations

Sunday night, over supper, Ted, Frances, and I passed around the family journal and made some new year’s affirmations. The idea was to list three things we like about each other and ourselves, in the hopes that this practice might help us remember to be grateful for our family and be kind to one another. Frances didn’t quite grasp that we were going for abstract concepts, but—hey—she’s five. Here’s her list, with a translation below.

Three things Frances likes about Ted

1. Reading
2. Hugs
3. Swimming with Dad

 

Three things Frances likes about Jessica

1. Cuddles with mom
2. Stories
3. Hugs

 

Three things Frances likes about Frances

1. Play!
2. Yoga
3. TV

 

 

Holiday Traditions Around the World, as Reported by Frances

Saint Nicholas

saint nicholas day is december 6th. He throo bags of gold throo the windoe. One landed in a grls stocing. We hang stocings today.

 

Crismis in Mexico

In mexico they yoos poinsettias to decurat ther homes. They hang up papr lanterns and grlind and a manjer scene.

 

Christmas in Germany

They make spisey cookes. The childrin put thar shoos biy the frunt door. they put carits and hay in the shoes for St. Nick’s horse. The gronups decurat the tree with glas ornumins and lites. they put a anjle or stre is put on top. they opine presents on christmas eve. they sing carls.

 

Israel

Hanukkah mens dedakshin. it is a 5000 yer owld store. Thar r 8 candles for 8 days. 1 bottle of oyl lasdid 8 days. They eat latkes.

Chocolate Skulls

Frances’s birthday is in July, but her school likes to make sure that everybody has a special day during the school term. Frances’s honorary birthday fell on November 4, and since her class has been studying Día de Muertos, she wanted to make sugar skulls instead of cupcakes this year.  As it happens, I already had some sugar skull molds, but, since sugar skills are actually not that pleasant to eat, I suggested chocolate skulls instead. Frances approved.

We used Wilton Candy Melts and adornedthe skulls with Candy Decorating “Pens”. I use scare quotes here because the name of this product is misleading: They’re basically tubes filled with Candy Melt, and keeping the candy warm and flowing is kind of tricky. I found that getting an effect I liked was a lot easier if I painted inside the candy molds before pouring in the chocolate. If we make these again—and I’m guessing that we will—I will probably use some kind of decorator frosting on the de-molded candies instead of the so-called candy pens.

All that aside, this was a fun project. Frances was happy with the results, and the candy skulls were a big hit with her teachers and classmates.

 

Frances’s DIY Ghost Decorations

It’s not too late to decorate for Halloween! All you need to adorn your walls with scary ghosts is a few household supplies and Frances’s handy, four-step guide.

Step 1 Draw a ghost on paper.

 

Step 2 Use scissors to cut out ghost.

 

Step 3 Get yourself some glue!

Step 4 Affix ghost cut-out to a fresh sheet of paper.

That’s all there is to it, but don’t be afraid to improvise. Frances used paint and glitter to make this picture, but it’s still the same basic project. Use your imagination, and have a great Halloween!

 

 

Frances’s First Day of Kindergarten

Running with Frances

Run.

Walk.

Play peek-a-boo with squirrel.

Run.

Stop to double-knot shoelace that has come untied.

Run.

Stop to point out house that had the sprinkler, and tell story of getting soaked by the sprinkler while walking to the playground with Abby.

Run.

Gallop.

Stop to notice that the morning glories are no longer blooming at the house with the morning glories.

Race home.

I used to wonder if my kid was trying to make me crazy on purpose. Now I can’t believe that I ever doubted it.

Those are the opening sentences of the as-yet-unwritten piece with which I earn an imaginary honorable mention in the nonexistent Erma Bombeck Memorial Essay Contest.