Catching up . . . the Depression

Last summer was a season I knew we had to revel in because it was a summer that would be hard to beat. As a family, we spent seven weeks in California and all over Utah.  Amidst trips to the cabin, playing in waves, "cliff" jumping, swimming in St. George, backyard BBQs, and late nights with family and friends, little blogging was accomplished. Now that the kids are back in school and the late nights are over, I have a bit of catching up to do.

In June, my sister-in-law, Carolyn, shared one of her great ideas with me. She had structured her summer around American Girl themes. Each week she focused her family activities on a time period from American History. Cute Gaby was privy to such activities as "Hustle" dance lessons from the seventies, taught by her own parents, and an outing to This is the Place Monument for a covered wagon ride, straight out of the Pioneer Era. I figured I would slip a little more meaning into our activities while in Utah and borrowed her brilliant idea, with some tweaking, out of respect for Jonathan and his masculinity. 

One of our first days in Salt Lake was dedicated to the Depression Era. The girls had just seen the Kit Kittredge American Girl movie about life in the 1930's, so the topic was fresh on their minds. Our agenda was as follows:

Morning: We perused the non-fiction book, Welcome to Kit's World. It introduced politics, lifestyles and events from throughout the Depression. Since Kit is a journalist, the kids came up with questions based on what we read in the book. They saved them to use during an interview with their 95 year old great-grandmother who remembers the Depression well.

Lunch: I gave the kids five dollars and took them to Smith's Grocery Store. Their task was to buy lunch for our entire family. It was so much fun watching them negotiate with each other whether or not they would spend their money on flavoring for the water or dessert and if they should splurge on lemon sugar cookies or stick with the less expensive wafers. They discovered that Kruger brand was the least expensive and by the end of their shopping experience, that is what they scanned the shelves for.

Afternoon: We took our bargains up Millcreek Canyon so that we could appreciate the picnic areas that were built by the CCC, an agency that provided jobs to young men through FDR's New Deal.

Evening: Later, we returned home to make a Depression Era dinner for Grandma Rose. We invited Grandpa David and Grandma Gretta to join us as well and sat in their backyard enjoying ambrosia salad, Cincinnati chili, glazed carrots, sour cream biscuits and banana fritters, all recipes from the 1930's. Grandma pointed out that she cleaned her entire plate, something she learned to do during these hard times in her youth. 

 

Night: Emilie, Jonathan and Annelise sat around their Great-Grandmother Rose and were so proud to ask her the questions that they had created. They were equally interested in her answers. We were astounded to find that her experience was so similar to the unfamiliar lifestyle that we had been learning about through studying the Kit book and seeing the movie. 

Here is life in the '30's in her words:

Did you have to wear chicken feed dresses? "Oh my yes! One dress even had the brand of the feed printed right across my bottom in big black letters!"

Did you see hobos? "The hobos visited our house often. They knew mother would feed them so they would go in the back and start chopping wood. Soon mother would come out with a plate of food for them."

Did you know any boys in the CCC? "Of course. My friend Milly had a  boy she was courting who left to work in another state, building something I think."

This dinner was one of the most memorable nights of the summer. I know that I will never forget sitting in my parents' back yard with my children interviewing Grandma Rose about Herbert Hoover, the New Deal and Black Tuesday over banana fritters that they helped make.

Late Night: We ended the day by watching the Wizard of Oz, which was created during the Depression. Half of the population of America went to the movies on the weekends to escape their worries. My grandma was no exception. At only a nickel a show, she could still afford it.

The next day we stopped at the stone pillars marking the entrance to Lower Federal Heights. A plaque credited the CCC workers who helped "moderinze" the area during the Depression. It was interesting to learn that the Depression era workers built the structures and ammenities that we still enjoy today, almost in our own back yards. 

The only event on our agenda that we were not able to fit in, was an evening feeding the homeless people in the soup kitchen. I got approval to bring the kids down to St. Vincent's De Paul's and I knew it would be a great experience for them but we couldn't quite fit it in. Next time . . .         

Good Things Happen To Those Who Wait

Last Spring we began planning for the birthday party season in our family. Annelise and Emilie opted for a backyard bash, with the water slide and ice cream man. Jonathan on the other hand had his eye on Fenway Park. After a little research, we discovered a birthday package offered through the events coordinator at the ball park. It was an unbelievably good deal -- seats three rows from the field, pizza dinner and a Sox pennant to take home for $33 a ticket. (I think we will all have our birthdays with the Sox!) There was one night available and it was three months away in September. For Jonathan, it wasn't even a decision. We signed up. From that day forward we have been counting down to September.

On Tuesday night Jonathan's friends began arriving, donning their best Red Sox apparel and carrying their leather mits, just in case. These boys have been raised in Red Sox Nation on the legend of Ted Williams, the curse of the great Bambino, tales of the Green Monster and Big Pappi's homers. They were craving a night under the lights at their favorite ball park. Steve and I loaded up both cars with eight year old boys and headed to Yawkey Way. For these guys, there was just something about being packed together cruising to a MLB game. The radio was on and the kids hooted, hollered and punched each other the entire way there but as soon as they saw the neon CITCO sign and the bright lights of the stadium, their excitement burst out of the car, with shouts and chanting from the windows. Boston knew that we had arrived.

The Red Sox were playing Tampa Bay, their rivals for first spot in the American League East this season. The kids found their seats and, in contrast to our wild arrival, intensely watched the game. 

They munched on their pizza, cheered when Jonathan's name appeared on the jumbo screen and lept out of their seats when Jason Bay hit a home run. It wasn't long before their eyes began to droop, ever so slightly. Since I had promised their mothers that I would have them home by 10:00, we had to depart early.  The boys took their pennants, a pack of baseball cards and Razzles to remember their big night at the game. And hopefully Jonathan will remember just a little better his childhood days as a true Red Sox fan! 

The Pirate

A few years ago Annelise came to me and announced, "I won't brush my teeth anymore!" I asked her why, wondering if she was too tired at night to bother with it or if the toothpaste was too "spicy." She responded, "I want to be a girl pirate!"

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

Well, tonight that dream appears to be coming true! Annelise lost two teeth in two nights. Last night she came to us with blood dripping from her mouth and wondered what was the problem. Steve pulled out the pliers, gave a few yanks and out popped loose tooth number one. Tonight she returned to us with more blood. Steve got the pliers out again. This time her tooth wasn't quite as loose, but she insisted that the tooth fairy would be stopping again at our house tonight. Steve yanked this way and that. In classic Annelise style she endured the pain. This girl pirate is as tough as nails! 

A Random Weekend

Labor Day arrived and we found ourselves with three precious days of freedom. Our family had just returned from seven weeks of traipsing around the West, where we packed and unpacked 13 different times, so we were reluctant to pull those suitcases back out. Staying close to home, we ended up with a hodgepodge of activities, with each one transforming into a unique memory.  

On Saturday we pulled out the guide books and flipped through the pages. Maine caught our attention and off we went. We arrived in York in the mood for fresh seafood so we tracked down a little lobster pound that we had spotted a couple of years ago. The hostess gave us the prime spot, with our table pushed against the corner of two windows looking out over a little inlet with the lobster boat which dragged in our meal just yards away. It was low tide so wooden fishing vessels tilted in the soggy sand, waiting for the sea to return and lift them up again.

Nubble lighthouse was perched out on rocks jutting into the Atlantic Ocean, warning ships of Maine's ragged coastline. We had visited this spot before but we had to stop for just one more peek.  

We visited Brown's roadside ice cream stand, which instantly became a favorite last time we were in the area. This is the only place I order rum raisin ice cream. Somehow they get it right at Browns.

 

We found Wiggly Bridge that was recommend in the Family Fun Guide book. Most certainly this bridge does wiggle! The kids extracted sea creatures from the waters beneath the bridge and then we wandered into the woods that lie beside the York River. Our impromptu adventure reminds us why we love New England.

After church on Sunday we scoured the MA bike trail book, hooked up the bike rack and headed to Cambridge. The kids and I raced along the Charles River, admiring the collegial boat houses and the Sunday afternoon rowers as Steve followed behind with Ezra and Sophia in the stroller. 

All weekend the kids anticipated our friends, the Kimbles, garage sale. Their jaws dropped as they reached the top of the driveway. Annelise could buy an entire assortment of stuffed animals for just a few dollars! Emilie could take home a video Twister game for only 50 cents and Jonathan could talk Mr. Kimble into a free piece of firewood for the family thrown in with his cheetah stuffed animal! The best find was a miniature horse stable, animals included, for Sophia, who for months has pretended to be Black Beauty. Ezra returned home with the most unique purchase. He affectionately rubs his magnified  stuffed strain of the Ebola virus against his face and twirls its little tail. (Explanation -- Mr. Kimble is in bio tech.) Ironically the kids are more excited about inexpensive second hand toys than all the purchases made at Red Balloon and Learning Express over the years.     

Later in the day we received a call from our two friends from the UK, Simon and Julia, who we met in Thailand. They were in town for a wedding and hoped to stop by. I whipped up a batch of homemade strawberry ice cream and slid some chocolate chip cookies in the oven. They arrived, along with Julia's mother and Godmother. We had a fun visit discussing politics, our unique customs and American pop culture. In the end, they all agreed that we must come for a visit. 

 

 

It was only hours before the 2008 school year would begin, so we felt that we must fit in one more slice of summer. We ordered take out, grabbed the picnic blanket and football and headed to the Wayside Inn for the last moments of sunlight. The girls explored the stream while Jonathan and Steve tossed the football. Summer was fading away with the setting sun and the responsibility of being a parent crept in. We returned home to lunches to be made, backpacks to be filled and the first bedtime in months. So long summer!          

No Jitters Here!

Just before summer came to a screeching halt, as it seemed, Jonathan stated, "I am actually excited to wake up early again and be in school all day!" Emilie couldn't get to Staples soon enough to pick out her school supplies and Annelise asked over and over, "Now Mom, what day is today? How many days until school starts?" With this being our third year of school in Boston, everything was familiar territory. The kids knew who their teachers were, where they could find their classes, what events and traditions they had to look forward to during the upcoming year and which friends they couldn't wait to see. 

   

They choose their outfits wisely, with Emilie prepared in tennis shoes and shorts in case it was gym, Jonathan in one of his collared shirts that he reserves only for special occasions and Annelise in a bright floral dress and clogs to make a good first impression as a new first grader. 

Their excitement bubbled over all the way to the bus stop. They wondered aloud who would be the bus driver, which friends they would sit by in class and what games would be played at recess. Suddenly as they saw the bus stop with children gathering, they broke out in their habitual run, as if summer hadn't divided last year from this year, to see who would be able to put their belongings in the backpack line first, reserving their spot in line to get on the bus.

Someone shouted that the bus would be coming soon and the upper grade children ran up the street to race the bus back to the stop. The roar of the engine and the squeak of the brakes could be heard and all heads turned to the hoard of children racing across the grass, striving to beat the bus. Since they began racing well before the bus reached them, they all had their backpacks on and were standing in line before the bus was around the corner. Jonathan held out for a legitimate showdown with Rita, the new driver. The kids chanted "Jono! Jono! Jono!" as he ran his heart out. With sweat dripping from his newly buzzed head, he exclaimed, "Mom! I can't believe I beat it!" It was the beginning of what seemed would be a great year!

The three students arrived home and it was reported that the day was a huge success! At the dinner table, they were each given two timed uninterrupted minutes to report on their first day. (We are not at the point yet where appropriate, interesting conversation always comes with ease. For some in our family the timing is helpful to share more than the most basic facts and for others the timing helps in consolidating their thoughts into what Steve has taught them is their "elevator pitch.")

Today the highlights were:

Emilie:

1. 5th grade jobs. She is particularly excited to be in charge of the riddle of the week where a 5th grader is chosen to present a riddle over the PA system and students in the school can enter their answers into a box in the front lobby. Ideas anyone?

2. This year she will switch classes for science.

3. The Freedom Trail is walked by all fifth graders as a field trip during their colonization unit.

Jonathan:

1. This year is set up to be quite the social experience. Almost all of Jonathan's friends are in Mrs. Greene's class with him.

2. Cursive. Who can forget the excitement of this rite of passage?

3. Plymouth Plantation is the big field trip of the year. As a native Westerner, this is pretty exciting!

Annelise:

1. Finally Annelise will be able to eat lunch at school in the cafeteria -- Yea!

2. Mrs. Batt's classroom is the only first grade class to have individual desks -- very significant to a six year old.

3. Now Annelise will be able to participate in Art and Spanish with the rest of the school. Look out for interesting conversations with Annelise!

Sophia is waiting patiently for her chance. She too asks, "Now Mom, what day is today? How many days until school starts?" Sometimes her inquiry is in regards to preschool. Other days, she would like to begin counting down until the day she races the bus, eats lunch at school for the first time, and learns her first Spanish words!