A Day at the Beach : With Portuguese Man O' Wars

We had friends in town this weekend and there was only time to visit one beach - so South Beach it had to be. So the girls had their first trip to South Beach. (Technically Lorelei has already been a number of times, but none that she actually remembers.) Very soon after we arrived, the girls and I were playing in the water and the girls were each hanging off of an arm. Where Lorelei was grabbing me started to itch or burn. I was puzzled. Then she started complaining that her hands hurt. I told her to go to Andres at the towels and have him dry off her hands. I was trying to think what she could have touched that would have irritated her skin. (This of course knowing how she reacts to mosquito bites with huge raised welts.) She came back and was more insistent that her hands were burning. I asked her what she had touched. I thought maybe she was touching seaweed or something and there was some kind of biting bug. Oh, no. A Portuguese Man O' War that had washed up on the shore. Lorelei had no idea what it was. If you haven't seen one, I have included a a link to check them out on Wikipedia. I think everyone would agree that it is a fascinating and not at all menacing looking creature.

I'm thinking: jelly fish bite means vinegar or peeing on oneself (or your kids!). Instead we went to see the lifeguard. He was impressed that Lorelei wasn't crying. He sprayed her hands with vinegar  and then gave her a hot pack to hold for ten minutes. After that it would be obvious if she needed a trip to the ER or would be fine. She was fine and ended up enjoying the day at the beach - hopefully with a lesson learned.

Another Mortgage

Well we finally did it - sign the closing papers on our house that is. I have to say that it was a long drawn out process and a bit anti-climactic there at the end. yeah. I was so exhausted by the process that I didn't even tell anyone. Now I have. yeah.

Cruising with the Munns

Roger and Diane have been working for the past several years to make Thanksgiving a sacred time that the whole family gets together - somewhere - New York, New Orleans, Miami. This year Roger organized a 4 night cruise for the family. It was the first cruise for most and the overwhelming response is that there will be more cruising in the future! Here we are returning to the ship after a day spent in Cozumel. Lovely, lovely weather to be sitting on the beach drinking virgin pina coladas.

We asked a random passerby to take a shot of the whole group. This is one of only two shots that we have, so while it isn't the most flattering of everyone - we are at least all looking and neither of my girls are picking her nose.

Roger took this shot of the group from a balcony across the way. Once my Photoshop abilities improve I'll figure out how to superimpose Roger into the picture as well.(Good thing that my scrapbooking is two years behind. That will buy me some time to learn how to use Photo Shop period.)

Giving Thanks

On this Thanksgiving 2009 the Pfefferkorn Family is feeling particularly thankful for the house that we are about to own and hopeful that the addition to the house will be constructed and ready in time to house the newest addition to our family come mid June. 

May your day be filled with pumpkin pie.                   Pfefferkorns

                                                           

Trick or Treating - And the Morning After

The girls had a blast trick or treating, especially because they got to go with their peacock friend, Amelia. Collecting the candy and seeing all the other kids dressed up was great fun. The two girls both passed on ten minutes into a ride home and so we avoided having to make any decisions about eating candy that night.

The next morning, I heard the girls up and since they were unaware of the time change, didn't know it was too early! I laid in bed listening to them in the living room. I was waiting for them to dig into the candy buckets that were sitting easily within reach on the kitchen counter. After 20 - 30 minutes it did seem that they were eating so I finally went out to check on them, fully expecting to see a pile of discarded candy wrappers. Instead they were sitting at the table happily eating a banana each and sharing some raisins. Whose kids are these? Not mine!

Then they each had a Blow Pop and they haven't eaten any candy since. Further proof that they didn't inherit all my genes. Now, I on the other hand, am plowing my way through their candy buckets!

Halloween Party

We had a lovely Halloween party last night. Grandma Becky sent the costumes for the girls and Myrna just happened to have adult sized costumes of a ladybug and a bee. Andres was hesitant, naturally, but went for it. I am so proud of him - especially because this was his baptism into Halloween Costuming.

Little Farm - Pumpkin Patch

We visited Little Farm today and it was a big hit with the girls. They got to ride a horse (and managed not to get bucked off. They left that to Catalina!), they ran around, saw fish, a turtle, turkeys, chickens, ducks, goats, cows, horses (of course) and butterflies. The pumpkin selection was limited, but the girls enjoyed playing with them. Here are a few photos.

Smartest Kid on the Planet

Yes, it is a case of overly proud parents (okay just me) thinking that their child is just the most amazing child alive. Truthfully, while I tend to think that my child are very bright, inquisitive children, I actually like to think that they represent the average child as well. It isn't just my 4 year old that is making such amazing leaps in her learning - it is many 4 year olds the world over. It is no less amazing to think that this is the normal progression that many children make.

Specifically I would like to submit into evidence writing samples A, B and C from Lorelei. Both were written within the span of one calendar week. Sample A is a string of letters that Lorelei hoped would actually spell something. She asked me to read it to her and was disappointed when I said that it didn't actually "spell" anything. I then suggested that she read it to me, but she was not at all interested in her own interpretation. She wanted it to be obvious to me what it said. Sample B was from Saturday. Andres and I were making our shopping list for Costco. Lorelei decided to also make a shopping list and wrote her version of pescado (missing two vowels). Sample C is from this morning (Sunday). Lorelei wanted to write her friend's name - Juliet. Again in is missing a vowel - but WOW! I am so impressed what has transpired in one week. Lorelei has gone from writing a string of letters to represent who knows what to understanding that the letters represent sound to make up words. And by the way, I never suggested that she sound anything out. She may have learned that at school. Lucky for her that Spanish is mostly phonetical!

Step By Step

The house still isn't ours - yet - but we have made it over some potential hurdles. Yesterday was the 5 hour long thorough inspection. And this morning, best of all, we got to see the Appraiser's report and the property appraised $5,000 over what we are paying. Yeah! Monday I'll be breathing down our Lender's neck to see what we can do to move this process along! Almost there.Even though I measured every square inch of the house (including closets) and the yard, I didn't take as many photos as I'm sure my mother would have liked. In any event I will include a few additional shots of the house. (Remember that these are the "before" pictures, because the house will look nothing like this when we are through with it.)

Almost, Almost Our House

The negotiations between the bank and the borrowers has concluded! We have the official letter accepting our offer of $225,000. Next week will be the inspection and appraisal of the house. Things are going to really be jumping in the next 10 days. Then we'll close! I'm waiting to hear what the closing date might be. I want to circle it in red on my calendar. Then the real fun will begin with construction. I've had even more time to refine and explore alternative layouts and construction configurations. I am so ready to meet with the architect! That might start happening next week, too! By summer we might have a house and a guest room. Bring on the visitors!

How Much Interference at School is Acceptable?

So I am bumping up against an issue that is sure to plague me for many years to come - school. Lorelei doesn't love her teacher, as I have shared before. It is an opportunity for Lorelei to learn some coping strategies.

But then on Monday when I picked her up she said, "I don't want to come to school tomorrow." Why? Because her teacher talks strong (code for both loud and firm). Hmmm..... I have heard her teacher speak to the kids in the morning during drop off and I think I know just what Lorelei means. Her tone of voice isn't nice. It is hard and sharp and critical. On Tuesday afternoon, Lorelei told me that she did want to go to school on Wednesday for soccer, but that after that she didn't want to ever go to school again. Turns out that Lorelei was sent to nap in an adjacent room becuase she had gotten off of her cot. (This is what I can piece together from Lorelei's story.) She wanted Katherine to tie her shoes for her because Katherine is a famous star of the moment becuase she knows how to tie shoes! Easy one to field. Lorelei, I say, the rule during nap time is that you must stay on your cot (I'm assuming that is the rule butreally I'm winging it here). Your teacher probably thought that you were going to play with Katherine. If you follow the rules you won't have a problem. 

Come Wednesday morning, Mami remember that after today I don't want to go to my school anymore.

So how do I approach her teacher in a non-confrontational way and when? I think that she starts duty at 7 am and she leaves sometime in the afternoon before I pick up Lorelei. Should I talk directly with the Principal/Director? As Andres pointed out, a conversation isn't likely to change this veteran teacher, but I sure hope that the Director would care what story I put out to the public. Do I request a change in teacher? Arg. This morning I left a note for the teacher requesting a sit down meeting. I hope that she jumps on my request soon, because come Friday afternoon, I'll be in the Director's office sharing my thoughts.

What would you do?

From Hammock to Key

Yesterday we joined the Restrepos for a picnic in the park - Matheson Hammock Park. The temperature was still in the 90s but with less humidity. The only thing we lacked were pop up hammocks for napping. The girls had fun chasing down iguanas and collecting up brush.




Today we went to Virginia Key for a few hours. The girls are just so content playing in the sand and surf. It was also a way for Andres and me to have a mental break from the rhythym of the work week.The place was jumping when we got there. We'll definitely need to return for a full day event in the near future.

Real Live Photo of Fellow Driver

Just a little illustration to support my earlier point about some of my fellow Miami drivers "drifting" into the intersection throughout a red light. This was taken this afternoon on my way to pick Emma up from school. I am still shocked. This car is entirely and completely in the intersection!

Fantasizing About a Home

No more news about the house. We're still "almost there". So I am left to continue fantasizing about MY house. Essentially we are proposing to knock down three of four walls and all interior walls, add out to the left of the house and in the rear. We intend to make OUR HOUSE OURS. That is we get to design it. Everything. Until we close we won't meet with an architect, but until then we are considering all kinds of possible layouts. In my latest version I thought to myself, "What about a place to put the elliptical machine that I don't currently own but would love to have? How about an exercise room? A place to follow along with my videos?" Super luxurious to allot an entire room to this? You bet! That is part of the fantasizing. Think big. The architect's input and the price tag will bring my plans into the realm of reality soon enough.

In the meantime I am applying my expert skills at research to collecting ideas for every room in the house - flooring, wall colors, furniture, windows, layout of furniture, etc... Here are a few pictures of my "house" workspace.

Top 10 Reasons to Get Honked at in Miami

I have already been honked at more times in one month of living in Miami again than all of the four years in the Bay Area. I am NOT exaggerating. It is at least a daily occurrence. Here is my accumulated list of top offenses that warrant being honked at according to my fellow Miamian drivers.

Top 10 Reasons to Get Honked at in Miami
1. Slowing to allow someone into your lane.
2. Stopping for a pedestrian.
3. Not lurching forward at the exact moment a light turns green.
4. Not running a yellow or red light.
5. Being leered at by disgusting guys.
6. Not making a risky left turn into ongoing traffic.
7. Not vacating a parking spot fast enough.
8. Having out of state plates. Of course you don't know how to drive appropriately in the crazy Miami traffic!
9. Being on the road in front of another driver.
10. Giving the appearance that one might do something that would impede the progress of the driver behind.

Now here is my list of top ten reasons to have your license revoked in Miami.

1. Littering
2. Talking on the cell phone while swerving through traffic (or alternately driving 10 mph while talking.)
3. Not using turn signals and then "merging" suddenly and dangerously.
4. Cutting through gas stations or shopping centers to make a right turn rather than waiting for a green light at the corner.
5. Driving up over the curb and on the sidewalk in order to make a right turn at a red light when you're 3 cars  back.
6. Driving on the shoulder of the interstate to "pass" other cars.
7. Tailgating through a 15 mph school zone.
8. Turning left from the far right lane or turning right from the left turn lane.
9. Rolling into an intersection at 3 mph on a red light (that's not a problem is it?!)
10. Obnoxious use of the horn.

Almost Home!

I don't know the details for closing and all that just yet, but the bank approved our house bid. Woooo-hoo!!!!!!!!!

Lorelei's Florida Checkup - The Money Racket!!

In order to be enrolled in a licensed daycare or school here in Florida, the child must have blue and gold papers from the doctor's office showing immunization records and physical condition of said child. Okay fine, but what if your child has recently been for a checkup but it was in California where they don't have the blue and gold papers? Well, then you pay to go again. Humph! So Lorelei went today expecting nothing more than prodding in her ears and peering in her eyes and mouth. Instead she got a TB test, blood sample, and three vaccinations. Ouch! It was terrible holding her to my chest through the ordeal. She was screaming and physically moving away from the nurse by the last vaccination and the blood draw. Oh, my brave baby girl crying. I tried not to cry myself. It was really more of a misting of the eyes.

But here are her updated stats for a 4 1/2 year old. 39 pounds of solid muscle puts her at the 63rd percentile. Her 42 1/2 inches put her exactly at the 75th percentile. She is a healthy girl who will be much happier when she never has to have another shot. I did tell her that getting her ears pierced is a bit like getting shots in the earlobes, except that it continues to hurt longer. No comment from her on that thought.

So I go to pay (second time in 8 days) and I mentioned to the cashier that I had paid $35 last week for Emma and our co-payment is only $25. "Did you get the blue and gold papers?" she asked me. "Oh, maam. There is a charge for those forms." Ten dollars to give me my child's information! From her own doctor! The one that makes tons of money off of me anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, maam. Go blue and gold.

My Birthday

 
I had a very low-key birthday but that felt fine given the back-to-back weekends of birthday parties. My blood sugar level has been elevated for two straight weeks!


Instead of going to the beach as was suggested to me by one friend, I was studying again. Don't get me wrong, I do love to study. I hope that this final third class to clear my California teaching credential is awesome. It has a good title "Culture and Content Instruction". A bit vague, but hey I like culture, content and instruction so bring it on! I got a late start with the readings so yesterday I had to do all the readings in order to submit today's assignment.

We had a nice dinner and the girls jumped out of the closet to suprise serenade me with songs and drawings. It was frankly the best part of my day.

Tacky Birthday Party

Last night the Pfefferkorn family was living it up at the Restrepo's with a lively celebration of Virgos - Juan and myself! Goodwill got a lot of business from the attendees in order to pull off some awesomely tacky outfits. Andres was the California high-tech exec (completely out of place here in Miami!) and I was "Inappropriate in the workplace" except that when I saw the photos it turns out that I really fit in well with Miami's sense of acceptable. I just wasn't crazy enough! The girls had on gorgeous digs that just arrived from the Munns grandparents. Perfect timing!  It is additionally ironic to me that this is our first Family Picture  of the four of us since June!

Juan and Jenna decided to take a different tact with tacky - Trailer Trash. Jenna was perfect in her pjs and robe with her pregnant belly hanging out. The only thing that would have improved the look would have been a cigarette and a can of Pabst. Juan's new white polyster tank was the envy of several of the male attendees.


The girls stayed awake for the whole thing! They made lots of new friends (babysitters?) and learned how to play Hungry Hippo. I'm still working on getting the eye makeup off my face!

The Invisible Net

This morning before heading off to school, Emma wanted to stop and play in the "park" (on the playground). There is an element of the play structure that will be immediately familiar to all moms, dads and other such people that hang out in parks these days. It is similar to a ladder but made of metal and arched liek a half rainbow. The steps are far enough apart that I could easily slip between them - let along small children. The top of the ladder reaches about 6 feet high. It is the only aspect of our playground that I worry about - especially because Emma loves it. So this morning I was thinking about my personal style of parenting and a very important component is the "Invisible Net". I want my children to grow up unafraid. Being strong, independent and adventurous are all valued character traits for me, and if I can influence the adoption of these traits, I will. So far nature seems to be on my side with both the girls. So now I nurture that spirit by giving them almost free rein.

What isn't apparent to a casual observer is that while my children are running around seemingly unfettered, I am constantly vigilant. I anticipate dangers and do my best to mitigate them without it being overtly obvious to my children that I am protecting them.

When my mom was out visiting us in California in July, I was reminded of this hidden protectiveness. Grandma Becky wasn't comfortable with what  looked like I wasn't watching enough or concerned enough about what the girls were doing. She also learned that she is suprisingly more protective of her grandchildren then she was of her own children - too long off the job I think.

I do hope that at some point my children will assume responsibilty for maintaining their own safety within reasonable bounds, but as much as I can help them learn it now, it is still my duty to be the invisible safety net.

Super Emma

Emma is finally two. It seems like she has been "almost" two forever!  I can't believe how amazingly able she is for such a little kid. She looks so little to me walking around in the world (until she's next to a baby), but she's such a real person with a big personality. She loved all the singing and cake eating that comes with having a birthday. That's right - breakfast of champions!

Emma had her 2 year check-up today. She received the usual suprised remarks from the doctors and nurses about how calm and cooperative she was. Lorelei was and is the same way. Her height is 35 1/2 inches (93rd percentile) and weight 29 1/2 lbs. (82nd percentile). She seems to be holding steady in terms of her growth. For the first time since she was born (at least that I remember) the nurse pricked her toe for a blood sample. She didn't cry, though. She mostly looked on with interest. They ran the blood sample through immediately right there on-site. Turns out that her iron level is low. It could be that she doesn't eat enough meat (or other iron-rich food) - possibly because she isn't that big of a fan of meat, or it could just be that she is growing so rapidly that her body isn't keeping up. In any event I have to buy some new vitamins that include iron and work on getting more iron-rich food into Emma.

The other weird thing (and no photos of this part!) they wanted to run a urine sample and so the nurse taped a plastic bag to Emma and then put her diaper back on and we waited. No luck. In two hours there was nothing but a few drops. So now I have to collect a sample at home. The nurse showed me how to put the bag on (kind of like a maxi pad sticky system). After school, I taped on a new bag and served up all kinds of liquids. Several hours later she had a full diaper, but nothing in the bag. So much for my application skills. I had one more bag so I tried to really cover the territory and she's asleep right now with it tucked in there. If we go bust, I think I might just surrender. No way I can get her to pee straight into the cup they gave me!