Ghost Week (Week Two)

Coming off the success of Harry Potter week, it would be tempting to say I would have to out-do myself for the next week, or every week thereafter.  I don't really look at it that way: some weeks will be better than others, and more packed with activities than others, simply because of a variety of reasons--what the girls wanted to do, the weather, and the topic choice chief among them.

This week was Ghost Week and, thinking often about an age-old truth (or at least something that has always seemed true to me)--that while many females bond through talk, many males bond through experiences--I embraced the male-dom I could proffer this summer and provided a few "experiences" for the girls during our week of chasing ghosts.

Monday, June 11th:

I emerged from the bedroom on the first official morning of Ghost Week and found myself greeted by this colorful "ghostly" sight.  Perhaps this was Adelai's plea to step things up this week.  Then again, maybe she was just following in my footsteps, after I surprised the at breakfast on Sunday by coming into the dining room wrapped in various blankets, then sheets, then pillowcases (skimpy ghost.)  Adelai had her own plans for this morning.

Later that morning, the girls read each other some of the ghost stories we had picked up at the library on Sunday.

Just before lunch, some spooky marshmallow ghosts swooped in to attack our table.

Then, at lunch, a ghostly meal mysteriously appeared on their plates.  There was a piece of ghost bread with cheesy eyes and mouth, crusty, cheesy ghost fingers, eerie Tofurky ghost images, a floating cheese ghost (all from the same piece of string cheese) and a spooky peanut butter apple face. Though, apparently, some would have called the meal "ghastly," as they were relating the story of lunch to Laura later and Ella whispered about the sandwiches, "Yeah, it was so nasty...."  

 

Tuesday, June 12th:

On Tuesday afternoon, the girls stumbled upon a ghost town in our basement.  they were cautious at first, heading down those steps, seeing the gauzy drapes hanging from the ceiling but, once they entered and spied the ghosts hiding behind pictures and door frames, and hanging from the ceiling, they realized it was a fun place.

This immediately prompted them ask me how this happened and when I professed I did not know, they banished me upstairs to "go do something, Daddy, we need some time down here," only to call me back down for the scene below:

But that wasn't quite enough for them, so they sent me packing to the safety of the lighted upstairs zones until they could prepare a better scare.  Here is their second attempt:

I disappeared into the far reaches of a distant park that evening for a long run, so Laura took over and made them one of their favorite meals: Ghost Pancakes with eggs.

She made several variations, some with blueberries and some with butterscotch chips, though Adelai was not a fan of the butterscotch (can't change anything on that girl's favorite routines!)

Wednesday, June 13th:

We kept it pretty low-key on Wednesday, as the girls wanted to play with all the toys they recently reclaimed from the basement.  But, after lunch, a pair of mummified marshmallow ghosts appeared on the table.

Our brave ghost hunters were suspect at first, but they swallowed their sticky fear and, the next thing I knew, the ghosts had disappeared.  The girls claimed to have no knowledge as to their whereabouts, but I have my suspicions....

Thursday, June 14th:

I was wondering when all this work looking for ghosts would unearth the residual ectoplasm one often finds when ghosts have been lurking, and today was the day. 

First, that ectoplasm appeared in a pot on the stove top, looking a great deal like a successful expectoration:

Eventually, it began to resemble something left behind after a spectral visit.

Ella dove right in, gooping it up and acting amazed that the ectoplasm's color left a little residue on her hands.  These are the perils of food coloring, I mean, ghosts.

Adelai wasn't so sure about the ectoplasm, as you will see:

Friday, June 15th:

With all the ghost-finding at home this week, it was time to do some field work.   I told the girls I had heard rumors of tiny blue ghosts in some woods not far from our home, and they decided we should investigate these paranormal findings.  After all, who better to rescue ghosts from the dangers presented by other humans than a pair of ghost experts?

Our trip began with the proper outfitting--one must be appropriately dressed for a foray into the spectral fields.

We had little luck on our first sweep of the woods but, somehow, as if by magic, as we retraced our steps, several small blue ghosts appeared along the path.

  These intrepid ghost-hunters dove in with both feet (hands) snatching ghosts from the trees, dead stumps, even the sky.  Their fearless approach enable them to save a number of ghosts from the misery of those woods.

 Prior to returning home, the brave duo took time to pose with this grizzled veteran of field and stream, who claimed he knew these woods better than anyone.  Sadly, the pair had already surpassed his feeble knowledge.

Upon their return to the home residence, the girls decided to release the eight ghosts into the basement ghost town, turning it into a Home for Wayward and Rescued Ghosts:

Harry Potter Week (Week One)

Harry Potter week began in summer's typically-sluggish fashion: we did nothing until Tuesday, when we all finally got off our duffs and made some cookies.  Ella's plan was to make Harry Potter sugar cookies for her Mock Slumber Party a few weeks later, nevermind that the cookies would never last that long...in the house or because, you know, things like cookies are perishable after all.  Adelai, not as excited about Harry Potter, opted to use cookie cutters for her Pink Lemonade cookies.

Tuesday, June 5th

The two bakers (in Potions Class) preparing their confections.

Waiting patiently at the oven door.

Adelai demonstrates fierce concentration

while icing her Pink Lemonade cookies.

 Ella's efforts at creating Harry Potter sugar cookies (Voldemort is the green one.  Personally, I enjoy Hagrid's beard!)

The two first years enjoy the fruits of their labors.

With our late start to Harry Potter week, you would think we would get going on the theme quickly.  But, we loafed another two days, prompting Ella to inquire, "Um, when are we actually going to DO something for Harry Potter week?"  No doubt!  Gotta love the honest logic of a (former) second grader.

Still, we did not return to our quest until Friday and, by then, we needed to double-up on a few classes: 

Friday, June 8th

This was our visit to the Forbidden Forest to select wands. 

In the Forbidden Forest we encountered the Impassible Bridge and practiced our (spell) casting.

Divination, perhaps?

Later that afternoon, to escape the heat, we returned to the castle to practice the time-honored art of Transfiguration, in which we transformed pipe cleaners and leftover bits of Mommy's crochet yarn into malleable Harry Potter-like characters.  (Of course, if this photo leaks, my anti-crafts persona will take a sizeable hit....)

Above is the entire cast of characters we created, both light and dark.

Below are three close-ups of (from left) Voldemort-like, Ginny/Hermione-like, and Harry-like figures.

Of course, what week based on Harry Potter would be complete without a little reading?  Ella got so excited about the books (again, after an end-of-second grade hiatus) that she buzzed the rest of the way through her stalled-out efforts at Book Six mid-week and attacked Book Seven, hoping to convince us that she should be allowed to watch all of the movies, if she could read all the books.

Saturday, June 9th

Saturday morning we were up early for our foray into Care of Magical Creatures...though, apparently, not all unicorns are friendly.





Once the major heat of the day had passed, it was time for Herbology:  (of course, these are just the kinds of scenes and activities Ella will accuse me of doing because we had to do them anyway, and just calling them by a different and fun-sounding name.  What can I say?  Guilty as charged!)

As the sun set on Week One of our themed summer adventures, Ella managed to talk us into watching the fourth Harry Potter movie (the parts we were worried about being too scary, she told me she thought were "weird," or, "funny" and probably no scarier than some of the Goosebumps movies she watched.  Oh well.)

But, there was one lasting image from the week:

All told, this week was entirely completed by these girls and their creative acumen.  I did transport them (sadly, not by broom) to the Forbidden Forest, and I did come up with the idea for Transfiguration, but they are the ones who made all of it come out the way it did.  I just stood by, took the photos, and added semi-witty captions.

      First things first: some people are going to read this, see the photos, and jump to the immediate, and erroneous, conclusion that I am a "good Dad." 

      I know lots of people who, when they meet me, or hear about the things I do, or visit a storytelling or Zoo class I have done, say, "Wow, you must be a great Dad," or, "Your kids are so lucky to have a Dad like you!"  I do not think this is not the case.  Not even close.
     
      Some might even take this faulty assumption to the next level and say something like, "I wish you were my Dad!"  Not only is this a horribly inaccurate thing to say, it can be ridiculously inappropriate as well...in fact, that was a direct quote from a rather lager-sodden mother a recent trivia night.  Forget that, I am married!
     
      The truth is, as a person who enjoys the following three solo avocations--running, reading, writing, and not necessarily in that order--I have hardly graduated from my quiet days of hiding behind my parents, specifically my mother to conceal my hideous shyness.  Look again at those three activities, three of my favorite things to do, and all what you might consider solitary pursuits.  Sure, I enjoy reading to people (one of the perks of being an elementary school teacher and father of young daughters) but I rarely share my writing with anyone, and I almost never run with people.  In college I ran with people from time to time and, seemingly through no fault of my own, those people would get hurt.  Psychoanalyze that for what it is worth.  Maybe I am just a selfish person who enjoys three solitary activities and I vindictively ran those people off, causing their injuries so I could return to running alone.

      Hardly.  It isn't that I don't enjoy being around people, I just like things that are also challenging, and those three things fulfill that need.

      And then came this new challenge: my first whole summer "off" since I became a classroom teacher a decade ago.  I twist in the evil wind that blows around summer and teachers.  I will not be cast in the light of those old mug-cupping mavens who reveled in posters proclaiming, "The three best things about my job are June, July, and August."  That garbage makes me insane.

      So, how does one such as myself find himself "off" this summer, when I seem like the kind of person who likes to be busy?  My wife (Laura) returned to full-time work in April, a sudden change in our lives and an abrupt end of what had probably been my favorite job/working part of my year.  I have worked at zoos in different parts of the country (at least) during the summer for the past eighteen years, or, since I was a Junior in college and I spied a troop of kids tromping about Roger Williams Park Zoo in the summer of 1993 as I slung frozen lemonade.  I inquired about that job, and the rest is a long a strange tale of country-wide travel, meeting my wife at a zoo, collecting over 100 zoos visited, having two daughters, and becoming a classroom teacher along the way.

      That sums it up, but it's only the beginning. Because, this summer I would not be able to work full-time at the zoo and, therefore, would be the primary caregiver for our two daughters, now aged five and eight.  That was great news, as I would get to spend a lot more time with them than I do during the school year; and terrible news because I would not be able to work at the zoo.  When I am not active (and actively working) I usually get into trouble: be it bad habits (laziness, reading constantly and ignoring other responsibilities), bad eating (well, who doesn't like candy at 9 AM on a Tuesday?), or just general sluggishness.

      






The one thing I had going for me is that our girls have been doing theme weeks each summer for the past several years.  My part of that usually consisted of visiting the library to get books around each theme, helping the girls read the books, mopping up the week with a field trip or two, and enjoying what part I played in it, however small it might be.  To have all of this fall to me this year or, rather, the bulk of this shift to me, as Laura and I traded places, would be a challenge.

      This is the story of that challenge....