The car show ! More midwinter fun

The St. Louis Auto Show opened here yesterday... The post-recession, seriously scaled back car show! You really miss those brands when you go to a show and they are so notably absent! No Saturn, no Pontiac... and they really cut back on the conversion vans this year. In the market for a $52,000 customized gas guzzler? With a 20-inch TV screen? No, we didn't think so. But I sure would have liked to sit in one!!

Allen got to see the purple Chargers, new and old. Steve got to see Das Auto, the black Beetle that stars in the Volkswagen commercials. Emilyn had a scary episode on a big inflatable play structure. After that, we went for pizza and maple streusel cheesecake at Joanie's in Soulard -- where, boy, are they gearing up for Mardi Gras!

Proud parent of a . . .

... soon-to-be Southwest Middle School Sentinel!

We went yesterday to register for sixth grade! Emilyn and I had been at Southwest Middle before, but this time we were really studying it like the prospective sixth-graders we are.

The main part of the school is a huge, open "commons," which is the auditorium and cafeteria all in one. Each grade has its own wing, or "house"... and the sixth grade house is blue. Emilyn can sign up for one elective, and she chose orchestra. She chose choir as an alternate, but we're pretty sure she'll get into orchestra. The fine arts wing is across the commons from the sixth grade house. Each grade has its own counselor and its own vice principal. The sixth grade will have two sections, Explorers and Navigators. Each comes with its own set of core-subject teachers.

Everyone we met was very nice, including the kid volunteers who were there to show us around the building. Later in May, there's a coffee night for incoming parents, and of course the kids will get to spend the day over there before their fifth grade year is over. Southwest takes in kids from Sorrento, Wren Hollow and Oak Brook elementaries. Oak Brook is where Allen goes to preschool. All three schools are very close by, as is the middle school.

The first time we were there, it was kinda big and scary... but this time (at least for me) it felt a lot more like home!

Living with Mom and Dad, by Laurie

The following was written by my sister... I hope to one day be able to link to the slides of old photos she's talking about, too!

Living with Mom and Dad.......I have recently pulled out a box of OLD slides that have been tucked away since Mom and Dad died. As I have been going through them I am remembering all the fun and wacky stuff that went on in the Critchlow household when I was a kid. So on a crappy day like today let me reminisce about some of the good stuff!

Backyards in most suburban households consisted of a patio (long before decks) maybe a table some chairs a barbecue, a swing-set perhaps? Well we did not have ANY of THOSE things. BUT we did have rock walls made by Dad, woodpiles lovingly stacked to ensure proper ventilation, old Christmas trees (Dad always bought live ones and planted them in the backyard). We had a tree fort, an archery range, a bridge to cross "The Pearl River" so Dad could get to his beloved garden, watered from the runoff of Lederle Laboratories.....(I am still waiting for the third eye or extra fingers to sprout). Those were the permanent fixtures but on the odd occasion there would be some much more exotic things.....A totem pole for Uncle Walt for Lake TE-AD-WA, outhouses, yes plural, to be used in Kerhonkson, a movie set for Dad's fledgling stop-motion photography. Our "stars" were germinating seeds and Barbie and GI Joe, doing things, I am sure, would have warped a much less cosmopolitan child.

Mom was more of an indoor girl in those days, I believe my love of movies started with the "4:30 Movie"....she would turn that on and cook dinner during the commercials. She liked to watch the washing machine agitate (I must say it IS a very Zen experience). No dryer for mom; it all got hung out on the line out the bedroom window and on cold days came back in stiff and frozen.

I always complain about the "beige" world Mom created, but originally, she had 2 chairs in the living room; one was bright orange and the other bright turquoise.
I always say there is a war going on in my head.....my natural tendency, being like Nana, HER taste ran to Drunken Gypsy, and Mom's which tended toward Amish Plain. Thinking back on those chairs, maybe Mom was fighting that war too?! She seemed to win hers better than I.

Both Mom and Dad were into "fine" craftsmanship. For a couple of years it was those Polish Beeswax eggs, Aunt Dot joined in for that one. Mom had a subscription to Pack-O-Fun, God remember that one!? That way she always had projects ready for Cub Scouts and Campfire Girls. There was always an insane NEED to make things in our house, a Doll House and ALL the furnishings, doorknobs that turned, a fire that flickered, Menorahs..... Dad's attention to detail and scale was insane!

Mom making rainbow hats just like that Olympic speed skater, Cabbage Patch Doll ponchos, and ones in regular sizes too. Afghans omy the afghans she made dozens. "A bursts of enthusiasm kinda woman!".....was our Mom.

That all sounds very girly I guess, but man she could get down and dirty too she tanned deer hides for goodness sake!, What a smell! and a mess!...AMAZING. Then there was the toxic chemicals used to refinish the cabinets and the hardware in the kitchen, I think the skin was just peeling off of her hands.

When the "computer age" hit our house, Dad did not BUY one, he built it, and programmed it, and of course Mom found games to play on it! I laugh when Jennie complains about her "gamer's" elbow....Mom had THAT long before anyone knew what it was! Like Mother Like Daughter!

And I like to think my obsession with Halloween started when Mom and Dad decided to do up Halloween the "Critchlow" way. Totally over the top and way cool!

The first year Uncle Dave Tranter was in a homemade coffin as Dracula and Dad was playing a dirge on the organ.....Mom was directing kids into the living room in a pink bunny suit??????? I guess that was to get them off guard so Dracula could scare the crap outta them?

Then it was the Addams Family....."Thing" was giving out candy from his box. Mom still in the Bunny suit... hmmm?

Next, a spring-loaded orange rubber tarantula had kids peeing on the front porch....and the octopus with the air compressor blast shot at the hands of the kids brave enough to put their hands in the hole that was his mouth.....and Mom consoling the hysterical ones on the front porch, in the pink bunny suit.....I am beginning to think Dad just LIKED the pink bunny suit!

Damn, it took me 50 years to figure THAT out!

Most of this stuff happened before Jennie was even around, WOW! I had fun, and remembered new things as I was writing this....I would love to hear your favorite memories!

Remembering Mom and Dad with a smile and a tear!
Love you all......... Hug your Moms and Dads!

The best birthday in the world

Thank you all for the cards, calls, Facebook notes and gifts for my birthday... I had a really good day. Allen and I went to the library and read books about dinosaurs and coral reefs until I was hoarse! Emilyn made me an amazing card, and she and I went shopping after school for a little while. Then we all went to Saleem's West for my annual Middle Eastern feast (hummus, lentil soup, Greek salad and lamb shank), and after that was Oberweis for chocolate peanut butter ice cream. MMMM! The best!

Allen's icicles

Or, as Allen loves to call them, "ick-ick-lehs." He says everything exactly how it's spelled now, for fun.

As it topped 50 degrees this week (yay!), with tantalizingly warm breezes from the south, Allen finally decided it was warm enough to go out and play in the (rapidly melting) snow.

He found this little group of icicles on the bush under where the eave was dripping... cool!

And so, finally, I got a cold-weather picture of Allen, for next year's calendar! (I thought Emilyn and I were going to have to co-star as Miss January in 2011...)

A visit from Miss Julie

Our parent educator, from Parents as Teachers, came over to see Allen. The program has been extended all the way to age 5. Awesome! This time, she brought "Sink or Float." And Allen did an excellent job.


After that, we also played "Stick or Won't Stick" with a magnet. Allen nearly aced this one, although he was bitten by Miss Julie's trick quarter and penny. He thought everything metal would stick to a magnet, but not so! He knows now!

He has a scientific, inquisitive mind that's just beginning to wake up to the world. Can't wait to see what he'll do!

WinterWallop 2010

OK, not really. But it has been bitterly cold here for weeks. And so, when a pretty significant snowstorm threatened, all the TV stations panicked, which leads to panicked parents, which leads to skittish superintendents, which leads to... no school! In this case, no school for two days, because the measly four inches of snow was followed by very cold air and dangerous wind chills.

Well, whatever. I know that Emilyn had fun being off school... after two grueling days back from Christmas break! Oh, the humanity! So, she and I braved the bitter wind to snap a few winter pictures.

The one who's really hurting in the cold is Steve... He's outside at the coldest part of the day, after all, and really suffers in the wind. Saturday morning is supposed to drop blow zero for the first time since 1999. So, send some warm wishes his way. He'll need them.

To see more of our wintry photos, click here.

Allen, reading like a big dog

Of course, I had to film the one where he had to read "league" and "debut." But trust me, he was totally wailing on these question cards. This boy can read.

At last, Emilyn's concert

Boy, these are big files! But Emilyn and her friends sang totally beautifully at their holiday concert this month, and I wanted everyone to hear!

Post-concert celebration... cookies! And good friends!



More good news: Emilyn and the fifth-graders were selected for all-district honors choir, performing in March! Whoo-hoo!

To watch and listen to the rest of the videos from this performance, click here.

A Christmas collage

So many random photos of fun this season... so little idea as to how to display them! So, another collage. We decorated gingerbread and made the tree picture-perfect and really-really loved our presents this year, including Allen's pop gun from Santa and Emilyn's fuzzy-monkey bathrobe and opal earrings. Because of my time off earlier this month, the holiday seemed to last a long time and was packed with fun every day. What a great way to wrap up 2009. Hope your holiday was a great one!

Happy holidays, from The Crabbe Trap

Images from our Christmas card shoot last month at the Jewel Box in Forest Park... Here's hoping your holiday is filled with warmth, love and laughter -- and let's hear it for a peaceful and prosperous 2010!

Emilyn's clean room

All done! First day, we did the desk. Second day, the floor, bookcase and drawers. Third day, closet and crawlspace. And here are the results! I really am envious. For more pictures of Emilyn's clean room, click here.

Steve vs. van: Done with therapy

Steve got signed off today by the orthopedic surgeon, and earlier last week by his physical therapist. So, it looks like he's all done healing!

He has no pain, except for the occasional ache when he exerts himself... and maybe when the weather changes. The jury's still out on that. And he certainly did not get back all his strength or his full range of motion.

So, after the holidays are over, it'll be in the hands of Travelers insurance and our lawyer.

Steve continues to do the exercises his therapist gave him, and I made a big box of fudge for Carla and all the people at St. John's Sports and Rehab! They've taken excellent care of him for these past... 3 1/2 months! Yikes.

It's safe to say that Steve is very anxious for some good weather and to get back on the bike. And his cycling buddies are already planning next year's big rides!

The most productive vacation ever

Well, today I go back to work. I haven't been to work since Dec. 8! But I got SO much done and had SO much fun, each day has been full to bursting!

The first day was dedicated to cleaning and organizing Allen's room, which led to the essential Christmas relocation of his toys from the living room to his room. Everything fit, I'm glad to say... but he hasn't been getting much sleep, since there's so much in there to play with! And thus the living room was ready for Christmas -- on Dec. 9! Whoopee!!

A big girl got kinda jealous that her boy's room was so nice and neat... More on that later.

Then, we had Emilyn's concert, "Sing and Dance for Joy." The finale was a real show-stopper. I'll be posting a video soon.

Friday night, we took Grandma to see Santa's Magical Kingdom. A little chilly for the wagon ride, so we went in the car instead. A lot cheaper that way, anyway!

Saturday was Emilyn's big late-birthday sleepover and pool party. Nice to have an indoor pool nearby for swimming when it's 25 degrees out! The sleepover was good, and the girls were very well-behaved. Lots of Rock Band and Wii Fit. They even went to sleep at 1! And sort of voluntarily woke up for breakfast at 8:30! (Sarah had to go home early, so we had to get an early start.)

Each day, when the kids were at school, was filled with lots of shopping for Mommy. Got all my Christmas presents bought in good time and with light crowds. I also squeezed in two doctor's appointments!

By Wednesday, it was time for tree shopping... We made our annual trek to Ted Drewes, where they sell very expensive trees but are much more famous for... frozen custard! Yummm! That excuse for ice cream used up, we actually went to a place very close to home and bought the tree. A great tree it is, too. And after all the decorations went up... Beautiful!

Thursday, we had pizza and salad with the Sirimaturos family, then took a ride back to Santa's Magical Kingdom -- for the wagon ride this time. Much nicer weather! And really, that's the only way to see that wacky place. We were so glad they could join us!

Well, before I'd mentioned that Emilyn had gotten a little envious of her brother's clean and organized room... She wanted help to clean hers, too. Boy, was that a big job. Starting Friday after school. Several hours on Saturday. Several more hours on Sunday. Seven Hefty bags of trash later, and countless toys and books marked for donation, we got it all done. She's really proud of herself, and we all hope she's ready to keep it this way! If it's still clean when my birthday rolls around, she'll be allowed to get a salamander as a pet. We'll see! If you talk to her, give her some encouragement!

Sunday, after the room was done, and I'd taken Emilyn to Target for new sheets and pillowcases to celebrate, it was time to slave over two hot pots of fudge and the BEST chocolate chunk/toffee/pecan cookies ever to come out of Kitchen Crabbe. We definitely have to make more of those! Maybe on Christmas Eve, when we make sugar cookies for the Big Guy.

Today, it's back to work. I really got so much done and feel great about the time I had off. I'll be off again on Christmas Eve... hoping for a little snow! We'll see. Here's hoping for the happiest of holidays for everyone. Merry-merry!

Zombie cannibal mice?

Steve trapped another couple of mice today in the garage... The first one: Found in the trap with its skull hanging open and brains and eyes removed. EWWWW! What?!?!? It's not bad enough that we have mice, but we have zombie, cannibal mice?!?

Steve vs. van: We have a lawyer!

Now that it looks like Steve's shoulder has nearly healed as much as it ever will, we decided to make the call -- thanks to Lisa G. for recommending family friend and personal injury attorney Robert Sweney (yes, only 2 e's) in Clayton.

Steve met with him today, bringing all the paperwork we've accumulated since the accident. One major outlay: We have to pay a $30 co-pay every single time he goes to physical therapy -- two times a week since September. So, we have all the receipts for that, plus the hospital, ambulance, and the accident report from the Ellisville P.D. Mr. Sweney, Esq., thinks we have a good case, and he says Travelers -- the van driver's insurance company, is pretty easy to deal with.

It'll be a while, after the first of the year, before we know more. Steve has a trip to the surgeon on Dec. 21 -- which we're guessing will be his last. We expect the PT to say she's done all she can and that his full range of motion will be lost forever. But the shoulder is stable and strong, and the surgeon will most likely clear Steve for full duty at work -- just in time for Christmas!

Getting a jump on Christmas

Well, the calendars have been done for a couple of weeks, but now they are in the mail -- and mine already has some notations for appointments coming in 2010!

We thought about coming Sundays for taking the Christmas card picture and decided, pretty last minute, that yesterday was the day to do it. No problem! The Jewel Box in Forest Park has poinsettias this time of year, right? So, we get all fancy, jump in the car, rush down there to find... no poinsettias. "We start putting those in on Tuesday," the guy says. Yikes. Well, the heck with it, we posed for pictures in front of the pretty tropical plants and called it done. (With thanks, of course, to some friends from the paper who just happened to be brunching there when we arrived!)

Then, off to the Science Center: Nachos for Emilyn, followed by a trip through the gift shop and a star show at the planetarium.

Time for dinner, then, at Mommy's favorite restaurant, Yen Ching in Richmond Heights. Yummy soup, pot stickers and Yen Ching beef! Then, because Allen was so great at picture-taking time, the promised trip through the Winter Wonderland light display at Tilles Park. Wow! Considering its inauspicious beginning, it turned out to be a really great day -- and night -- about town!

Random Allen wackiness

I'm just getting around to clearing all the photos off my card... Here we have "Kayla!" I went to get Allen the other morning, and he said, "Don't mess up my letters!" He had crafted the name of his school friend Kayla and an exclamation point out of his Magtastics. Kayla, you may remember, is the girl who wants to name her baby brother (on the way) Allen.

Also, Allen has been feeling very pirate-ish lately. Here you'll see him sporting a pirate ring, full pirate ensemble, plus a pirate pistol and sword. Because he was so decked out, he actually let me take his picture.

Old stuff from the Science Center

Two Fridays off school this month! That led to this impromptu trip to the Science Center, back on the 13th. Basically, I just wanted to try a funny photo layout to see if it would work. Here you'll see Emilyn and the new shorter arch that kids can build without the help of a tall grown-up; Allen running through the color maze; and a lone porta-potty in the middle of the soon-to-open Highway 40.

Wild Asilomar, gettin' out of control

Last night, Steve comes in the house with this latest report on the garage mouse: "The little (bleep)er got into the glove box, ate my emergency fortune cookie, and left the fortune." Yes, Steve keeps an emergency fortune cookie in the car. In case he gets trapped in a ditch for a week and no one finds him.

This morning, I awoke at an unpleasant 7 a.m. (no school!!) to horrendous tiny-dog barking. I figure it's the annoying Eskipoos next door. Finally, at 8, I give up... I come out to the kitchen. There's a third ball-of-fluff dog, cousin to the two next door, in MY yard, acting all timber wolf defending my turkey carcass!!! Baring those tiny teeth and making a hell of a growling noise.

This dog can't weigh more than 10 pounds, and I'm afraid it's gonna chew my ankles off if I try to a) get my turkey away or b) pick him up and pitch him over the neighbor's fence!!! Then, one of said neighbor dogs runs over on his side of the fence and starts barking, and that brings the third Eskipoo to life... and finally someone over there comes out to get the damn fluffball. OK, no more turkey carcass in the back yard.

The upside? A certain rodent who favors bird seed and fortune cookies is D-E-D under the Volkswagen this morning. This will make Steve very happy.