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The longest 20 minutes of my life... PDF Print E-mail
Written by OHmommy   
Thursday, 04 February 2010 00:00

Nearly a year ago today, my sister helped me put Lola to bed by singing songs and blowing kisses that my daughter pretended to catch from the comfort of her own bed.  My sister was in Africa.

 

This November, my entire extended family gathered in the kitchen of my aunt's home in suburban Chicago on Thanksgiving to watch my three children energetically burn off some pumpkin pie.  We were in Cleveland.

 

Today Lola called my mom, "Are you home yet?  Are you? Are you?  How many more minutes?  I'm getting so excited!"  My mother gave her clearance to open up the package that had arrived on our doorstep. Two early birthday presents for two girls from grandparents who will be traveling far away on business.  "I be home in 20 minutes.  Tell your Mama to start computer.  I watch you open."

2-3-10

2-3-101

2-13-102

My mother, father and Apolonia watched as the girls shrieked with delight after recognizing the boxes.  "Why it says American Girl and not Polish Girl?"  My father, Poland's number one fan, contributed by using his trademark humor sending waves of laughter through our wireless connection.

 

It's so awesome being connected. Really.

Last Updated on Friday, 05 February 2010 15:17
 

Comments  

 
# dysfunctional mom 2010-02-03 23:43
Technology is truly awesome!
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# Jolyn 2010-02-03 23:49
SO amazing that your parents are up on this. My sister just got our parents a cam so they can start skyping. We're still waiting...

My husband is deployed right now, and the kids have loved to skype with him. (The little ones like to "chat", too, with the funny faces!) Unfortunately, the connection is unreliable and the calls are often dropped. But it's still amazing that we're able to see his face and hear his voice at all! And he gets to see his kids, if even for just a few minutes. So it's all good.
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# MomBabe 2010-02-04 00:01
Love it.
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# Ed 2010-02-04 06:18
Awesomeness! I'd recognize those stars anywhere.
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# Emily 2010-02-04 06:45
It is awesome. Love that the grandparents can see their excitement! Happy early birthdays to your girls!
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# traci MANETTAS 2010-02-04 06:51
Honest to God, I cried tears the first time I skyped my friend Katrina and her baby, not at home. The one born so so early. Skype makes living 1500 miles from home, not nearly as horrible.
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# traci MANETTAS 2010-02-04 06:52
....Sorry......"NOW at home" not, "Not at home"
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# ClassyFabSarah 2010-02-04 06:56
Ahhh SO COOL!! Your kids have awesome grandparents!
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# Jennifer 2010-02-04 07:18
I love it!!!
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# Rebecca 2010-02-04 08:36
Technology is a wonderful thing!
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# Kat 2010-02-04 08:57
Technology can be so wonderful!
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# Crystal 2010-02-04 09:17
That is so awesome. I bet they were cracking up on the other end of that feed. And I bet Apolonia was beside herself that she could watch them open the gifts.

My girls are getting A.G. dolls for their birthday and we are going to NYC to the store in May for a girls weekend. They have no idea and her going to freak out.
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# cindy w 2010-02-04 09:19
I love this. We got my parents a webcam too, and we Skype with them almost every night after dinner. My sister chats with my daughter on it too. One way that technology really is a great tool.
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# Elaine 2010-02-04 09:31
I love your Dad. He cracks me up.

Those are some HAPPY girls!!
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# Pres. Kathy 2010-02-04 09:46
How amazing!
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# john cave osborne 2010-02-04 10:49
i'm as dialed into technology as anyone...not afraid to photoshop cool pics, i'm money with a video camera and have produced several high-caliber home-movies, etc...but i'm so behind on this whole skype thing. (i assume that's what y'all were doing).

i need to get with it! nice post...
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# Michelle 2010-02-04 10:54
Your Dad is so cute! That is wonderful. I just need to convince my Mom to learn to Skype.
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# Monda 2010-02-04 10:58
Love it!!
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# Emmy 2010-02-04 12:11
We love the web cam, it really is so nice to be able to see and talk with family who is far away.

And I love how excited they are!
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# Krystyn 2010-02-04 12:44
We do the skype/google video chat thing with the grandparents all the time. They all love it. It's totally win/win!

And, your dad cracks me up. Seriously.

Is it bad that we don't have American Girls here? Probably not. I'm betting they will break my bank and Iz will be infatuated with them.
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# lceel 2010-02-04 14:19
I have been 'doing' computers since 1979. It's been my livelyhood since 1982. To my mind, what you have done is the BEST use of this technology I've spent my life working on, I can think of. Well done, Pauline.
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# Tesa 2010-02-04 20:04
We do this for Christmas. My family is in Michigan and my mom and dad love to see the grandkids here in Cleveland open the gifts. Technology is so incredible sometimes.

Love the pictures, what amazing shots! You really captured the excitement of the moment.
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# clarkinfestedwaters 2010-02-04 20:59
Skype is hype, yo!
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# amy 2010-02-04 21:30
I love this and how wonderful life is when you can keep the family from far away so nearby.
No moments lost.
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# Kelley 2010-02-05 04:29
Truly awesome. I need to set this up so I can talk to my fabulous girls in the US.

You included.
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# HaB 2010-02-05 08:42
That is truly amazing!!! I love how technology allows us to be able to share such precious moments with loved ones!
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# MommyTime 2010-02-05 09:08
I love it. My husband used to record little videos on our webcam for me when I was teaching at night, so that I could come back to my office at 10pm and find 90 seconds of my toddler getting his groove on to "I Will Survive" or some other disco music. Seriously, webcams rocks.
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# Loukia 2010-02-06 15:45
So nice... such cute pictures, too!
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