Last night we went to Grace's best friend's birthday party. It was wonderful for us all to be out of the house, with friends, in a boisterously loud and happy home. Isa is now three like Grace. Grace had a bit of a hard time accepting that it wasn't her 3rd birthday all over again! Despite being in a houseful of French-speaking strangers, the girls quickly felt comfortable enough to be off playing.
Isa's Mommy had tiaras, glasses, and glow stick bracelets for everyone to wear. Then she turned off the lights as we danced to an African Children's Choir DVD. It was a blast!

Jasmin with great solemnity trying to follow the dance moves.

The birthday girl dancing away.

Grace seeing stars...

Daddy having fun with Mommy's long hair

and a short video to see what it was like...

thank you for inviting us Isabella!

A $1 t-shirt sale
+
leftover embroidery thread
+
a week or so of snatched moments
=
a new shirt for Grace... next summer (it's a size 4)

Grace begged for school. So we sat at the table to practice writing. Mommy made a sentence for her to trace. "I can't do it, Mommy. You do it." She said after putting her pencil crayon to the paper. But with a bit of encouragement, she proceeded to do it perfectly and quickly. And then read it!Jasmin also wowed Mommy with her drawing. She drew animals: ovals with legs and arms. And told stories about them. But she wouldn't let me take a picture of it. Rather insisted that Mommy picture her hands...

Turned to Grace again, and saw this in progress:
"Grace and Jasmin are sisters. They are friends. They play together. They have long hair." She wanted help with the shirts, but even as Mommy held her hand, it was Grace moving the pencil.

AND today, Jasmin made it t0 the potty 3 times! Cooperating with Mommy!
Definitely a day of surprises!

When the week's plans go well...
Thursday is fantastic.
The house is left behind.
Tidy. Clean.
Ready for the next day.
Stroller loaded.
Where shall we go?
The flower fields?
The woods?
The river?
The park?
Old place or new?

Flowers?
Okay.
Uh Oh.
Not already!

No more flowers here for us.
But watch and learn.
Clanging, banging, beeping.
New hills and new holes.
I wonder if we'll get to explore them.
Use them for fun in winter's cold.
When yellow beasts are stilled by chill.
When ugly hills are made beautiful with white.

The woods, shall we try?
Access denied!
And sorrow and horror:
The wood is to be going as well?!!?
Hopefully only a trim....?

"The river!" they cry.
But 'tis too far on foot.
A new place perhaps?
Wander and whine.
Push and puff.
Is this good enough?

Jockvale Landing.
Not far from the road,
Whizzing with cars.
But peaceful green.
Reflected glory.
A picnicking place.
Peel that egg, Jasmin!
Tastes much better then.
Enjoy your food.
Wait!
I know you like to feed the duck,
but what about you?
Save some for yourself!
No, ducks won't eat egg.
Why? Because!

Too cold for paddling now, my loves.
This water, not healthy either, too bad.
Need a boat to enjoy it.
Here, let's fish.
Or monkey around.
In trees.
On the ground.
Loud laughter.
Bossy sister.
Happy afternoon.

On the way home now.
Shadows creeping longer.
Hoppers peeping.
Jasmin slipping,
Sliding into sleep.
But wait!
Our park!
Can't we stay longer?
Sandy alphabet.
Sailing through sky.
Watching friends.
Mommy in the sand.

When the week's plans go well...
Thursday is fantastic.