Now he’s using modeling clay to create characters from his favorite games. (I forgot to document the Plants vs. Zombies creations before they got destroyed…bad mother!) But here is the Ice Flower from Mario. It probably should have spent a little less time on the kitchen counter based on the number of crumbs and coffee grounds that have become part of this work. I’m also thinking one of the leaves has been knocked around.
Really, I would stink as a curator, but I’m trying my best, little man.
I’m closing in on 40, but that seems nowhere near as monumental a milestone as this one. Today you turned four, and with that big, solid number, we’ve closed the door on our baby years. We’re a family that has three KIDS. While I love that we’re here, I do feel the inevitable tug of sentimentality.
But in those four years you have done amazing things. I remember early on thinking that you were an old soul, and good grief, that has proven true. You know exactly who you are and what you need, and you’re more than happy to let the rest of us know.
Without me even asking, you informed me that for your birthday you would like a cinnamon cake with strawberries (the fruit) and Strawberry Shortcake (the character). This seemed such a strange flavor combination to me that I warned everyone as I served cake that it might not jive. But you know what? It was really good. I should have trusted that you’d call a winner.
You had school today, and then we went out to lunch. You insisted we sit on the same side of the booth. We ordered a side of black olives, and you ate every one. You punctuate nearly every sentence with, “Well, actually…” I was so enjoying your expressions as you talked that I took out my camera and snapped a few, just to capture how you are in this slice of time.
After lunch we went to get some party supplies, but on the way home you fell asleep. This is unlike you these days, as it’s been ages since you’ve taken a nap. You slept through the pick-up at school and our arrival home.
After I got Neko and Shep settled, I finally just sat down with you, and let you sleep on my chest, right in the spot where I sat for so many hours when we brought you home from the hospital. I really should have been fixing dinner, but instead we sat together. You slept and I watched you. For nearly an hour I sat there, and I took in every moment.
She’s insisted on keeping every summer sun dress in her closet, even when there’s a foot of snow on the ground. And by golly, she’s worn them every day. She’s layered shirts and tights and socks and shoes. Put on hats and necklaces and any accessory she could get her hands on. And that hair cutting incident? Another attempt to cultivate her look. (Let’s not make that mistake with a tattoo, my girl.)
I admit, early on I was a bit dubious about all her pairings, but I gotta tell you. She throws together all these strange pieces, and then rocks it.
I keep forgetting to document all these outfits, but today, in the middle of the mall, I made her stop so I could capture the look of the day.
When I was walking into the house the other day, I saw some black objects out of the corner of my eye. A few warm-ish days had melted the snowperson, and this little pile of buttons was all that remained.
Chris just returned from his trip to southeast Asia. Before he left, the kids begged him to bring them back outfits. On his last day in the country, he pulled through for us.
The kids are beside themselves with excitement, although they keep calling them their “Chinese clothes.” Which is not really true, because they were purchased in Thailand. (But I wouldn’t be surprised to discover they were actually made in China.) And, really, what are the distinct differences in outfits which are probably just made for tourists anyway? But I got out the globe and we had a discussion about Asian geography, carefully pointing out Thailand.
And then then they asked if they could wear their Chinese clothes to Chipotle, and I remembered that geographic skills seem to be lacking in this gene pool, so I should just give up the fight and celebrate our evening of Thai/Chinese/Mexican culture. Hooray for multiculturalconfusionism!
