Boasting of Birthdays

Progress of the My Big 6.  Miss Monkey practices her bike a bit.  I see her balance well, then appears to be so excited she's doing it, she wobbles a tiny bit and jumps off.  She tries again a few times, then decides to call it a day on the bike.  She's reading, for real, sounding out words and reading!  It is thrilling.  I think about how the world is just opening up for her, reading is the first step on so many adventures.  No loose teeth yet, although she's incredibly excited for her turn to put something out for the tooth fairy. (yes, we do believe in magic in this house).

She was beside herself with excitement about her mani-pedi party with her little friends.  All day she was compliant and [mostly] pleasant in helping with everything that needed to be done to prep for the event.  I indicated to her what needed to be done, gave her the choice of what order to do it in, and reminded her that if she needed a break to g'head and take one for a bit, then move on.  I didn't feel I had to remind her much at all---> *joy*!  

There were 2 friends that joined us for manis & pedis, they were stellar.  Bemused with the personalities involved, I mostly observed the dynamic unless it edged on mean-spirited.  They squealed and giggled the entire evening, watched some of a movie, then bedded down and passed summarily out.

A complete success, with grace and ease!

My Birthday, which was the day before, was a gloriously packed day with friends and errands, ending with PF Chang's and 14 Hands.  Happy to start the next year getting more grateful, more loving, and more successful with every thing and in every way!

Narrowly Averted Heartbreak

I let the cats out before we went grocery shopping.  Only one came back in...the kitten went missing.  I was driven to distraction with guilt that it was possible he was gone, he was a baby, and I just let him outside into the wilds of the world, woe to me I broke my own daughter's heart indirectly causing her very first beloved pet loose.  He's a cat though, and has a bigger cat as a great example.  I kept thinking, "weird that he'd go much farther than the small patch woodsy area where he and Porter normally play."  When I prayed it out, I somehow felt that Darth Siddius Kittius was safe and close, but we had to find him.  Of course all sorts of scenarios were played out by both The Man and I, his of course were darker and more sinister, filled with mean people doing mean things.  I was mostly worried that he'd been strangled by his almost-too-small collar and we'd never know. The worst part of the ordeal, the not knowing.  When some loved one, even a pet, goes missing the worst is not really knowing whether it's appropriate to start the grieving process. I did cry some, and yet still something told me that he wasn't far.

So, yesterday we were hangin' outside, Miss Monkey attempting practicing her two wheel skills a bit more.  We overheard neighbors talking about a kitten up a tree.  Immediately, "what kitten? where?"  Turns out Darth  Kittius was up a tree---almost 30 feet up a tree.  A tree that both The Man and I walked under several times in our attempt to locate him. 

Though the fire department said, "we don't do that anymore" when I called (which I totally understand, I grew up where cats/kittens come down on their own), a small contingent crew showed up anyway.  

And I'm really really glad they did, imagine having to explain to her much much later in life why the Firemen wouldn't help, and what really happened with her kitten who mightn't have had sense enough (at 7 months) to come down...that'd be some dark story to work out in therapy.

A hero is someone who helps us to avoid disaster and heartbreak.

Huzzah!  West Metro Fire Rescue! Huzzah!

e.t.a: according to neighbor-lady, Darth Kittius was playfully pouncing on doggie snouts as they sniffed those 'special' spots....guess he pounced the wrong pup, no wonder he skittered that far up a tree!

Living History Days

In Arvada. So fantastic. F was totally into the whole thing, making mud bricks, weaving a basket and a broom. We played colonial games, watched a battle reenactment, ate orange sucket, and spoke to the surgeon at length about the different  herbs and tinctures in use.

A truly incredible day!

Training Pants & Wheels

We're there, really watching these little people get big.  If Toddleator E is my last baby, I'll have to sit with a mourning of sorts, for now we are content and joyful, and so very grateful.  If god-the universe sees fit to send us another blessing, we will accept with open hearts & arms.

Miss Monkey has decided that the training wheels are not going back on her bike.  From what I've seen I think she's better off just figuring out 2 wheels on her own.  I tend to get somewhat short tempered with her, I don't remember riding a bike being that difficult.  But I think I learned to ride a horse before a bike--maybe that made it easier.  I don't recall my mom running behind me on the bike, maybe someone else did?  Either way it's challenging to teach my daughter without resorting to the yelling and barking orders that I was trained with.  Jeaz, Ada, of course she's having a hard time, it's a totally new experience for her.  At the very least I've the awareness that I should step away rather than make biking a nightmare for her.  I stood back the other day, arms folded simply cheering her on and giving words of encouragement.  It's thrilling to watch her progress.  

Toddleator E had a perfect record for potty learning yesterday.  While I know there will be occasional accidents, it's been terribly easy.  A few days ago, in Target, it occurred to me to simply pick up a package of underpants for her.  She was totally enthused when trying them on later, the look on her face was a curious freedom added to a full body wiggle. After a couple of days mostly home, E has made the complete connection.  Incredibly easy, and definitely due in part to The Firstborn's support and example.

Easter bubbles

Haven't been typing much of late...my 'N' key has been broken. It's created a weird stress on my index finger typing for SOMAS class, so I've been procrastinating all the things I plan to write about. Shortly I'll have a new keyboard and update justly.