Contemplation...

A Master in the Making

Dear Lia,

Last summer Daddy and I delighted in your explosion of language skills. Almost everyday, we noticed something new about how you were communicating and we thrilled at each new accomplishment. It's hard to believe that we could have been any prouder!

This summer we have been watching your skills improve in letter recognition, phonemic awareness and fine motor skills. You can spot your favorite letters in an instant...and always love to call them out and make sure we see them! You are getting much better at making pairs of rhyming words...and will often "read" any storybook in the cadence of our all-time favorite author, Dr. Seuss.

Your artwork has become...prolific. Your pictures now cover almost every available surface in the house...and I wouldn't have it any other way! When we ran out of room on the refrigerator, you pointed out space on the inside of the computer armoire door...and up they went!

Like the great masters, you often concentrate on one area each time you draw. Your favorite subject (and mine too, truth be told) is our family. You always give yourself and mommy long hair...and you never forget your daddy's goatee. Sometimes you spend a whole morning drawing houses. One day, you drew the moon...with a cow jumping over it...you remembered the udders, but asked for help with the stars.

You LOVE to cut and tape. You make fantastical inventions that always have a story behind them (as well as MANY pieces of sticky tape!). This is a boat you made to sail to Cinderella's castle (although you reminded me that we couldn't really sail in it!). You concentrate so completely that I often have to call your name several times to gain your attention...and then your slight disdain at whatever silliness I am interrupting you with. I am working hard at staying out of your way and letting you do the work you want.

One day you worked and worked on this...

When I asked you what it all was, you told me, "big to little". Well of course it is.

I most adore the "letters" you "mail" to me on occasion. When I ask you what they say, you "read" them to me, pointing out each "word". They are lengthy recitations with lots of details, often pertaining to whatever is happening that day at home...but they always end with..."I love you Mama!...Love, Lia".

And how great is that....because...

I love YOU Lia!

Love,

Mama

He loves me...he loves me not...of COURSE he loves me!

I LOVE the way Lia is holding her big toe up in these pictures...interestingly, I have the same odd habit...

Thankful Thursday

Update: I had no idea when I posted these flowers from my garden earlier today how appropriate they would turn out to be on this Thankful Thursday (my first by the way...although I am generally pretty thankful on Thursdays...and all the other days too!).

This afternoon, I had a call from her. Although I "knew" Lisa a little through our April '05 DTC group, I really didn't form a friendship with her until January of this year. She is totally the kind of friend we all need. Whoever said, "Friends are the flowers in the garden of life." surely meant a friend like Lisa. Today was the first time I ever spoke to her in person...and I was a little nervous! I am pretty sure I babbled away like a fool...but the ever gracious Lisa continued on as if I was making complete sense! Even though this was our first "live" conversation...I'd like to share a few things I know about Lisa already:

Lisa does things big. She is a deep thinker. She cares deeply. She watches out for her friends like a hawk. She is a wonderful wife and mother (and I know you all believe me...but read this and you'll see just what kind of mother she is and what a special girl she is raising!). She has morals. She has a wicked sense of humor that is pretty darn delightful...and sometimes surprising...

...and I hope I can be just like her when I grow up.

Lisa, my friend...today I am most thankful for your phone call...and your friendship. You truly are a flower in my garden.

Singing (and Dancing!) in the Rain...

My Why

The 2nd Annual Whit-nic!

Sun...water...good food...great friends. It just doesn't get any better! Good times...really good times!!

Our Family...

or...the preschool version of "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil...feel no evil..."

The Cat's Pajamas were, well...the Cat's Meow!!

Tonight we took Lia to hear a local children's music group, The Cat's Pajamas...







...and that, my friends, is my idea of a perfect evening!

Simple Pleasures

Fun With Editing and...I Love Her a Little More Everyday!

What Matters Most...

I spent some time during my visit home helping to go through my grandma's things...cleaning out...discarding some things, packing other things carefully away. It is, at once, odd and exhilarating to have such unlimited access to the personal effects, gathered over a lifetime, of one you loved and love so deeply.

My grandmother was a not a fussy person. Useful won over fanciful every time. Outward appearances never meant as much as what laid beneath. What you did meant so much more than how you looked doing it. Plain and simple. Beauty in truth. Beauty in kindness. Beauty in hard work. Beauty in perseverance.

Nestled deep in her jewelry box, under tons of dated costume jewelry, I found this blue set of jewelry. Although not expensive or valuable, it still seemed so out of character in this jewelry box and for the grandma I so dearly miss. I questioned my mom, who smiled in nostalgic recognition. My grandmother wore this set, complete with screw on earrings to a New Year's Eve party in the early 1950's. Even after all these years my mom still remembers how beautiful my grandmother looked that evening. It was probably the only time she ever donned these sparkling gems.

I decided that I would like to keep the jewelry. I am not sure whether I will ever find an occasion to wear it...but it will be packed safely away in MY jewelry box for all the days of my life...and I will love it always. I will love it because it is something my grandmother once chose. Something she once loved. Something that she once wore as she danced happily in the arms of my grandfather. I will hold this jewelry near...and in doing so...keep my grandmother close to my heart as well. And that is priceless.

Parties Galore and Cousins a Go-Go!!

We are having a wonderful time visiting with my family! Lia has spent fun filled days with her beloved cousins and we are enjoying just relaxing. Lia and I both visited the dentist this morning and passed with flying colors (this was Lia's second visit...she is a pro!). Lia REALLY thought it was funny to see where her Nana works (she's a dental hygienist) as our last visit took place when Nana had a vacation day.

Some funny things Lia has said this week:

She has requested a PINK mow-lawner...you know...that thing you cut the grass with!!

If you would like to know what is happening in the world, you can catch up by reading the paper-news!

When the receptionist rewarded her with a 3-D sticker at the dentist this morning, Lia exclaimed, "What in thunderation???" (and just for the record...she picked up this little honey of a phrase by reading Amelia Bedelia...that crazy Mr. Rogers utters this when Amelia accidentally "checks" his shirts with red paint...what madcap fun! Even though I knew where it came from, I had never heard her use this phrase before! )

These are a few pictures we took at Aunt Carolyn's house. Her flowers were so pretty, we couldn't resist. We sincerely wish Aunt Carolyn and her very green thumbs lived a little closer for emergency gardening calls!

Feeling Lamb's Ear for the first time...so soft!