Meet Planty

Doesn't bark. Doesn't shed. Doesn't poop! Thank you for picking a venus flytrap as your next pet! It is very charming. Fingers crossed that your seeds for other carnivorous plants grow well. And that you can catch enough fruit flies to feed them all.

Henry, you certainly keep things interesting.

Love,
Mama

Extra Crafty Birthday Party

Dearest Lucy,

When I let you plan your birthday party, I had no idea what I was getting into. Four art projects! Lunch! Presents! A movie!

We made bags, peacock shirts, hula hoops, AND lip gloss. FOUR projects with 16 girls = insanity.

The food was great. Thank you Daddy. And thank you Costco.

We invented a dress-up-the-birthday-girl game that yielded a fabulous ensemble for opening presents. I think a new tradition is born.

All in all, a great time. But if you want to take two friends on an elephant ride to the moon next year, that would be much simpler.

Love you oodles,
Mama

$2 at the DI bought us...

...this learning chess set. As we pass the 100th game we've played, I can see how it ended up there.

Duct tape to the rescue

When I say that bandaging any wound with duct tape is an old Indian trick, I really mean it. This guy always had some around for first aid and a million other purposes.

Papa, I miss holding your hand and finding a random piece of duct tape covering a cut on your finger. I miss your laugh. And your grouchy harrumphs. I just miss YOU.

Sadly, duct tape can't fix everything. But it is one more thing that will forever remind me of you.

Happy Mother's Day?

On the bright side, I feel "like a blooming rose" wearing my new necklace and enjoying your lovely poetry.

On the down side, I've spent much of the day working through 8 loads of laundry and checking (and rechecking) your heads for potential nits. So far - none, but since they have hot both your classrooms and play groups, it won't be long now. Then there is the trail of "fairy dust" (dirt + who knows what) that has been trailed through the house and into my bed.

Playing perfectly in my ear is papa's voice saying "Kids is gross!" Such words of wisdom!

In case you at wondering, a cruise is not too extravagant a gift for some future Mother's Day; and yes, it would be a great way to say thank you for picking up all your junk and taking care of all the lice infestations.

But since the junk and the dirt also come with hugs and love and kisses and more love than I ever thought possible, I'll say thank you. I am (still) forever grateful to be your mom.

7 years of Lucy

I sigh that kiss you,

For I must own

That I shall miss you

When you have grown.

~ Yeats
(echoed in the heart of every parent in the world)

Lucy, I can't believe it's already been seven years since you were born!

In the thousands of days that we have spent together since then, you've changed me in thousands of ways. I am a new person because of you. Our life is totally different because of you.

It has not been easy and we have had some horrible days here and there. But I would not trade you all the uninterrupted sleep in the world.

I am thankful for seven years of visiting every which place across town where we can art and create together.

Seven years of exploring books and nature, finding all kinds to new things to do. Along with new ways to dirty So. Much. Laundry.

Seven years of hugs and kisses and laughing at all your crazy ideas. Countless moments when my heart has swollen so large, I picture it busting out of its frame, just like the Grinch's.

Seven years of growing into being (hopefully) the Mama you will need for the next seven years and beyond.

Yours forever,
Mama