Tooth Fairy Treats

The morning after Lizzy's tooth fell out, we were awoken to Lizzy bursting into our room, face frowning, full of disgust as she told us, "I left the tooth fairy my note, and all she did was give me this piece of paper!" Disdain turned to excitement when we explained to here what the note said. The tooth fairy was treating Lizzy to the charm of her choice at her favorite toy store- one of Lizzy's favorite things to do. After church, Pat ran in before us to explain the situation to the clerks. Lizzy picked out her charm, proudly walked to the front counter, handed them her note, and was on her way. Now whenever I see that little puppy charm on her bracelet, I'll remember that's the one from the tooth fairy, commemorating a special day. What a nice lady that tooth fairy is!

Brand New Smile

As if there weren't enough changes going on around here, Lizzy lost her first tooth! That tooth had been hanging on for a while, then when we were eating dinner at Pat's work party, I noticed it missing. We looked all around, but couldn't find it. We're assuming it was swallowed. Lizzy was a little sad at first, but quickly bounced back. She wrote a note to the tooth fairy explaining the situation, tucked it inside her new cat tooth pillow that we had made, and was excited to see what happened. Of course with that tooth gone, she has a brand new smile. It's brilliant and beautiful as ever, but it is different. I'm taking a little while to get used to it. Every time I see that little gap, I'm reminded how big she is now. It shouts out to me- I'm big, and there's no turning back! You think this is different? Wait until they all start to go! Lizzy's big, bright smile has always been one of my favorite things about her. I guess it's pretty exciting, and special, to get to have a brand new smile.

A New Voice

At Lizzy and Peter's preschool, they go on a field trip every year to a local farm. It's totally awesome and super fun, but they're pretty particular about how many parents they let come along. They say they want to leave adult chatter at home, and leave space for little voices to be heard. Now, I understand what they're trying to say. I thought Peter would totally fall apart with Lizzy gone at school, but the opposite has actually happened. With Lizzy gone, Peter and I have had lots of time to spend together. We've already hit up many parks, and had fun with all the other little ones "left behind." And while of course it's not the same without our Lizzy there, a new little voice has arisen, and it's pretty awesome to hear. I have so enjoyed listening to Peter's prattle of conversation. He has a lot to say. He loves to tell me all about the different cars he sees as we drive along. He asks me lots of questions, and shares many ideas. He's curious, he's excited, he's.......daring. He's the "big boy" now. He's ready to try new things, climb higher than he ever did before, run wildly through the sprinklers in his underpants, giggling all the time. He's ready for his own play dates, for his own friends, for his time. If there is a silver lining to Lizzy being gone, it's spending time with Peter and seeing what a fabulous little boy he is becoming. Thank goodness for the chance to hear his little voice emerge.

Big Girl, Big Day

Hard to believe, but here we are. Our little Lizzy had her first day of Kindergarten. Whew........that went fast! Our baby one minute, then a speedy toddler, then a curious pre-schooler, and now a school-girl. In a blur.....now we're here. In these "big" moments, I often don't get too outwardly emotional. All my friends kept saying how much they were going to cry on the first day of school, and all I felt was disbelief. I kept thinking, "And now we're here. How bizarre that this day has come. So weird.....but so right." I didn't feel too "sad." I felt happy for Lizzy- happy that she's such a vibrant, full-of-life, ready to learn girl. Happy that she's had such a wonderful life, full of love. Happy that she's always done so well in any situation- truly a "bloom where you're planted" girl. Happy for this new path, new friends, and new experiences. But elementary school is.....different. It's serious, it's the big-time, it's no-nonsense. You can't be late, you must be prepared, there are lots of rules and expectations. But the hardest for me is the invisible wall that is now set-up between "us" (our family) and "them" (Lizzy, her teachers, and classmates). And when did Lizzy stop being on our team? Now there's not quite so much time for hugs and kisses in our good-byes. Now, we don't know every detail that happened during the day. Now......we're a little bit separated. The first wrenching step away, tiny though it is, has been taken, and you can feel the tug at your heart that that tear has made. Even though you're happy, it's mixed with a tiny bit of pain- or nostalgia, or wistfulness, of whatever you want to call it. The only remedy is to embrace it all the best you can, accept the change and look for the new beauty all around you, and enjoy the ride as best as you can- no one lets you stop for a time-out, no matter how much you want one!

She Did It!

Lizzy has been working really hard at swimming all summer, and she earned her ribbon and passed onto the next level on the very last day of her lessons. We've spent a lot of time at the pool this summer, and Lizzy has gotten in lots of extra practice, and it's beginning to really show. She's really starting to get the hang of swimming, and she's been having a lot of fun. I'm so proud of how far she's come!

Adorable Friends

Peter and Charlie are the most adorable little friends. They just get one another. It's a beautiful thing to see. I love watching their effortless rhythm, their shared giggles, their give and take. They are two peas in a pod, and have a great time together. Whenever Peter sees Charlie, he gets so excited. On this day, Kelly had a great idea to let the kids paint their backyard fence since they're soon replacing it. It wasn't long before everyone was down to their undies, and then soon switched to painting each other. The boys thought this was hilarious! They ran around and around, swiping each other with paint, and laughing their heads off. It was such a delight to see! Thank goodness for special friends, and thank goodness for darling Charlie!

Quintessential Lizzy

You can always tell when Lizzy has been hard at work playing, because she leaves a trail of carefully organized paraphernalia in her wake. When Lizzy was a toddler, she would color a picture by systematically taking out one crayon at a time, using it, then making a long line of all the crayons she had used, until she had gone through them all, one by one. Her play is orderly, very creative, incredibly thoughtful, and well displayed. She loves to explore, and then line up everything she has found- like when she went through the yard to find all the different kinds of leaves we have (who knew there were so many?). When she makes a building, out of blocks or magnatiles, she always decorates it with stickers or pictures, and often brings in stuffed animals to play. Sometimes she'll use her most precious treasures to create something extra special. Lately, Lizzy is really into making a "house" between the couch and chair. She pretends one side is the door, and then lines up lots of "special friends" with essentials they will need- like books, treasures, or pillows. If you listen carefully, you can hear her talking on and on to the stuffed animals, including them in her elaborate adventures. I love to sneak a peek and watch her play. I love how her mind works. I love seeing her busy, busy at work, making everything just so, carefully putting it all together. What a beautiful mind she has!

Monkey

Introducing the newest monkey in our family.......Peter! After watching and admiring many of Lizzy's playground tricks, Peter has come up with a few of his own. His new favorite: the famous "upside-down-hang." The best part of this trick is that when he's done, Peter says, "Clap for me!" Then he does his adorable bow and says, with a big smile on his face, "Thank you! Thank you!" Great showmanship, Peter!

Golf Friends

Pat and Lizzy have been putting in some serious range time, and they even got to go out one night with a very special friend- Drew! It was pretty priceless seeing those three little cuties hitting away. Yes, that's right.......three cuties. Guess who made his golf debut? Peter! Peter had been to the range before, but on this night, he was right in the thick of it, hitting tons of balls, and totally into everything. Maybe he's caught the golfing bug too. Nothing would make daddy happier.

Hula Girl

We got to celebrate our special friend Abby at her 4th birthday party. It was a Hawaiian party, and everyone got to dress up. There was even a teacher there to show the kids how to do a hula dance. It was a "thank-heaven-for-little-girls" moment for sure. Peter would have nothing to do with the costumes, and was content to sit and watch all the girls. Lizzy and the others loved their skirts and flowers, and Lizzy followed along and loved doing the dance. All those little cuties out their dancing away, feeling so fancy, made me smile. You've just got to love little girls.

Grandma Time

Grandma Susan came for a visit over the weekend. The kids were so excited! They were buzzing all morning, and ran out to greet her when she arrived. Grandmas are just the best. They are always delighted to see their grand kids. They pay such attention, and are truly interested in everything that you say. God bless Grandma Susan. The kids must have exhausted her with their constant energy and demands. They wanted to show her all their special things, tell her all their fabulous stories, and play, and play, and play. Grandma was a captive audience, and a very good sport. We love when we get to visit with her.

Big Boy=Big Bed

Peter has been asking for a while now to move to his "big-boy" bed. Things are so smooth with his sleeping, I dreaded making a change (we may still bear the scars of Lizzy's transition to the bed- that girl has never wanted to be contained!). Of course, in true Peter fashion, it was an uneventful, easy move. Papa picked out these darling Cars sheets for Peter, which made him super excited for his special bed. On the big night, I told him that he had to stay in his bed until morning time, and.......he did! I heard about kids that actually stay in their beds instead of running out like maniacs, and it turns out, I actually birthed one of them. Peter was so proud of himself in his big bed, he couldn't stop smiling! I'm so thankful that he's taken to it so smoothly, and that he's sleeping well. You know you only sleep as well as the worst sleeper in your house, and for now, we're all getting a sound night's sleep.

Jumping Beach

When you live in NorCal, trips to the beach are often less Baywatch, and more........cloudy. It's always a game time decision if we'll actually even put our suits on- no sun, no water. But you'd be amazed at how much you can do at the beach without even hitting the waves. Our kids love to explore. They love the sand, combing through it for treasures, building castles, or playing with trucks. And this time, they loved.......jumping! Lizzy found a little spot on a hill, and decided it was the perfect spot for a "jumping show." You can tell that Lizzy loves to feel daring lately. She loves to do all kinds of "tricks," at the playground or where ever. She loves the thrill of pushing herself, trying to do really big-kid stuff, and marveling at her accomplishments. After he saw some of her big jumps, it wasn't long before Peter gave it a try too. Pat and I were the audience to a fantastic jumping circus. Who knew the beach could provide such amazing entertainment?

Good Times at Soccer

Summer is ending, and soccer is finished. I just have to say.........I love Coach Pedro! You never know who will cross your path, or the influence they will have on you (or your children), but I am so thankful we got to spend a summer learning from Coach Pedro. For the millionth time, you can't judge a book by it's cover. I never would have thought some young kid teaching soccer to little ones could be so patient, so kind, so positive- he was awesome. He set the perfect tone for sports creating a safe, fun, engaging place where all kids felt included and excited to play. He challenged Lizzy and cheered her on, while gracefully including Peter and encouraging him. The kids loved him, and I'm so thankful to have had such a great coach!

Good-bye, Jack

Jack, believe it or not, is leaving for college, so we went up to visit him and have a farewell lunch. The mood was surreal, mixed with excitement and a touch of nostalgia. Of course, we're all thrilled for him to begin this wonderful time in his life (who didn't love their college years), but it's also so hard to say good-bye to someone that you don't want to go. All the usual cliches float to mind- time goes too quickly, kids grow up too fast, cherish all the days you have. But I guess they're cliches because they ring true. When Peter was hugging Jack good-bye, I thought to myself how in my mind, Jack is still that little boy that Peter is, but in reality he's this tall, capable, amazing individual ready to try his own path. It's painful, yet awesome, exciting, but scary. I can't wait to see what Jack will do, because I'm certain it will be awesome.

Pixieland

We spent a very fun day with Grandma and Papa. Daddy was at work, so we went down for a visit. We thought we might just be having lunch, but we made an entire day of it. We did our usual- egg salad sandwiches, playing with the shells, scootering in the street- but then decided to hit up Pixieland. It was adorable! Totally perfect for Lizzy and Peter. They loved getting to try all the rides, and felt especially big that they could do almost everything all by themselves. A huge favorite were the cars. After trying Autopia in Disneyland, Lizzy took her driving pretty seriously. She was concentrating very hard, and was very pleased with her driving after each run. She even said to Peter, "Peter, do you mind that I'm better than you at driving?" Hard to figure, since they were both steering the same car, but I'm glad she sees herself as such a competent driver.

Thumbs Up- For Real!

It has been a long-standing family joke to ask Peter to do "thumbs up." He would quickly put up his pointer finger, and we would all promptly giggle (I know that sounds pretty mean, but we just thought it was so cute and funny). Now, the light has turned on, and when we ask him, he thinks for a minute, slowly sticks his thumb out, smiles, and says, "Look! I did it! I'm making a thumbs up!" Now when we laugh, it's with giggles of pride to see how happy it makes him that he "gets" it. He's in on the joke, and he can do it. What a big boy!

Children's Museum

Time, does indeed, fly. I remember taking Lizzy to this children's museum when she was a little baby. I loved watching her crawl around the baby area, and got so excited when she would discover the littlest thing. I remember when Peter was a baby, and we'd come with friends. I'd try to keep Lizzy in her chair for five seconds so we could eat our lunch before she would want to run off excitedly to explore. Now Lizzy and Peter are so big, it's amazing. They can do so much. I feel wistful when I think of them as babies, but I feel excited and in awe when I see how big they are, how capable, all that they can do. Peter worked so hard to make this giraffe hat. He insisted on doing most of the work himself, even doing much of the cutting and gluing all by himself. I could have stared at his serious little face forever as I watched him at the sand table, carefully pouring sand into little bottles. He can be such an intense worker, really concentrating and very busy. I couldn't believe Lizzy was big enough to make the corn husk doll now. That always seemed like something "really big girls" did, and now here's Lizzy, so proud of herself, running around with her very own doll. They are getting very big, and that always causes a little pang of.........regret? sadness? bittersweet? I'm not sure quite the emotion, but I do know it also makes me intensely proud to see all that they are capable of, to feel their energy and excitement, to chase after them in their frenzy of doing. That's a pretty intoxicating feeling as well.

Windows Down

There's a new obsession around here: riding around town with the windows down. Peter likes it, but Lizzy loves it. She's just like a little dog poking it's nose outside the window. She loves to crane her neck and feel the wind blowing in her face. She sticks her arm out and pretends she can almost touch a tree. I guess when she gets older, she'll be driving a convertible, feeling the wind in her hair cruising around town.

Dance Camp

Lizzy is officially the biggest girl around. She spent a week at dance camp. Since Kindergarten is right around the corner, I thought it might be a good idea to get a little practice in being away from home and eating lunch on her own, while having lots of fun. It turned out dance camp was perfect. Lizzy had a great time. She loved learning all the dances and doing the art projects. I worried about all the little stuff: will she be able to open the stuff in her lunch box? Can she button her shorts when she's done with the potty? Lizzy, of course, was fine. She walked in the door and didn't look back. She loved meeting the other little girls, and it was adorable to hear her talk all about her new friends. On Friday, we were all invited to see her dance show. Grandma and Papa came all the way up to see her performance. It was awesome! I couldn't believe that Lizzy could remember all those dance steps, and be so brave in front of the audience. She did a great job, and I definitely think we need to sign up for some more dance classes. They are just too adorable!

Rollerskaing

I'm not sure if we're prepping for the roller-rink, or the roller-derby, but it's definitely been a rollerskating kind of summer. Lizzy has really loved the skates she got for her birthday, and often skates in the driveway or around our neighborhood. I so admire her tenacity. It's not easy to get the hang of those things, and she's really hung in there and has gotten quite good. Rollerskating is a fond memory of my youth. I remember skating around and around my court, sometimes wearing my sister's old ice skating costumes, and having the best time. There is something just so fun, so freeing, about skating. You feel fast, and free, a little wild. I love watching Lizzy skate and skate around our street, her big smiling beaming as she zooms by.

Hitting the Range

We are in an official golf bonanza over here. We took our first of hopefully many family trips to the golf range to hit balls the other day. Lizzy was very excited to carry her special bag all by herself, and Peter brought along his clubs too. I thought things might go disastrously, but the kids were actually really great. Lizzy, Peter, and Pat took turns hitting balls, and all three left with smiles. Lizzy and Peter already think they're experts, so we're glad they're feeling so confident, and are willing to give golf a try. Here's to many more "great hits."