Footwear

On the road to Kansas City, Bernadette tore the sneakers off her feet and the pads off her arm rests, which she promptly repurposed as Mary Janes.

Divided attention

The marshmallow gets a dusting of ash while Bernadette focuses on chocolate.

Doughboy, doughgirl

 Isaiah and Bernadette helped roll out the pizza dough. Bernadette also sampled from the bowl, while she was waiting. Then we cut some small rounds for their individual pizzas. I

A couple of the non-personal pizzas I made.

Notes

Bernadette from the backseat in Herkimer at the RR crossing: A coal train!
Marian from the front seat as the wheels squeal and moan and whine by: Yep.  Hear the saxophone solo? It's definitely a Coletrane!
 

Matt: Mama's wearing sandals.
Bernadette: No, she's not. She's wearing flap-flops.

Grandpa: Who do you think invented S'mores?
Isaiah: Daddy!
I rest on my laurels.

Marian: Hey, I'm juggling a beer, a brownie and a baby.  

Armed

Kateri has a sword but didn't go monster hunting with us. We slew bears and lions and giant bats. Bernadette spotted an angry squirrel, which she dispatched. Isaiah took out a hammerhead shark and multiple dragons.

Modern art?

Bouncy

Up and down and static electricity in Colorado with Daniel.

"Put it right on top!"

And Aunt Lisa runs!

At mile 99, Lisa gets a big hug from Daniel, who's been watching and waiting for her.

The home stretch! With Marty, Daniel, Mort, and their friend Ro.

Aunt Lisa reads

Visiting Colorado

Isaiah explains

When we stopped by our new bank yesterday, Isaiah let me know that here in Marysville, "Grown-ups are not allowed in the bank unless they have a kid with them to eat the candy."

Tiny Dancer

In front of Footloose Dance Studio on her first day of class (the Crocs were exchanged for ballet slippers when we got inside):

Bernadette told me all the way there that she did not want me to leave her in class.  She held my hand tightly as we walked inside.  The teacher, Denise, smiled at her and said, "Bernadette, are you going to dance with us?"  A pause.  Then, "OK!"  My hand was released, and she trotted off.

After class, Denise informed me that Bernadette is "a live one" who "loves to twirl." (I would, too, if I had that skirt.  Thank you, Pete and Magda!!)  

Bernadette's verdict on the experience was more nuanced.  "We didn't dance," she said.  "I want to dance."  I'm not sure what they did (from the other side of the door, it sounded cute), but apparently it did not fit Bee's conception of dancing.  Upon being asked if she wanted to go back next week, however, she did not hesitate to say yes. 

Mamas

Reading

Paul's birthday

A triumphant return to Big Indian

Up the hill

He's 5

Present No. 1

Isaiah received a dragon kite from Pete and Magda (who also sent Bernadette a purple ballet dress -- thanks for both!). Unfortunately there hasn't been enough wind to get it airborne.

The physical world

Kateri discovered a number of things today. She climbed a full flight of stairs from the dining room to the library herself (not the first time). She's uncertain about how to get back down, but she has been examining that first step back with me sitting below. Later she stuck her fingers in a moving fan (non are any shorter) by my workspace and knocked over a tray table in the living room. Sometimes exploring hurts or is scary. But oh the sense of accomplishment when you reach those high places.

And an add from bedtime: she's fussy but when she gets on the bed she's ready to play. So she crawls toward the air conditioner even though I tell her "no." As she gets closer and I grab her, causing her to fall backwards onto the bed. What a great game she thinks as she pitches her self over backward time and again onto the soft mattress.

Folded in

"Helping" with laundry

Modeling more birthday gifts

Dress and headband from godparents Caryn and Roger. Clown make-up self-applied with red marker.

Cuteness du jour

As I leave the bathroom, Bernadette appears in the doorway to show off the new strawberry stains on her pale blue dress.  "Mama, look at dis," she says, spreading out her skirt.  "My, that is a dirty dress," I say.  "No, it's not dirty," she laughs.  "It's juicy!"

Isaiah walks up to me in the kitchen with arms upraised: "May I have this hug?"

Pouring out

The young hostess presides over the teapot. Cousin Samuel Meyer looks on with impatience.

Children in the corn

Paul's field.