Nostalgia

I've been trying for a couple of months to figure out how to edit with my new video camera the way I could with the old one. Messing around with the birthday footage today, I found this clip of Amelia and her friend Sierra in the spring of 2005, which would put her about 6 or 8 months older than Evie is now. Where does the time go?

Daisy Fun Day

Amelia and I went to the Daisy Fun Day last Friday, which is a big introduction to all things Girl Scouts. The Brownie and Junior Girl Scout Troops in our service unit set up stations and guided the younger Daisies through lessons in the Girl Scout Promise, the Girl Scout Law, and the founder Juliette Low. The girls also made "Sit Upons," which are little cushions you use when camping, S.W.A.P.S. (pins for trading), and label tags for their backpacks. Some tables set up a mini "Thinking Day," which is a celebration of countries around the world. Amelia particularly enjoyed the food tables (of course) where she made s'mores and decorated cookies and brownies. We were assisted by several of my current students, a few of mine from last year, and even one who is now in middle school. Amelia introduced me to her third grade "Reading Buddy," who visits with her class every Friday (the two classes mingle and each third grader gets a kindergartener).

My favorite part of the evening? When we climbed into the car, weary and leaning slightly toward a sugar-coma, Amelia said, "You know, Mom, I really love spending time with you."

Gingerbread and Gumballs

The family boldly built a gingerbread house this holiday season. This was the first time we had ever attempted this, and we had a ton of fun doing it.

When it came time to eat it, we took a few days to do it. It looked like little gingerbread termites had moved in. Eventually, we had to face the reality that the five of us would not be able to finish it off, so we told the kids to get whatever candy they wanted, and the rest would be thrown away. Luke and Amelia each ended up with about 5 gumballs in their mouths as they headed to their baths.

Derek was busy bathing Evelyn, so he didn't see Luke reaching into the toliet for something. Thinking that he was trying to pick up a fallen toy or something, I got Derek's attention and went over to see what it was. As it turns out, Luke had reached in to the toliet he had just used for the gum he accidentally dropped in. Derek stopped Luke's hand mere millimeters away from his open mouth. Derek and I were horrified, but Luke was heartbroken that we wouldn't let him chew the gum.

Yum-o.

Luke's Hair

The last time that I took Luke to get his hair cut, Derek was upset that I had allowed them to cut his hair too short. My response was that Derek should take him the next time.

Well, he has been overdue for quite some time, so I asked Derek to take him soon. Derek said that he was planning on it, and was thinking about just doing it himself at home. Imagine my surprise upon getting out of the shower to have an adorable three-year-old voice tell me through the door, "Mom, I have a surprise for you!" When I opened the door, I saw the results of Luke's new haircut. My husband took the clippers to Luke, whose only complaint was, "No! We're supposed to go to the hair cut place!"

He still looks cute, but boy does he look different.