A Charming Find

Alida recently put some of my grandmother's books on a shelf in her room, and she likes to read through them. 

She found pressed leaf from I can't imagine how long ago or with what memories attached to make its way here, but it was like a special gif that Saturday morning.

 

Sleepovers

Alida. 

Home on a Saturday late afternoon from a sleepover the night before... 

where I suspect there was not much sleeping. 

 

Steady as She Goes

Wrapped in a blanket made to look like a tortilla, and eating cookies with dinner.  

Alida rolls with it, and always makes me smile.

 

Our Spaces

The spaces they live in have become so incredibly important.

So, when Alida said she wanted to paint her room white, we were all in. 

Anything for you, lady.

Even if you go weird from time to time and paint yourself to look like a creepy doll.

A Birthday!

After getting home from vacation, we dropped the car, picked up the dog and cat, got some milk and prepared for the girls' birthday the next day. 

I'm not going to lie, when Alida showed up wanted to help make her cake, I was relieved. 

We moved and were here 8 months before Covid shut down the world. 

It isn't all bad that they don't have a huge cadre of friends here yet that they are missing now, and one guest for the day was perfectly lovely!

Ben hung the streamers.  It was certainly at the girls height...even if it looked a little like a crime scene.

Happy Birthday Elaine!

(I cannot take credit for that cake, which was beautiful!)

Happy Birthday Alida!

We totally take credit for the soda pop cake with strawberries and cool whip frosting that we call Slawberry cake here.  

And some cute little cupcakes to blow on since we're all being super clean these days. We probably could have moved the cakes some distance away from the blowing while we were at it, but we just get excited sometimes. 

13!

Thirteen years ago today, we were amazed by you, but we were not yet aware how very much we needed you to complete us.  Now, I cannot imagine a day without you.  A warm and happy birthday to you.  You delight us daily.

Styled

As we were walking to the car the other day after a haircut and style, which I exclaimed was beautiful, Alida said she didn't want to look like Dora the Explorer.  I asked who told her that?  "My head told me that is what I look like!"  But she admitted it was okay, and she didn't have the bangs, so it was alright. 

And then Benjamin walked in the room about 10 seconds after I snapped this photo, and called her Dora the Explorer.  She came back about 20 minutes later with her curls restored. 

No Alida Was Hurt During the Holiday Rush

The girls were a little excited to go looking for Christmas trees the other day.  So much so that Alida may have become tangled up and fallen over.  After hearing the laughter and 'I'm okay!', I had to snap a picture. 

Because it immediately reminded me of this shot from 2010.  

My Dog is Bigger Than My Daughter

Twelve years and still half the size of the dog.

Good friends to the end.

Alida Sings

The music teacher at the middle school has an enviable amount of energy.

And she held a singing workshop with the instructor from the high school there to listen and politely critique the brave singers last week.

 

I was amazed at Alida's version of Castle in a Cloud.  It was beautiful. 

When the instructor said that Alida could put on a beret and be Cossete, I couldn't have agreed more.

March Was Full of Surprises

Struggling through dinner the day after Daylight Savings Time started.

 

The first change of earrings--little pigs.

 

And a private outing to the movies during spring break.

 

Fireplace Season

Before the furnace was serviced recently, it was having a bit of a hard time keeping up with our snowy mornings and cold evenings.  So we tested out the fireplace, which radiated more warmth than we were expecting. Cozy.

Or, a little too warm, if you are Alida, who did a quick clothing change and was comfortable.

The Musical

Opening Night--we wouldn't have missed it.

Elaine joined the crew after cross country was over for the season.  Since she was the only one to volunteer and not be in the play, she was promoted to stage manager pretty much immediately. 

 

Three days and four shows.

Sixth grade, I remember singing the alphabet song for a one-night only showing... school has changed.

 

And we were absolutely without-a-doubt amazed.  They all were wonderful, really.  I couldn't believe they were 6-8th graders.

 

The Napkins--turns out they are back-up singers...

And the theme of the show: manners.  I was delighted.  There was a song about how to set the table; how to be a good guest; how to say thank you.

And gratuitous picture of Elaine, since all we saw during the show was a little peeking out from behind the curtains, so quickly I couldn't get a shot.

The Theater

Opting not to run: Alida.

 

She has been hanging around the musical crew, and tried out for the play.

Here she is finding out she was cast as one of three napkins.

 

First piece of comfort: we all start somewhere.

Second: Have fun.  There is no way there are three napkins in a play who aren't there for the purpose of having fun.

Nighttime

S'mores

And Double S'mores.

Thanks to our fire starter.

 

Propane cooked our food, but the fires helped us relax and remember to look at the stars.

For at least half an hour or so before we collapsed each evening.

Alida

 

Not friendly when we discuss returning to school in the fall.

Alida's Fifth Grade Art Portfolio

This is a deer.

We had to fix the ears when it arrived home.

 

A tree house in the sky.

 

Self portrait.

Fifth Grade Culmination

Welcome to Monroe Elementary in August 2017, your 4th and final elementary school.

 

And, good-bye Monroe Elementary June 2018!

(I found out the evening before that dresses were in order...)

Good-bye attempting to make school lunches!

I have already ensured their lunch accounts are all solid with money for next year...

 

And there was a ceremony, and so many events that I am very scared for what high-school graduation looks like these days....

Comments written by their classmates.

 

All good things.

And the boys?

They were glad to come to lunch with us and begin to let the girls know what kind of world they would now be entering in middle school--lockers, locks, changing classrooms.  It turns out the boys did incredibly wonderfully in 6th grade. We have no doubt the 4 will do equally well next year in the school where there are three grade levels and three slots for the registration... argh.  I learned to work around these things long, long ago.

 

The 90's

And Hmm.

Why are they dressed like this.

I feel like the 90's didn't really get a good set of identifiable clothing style.

 

It was their interpretation of dressing in the style of the 90's for the 4th/5th grade production of the Juke Box Time Machine at school.

 

Super fun evening in the midst of moving. And Alida even had a speaking part in there!