A Girl of Simple Tastes

At dinner Saturday night, I mentioned that I was going Christmas shopping this afternoon.  Sarah asked if she could come, and I said, "No, I'm shopping for you."  She, of course, responded, "What are you getting me?"  When I said I wouldn't tell her, she proceeded to guess...and wouldn't give up. 

After about five minutes, I'd had enough, so when she said, "Paper towels?"  I said, "Yes!!"  You should have seen the look of self-satisfaction on her face.  She was so pleased that she finally guessed correctly.  She paraded around the house, singing, "I'm getting paper towels!  I'm getting paper towels!" and she's still talking about it. 

Fortunately, T*rget had a good supply, and I didn't even have to fight off the other moms.  Apparently, other four-year-olds aren't as taken with paper products as mine is.  I figure a roll of toilet paper and a box of tissues, and I can cross her name off my list.

A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

It was just the three of us and Grammy on Thanksgiving Day this year, so we decided to eat out for the first time ever.  We went to an old inn and tavern that happens to be just down the hill from our new house.  The meal was terribly nontraditional -- I had haddock and everyone else had prime rib -- but delicious.  We shared a huge piece of triple chocolate cake for dessert and called it good.  (Mom cooked turkey with all the trimmings on Saturday, when the H*ntleys joined us.)

 

Penguin on Parade

Sarah told me weeks ago that she wanted to be a penguin for Halloween.  Since I knew we'd be in M*ssachusetts right before and was feeling a bit overwhelmed with move details, I found a pattern for a costume online and enlisted my mom and sister's help pulling it together.  They took Sarah shopping to buy the materials and cut everything out while Don and I were househunting (thank you!).  We put it together for a trial run there, then were ready to roll when we got back home late the night before the big day.

She wore it to school on Wednesday and marched in the 4K and kindergarten parade around the hallways. 

We went tr*ck or tr*ating after dinner and hit a whopping three neighborhood houses.  She was plenty pleased with her small haul (as was I).  I wonder how many years she'll be satisfied with a low-key celebration.  I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

I have to end with a shot of her with the plastic teeth she got at school.  She wanted to wear them with her costume, but I convinced her that penguins don't have fangs.

Mother's Day III

My third Mother's Day, and the most enjoyable yet.  Sarah was super excited to give me my card (which she addressed and signed herself) and gifts -- Ghirardelli dark chocolate (heavenly), coffee gift certificate (Mama loves her mochas), and Bossypants by Tina Fey (hmmm, I wonder if the title has any relevance). 

After church, we joined our friends Mary Ann, Martin, and Emmett (age 21 months) for a yummy brunch.  I quite like our developing habit of spending holidays together as extended family.  We "older" parents enjoy each other's company, and Sarah and Emmett get a kick out of each other.  It's fun to watch them both change and grow.

In the afternoon, we visited one of our farmer neighbors who had a mare and week-old baby.  It was Sarah's first time seeing a foal, and she loved it.

To top things off, I received sweet cards from my mom and Emily, Omar, Sophia, and Lola (my new grand-puppy).  I'm one lucky woman and so grateful for all the love in my life.

Easter 2012

We had a full holiday week, with three more egg hunts, a party, egg coloring, a couple of baskets, and, of course, church. 

At our play group's Easter party, Sarah blew bubbles herself for the first time.  One of the younger girls helped her celebrate by trying to catch all the bubbles.  Sarah and I helped hide eggs for the hunt, a responsibility she took very seriously.  The girl loves a job! 


 



Sarah's basket from Grammy arrived on Thursday, with instructions to wait until Easter to open.  That just wouldn't do, so she called Grammy to request special permission.  Grammy acquiesced, of course, and Sarah set to work unpacking.  "More M&Ms, and more M&Ms, and more M&Ms, and more M&Ms!"  Not mention peanut butter eggs, maple sugar, a candy ring, and a marshmallow P**p.  Grammy must think the E*ster Bunny is short on candy.



Saturday morning, we colored eggs.  I decided to try some natural dyes this year.  I boiled some red cabbage for blue and used turmeric for yellow.  I really liked the subtle, earthy colors (see the eggs in the lower left-hand corner of the photo).  Next year, I'll have to get more ambitious.



We started a new tradition this year.  I knitted and felted an E*ster basket for Sarah, and we put it out for the Bunny to fill.  I figured if it worked for Santa, it would work for EB. 

Sarah was full of questions at bedtime, and I had a feeling she might be up early.  At 10:45 p.m., she called me and said she had to go potty.  She hasn't awakened at night to use the bathroom in months, so I was a little suspicious.  I thought she might try to go to the living room to see if the basket had been filled, but she returned to bed and just asked if he'd come yet.  I said, "No," and tucked her in.

A little after midnight, she called me again and asked if it was morning.  It was starting to look as though it would be a long night.  I told her she had to go to sleep for the Bunny to come and went back to bed.  She managed to make it until a little after 6:00.

EB must have known she's been wanting a flute, because he brought the next best thing -- a recorder.  She was thrilled and would have played it all day, if I hadn't set time limits.  She loved the chocolate bunny, too, and his ears didn't last long.  She found most of the hidden eggs fairly easily and was searching much farther afield than I expected.  Obviously, EB underestimated her skills in that area.  Although some eggs contained stickers and money, the few with jelly beans were the most prized.

(Of course, I remembered in the middle of the night that we'd neglected to put on her new pajamas for Easter morning photos.)

Our new church has services at 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. on Easter, with breakfast in between, so we decided to join our fellow congregants for the morning meal.  When we arrived a little after 8:00, everyone was seated and eating.  Newcomers' mistake!  Of course, Sarah's Sunday School teacher jumped up and served us cheerily.  Next year, we'll know better (whether that means arriving earlier or eating at home, we haven't decided). 

When it came time for the children's time with the minister, Sarah marched up on her own and returned triumphant, as people cheered her on.  During the rest of the service, she enjoyed a few jelly beans that she'd wisely brought along in her bunny purse.

When we got home, I took some more shots of Sarah outside.  The bright sun washed out the colors in her dress, but she still out-shown the flowers! 

 

We wrapped up the day with a ham dinner and rhubarb crisp for dessert -- a real treat courtesy of the freak warm spell we had a few weeks ago.



Happy Year of the Dragon!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!  Saturday night was our local Chinese association's New Year celebration.  Sarah was shy to begin with, as usual, but she warmed up after dinner and played a fishing game to win a prize (one of those toys that you blow in and the end unfurls).  This year, she eagerly anticipated the distribution of the red envelopes, which contain dollar bills, to the kids.  By the time the music and dancing started, she was ready to stay all night. 

We look forward to this event each year, as there's always lots of yummy food and fun activities.  Mostly, though, we love the warmth of the people.  It always reminds me of the tender attention we received in China whenever we were in public.  The women, in particular, fawn over Sarah.  We are so fortunate to have this "China family" close to home.

It's a Wrap!

Christmas 2011 is in the books.  Since we were flying to M*ss. on Christmas morning, we opened our presents on Christmas Eve morning.  I wanted Sarah to have a chance to play with her toys before we left.  Her big present from us was a play kitchen, and she loves it!  She went right to work cooking, washing dishes, and organizing.  She had a few other small gifts, including her annual cloisonne ornament from China.  This year's was a panda. 

We went to church in the afternoon.  She looked so grown up in her dress!

Christmas morning, she was excited to get downstairs to see what Santa brought.  After opening her stocking, she tried out her new shopping cart.

The day was surprisingly low-key.  We left home around 10:00 for the short drive to the airport.  Both of our flights were uneventful and arrived early.  Sarah is a seasoned flyer and did wonderfully.  Although I packed lots of distractions, I pulled out very few, as she entertained herself quite easily with the brochures in the seat pocket and the cup and straw from her drink.  We arrived at my mom's in time for a late dinner.

We celebrated Christmas with my family on the 26th.  It was controlled chaos, as usual, and we all had a great time.  Sarah said grace at dinner -- "Thank you for the food we eat; thank you for the birds that sing; thank you God for everything" -- I was so proud!  Afterward, she and her cousins worked on their new Lego projects at the table (yes, it's in the living room -- it wouldn't be a holiday at my mom's house without hauling out the huge old hardwood table).

Sarah had four days of fun with her Grammy, cousins, aunts, and uncles.  She did her best to keep the boys in line, telling them, "Relax!" when they got a little wild.  I went out with some friends from high school one evening, and Don and I saw "The Descend*nts" one afternoon -- awesome movie, and not just because George Cl**ney is in every scene, although that doesn't hurt.  We had a yummy lobster dinner our last night there.  It was a wonderful trip.

Now we're settling back in and headed into one of my favorite times of year -- the winter doldrums.  I love the lull between Christmas and spring when I can catch up on neglected projects and maybe even enjoy some down time in the sunroom.  I'm looking forward to using my new favorite chair (a Christmas present from my thoughtful husband) while Sarah cooks dinner. :)