Farewell NaBloPoMo (and 24 hours in review)

Another NaBloPoMo has come and gone.

It's always a little surprising to me that for someone who feels like there's rarely a dull moment, I often scratch my head and wonder what to write about during this blog posting month. Today's a good example. I feel like I have zero to comment on or report. Of course, anyone who knows me knows that if they ask me about politics, Barbie, or any number of topics I can be off at the races. But, I'm usually not in the mood to get on my soap box(es) in this blog.

So, I've been sitting her scratching my head about what the heck to write about, and I decided to review my 'rarely a dull moment' past 24 hours.

Yesterday was a work-from-home day for me which usually means a solid mix of home-work activity.

My day started with my continued re-entry from my return from Houston the night before. I was eager to check in with my grandpa to see how he's doing, finish unpacking, catch up on work emails, work out, etc. (PS - My grandpa's story is a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities of advancing age and being kind to your step-kids. Mom, feel free to share with Ed. ;) )

By 8:30AM, there were researchers at my house for me and Sophie to participate in a study about kids and technology. (Mini soap-box: I'm getting less interested in volunteering with this research group because it seems more of their work is about helping the technology reach younger kids vs. learning about the effects of technology on kids and learning.)

I had about 30 minutes to work and return calls before getting to my back doctor appointment. My back completely seized up and I was losing mobility over the past two weeks. Twice I almost collapsed at work with no warning. No good. I was so happy to learn that I didn't have any neural issues, but he said I needed a solid two weeks to get the inflammation down before we could go back to preventative efforts. (Wasn't I just talking about the "vulnerabilities of advancing age.")

I left the back appointment feeling relieved and a little better, ran home to return work calls and emails for about an hour, and then headed out to Chevy Chase, MD (because I'm a moron and decided to pick up a pair of shoes I tried on and liked and could have purchased easily earlier in the week but instead decided I hated shopping and didn't get them. Only later did logic sink in that I only have 20 pairs of shoes included slippers, sneakers, and Tevas, and I just gave several away with a big pile of GoodWill stuff. I needed shoes to wear to work today. DUH!). So off I went to the only store in the area that now had them, because the others I had tried on were sold.

On the way home (with snazzy new shoes in possession), a fellow moron hit my car. If it wasn't sad, it would have been an SNL skit. The woman who hit me 'wasn't quite right' which means she was a whack job. She kept climbing all over the inside of her car looking for her papers, set off her car alarm FOUR times in the process, lost her keys in her car for 30 minutes, kept accidentally stomping on the gas and revving her engine, etc. A homeless man came over to watch her spectacle. Even though it wasn't a bad accident and neither of us were hurt, we ended up needing to call a police officer for assistance because she would only take my insurance information and wouldn't give me hers (paranoid much?). The officer came, clearly stated it was her fault, pried her information out of her, and then let me leave (AN HOUR LATER).

I ran by the grocery store to pick up the ever-urgent bananas and a few other things and went home to cram in 20  minutes of agenda preparation for today's meetings. Then, off to pick up Zoe (with a snack or she turns in to Medusa - who does she get that from?), rush her to dance, drop her off, run to another appointment of mine while she's at dance, and then pick her up and head home.

I had the kids at bedtime while Scott went to play guitar (awesomeness). After doing homework with Zoe, reading time and playing, etc., they went to bed.

Then I re-focused on that work-life activity that I fluctuate between on work at home days.

I coordinated a meeting with 15 colleagues (who all also were on-line at that time - what's wrong with us?), did some meeting preparation for today and Monday events, set up the holiday party for Zoe's class (making gingerbread houses next Friday), bought a goat as a gift for her class (very fun), did all my client billing, balanced my check book, did a little research for Mia's birthday location next month, caught up on all my email, and who knows what else. I'm sure I left out a few things.

When Scott got home, we hung out together and caught up, went through the mail, and talked AGAIN about what the heck we're going to do the week the kids are out of school for the holidays. Lights out at 11:30 PM.

And, lights out on NaBloPoMo. Thanks as always to my Milk Mom friends who encourage this month of gabbing.

Kid Speak

When talking with Zoe about my trip to Houston, she asked about when we'll all go back to visit him. I told her that the whole family would go in June for his 98th birthday. Zoe responded:

"We can still celebrate him after he dies just like we celebrate Dr. Seuss every year on his birthday even though he's already died."

I think my grandpa would like the Dr. Seuss comparison.

___________________

Mia: "Mom, I love everything about you. (Pause) Except when you don't give me what I want."

___________________

When I came home, Scott and I were hugging. Zoe looked up at us and muttered in a disgusted tone of voice. "That's embarrassing!"

Grandpa Milton Visit - November 2012

If I ever feel like time is moving too fast at my house, I've found the remedy. Time moves very, very slowly at my Grandpa Milton's house these days. While he's usually feeling uncomfortable, he is still very social and alert and very much wants to be out and about even if his body is revolting. Having a visitor in town often helps his mind win the battle and out we go.

On our first afternoon, we went over to visit his wife for a couple of hours which is always the best medicine for him.

On our second afternoon, we went all out. We had lunch at his favorite cafeteria Luby's, and then went by his store which he thought looked fantastic. After a nap at home and some down time, we then went out to dinner with my couisin Dee Dee, his wife Lena and her daughter and boyfriend. This is pretty monumental because he rarely feels well enough to go out to dinner (even though he desperately wants to), and Lena will rarely leave her house and hasn't been out to dinner with him in a restaurant for probably close to a year. He was so excited it was palpable. Lena on the other hand was very uncomfortable being out, and it's unlikely she'll be willing to go out to dinner on too many more occasions. It was a memorable night for him.

Looking pretty dapper at 97!

I'm so happy that we were able to get around and do some of the things that really bring him pleasure and distract him a little bit from how lousy he feels. I also wish I were able to do it more often. He's typically in his apartment for days at a time with only the caregivers for company. That's a pretty lonely existance, especially when not feeling well. I'm sorry I can't be there more often. I also wish his caregivers knew the grandpa that I grew up with . He was so silly, always telling jokes. He was a romantic and doting husband to my grandma. He was an adventurer who loved to travel. I try to tell them about him and engage them in those conversations with him.

This is a decoration in his guest bathroom. Someone gave him the little butler as a gift years ago, and he thought it was funny to write the note "Please Seat Yourself" and put it in the bathroom. It perfectly demonstrates his and my grandma's spunky sense of humor.

After a very long couple of days, it was great to come home to my little ladies. I had missed them so much. They had decorated the walls with cards and pictures which all had different versions of "Welcome home mommy. Love Zoe, Mia, Sophie and Dad. I love you. PS. I love you."

Fall Leaves

The last of the leaves are coming down, giving us just what we needed for one more huge leaf pile. We made this leaf pile just for jumping in on the day after Thanksgiving. So tempting.

Zoe and Sophie

Mia

Sophie

Cuddle Time with Dad

When it happens, I love lazy mornings at home.

Houston Visit

I'm going to visit my great grandfather in Houston, Texas tonight. These trips are always taken with mixed emotion.

I feel so lucky that I'm able to go visit him and be supportive. He's not enjoying being a 97 year old man whose body isn't cooperating with his ambitions. I'm grateful that I can be there with him and help him have some fun and some comfort. We usually talk a lot and mostly hang out. If he's feeling up to it, we'll go out to eat, maybe a doctor's appointment, and even a trip to the family costume and display store. If he's not feeling great, we can still take a walk to the end of the hall, look at pictures, or just sit and hold hands.

As much as I'm happy to be going, it's also not a very easy trip. Aside from the emotional part of the visit in Houston, it's also hard to leave my family. I'll spend part of today preparing dinners for Scott, lunch for the kids, organizing back packs and homework, etc. But mostly I feel lousy leaving them and leaving Scott to take care of them solo for a couple days.  It also takes a bit of courage to navigate my way all over Houston from the airport, to my family's store, and my grandpa's apartment, and his wife's apartment, and the hotel, etc. often with him as a passenger. (Yes, he and his wife have separate places. That's another story.)

This morning he was feeling really well and very excited for our visit. He doesn't realize I arrive tonight because it'll be too late for me to go to his apartment. He'll see me first thing tomorrow. We'll make our plans one minute at a time.

Basketball Game

We scored some last minute box seats with Scott's company to the Hoya game today. We're not particularly big Hoya fans, but it was a really fun game. Sophie couldn't get over her excitement with the dog mascot, and Zoe and Mia were really interested in learning the rules of the game.

Thanksgiving 2012

Grandma Barbara and Grandpa Ed visited us this year for Thanksgiving. We went swimming, played in the leaves, cooked together, and did a Turkey Trot. 

For the actual meal, we went all out as usual. We always make too much food to be sure there are left overs. This year, we introduced you to one of my Thanksgiving traditions from childhood. My mom used to put out a bowl of olives with the appetizers. The kids would put them on their fingers and carry on weird food puppet shows. No sooner had we put out a bowl of olives were they on your fingers.

We read some of your favorite books, and you got to wear some new fun clothes Grandma brought.

There was plenty of time for cuddling and more puppet shows after dinner.

Puppet Show

 Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey Trot

We usually take a family walk on Thanksgiving, but this year we signed up for our first real Turkey Trot. We did the Arlington Food Assistance 5K along with 3,000 other people. Zoe was a champ to finish such a long walk. We agreed that next year we may wear costumes.  There were some people dressed up in great turkey costumes!

Card Shark

Grandma Barbara returned for another round of cards only to once again be beaten by Zoe. The tradition continues.

What I Made For Dinner

I am pretty much out of steam for posting tonight, so I'm using the What I Made For Dinner post idea again. 

Tonight for dinner I made eggplant parmesan, salad, and capellini marinara. There's plenty if anyone wants to come join. Holy smokes does this recipe make a lot!!!

My Favorite Place

I've written before about how much I lust for travel. I crave the experience of immersing myself in different cultures and different environments. I think there is so much to learn, and there are so many phenomenal places to witness. I could probably backpack full time and be in heaven.

Scott and I have taken a few trips to Africa, and I think the continent has a voice that is hard to describe but is strikingly powerful for me. We've hardly scratched the surface, but of the places we've been there, our time in Nairobi was incredible. The type of experience that speaks to my soul. Just writing this post and looking through the photos makes my heart beat faster.

It was so hot, and so beautiful and so alive and so pure. Our trips there have been pretty rugged. On our first trip, we did a walking safari. We walked about 10 miles or so a day covering the Tsavo River and camping at night. There were several local black Africans who spoke their local languages, and there was one local white African with us who spoke English.  One day, I said to him that the others must think that we're crazy with our sneakers and water bottles. I had wondered about how we must seem to them because they often were hiking without shoes, walking miles without ever seemingly getting a personal need met of any kind. His response still triggers me. He said: Laurie, they don't think of you at all. They are thinking about where they are going, where their foot will strike next, what the day's work ahead requires.

Imagine! No judging or critiquing one another on trivial things. It's not even a part of their zeitgeist. Yes, there is no shortage of conflict and disturbance in Africa and African politics. That just wasn't part of our experience at all. Our experience was all about openness and fresh air and kindness.

The morning that we left on our first trip, I cried. We were waiting in the middle of the savannah for a propellor plane to meet us. We were alone in the middle of nowhere. The locals we had been with had left. I can't remember a time ever feeling so struck by the beauty and remoteness of a place.

Iain far left and Mohammad next to him, our main guides. 

Enjoying the view.

Amazing how many flies cover these lions. It would make me nuts.

Our second trip was part walking safari and part camel safari in a remote desert region. It was equally impactful, but smellier. Camels stink. We traveled with mostly the same local Africans that we had the first time.

During breaks, the guys helping with the extra camels would gather and sing. They made the most incredible music. It's also pretty amazing how many camels are needed for just a few people. They carried water, food, tents, and our clothes. To lighten our load, when we left, we often left our sneakers and clothes for local people.

The photos in our kids' rooms are from these trips. I think we could have wall papered our whole house in my favorite photos there were so many. Here are some that we didn't use.

I found out I was pregnant with Zoe the night before we left on this trip. That's a story for another time. After our trip, when we were ready to tell our folks that we were pregnant. We showed them our trip photos, with the two below photos being the final ones. 

Zoe Grace Levine Moret

Kid Speak - Zoe

Zoe: Mom, last night was a croissant moon. Tonight is a crescent moon, and tomorrow night it'll be a croissant again.

Mom: What's the difference between a crescent moon and a croissant moon?

Zoe: A croissant moon is bigger.

Random

Here are a few random notes about what we've been up to these past couple of days.

Watch out for us if we all happen to go to the grocery store and they have the little carts. We are an elite brigade.

The girls dance everywhere at all times. I've been told by Zoe's teacher that she spontaneously dances when the music comes on the speaker before the morning announcements at school.

Climbing this thing with socks on was no easy task!

Being silly.

Last night was Family Gym Night at the kids' school. They spent the night running around playing human bowling, scooter hockey, Zumba, relays, etc. They stayed out late, and this morning we had what I assume other families talk about when they describe "lazy mornings." They all either stayed in bed or were willing to be quiet in our bed until 7AM and then we read books and ate breakfast in our PJ's until nearly 8AM. This is serious progress.

We went to a really cute puppet show at the National Theater this morning. Sophie especially likes puppet shows.

As many of you know, yesterday I completed a massive project at work that I've been whining about for six months. I have a solid three month break before we launch another of the same size. I'll be less whacked out about it though. I've got good experience and very kind reviews under my belt. Whew! To celebrate, we have a sitter tonight, I'm getting a massage tomorrow night, and dinner with friends on Monday night. Deep sigh.

Nutcracker Ballerina Visit

Once again, you were all extremely excited to go see the ballerina's offer a preview demonstration of their upcoming Nutcracker performances in our area. They start with pictures, then read stories, then dance, and finally more pictures and coloring.

Zoe and Sophie with the ballerinas. Mia was on the side happily watching the action.

Mesmerized by the dancing.

Make-A-Wish

Community Service is a pretty important part of my value system, and we do a good amount of volunteer work at our house. One activity I got involved with a couple of years ago is near and dear to me.

I am a wish granter for the Make-A-Wish foundation. I think this is by far the coolest volunteer title a person could have. My role is 100% awesome. I get to help families step outside their current situation and help make a wish for a child with a life threatening medical condition come true. My job is to think big and then say yes and help make it happen.

We play the 'wish game' with each child, helping him or her to think about where would she want to go, who would she want to meet, what she would want to have or who she wouldd want to be. We help them build out these fantasies and then make them come true.

I can't think of a more connected organization on the planet. There are all kinds of celebrity wishes and other wishes that require extensive cooperation from individuals high up in politics, entertainment and business, and they all come through and participate. I understand from my work colleagues in public safety that there is no easier shift to fill than that for a Wish Chid who needs a security detail for a day as he travels around D.C. because his wish is to be President. When those work requests are made, staff jump at the chance to participate.

An example of a wish shows the extreme big heartedness, creativity and reach of this foundation. A little four year old boy had a terminal medical condition. His family was Roman Catholic, and they had been having discussions about what happens after a person dies. The little boys wish: to meet God. How on earth can we say 'yes' to that!? The Make-A-Wish organization arranged for this little boy and his family to go to Rome for a week and have a private audience with the Pope and talk about all the things that he needed to talk about. Makes your jaw drop. They do this kind of thing every day.

Another layer of fantastic comes from one of the most popular wishes that children make: I wish to go to Disney. The desire to go to Disney has been so great that years ago, the organization was having issues finding housing to meet the need in Orlando. An incredible man, Henri Landworth, dreamed and then made reality Give Kids the World. It is a fully accomodating wonderland where wish kids from all wish granting organizations can stay when they come to Orlando. If you are motivated to read his incredible journey from Holocaust survivor, to dirt poor hotel man/jack of all trades, to hotel manager and trusted confidant of the Mercury astronauts, to phenomenal philanthropist, you'd like his book: Gift of Life.

For anyone looking for a place to donate this holiday season, a visit to www.wish.org will offer you more information about this organization. You can also read more wish stories there which are awe inspiring.

Sending good wishes to you and yours this Thanksgiving season.

Pink Skirt

Many of my friends and family know that I have slightly more than a mild distaste for shopping. This has mostly served me well. I really use what I have, and I tend to spend very little money in stores. I've had two major shopping sprees about ten years apart when I've really stocked up on all kinds of clothes, especially in preparation for a new job.

I am trying to turn over a new leaf so that I'm not always wearing clothes that I've had since high school. I've made a couple attempts to the mall, and even if I didn't buy anything, I felt like I earned points just by going.

Earlier this week, I went to the mall to exchange a pair of shoes for one of the kids. On the way out, I actually made not only a purchase but a pretty unlikely purchase. A hot pink pencil skirt.

The picture didn't come out too well since I was taking it myself in a mirror reflection, but you'll get the point.

What I Cooked Tonight

During National Blog Posting Month, on days where there is nothing top of mind (or too much top of mind) some very helpful friends have offered topic suggestions for me to write about. Today I'm writing about one of those topics: What I Cooked Tonight.

When I was young, somewhere around age seven or eight, I asked my mom if I could make dinner. She said yes and helped me consider what I wanted to make and put it together. I had this idea of an enormous everything-goes salad. I remember putting hard boiled eggs and all kinds of other stuff in heaping mounds around the plate. I remember enjoying it and feeling proud of it.

When I was older, and it was just Scott and I, I'd sometimes have "clean out the fridge night" which morphed in to two other ideas also unappetizingly named: Garbage Salad night and Garbage Pasta night. Essentially, I'd find any and all ingredients that I thought I could do something remotely interesting with and make a wild salad or a pasta.

I introduced the kids to this idea a couple of years ago. Even though they weren't 100% interested in all the ingredients, especially lettuce, they really liked helping me with Garbage Salad night by making piles of hard boiled eggs, garbanzo beans, cheese or nuts sometimes, green beans and any other cooked vegetable we had in the refrigerator, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers if we had them, and plain pasta or potatoes if we had them. Sometimes there may be fish or shrimp too. The idea was to try and include lots of choices of vegetables prepared different ways, protein, and whole grains. My only real limit is fruit. I don't like fruit in salads although I can sometimes manage grapes. I usually make cornbread to go with it, but it doesn't need a side; it's pretty hearty.

We've belonged to CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) for the past few years, and this meal is also a great way to use some of that produce.

Over time, the kids have come to like this as one of their favorite meals. I have to make twice as much. They eat it all, love serving themselves from all the different areas of the massive plate I use, and they all eat lettuce now. Mushrooms they are still not sure about though.

It's easy for me to put together and they're happy during the preparation time, so it was a perfect meal for this week.

They have one complaint. They don't like the name. They have aptly pointed out to me that "Garbage Salad" is a horrible name for a meal. So, they're working on a new name. Party Salad? Fiesta Salad? Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink salad? Anything-goes salad?

I'll have to get a picture sometime. It's usually really pretty and colorful.

Touch of Summer

We got a nice touch of Summer in the middle of Autumn this weekend. Happy to spend a day with friends tromping around in the woods on Theodore Roosevelt Island.

Kid Speak - Sophie

When walking in to a store with a really strong odor:

Sophie: "Ouch! This hurts my nose on the inside!"


Later, after trimming her nails:

Sophie: "I cut my nails so I can put on shoes and go to work and pet the kitty cat."

I'm still curious what that stream of thought meant...

Zoe's 7th Birthday

On Zoe's actual birthday, it was a school day. We had a family dinner with presents from family. She chose her favorite dinner (pesto pasta and green beans), and she and Mia designed a cake (strawberry cake, strawberry frosting, cats, flowers and hearts for designs). Sometimes I like it when birthdays are on school days because it helps pace the fun throughout the day. She opened a few presents before school and really appreciated and played with them. She opened a few after school and a couple before bed. At school, we brought in fruit kabobs to celebrate which the kids really liked. I wasn't sure about not doing a sweet treat, but this worked out well. Mia was invited to join the class for the birthday snack, and Zoe got to pick a prize out of the class gift box. We also let the class pick a class gift from Heifer International, and they got to select what animal they wanted and for what country. Our friend Laura turned us on to this idea for a class gift. The kids were in to it.

We went in a slightly different direction this year with her party. In prior years, she's had a more active gathering with a larger mix of friends. This year, she opted for a small gathering at home to make pottery. We were lucky that the weather was fantastic and there was lots of time to play outside. She made pottery with a few friends, had cupcakes, and enjoyed one surprise guest.

Zoe had asked her guests to bring wish list items for the animal shelter instead of presents. The woman who operates the Paws to Read (reading to dogs) program at the library found out about her party and her gift request, and asked if she could stop by with one of the service dogs to thank Zoe. Humphrey the dog happens to be Zoe's favorite dog to read to, and the woman who runs the program is also a teacher at Ashlawn who Zoe really likes. Zoe was so excited when they showed up.

Happy with Humphrey.

Dropping off the gifts collected at the animal shelter after the birthday party.

We continue to take turns eating off the Special Red Plate on special occasions. It was very cool to note on the back of the plate this year that it was for Zoe's 7th birthday. The first entry was for her first birthday.

Happy birthday to you sweet Zoe.

Big hugs -

Mom

The Pace Has Picked Up

I remember the first year I participated in blogging and National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo). I had time to think about what I wanted to write about or at least time to sit down for a spontaneous post on a topic that caught my attention. Most especially, I remember sitting down each night and reading through my friends daily postings and catching up on their lives and their thoughts.

I felt busy then. I remember writing a post at one point about how my life seemed to crack open each day to expand and make room for any unexpected addition.

These days, my life cracks open like a kaleidoscope everyday producing hundreds of extra moments for all the unexpected additions. Now that all three of you are old enough to have your own express-able thoughts and opinions, the amount of interaction and decision making has magnified.

We have good routines that make things work. We don't struggle over picking out clothes, homework, play dates and most activities, and we usually don't struggle around what's served at mealtimes either. We also work hard not to over-schedule. You can each pick one activity a session outside of school (in addition to swimming). But the unrelenting daily coordination is awesome. There are still lots of independent one-time activities and other events. It seems like we have to constantly coordinate what activities are occurring where, with whom, and with what transportation; what meals are being served with who's preparation and accounting of ingredients; and what needs to be taken to or from school and by who with what parents involvement.

To put things in perspective, I wonder how I'll feel about all this seemingly heavy-lifting in about two weeks. The Fall is an exceptionally busy time for me at work. I have large demands that will culminate in a few significant 'deliverables' next week. This is compounded by birthday celebrations, wish child celebrations, Hebrew school requirements of the parents, and the holidays that also occur in the Fall.

I hope the pace slows some at the end of November, but even if it doesn't, I hope that we're able to maintain a sense of fun and excitement about the holidays and life in general and the pace is not stressful or aggravating. I hope that I'm able to catch up on reading all my friends' blogs too.

Story from Mia

After being invited to Zoe's classroom for her birthday snack, Mia went back to her own classroom and wrote this little story. She was so happy when she came home and presented it to us. It's a picture of our family.

"I love mi sistrs birthda. 11-7-12"

Zoe - Seven Years Old

Zoe, today you are seven! 

This has been a big year for you. You have grown increasingly confident and are more willing to try new things, approach new people, and tackle new skills. You tried Thai Kwon Do, piano lessons, the rock climbing wall, soccer, diving, Space Mountain and many other things. This has been so much fun for me too. We've been able to do many new activities together. We read all kinds of new books and go to new shows and programs at the museum too. 

Going up the rock climbing wall.

You're a very hard worker too, mostly in private. You'll work at something without us even knowing necessarily, and then show us some new skill. One example is when you tried for your white belt in Thai Kwon Do and got up to recite a lengthy quote in front of the class. I had no idea you'd been working on memorizing it and practicing for the class. You enjoy and excel in school too. You think your homework is a lot of fun, and I am so grateful for your teacher who gives little homework and does indeed make it fun. She has also put you in an 'ability group' that matches your love of learning and hard work.

You are a very thoughtful and conscious person. You consider your environment and other people outside of our general social landscape. You donate to charity and plan to make a donation to a local animal shelter for your birthday. This is not driven by me and dad. It's driven by you and that's pretty special I think.

You are increasingly creative too. This is connected to your rising sense of confidence. You have some very talented friends and for a while you were less willing to do some creative things because you were self critical around them. Now, the joy of participating and being creative far outweighs your caution. This is a big relief to me. I hope you overcome pressures to compare yourself to others and continue to fully embrace life and experience and hard work for YOU without thinking about what others may be doing.

Putting the finishing touches on your book mark.

You are very kind and loving with your sisters, most days. The three of you play and read together and genuinely enjoy each other's company. Today, we get to bring a special snack to your school and you asked if Mia could come to your class to share it with you. This year we made fruit kabobs with maraschino cherries on top for the school snack, which were awesome except for all the kabob stabbing injuries that occurred while making them (to my fingers).

You are taller and have lost (and regrown) more teeth this year too. Your initial reaction to date is that you get sad when you lose a tooth. It seems like there is some sense of loss for you. But, with each lost tooth, this immediate reaction has gotten much shorter and you get excited for the tooth fairy to come. She generally leaves you a letter and a gold dollar coin. You've given up napping except on the rarest occasion. We usually use that mid-day time while Mia and Sophie are napping to go have one on one time together. That's been a treat for me too.

Happy 7th birthday Zoe! We love you!

Mommy