Peanut Butter and ............................

2:45 this afternoon:

Me: Girls, I am going into the store to get a few things for the drive tomorrow. What kind of Jelly do you want with your Peanut butter sandwiches?

Ms. Bean - Raspberry. Raspberry JAM! Not jelly! I only like Jam! Jelly is too lumpy. So, get me Jam, OK? OK Mom? Raspberry Jam.

Little Bee - (sigh), Chocolate Jam.

Me: They don't make Chocolate Jam.

Little Bee - Then I wont eat anything.

This could be a VERY long vacation.

Day 2 - Topsail

So, I forgot the component that uploads the photos from the camera (along with all toiletries, most of our food, and a pair of shoes for Tom). BUT never fear, Bean and Bee took care of the storytelling.

Here is Ms. Beans day from beginning to end. She "awoke, went to the beach, and ate". Her words, not mine.



The best part of Little Bee's day is below. Here she is on the dock at seaTulls with Tom and Ms. Bean (all on their designated colors) after they pulled up the crab pot. In the background is the house, and I am taking photos of the three of them (in blue). You will see the actual photos in a few weeks.



I like vacations better through their eyes anyway!

We're in Topsail!

This morning started our great adventure! Tom and I are on leave for the next two weeks, and are enjoying a few days at Gary and Jana's lovely home in North Carolina before heading to Disney World to meet the Woolcotts for a week long visit with Mickey!

I woke the girls up earlier then I should have this morning (in part because I was so excited) and as a result forgot EVERYTHING that I planned to bring (to include 90% of the food that we prepared and shopped for). So, while Tom Tom is at the grocery store, I had the girls draw pictures of what they did on Day 1 of their vacation:




Ms. Bean merged reality and fantasy to create the above collage. We have a 6-hour ride strapped into her booster, followed by a visit with a mermaid, and then dinner! Hmmmm.



Little Bee was more literal, and captured her wading in the Ocean. The first visit I might add, that she truly enjoyed, despite her terrified tears that filled the whole walk to the beach.

Tomorrow, I will unpack my camera and post some real photos!


XO D

The Driver

For the past couple of days I have been driving Ms. Bean and her friend (Malcolm) to a Theater Camp. I have, for the most part, become completely invisible while the two of them chat away. Once in a while I get to say something, but I am getting the impression that I am an “annoyance that needs to be dealt with”, vice a productive member of the carpool.

I have to admit that I am rather enjoying this role. It both allows me to eavesdrop onto her world and discover what is really on her mind PLUS their discussions are hysterically funny. I promised myself that I would start to write some snippets down so that I would remember them. What better place then my (much loved but rarely used) blog?

Tuesday –

Malcolm – I wonder when that library will be finished with construction. It was big to begin with, now its going to be huge
Ms. Bean – Have you ever been to that library?
Malcolm – No, but I drive by it every Sunday when I go to Church.
Ms. Bean – What do you do at Church?
Malcolm – I dunno.
Ms. Bean – Do you like Church?
Malcolm – Yes. They have snacks.

Wednesday –

Ms. Bean – I really want to be Glenda in the play (Wizard of Oz).
Malcolm – I want to be a monkey, or the Wizard. I could be both because the monkeys and the Wizard are never in the same scene.
Ms. Bean – I want to be a girly character, like Glenda or Dorothy. I DON’T want to play a boy.
Malcolm – Hmmmm. Maybe I can be a Monkey, and a tree that throws apples at Dorothy.
Ms. Bean - (after some contemplation) – Well, if I am Dorothy and you are a tree and you throw apples at me ……. I will just turn my head and walk off stage.

Cant wait to see what Thursday brings.

The Perfect Day

As a parent, there are many verbal milestones that you look forward to. Their first word. Their first song. The first time that they say "I love you". The first time that they read you a book. This morning, Ms. Bean surprised me with a sentence I was unprepared for, and it warmed my heart:

"Mommy, yesterday was the very best day of my whole life"

We spent yesterday with Toms brother Robert and my parents, enjoying a boat ride from Alexandria to Georgetown for lunch, and the return trip. It was a wonderful day, but "the best of my whole life" is a pretty rich statement.

"What was so special about it" I asked. Mildly stunned but delighted.

In a thoughtful and deliberate manner, I got the following response:

"Well, it was beautiful out, the wind blew in my hair, and I was with everyone I love".

Can I just bottle her up now. I never want to forget this time.

Little Bee's Day (as told to Grandma Susie)

I had a snack but I didn't like the frosting on the cupcakes, because it was lemon and I do not like lemon.

I also had lunch and I just ate the applesauce.

I also took a nap,and the best of all, I made a hola skirt.

That's all the things I did.

Leah

Ms. Bean - Home is where the Heart Is

Get out the Pens!

For the better part of a week, Little Bee continually walked around the house asking for "three pens, a pink one, a blue one, and a red one for Love". The timing never seemed right, and we were always in the process of doing something else, so we put off her requests and distracted her with another activity or comment. Finally last Saturday when we had a few moments, Tom gave her some paper and a box of pens and sat her down at the kitchen table.

For over a week, she had been wanting to draw herself in Pink (her favorite color) her Mommy in Blue (my favorite color) and a heart for LOVE.

For the rest of her life, Little Bee will always have a regular supply of pens.

Overheard

Yesterday while getting dressed to go out for breakfast:

Ms. Bean (appearing in a new green dress) - I am wearing green, and I am from Ireland

Little Bee (appearing with a huge smile and wearing a red dress) - And I, am wearing red, and am from Cherry Picking!

Ms. Bean is 6!

Wow! What a difference a year makes! 365 days ago, Ms. Bean seemed so grown up! She was finishing pre-school, preparing for Kindergarten, and trying to figure out where she fit into this big puzzle called "life". Today - I honestly believe that she has already identified her path.

In one year, she has become a highly confident, expressive, lovely young lady. She is also slowly moving away from her nuclear core, and preferring the company of the neighborhood children and her friends from school. Just last summer she slowly moved off the bottom step if the OTV pool and after assuring that we were close by, began to splash and play. This year, she is frequently found in the deep end with her friends, lounging on a ring/noodle, and appearing not to notice if we are even poolside. While I get little pains of sadness at times, I am thrilled that she is growing in such a positive direction. It is also a hoot to watch her contagious laugh and smile from a distance, and witness the joy she brings to others. Perhaps it is time for me to recognize that, well, "she's just not that into me"?

She remains an artistic sole, and still has music in her head. On the way to breakfast, she explained that her favorite song at the moment is "Margarettaville", because, it has both "the flute and the maracas". And here, I thought it a simple tale about lost salt?

Most importantly, Ms. Bean continues to be kind and wise beyond her years. She reminds us regularly to do on to others. She is inspiring and delightful. I am privileged to know her.