If I could make the rules

Once in a while, you have a moment when the kids do something so wonderful and so unexpected, you actually need to sit down and take it in. I just had one of those moments. Ms. Bean brought home a huge stack of work that she did during the 1st quarter (2nd Grade). I was half looking at the paperwork, while doing 50 other things and holding 6 conversations, when a slip of paper caught my eye. The handwriting was definitely my daughters, the sentiment beautiful:

"If I could make the rules, I would open a grocery store just for the poor and the price would be very low or no price at all. I would get rid of cigarettes so nobody would hurt their throat."

Dinner Doodles

Both a friend and Susie mentioned that I never blog anymore, and they miss my posts. I will definitely try and write more often, since I really do need a place to lay some creative energy.

This delightful little doodle was the bonus from an Alexandria Symphony Charity Dinner I attended last night. On my arm was the most delightful date (Ms. Bean, 7) and in between the tango lesson and Chicken Fingers, she captured the room.

A good thing! I forgot my camera.

XOXO

The 1st Grade Constitution

Today was Ms. Beans first day of 1st grade (and Little Bee's 1st day of Pre-K, but that is the subject of another post).

During the course of the day the 1st Graders worked on, and wrote up the Constitution that they would abide by during the school year. The Constitution was then transferred to paper, and sent home for the parents and students to sign.

The First Grade Constitution:

1) Treat others the way you want to be treated (Ms. Bean enthusiastically informed me that this one is hers).
2) Keep your hands and feet to yourself
3) Raise your hand
4) Don't talk when the teacher is talking or reading.
5) Sit up to learn

Good luck to Ms. Bean and the rest of her friends. We look foreword to an amazing academic year. For the record, I never mastered any of these Constitutional Articles, and aside from maybe keeping my feet to myself, doubt I ever will.

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.

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.

Bon Voyage

This morning, Ms. Bean got angry at me for the unforgivable act of taking rainbow glitter away after a 4 oz spill in the kitchen.

The following could be heard following a obligatory sulking period:

Ms Bean - Mommy, I am moving to Texas, because I don't like it in Virginia.
Me - I will miss you very much
Ms. Bean - no you wont, you will forget all about me.

Silence

Me - I will miss you very much, but if you are going to move, you should say good bye to Susie and Papa, they will miss you to.
Ms. Bean - Daddy - I am moving to Texas, good bye.
Tom - Hmmmm. Why Texas? Yuck.

Silence

Ms. Bean - Where's the phone?
Ms. Bean - I messed up the numbers. Can you help me call Susie? Please?
Me - This is just a thought, but if you cant dial the numbers, how are you going to navigate an airport? I think you better stay in Virginia.
Ms. Bean - I'm not taking a phone with me.

Silence

Ms. Bean - Good Bye Susie. Good bye. I'm moving to Texas. Because I don't like Virginia, and Mommy wouldn't let me mix all of the glue and glitter together. Why? Ok, then I will move to France. Ok. Ill miss you.

Silence

But, Susie ........... (sob sob sob), I dont know how to speak French. How will I move there?

Silence

Tom - Who wants to help me make pancakes.

Ms. Bean - Can I crack the eggs? Bye Bye Susie! Mommy ............... I'm not moving to Texas.

Art

These 2 pictures have been floating around for a while and I wanted to make sure that I got them posted. The first was done in October and is Ms. Bean "dressed as Ballerina". The second is a pastel drawing of "what see's when she looks out her bedroom window" (the Masonic Temple and Street Lights).

XO D

The Circle of Teeth

On December 19, 2003, Ms. Bean got her first tooth. It was white and beautiful, and was on the bottom, in the middle and on the right. Ms. Bean was 6-months old.

Today, November 17, 2008 at the age of 5 1/2 ......... Ms. Bean lost her first baby-tooth. It was on the bottom, in the middle, and on the right.

This is the last known photo of the "complete-baby-tooth-smile":


And here is the same smile taken the evening of November 17, 2008:


It gets more beautiful with every milestone.

Homework

Ms. Bean had 2 small homework assignments this week.

"Write down three things that you are Thankful for"

1) I am thankful for my Sister Leah
2) I am thankful for Susie
3) Cats

"Write down 5 things that you would take with you if you were going on a trip"
1) A Doll
2) My stuffed cat, Skippy
3) A Purse
4) A Hat
5) A peanut butter and Jelly Sandwich

The Pot of Gold

This morning I can say for the first time in a long time, that I am proud to be an American. History will tell us if electing Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States was the right move for our country, but I honestly believe in my heart, that it was necessary for the people of America.

We have been under a dark cloud for 8 LONG years, and yesterday we saw hope in the eyes of people across the world. More importantly, I saw hope in two bright blue eyes that I adore. I know better then to believe my 5-year-old understands the true significance of yesterdays outcome, but she recognized the world she knows got better in a single day. When you still believe in Fairy tales, the euphoria of a single day lasts a lifetime.

Happy Girl!

This came home the first week of Kindergarten, but I just got around to scanning it! It is really nice to "see" a happy child.

Ms. Bean in her Halloween Costume - 2008

Lunch and PE

Yesterday was Ms. Beans first day of Kindergarten.

1) For lunch, she had Chicken Nuggets, a Biscuit, Peaches and CHocolate Milk.
2) In P.E., she learned to make shapes with Ribbons

The above is all of the information that I could get out of her. Clearly, she is a normal child.

End of Summer Party

This past Sunday, everyone was in a small funk. Summer was ending, school/work were beginning, and soon we would need to fall into a "routine" which we had all learned to "ignore". Ms. Bean, perhaps sensing our depression, decided to cheer us up, by throwing our neighborhood a party!

First she carefully planned the menu, Egg Salad and Strawberries.

Then she made of list of everyone to invite.



Since there was no time to get our invitations (the party was less then 24 hours away), she went to the pool with her list of invitees and gave them all the details. Those that she couldn't find she called.

She sent her Dad to the store for some last minute items.



She cooked well into the night and the next morning.



Susie helped her cut blocks of cheese and mix lemonade.

And, by Monday at 11:00, we were all pool side, enjoying our sandwiches and each other.

When I was 5, a Lemonade Stand seemed like a nice way to celebrate the end of Summer. Everyone would enjoy a sweet treat and I would make a few nickles for my bank. Ms. Bean's kindness, enthusiasm and generosity have far exceeded anything I could have come up with. Can't WAIT to see what she pulls off then she's 6.

One Small Step for Mankind, One GIANT Step for Ms. Bean (and me)

We have been talking about today for an entire year! It has been the topic of MANY late evening discussions, contingency planning sessions, and sleepless nights. You guessed it, today was our first day of kindergarten.

The City of Alexandria has a wonderful program where they take upcoming Kindergartners and send them to "kindergarten camp" for 2-weeks in August, affording them the opportunity to find their way around the school and get comfortable with their new "status in society".

So, at 0900 today Susie, Papa, baby-bee and I, were standing in front of Susie and Papa's house (door to door transportation is another perk of kindergarten camp), waiting for the big yellow bus to remove our baby from our home and turn her into a teenager. I don't know who who was more nervous, Ms. Bean or myself, but we were equally tired because neither of us slept last night! Ms. Bean described the butterflies in her tummy and asked for the 99th time how the bus driver will find her house in the afternoon. I did consider calling the whole thing off a few times, and putting off Kindergarten until she turns 9, but Tom probably would have said "no". So, at about 0910 the bus arrived (late), and Ms. Bean climbed on with her purple back pack, and took her seat. For the rest of my life, the picture of her little legs taking her up the bus steps will be permanently etched in my memory (probably sandwiched between the look on her face the first time she held her sister and her wedding day).

I followed the bus to school (shedding a few tears and running 1 stop sign) parked and RAN to the bus so that I could be there by the time that she got off, in case she needed me, she didn't. She gave them her name and got into her line, stopping for a few seconds so that I could cover her in sunscreen. Then she turned around and blew me a kiss, telling me that she would "see me at 3:00 when the bus dropped her off". Ms. Bean and the purple backpack walked into the school with her new friends. The principle told me that it had been a good morning, only 1 crying kid and 3 crying parents. I took that at me "cue" to leave.

So, Ms. Bean found her way home, and already has 2 new friends (a girl named Caitie and the lady in the cafeteria who asked if she could have Ms. Beans dress). I still have butterflies.

My child needs therapy!

After a panicked call to Ms. Beans Pre-K teacher, I learned that this was an assignment requiring her to draw a picture of a scene from a book they were reading. However, when it came home with no explanation, I feared that it was a portrait of her father and I. Imagine my initial reaction ........................

Handwriting

She got the sticker! Now, I will buy dinner for the first person that can tell me what it says!

Happy 5th Birthday Ms. Bean

You are still sleeping, and I am reflecting on how remarkable you are.

In 5 years you have become a charming and delightful person, and I could not be more proud of you. Your interest in people/culture goes well beyond your years. Most people don't achieve in a lifetime the ability to feel for and connect with others that you have now. I truly believe that one day you will change the world with your sensitivity and kindness. You have certainly changed ours.

XOXO Mom