Sandcastles

Who knew
the World Championship Sandcastle Competition
would be held right here in the rainy state of Washington?
Of course we needed to go see.
And it was
Amazing!

Brave and Bigger

Holland said to me last night,

Mom, I think I am ready to get my ears pierced

because, you know, I am six now.

But tell me again what it feels like and what do they do?

So I explained and told her she would need to clean them and twist them

(and then I did my fast forward to teenager-hood)

And, know that this is the only time you are going to get anything pierced

only one earring in each ear and no where else, ok?

Tonight we went.

The first thing she said after was

That hurt more than I thought it would!

And the second thing she said was

I would never get them pierced again because it hurts too bad!

Little Ballerina

Holland is a graceful little ballerina.

I am amazed at how this little girl in such a petite little body can

plie' and leap and skip

and move her arms and her feet into first, second, third, fourth and fifth

without hesitation.

She is giddy with delight to be dancing in a studio again.

I just love to see her little face as she watches her teacher

and focuses on learning something that she has chosen

to do.

Soccer, no.

Karate, no.

Softball, no.

Violin, no.

Ballet, yes.

School Birthday Celebration

Holland celebrated her birthday at school the next day.

Montessori is very cool.

It is very Holland.

It is about organization

and self initiative

and problem solving.

For birthdays,

they have a life celebration

she showed where and when in the galaxy she was born

and brought a picture of each year of her life.

for each year, another candle was lit,

representing how each child is a light in the world

and each year that light grows brighter and brighter.

She felt pretty special.

We made fruit kabobs for her snack.

What ever happened to cupcakes with prizes inside?

Ok, Now She is Really Six

These photos are taken in the order in which they occurred.

Because that is exactly the order she requested.

Mom,

First breakfast in bed

Second, I will go to school (because after all it was the first day of kindergarten)

but only until you come and get me and take me to 

Paint your pottery.

You are going to paint a cat mom, and I, I am going to paint like 3 things

Next, we will go to Nera Bread (Panera)

Then we can come home and snuggle and watch Tom and Jerry

What would you like me to fix for your special Birthday dinner?

Maw awm, Salmon and corn on the cob and rice of course!

(And that picture had to be shared including the fit because she was

t-i-r-e-d and didn't want anymore pictures of the day)

so that is what we did.

and i loved every minute of it.

we layed in bed and snuggled and i told her all about the day she was born

about how long i had waited to be her mom and how happy i was when

i first saw her and held her close and how blessed i am for every day i am

with her.

she is my six year old angel.

Oh My, She is Six

Holland is six.

Really?

I asked her who gave her permission to grow up so soon?

As tradition goes,

she knew exactly what she wanted her party to be.

I want a crab party mom.  A crab cake and 

I want to play pin the pincher on the crab and 

do the limbo into the pool.

Ok.

So that is what we did.