Back to Gilroy Gardens we went yesterday – this time for a small birthday party. A friend of Zoe’s from kindergarten invited both Zoe and Avery (and one other friend) to celebrate with her, and it was clear how much Avery liked hanging with the “big girls.” (She fit right in!)

-M

I was tired and a little grumpy at bedtime last night, and I wasn’t in the mood to go into Avery’s room when she called me in for the third time. But when I went to see what she wanted, she looked up at me with big eyes and asked, apropos of nothing, “How do birds take their baths?” The question was so innocent and out-there – totally typical of a 4-year-old and a reminder of how sweet these days are – that I suddenly wasn’t so grumpy.

-M

Not sure where the summer went, but here we are at the last day of camp for the girls. It was Pajama Day for Avery, and a day of good-byes for Zoe, whose counselor, Geoff, won’t be returning next summer. We’re all moving on, yet again!

-M

One of the things I’ve always admired about Zoe is her loyalty: Despite not having been in school with him since she was three, she still calls Leo her best friend, for example. And her loyalty extends to teachers, like her beloved Erica. It’s been more than a year since Zoe left her pre-K program but she remains nostalgic for the class and attached to her  former teacher. She wrote the following letter to Erica just last night.

-M

Zoe has never been into princesses, but her sister is a different story. Over the last few months, perhaps due to several viewings of the movie Cinderella (whom she calls “Cindarelly”)and/or the influence of girlfriends at school, Avery has presented herself as a big fan. Some stories:

• On the drive to camp this morning, she told me she couldn’t sleep last night and just lay in bed thinking about princesses. “I thought about Ariel, and Jasmine – and Cinderella, of course,” she said.
• “I don’t want to grow up,” she declared recently. “I just  want to be a princess.”
• Avery has asked to wear her princess socks (she has just one pair – a hand-me-down from Zoe) every morning lately – and when I tell they’re dirty she asks if I can quickly wash them or just “go buy some.”
• “I wish I was Sofia,” Avery said longingly, after watching Sofia the First (uh, a princess) tonight before bed. When I asked her why, she told me, “She’s so beautiful.”
• I casually mentioned one night at dinner that there’s a place where princesses live. Avery doesn’t remember Disneyland, but when I asked what she would do if we went there and got to meet Cinderella she told me (causing tears to come to my eyes), “I would hug her sooooooo hard.”

-M

That big squeeze I mentioned yesterday? It kinda looked like this.

-M

Despite Avery enjoying summer camp, we’ve still had some clingy drop-offs there. (She often refuses to let go of me!) After trying several other tactics last week, the girls had the idea of having Zoe do the drop-off – and it worked wonders. While I wait outside, Zoe walks her sister into the classroom, gives her a big, long squeeze, and then slips out with no trouble. Avery is happy, I am happy, and Zoe – who obviously feels proud to have such a big responsibility – is happy! (“You’re going to be such a good Mommy someday,” I told Zoe the first time she did it – and she gave me a proud smile.) My only regret: that we didn’t think of this earlier! (This is the last week of camp.)

-M

Uncle Gil brought his fancy camera to Victoria and used it to capture some close-ups of the girls.

-M

And one last birthday story: Zoe asked me that night, “Wouldn’t it be funny if your birthday wish came true and you became a princess?” It was a comment I would have expected from Avery (a huge princess fan), not Zoe, and I couldn’t help but smile. She may act like she’s 16 at times, but she’s still a little girl!

-M

My birthday was last week, and I didn’t mention how cute the girls were about it. They were both eager to celebrate, with Avery telling Q the night before that she couldn’t get to sleep because she was too excited about my birthday and our Vancouver trip. The morning of, they greeted me with a cup of coffee (“with milk and sugar, Mama!”) and cards and presents, including homemade coupons from Zoe for such things as “empty dishwasher,” “help with laundry” and the items below. As I mentioned recently on my Facebook page, I could use about a hundred of the first one! (Alas, Zoe said they be redeemed only twice.)

-M

Our last batch of photos, which feature us exploring downtown and doing some very touristy things: taking a carriage ride, visiting Chinatown and Fan Tan Alley (Canada’s narrowest street), and riding through the harbor in a water taxi. A gorgeous city, and I can’t wait to go back!

-M

More pictures from our trip, which included a lot of show-watching and family time. Zoe, in particular, loved watching the performances (acts from acrobats, dancers, magicians, circus-type performers and the like), but when I asked her what her favorite part of the trip was she told me, “playing with Uncle Gil.”

-M

Many readers know we were on Vancouver Island, Canada for the last several days (and some of you were even with us!). We went to meet family and watch the Victoria International Buskers Festival, but our first afternoon was spent at the highly-recommended and gorgeous Beacon Hill Park near downtown Victoria. It was the absolute perfect place to spend my birthday afternoon!

-M

Speaking of slowing down, I couldn’t help but appreciate this blog entry that a friend recently posted on Facebook. It’s written by a mom who resolved to change after learning the hard way that she was rushing her two young children too much. This story, from after she stopped saying “hurry up” to her children so often, brought tears to my eyes:

[My 6-year-old daughter and I] had taken a bike ride to a sno-cone shack while on vacation. After purchasing a cool treat for my daughter, she sat down at a picnic table delightedly admiring the icy tower she held in her hand.

Suddenly a look of worry came across her face. “Do I have to rush, Mama?”

I could have cried. Perhaps the scars of a hurried life don’t ever completely disappear, I thought sadly.

As my child looked up at me waiting to know if she could take her time, I knew I had a choice. I could sit there in sorrow thinking about the number of times I rushed my child through life … or I could celebrate the fact that today I’m trying to do thing differently.

I chose to live in today.

“You don’t have to rush. Just take your time,” I said gently. Her whole face instantly brightened and her shoulders relaxed.

-M

We went to a new playground for a recent birthday party, and the girls showed no fear of a giant, dragon-shaped play structure there…

-M