Crossing Your Fingers

Erin_portrait
Originally uploaded by lavivienne.

So how do you explain what you mean when you say "I'll keep my fingers crossed?" Erin is so fascinated by language that if you say a word or a phrase she doesn't understand, she'll keep asking you what you mean until you give her an explanation that suits her. So yesterday we were in the car and she asked if we could go swimming today. I said that I would keep my fingers crossed that it didn't storm. After which we spent several minutes explaining what you mean, and that you weren't literally crossing your fingers (although sometimes you do) etc. She takes things very literally. All in all not the worst question to have to answer and it sure beats all the questions we've been getting about when we're going to die. Although typical questions for a 3 1/2 year old - hard to answer nonetheless.

This picture is of the portrait that Ann Mercer Kessler Shields painted of Erin back in the Spring. I don't know how she did it, but I think it captured Erin perfectly.

One more funny story -- a couple of days ago Erin was on the floor and when she got up she pushed herself up using the coffee table and said "I'm getting old..." It's a bitch when you hear yourself coming out of your kids mouths!!

Vivian comes Saturday - everyone is excited!!

A Good Man Is Honored Today

Tonight at 6pm a funeral service will be held for one of the good guys. Wake Forest Basketball Coach Skip Prosser died last Tuesday from a massive (and sudden) heart attack. His death has deeply saddened the entire campus - it is as if the heart of the university has broken. The Quad has been rolled in his honor (twice!) articles have been written, old players have returned but it still does not seem real. Not only was he a good coach, he was a good man. He was a lover of literature and history often known to quote Greek scholars and Shakespeare or make references to obscure historical events. He paid as much attention to the players' development off the court as he did to their on-court progress. Every Senior that played for him graduated with a WFU degree and a knowledge that they were better people for having known him. Skip, we will miss you and will think of you every time we don our tie-die and cheer for the Deacs that you so loved. Here are some tributes that can tell his story better than I....

John Feinstein (Washington Post)
Decourcy (Sporting News)
Dan Collins
Kharry McGee
Ed Hardin
ESPN

Uh-OH!

IMG_3299_adj
Originally uploaded by lavivienne.

Sean's official first word is Uh-Oh which is sometimes said when he drops things, sometimes when he wants things and sometimes when someone walks into a room. Sometimes it's more of an "Uh-Uh-Uh-Oh." Still, it's a word! I have a sneaking suspicion that his next word will be Cat. His face lights up and he goes crazy whenever Calvin or Hobbes (usually Calvin) walks into the room. He crawls over to him and does his best to hug him, usually coming away with a huge handful of cat hair and not much more -- but he loves the cats.

This pic is from our neighborhood 4th of July party. It was tons of fun!

Erin just has a couple more weeks at St. Annes and begins at her new school on August 27th. She's very excited and so are we!!

Things you don't want to forget...

So my main purpose in keeping this blog is to be sure I don't forget the little things. I do this since I'm no journaler, or scrapbooker, or other person to record the little things about us that I know we're likely to forget. So here's a few things I want to remember....

1. The way Erin says 'Child' when she's playing make believe that she's the mom and we're her kids. It's more like 'Chiiiiile....' with a southern twang that cracks us up every time.
2. How often Erin says "I love you" -- she says it all the time. In the middle of swimming class, when we're in the car, when I'm mad at her, any time it crosses her mind. Sometimes she'll say it spontaneously and others it seems like she considers it after I've done something for her (like help her on with her dress-up clothes) and then it hits her how much she loves me (or Pat, or Sean, or her grandparents, aunts, cats, stuffed animals....). She's also taken to saying "I love you towards your heart." I know there will come a day when I'll have to bribe her to say it, so I'm enjoying it now.
3. Sean's smile. He literally smiles all the time. How does he do that?? He's the happiest kid I've ever seen. Thankyouthankyouthankyou to the powers that be on that one!!
4. Erin in the swimming pool. I have to get this on film, but she absolutely comes alive as soon as she hits the water. Gets that from me!

I know I'll think of more.....but until then....

How sharper than a serpent's tooth....

Go Deacs!
Originally uploaded by Rosalind Tedford.

Last Night:

Me: Erin, it's bedtime, give your daddy a hug and a kiss.
Pat: Come give me a kiss sweetie.
Erin (grumpy look on her face): No, Daddy.
Pat: Why not
Erin: Because you're a boring masterpiece!

Stupid and Boring

Flying Nun Sean
Originally uploaded by Rosalind Tedford.

It's funny how kids latch on to word, and Erin LOVE words. Her latest are stupid and boring. They are, to her mind, the WORST thing you can say about something. She does not, however REALLY know what they mean. This morning she told her dad not to tickle her because that 'was boring.' She's also latched onto the number 16 and San Francisco. Everything in her life will happen to her 'when I'm 16.' This is the magical age when she will no longer be afraid of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney, when she will be able to go off the diving board at the pool and when she won't have to sit in her booster seat in the car anymore. And that storm the other night....it came from San Francisco. She's turning into a fish - such a good swimmer just in the last month!! And Sean is crawling up a storm. I have a sneaking suspicion that we'll need to do more childproofing with this one. Whoever said gender differences were the result of environment, never had a boy and a girl to compare. They are just wired differently. I look forward to seeing how it plays out. Hey, chasing him might just help me lose the rest of my baby weight!!!

Last Disney Thoughts

Erin Sporting her Minnie Bride Ears from Disney
Originally uploaded by Rosalind Tedford.

So as you can see, the trip to Disney just keeps on giving. It's amazing what you can be suckered into buying by the Disney marketing juggernaut. But you know, you do it willingly. How do they do that??

For any who are considering Disney I have three words of advice:

1. Start Saving NOW
2. Go in November, or January or March, not summer.
3. Stay somewhere easy to get back to in the middle of the day

We'll go back, but not for a while -- but I'm looking forward to it. I'm a Disney sucker and you know, they are building a Harry Potter themed park, so that will be a MUST SEE when we returned. I'm currently re-reading the Order of the Phoenix in prep for the movie and then will re-read Half-Blood Prince to be all caught up for the new book!!!