Tuesday, March 30, 2010

our very happy fairy




Our little baby girl has turned three and her fairy (and wizards) birthday party was an event she has been dreaming about for quite a few months. Miranda loves details and talks about many of the little things that happened at her party.




The day after the party, I asked her what her favorite part was and she said "drinking punch out of fancy cups." The Universe helped me out a bit with an unexpected day off the week before the party and beautiful, warm weather the day of the party which allowed the magic show, cake cutting and the winding down of the party to take place outside.







All of the fairies decorated wings and the wizards decorated swords (its a stretch, I know). The kids who arrived early got their faces painted. The girls wore flower garlands and wings. We had a rockin' magic show that entertained adults and kids alike and included a lot of magically appearing bunnies, which Miranda loves.



We played some games including fairy freeze dance where all of the kids danced, freezing in place when the music shut off and Miranda unfroze them with her wand. The older cousins would wait in funny poses for her to unfreeze them to make it more fun for her.








As the planned activities winded down, the older kids played in the backyard and Miranda played play-doh with younger kids inside. It was a wonderful day and she was so excited about all of it. This last picture is from right before the party started, Miranda was singing a song that she made up about the party. Such a cutie, that Miranda!!

Friday, March 12, 2010

thoughts on the cusp of Spring

In one week, the vernal equinox will be here. The first day of Spring is also the day that Miranda was born.

Spring is full of promise.

Jove and Miranda have started the annual Spring ritual of re-discovering the backyard and its nooks and crannies of dirtiness.

The hunt for critters has begun with the compost pile as the first stop. Semi-hibernating millipedes, watch out!

Bike riding has resumed.

Seed packets have been bought and seedling trays are getting dusted off- the planting season is underway.

Daily dreams of summer vacation.

Buckling down with my students to get them (and me) through to the end. Grateful that AP tests are in May and then we can go the woods for the last month.

Standing back in awe of how much Jove and Miranda are changing and growing and I am enjoying them so much.

Really grateful that teaching, mothering and all other aspects of my life are happily co-existing and that I am learning to let go of non-essentials.

Happy that Jupiter and I have made time to do yoga, run, hike and take care of ourselves.