charcoal art

One day I came outside to find this scrawled in charcoal from the backyard firepit on the concrete by Sasha's garage. (Ezra's name is the last one on the list.) Precious.

Hugs,
-MP

goofy foot

Ezra's favorite way to sit in his high chair is with one foot -- his left foot, specifically -- wedged up against the edge of the tray. Goofy kid.

High fives,
-MP

luck

Sasha is on a clover kick; whenever we're outside, she's hunting for four leaf clovers. (We've found six so far, in one specific patch in her front yard.)

Because I'm nothing if not an opportunist, I latched onto her casual interest to goad her into some biology-related inquiry and scientific investigation. We compared and contrasted the different types of clover we found, examining everything from leaf color and size to stem shape. We counted leaves, looked at spines and veins, and speculated about the evolutionary history of each kind. Sasha even nibbled on all of them to see if any tasted as good as the sorrel (which looks like a giant clover; it's the big one in the picture) does. Now on our walks home from school, she regularly stoops down to pick some sorrel from the neighbor's abundant flower bed, and chews it for rest of the walk.

Hugs,
-MP

life update (transitions, pt. 2)

We have a lot of exciting transitions happening in the next few months. Let me explain. No, there is too much; let me sum up.

Moving to an apartment with HB; major reduction in hours with Sasha & Ezra, ending care with Athena; starting regular hours with Jaden; working on a graphic novel; taking weird summer intensives at grad school; traveling in the fall; starting regular preschool teaching (hopefully) between November and January.

Okay, but here's the long version.

apparel

Ezra is starting to assert some opinions about what he wears, and tries to put on some of his clothes himself. Mainly socks, shoes, and hats, and by "tries to put on" I mean he sort of jams them up against the appropriate body part. But still! Progress! Emerging personality!

This week he was insistent that he wear this ridiculous pink and red striped monstrosity on his head. It is either a froufy costume bag, or possibly his sister's hat -- I'm not sure which.

I think he rocked it.

Hugs,
-MP

Sasha Says, ep. 19

on fashion: "You dress very... arty. Like Nicki [Minaj] but not so crazy."

on femininity: "I'm not really a 'girl' girl."

on modesty: "Sometimes I feel kinda sorry for animals because they can't cover their privates."

on whether she plans to attend college: "I will just go for lunch and recess."

after I'd spent an hour reading one of the scarier chapters of Harry Potter 3 aloud while Ezra and Sasha played around the play structure outside, Ezra picked up the book and Sasha says, "Don't look at that, Ezra! It will give you nightmares!"

"We used to have an ant farm in the bathroom. I don't know why; we don't eat in there."

"I'm a secret fairy. (I'm not really.)"

"My dad is a little..." she leans in and whispers like it's a naughty word: "...funky."

High fives,
-MP