tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16092279596096050842024-03-12T18:26:57.652-07:00gothamwingardUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-71900152696851287042018-09-19T22:30:00.002-07:002018-09-19T22:30:54.982-07:00Nervous (The first day of school)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Author’s Note:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s been more than four weeks since the
first day of school and I am finally finishing this post.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s been busy and I’ve been tired.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Always tired . . .. </i><br />
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Flynn, </div>
I was most nervous about <u>your</u> first day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I was nervous because you would be in school
all day without Margot.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You two have
always been together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And now you won’t
be.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You two were in preschool together,
of course; and you took gymnastics together.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>For a very short time you took gymnastics without Margot when she
started ballet, but she went to every one of your classes and watched (and then
she insisted she be put back in gymnastics as well as taking ballet).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Even when Margot had ballet class, Flynn, you
were sitting in the chairs outside the ballet studio waiting for her.<br />
<br />
You two were always together.<br />
<br />
Once, after you started preschool together we asked you,
“Who’s your best friend in school?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Margot,”
you said giving me a look that suggested the question was silly and the answer
was obvious.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For two years you never mentioned
another friend in preschool.<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
We thought briefly about putting you two in the same kindergarten
classroom.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We could have requested it but
we decided it was time for you each to have some independence.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To find your own friends.</div>
We mentioned a few times over the summer, Flynn, that you
and Margot would have different kindergarten teachers.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You complained a bit, saying that you wanted
to have the same teacher as Margot.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Margot didn’t seem to be too concerned.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We didn’t bring it up a lot, but when we did we talked about how we
hoped that you would have Mr. Kallok and we reminded you that Coco had Mr.
Kallok so you knew him and that he was super nice.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
I didn’t want you to be nervous, because I was nervous.</div>
Honestly, I was also a little nervous about your first day
of kindergarten because you’re small.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>You still eat like a bird and weigh about as much as one too.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Gothams are big people so being small is
not a familiar experience.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Would all the
other kids be bigger than you? <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In my
head I had this image of my little boy, smaller than everyone else, without his
twin sister by his side for the first time, shy and quiet, sitting by himself on
the playground without any friends.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It
didn’t help that on the Friday night before school started when we went to the
school to see the classroom lists, we met another little boy starting
kindergarten too.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But he wasn’t so
little.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He had just missed the cutoff
date for starting kindergarten the prior year.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He was nearly a year older than you and he must have been at least
several inches taller than you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He
seemed huge.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It made me more nervous. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58cutm71FVKEV_-GT8kYlW1OPUd3CoqNjcBSZG287KwOxPbfsUJqfjPGK5eCZoiFuIl_yxX8jcq7YU8FdLY8dAqy0XcJLBf2wB5bjlup4LRgvSzDiP8ldYF3-X5R66HLru_od_mmqTXU/s1600/201808ClassAssignments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58cutm71FVKEV_-GT8kYlW1OPUd3CoqNjcBSZG287KwOxPbfsUJqfjPGK5eCZoiFuIl_yxX8jcq7YU8FdLY8dAqy0XcJLBf2wB5bjlup4LRgvSzDiP8ldYF3-X5R66HLru_od_mmqTXU/s320/201808ClassAssignments.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking the classroom assignments before school starts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Flynn, you were also nervous about starting kindergarten
because you didn’t know how to count to 25 and you didn’t know your “plus-plusses”
(math).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I don’t know where you got the
idea that you had to know math before you started kindergarten, but we assured
you that it wouldn’t be a problem.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
On the first day of school I walked with you in line with
your class (every kindergartner holding a parent’s hand) following Mr. Kallok
up from the lower yard to the back door of his classroom.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I wanted to go with you because -- between
you and Margot -- you were the one most likely to need a bit of extra
comforting and handholding (literally and figuratively).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I wanted to be there to do that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So, every day for the first week of school, I
walked with you up to your classroom.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
We were toward the back of the line and when we reached
the backdoor of Mr. Kallok’s room.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
parents weren’t going in; the kids were going in but the parents weren’t.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You looked up at me and asked if I was going
to go in with you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Damn right, I’m going in.”</i> (I didn’t say that out loud.)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Yes, Flynn, I’ll go in with you.” Fortunately,
the parents at the door realized that they could go in so we walked into class
together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
You asked me to help you find where you would sit, which
we did.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Coincidentally, the boy sitting across
from you at your quad of kindergarten desks was the little brother of one of
Coco’s friends, and a little girl at your table was the little sister of one of
Coco’s friends too.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“That’s so exciting,
Flynn!” I said.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You were not impressed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
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We found your cubby, put your backpack away and hung your
coat.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Mr. Kallok asked all the kids to
sit down on the carpet at the front of the room.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Nearly all the other kids where already
sitting down when you went to find a spot.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>From the edge of the carpet you looked back at me where I was standing
with the other parents crowded around the sides of the room and I signaled you
to go ahead, to find a spot to sit down.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Still unsure about what to do exactly, with all the other kids between
you and someplace to sit, you stepped between them to get to an empty spot and
sat down.</div>
Mr. Kallok introduced himself and said he wanted you all to
draw a picture of what you did this summer.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Mr. Kallok showed you all a picture he drew of himself hiking in the
woods.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A little girl’s hand shot up in
the air.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Yes?” Mr. Kallok asked.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“You’re a good drawer, Mr. Kallok!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Mr. Kallok and the parents chuckled.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Thank you!” said Mr. Kallok.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Brown-noser,”</i>
I thought to myself.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I got my eye on you, missy.”</i><br />
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And with that, you all went back to find your desk.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There was a bit of chaos as kids and parents
crowded and squeezed amongst and around one another and the half-dozen quads of
the 24-inch-high desks.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Kids were trying
to find their desks and parents were trying to find their kids.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
When I got to you, Flynn, I leaned over and gave you a big
hug and kiss.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“I’m so proud of you,
Flynn,” I whispered in your ear.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Have
fun today.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Remember, Mr. Kallok is
totally nice.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Papa will pick you up
after school and I’ll see you at dinner.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I can’t wait to hear all about your day.”<br />
<br />
“I want you to stay,” you said, not quite pleading -- but
almost.<br />
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“I can’t stay. I have to go to work.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And you’re going to have so much fun today!” </div>
“I want you to stay,” you asked again.<br />
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“Flynn, I can’t stay.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I gotta go.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I love you.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And with a final hug and kiss, I said goodbye
and left.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I had to leave, but not
because I had to go to work.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I left because
if I didn’t leave I was going to start bawling right there in front of
you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You had managed to keep it together
and I was determined to do the same.</div>
In the hallway I pulled it together then peeked into
Margot’s classroom next door.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Unlike Mr.
Kallok who “invited” parents to leave after only five minutes, Ms. Mar was
letting parents linger.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Papa was still
there with Margot, so I went in to give Margot a hug and a kiss too.<br />
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Margot, </div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
I wasn’t as nervous about your first day of school
as I was about Flynn’s.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I was pretty
sure you would be fine without Flynn in your class; you’re ready for a little
independence.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We also know you’re ready
to find a little girl your age who can be your friend and a friend you won’t
have to share with your brother and sister.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>In fact, you’re desperate to find a little girlfriend.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
For months and months, you have complained about not
having a little girl for a friend.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Like
Flynn, you never really connected with the other kids in your preschool.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Also, the families we see regularly outside
of school all have boys and most of the boys are older than you:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Wyatt, Josh and Jason Sonefeldt, Cassius and
Uly Altholtz-Martinez, Miles
and Laird Treaster, and Eliot Freund . . ..<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Not a single little girl in the bunch.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>And you also complain about the boys being too rough and too loud.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
We really hope kindergarten will produce a few girlfriends
for you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’ve been laying the
groundwork for it for months.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In May we
went to the school welcome breakfast for new kindergarten families so that we
could meet little girls who might be your friend.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In June we went to the school’s first summer
play date for new kindergarten families (we would have gone to the second and
third but you were at Grandma and Grandpa’s house) to try to meet friends for
you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Saturday before the first day
of school we went to the back-to-school picnic to try to connect with the
little girls we had already met and to maybe meet a few more.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We also started inviting other
kindergarteners to your birthday party the weekend after the first week of
school.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That birthday party is all about
trying to lock in a few friends for you and Flynn.</div>
Margot, your only worry about kindergarten has been a
concern about having a “strict” teacher, i.e., a mean teacher.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For weeks you’ve been saying you don’t want a
strict teacher, nearly in tears at the prospect of a teacher who won’t be nice
to you or who might yell at you for not behaving.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The irony, of course, is that you are the best
rules-follower in our family.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You’re a
good listener, you focus and do what you’re asked to do, you’re neat and tidy
(Papa is thankful that at least one other person in the family is neat and
tidy), and you like a plan for every day.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>You’re a strict teacher’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>dream</u></i>!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’ve told you over and over again this
summer that there are no strict teachers in kindergarten.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They’re all super-nice and they’re going to
love having you in class.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
In fact, Margot, on the second day of school when I was in
your classroom giving you a hug and kiss goodbye and Ms. Mar blew her harmonic
for everyone’s attention, your two fingers shot up in the quiet sign and you
practically fell into your chair to sit down while pushing me to get me on my
way out the door.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yes, Margot, you are a
rules-follower and a strict teacher’s dream. <br />
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But back to the first day of school . . ..<br />
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After all the hugs and kisses and almost-tears, Papa and I
were out of the room.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Papa went to the
cafegymatorium for the principal’s welcome for parents and I was on my way to
work. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Coco, I peeked into your classroom
to get a glimpse of you and you were intently listening to Ms. Petrocchi standing
at the front of the room.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And then I was
off to the 16th Street BART station to catch the train to work.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
Cocobean, </div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
I wasn’t nervous about your first day of school;
it’s your third year, after all.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No, I
wasn’t nervous about your first day; I was nervous about your second-grade
homework. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And I was right to be
nervous.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
Your kindergarten and first grade homework was a breeze, a
cake walk, no problem; you had it in the bag.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Most days, it was done before I got home from work.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But this year I think will be a different
story.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It looks like - at this point at
least - your homework will be a page of reading comprehension and a page of math
every day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That won’t be a problem.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But the required minimum 20 minutes of
reading every night?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Well, that might be
a problem.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It will have to be done in
the all-too-short window of precious little time between dinner and
bedtime.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And there’s no fudging it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Your homework -- including your reading log
-- has to be turned in every day instead of only on Fridays like in
kindergarten and first grade.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There’s no
missing a night and making it up the next night.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Ugh.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
And the first night of homework did not go well.</div>
I was in charge of homework the first night.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It should have been easy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Dinner was done before 7:00 p.m. (later than
the planned schedule but we were still adjusting) so we had a whole hour before
bedtime.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And there was only one page of homework.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Nine questions and all the questions were
about you: Who lives in your house with you? <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What is your favorite subject in school?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What is your favorite TV show or movie?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What did you like most about your teacher
last year? <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Easy peasy, lemon squeezy,”
right?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br />
Wrong.<br />
<br />
It went something like this:<br />
<br />
You telling me that you didn’t know how to answer the
questions.<br />
Me assuring you that there were no right answers.<br />
You telling me that you still didn’t know what to write.<br />
Me reading the questions to you like, “what’s your favorite
TV show or movie?”<br />
You telling me that you didn’t have one.<br />
Me reminding you that you love “Trolls.”<br />
You writing down “Trolls.”<br />
Me moving to the next question: “what is your favorite
subject in school?”<br />
You telling me that you don’t like anything at school.<br />
Me suggesting that you write down the subject you dislike the
least.<br />
You writing down science.<br />
Me lobbing yet another question for you, like “what are you
good at in school?”<br />
You telling me that you aren’t good at anything.<br />
Me suggesting that you are a good reader. <br />
You writing that down.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
After an hour <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(an
hour!!)</i> we finally finish the nine questions.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Then, me letting you know that you that you had run out of
time to watch TV, asking you to put on your pajamas, and telling you that we
still had to finish your reading.</div>
You in full-on tears telling me that it’s my fault that you couldn’t
watch TV.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Us moving downstairs to finish your reading.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
You telling me that I didn’t love you.</div>
Me explaining that if I didn’t love you then I wouldn’t make
you do your homework, and then you would go to school without your homework
done and your teacher being very disappointed, and then you would have to do
second grade all over again because you didn’t do your homework.<br />
You telling me that you weren’t going to do your reading.<br />
Me explaining that if you didn’t finish your reading by 8:30
p.m. there would be no TV the next day.<br />
You finishing your reading.<br />
You brushing your teeth and going to bed and falling asleep.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
You, so very tired after your first day of school.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Probably disappointed that your summer was
over, maybe thinking about your long stay with Grandma and Grandpa having fun
every single day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Frustrated that now you
have to share Daddy and Papa with Margot and Flynn on the walk to school every
day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sad that Daddy and Papa can’t walk
you up to class because they have to walk Margot and Flynn to their classrooms
because they are new at school and nervous about kindergarten.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Homework can be hard.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>But it’s harder being a big sister sometimes, in second grade.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ic4m5bO0M5ATaBEvTPlQsbMpuOlMngbXGqG6iMyBDp70PS2ZK91vhPjcT-p6LNcBtOovTpw9dMmiIWpzFfFxlcOWTgNcgdVQrK1_gzf7Tx8Lvci76PpEs13PPh7Kp-M8JXNKCTOK9PA/s1600/201808WalkingtoSchool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ic4m5bO0M5ATaBEvTPlQsbMpuOlMngbXGqG6iMyBDp70PS2ZK91vhPjcT-p6LNcBtOovTpw9dMmiIWpzFfFxlcOWTgNcgdVQrK1_gzf7Tx8Lvci76PpEs13PPh7Kp-M8JXNKCTOK9PA/s320/201808WalkingtoSchool.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDR5cNY2lWoCHMTFHCP6bFIlrS6mx-yJF7a0uwuNxPM4pLNmO2oN6Btv8S-vht6LI97sAXSTQKrlx51rVnKt9B6t5z73wB5x3f2-vBMLQL3YMuHZKFSk3EE7wrNoTOmk1asMAqbtG0vy8/s1600/201808FirstDayPlayground.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="1468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDR5cNY2lWoCHMTFHCP6bFIlrS6mx-yJF7a0uwuNxPM4pLNmO2oN6Btv8S-vht6LI97sAXSTQKrlx51rVnKt9B6t5z73wB5x3f2-vBMLQL3YMuHZKFSk3EE7wrNoTOmk1asMAqbtG0vy8/s320/201808FirstDayPlayground.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the playground together on the first day of school</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-53940130883955489952018-04-25T21:21:00.001-07:002018-05-01T22:48:03.845-07:00Making It Good<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> Dear Coco, Flynn and Margot, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I hope this letter finds you well,
wherever and whenever you read it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m
writing to you from a Starbucks in Ithaca, New York.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Or Boston.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Or New York City.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Or
Chicago.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Or Ann Arbor.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Or San Diego.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Or Los Angeles.<span style="margin: 0px;"> Or Fort Lauderdale. </span>Or Seattle.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’ve been to all those places this year.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Seattle, too many times to count.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’ve been away from home a lot lately; nearly
every week for the past several months.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I think about my travel for work a
lot or, rather, I think a lot about my travel for work and whether it's having
a negative impact on you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Does it make
you sad or upset?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do you notice it?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Or is it just regular for you, just like
having a Papa and a Daddy is regular for you?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Other parents have to be away from home for work a lot. And it's not always because of travel.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Is our situation really very different?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Papa says inside my head is a very busy
place.)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Papa has been away from home three days a
week for years. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Since, Flynn and Margot,
you were born. My travel goes up and down, and this year it’s been up.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Really up.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Typically Papa leaves on Monday morning before you all are awake.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Then I leave on Wednesday morning.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Coco, you insist that I wake you up before I
leave at 5:00 a.m., and Margot and Flynn, I send you a video from the airport.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Papa comes home on Wednesday evening before
bedtime.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I come home on Thursday or sometimes
Friday night, usually after bedtime.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Obviously, Papa and I don’t see each other much during the week.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But, even though Papa and I are gone
a lot, one of us is always home in the morning for breakfast and school drop-off
and one of us is always home for dinner and bedtime.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Or nearly always, at least.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And with all this travel weekends have become sacrosanct.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Whether it’s a weekend in the country, or in
the city for birthday parties, Hola Kids cultural celebrations, McKinley DogFest,
or ballet rehearsal . . . . the weekends are about our time together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Work rarely interferes with family time on
the weekends.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s the goal.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Papa and I want you to have what we
had when we were growing up, or as close as we can get to it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I was growing up we had
dinner together every night.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Every night
Dad came home from work at the same time: 6:15 p.m.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Like clockwork.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(That’s because your Grandpa runs on a
schedule.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Always has.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Margot, I think you’ll be the same.)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’d be in my room doing homework, watching
TV or something.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I could hear Dad’s Jeep
coming, blocks before Dad reached the driveway.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It was a 1974 CJ5.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was
loud.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The garage door below my bedroom would
go up, the Jeep would pull in, the garage door would go down,<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The door from the garage to the basement
would open and then slam shut.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Footsteps
coming up the stairs.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Dad in my
doorway.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“How’s your day?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>he’d say.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Fine,” I’d say.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Yeah?” he’d say.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Yeah, fine,” I’d say.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I think it probably went something
like that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m sure he’d hope to get
more out of me than that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But I was,
like, 13.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Thirteen-year-olds don’t talk
much.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The point is, Dad was home for
dinner every night<span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I was growing up we went
camping a lot too.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’d pack up the
trailer -- and I don’t mean the tent-trailer.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The tent-trailer came later.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When
we got fancy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I mean the first trailer.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The trailer Dad built in the garage.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I don’t remember how he built it, and I don’t
remember if he built it in Yakima or after we moved to Tacoma.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But I remember he built it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The sides were made of plywood, and the top
was too. I think it was green at first, and then maybe tan to match the color
of the Jeep, and then dark brown.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Later,
after we got the tent-trailer, the brown trailer was used to haul firewood out
of the mountains around Port Angeles.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Dad would split the wood and Scott and I would load the cut wood into
the trailer.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I hated hauling firewood.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We probably only did it once or twice a
year.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But I still hated it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Forty years later that trailer still sits in
the backyard at Mom and Dad’s house.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It’s still dark brown.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And I
still think of hauling firewood whenever I see it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLR7tOF4H4eOXQnboMDz5vgvyEx58Zu4KtDVyrzI015-b9GohgD0P6LmoNyci4O0YU7DO-p6hEA_Dd84tRQxcQ6uv873K04P3aoOOcJAYAvJn0QbRYL1c5Dv6X3qHjxCXxzLpTN815XkM/s1600/201804pic6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLR7tOF4H4eOXQnboMDz5vgvyEx58Zu4KtDVyrzI015-b9GohgD0P6LmoNyci4O0YU7DO-p6hEA_Dd84tRQxcQ6uv873K04P3aoOOcJAYAvJn0QbRYL1c5Dv6X3qHjxCXxzLpTN815XkM/s320/201804pic6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hauling Wood (circa 1980)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Anyway, into the brown plywood
trailer we’d pack the tent, the sleeping bags and air mattresses, the ice chests,
the boxes of groceries, the cook stove and other stuff.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Then we’d climb into the Jeep.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All five of us and the dog.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(There were five of us because aunt Donna Mary
- who was a teenager at the time - was living with us.)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Donna Mary and I’d sit in the back seat, my
nose in a book.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sometimes Scott would
sit in the back too, but usually he’d sit in the front, on a sleeping bag
stuffed between the two front seats, trying to keep his legs out of the way of
the stick shift. The dog would be loose, of course, jumping from lap to lap,
trying to get his nose and head out a window.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the summer time there would be no
windows for the front seats because Dad built half-doors for the Jeep.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They were made of plywood too, like the
trailer.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Painted black.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Scott and I liked it when the half-doors were
on the Jeep.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Jeep felt open, even if
the top was on.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The only thing better
was when the top was off.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlCahnOq10eZGbDbmBbU7IMqPhHysvyP4J5SKKBDlD3yAVG27mOcxde_FU2CsBmnncf0lg5qSxqCCA-UV790j0ztsa2uQS7pxl_JIEL8ienjc3RSYUkmnAINTSVkUqyFaNOVGIpIkOWo/s1600/201804pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlCahnOq10eZGbDbmBbU7IMqPhHysvyP4J5SKKBDlD3yAVG27mOcxde_FU2CsBmnncf0lg5qSxqCCA-UV790j0ztsa2uQS7pxl_JIEL8ienjc3RSYUkmnAINTSVkUqyFaNOVGIpIkOWo/s320/201804pic2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huckleberry Picking (circa 1976)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So, off we’d go.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Barreling down the freeway.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The five of us and the dog in a Jeep with
doors made of plywood, maybe wearing seatbelts, maybe not, towing a trailer
made of plywood (at least until we upgraded to the tent-trailer).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I remember one summer we went camping every
single weekend.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most of the time we’d
head east to a campground in the Cascades; sometimes we’d head west to the
beaches.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>September was huckleberry
season so we’d head south to Mt. Adams.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We’d follow logging roads into the hills, looking for a good place to
camp, not too far from the swaths of huckleberry bushes growing across the hillsides.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Usually we’d meet another family
along the way or at the destination campground.<span style="margin: 0px;">
The Pitts. </span>The Staleys.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Keelers.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Snyders.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It was particularly fun when the Keelers came along.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jean Keeler was the only grownup I knew who
would sing campfire songs for us kids.<span style="margin: 0px;"> The </span>Bear
in Tennis Shoes was the favorite.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most
exciting, though, was the old school bus Larry Keeler had converted into a
camper.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Imagine for a kid the novelty of
riding in a school-bus-turned-camper!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>One time the school-bus-turned-camper broke down (as
school-bus-turned-campers are wont to do).<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>To get home, we all had to pile into the Jeep.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We crammed five Gothams, five Keelers, a dog,
and a couple bags of groceries too, I think, into that Jeep.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And off we went, barreling down the highway,
headed for home.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRwTTCf5KvU2CA8dykCo8mOqxdZhb8LK5HRLUUIHj0530XH6zXomsZa2HG1FInfmGvnraS3TMih329lZH3IkNC8sDJSv3H5igZMM4f92bRfCkG_puLSmwYUcbwOVCN8myySgoo1xR4VQ/s1600/201804pic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRwTTCf5KvU2CA8dykCo8mOqxdZhb8LK5HRLUUIHj0530XH6zXomsZa2HG1FInfmGvnraS3TMih329lZH3IkNC8sDJSv3H5igZMM4f92bRfCkG_puLSmwYUcbwOVCN8myySgoo1xR4VQ/s320/201804pic3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Keeler Family & The School-Bus-Turned-Camper<br />
(circa 1976)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now, I don’t know if Dad really was
home for dinner every night.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He probably
wasn’t.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And I don’t know if we really
went camping every weekend that one summer.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We probably didn’t.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And maybe Mom
or Dad missed a few soccer games here and there, or an orchestra performance
once.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If they did, I don’t
remember it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But none of that matters,
really.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What matters is how I remember
it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And I remember it all as Good. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So, Coco, Flynn and Margot, how do
we make it Good for you?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How do we make
it Good when we travel every week?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When
we’re not home at the same time for four and sometimes five days a week?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Like everyone else, we try.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We try really hard.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When you read this someday, I hope
you remember Daddy and Papa – or at least one of us -- home for dinner every
night.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I hope you remember walking to
school with at least one of us every morning.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I hope you remember weekends in the country catching tadpoles in the
pond in the backyard, watching deer, turkeys and wild pigs wander through the
front yard, going to the county fair every September and picking apples in the
orchard, and cutting down a Christmas tree every Thanksgiving.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>With all that, I hope you remember
growing up as Good. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdGHyC24zfyTKw-d_s6LV_WjE20qlbA4SiH_caYDtzgjlg3NRjf-ofcKpleUv4C67gRhMykTKavuNr8h-bLww7V0Kf2Wk11zmlivUiKl3nULovmN89kT7V5p6FNT3VA7u1GibEDtb0CM/s1600/201804pic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdGHyC24zfyTKw-d_s6LV_WjE20qlbA4SiH_caYDtzgjlg3NRjf-ofcKpleUv4C67gRhMykTKavuNr8h-bLww7V0Kf2Wk11zmlivUiKl3nULovmN89kT7V5p6FNT3VA7u1GibEDtb0CM/s320/201804pic1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing with Dad (1977)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35DH_ObdHhaO2FalgqHBFDK9DSQ2mfUPHloQwUjDCaOridTy0WcpaeX0fhfK4LihOPiwzVAPMa-M9CKbb7-XEVPAaEz0Bzlo0n9P5_dcQfgVsYQVs14eK74-5YP2bZrI-3hMHHC5AUzk/s1600/201804pic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35DH_ObdHhaO2FalgqHBFDK9DSQ2mfUPHloQwUjDCaOridTy0WcpaeX0fhfK4LihOPiwzVAPMa-M9CKbb7-XEVPAaEz0Bzlo0n9P5_dcQfgVsYQVs14eK74-5YP2bZrI-3hMHHC5AUzk/s320/201804pic4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping (1975)<br />
The Gotham Tent-Trailer & The Pitt Tent</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5eq66Xal4oWXDDrmM8tKtumReGU-heMlk-E6pGPehp2vd5t1eruKfrBxKrU9G-4ikDMcF1-fM0ktnpmDX6_2gL80yQ2j6eaUrsCXAyuzIuKnsqjG-dDTVrULhsPXbh5XyByPpJnWllE/s1600/201804pic5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5eq66Xal4oWXDDrmM8tKtumReGU-heMlk-E6pGPehp2vd5t1eruKfrBxKrU9G-4ikDMcF1-fM0ktnpmDX6_2gL80yQ2j6eaUrsCXAyuzIuKnsqjG-dDTVrULhsPXbh5XyByPpJnWllE/s320/201804pic5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping and Jeeping, Shi Shi Beach (circa 1980)<br />
Dad's Jeep and Uncle Marty's Jeep</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-M7YGs8q8fh2OiFiIHlY8Ll8OFgASQ1fS2Hu3jP6H1wRZacylAexp1RQV4pnd6G9Ca8DHXHNTq5mXhEhqo09ib3lSrLgs7MbO88WfKbryUdS3XNPsv9JeR7oHIlJhTuptEj3qKTkr6W8/s1600/201804pic7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-M7YGs8q8fh2OiFiIHlY8Ll8OFgASQ1fS2Hu3jP6H1wRZacylAexp1RQV4pnd6G9Ca8DHXHNTq5mXhEhqo09ib3lSrLgs7MbO88WfKbryUdS3XNPsv9JeR7oHIlJhTuptEj3qKTkr6W8/s320/201804pic7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huckleberry Picking (1983)<br />
The Gothams, Keelers, Pitts and Snyders</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike><br /></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ImjMzTVOYNNiI3834qM9Hpz7ly8tgLwRvbZlXVP1HOWlx4RH0z1MvOX9w5ukPnb1xbofIqt4WgsYKp9sAjIckYKE_ziAiglydWsUMUbfSvaJrS2SW7AaT2ftUW2fkCNTawKVdOR69LM/s1600/201804pic8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ImjMzTVOYNNiI3834qM9Hpz7ly8tgLwRvbZlXVP1HOWlx4RH0z1MvOX9w5ukPnb1xbofIqt4WgsYKp9sAjIckYKE_ziAiglydWsUMUbfSvaJrS2SW7AaT2ftUW2fkCNTawKVdOR69LM/s320/201804pic8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Hiking</div>
<div>
Mike and Scott</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxTTM0g7OnZKuVtDpmnPiw8ZzKmOzi3jrm7969dqh7h-piA8PwekFoTZux755Suft8qLIVJGcA-tQSx6yGr3xHKzyhnBhY3agTzT9Hz3ujXf-Lb_-ojCgXZcvummSNENUoRWQNIMPUyE/s1600/201804pic10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxTTM0g7OnZKuVtDpmnPiw8ZzKmOzi3jrm7969dqh7h-piA8PwekFoTZux755Suft8qLIVJGcA-tQSx6yGr3xHKzyhnBhY3agTzT9Hz3ujXf-Lb_-ojCgXZcvummSNENUoRWQNIMPUyE/s320/201804pic10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking the Olympics (1990)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIMNuzRhanzqipOonTxT5K431M8Hr78-AxV15BCNn7gN4oW4ALrM_OFrXPGnYLgCEsW2q0h5RHdlbLJNPXDek_Dmnn3WgAqnYS3sJT9-JvvZsnI7hMUtQKYgjTxdPPhmt7jB7po-0c74/s1600/201804pic11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIMNuzRhanzqipOonTxT5K431M8Hr78-AxV15BCNn7gN4oW4ALrM_OFrXPGnYLgCEsW2q0h5RHdlbLJNPXDek_Dmnn3WgAqnYS3sJT9-JvvZsnI7hMUtQKYgjTxdPPhmt7jB7po-0c74/s320/201804pic11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit of Mt Olympus (1993)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-81995440887728995352018-02-03T16:34:00.004-08:002018-02-06T21:38:51.024-08:00Dear Future-Margot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving 2017</td></tr>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saturday, January 20, 2018</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear
Future-Margot, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="border-image: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
hope this letter finds you well, wherever and whenever you read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m writing to you from the dining room table
in the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s ten o’clock on a
Saturday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re upstairs asleep
in Daddy and Papa’s bed with Papa, Coco and Flynn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember these days when we all piled
into the same bed in the country?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
suppose it’s not so different from our sleeping arrangement in the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only difference is that in the city
everyone starts in their own bed and then, one by one, you all make your way to
Daddy and Papa’s bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the country we
just start in the same place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fortunately, we have a really big bed.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="border-image: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BHmXcsEHPUMaE1mqBnNuXSB_8HBDumgx7rPfhhglhnFQVqogSbpbiWkR4VQcXsfwioob1Hksu4N-gLDL0JWZu1sG5axpUbEfbBDQEmCU3YdZOWHJsqNXCxdU3WPKahZGTSpiKavi8yM/s1600/201802Countrybed1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BHmXcsEHPUMaE1mqBnNuXSB_8HBDumgx7rPfhhglhnFQVqogSbpbiWkR4VQcXsfwioob1Hksu4N-gLDL0JWZu1sG5axpUbEfbBDQEmCU3YdZOWHJsqNXCxdU3WPKahZGTSpiKavi8yM/s320/201802Countrybed1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Everyone’s
asleep except for me, which isn’t unusual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve spent many Saturday nights here in the country, working, puttering
or writing while the four of you are asleep in the room above me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and there’s usually a vodka tonic
involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll go up in a bit . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4JfwKICXKZ5bb9UTC_QrlrslhcqJPFKkVrlykYlpOD6DrEBO0t3YJpuS-93sJmGFMax9bS0wf2j6gwzqBcXv9nDoRMthyphenhyphenK5GFO_UyRAiH4BSPwYNIqd-9EP1B7cxjIFclUvkYj2M28s/s1600/201802Tree1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4JfwKICXKZ5bb9UTC_QrlrslhcqJPFKkVrlykYlpOD6DrEBO0t3YJpuS-93sJmGFMax9bS0wf2j6gwzqBcXv9nDoRMthyphenhyphenK5GFO_UyRAiH4BSPwYNIqd-9EP1B7cxjIFclUvkYj2M28s/s320/201802Tree1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Annual Christmas Tree Hunt - 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Anyway,
Christmas is over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We finally got
everything put away last week, but it was a lot of work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know we have bins and bins and bins of
Christmas stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this year we had
the biggest tree we’ve ever had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you
remember it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cut it down here in the
country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just off the driveway above the
pond across from the blackberry bramble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The tree didn’t look that big when we picked it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually suggested it and you know I’m not
the one who wants the biggest tree he can find (that would be Papa).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then, once we got it up on top of the car
somehow it got bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving back up
the driveway I had to stick my head out the window to give Papa directions
because we couldn’t see out the windshield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then we got it back home to San Francisco and it got even
bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then a week later we put it
in the house and it had gotten bigger yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we put water in the tree stand Flynn was worried that the tree
would keep growing and “break the house.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKTUG81Xub4Yhepe4lczLavgnRuWrJf7mlTNLI0gKNDW2aenDJebDlSZeUOwMYo3kn15-y0D6OMASOZualtEprbZMSgHVZn3bUwbZrtlMmrmXD_qltmKYgMkbkl1Oh5gO5azuBF9MTRI/s1600/201802Tree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKTUG81Xub4Yhepe4lczLavgnRuWrJf7mlTNLI0gKNDW2aenDJebDlSZeUOwMYo3kn15-y0D6OMASOZualtEprbZMSgHVZn3bUwbZrtlMmrmXD_qltmKYgMkbkl1Oh5gO5azuBF9MTRI/s320/201802Tree2.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was so big we got a text from a neighbor:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you kidding me?” she said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now I’m embarrassed by my fake tree in my
window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m closing my curtains.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tree fell over once while we were putting
it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coincidentally, Flynn was the
only person in the room at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hmmmm . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few days later
Olive from down the street came over to play and asked, “Is that the tree that
almost killed Flynn?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, it was the
biggest tree we’ve had (so far), it caused a bit of a stir on the block, and it
almost killed Flynn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just another
Christmas for us, right?</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Anyway,
I’m digressing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m writing to you
because I thought you (Future-Margot) might like to know a little bit about
your four-and-a-half-year-old self (Margot-Now).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect that as you (Future-Margot) read
about Margot-Now you’ll see a lot of yourself in, well, yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAnZIuYTCnTsUh7jmEp-r9RGoQyk0dmg_6QryeR2VnAYNSqAhwdgGC7EglCMP0ZUsnTcRDzUsbThpGDbIAy0wKBybTWHZCayVZPIXviDTU7jFvCobO40kAO-rKiGzA0RBbnFXEYCNomc/s1600/201802MargotPreschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAnZIuYTCnTsUh7jmEp-r9RGoQyk0dmg_6QryeR2VnAYNSqAhwdgGC7EglCMP0ZUsnTcRDzUsbThpGDbIAy0wKBybTWHZCayVZPIXviDTU7jFvCobO40kAO-rKiGzA0RBbnFXEYCNomc/s320/201802MargotPreschool.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just another day at school.<i><br />"I wonder what the plan is today."</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
first thing you should know about yourself (or, you likely already know about
yourself), is that you like a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
like a schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On weekend mornings or
sometimes in the evening after dinner, we’ll ask you all if you want hear the
plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re always the most excited
about a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What’s the plan?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s the plan?!” You’re like a “plan
cheerleader.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You (Future-Margot) are
probably a list-maker, but it’s a bit too early for lists for Margot-Now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll probably make lists by the time you’re
in kindergarten.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Your
body functions on a very predictable schedule, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">On
the mornings when Papa isn’t home I get up around 4:00 a.m. and start
working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This way I can get at least a
couple hours of work done before it’s time to get you all up for breakfast and
get ready for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re always up
first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometime between 5:00 and 5:30
a.m. I’ll hear the stairs creak as someone comes down from upstairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(yes, those stairs have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>always</u></i> creaked which means you’ll <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>never</u></i> be able to sneak out of the house or back in for that
matter, although I don’t think you’re likely to be the one sneaking anywhere)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look at my watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s 5:23 a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must be Margot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sitting
at the dining room table, I stop typing and wait until you appear in the
doorway, bleary-eyed and disheveled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Daddy, I want to watch your phone.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s always the first thing you say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s no “Good morning, Daddy” or “Hi, Daddy” or even a mention of
breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s always about watching
videos on Daddy’s phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I have
come to an understanding about this, however.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can watch my phone but it has to be something educational, like Word
Girl, or Odd Squad or Cat in the Hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
long as it’s something on PBS Kids, it’s fine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu8qaGOwgjBW8_PdWDlW4T9gjK5qDlf-uiesyhjDAkEAzhlUXNHjdIu5YizgAkuccxZVVeE3IM4bMgwH_cS5SVcEog1unW8d_GfI1I54kA3CunNnmunEklFA8aqD8_50CimSkgXb_gjk/s1600/201802MargotDaddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu8qaGOwgjBW8_PdWDlW4T9gjK5qDlf-uiesyhjDAkEAzhlUXNHjdIu5YizgAkuccxZVVeE3IM4bMgwH_cS5SVcEog1unW8d_GfI1I54kA3CunNnmunEklFA8aqD8_50CimSkgXb_gjk/s320/201802MargotDaddy.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">So
I tuck you in under a warm blanket (the big brown knit one, if you remember it)
on the couch in the living room, while it’s still dark outside the living room
windows, tap on the PBS Kids app, turn on the guided access (so you don’t
switch over to My Little Pony or Shopkins or Elsia & Annia) and give you a
bowl of dry Cheerios.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You settle in and
I go back to my laptop at the dining room table, just a few steps away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I usually get a little more quiet
time before Flynn makes his way downstairs usually around 6:00 am.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Then
there’s the other end of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
some point between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m., you’ll start getting hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just, “I’m bored and I want a snack”
hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the “if you don’t get me
some food right now I’m going to go into an irreversible meltdown from which I
might not recover and you will thus be made to pay a steep price for not giving
me food now” hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point it’s
time to get dinner on the table, STAT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">You
also know when you’re tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At dinner
sometimes you’ll announce “I’m tired and I need to go to bed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t deny you’re tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t fight being tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You simply acknowledge that you’re tired and
make a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time to go to
bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bedtime
is 8:00 p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, at least it’s time for
the three of you to brush your teeth, get into bed, then get out of bed to turn
on and off lights and find your flashlights and the right stuffies and to
generally delay bedtime, and then finally have your bedtime songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, usually actual bedtime is closer to 8:30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re always the first one asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many nights you’re asleep before Daddy and Papa are even out the
door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes you don’t even last
through bedtime songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This recently has
become immensely irritating to your sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Five minutes after you all have gone to bed, Coco will come out and
complain that you’re already asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“It’s not fair!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t
sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot always goes right to
sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not fair!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Boring!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your favorite phrase right now is
“Boring!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlY56l3mcO_ay0o_WtOsoyqZYfsg207QPI2gCH9lkt3k-lovbPBGrlH1Rwpnl8yVVgtzazCNHNk9b8jbdTFXnO8ifEg4FhOwYxobDN-kOly9jggtSzpclJMmkbrXQGvhxaMy9jwePE10/s1600/201802Margot3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlY56l3mcO_ay0o_WtOsoyqZYfsg207QPI2gCH9lkt3k-lovbPBGrlH1Rwpnl8yVVgtzazCNHNk9b8jbdTFXnO8ifEg4FhOwYxobDN-kOly9jggtSzpclJMmkbrXQGvhxaMy9jwePE10/s320/201802Margot3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is <u>nothing</u> boring about this girl!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Margot,
I have to go to work.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Boring!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Margot,
you have to go to school.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Boring.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Margot,
it’s time for dinner.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Boring!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Margot,
we’re going to the country tomorrow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Boring!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
think you picked it from Rainbow Dash on “My Little Pony:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friendship is Magic,” which is your favorite show
right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Flynn’s favorite
show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Coco’s too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All three of you would watch My Little Pony
all day if you could get away with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Christmas this year was a My Little Pony bonanza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Little Pony videos, My Little Pony clothes
and more than a dozen My Little Pony figures of varying sizes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s even a My Little Pony mermaid
(mer-pony?) around the house somewhere.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">You’ve been tidy and organized since you
were old enough to pick things up and put them away. “A place for everything,
and everything in its place.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last
spring, during your birthday party (and I mean - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">literally</i> - during your birthday party), you took time to organize
the gifts that our guests had left in the entry way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently they were not orderly enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You put them all in a nice straight line –
although the line was in the middle of the hallway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Christmas you wanted the gifts under the
tree to be grouped by who they were for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then, after all the gifts were opened on Christmas morning, you asked
for a box so that you could put all your gifts together in one place – and keep
them safely away from your brother and sister I suspect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLUGscl3La_KFaP9xXBMDXBU12ShzotFt2JiJwj0TPQXPUB8Eq0TVErTnAnUZI8-LQJV-sHMljpE-eU9Jg08Rf3PJRV0Q07zwlKsNxukZNTOW7uzF-pWHSGVGjPD_vCgjA0FclKZskUk/s1600/201711Kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLUGscl3La_KFaP9xXBMDXBU12ShzotFt2JiJwj0TPQXPUB8Eq0TVErTnAnUZI8-LQJV-sHMljpE-eU9Jg08Rf3PJRV0Q07zwlKsNxukZNTOW7uzF-pWHSGVGjPD_vCgjA0FclKZskUk/s400/201711Kids.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now, there may also be some hoarding going
on here, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After your birthday last
spring, you put all your gifts into a large shopping bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a brown paper bag from Safeway, but a
super big, double-strength, department store bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You packed all your gifts in the bag and then
you parked the bag next to your bed as close to you as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there the bag stayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For at least two weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two weeks after you parked that bag next to
your bed, it ripped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course you
needed a new bag (there were tears, after all, when the bag ripped) so I
brought a new bag up to your room and emptied everything out of the ripped bag
onto your bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the birthday gifts
were still there of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there
was more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dozens of little things,
trinkets, small treasures, I guess:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>small plastic jewels, miscellaneous stickers, random coins, Hot Wheels,
building blocks and various figurines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For two weeks you had been dropping small treasures into that bag,
apparently claiming them as your own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fortunately, Santa was watching and for Christmas he brought you two
small treasure boxes so that you would have someplace to put all your small
treasures and keep them safe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, Future-Margot, that’s a bit about
yourself at four-and-a-half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope it
sounds about right to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s getting
late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should probably sign off now and
go upstairs to claim my place in the bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s getting harder and harder to do as you and your brother and
sister get bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we’ll enjoy it
while it lasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Love, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Daddy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ChuZdvJxLWMh_dYJ6NljuBVcDsDGAX7Rs2AG02PxwILzd2cnD9eO_ALeCdO5fxziwgvxul4EldHfmgfAUif1rYBn-8_w3XfrufxfPhSQrr0_r33DVQkO2ZdjT4x8gpvOUPltcpJVrSo/s1600/201802CountryBedtime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ChuZdvJxLWMh_dYJ6NljuBVcDsDGAX7Rs2AG02PxwILzd2cnD9eO_ALeCdO5fxziwgvxul4EldHfmgfAUif1rYBn-8_w3XfrufxfPhSQrr0_r33DVQkO2ZdjT4x8gpvOUPltcpJVrSo/s320/201802CountryBedtime.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bedtime stories in the country<br />
December 2017</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWh_K5dh2c_qEY1Tudmbbqdxoa2-3cEXwvo3wv50s01Cs5H0WN-UklDlL_CeXmE495tgSxmRKjcefiiRGWYRFzZ_1ZNeyEUm8AyQ88-iA-ZnMg3U-G3wUflVwzU0BBbpOpsFqiuLfVgIw/s1600/201712Christmas1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWh_K5dh2c_qEY1Tudmbbqdxoa2-3cEXwvo3wv50s01Cs5H0WN-UklDlL_CeXmE495tgSxmRKjcefiiRGWYRFzZ_1ZNeyEUm8AyQ88-iA-ZnMg3U-G3wUflVwzU0BBbpOpsFqiuLfVgIw/s320/201712Christmas1.JPG" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa <br />
Christmas 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5ivYOYyz83WPasKkHGZyFigXtCuIZ4MrVaegcICZdJI6f00DsTacQDuL2DbwkaAy_axqvFtLKUYTT7rbG_Cm79U5yRpdQ85c_AzpHsD9M5O1XtZc3vX4O31olJ2eD6xl6U-nthtRU2U/s1600/201712Christmas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5ivYOYyz83WPasKkHGZyFigXtCuIZ4MrVaegcICZdJI6f00DsTacQDuL2DbwkaAy_axqvFtLKUYTT7rbG_Cm79U5yRpdQ85c_AzpHsD9M5O1XtZc3vX4O31olJ2eD6xl6U-nthtRU2U/s320/201712Christmas2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Biggest Tree Yet <br />
Christmas 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gsQucUhgj6Wo5gz3ldrO2yyFAW0muTsjAR0FTny4xDTkcLIb1qqb2KK40sGiyQVgs_1HFjP3lQxdbZLn-41fvLLL0U9JBG84DgmQaGKaKye_HLjcQaH5ncqnN0mF6j0_SQsvWiwVNfo/s1600/201712Christmas3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="928" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gsQucUhgj6Wo5gz3ldrO2yyFAW0muTsjAR0FTny4xDTkcLIb1qqb2KK40sGiyQVgs_1HFjP3lQxdbZLn-41fvLLL0U9JBG84DgmQaGKaKye_HLjcQaH5ncqnN0mF6j0_SQsvWiwVNfo/s320/201712Christmas3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margot, Eden, Wyatt, Flynn, Jason, Josh and Coco<br />
Christmas 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuPFqIp1PDrAk7xW2j7PEuc_jrDWEjjDAthpR1WRU8sZp0oEqEDDOME9eCdG4lyVHFVEhabvasQdjBrwB-lyBVpokaIkTXfVJAGToEzEKAh-59Hz9ASBSErGPwqc9cvdG82khoe04X7A/s1600/201802MargotBallet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuPFqIp1PDrAk7xW2j7PEuc_jrDWEjjDAthpR1WRU8sZp0oEqEDDOME9eCdG4lyVHFVEhabvasQdjBrwB-lyBVpokaIkTXfVJAGToEzEKAh-59Hz9ASBSErGPwqc9cvdG82khoe04X7A/s320/201802MargotBallet.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margot before her first ballet class<br />
September 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-48909584818570236642017-09-07T22:09:00.000-07:002017-09-08T23:23:27.725-07:00The Brawl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoetCVHF16JJCJTWkZAmT9vTW9pJ0YiykbHhOZB8QSAbvvdzCovp_N-_lKFGVJsmj33W3QmVBI547UQhYqW9SprMv8d8OTFaKI5fKSwWhQ7BSu3QtXCE-62fSGq7kp34IKcEjgJSH1y6Q/s1600/201709Porch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoetCVHF16JJCJTWkZAmT9vTW9pJ0YiykbHhOZB8QSAbvvdzCovp_N-_lKFGVJsmj33W3QmVBI547UQhYqW9SprMv8d8OTFaKI5fKSwWhQ7BSu3QtXCE-62fSGq7kp34IKcEjgJSH1y6Q/s320/201709Porch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5CTpYofv9aSQubskAzPyCw9ld0Z5rtP7GVv8vsXB_28k3g78xOxgvXWE9P_yaNF5FVGDRJ1Zq2ERvQnH0dw3eAe017zu8KwQg935Qrk9W9z6Xwv8KUvi4WA-ib-lf_qUN1Qs0gUI7i4/s1600/201708MikeScott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5CTpYofv9aSQubskAzPyCw9ld0Z5rtP7GVv8vsXB_28k3g78xOxgvXWE9P_yaNF5FVGDRJ1Zq2ERvQnH0dw3eAe017zu8KwQg935Qrk9W9z6Xwv8KUvi4WA-ib-lf_qUN1Qs0gUI7i4/s200/201708MikeScott.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Siblings
fight, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brother and I fought
like cats and dogs for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fought
hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, we like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>beat</u></i> on each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At some point it stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it stopped about the time we figured
out we had better things to do with our time and we had the freedom to leave
the house to go do those things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
siblings fight and then they find something else to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Among
Coco, Flynn and Margot, Coco and Flynn play together the most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of them are imaginative, energetic and
physical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they’re both bossy and
stubborn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when they play together
there’s a lot of declarations, orders and yelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s usually running around and jumping on
and off things (except when Papa’s home; when Papa’s home there’s no jumping on
and off things).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lately, their play has
been all about capes, superheroes and magical powers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Super magical powers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like ice power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Elsa’s ice power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not allowed to have super magical powers when
I play with them; I'm just the target for their super magical powers which I think is totally “no fair!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5wjPcpVjcbGbMq8Anjr5r94dRZRPgWpwMZ3Tg5owQptTg93997KYhJ3r7Xl4USYiW6Wm7l_kj54GU7iFvd9yrWRaE78BI4OetFxQur5jSylHOuQ4WYb70-c3GU9JCeb_y_MMQmuh1Bk/s1600/201709Kidsonbikes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5wjPcpVjcbGbMq8Anjr5r94dRZRPgWpwMZ3Tg5owQptTg93997KYhJ3r7Xl4USYiW6Wm7l_kj54GU7iFvd9yrWRaE78BI4OetFxQur5jSylHOuQ4WYb70-c3GU9JCeb_y_MMQmuh1Bk/s200/201709Kidsonbikes.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Of
course, playing leads to arguing and bickering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Recently the bickering has become more physical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes there’s a bit of pushing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Occasionally Someone hits Someone Else and
then Someone Else hits Someone back, and then both Someone and Someone Else end
up sitting on the steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GqSpd9ZLxSOUyG56gpQOwAQzTdWtEWANKM28rAyuxyZq96nagripNz2_d5Jc8qEyRP3QK9Zf2SMA3axkitQxDul1yyS2EA6-UztWjAf9H83AH93pSteQX24_M8NZ50_bRQ3kGV94Z80/s1600/201709Margot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GqSpd9ZLxSOUyG56gpQOwAQzTdWtEWANKM28rAyuxyZq96nagripNz2_d5Jc8qEyRP3QK9Zf2SMA3axkitQxDul1yyS2EA6-UztWjAf9H83AH93pSteQX24_M8NZ50_bRQ3kGV94Z80/s200/201709Margot.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Margot
consistently stays above the fray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite
often she prefers to play by herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While Coco and Flynn are running around and jumping on and off things,
Margot is setting up a tea party, feeding one of her dolls, or playing with
Flynn’s Barbie house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once in a while
she even asks me to tell Coco and Flynn NOT to play with her since she knows they’ll
swoop in and wreak havoc on her otherwise organized and orderly play. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Margot’s need for organization, order and a
plan is a topic for another post.)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One
morning last week Coco and Flynn started their day with playing that turned
into arguing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not an unusual
occurrence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was getting dressed for
work and I could hear them in the other room arguing about something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flynn came into the room where I was getting
dressed.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Coco
being mean,” he reported.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there is a refrain in our house right now
it is definitely “Coco being mean.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
mean I hear it multiple times every day from Flynn and Margot, or I hear
variations on the theme:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Coco being
mean,” “Coco not letting me play,” “Coco’s a meany.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco defends herself by telling me that Flynn
and Margot are not listening to her and they’re not doing what she tells them
to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, pause, and consider
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am listening to my six-year-old
daughter complain about someone who is not listening and not doing what they’re told.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI1Nuiu5amshLyb4cL7WAUBl0UEn0swU6IWidKxo9gYje9-LkLS5-t2kxZKMsUFtkLxnu2I9E0gbL_UT-9_J1ShZK_HCXPAVRZWldKNKmfw75DqaR7C5mm6qxSg9QyI7dCsOP6d565EE/s1600/201708potkettle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI1Nuiu5amshLyb4cL7WAUBl0UEn0swU6IWidKxo9gYje9-LkLS5-t2kxZKMsUFtkLxnu2I9E0gbL_UT-9_J1ShZK_HCXPAVRZWldKNKmfw75DqaR7C5mm6qxSg9QyI7dCsOP6d565EE/s200/201708potkettle.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But,
back to Flynn and Coco.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Coco
being mean,” Flynn reported.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“No,
I’m not!” Coco yelled from the other room.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Coco
being a meany.”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s lying!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He’s just trying to get me into trouble.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So,
what did I do? I did what any parent would do: I extracted myself from the
situation, made some half-hearted remark to Coco about being nice to Flynn, and
went downstairs to pack my bag for work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>About five minutes later Margot came looking for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Coco and Flynn are fighting,” she said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped and listened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could hear them upstairs yelling at each
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The yelling sounded more intense
than usual.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So,
I trudged upstairs to see what was happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I could hear the screaming as I climbed the stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yep, the yelling had definitely turned into
screaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The needle on the
“fight-o-meter” dial had moved into the red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I reached the top of the stairs I could see Coco and Flynn on the
couch in the TV room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flynn was on top of Coco,
straddled across her stomach, holding a fist full of her hair and screaming at
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco was under Flynn screaming back
at him and trying to kick him as hard as she could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both their faces were scarlet red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco was crying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were clearly trying to inflict pain on
each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a full-on brawl. </span><br />
<br /><br />
I was shocked.</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And
then I lost my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Now,
before I had kids I was always appalled when I heard parents yelling at their
kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just barking orders at their
kids like, “Hey, stop doing that!” No, I mean all-out yelling at their kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would think to myself smugly, “I would
never, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>ever</u></i>, yell at my kids
like that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, you know where this is
going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every parent has a point, a
threshold, where they’re exhausted and their kids have worked their last nerve
and stretched their patience to the breaking point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, for me – and for Coco, Flynn and
Margot – it’s not often that I reach that point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I admit on some rare occasions I lose my
mind and yell at my kids.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
stormed into the TV room, yelling, “What is going on?!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you doing?!!” I pulled Flynn off of
Coco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was like an angry cat, hissing,
with claws fully extended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco was
sobbing, “Flynn hurt me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flynn, hurt
me!”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But
I was not done yelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You will never,
ever, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>ever</u></i></b> fight like that in this house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>DO YOU HEAR ME?!!!”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Well,
they heard me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so did the neighbors
probably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People walking their dogs in
the park at the end of the street probably heard me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe some smug, no-kids fool walking
past the house heard me too and thought to himself, “I would never, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>ever</u></i>, yell at my kids like
that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78jXyDXLueFgDjReR0dvJrkrv8gVsLnKwXYGbqIkFxXkBZwhHaIcPI0TDHa-GfMOPoNADZkHEzAwNaC138ry0aXUlz6ENFUrKLyaVzo9_x683weFZhyphenhyphenrH4p8NRKpEzeNk3dGLMFhlhMQ/s1600/201809danieltiger.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78jXyDXLueFgDjReR0dvJrkrv8gVsLnKwXYGbqIkFxXkBZwhHaIcPI0TDHa-GfMOPoNADZkHEzAwNaC138ry0aXUlz6ENFUrKLyaVzo9_x683weFZhyphenhyphenrH4p8NRKpEzeNk3dGLMFhlhMQ/s200/201809danieltiger.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Fortunately,
all those things my kids have learned on PBSKids, well, I’ve learned them too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Daniel Tiger says, “If you’re frustrated,
take a deep breath and count to four.”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I need to take a minute and calm down,</i>”
I thought to myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Coco and Flynn,” I
said, “I’m going to walk out of this room right now and decide what I’m going
to do about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Do not talk to each
other</u>.”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When
I came back into the room, much, much calmer, I put them in separate rooms,
sitting on beds, looking at the walls and left them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ten minutes later I came back to talk to
them, to hear their sides of the story, and to pass judgment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They pled their cases in very different ways.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
talked to Flynn first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was quite
calm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sat on the bed, waiting for me
to come back, like he was waiting for a bus, or for a cup of coffee, or for the
start of a business meeting of some kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I asked him what happened, he was very clear about the extent of
his guilt.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKXyM_kXjkB8Zki81f1tAUiqpTabnsl_zyLftCj-Wa-L4VB4hihidG7fExXq0xv9es3zFxN39qxZxBXUgmdGn3oRaBsHog8qygkoF9MRutmaiXCkrK8OrEOO-yZviLRd2JEsjjkC9Mg8/s1600/201709Flynn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKXyM_kXjkB8Zki81f1tAUiqpTabnsl_zyLftCj-Wa-L4VB4hihidG7fExXq0xv9es3zFxN39qxZxBXUgmdGn3oRaBsHog8qygkoF9MRutmaiXCkrK8OrEOO-yZviLRd2JEsjjkC9Mg8/s200/201709Flynn.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Did
you hit your sister?” I asked.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“No.”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Did
you scratch your sister?”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“No.”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">"Y</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">es,
he did!” screamed Coco from the other room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Yes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was crying again.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Did
you pull her hair?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a
pause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Flynn?”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that is it,” he said emphatically,
gesturing with his hands like he was an umpire calling the runner safe at first
base.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That is it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with that, it was clear he had nothing further
to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rested his case.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92n-xjM7e4CVcIx0jyk7D0S0g0Mr0x-0c70nSS1zQoG3dDe_4EAkYIEHxoNYDLn-kT3WeoyVwc_J_MPr1AaUtH3KdnGSzqedmx6ch79IsOf5e302dUPJTNvnNUq91lLJR-I-sBI6LumY/s1600/201709Cornelia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1090" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92n-xjM7e4CVcIx0jyk7D0S0g0Mr0x-0c70nSS1zQoG3dDe_4EAkYIEHxoNYDLn-kT3WeoyVwc_J_MPr1AaUtH3KdnGSzqedmx6ch79IsOf5e302dUPJTNvnNUq91lLJR-I-sBI6LumY/s200/201709Cornelia.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Coco
was the opposite of calm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was crying,
complaining about her injuries, and immediately showed me the scratches on her
arms and legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she probably had
been searching her body, hoping to find a place where Flynn had actually drawn
blood, but no such luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no
blood, but she was pretty scratched up.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Of
course I don’t know what started the fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a parent, nine times out of ten, you don’t know what happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t know who started it. You don’t know
whose fault it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do know,
however, that it’s only a matter of time before the next fight, the next brawl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9y0_4tTozLWTn3RIh1DlcCn7MTwbYpLEWQgCkViSyGnQbf3puabLLrfDYRDHfF4aJqd0_Gb9mi6fH1AbrwMGekFlU1KDAyZr1XXqukpoWM3El6NaCz9V3z0Xtj3rALxyT_GkiNK_YdE/s1600/201709Siblings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9y0_4tTozLWTn3RIh1DlcCn7MTwbYpLEWQgCkViSyGnQbf3puabLLrfDYRDHfF4aJqd0_Gb9mi6fH1AbrwMGekFlU1KDAyZr1XXqukpoWM3El6NaCz9V3z0Xtj3rALxyT_GkiNK_YdE/s320/201709Siblings.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-44733702598236157962017-05-18T21:22:00.003-07:002017-05-22T21:27:28.794-07:00The Day Margot Stayed Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSlSPEf9iGEiWsw0rYR8uf9U3PSjRH632TSbe9DbRso9bNeTIMDjubAioTxKGyIRRHyBwsz-UTslZOy1Rl_AuOG22GLMWhiLJZVHCV8bSJMYKEd-CMsaS7mo58MEho3njUgqddh7D5Vg/s1600/201705FlynnMargotHug.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSlSPEf9iGEiWsw0rYR8uf9U3PSjRH632TSbe9DbRso9bNeTIMDjubAioTxKGyIRRHyBwsz-UTslZOy1Rl_AuOG22GLMWhiLJZVHCV8bSJMYKEd-CMsaS7mo58MEho3njUgqddh7D5Vg/s320/201705FlynnMargotHug.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Margot
had a fever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had had it off and on since
Sunday evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had been up for a
good part of the night on Sunday night and then again for a good part of the
night on Monday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both nights Margot
and I ended up in the guest room together, neither of us sleeping very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it was Tuesday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A school day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She would not be going to school today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Margot not going to school was not a problem. Flynn going to school without Margot would be a problem. By himself? For the first time? A big problem. How would I break the news to him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz-2_6zFUp-XFCdgyEP0Ag1IyclTWiEaxQnUK9CPYDPFtgWvrjWfDdPrb_FKkKLrE15Wr8ovad2RnMN4D3fUmEAOwavXqAQVGp6iLn8fq28JAEV_AyZNiiLr7qGIli4FSgN-RcfUH37w/s1600/201705MargotFlynnHoldingHands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz-2_6zFUp-XFCdgyEP0Ag1IyclTWiEaxQnUK9CPYDPFtgWvrjWfDdPrb_FKkKLrE15Wr8ovad2RnMN4D3fUmEAOwavXqAQVGp6iLn8fq28JAEV_AyZNiiLr7qGIli4FSgN-RcfUH37w/s320/201705MargotFlynnHoldingHands.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> To
state the obvious, twins are together all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re never without their best friend, their
wingman, someone to give them a bit more confidence when they go out into the
world – together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flynn and
Margot have spent very little time apart from one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot took swimming lessons last summer
while Flynn didn't.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of them has
gone to Los Angeles with Papa for his work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
That's about it. T</span>his would be different.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkO4yNIEOX2daYvETZMToWxCrgkloxoRkY8_QYjldVqB9ikgm1Dz7a8MRpFQVos6aiB5rwQKg_VEBpU0P-wvJKGYhtGbcRfF_BjmKQfhyphenhyphenNqiuADEbpa3gpc4MVWREe_wm3b6QoWrZld0/s1600/201701MargotFlynnSchool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkO4yNIEOX2daYvETZMToWxCrgkloxoRkY8_QYjldVqB9ikgm1Dz7a8MRpFQVos6aiB5rwQKg_VEBpU0P-wvJKGYhtGbcRfF_BjmKQfhyphenhyphenNqiuADEbpa3gpc4MVWREe_wm3b6QoWrZld0/s200/201701MargotFlynnSchool.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Flynn
is very attached to Margot; honestly, more than Margot is attached to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you ask him who he plays with at school,
he’ll tell you “Margot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you ask him
who his best friend at school is, he 'll tell you “Margot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot knows the names of other kids at
school; I am not sure that Flynn does or cares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
school Flynn and Margot sit at the same table together, they play together, and
they eat lunch together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the school’s
cultural celebrations, they sing and dance next to each other.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Going to school without Margot was going to
be a very big deal for Flynn. There were
going to be tears.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Before
breakfast I sat down in the big chair in the kids’ room and pulled Flynn onto
my lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Flynn, Margot isn’t feeling
well today so she can’t go to school.”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Me
stay home too,” he said.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“No,
Flynn you have to go to school.”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
tears came swiftly as I knew they would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Me not want to go to school by myself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Me want to go with Margot!”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
hugged him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Flynn, I know you don’t
want to go to school by yourself but you need to go to school today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll go together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can ride on my shoulders all the way to
school and all the way home! Won’t that be fun?”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Nooo!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me no want to go to school by myself!” he
said, crying.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I really wanted to tell
him he could stay home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been up with Margot two
nights in a row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">FitBit
told me I had gotten only four hours of sleep that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was imagining Flynn crying all the way to
school, through the park and on the bus, and then clinging to my leg and crying
when I tried to leave him for the day by himself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had so much to do at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Why couldn't </span>I leave Flynn at home with Mari, go straight to
work and avoid all of the drama?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
would be so much easier for both of us. </span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">At
that point Margot came in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why is Flynn
crying?”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Margot,
since you’re not feeling well today you have to stay home from school, and
Flynn doesn’t want to go by himself.”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And
then Margot started crying, which I hadn’t seen coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Maestra mad if I don’t come to school!”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“No,
Maestra won’t be mad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’ll be sad but
she won’t be mad.”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I
don’t want Maestra to be sad!” she said crying even more.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So,
there I sat in the big chair in the kids’ room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Flynn on my lap in his Christmas nightgown crying because he had to go
to school but didn’t want to, and Margot standing in front of me in her
Pull-up crying because she couldn’t go to school but did want to.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
needed to change the subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let’s
have breakfast.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Downstairs,
I texted Ken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Margot’s still sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was up
part of the night with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She can’t go
to school<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I told Flynn he was going
to school he burst into tears because he doesn’t want to go by himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot then burst into tears because she
wanted to go because her teachers will be sad if<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>she doesn’t come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a ton going
on and don’t know that today is the day Flynn has to fly solo at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be good for him but not sure if
today is the day I can make that happen.”</i></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><em> </em></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ken
texted back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I think he should go by himself.”</i></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><em> </em></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I
know that,” I thought to myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
wasn’t the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question was
whether I could be lazy or if I had to be strong and make him go to school by
himself.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Apparently I was going to have to be strong. T</span>here was no getting out of
this – for Flynn or for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Mari
arrived and I told her Margot would be staying home with her and Flynn would be
going to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Solo?” she asked in
Spanish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Si, solo.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mari gave me a look that very clearly said, “Are
you sure about this?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> So,
at 8:00 a.m., after more tears and protests from both Flynn and Margot, Flynn
and I left the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the porch, I
asked him if he wanted to ride on my shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He nodded without a word and wiped his tears with his sleeve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hoisted him up on my shoulders and we left
for school.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> The
walk to school with Flynn was wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have often thought about how very different my trips to preschool with
Flynn and Margot are from my trips with Coco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Coco and I had conversations on the way to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would ask a string of questions (mostly “Why?”
“Why?” “Why?”) and I would try to answer them as best I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would tell me about things that popped
into her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would ride on my
shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we were late for the train
I’d pick her up and run for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTo4r68cEvqoCTiBiJgG5QoPkg1v041CfaGfWoOgCCNw72BREabdPqJv-ZHIDCE_u1-Udat2treykwLAjRlvjWwZuog_Z_2scuoW9fxcZT72ia1thyphenhyphenyWXQ86LMnC8Abjc_3_o76ksTWo/s1600/201705FlynnMargotBus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTo4r68cEvqoCTiBiJgG5QoPkg1v041CfaGfWoOgCCNw72BREabdPqJv-ZHIDCE_u1-Udat2treykwLAjRlvjWwZuog_Z_2scuoW9fxcZT72ia1thyphenhyphenyWXQ86LMnC8Abjc_3_o76ksTWo/s320/201705FlynnMargotBus.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> Flynn
and Margot, on the other hand, play with each other on the way to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They run around, hang on to poles, jump off front porches, hide
in doorways and point out circles and squares on the sidewalk. They are very clearly a team of two. Thing One and Thing Two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While sometimes I might get brief fragments
of conversation from them, for the most part I merely accompany them and herd them down the
sidewalk and on and off the bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sometimes
put them up on my shoulders but that always involves negotiating taking turns
and making sure the turns are not “No fair!” If we're late for the bus, there's no picking them both up and running for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BEwU59LD3aezHpbaRkYzrHp7GLj4bBUPHlt7DViRAJ_O-3u4bzApHf7djTi39kIht-sxjT3612IgmvDskr_ed_I8kPYNG7dHvfu68OMe8xILDOFp2VAoITjtwaSWZW-Rrq0VkuvdgMw/s1600/201705MuddyPuddles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BEwU59LD3aezHpbaRkYzrHp7GLj4bBUPHlt7DViRAJ_O-3u4bzApHf7djTi39kIht-sxjT3612IgmvDskr_ed_I8kPYNG7dHvfu68OMe8xILDOFp2VAoITjtwaSWZW-Rrq0VkuvdgMw/s320/201705MuddyPuddles.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> So,
taking just Flynn to school was wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He rode on my shoulders the whole way to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High up on my shoulders he reached up to touch the
tree leaves and the street signs not worried about sharing or taking turns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it was because he was nervous about going
to school by himself or because he didn’t have Margot to play with, he talked
with me the whole way.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> When
we arrived at school without Margot the teachers knew this was a big day for
Flynn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They gave me looks and nodded, acknowledging
the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One teacher whispered to me, “I
have your telephone number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I call if
any problem.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave Flynn a hug and a kiss good-bye and
turned to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t cling, he
didn’t cry. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went about his business of
finding a place to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the
day when I picked him up, he was happily building a castle with his
teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t immediately want to
leave as soon as I arrived, he wanted to play for a few more minutes so we did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rode on my shoulders all the way home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a good day for Flynn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it was a good day for Daddy too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> So
what about Margot?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mari told me later
that around the middle of the morning Margot wanted to get dressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she wanted to put on a pretty dress with
tights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After her dress and her tights
were on she announced to Mari, “Me go to school now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot was determined to go to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around noon I texted Mari to see how Margot
was feeling, if her fever was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
my text my phone rang almost immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a call from Mari.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I answered,
though, it was Margot on the phone.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Hi,
Daddy.”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
“Hi, Margot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How are you feeling?”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Good.”
She said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When are you going to take me
to school?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was still determined to
go to school.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “I’m
sorry, Pumpkin, you can’t go to school today.”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">“Oh,
me want to go to school.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="_MailAutoSig"><span style="color: black;">Margot was all dressed up, in a pretty dress and tights,
waiting to go to school.</span></a><span style="color: black;"> She'll go to school on Thursday.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZh9PdBGUq6YYOC4PbqOUUCoyS2Rtt8TeceVMax_PM8QYtHjQvE0ALBMphrgqBwAbDMOjZm0ZQim_9iCiw3nt8xfAYWoSOPGtL_9-sTO-w4DF1Raoc3Qz0Xxu27QreUHSl9U8BG6-ypss/s1600/201705MargotFlynnPlaying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZh9PdBGUq6YYOC4PbqOUUCoyS2Rtt8TeceVMax_PM8QYtHjQvE0ALBMphrgqBwAbDMOjZm0ZQim_9iCiw3nt8xfAYWoSOPGtL_9-sTO-w4DF1Raoc3Qz0Xxu27QreUHSl9U8BG6-ypss/s320/201705MargotFlynnPlaying.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-73320385133862470732017-03-18T08:16:00.000-07:002017-03-24T12:22:38.034-07:00"Firsts"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Every parent knows there are going to be
“firsts.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of those firsts are going
to be the happy, amazingly wonderful firsts; the “oh, they are growing up so
fast!” kind of firsts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And some of those
firsts are going to be the lump-in-your-throat, my-heart-just-skipped-a-beat, “oh,
my god what is happening?” firsts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
one of the latter this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> I
walk Coco to school at least twice a week, sometimes three times a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walk to school through the park, past the
playground, up the stairs next to the community center, around the hospital,
past the corner grocery and onto the lower yard at her school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More often than not, we arrive just before the
bell rings and the principal, Ms. Pope, starts the morning announcements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco gets in line with her class and I wait and
listen to the announcements with the crowd of parents standing and milling
around behind the kids lined up with their classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After announcements, the kids, lined up
behind their teachers, walk to their classrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Coco’s line passes on the way to her
classroom, I dart up, give her a kiss, tell her to have a good day, and then
head to work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Now,
many parents – ok, most parents – drop their kids off and don’t stick around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They drive their kids to school and drop them
off in front of the school and leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or
they walk them to the lower yard and kiss them good-bye at the gate and leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe some kids even get to school without
their parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fully own the fact that
I am the over-protective, paranoid parent of a kindergartener.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea of leaving her before she is in line
with her class, in the eyesight and in the custody of her teacher, Mr. Kallock,
and on her way to class is, well, anathema to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> This
week, as Coco and I were waiting for the bell to ring and the announcements to
start, she turned to me and said, “Daddy?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Yes?”
I said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Charlie’s
mom drops her off and then leaves before announcements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I should start practicing that.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> And
there it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of those firsts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kind that come out of nowhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kind that make you stop breathing for an
instant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She doesn’t need me in the school
yard in the mornings any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting with
her for the day to begin<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “But
I don’t think I should start practicing today,” she continued.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> And
the world started slowly turning on its axis again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> I
don’t know if Coco was floating this possibility of independence for herself;
saying it out loud just to see how it felt to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or if she said it and saw the panic in my
eyes and then quickly withdrew the suggestion for fear that her daddy might
cause a scene in the lower yard in front of all her friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless, at this point and at least for a little
while longer, I get to wait with her until Miss Pope’s announcements start and then
until she is on her way to class fully in the custody of Mr. Kallock. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZw-jNUmiP4PVhWYyQ3F6LwgTqA_ORQ8fUkulpiq-hzq6Kk3KzhVcdnwmXUgrcnIm8SOtsSA6C8mmPb9_nr5tvKDxs1tMg_UA-NCYZgQFE-4W8lXnlEZzvuCVH6Yw3wDZ6UY6WOoShFwU/s1600/201608FirstDayCoco.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZw-jNUmiP4PVhWYyQ3F6LwgTqA_ORQ8fUkulpiq-hzq6Kk3KzhVcdnwmXUgrcnIm8SOtsSA6C8mmPb9_nr5tvKDxs1tMg_UA-NCYZgQFE-4W8lXnlEZzvuCVH6Yw3wDZ6UY6WOoShFwU/s400/201608FirstDayCoco.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-25322365069076684212017-03-18T06:23:00.000-07:002017-03-18T06:23:38.595-07:00First Snow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We’re
spending more time in the country these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Carting the kids back and forth has gotten easier as they’ve gotten
older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is just less stuff to take
back and forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most times we go up on
Saturday morning and come back on Sunday afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll start going up on Friday nights soon.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6e7vBz6CacEdNxoDU2DOBAvf-yW_qV3BjLHtxfB2xgOoEMQlKxaieSJpVBUKlKXSn7ou_MdOoK44dwnb8QZTCMgfqFoQVwuiGDfI57jp7lCbnfpuFjyGIZTqn72TWORoLG29GCtpC4E/s1600/201701waiting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6e7vBz6CacEdNxoDU2DOBAvf-yW_qV3BjLHtxfB2xgOoEMQlKxaieSJpVBUKlKXSn7ou_MdOoK44dwnb8QZTCMgfqFoQVwuiGDfI57jp7lCbnfpuFjyGIZTqn72TWORoLG29GCtpC4E/s200/201701waiting.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching the snow start to fall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This
year we were up for the New Year’s Day weekend and we had snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was in the forecast so we knew it was coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stayed an extra day to be sure we didn’t
miss it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the kids’ first snowfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard to believe they had not yet
experienced snow: waking up to the surprise of snow blanketing the countryside,
excited to go outside and play, putting on coats and mittens and boots, and
then making snow angels, snowballs and a snowman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitL-uygemnrKmIN-iCvpMUsEpUONItiL2V2LU6lNtdrb6sb2QcAXyZojJeeJbRfw2llCqVTSb9g_xnQh8CtQcTcBovBN1yuT7SOGnEFq4Lrj-VL0gPQMwdOnjaHD4AWj9KyjVV1lqMeAc/s1600/201701peeking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitL-uygemnrKmIN-iCvpMUsEpUONItiL2V2LU6lNtdrb6sb2QcAXyZojJeeJbRfw2llCqVTSb9g_xnQh8CtQcTcBovBN1yuT7SOGnEFq4Lrj-VL0gPQMwdOnjaHD4AWj9KyjVV1lqMeAc/s320/201701peeking.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waking up to snow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xqNXv6uIdbkdeYEEgeQfYnnDLA56jf7xlZOY-0PVmsbMPq2H6iSscXjeKOaC91E5CZm_D1bi2PQiB-CT6TAHx6VtisrEcNLGsur6fLYfAE19gX5aZ4a2NO7XbIZipMZ0dvxsTvSURk8/s1600/201701sledding1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xqNXv6uIdbkdeYEEgeQfYnnDLA56jf7xlZOY-0PVmsbMPq2H6iSscXjeKOaC91E5CZm_D1bi2PQiB-CT6TAHx6VtisrEcNLGsur6fLYfAE19gX5aZ4a2NO7XbIZipMZ0dvxsTvSURk8/s400/201701sledding1.JPG" width="225" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There
was even enough snow for sledding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
Ken who remembered we had sleds in the barn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The same sleds Scott and I used as kids nearly 50 years ago; sleds that sat
in the rafters in Mom and Dad’s garage for decades, were driven down from Port
Angeles with other stuff from Mom and Dad’s garage, to sit in the barn in the
country, waiting for snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And finally
the snow came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><div style="border-image: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBtgmjEO90Q7wcv5fmLly6pWgXV09kB7qLqRQPPEwSDOAYhLYelcTqcYgGNcsIf5v2t6GgoSIYZFyUUH0NeHo-8klN63-OhboqisUuytCxNFlP8gT3ubAVOL6BMeGCEjF9P_uaTFmSDw/s1600/201701sledding2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBtgmjEO90Q7wcv5fmLly6pWgXV09kB7qLqRQPPEwSDOAYhLYelcTqcYgGNcsIf5v2t6GgoSIYZFyUUH0NeHo-8klN63-OhboqisUuytCxNFlP8gT3ubAVOL6BMeGCEjF9P_uaTFmSDw/s400/201701sledding2.JPG" width="225" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<br /></div>
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We’ve
been lucky this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve had snow
twice since then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our place is high
enough that if there is going to be any snow we’re going to get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we start down our driveway the snow is
gone by the time we reach our gate.</span><br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOknv3Zsz9QFYsEGNf8L2rg1gmwgEAYLx6jHuE9YxdW4v4KPxv-TqZUAjZdBNujYJ_YIF8ZuNEmTQ_iFTfaKa5H53AZx1ZPstu-sTW5_LVGUuy9jt_5af1hMi8NPJ8yoN09RqzAAqvToI/s1600/201701firstsnowfall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOknv3Zsz9QFYsEGNf8L2rg1gmwgEAYLx6jHuE9YxdW4v4KPxv-TqZUAjZdBNujYJ_YIF8ZuNEmTQ_iFTfaKa5H53AZx1ZPstu-sTW5_LVGUuy9jt_5af1hMi8NPJ8yoN09RqzAAqvToI/s640/201701firstsnowfall.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOskBvifSn7LceSLm_HJV-hwgUR0l50GdnHDuZqfKigCPbwAtjLbggRhLLASVqaokexQyAheTOv9lfZWodTWMVSEcdhuVOojv3PK6fHOE_umG3SnLYPpsuljLh2j8Yt0trv5GYbi3UK3Y/s1600/201701snowhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOskBvifSn7LceSLm_HJV-hwgUR0l50GdnHDuZqfKigCPbwAtjLbggRhLLASVqaokexQyAheTOv9lfZWodTWMVSEcdhuVOojv3PK6fHOE_umG3SnLYPpsuljLh2j8Yt0trv5GYbi3UK3Y/s320/201701snowhouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-48501496870819968242017-03-18T05:42:00.002-07:002017-03-24T08:44:51.592-07:00 10 hours. 56 minutes.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBDQtX9n5L-TjddqbAIcT3FE-bGwlsdX6DTLWROrPwxa2oU5UcIRpoFHOhGbMzztxTBOLoak575hpmy8BV2pdW2JszuQoQZOOaeaF9hHUeK2W2BvI-BQadPru4Uc4L7bEpVYUH-vqLo0/s1600/201703sleepingCoco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBDQtX9n5L-TjddqbAIcT3FE-bGwlsdX6DTLWROrPwxa2oU5UcIRpoFHOhGbMzztxTBOLoak575hpmy8BV2pdW2JszuQoQZOOaeaF9hHUeK2W2BvI-BQadPru4Uc4L7bEpVYUH-vqLo0/s200/201703sleepingCoco.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">7:34
p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Laying on the bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daddy and Papa’s bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TV’s on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Margot and Coco and Flynn watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the bed too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bubble
Guppies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah & Duck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Octonauts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I doze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">8:02
p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The show ends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wake up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Time for bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time to brush your teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s go.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">8:17
p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Singing bedtime songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“you are my sunshine”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“three little monkeys”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“tickle spider”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lay down on each bed. Sing each one a
song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Funny kiss!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funny hug!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hugs and kisses goodnight.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">9:48
p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wake up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Laying on Coco’s bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under the Elsa and Anna blanket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My head on a big green dinosaur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot and Coco and Flynn sleeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear them breathing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I get up, gently, slip out of the room, quietly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shutting the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It clicks.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguydogm3xENW-ydqaP2YIjQRSKs_MT8R88VkaJ-_wnUBnFnGpiKVG-R_9zyZpAa7qrFrjUZOyCzTqOlEE12jK-535oX3Py13EYxjD0UXl7aK3CM1DwH6i8Su_JT0_FBMuTzcbeOgZ9OcE/s1600/201703sleepingMargot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguydogm3xENW-ydqaP2YIjQRSKs_MT8R88VkaJ-_wnUBnFnGpiKVG-R_9zyZpAa7qrFrjUZOyCzTqOlEE12jK-535oX3Py13EYxjD0UXl7aK3CM1DwH6i8Su_JT0_FBMuTzcbeOgZ9OcE/s200/201703sleepingMargot.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">10:12
p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dishes done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lights off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I go to bed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My bed this
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How long will I sleep before I’m
awake again?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">12:31
a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Daddy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daddy?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Margot calls from her bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes,
Margot?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Daddy, will you lay in my
bed?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lay down in her bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m asleep again.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1:19
a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wake up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Margot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Under her blankets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My head on a
giant white bunny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get up again, gently,
and go back to my bed, quietly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2:46
a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Daddy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daddy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Me want to snuggle with you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Flynn stands next to my bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
lift the covers, pat the bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He climbs
in.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">3:50
a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My alarm rings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot and Flynn in bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sleeping next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When did Margot come in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slide out of bed, creep out of the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Down the stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They creak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I make coffee and toast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn on my
laptop.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SWAQDVihdWjsjL7cg5WI_DPz5h0-eeRL9T-NugRyeGveVJvSfAEYbxZp4rcOgZOlb2poT_KL8ut7igOKhB2SbeTHUrgQjjVHgVTo2kg0diNJ542Fv32Pctwn12n2bwrutH3gWVAgODI/s1600/201703sleepingFlynn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SWAQDVihdWjsjL7cg5WI_DPz5h0-eeRL9T-NugRyeGveVJvSfAEYbxZp4rcOgZOlb2poT_KL8ut7igOKhB2SbeTHUrgQjjVHgVTo2kg0diNJ542Fv32Pctwn12n2bwrutH3gWVAgODI/s200/201703sleepingFlynn.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">5:43
a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Footsteps above me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the bedroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From the top of the stairs, “Daddy?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Margot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always Margot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I climb up the stairs and pick her up in the
dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I whisper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hi Sweetie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s not morning time yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
need to go back to bed.”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">6:31
a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting on Coco’s bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gently shake her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Coco, it’s time to get up.” </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The day starts.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-40401298685060640992016-11-10T09:05:00.001-08:002016-11-10T18:34:03.040-08:00Finding Flynn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><em>My Halloween story this year.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Margot wouldn’t walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her witch’s dress was too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ken didn’t hem it before he left for Los
Angeles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She kept tripping over it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So she stopped walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Broken!” she said, crying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frustrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Halfway to
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Halfway to the Harvest Festival
at McKinley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later than I wanted to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked Margot up and carried her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was heavy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot and Flynn were getting big.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too big for me to pick them both up and carry
them for any distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always tired.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Flynn wanted to be picked up too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No,” I said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Yucky Daddy,” he said back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He whined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He pouted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He crossed his
arms.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Come on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re late,” I said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Why are we late?” Coco asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now she was upset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was her school festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her friends would be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were late.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “We’re not late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just said that to make you walk
faster.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I regretted saying it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was losing my patience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We weren’t even at the school festival yet.</span><br />
<br /><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Ken was supposed to be home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t supposed to go to the festival by
myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With three kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He called that afternoon from LAX.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His flight was delayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was unhappy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He missed the fall celebration at Hola Kids
for Margot and Flynn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would miss the
harvest festival at McKinley for Coco. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was going alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With two witches and
warlock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot wouldn’t walk.</span><br />
I<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">t was nearly 6:30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was already dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ken told me I would be late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was.</span><br />
<br /><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> The festival was in the upper yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we arrived it was already crowded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There wasn’t much light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
noisy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loud music and an emcee on a
platform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was announcing a dance
contest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or was it a costume
contest?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A mob of kids crowded around the
platform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t see what they were
doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot was talking to me. I
couldn’t hear her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come on!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Over here!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked Margot up
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The four of us moved over to the
play structure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> This was a bad idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t see very well in the dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was loud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t like crowds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot wouldn’t walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How am I supposed to watch all three kids at
the same time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where were the
games?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do I get tickets?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed Ken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The darkness, the noise, the crowd wouldn’t bother him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could manage three kids in a dark noisy
crowded upper yard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Take a deep breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure the kids have fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> I crouched down to fix Margot’s
dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flynn wanted to play on the play
structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Fine,” I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco wanted to go too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Fine.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> I thought about tearing the bottom of
the dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ken would probably be mad if
I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to tuck the bottom of the
dress into the front of her tights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No!
Broken,” she said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pushed my hands
away. She was tired.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Margot, we have to tuck it in so you
can walk.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was tired.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Broken!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Dammit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What do I do now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked up and
saw Flynn on the play structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
turned back to Margot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Margot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t carry you.”</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu-lUoqpYzbCKtAVrfmycyU4anJchSm7Obcg-L4h8LGJDcEW6aXtScZi5wunpMB-CSO-cuGI1LAblPn41WW7mNNWaShV64bAcCpDdODoLw5vMcfghJkuyzrVfDOqkyKvmqMSZGO5-Wg8/s1600/201610HalloweenStepsFlynn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu-lUoqpYzbCKtAVrfmycyU4anJchSm7Obcg-L4h8LGJDcEW6aXtScZi5wunpMB-CSO-cuGI1LAblPn41WW7mNNWaShV64bAcCpDdODoLw5vMcfghJkuyzrVfDOqkyKvmqMSZGO5-Wg8/s320/201610HalloweenStepsFlynn.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “No!” she cried.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Coco came back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Daddy, I want to walk around.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’ll walk around.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked
Margot up again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned and looked for
Flynn on the play structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t
see him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t see in the dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was wearing a black cape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black pants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A black hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even his hair was
black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the dark he was practically
invisible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where was he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dammit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All three kids were in black from head to foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dresses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Capes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What was I thinking?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a
bad idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t supposed to be here by myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Find Flynn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Come on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t see Flynn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to find Flynn.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carrying Margot, I took Coco’s hand and we
started walking around the play structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He wasn’t on the bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
wasn’t on the little slide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t on
the big slide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where was he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I circled the play structure again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No Flynn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Coco, do you see Flynn.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her sight was better than mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “No.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Now what do I do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put Margot down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned to Coco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I need you to stay here with Margot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to go find Flynn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be right back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Move.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was this a good idea?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could I leave them alone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could I find Flynn fast if I couldn’t
move fast?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stepped away and Margot
followed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco didn’t notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was climbing on the play structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not a good idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Coco!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Margot’s walking away and you’re not paying attention!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dammit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> I saw Lawrence’s mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, someone I knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked Margot up and took Coco’s hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stepped over to Lawrence’s mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the noise of the music and the emcee, I
shouted, “I have three kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve lost
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you watch these two while I go
look for the third?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was starting to
panic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> She nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes, of course.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Thanks.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned around and started to walk through
the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking for Flynn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where was he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Did he go inside the school?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did
he go toward the games?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did he go back
to the play structure?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was now panicking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been missing for only a
few minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only a few minutes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How far away could he get in a few minutes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was noisy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was crowded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where was my
three-year-old?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I squinted in the
dark.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “We have a lost child.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The emcee announced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Lenny?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Linny?”</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMhXUaDTXEja2BRnAqk8Nv28zhwoe0xEV1RJh0eRdyi34MNBRnSJaVCTpnk8kyaxdAac90DkMwkhTgArh_ncuAVsV4J8ZxbleI5EQqFvU9r52LTCHiz4Z1Bc4Wtl5Kg1DTv3Uo2YpVUs/s1600/201610HalloweenFlynnCC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMhXUaDTXEja2BRnAqk8Nv28zhwoe0xEV1RJh0eRdyi34MNBRnSJaVCTpnk8kyaxdAac90DkMwkhTgArh_ncuAVsV4J8ZxbleI5EQqFvU9r52LTCHiz4Z1Bc4Wtl5Kg1DTv3Uo2YpVUs/s200/201610HalloweenFlynnCC.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flynn and his cotton candy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Flynny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I got to the platform, the emcee, waving my hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He’s mine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He’s mine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right here!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where was he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The emcee pointed down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> There he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking up at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Smaller than all the other kids in the mob around him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was crying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked him up and hugged him and kissed
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sorry, buddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry you got scared.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry I lost you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> I carried him back to Margot and
Coco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Come on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you want something to eat?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s get some hamburgers.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I can do that without losing
anyone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Everyone, hold hands.”</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGiKeX3aSBqMUdw4ws86-v87zn9X3sDvowWuJhjvhJIYjYmp-HdbfHA3Zie1ydXBqj5E_ckN9Uree2SLRfEwcZuASk-b3LSqiqMjrbrHj7B8U2uXqE4UTPlh4NlJCkGpY8KoSDXtco_4/s1600/201610HalloweenSteps3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGiKeX3aSBqMUdw4ws86-v87zn9X3sDvowWuJhjvhJIYjYmp-HdbfHA3Zie1ydXBqj5E_ckN9Uree2SLRfEwcZuASk-b3LSqiqMjrbrHj7B8U2uXqE4UTPlh4NlJCkGpY8KoSDXtco_4/s320/201610HalloweenSteps3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1o2QZeIaSYPkxFMY54K-mZOnLH9vsO7-b2WB8mmD9ctP-OuW4VIntq6KEtfNkMCgX89ywmZOSw1G4COlzXi74Rik7ChESOHDtBobTv_OlheNgQTHNMY2NvpLrRWFurhALIcjZ_6si6s/s1600/201610HalloweenFamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1o2QZeIaSYPkxFMY54K-mZOnLH9vsO7-b2WB8mmD9ctP-OuW4VIntq6KEtfNkMCgX89ywmZOSw1G4COlzXi74Rik7ChESOHDtBobTv_OlheNgQTHNMY2NvpLrRWFurhALIcjZ_6si6s/s320/201610HalloweenFamily.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Three wizards and two witches walk into a bar . . . "</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-21255412422412447782016-07-20T21:30:00.001-07:002016-07-20T21:30:37.949-07:00Dads cry about dumb stuff.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It
was a Wednesday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took Coco to
school as usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left the house at
our normal time, just after Mari arrived at 8:00 a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked to the Muni stop at Church and
Market streets playing "don't step on the cracks" and then we waited
for the J Church and played "I spy with my little eye".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco talked to the birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rode the train to 22nd and Church and
walked the remaining several blocks to school, chatting along the way about
whatever popped into Coco’s mind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
school, Coco pressed the code on the key pad to unlock the doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside, I tucked her Frozen lunch box and her
Frozen thermos into her cubby and signed the morning check-in sheet on the
clipboard by the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was out the
door within a few minutes and on my way to catch the J Church back to
downtown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was 8:45 a.m.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And
then it happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was only a few steps
out the school doors when the tears started welling up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Seriously?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's not even her last day of preschool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's her <em>second-to-last day</em> of
preschool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And your crying about it <em>now</em>?"</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ken
warned me this might happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just the
week before, he had arrived at school to pick Coco up and came in just as she
and her five-year-old classmates were practicing the good-bye song they would
sing at the year-end cultural celebration and preschool graduation party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ken texted me later and confessed that he had
broken into tears right there in the classroom. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">These
weren’t my first daddy tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before Ken
and I flew to India to pick up Margot and Flynn after they were born, I flew
with Coco to Atlanta so that she could stay with her Grandma Connie and </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Grandpa Roy while we were
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco was not quite
two-and-a-half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way back to the airport
with Connie and Roy, sitting in the backseat with Coco, I was feeling anxious
about leaving her for so long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
got to the airport and I got out of the car, Coco cried, wailed and downright
screamed for me not to leave her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
gritted my teeth, told her I loved her, kissed her and waved good-bye and then
walked into the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once inside I
totally lost it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And I mean "Capital L, Capital I" lost it. </span>Burst into tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took several minutes just to pull myself
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Connie and Roy called me just
a short while later to tell me that Coco was enjoying ice cream and playing at
the McDonald’s Playland.)</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLNaG0H6o7JPk-2als8oTpjm1pjSCy3SqlX2n8waB3T0ERNdrSGN5hnZjOps6FZqhwyYfBZutWzEv4qtiINRCKZ_UFQURlb5Jy4vUSO0v84Eq0YCKyci0rolamGuaSHDwyB0xmllVKFM/s1600/201607CocoFirstDay.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLNaG0H6o7JPk-2als8oTpjm1pjSCy3SqlX2n8waB3T0ERNdrSGN5hnZjOps6FZqhwyYfBZutWzEv4qtiINRCKZ_UFQURlb5Jy4vUSO0v84Eq0YCKyci0rolamGuaSHDwyB0xmllVKFM/s320/201607CocoFirstDay.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Day of Preschool<br />Tuesday, October 1, 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So,
here I was, having just dropped Coco off for her second-to-last day of
preschool and I was boo-hoo’ing as I walked to the train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For nearly three years I had taken Coco to
school and picked her up twice a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We took the 24 bus together for the first year and then, when the school
moved, the J Church train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first
two years she rode on my shoulders a lot until she got too big for long shoulder rides and big enough
to run to catch the train if we were late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the mornings we would decide whether to walk on the sunny side of the
street or the shady side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(She knows I
like the shady side.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way home we
would window-shop, always stopping at the window of the toy store on 24th street.
When it closed about six months ago we decided it should re-open as a jelly
bean store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(It didn’t.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting for the train we would watch the
karate class at the corner of 24th and Church and then play "I spy with my
little eye."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once, on the way home,
we were caught in a rainstorm that was so torrential we had to stop and take
cover in a doorway; she still talks about that night.</span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBgMB12NsL86dZ983clRgfF-GKAK_e2ccLT2asDB_Z7-Bw_0CLAxLm0C4CswOv4elDFymBWaJQcYnN9rGPLoXbYRUNEBZ62fJi3fxDFGzrmzQ0vcZtUI6qHPu8yJ_gVeT1_pWMSvekXs/s1600/201607CocoLastDay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBgMB12NsL86dZ983clRgfF-GKAK_e2ccLT2asDB_Z7-Bw_0CLAxLm0C4CswOv4elDFymBWaJQcYnN9rGPLoXbYRUNEBZ62fJi3fxDFGzrmzQ0vcZtUI6qHPu8yJ_gVeT1_pWMSvekXs/s320/201607CocoLastDay.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Day of Preschool<br />Friday, July 1, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Every
day, both coming and going to school, she practiced balancing along a curb that
ran the length of one side Duboce park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When she was two-and-a-half she couldn't do it very well, stepping off
the curb at least a few times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now she
runs the entire length.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Although
a lot of things have changed and she's grown up a lot in the past three years, she never
stopped holding my hand on our way to school and on our way home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the best part. The holding hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the part I’ll remember.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Okay,
now I'm going to lose it again . . .</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Next
month Flynn and Margot start pre-school and I get to start all over with them. Who knows. Maybe we'll get that jelly bean store yet.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhbX34-ppAaEzEDP2VGylyqL3SHt5Q56BHrEj63utOYrq40HdNth-bNpznMup3uUNMGJqEwEKjo-Vo8E6Dpt9LyDHAjr-2D7j0-ZnjqBAeuoojIVWqPK5qeWQGbjUl-h3HYCv2y6dnoE/s1600/201607CocoGraduation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhbX34-ppAaEzEDP2VGylyqL3SHt5Q56BHrEj63utOYrq40HdNth-bNpznMup3uUNMGJqEwEKjo-Vo8E6Dpt9LyDHAjr-2D7j0-ZnjqBAeuoojIVWqPK5qeWQGbjUl-h3HYCv2y6dnoE/s320/201607CocoGraduation.JPG" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Preschool Graduation<br />Friday, June 24, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyB-naishpg0ugLmAJ3uTOxWeEW6yCkKbQgeIRrIbr83UAjufSLNNMGEFDZ5q1ic7S0hpDupM2KnUsDhUY3nOJCuwLq5mR7XhES-rvtjoOz1NiXNUwQI9iI9si11WXcO36PR9hD-805Q/s1600/201607CocoDaddyJChurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyB-naishpg0ugLmAJ3uTOxWeEW6yCkKbQgeIRrIbr83UAjufSLNNMGEFDZ5q1ic7S0hpDupM2KnUsDhUY3nOJCuwLq5mR7XhES-rvtjoOz1NiXNUwQI9iI9si11WXcO36PR9hD-805Q/s320/201607CocoDaddyJChurch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coco and Daddy<br />
Last Day of Preschool / Riding the J Church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-71315328408022055232016-07-12T22:34:00.001-07:002016-07-12T22:34:39.455-07:00Dear Margot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Dear
Margot, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zGa5io9SLgwlIUYpAiZDn7uCVsFlgL_QBdp63bacTLj88oOK7JOMQiGYcOcEEwnNuJ465y0Xj-QIv6eCfocWWJiaf6hjZCoXWaJGWvh-e7pnfR-lHGfWDNwoG9EIapR7dXkVfAN4IoY/s1600/201607MargotDress.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zGa5io9SLgwlIUYpAiZDn7uCVsFlgL_QBdp63bacTLj88oOK7JOMQiGYcOcEEwnNuJ465y0Xj-QIv6eCfocWWJiaf6hjZCoXWaJGWvh-e7pnfR-lHGfWDNwoG9EIapR7dXkVfAN4IoY/s200/201607MargotDress.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You’re
nearly three years old now and anxiously awaiting your birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When asked, “How old are you?”, you quickly
answer, “Dos and half!” (mixing your Spanish and English), and you know your
birthday is in August (although you don’t know when that is, exactly).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your favorite song right now is the “Happy
Birthday” song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost always your
choice for your bedtime song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As
you’re coming up on your third birthday, here are a few things your future-self
might like to know about your nearly-three-year-old self.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So top-of-mind for Daddy and Papa is that you’re not a good
sleeper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are a good number of afternoons when you won’t take a nap and when
you do it’s often pretty short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re
up in the middle of the night nearly every night at least once and most nights
more than once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we hear you
stirring in bed and can intercept you before you get out of bed or out of your
room, but sometimes you make it to Daddy and Papa’s room before we can
intercept you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, most nights
you are easily deposited back into bed and go right back to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, every once in a while you are up
multiple times and won’t stay in bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
those nights Daddy or Papa end up sleeping in your bed with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the lack of naps and the nights of
interrupted sleep, you’re almost always the first one out of bed in the morning
–getting up at 5:45 a.m. almost like clockwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCJ3oXEEx-xnC6OwqZObWyrX9RQSzkYCixwT3HYveiYUZhD-K5rHtAlMlhyFmQB3g3P_NRV1GiPRruAPx32Krc6w7m_Th3DFILTPwABM7V0C6oNXMKpZPjWKvoWx3_MxbdfnqTfWArR8/s1600/201607MargotYardwork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCJ3oXEEx-xnC6OwqZObWyrX9RQSzkYCixwT3HYveiYUZhD-K5rHtAlMlhyFmQB3g3P_NRV1GiPRruAPx32Krc6w7m_Th3DFILTPwABM7V0C6oNXMKpZPjWKvoWx3_MxbdfnqTfWArR8/s200/201607MargotYardwork.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Basically, when it comes to sleeping and eating, you and your
brother are opposites: you’re a bad sleeper but a good eater; he’s a bad eater
but a good sleeper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For a nearly-three-year-old, you’re remarkably tidy and
organized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get quite upset when
something gets spilled, like milk at the dinner table, for example, and you’re
happy to help clean up these sorts of messes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’re so organized that on Easter morning, after the frenzy of pawing
through the Easter baskets died down, you started organizing your basket to
make sure all the jellybeans were put back into the plastic eggs. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You want your food to be tidy too and get quite upset when it
falls apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, think for a minute
about all the food items that can and do fall apart, crumble or break while eating
them – crackers, biscuits, bananas and hamburgers, for example. “Broken!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Broken!” you cry, sometimes frustrated nearly
to the point of tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be quite
some time before tacos will be a dinner option in our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One evening a month or so ago you, your sister and your brother
were watering the plants on the back deck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because this was an unplanned watering activity we didn’t have a
watering can so you all were using your little drinking cups from the
bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of you filled your cup in
the bathroom sink, carried it through the TV room to the deck, and then
delivered it to the plants in your own way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your brother, of course, ran to and fro, spilling a lot of his water
along the way, and throwing the remaining water in the general direction of the
plants before turning and running back for more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your sister watered the plants while
explaining exactly how she was doing it, like she was delivering a DIY segment
on Home & Family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You, on the other
hand, walked carefully with your cup of water from the bathroom to the deck,
making sure not to spill it, and then when you reached the strawberries you
dipped each strawberry into your cup of water so that each one got a tiny sip
of water.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsITd4g21F2qTb9n7EKLkuUo2v2a5QW3PvcAUqYu_khmJPxyt87SEsLUa61uqQr9Ixo3Tv8CMRO5AIj8EoG2eX-kcGJGoRZ0PkjXDxsgrzCw6iL_wTEJ54_a0JV-h_f1ATbn3ohzLlUY/s1600/201607MargotDevice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsITd4g21F2qTb9n7EKLkuUo2v2a5QW3PvcAUqYu_khmJPxyt87SEsLUa61uqQr9Ixo3Tv8CMRO5AIj8EoG2eX-kcGJGoRZ0PkjXDxsgrzCw6iL_wTEJ54_a0JV-h_f1ATbn3ohzLlUY/s200/201607MargotDevice.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpaFN57itQUWLq3vqkslTovomW_XB6LjSSiRwx_5R2oydUxcwT8x-HWc6IThpO4h8IgcXvxFWceZOp2LShV0zxREXzzgcizq4BWBkHsuFxGC8cvy-R6Sx3qEvVaWWUk9gkKsEJsJyMBA/s1600/201607MargotCleaning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpaFN57itQUWLq3vqkslTovomW_XB6LjSSiRwx_5R2oydUxcwT8x-HWc6IThpO4h8IgcXvxFWceZOp2LShV0zxREXzzgcizq4BWBkHsuFxGC8cvy-R6Sx3qEvVaWWUk9gkKsEJsJyMBA/s200/201607MargotCleaning.jpg" width="149" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You like checklists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
morning you like to confirm everyone’s plans for the day while counting them
off on your fingers. “Papa, work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daddy,
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco, school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me, park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Flynny, park.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After dinner you
like to confirm who is getting a treat and who is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Me, treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Coco, treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flynny, no
treat.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(because Flynn never eats his
dinner).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You also like to confirm the
post-dinnertime schedule, counting off on your fingers, “Jamas, TV, treat,
brush teeth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">At
bedtime everyone gets to pick a bedtime song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your favorite right now is “Happy Birthday.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other recent favorites have been “Itsy Bitsy
Spider” and the ABC song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every night
you take to bed with you your baby doll, Donkey and Sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your favorite show right now is Peppa Pig (you’re
actually a bit obsessed), which recently eclipsed Dora the Explorer.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You have a gentle nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I roughhouse with you and your brother and sister, playing Big Bad
Octopus or Monsters, sometimes you prefer not to play. “Not me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not me, Daddy!” or “No meany monster,
Daddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nice monster.” you’ll sometimes
say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do your own thing in other ways
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">On a recent excursion to the park, Coco
and Flynn put on their fairy outfits while you put on your Doc McStuffins’
white lab coat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, when you, Coco and
Flynn play Frozen, Coco and Flynn always want to be Elsa while you choose
Anna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8DFXlAXJKlJjg-BrEqjhJjSUukGbxgILRy55SdtGl5-g8qRhUYxoIh6w4KySXx6BRf_ht2daAy3GP0gabOUOn6HEpGFj7LOANbLigKlGSPAV3E6zLuZu2elw75FdCANoYDtlmOqiYBY/s1600/201607MargotLabcoat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8DFXlAXJKlJjg-BrEqjhJjSUukGbxgILRy55SdtGl5-g8qRhUYxoIh6w4KySXx6BRf_ht2daAy3GP0gabOUOn6HEpGFj7LOANbLigKlGSPAV3E6zLuZu2elw75FdCANoYDtlmOqiYBY/s320/201607MargotLabcoat.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m
glad you choose Anna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anna is fearless,
determined and loyal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you grow up
to be all those things and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPt3r5y5PnwGkgTVnW7E-isBZrgHQeu1aYwDoGPyYpvsWNY18Xbz_akQQPr3YzP1-DQv9oYiY5ggWHq4FzPxhDH63cD0n1jeKTErfTEXawZAAqJ62f90vbjxw8ZsrlBsY5XChAZmnpyQ/s1600/201607MargotDaddy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPt3r5y5PnwGkgTVnW7E-isBZrgHQeu1aYwDoGPyYpvsWNY18Xbz_akQQPr3YzP1-DQv9oYiY5ggWHq4FzPxhDH63cD0n1jeKTErfTEXawZAAqJ62f90vbjxw8ZsrlBsY5XChAZmnpyQ/s320/201607MargotDaddy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-87607866390704348262016-04-12T20:12:00.001-07:002016-04-12T20:12:10.250-07:00Easter 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayo_dhc47sl5y55ZhXh-OE1ErLGEtAEIHUn6GcSbwH0jxgh_ZHVhGm15hkbINIbUAu_XWCQbJWGXUONFUHNCnxrv18O-6OLrn8P30VvPzwURqFCJZoEbhaD_wkLw90YcvK61xsJ891os/s1600/201603coloringeggs1.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayo_dhc47sl5y55ZhXh-OE1ErLGEtAEIHUn6GcSbwH0jxgh_ZHVhGm15hkbINIbUAu_XWCQbJWGXUONFUHNCnxrv18O-6OLrn8P30VvPzwURqFCJZoEbhaD_wkLw90YcvK61xsJ891os/s320/201603coloringeggs1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdppTZM0p4g9oK3XFIxEgw_3_CwzAi5syJvvoRJ1OW_Zec7TYE5rYbGLFb1cBixqCGCcblonSZPGvWeRpOhAKNldSKNZUCZWHKuHcxfDzCR5Q6Ii0C4hIpRciPGxNOTtz3bNWrqHWT2g/s1600/201603coloringeggs2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdppTZM0p4g9oK3XFIxEgw_3_CwzAi5syJvvoRJ1OW_Zec7TYE5rYbGLFb1cBixqCGCcblonSZPGvWeRpOhAKNldSKNZUCZWHKuHcxfDzCR5Q6Ii0C4hIpRciPGxNOTtz3bNWrqHWT2g/s320/201603coloringeggs2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AVG3M-ghadWDzRLRHcVUNni5djh9h2P1A1YjY59d1gM-6pqzeT_HBRc9EcUXbqaW1E7MEzCg0tRh1BKdGdhSMxh5stctKekhGMc-7uy3Echkok6EKL1HDCTlF08upA9KwnnUibT6dtA/s1600/201603EasterMorn1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AVG3M-ghadWDzRLRHcVUNni5djh9h2P1A1YjY59d1gM-6pqzeT_HBRc9EcUXbqaW1E7MEzCg0tRh1BKdGdhSMxh5stctKekhGMc-7uy3Echkok6EKL1HDCTlF08upA9KwnnUibT6dtA/s200/201603EasterMorn1.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting to see what the Easter Bunny brought.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2Xb6kzHy3A3l2F8PvbhpdO91NBwAQ2CLUHGM9tdo54GrZeFklmCvp99HvBgxLG0v3LLo3GVmA3N37JzN0LJUEsr9KbOpCS1hiFP0pnJPgBj4VGF9Z_SEgMWjM7H2pXTzjqF3Qt7hs_o/s1600/201603EasterMorn2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2Xb6kzHy3A3l2F8PvbhpdO91NBwAQ2CLUHGM9tdo54GrZeFklmCvp99HvBgxLG0v3LLo3GVmA3N37JzN0LJUEsr9KbOpCS1hiFP0pnJPgBj4VGF9Z_SEgMWjM7H2pXTzjqF3Qt7hs_o/s320/201603EasterMorn2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Loot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAS9ASgEGyMIsKw9cvhC0-WsmHLemrAX-9Wl4kJ4zkYAjrOWxC-8OsonYMVj-vuvX8u18EGztiRsEfSjZg_sRZ9jTcLZyvJy3DwCQh9Drtg7wYZrqeEhyTrhAQkxh2U64Mj4qcXGLN5Ps/s1600/201603Hunting0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAS9ASgEGyMIsKw9cvhC0-WsmHLemrAX-9Wl4kJ4zkYAjrOWxC-8OsonYMVj-vuvX8u18EGztiRsEfSjZg_sRZ9jTcLZyvJy3DwCQh9Drtg7wYZrqeEhyTrhAQkxh2U64Mj4qcXGLN5Ps/s320/201603Hunting0.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"Let's find us some eggs!"</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiex_7F3IBCOj-4zmcecnQN5Jy3svccmSCiWkCWwoabZErBaf_Bwlw_UeW863xI5ncftQUIkl2QtH3vKBtL3qnPdddzcTDhzkVh3AwbnQ7PmwDsq6gR11fh_rjr140_68D7FerhoaZ7JqU/s1600/201603Hunting2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiex_7F3IBCOj-4zmcecnQN5Jy3svccmSCiWkCWwoabZErBaf_Bwlw_UeW863xI5ncftQUIkl2QtH3vKBtL3qnPdddzcTDhzkVh3AwbnQ7PmwDsq6gR11fh_rjr140_68D7FerhoaZ7JqU/s320/201603Hunting2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"Come on, Margot! They must be here somewhere!"</em></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aLd6f1Z2DBzby7_aACo8efZ2wCmV8j9gPX-Z5BQfQIAnRm15oJIid7dA-O6dVNjAdGzkp8fX0sa6lqmA0U5P6ZvBzOXoz_kBFXzXILFEXq-ERZRa_WExOaJlL82IVOrCEUJt2dx6yZ4/s1600/201603Hunting3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aLd6f1Z2DBzby7_aACo8efZ2wCmV8j9gPX-Z5BQfQIAnRm15oJIid7dA-O6dVNjAdGzkp8fX0sa6lqmA0U5P6ZvBzOXoz_kBFXzXILFEXq-ERZRa_WExOaJlL82IVOrCEUJt2dx6yZ4/s320/201603Hunting3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"Nice color. Nice texture. Matches the dress. <br />I think I'll keep this one."</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIcwV4gc-ugR0QwtmYPdw6Ma0SgUFBjBkjYwdGBZUr_B-5CJ_OlOxzHRP89GWlue3ZzDYNBirrAoVOp2swc5vrxqL4mUrbUOYuVLg-nJPzhkSr61wjfMA0vW2wAKTLKTEU9A91Z4Je1Y/s1600/201603All3Kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIcwV4gc-ugR0QwtmYPdw6Ma0SgUFBjBkjYwdGBZUr_B-5CJ_OlOxzHRP89GWlue3ZzDYNBirrAoVOp2swc5vrxqL4mUrbUOYuVLg-nJPzhkSr61wjfMA0vW2wAKTLKTEU9A91Z4Je1Y/s320/201603All3Kids.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter 2016<br />Mendocino County Fairgrounds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlNpQYJvLnoD9RCNtFy7FsWKyrsRL0W1m2jG1vGfn9JRIDa9dhLYpXD_7FesQBPrOYkoSoD2QctLC300vkKZur5PakThkww84YL6HVx-XHHtWliU-IjXYiFjWyNZqK1YIOT3kbnZJN-4/s1600/201603Daddy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlNpQYJvLnoD9RCNtFy7FsWKyrsRL0W1m2jG1vGfn9JRIDa9dhLYpXD_7FesQBPrOYkoSoD2QctLC300vkKZur5PakThkww84YL6HVx-XHHtWliU-IjXYiFjWyNZqK1YIOT3kbnZJN-4/s200/201603Daddy.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bunny behind the camera</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-43769930864259073122016-03-21T21:43:00.004-07:002016-04-07T20:46:01.714-07:00Dear Flynn, . . . . <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Dear<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span>Flynn, </span><br />
<br />
I<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">’ve
been waiting for the right story to tell about you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An anecdote that would capture something about
your personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some narrative that
would epitomize your character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No clear story, no obvious story to tell, has come
to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, instead of a single story, I offer you the following tidbits, snippets and brief notes which I hope create a picture of you as a
two-and-a-half-year-old little boy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In
the morning you like to shave with Daddy or, rather, while Daddy shaves you
like to smear shaving cream all over your body.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKQhh9wd6rS5LF7wH9DL28SkS4D-iiUsxmc7Ayx35R9AXzC79zkMjjw3jmQeSWgZmNh_0KLWWBSYUVnd_2gtg4HqLxPfu2O8d63nbtVyuGpuEj4v-K4zfOqIIepv0MSjHKBdHbh42OF0/s1600/201602FlynnShaving.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKQhh9wd6rS5LF7wH9DL28SkS4D-iiUsxmc7Ayx35R9AXzC79zkMjjw3jmQeSWgZmNh_0KLWWBSYUVnd_2gtg4HqLxPfu2O8d63nbtVyuGpuEj4v-K4zfOqIIepv0MSjHKBdHbh42OF0/s320/201602FlynnShaving.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You
have two favorite foods: waffles and apple juice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re more like addictions, actually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want waffles for breakfast every day and
you want apple juice morning, noon and night and at all times in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try not to open the fridge when you’re
around since it will only remind you that there’s apple juice in the house and
that you most certainly want some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You
love to watch Nina and Star on the Sprout channel at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I poll you and your sisters after dinner
about what you all want to watch on TV before bed, you plead for “NinaStar!
NinaStar!”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Your
favorite pajamas are purple Doc McStuffins PJs. They were Margot's, I'm sure, but you took them as your <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">own so long ago I don't remember t<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">hem belonging to anyone else.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You paw through your stacks of PJs to find
them and then pull them out, so happy, grinning and holding them up high as if
they were a prize of some sort.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Your
favorite bedtime book is “My first words.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You like it when Papa or Daddy ask you to find something on the page and
you get to point to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOQ4sqphhIgQBsbm3Unvb9YkACJNb7iPw5jjOMghpCr4zs7U0LwLv5_NM1_hnBQOBr0crwxoSN-yPwLWcOAnjN40Fevp9OgAWcO7RLiMqA92_PSLH1EAjm2d1fuWvLNpf1uRqmuvwVEE/s1600/201602FavoriteThings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOQ4sqphhIgQBsbm3Unvb9YkACJNb7iPw5jjOMghpCr4zs7U0LwLv5_NM1_hnBQOBr0crwxoSN-yPwLWcOAnjN40Fevp9OgAWcO7RLiMqA92_PSLH1EAjm2d1fuWvLNpf1uRqmuvwVEE/s320/201602FavoriteThings.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favorite Things <br />
Coco's Frozen tiara<br />
Margot's black shoes<br />
Flynn's "My first words" book</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You
love to brush your teeth before bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or,
more accurately, you love to suck the toothpaste off your toothbrush and then
play with your toothbrush and your drinking cup in the water running out of the
faucet. Very little br<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">ushing actually <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">happens.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCAtl8FR1xWhfUEHRY2807yPrrRNFxQlb7WnQCjE03KHtbOeQgUWK0S0fYlL-cqmPw9oDZFgZ9XDRuhvfOELyvSiHFoI-SPPfmlnH9VwjQjxoLY7Y4CAL_ZWR5iq3mGGtr1K9iv1LjpE/s1600/201602FlynnJumping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCAtl8FR1xWhfUEHRY2807yPrrRNFxQlb7WnQCjE03KHtbOeQgUWK0S0fYlL-cqmPw9oDZFgZ9XDRuhvfOELyvSiHFoI-SPPfmlnH9VwjQjxoLY7Y4CAL_ZWR5iq3mGGtr1K9iv1LjpE/s320/201602FlynnJumping.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You
love to jump on and off everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ev.ry.thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You jump on beds and
on couches and off steps and off stools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You build things so that you can jump off them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You like to carry your step-stool from the
bathroom to the TV room, put the stool on the coffee table, climb up on the
stool on top of the coffee table and then jump from the stool on top of the
coffee table to the couch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
constantly saying, “Flynn, no jumping.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At first in a stern voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then,
because you don’t stop, I say, “Flynn, stop jumping,” in a sterner and louder
voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, finally, because you still
don’t stop, with a raised voice I say, “Flynn, do you hear me?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you want to sit on the steps?!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjlvICNECQDwOTgI5R1EEGbIu6UmankaxB9Wisjlg_9ilAni4_3mXzCmcz7lYURT8tKSQKuA_wQ-9fxYDPCIz55yHSfGEsmUfgSsYAChAGq3raxIP5PXFfcDSFWe4JZfh62N0lekjfDQ/s1600/201602FlynnHanging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjlvICNECQDwOTgI5R1EEGbIu6UmankaxB9Wisjlg_9ilAni4_3mXzCmcz7lYURT8tKSQKuA_wQ-9fxYDPCIz55yHSfGEsmUfgSsYAChAGq3raxIP5PXFfcDSFWe4JZfh62N0lekjfDQ/s320/201602FlynnHanging.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Believe
it or not, at one point I thought you might have a hearing problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really thought we might have to have your hearing
checked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I would tell you to do
something (or, more often, tell you to stop doing something) you wouldn’t
respond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco and Margot, on the other
hand, were always responsive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like you couldn’t hear me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I realized that you didn't have a problem hearing me when I said, “Flynn, do you want to sit on the steps?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can hear just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re just stubborn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFlLLQ0nthXw8kLBmVAmZl4c2u43vT0NeMdhhryQb-AdZ8Q8NJJzhiNmZWJW03ixNb-NF8wniPuV-yifKkQ-pbOlC1CA0e80RpvEerr5cvoJSxX7UZOnFaUO0jlEmnDtEtzNoA5_dZmc/s1600/201602FlynnBike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFlLLQ0nthXw8kLBmVAmZl4c2u43vT0NeMdhhryQb-AdZ8Q8NJJzhiNmZWJW03ixNb-NF8wniPuV-yifKkQ-pbOlC1CA0e80RpvEerr5cvoJSxX7UZOnFaUO0jlEmnDtEtzNoA5_dZmc/s320/201602FlynnBike.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Last Christmas
I bought you a matching game; a box of cards with matching bears. On
Christmas Day I laid out a handful of the bear cards on a table, showed you how
they matched and then showed you how to match them. I gave you a bear
card and asked you to find the match. You pointed to a random bear.
I tried it again. Same result. Again I tried. Same
result. <i>Arrghh!!</i> So I went to the kitchen and got a little
bag of fruit-flavored gummi treats. I sat back down with you at the table
and explained to you that if you matched the bear I would give you a gummi
treat. <i>Ta da!</i> You managed to start producing perfect
matches. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You
love to be picked up and carried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And,
if your req<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">uest to be picked up and carried is </span>refused, you completely fall out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
A <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">c</span></span>omplete meltdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You throw
yourself down, lay flat on your back, and wail and wail and wail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve started to grow out of it mostly,
after Papa started insi<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">s<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">ting on some </span></span>tough love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you had these "pick-me<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">-up!" </span>meltdowns we just walked
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked away from you countless times
at home, <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">a<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> couple of </span></span>times on the sidewalk, once in a mall, and once in an
airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just so you know, this nearly
killed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Particularly the time at the
mall when, watching you from some distance have your meltdown in the middle of
the mall, I had to signal to concerned strangers that you were my child, had
not been abandoned and were not somehow being abused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each time, you eventually dragged yourself up
on to your feet and came running from behind, still wailing but at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>least you were upright and walking.</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You
spend some time each day in time-outs on the steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the beginning you would often sit on the
steps calmly, as if you were just on a bit of a break and waiting for someone
to bring you a cup of coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now,
however, you really don’t like it and make that quite well known to the rest of
us. This too you are growing out of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirN9LgSPdXHWrh30MDUL8z2mjWlSoWBuogsudcDhhOKZczZjkDIj3YVgw9QvP-bIGq52GZcEp5tBnhrCdzI_jNZmgzPtI5_lYrqpKQ0vRlL7ZcoFYtHP2iUw0E33tvXsg3t0WYvRw7_M/s1600/201602FlynnCoffee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirN9LgSPdXHWrh30MDUL8z2mjWlSoWBuogsudcDhhOKZczZjkDIj3YVgw9QvP-bIGq52GZcEp5tBnhrCdzI_jNZmgzPtI5_lYrqpKQ0vRlL7ZcoFYtHP2iUw0E33tvXsg3t0WYvRw7_M/s320/201602FlynnCoffee.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flynn checking email over coffee with Daddy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
great conundrum right now, Flynn, is your refusal to eat dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You
stopped eating dinner several months ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’re just not that into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’re happy to sit at the dinner table with us and you’re happy to
drink your milk, but you have no interest whatsoever in the meal in front of
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it doesn’t matter what the meal
is; you’re just as uninterested in pizza as you are in broccoli.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought for a while it was because Mari
might be giving you snacks late in the afternoon so you had no appetite at
dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s not it because we
know that even when you don’t get snacks in the afternoon you still don’t eat
dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So,
every night we have the same ritual.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> A
few minutes after we sit down for dinner, you turn to me, tilt your head, look
at me with your big brown eyes, smile and say, “Treat?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Only
if you eat some of your dinner,” I reply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> I am not even asking you to eat all your dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d be happy if you ate even one bite of your dinner at this
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows, as a man<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> wi<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">th a sweet<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">-tooth, </span></span></span>I want you to have a
treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few weeks ago, in the middle of
our no-treat ritual, I said to you, “Flynn, you’re breaking my heart
here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now sometimes Coco likes to tell you
when you don't eat your dinner that you're breaking her heart.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Treat?”
you try again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “No,
you have to eat some of your dinner.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Then
you say, “Margot, no treat?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This, as
you know, upsets your sister across the table who eats her dinner every night and always gets a
treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, Margot panics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes, treat!” she insists.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Margot,
no treat,” you say again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Yes,
Margot, you get a treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flynn, stop
saying that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Margot,
no treat.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Margot
then has to confirm that everyone will get a treat except you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Pointing to everyone at the table, one by one, she <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">goes throug<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">h <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">the <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">roster: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>“Margot, treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco, treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Daddy, treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Papa, treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flynn, no treat.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> After
dinner, when Coco and Margot<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>get their
treats, you never seem surprised or upset that you don’t get one as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">S</span>itting with me on the couch with your</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> cup of apple juice watching <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Nina and Star<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></span>is enough
for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KNFvVAKkvG1MZy-ZFBH6xoSA11li3z9sISHJZ_g5DUhfgytykTv1SFj0o2D8VCDmbxNHaifBuqcuE8A-LqtrpDAN_SCzGAmg9KpAPsu9h87SKuORg3ccizKs0y17NetxVlIHlPKDL30/s1600/201603FlynnNursery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KNFvVAKkvG1MZy-ZFBH6xoSA11li3z9sISHJZ_g5DUhfgytykTv1SFj0o2D8VCDmbxNHaifBuqcuE8A-LqtrpDAN_SCzGAmg9KpAPsu9h87SKuORg3ccizKs0y17NetxVlIHlPKDL30/s320/201603FlynnNursery.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-20181052938818136642016-02-22T21:21:00.000-08:002016-03-12T14:28:04.935-08:00Ballet Class for Cornelia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Coco has been fascinated with ballet since . . ., well, as long as I can remember. She has always had multiple tutus, she has watched the Barbie ballet movies multiple times ("Barbie of Swan Lake" and "Barbie in the Pink Shoes," both of which are actually quite good), and she has been putting on dance shows for some time now. Finally, in January, she started her first official ballet class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First official ballet class, Friday, January 8, 2016<br />
City Ballet, San Francisco</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Finding a ballet class was no easy task, or at least
finding one that worked into our schedule was no easy task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let's just say it took Ken a lot of time, a lot
of Internet research, and a detailed spreadsheet to find a ballet class for
three- to four-year-olds, somewhere within a reasonable distance from our
house, on a Monday, a Friday or at the end of the day on a Wednesday, and accepting
new students in January. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately we
found a class at 4:00 p.m on Friday afternoons at City Ballet -- which is about
as ideal as we could have hoped for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have to give a shout out to our friend Eric who
took Coco to ballet class on her first day -- when attendance was required and when Ken and I
were both out of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even took a picture
for us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Usually, Ken takes Coco to her class and then takes Margot
and Flynn to Zuni, a restaurant Ken used to frequent for cocktails and dinners with
friends "back in the day."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
he sips apple juice and munches on French fries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for apple juice and French fries</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-21553455960232092772015-12-13T23:52:00.002-08:002015-12-14T20:27:32.927-08:00Bedtime Rituals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">One night last week - one of the nights
Ken was out of town - I put all three kids to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the usual bedtime ritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All three kids know it:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pajamas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One bedtime story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One TV show
(Mother Goose Club, Dora, Diego, or Doc McStuffins usually) with something to
drink and a treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brushing teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, finally, to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">“Tucking-in” is a mini-ritual within the
bedtime ritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These days it usually
involves Margot choosing which of her "babies" will sleep with her
and Flynn deciding if he'll have a stuffed friend in bed with him or if he’ll
simply throw it on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco gets into bed and waits patiently to be tucked in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(By the way, all three
kids are now officially in the same room with three twin beds all lined up in a
row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How that finally came to be is
another post.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there is finally the actual tucking in and multiple good-night
kisses for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flynn is the most intentional
about good night kisses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You lean down
to give him a kiss and he's looking up at you waiting for it, and then he
reaches up, grabs your head, pulls it down and gives you a big sloppy two-year-old-kiss
right on the lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It cracks me up every
time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">With all three kids tucked into bed I
went downstairs to work for a while before going to bed myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not more than a few minutes after I sat down
in the dining room to work, I heard steps coming down the stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then into the dining room came all three
kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned and looked at them standing
in the doorway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All three of them
appearing at the same time is a new phenomenon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It felt a bit like the arrival of a delegation of sorts, kind of like <and say this part in an official announcer-like voice> "The Delegation Representing Upstairs has arrived, sir."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave them my best raised-eyebrows,
head tilted, questioning, "why are you up" look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">Coco, as the speaker on behalf of The
Delegation Representing Upstairs (which makes sense since she is the only Delegate
who can speak in complete sentences), said, "Margot and Flynn want to
sleep in my bed with me."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">"No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone needs to sleep in their own bed,"
I said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">"But they want to sleep in my
bed."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">"Well, they can't.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now everyone needs to go to bed."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">So I took them all back upstairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tucked in Margot and I tucked in Flynn with all
the necessary good-night kisses -- including the reach-grab-and-pull kiss from
Flynn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned to Coco who was sitting on
her bed, not looking like she was going to sleep anytime soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">"Okay,” I said to her. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Margot and Flynn can sleep in your bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But only after I leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I don't want to hear any running around
up here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned and went back downstairs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">Minutes later The Delegation Representing
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Coco my best "why are you downstairs <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this
time</i>?" look.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">Then she said to me, “You didn’t
tuck me in.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she burst into tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>hey were not boo-hoo-hoo for-sympathy
tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were honest to goodness “and you
really hurt my feelings” tears.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">I did <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>not</u></i> see that coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had, in fact, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>not</u></i>
tucked her in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had violated our
bedtime ritual. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>So, I knelt in front of my crying little girl
and gave her a big hug and a kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m so sorry,
pun’kin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t tuck you in because I
thought you were waiting for me to leave so you could get Margot and Flynn into
your bed with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m really
sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m really glad you came
downstairs to tell me you were upset.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She stopped crying and gave me a hug back. “It’s okay, Daddy,” she said
softly, sniffing just a bit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">Sometimes a child can break your heart
and warm your heart at the very same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;">So I took The Delegation Representing Upstairs
back upstairs, tucked them in – all three of them – and told them a story about
a dragon that was the friendliest dragon you would ever meet, who stopped at a
village for drink of water from the fountain in the square, fell asleep and
scared all the villagers until three little children named Coco, Margot and
Flynn came out and woke up the dragon and introduced themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They become the best of friends. The End.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess Rule #18 <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Always hang your tiara on your headboard <br />when you go to
bed at night. <br />
One never knows when one might have need of <br />its magical powers. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xo8O5whjIWaaC2sa2Y9qXDyBZjaBM0On2zHPduVSOKJur6xcOM8lsuv_jOBoxqzMaAg48DBMg5JqUNJup7J4cz62DAzUX2wSJS9rbc8Fmu5eC_xg1T8v39KnvMSIBQsqXc2WNTL6mv0/s1600/201512MargotFlynnBed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xo8O5whjIWaaC2sa2Y9qXDyBZjaBM0On2zHPduVSOKJur6xcOM8lsuv_jOBoxqzMaAg48DBMg5JqUNJup7J4cz62DAzUX2wSJS9rbc8Fmu5eC_xg1T8v39KnvMSIBQsqXc2WNTL6mv0/s320/201512MargotFlynnBed.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margot and Flynn before their move from cribs to big-kid beds.</td></tr>
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<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-3992222020412068542015-11-01T20:16:00.002-08:002015-11-01T20:16:59.540-08:00Holloween 2015: Woodland Faeries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWf8LNBLaWdjHvzCFBwvUh7-nhlZFSPQ9gxGPe8o8nJ1e6OTwaTukiYtTMS3gVEvW_C-UiehIRaZCRHMgu2lxngw7qkErJitvqLnNUXsPE00cRj4moYgdV0-0FZ8zPiYVc_Ku3nr9HhE/s1600/201510Porch3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWf8LNBLaWdjHvzCFBwvUh7-nhlZFSPQ9gxGPe8o8nJ1e6OTwaTukiYtTMS3gVEvW_C-UiehIRaZCRHMgu2lxngw7qkErJitvqLnNUXsPE00cRj4moYgdV0-0FZ8zPiYVc_Ku3nr9HhE/s320/201510Porch3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">three little woodland faeries </td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfN4V93pCRWFkEXBPaB1QDiNoxw61pS17tJU1JIUnuc7356h-WkBNQKuIPPFYzrwC8Fp7pZkkGNoX5Hi61VZLDcKJaq_q4C-_m_zI5V2fZACs06aksgW12HLxpptzc7D8z8oy89HMzH7I/s1600/201510PorchFamily.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfN4V93pCRWFkEXBPaB1QDiNoxw61pS17tJU1JIUnuc7356h-WkBNQKuIPPFYzrwC8Fp7pZkkGNoX5Hi61VZLDcKJaq_q4C-_m_zI5V2fZACs06aksgW12HLxpptzc7D8z8oy89HMzH7I/s320/201510PorchFamily.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a family of woodland faeries</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOypfw89LOxk8yiyFC7YgHSKr45_PI85TYxlm9leJPfnkfOXXS9JZAmqiuDtnfP4vyTEkHVz7rZXRImRE31aHeLU0zip3iW9UJfVHsudaDdliiUHYeAgMtML4CsDXNQbQEX6fdkEaEkI/s1600/201510All3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOypfw89LOxk8yiyFC7YgHSKr45_PI85TYxlm9leJPfnkfOXXS9JZAmqiuDtnfP4vyTEkHVz7rZXRImRE31aHeLU0zip3iW9UJfVHsudaDdliiUHYeAgMtML4CsDXNQbQEX6fdkEaEkI/s320/201510All3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Woodland Faeries! Let's do this!"</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicGk5Uk1lIICq41iiiOundXoT5jWafLXgefr1_HaTVYkj-wTnqtAmPhPsepdfQftVdgLBv5akO6r9B6sP5A_BSxPigSnFng9smf0_dn017QhugsiIGAHuLSZtHpqzhZqhdYW1FJk7VPU/s1600/201510MargotFlynn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicGk5Uk1lIICq41iiiOundXoT5jWafLXgefr1_HaTVYkj-wTnqtAmPhPsepdfQftVdgLBv5akO6r9B6sP5A_BSxPigSnFng9smf0_dn017QhugsiIGAHuLSZtHpqzhZqhdYW1FJk7VPU/s320/201510MargotFlynn2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flynn: <i>"Margot, why do you keep putting the candy in here?"</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1W3WXTLKEG5q7SITDYbHmV7Lu0C2z1gY8gbJiWiRfiHT7XvEKA0pOA3BsRHtg1RLq2NafokldhND2Zqe_eBYLJ1SLYVu6nIAemTj80-FCKgRqr2EkjURAvCBSx4Q6C3J_7jII0svGv4/s1600/201510MargotFlynn3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1W3WXTLKEG5q7SITDYbHmV7Lu0C2z1gY8gbJiWiRfiHT7XvEKA0pOA3BsRHtg1RLq2NafokldhND2Zqe_eBYLJ1SLYVu6nIAemTj80-FCKgRqr2EkjURAvCBSx4Q6C3J_7jII0svGv4/s320/201510MargotFlynn3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flynn: <i>"Maybe if I bite it hard enough I can get it open."</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfa4FrSRGg71ZKKqZT4lTP_su_qAjswmXCldO8THEAw7hrltzLLQQBWdMICVZEKTyspoVITuntrGngk41NwkGW7twyr1KT2SIOv4SXtiQP9E-Og4HCqHmKoy1B7v5DtadXNuX-Z_t9jA/s1600/201510Flynn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfa4FrSRGg71ZKKqZT4lTP_su_qAjswmXCldO8THEAw7hrltzLLQQBWdMICVZEKTyspoVITuntrGngk41NwkGW7twyr1KT2SIOv4SXtiQP9E-Og4HCqHmKoy1B7v5DtadXNuX-Z_t9jA/s320/201510Flynn2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flynn: <i>"still . . . biting . . . ."</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7OYtdXEEJe373nTW3OgRCuF3vL2J6XnKaIZ_BmHA1A7fK4kit-8zhacuxeU7IBCnkih6lCACHq8kU54CL2w9vw_Hn7igMOxVuc81jZifzKYQJTJeYhStjJu4pxJ0FI1PB78ibckLFP8/s1600/201510Flynn3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7OYtdXEEJe373nTW3OgRCuF3vL2J6XnKaIZ_BmHA1A7fK4kit-8zhacuxeU7IBCnkih6lCACHq8kU54CL2w9vw_Hn7igMOxVuc81jZifzKYQJTJeYhStjJu4pxJ0FI1PB78ibckLFP8/s320/201510Flynn3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flynn: <i> "For the love of all that's good in the world, <u>please open this for me</u>!"</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmMv4uLQoIO13hK7fPypspz6iyOoJvk3Vp_9QU4YF99NipjtGx6L8hW9xd7DU8yLQqliFD9ki7oEGZk_A25BMacXhVx-O3tWWnguRi7b7NOqgmewA90a3KsVWWt7n9h4P28Z8Qa_KJtc/s1600/201510Flynn4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmMv4uLQoIO13hK7fPypspz6iyOoJvk3Vp_9QU4YF99NipjtGx6L8hW9xd7DU8yLQqliFD9ki7oEGZk_A25BMacXhVx-O3tWWnguRi7b7NOqgmewA90a3KsVWWt7n9h4P28Z8Qa_KJtc/s320/201510Flynn4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flynn: <i>"I'm just going to sit here and eat my fish until all these strange people go away."</i></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-62680434046885180952015-11-01T19:45:00.000-08:002015-11-01T19:45:41.342-08:00Postcards from Mendocino: County Fair 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Twin kids, meet the twin kids."</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Your first time at the rodeo?"<br />"Nope."<br />"Me neither."</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Words I never want to hear from any of these three:<br /><i>"Can I do that too someday?"</i></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-40613055853838695012015-10-11T22:32:00.000-07:002015-10-11T22:32:01.678-07:00Postcards from Mendocino: Labor Day Harvest 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the early spring of 2008 Ken and I planted a small orchard at our place near Boonville. Okay, "small" might not be the right word. We planted nearly 40 fruit trees. And for the following several summers we were quite dedicated to the orchard. In fact, much to my surprise, it became mostly my project and I really enjoyed it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then came Child One and our time outside "in the garden" diminished a bit. Ken stopped planting his vegetable garden altogether. Then Ken started traveling for work every week and with my travel too, our trips north lessened a bit. Then came Child Two and Child Three, and Child One started on the birthday party circuit. Our trips north lessened further still and our time in the garden become nonexistent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As you can imagine, the yard has been neglected a bit. Okay, more than a bit. And the California drought has not helped Yet the trees in the orchard have kept on keepin' on for these past several years. Yes, we've lost several over time, but the majority are still there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Over Labor Day this year we harvested three big baskets of pears and apples from an orchared that hasn't been watered in, um, three years. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The kids had a good time picking apples, although we had to keep an eye on Flynn and Margot who tended to take a single bite from the apples and then toss them into the basket.</span> <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-73914264129634289952015-09-15T23:45:00.000-07:002015-09-15T23:45:49.977-07:00The Mouse in the House<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">One early morning last week I staggered
downstairs to the kitchen to make some much needed coffee in the blessed quiet
before my three children would be awake demanding Aquanauts on the TV and milk in
their sippy cups. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I stood at the
counter in the kitchen, bleary-eyed, enjoying the aroma of brewing coffee, I
heard it . . . . the shuffley-scratchy sound of a mouse in the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I froze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Suddenly I was very much awake, listening intently to that all-too-familiar
shuffley-scratchy sound of a mouse in the house and trying to determine the
exact location of the cursed critter.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">You see, last spring and summer our entire
neighborhood was overrun with mice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was a frequent topic of sidewalk conversation among the neighbors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nearly all of us resorted to a not-inexpensive
service that not only got rid of the mice, but carefully sealed every nook and
cranny around the ground level of the house so that no more mice would make our
home their home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And ultimately it
worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mice vanished and were not
seen or heard from again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, as I stood in the kitchen that early
morning last week waiting for my coffee to brew, I was not at all happy to hear
once again the shuffley-scratchy sound of a mouse in the house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Without moving, using my super-human, bionic-woman-like
powers of hearing, I listened carefully so that I could pinpoint the exact location of
the little varmint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
shuffley-scratchy sound of the mouse in the house was louder than I
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And more animated too. </span>Could there be two?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What in the dickens were they doing? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dancing? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why were they out and about in the house
in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our previous mouse
guests and been active only at night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Gradually, I turned from the counter and crept
across the kitchen towards the breakfast room as quietly as, well, a mouse, so
that I might catch a glimpse of the little intruder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, there in the breakfast room, seated at
the breakfast room table, tiny little fingers tapping away at the keyboard on
my laptop, was Margot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She turned to me
and grinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Good morning, Daddy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I was j</span>ust checking your email.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I have some toast?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, she didn’t say that because she’s not
talking yet, but it’s what she would have said if she could have said something.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, Margot had toddled downstairs sometime earlier
that morning, before I was up, and sat herself in front of my laptop to pass
the time until she knew I would finally show up to make her some toast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">You see, in our house we don’t have mice
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we have is free-range two-year-olds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Margot was the first to climb out of her
crib.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, first she climbed out of
her pack-n-play in the country over Labor Day Weekend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again and again one night. To the point where at different times during the night Ken and I were sleeping next to the pack-n-play to keep her in her bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then when we got back home to San Francisco
she demonstrated her ability to clamber quite easily out of her crib.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got quite good at it quite fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, last weekend when she was supposed to
be taking a nap she climbed out of her crib ten times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not an exaggeration. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I counted. </span>I thought that if every time she climbed out
of her crib I put her right back in, she would eventually give up and take her
nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She, on the other hand, thought in
her little head, “If every time Daddy puts me back in my crib I climb right
back out, he’ll eventually give up and I won’t have to take a nap.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was actually several days before I sat in
the room and watched her climb out of her crib.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She would swing her leg up over the end of the crib, pull herself over
the side, tummy down, and then lower herself so that she could set first one foot and then
the other foot on the cross piece at mattress level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she would simply hop off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not to be outdone for long, it was only a week
before Flynn realized he was getting left behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He quickly figured out the art of crib
climbing and became a free-range two-year-old as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, sadly, we bid adeiu to the period when we could put two of our
three children to bed and count on them to stay put.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we say "hola" to the nightly battle of wills to
get children to go to bed and stay in bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuITMLNrJ2T9DDy5UdjhV5OzM8nVAApko1Xryhw2-9aLht2s-DB00dy-84ol79VUjzjwH9S58gX-ZHsRp5O7_NZjP_Wk5-6yBAMM7TVll-hOIeiFIDXx8436wdoB3pKmiem3kNBKXDMY/s1600/201509MargotFlynnSleeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuITMLNrJ2T9DDy5UdjhV5OzM8nVAApko1Xryhw2-9aLht2s-DB00dy-84ol79VUjzjwH9S58gX-ZHsRp5O7_NZjP_Wk5-6yBAMM7TVll-hOIeiFIDXx8436wdoB3pKmiem3kNBKXDMY/s320/201509MargotFlynnSleeping.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margot and Flynn, not in their beds but in Coco's bed instead.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-48232733804237379102015-09-05T00:11:00.001-07:002015-09-15T23:55:50.073-07:00Margot and Flynn turn 2.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Flynn
and Margot are now two.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Margot
continues to be an independent, curious and introverted little girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I’m so thankful there might be at least one
more introvert in this family to keep me company . . . that is, when I want
company . . ..)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At two, Margot already has
her own opinion about the clothes she’ll wear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the morning when I pull clothes out of her drawer she makes it very
clear if the outfit I’ve chosen is acceptable to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She may not have many words yet (see more on
that below) but she knows “no” and uses it often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because her shoes and pajamas are kept in
bins she can reach, she brings to me the shoes she wants to wear in the morning
and the pajamas she wants to wear at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dora and Doc McStuffins are already her favorites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I’m the easy-going dad who can barely
get himself dressed in the morning, she gets to wear whatever she chooses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIQiVLBue2kaYnNGRVMRkMwPm9sWnjKw6HuTD29dw6MnO9pwJUoprUf7-7vhh88p8TEu9mJDZzEYlzE0PRsuqGQr54Px_Nls3BU0VkNNlXAObVuMF8-WNKVh4FTaBEgpjgvNoIgQgEk0/s1600/201508MargotDaddy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIQiVLBue2kaYnNGRVMRkMwPm9sWnjKw6HuTD29dw6MnO9pwJUoprUf7-7vhh88p8TEu9mJDZzEYlzE0PRsuqGQr54Px_Nls3BU0VkNNlXAObVuMF8-WNKVh4FTaBEgpjgvNoIgQgEk0/s200/201508MargotDaddy.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Margot likes to try new things; at grandma and
grandpa’s house last month she was way more excited than Flynn to try out
Coco’s scooter and bike with training wheels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She likes to play with our iPhones, playing games and watching PBS
videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She continues to be the helpful
one, picking up things around the house that are not in their right place and
pointing our any spills she might find (and she finds them frequently).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMq4W7atnZvkO6op9SMJEQPR7ttwdTuqnhu5DeqdnA6xDeSoxjBONJ9b_J7EIPX7KrWQO_h9R2JDGqa9YmUZy-9jDimc8-sWf2OtN9wPufa2T46ZVih57_dzzlj9hJuVEtmDoXnYsj4M/s1600/201508BirthdayFlynn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMq4W7atnZvkO6op9SMJEQPR7ttwdTuqnhu5DeqdnA6xDeSoxjBONJ9b_J7EIPX7KrWQO_h9R2JDGqa9YmUZy-9jDimc8-sWf2OtN9wPufa2T46ZVih57_dzzlj9hJuVEtmDoXnYsj4M/s320/201508BirthdayFlynn.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Flynn
is a shy, cuddly and rambunctious little boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His shy nature still surprises me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When someone he doesn’t know tries to talk to him he’ll immediately
reach up to Daddy or Papa to be picked up and then – this is the interesting
part, to me – he’ll turn his head away and pretend like the person simply isn’t
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like he’s pretending that there’s
something in the opposite direction that’s far more interesting and he’s been
meaning to look at for quite some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I guess it’s kind of like when you’re on the bus or the train going to
work and a crazy person gets on; everyone simply pretends it’s not
happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what Flynn does; he ignores the crazy person. It’s
quite remarkable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least he doesn’t
burst into tears anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWIS24XH3O7HikFTwHO2N4_OQ4LKNLOkKr0cos2zJ3OrDCH_Y4C4fpSAHz8hZc1073XAIenER5gkCt3bqwz52iWfPdbvMKx9lHMDuX8Abdzcniq2Yu31ar6kXqdOBNzbRfKp60GU5wCM/s1600/201508FlynnDaddy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWIS24XH3O7HikFTwHO2N4_OQ4LKNLOkKr0cos2zJ3OrDCH_Y4C4fpSAHz8hZc1073XAIenER5gkCt3bqwz52iWfPdbvMKx9lHMDuX8Abdzcniq2Yu31ar6kXqdOBNzbRfKp60GU5wCM/s200/201508FlynnDaddy.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Flynn really loves
to be picked up, to be held and to cuddle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If Daddy or Papa is sitting down, then he wants to be in a lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also loves to climb and hang on to just
about anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hangs on tables, on
bathroom sinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just about anything he
can hold onto that will hold his weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His favorite sport is jumping on the bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It brings him unbelievable joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is it that as a child you think jumping
on the bed is the most obvious and natural purpose for a bed, yet as a parent
you see jumping on the bed as the inevitable path to a cracked skull?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-3EwKLB_9NzIqolIQ18eNUHdKlQnQjZ24KABtINJzadbhgyk8bx1-eyDEgg_-FRbkoK-pyxhODG4EaMyJBigIrytP6ip4dyGPT5vKalQxf3Wc_E_e-eGNbp85vMe3jem4-p2IuRylf0/s1600/201508MargotLook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-3EwKLB_9NzIqolIQ18eNUHdKlQnQjZ24KABtINJzadbhgyk8bx1-eyDEgg_-FRbkoK-pyxhODG4EaMyJBigIrytP6ip4dyGPT5vKalQxf3Wc_E_e-eGNbp85vMe3jem4-p2IuRylf0/s320/201508MargotLook.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"You understand what I'm saying, right?"</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Neither
Margot nor Flynn are talking yet and, frankly, I’m getting impatient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They use a few basic words: “no” (but not
“yes” - although Margot is very good at nodding “yes” while Flynn just grins if
he agrees with whatever I’ve said), “up” “juice” “shoes” and “more” for
example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they’re both good with
“Papa” (which they use interchangeably for both Daddy and Papa) and
“Coco.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Coco” they say all the time and
frankly they seem to say it any time they see something that reminds them of
Coco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot at least utters series of
sounds and syllables that sound something like a sentence might sound if she
knew words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then she gives you this
look like, “You understand what I’m saying, right?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Flynn, on the other hand, is monosyllabic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is also remarkably talented at
shouting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shouts for pure
entertainment and he loves it when you shout with him -- and, yes, I like to
shout with him because I also find it incredibly entertaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the morning Flynn shouts from his crib
like a rooster crows to the morning sun, “Papa!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Papa!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Papa!” on and on until
someone finally comes to release him from his crib of captivity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margot is always awake as well, but she lets Flynn
summon “the help.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N1aRWgpXfG_20dcEeUqD9FfUKZ02aUUQbj8dDi-_YKZQgh92GKd2_iWdzFfL-UlpJ0NiQGz65PVG1336vZNerwWnZr1cZ5z69nnwMzG3zeZW4UisfvtfqmdUitZ4x6tToZE-4AO7J-k/s1600/201508FlynnMargot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N1aRWgpXfG_20dcEeUqD9FfUKZ02aUUQbj8dDi-_YKZQgh92GKd2_iWdzFfL-UlpJ0NiQGz65PVG1336vZNerwWnZr1cZ5z69nnwMzG3zeZW4UisfvtfqmdUitZ4x6tToZE-4AO7J-k/s320/201508FlynnMargot.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m
not worried that they aren’t talking yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have an older sister who does all the talking for them and for everyone
else in whatever room she’s in at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And of course they hear Spanish more hours than they hear English for
five days a week and I’m sure they are still trying to sort that out in their
little heads too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered if maybe
they were talking to Mari in Spanish and I’m was just missing out, but Mari
confirmed that, no, they are using the same words with her that they use with
me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But
I am impatient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want them to start
talking so that I can start talking to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I want to hear what they’re thinking, what they have to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Last
weekend, on the way from Port Angeles to SeaTac to fly home with all three kids
and my mom (who was flying down to help me get the kids home after a month at "Camp Grandma and Grandpa" and then flying right
back) Cornelia was as usual chatting from the back seat for nearly the entire
trip, asking questions in her usual stream-of-consciousness way, making
declaratory statements about whatever she was observing at the time, and singing to fill in any otherwise lulls in the
conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I love chatting with
Cornelia and I take it as a personal challenge to answer any and all questions she
asks as best as I can - which of course only encourages even more questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(This morning on the way to school she asked
if bats come from eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We looked it
up on my phone at the train stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re mammals.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After nearly two hours of this banter I said
to my mom (rhetorically), “What am I going to do when there are <em><u>three</u></em> of them talking to me
from the backseat?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Actually,
I’m ready for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m more than ready
for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flynn and Margot, I’m ready to
hear from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someday, a dozen or so
years from now, maybe not so much; but today, I really want to hear what you
have to say. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m waiting, impatiently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYShDgu8BMQfTywrxlSRRlcNTwusaHTmRIKRCBrucbS2fPB3WNxSiaPNlakh9pRyysLqS8io-ihtvDyAdFLP46_M-KigrD6PF7C6K0crtwIdhQxOTga_MSbbiuzYZ0VN-t16jK8i8HT2Q/s1600/201508Margot4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYShDgu8BMQfTywrxlSRRlcNTwusaHTmRIKRCBrucbS2fPB3WNxSiaPNlakh9pRyysLqS8io-ihtvDyAdFLP46_M-KigrD6PF7C6K0crtwIdhQxOTga_MSbbiuzYZ0VN-t16jK8i8HT2Q/s200/201508Margot4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzj8pRFOHBsn1ybn2CVkAQQ2BQlpx6JjyqKe-wjjXzSDnq0K0Pg4taMSTcgJv8naY0BRHvoQ6V8IyO3HYbc-Dtz0rcEh0E_zU0Po0U4lAertaMw_UZAYTDsnVtNiZ-Gjnun7wR1F5XeQ/s1600/201508Margot3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzj8pRFOHBsn1ybn2CVkAQQ2BQlpx6JjyqKe-wjjXzSDnq0K0Pg4taMSTcgJv8naY0BRHvoQ6V8IyO3HYbc-Dtz0rcEh0E_zU0Po0U4lAertaMw_UZAYTDsnVtNiZ-Gjnun7wR1F5XeQ/s200/201508Margot3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQhgb1l5oFzHvFAk3GB5Sc7WkGkSpcFs1fNbGKicvzP6PlRAy5x7b0eY4gjh0FcdbaHJqYok-LF-7SxI2ZLjDBPhjB8wjjU8LeKivXDFpz2IjXayHl4C2O7gIK53-Hqy5DEoTIESC8jc/s1600/201508Margot2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQhgb1l5oFzHvFAk3GB5Sc7WkGkSpcFs1fNbGKicvzP6PlRAy5x7b0eY4gjh0FcdbaHJqYok-LF-7SxI2ZLjDBPhjB8wjjU8LeKivXDFpz2IjXayHl4C2O7gIK53-Hqy5DEoTIESC8jc/s200/201508Margot2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uO_otz6HIzrMFVBIOPU5nSOiusL0RzLWHKuJl9yNCEoC5YAzzrgzMN0Rh2_kLfodZzaxEnvwifZavS4ZhJ5LNrV1KdA2SUEy7ysuowDo1YZ56ye9SMceVkqEPNJEV5_dQax6U7Vl1ug/s1600/201508Margot5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uO_otz6HIzrMFVBIOPU5nSOiusL0RzLWHKuJl9yNCEoC5YAzzrgzMN0Rh2_kLfodZzaxEnvwifZavS4ZhJ5LNrV1KdA2SUEy7ysuowDo1YZ56ye9SMceVkqEPNJEV5_dQax6U7Vl1ug/s200/201508Margot5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPVle-ErX50yexDciLMjhdARgxOYPHCiAuZkAEOrniuhPHq-Be-G_MbtosPogNqIBukN9NYL277NtGSPaQqQZHdNvpPKH3SZzhh9UO0_uL0Iad8n1akItsTjG_5skGRHfkBqMPryx_10/s1600/201508FlynnSpray1JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPVle-ErX50yexDciLMjhdARgxOYPHCiAuZkAEOrniuhPHq-Be-G_MbtosPogNqIBukN9NYL277NtGSPaQqQZHdNvpPKH3SZzhh9UO0_uL0Iad8n1akItsTjG_5skGRHfkBqMPryx_10/s320/201508FlynnSpray1JPG.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"Hmmm . . . . what does this do?"</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XJScfLwM0Bwn1RcoNIt1lGfp0uNdA784zSfbvRJ73KkWIFYVCab4XibNI50Nhaku-sPM2ZZoSEmW9r00f1BHyXUuJQhJrnreHfeHq_S-qn12yIKP9APXsCUBdROqd6BapHv9PbbvRGQ/s1600/201508FlynnSpray2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XJScfLwM0Bwn1RcoNIt1lGfp0uNdA784zSfbvRJ73KkWIFYVCab4XibNI50Nhaku-sPM2ZZoSEmW9r00f1BHyXUuJQhJrnreHfeHq_S-qn12yIKP9APXsCUBdROqd6BapHv9PbbvRGQ/s320/201508FlynnSpray2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"So, if I just squeeze this part here . . .?"</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWBhs6K5vIiAqh1uSZkOuUVQwNzyIEy4IS97NR_QG2mPqJZYpGIQNpTMyrwjkyZ1UouWiuxdflCvIbwqiI064T5qxYW2x_PgAskp_kheInoQF-_T_6nTh1o4IcqgSJLmuKTfx3LMGt-o/s1600/201508FlynnSpray3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWBhs6K5vIiAqh1uSZkOuUVQwNzyIEy4IS97NR_QG2mPqJZYpGIQNpTMyrwjkyZ1UouWiuxdflCvIbwqiI064T5qxYW2x_PgAskp_kheInoQF-_T_6nTh1o4IcqgSJLmuKTfx3LMGt-o/s320/201508FlynnSpray3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"Hey, what the . . .?!!"</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIulnYj7zkBcIC7uFttEG_yzGNGuH7uNf9uNDxaGkhXQjHqqrmWabDUwojmh9osxPmWnLxjuoXw2vc0X5f7VM-20LFR75xy5ZDJSkh0kiVwuchLTIjgg721Nq6E_C0nPdRUGn1a_ENS6o/s1600/201508FlynnSpray4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIulnYj7zkBcIC7uFttEG_yzGNGuH7uNf9uNDxaGkhXQjHqqrmWabDUwojmh9osxPmWnLxjuoXw2vc0X5f7VM-20LFR75xy5ZDJSkh0kiVwuchLTIjgg721Nq6E_C0nPdRUGn1a_ENS6o/s320/201508FlynnSpray4.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"So, what does this do again?"</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-79682515780898708312015-07-15T20:36:00.002-07:002015-07-15T20:57:33.651-07:00"And then this happened . . . ." (July Fourth, 2015)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It was the
Fourth of July.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were at the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had spent the early afternoon at the
“Old-time Fourth of July Celebration” at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds.
Flynn was taking his nap, Margot was crying from her pack-n-play protesting the
idea that she should take a nap, and Coco was playing with her trains not even feigning
an attempt to take a nap. Ken was upstairs napping or looking at Facebook
or checking email or something. I was in the kitchen facing my usual
dilemma:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I work or do I take a nap?
<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But I was
distracted by the recurring thought that I could smell smoke. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It was just a
whiff. It was faint enough that I thought I must have been imagining it
or mistaking some dusty-dry-grass smell for smoke. It was really hot
after all, so it could just be a dusty-dry-grass smell, right? And everyone
knows that I worry too much. It just couldn’t be smoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there it was again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I stepped outside
to look to see if there was anything to see. Was that smoke over and
across the trees in the distance? It was white so it couldn’t be
smoke. It must be a cloud. But something about it looked
not-quite-right with the other clouds. The shape of it wasn’t the same
shape as the other clouds . . . and it seemed low, like it was coming <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">up</i> from somewhere. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I stepped inside
and on my phone I Googled “fire near ukiah california july 4<sup>th</sup>”.
The results didn’t include anything that suggested there was a fire in the
area. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Outside a
helicopter flew by in the distance, and then an airplane. Standing in the
kitchen I texted Ken who was in the bedroom above my head. (When the kids
are napping and we’re in different parts of the house, we text each
other.) “I think there may be a fire somewhere. I was smelling
smoke and now the aircraft.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was 3:45
p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Then I heard a
helicopter coming. It was coming close. And it was coming
low. Like, really, really low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was coming from the east. I stepped outside onto the deck and looked to
the east and then it came over the trees, paused and hovered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe a 100 yards from the house at most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fifty feet off the ground? I could see someone
in a helicopter jumpsuit (I guess that’s what they’re called?) and a helmet and
visor looking out the side door of the helicopter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was very clearly looking at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From a helicopter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hovering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One hundred yards from the house. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s a strange
feeling to have a helicopter hovering above your house with a guy hanging out
the door looking at you. It’s clear that whoever is in that helicopter is
interested in you but you don’t know why they’re interested in you. I
remember thinking, “They’re looking for someone. I wonder if someone is
lost. Are they searching for someone?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The helicopter
moved away from the house, moving slowly away across the front yard and then
over the orchard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s nose was pointed
downward, like it was looking for something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then I realized it was looking for a place to land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was moving toward a flat area on top of
the ridge about a quarter mile from the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was an old man-made clearing, cleared probably for some logging
activity several decades ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it was
the ideal helicopter landing pad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or at
least the only useable one in the vicinity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As I watched the
helicopter landing I saw the fire truck coming up the driveway. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Shoot!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Yeah, right, like that’s
the word I used.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had forgotten about
the smoke and my thoughts of fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There’s
a fire. It’s here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s somewhere
here.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I texted Ken.
“Come down.” Yes, I realize now it was odd to text Ken from the deck when
he was in the bedroom just behind me and there was a helicopter landing and a
fire truck coming. As if he was still upstairs napping or looking at
Facebook or checking email or something. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course he had been standing on the deck
upstairs watching the scene unfold just as I had been watching it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now he was walking out the door as I was
texting him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As an aside, we
later learned that the firefighters in the helicopter and in the fire truck did
not know we were there when they came up the hill to see about a fire. They
were a bit surprised to come upon a house and a barn and two men standing outside
the house watching them from a yard littered with wagons and tricycles and such.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jMUy10b09XAK5P56wnIVAiuY4RqBeemw9MTFvI1AriCnqSrkZCta5zIyuWugC4Ty-eCb5NV_CwiH00xSRY6KAxrS4f9SR4reIAkzvLzIn0pbw3WXvPSUmE2lJt073hyphenhyphenBbdM6JJoG1CM/s1600/201507Firetruck1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jMUy10b09XAK5P56wnIVAiuY4RqBeemw9MTFvI1AriCnqSrkZCta5zIyuWugC4Ty-eCb5NV_CwiH00xSRY6KAxrS4f9SR4reIAkzvLzIn0pbw3WXvPSUmE2lJt073hyphenhyphenBbdM6JJoG1CM/s320/201507Firetruck1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The firetruck pulled
up in front of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of it came
several firemen who clearly had things to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They immediately started walking around the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can we go into your backyard?” one asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Uh, yes, of course.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Thanks for asking?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of them walked over to talk to Ken and
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told us that there was a fire and
it was close. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was less than half a
mile from the house, to the northeast, down the hill toward the highway.
It was entirely on our place. The only other parts of the conversation I
recall are, “You don’t need to evacuate yet,” “You better get your hoses
ready,” and “We’ll do our best to save your house.” Six more firefighters
arrived from the helicopter. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSB-yGN0jxGlKVPbhk5jOW5Oa95AUVHArbHeJaha4UszNohhLc9SyojJ_qcxLoegY00vRnurqRRosEpIpbTtjZ0hbAeOSkoOm0-XOtYPFDVkXpm_Lf_w0ZEYoayZCtVYiizc-71DXdeZE/s1600/201507Firemen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSB-yGN0jxGlKVPbhk5jOW5Oa95AUVHArbHeJaha4UszNohhLc9SyojJ_qcxLoegY00vRnurqRRosEpIpbTtjZ0hbAeOSkoOm0-XOtYPFDVkXpm_Lf_w0ZEYoayZCtVYiizc-71DXdeZE/s320/201507Firemen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look closely, you can see Coco<br />
standing on the steps, watching.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I was thinking, “Uh,
okay. Thanks. We don’t have any water. And we’ll be evacuating
now.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">By that time Cornelia
was on the deck in front of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From
her room upstairs in the front of the house, playing with her trains, she had
had a bird’s-eye view of the helicopter landing and the fire truck coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked over to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What’s happening?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s happening?!” she asked with some
urgency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alarmed but not yet scared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained to her that there was a fire and
that the firemen had come to put out the fire and to make sure we were
safe. She seemed satisfied with the answer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vVtrKfc_qrDTZf7Te4tZXZp0zeiBJSVaooYb8yY6x75DB6nhlxRLpI92sX0dNuWFUcIN-SthdlFYDvI12pWwbrhy-ExhSen2b-id-3Re-RaXdIYTk12nXWw2hDAA7tMWrowGwIqHkzg/s1600/201507Firemen2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vVtrKfc_qrDTZf7Te4tZXZp0zeiBJSVaooYb8yY6x75DB6nhlxRLpI92sX0dNuWFUcIN-SthdlFYDvI12pWwbrhy-ExhSen2b-id-3Re-RaXdIYTk12nXWw2hDAA7tMWrowGwIqHkzg/s320/201507Firemen2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off to fight the fire.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">After a few more
minutes the helicopter left -- I don’t remember which direction it went -- and the
firetruck and the fireman all left, going north along the driveway towards the
fire. Ken and started packing. We were going to a barbecue that
evening so we weren’t homeless (not yet, at least).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would simply go to the barbecue and wait
it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just didn’t know when we
would be coming back and, when we came back, if there would be a house. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Before we left
the house Ken and I walked through it together to be sure we weren’t forgetting
anything valuable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(All three kids – the
most valuable of anything – were already in the car.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a little strange to walk through the
house wondering if this would be the last time you would see your stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And a little hard to believe you were even contemplating
the question.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Fortunately,
there wasn’t much to take. We just packed up the kids, the groceries and
a few mementos and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By that time,
the smoke was very clearly in the air.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As we drove down
the driveway and approached the last 100 yards at the bottom of the hill before
the gate, we could see the entire scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The hillside in front of us, about a quarter mile away, was on
fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire hillside was shrouded
in smoke and there were glimpses of flames.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A few trees on fire. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a
fire truck and a state patrol car on the highway below the fire and there were two
more fire trucks on the ridge above the fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As we watched a helicopter flew over and dumped a load of water – or water
and whatever else they dump – on the fire and then raced away to refill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then another helicopter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then a plane flew over and dropped a
cloud of red powder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then another
helicopter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (We have video of the helicopters and planes but I can't get it from my phone to the blog!)</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6dCtGF_TFZrnrQehKxKWAum9i5G2PM2z71bnwFKJzuQG-ihhOVjpVkKRqe7uY_5SWv11CYA8pU0PwY8qjT9ydmZNxJ5yMNSRqa51qeh1URmeRbLy9BvROXqilLwHarB-z6z-EUhB7eg/s1600/201507FireHillside.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6dCtGF_TFZrnrQehKxKWAum9i5G2PM2z71bnwFKJzuQG-ihhOVjpVkKRqe7uY_5SWv11CYA8pU0PwY8qjT9ydmZNxJ5yMNSRqa51qeh1URmeRbLy9BvROXqilLwHarB-z6z-EUhB7eg/s400/201507FireHillside.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entire scene as we saw if from our driveway. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span> <span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As the firemen
had left the house earlier, after saying “we’ll try to save your house,” I had
thought, “I hope they try hard to put this thing out. I know we’re only
one house but I hope they try hard to save it.” As we watched the operation
happening in front of us I realized they were going to do everything possible
to put this fire out as quickly as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Otherwise, in an area that was already parched from the summer heat and
a multi-year drought, this small fire could become a massive fire burning
hundreds and hundreds of acres or more. It’s not about our stupid little
house. We later learned that the fire departments from Anderson Valley,
Ukiah, Hopland and Willits all responded to this fire. Essentially, the
entire Mendocino County fire department had turned out for this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“We need to go,”
I said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We drove out our
gate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ken wanted to see whatever we
could see and try to get an update from the firemen, so we turned left out of our
gate toward the fire rather than going right to Boonville and to our barbecue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The highway wasn’t closed yet. We
stopped at the firetrucks along the highway below the fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ken found a fireman who, once he understood that
it was our land that was burning, was willing to pause and talk to us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was pretty optimistic about the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said they were feeling pretty confident
that they would get the fire contained and under control. He said about
30 acres were burning. We gave him our number and asked him to call us if
there was news and to let us know if we could come back to the house that night.
We left for the barbecue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was 4:30
p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As we were
driving away we saw at the side of the road below the fire, a motorcycle that
was entirely burned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We knew at that
point the source of the fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(We
learned later that the motorcycle was stolen and the person who had stolen it
was high on some controlled substance and had fled the scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was later arrested.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">At about 8:00
p.m. that night, the fire department called and said the fire was contained and
that it was safe to return to the house. There would be personnel on site
all night long and through the following day watching the fire and mopping up,
as they say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We did go back to
the house that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we came around
the bend in the highway and reached our gate we could see the entire hillside –
and it was glowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An orange glow from the
embers left from the fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t
expect that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could also see two firetrucks
still on the ridge above the fire, with their headlights on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The personnel staying all night to watch the
fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We paused at the gate and decided
we would go up to the house to see what we could see and then decide if we
would stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could drive back to San
Francisco that night if we didn’t feel comfortable staying at the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As we drove up
the driveway we could see the headlights of a firetruck parked on the
driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More personnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could also see that the fire had reached
the driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We stopped at
the truck and talked with one of the fireman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Is it safe to
stay at the house?” we asked<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Oh sure, it’s
fine,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Are you
sure?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would you do?”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I would totally
stay at the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we’ll be here all
night.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“There are three
kids in the back of this car.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“It’s fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So we drove up to the house, put the kids to
bed, and went to bed ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
about every hour or so through the night we heard a firetruck drive past the
house. </span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyMXgKgIjwPwnH10I5ECGyrFBPsc_odunavBseIspnwcz8rU4Y0jewlBvaSw4pBxg79tCMCAbKPUuqdbck5CwwZZ_mDwQackfYYWi2q-B0GrkYZ3vzDQf8jbenjNJDjDw75wEVYavRaU/s1600/201507FireDriveway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyMXgKgIjwPwnH10I5ECGyrFBPsc_odunavBseIspnwcz8rU4Y0jewlBvaSw4pBxg79tCMCAbKPUuqdbck5CwwZZ_mDwQackfYYWi2q-B0GrkYZ3vzDQf8jbenjNJDjDw75wEVYavRaU/s320/201507FireDriveway.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The morning after. The fire reached the driveway.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2j71NN8EElwlHZ2ZdOJyws7bHlz_3NIQEGz1Vdmd8UsjMKfEMQtxVcg21zH_XO0gIbGz68N3PKoTFjzo5dwy1z5sr_iGVvCjDyfy-CndKF9ntZqEvH4kgdv0Az8IxzZh4Ld5wcK12yR4/s1600/201507FireDriveway2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2j71NN8EElwlHZ2ZdOJyws7bHlz_3NIQEGz1Vdmd8UsjMKfEMQtxVcg21zH_XO0gIbGz68N3PKoTFjzo5dwy1z5sr_iGVvCjDyfy-CndKF9ntZqEvH4kgdv0Az8IxzZh4Ld5wcK12yR4/s320/201507FireDriveway2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pink residue from the fire retardant the plane dropped.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V1XVHUl-f-p97-1hArkAr4q5nnqCzj2nqoDEn0jGKvdZb6RXLloY_TI8C5k1TJ_6aZYOy6pisKQPzPOFPrs6IzzxginY9zPUpqNb7Uk92RxRau3m6APrUgklhaGeHHcWV41q-SIOiTM/s1600/201507FireOut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V1XVHUl-f-p97-1hArkAr4q5nnqCzj2nqoDEn0jGKvdZb6RXLloY_TI8C5k1TJ_6aZYOy6pisKQPzPOFPrs6IzzxginY9zPUpqNb7Uk92RxRau3m6APrUgklhaGeHHcWV41q-SIOiTM/s320/201507FireOut.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The burned hillside. 23 acres in total.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-35762528494133917722015-06-27T16:35:00.002-07:002015-06-30T22:15:56.279-07:00Coco at Four Years and a Bit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLF9Vhwx8F49FYSqchn1rWPS74lqm2xret3S5eA0-U0YHfbfCvVz52-uoBYFZM6izGwCIjFsd3Ki7QbN9rKOIL-FN-NoyV8T2IWf_PPwOCTREjoQJjrq7PSNGsBEMoCItDK5cGCjyefFQ/s1600/201506CocoPortrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLF9Vhwx8F49FYSqchn1rWPS74lqm2xret3S5eA0-U0YHfbfCvVz52-uoBYFZM6izGwCIjFsd3Ki7QbN9rKOIL-FN-NoyV8T2IWf_PPwOCTREjoQJjrq7PSNGsBEMoCItDK5cGCjyefFQ/s320/201506CocoPortrait.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Cornelia is now two months into her
fourth year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And her imagination is in full bloom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every game we play together involves some
sort of pretend play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It always starts
by assigning roles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coco does the
assigning, of course. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Okay, Daddy, I’ll
be the [princess / mermaid / knight, etc.] and you be the [king / prince /
bad guy, etc.].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The game usually
involves someone being bad (usually my character), someone being good (usually
Coco’s character), and someone needing help or rescue (which might be the good
guy or the bad guy).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often there is a
trap involved, which is usually a ribbon masquerading as a snare of some sort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes Coco changes the roles or scenario without any advance warning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Okay,
Daddy, now you be the king and I’ll be the bad guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Haha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve trapped you!’” she says as she wraps my wrist in a ribbon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she turns around and is the princess
rescuing me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hi, I’m a princess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you trapped?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who trapped you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll help you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oRXgFkaVHZIEODPnmBM7aRti8tuZMdzKeudhGHPPiIEhbxv_QwgdWUC0FG3JygohyicLXZyLa98PnOK83P3DhHCrpvyI6K3ry2gYi_oMyax2NEs0bDfeYPKIhjIESkm9pMUsBpwM0ok/s1600/201506CocoPirate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oRXgFkaVHZIEODPnmBM7aRti8tuZMdzKeudhGHPPiIEhbxv_QwgdWUC0FG3JygohyicLXZyLa98PnOK83P3DhHCrpvyI6K3ry2gYi_oMyax2NEs0bDfeYPKIhjIESkm9pMUsBpwM0ok/s320/201506CocoPirate.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, you have a pirate-themed birthday party<br />
for four-year-olds in three hours?<br />
Not a problem if you're Ken Wingard.<br />
Simply poke around in your craft box for<br />
some random material, some felt and a needle and thread.<br />
<em>"Viola!"</em> A pirate outfit! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We
have been known to sword fight from time to time while waiting in the morning for
the J Church to go to school.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Her
favorite game is “Big Bad Octopus.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think we’ve played “Big Bad Octopus” every night for it seems like years,
although I’m not sure exactly when it started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The game is simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m the Big
Bad Octopus (which is nice because all I have to do is lay on the floor which
is, frankly, a welcome position after a day of work and when I'm in a
constant state of mild sleep deprivation) and Coco is a mermaid who is swimming
by and gets trapped by the Big Bad Octopus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“What is a mermaid doing in my ocean!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t like mermaids!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(grabbing
her by the ankle) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now you are trapped
with me at the bottom of the ocean and you must [read me bedtime stories /
dance for me / be my friend, etc.] forever and forever!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Coco, as the mermaid, then asks me why I’m
bad which leads to a bit of Big-Bad-Octopus-therapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Because no one will be my friend and I’m lonely.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she says she’ll be my friend and then
I’m nice again and then we’re friends and everyone is happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Flynn and Margot are usually in supporting
roles. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes they are prince and
princess mermaids I’ve trapped and must be rescued by Coco (also a princess
mermaid, of course).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then sometimes
they are little Big Bad Octopuses who help me trap the mermaid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdIstut7H_lBOXq5KqIdwJ26oy9R-rUJ5ednlmuKljprP-9ySVHWW7raMhoxqXwPcFaX0e8iP99YFotNXuIK5dejGap5EI_-nk7UkRMzXGrxn22bNwnzoB_rQOm3N5T5jpsCi9PsD_g8/s1600/201506CocoTree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdIstut7H_lBOXq5KqIdwJ26oy9R-rUJ5ednlmuKljprP-9ySVHWW7raMhoxqXwPcFaX0e8iP99YFotNXuIK5dejGap5EI_-nk7UkRMzXGrxn22bNwnzoB_rQOm3N5T5jpsCi9PsD_g8/s320/201506CocoTree.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Last
month we went through a period where Coco acted out scenes from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Frozen</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was always Elsa and I was always Anna. It went something like this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Scene:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The castle ballroom following Elsa’s coronation (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the entry hall at the bottom of the stairs</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Anna (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">played by Daddy</i>):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Elsa, I
want you to meet someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
Hans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to marry him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sometimes
Flynn is cast in the role of Hans if he happens to be in the vicinity. Fortunately, it's not a speaking role.</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOqjYiDMb9G0uQbupEDQ_iwn0AXFaZxyWG-UDPNPUu318IxqUJc-7JIiE6D8Ev-EHwbEtIdMZzM1jzaeSxU7JpzaG2u3zIs8RHCc7umuGf7lzRBT5W4YD95b8nZOVGMB_ddD0S3F3FW0/s1600/201506FlynnHat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOqjYiDMb9G0uQbupEDQ_iwn0AXFaZxyWG-UDPNPUu318IxqUJc-7JIiE6D8Ev-EHwbEtIdMZzM1jzaeSxU7JpzaG2u3zIs8RHCc7umuGf7lzRBT5W4YD95b8nZOVGMB_ddD0S3F3FW0/s200/201506FlynnHat.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Today the role of Hans<br />will be played by Flynn"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Elsa (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">played by Cornelia</i>):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">With the best scolding tone and frown a
four-year-old can muster.</i>) “You can’t marry a man you just met!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And,
yes, I'm happy every time Coco utters that line and will be eternally
grateful that </i>Frozen<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> taught her at the age of four that she cannot marry a man she just met.</i>) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Anna (Daddy):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You can if it’s love at first sight!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Elsa (Coco):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I said no!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Turns away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Anna (Daddy):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Elsa, why do you shut me out?” Grabs her
hand and pulls off her glove. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Coco sometimes
uses a gardening glove for this scene.</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Elsa:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Leave me alone!” Turns and blasts ice power all over the ballroom (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the entry hall</i>) and then runs up the
North Mountain (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the stairs</i>) singing
“Let it go!” She then crosses the great ice glacier (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the TV room</i>) and the bursts onto the mountain top (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the deck on the back of the house</i>) still
singing “Let it go!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hopefully we’re getting all the drama
out of the way early . . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTI2r91Gup_nWR9VxS-Mo5ksp3oJJpuMLsLiLCNptHcNYn_3s36TX7e0KvpYaKoyc5WRuSejVOJr3A7amuC0yBbff3UJw0OUHbS_kmBfvhzfkHfPhXOtSLek9HGc9WWCG0i0I6AF-GVE/s1600/201506CocoHeels1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTI2r91Gup_nWR9VxS-Mo5ksp3oJJpuMLsLiLCNptHcNYn_3s36TX7e0KvpYaKoyc5WRuSejVOJr3A7amuC0yBbff3UJw0OUHbS_kmBfvhzfkHfPhXOtSLek9HGc9WWCG0i0I6AF-GVE/s320/201506CocoHeels1.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coco working the tiara and heels at the playground.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5o3rVgFyP3UPWJTuEs4EDe4AbRygQBsi_f6lyGHpbIzT2PLMvuNf4qZHV7_u62RhI4PiKq4FKaXAREgkq2vtLki72wEYzDlwdVjIo9cOYsjDX-YHq6eYPXzMoTHh9Mq4h_fDMtDz92I/s1600/201606CocoHeels2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5o3rVgFyP3UPWJTuEs4EDe4AbRygQBsi_f6lyGHpbIzT2PLMvuNf4qZHV7_u62RhI4PiKq4FKaXAREgkq2vtLki72wEYzDlwdVjIo9cOYsjDX-YHq6eYPXzMoTHh9Mq4h_fDMtDz92I/s320/201606CocoHeels2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lest you doubt me, here's a closer look. <br />
She's running up and down those hills in full-on heels.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-10324214613138224532015-06-14T08:32:00.000-07:002015-06-14T08:32:16.394-07:00Cornelia's Birthday, Duboce Park, April 26, 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We celebrated Coco's fourth birthday this year, and followed the neighborhood tradition of hosting the party in Duboce Park. The park is a very popular spot for children's birthday parties. So much so, we staked out our spot around 8:00 a.m., reserving a space under a tree with a banquet table that pretty much shouted, <em>"Hey! Don't even think about sitting here 'cause there's gonna be a hoard of kids in this spot for a party today."</em> Shortly thereafter there were at least two other birthday party spots clearly marked for the morning and afternoon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAPJpL9QYajCnweF41mxBkKAx6jzbqX4IuWtHuWRonnob7JU81Ba_y72-uthqbgYCVyE6R1AhpXgTncQTRNOQpU18p1OVvakCN4ZI-qT5SNUodEb7dftK7u2ww01GlTPb0jSOD-lR-6k/s1600/2015CocoBDCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAPJpL9QYajCnweF41mxBkKAx6jzbqX4IuWtHuWRonnob7JU81Ba_y72-uthqbgYCVyE6R1AhpXgTncQTRNOQpU18p1OVvakCN4ZI-qT5SNUodEb7dftK7u2ww01GlTPb0jSOD-lR-6k/s200/2015CocoBDCake.jpg" width="200" /></a>Coco picked out the color theme for her party this year: pink and green. Ken decorated -- even in the park -- with not just helium balloons, but Coco's named spelled out in pink roses. And, of course, there was a homemade cake. Mari and Francisco brought a pinata, of course. (The pinata was Elsa, of course.) Grandma Mary and Grandpa Roy even made the drive all the way down from Port Angeles for the party (and then stayed a few days following). <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwNnt6SuOTugZd7GBZQgQUDWY5h_L6gd7pYG10O2AJxk38ioLrCjR61VnTkbJkoL483qZK0McilZQH_wVdvjqJO4O01ubtGSRvfZZhY4F-30cHnm4GMWExJvvNAM2laD28J2LVKV-w4k/s1600/2015CocoBDPapaCoco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwNnt6SuOTugZd7GBZQgQUDWY5h_L6gd7pYG10O2AJxk38ioLrCjR61VnTkbJkoL483qZK0McilZQH_wVdvjqJO4O01ubtGSRvfZZhY4F-30cHnm4GMWExJvvNAM2laD28J2LVKV-w4k/s320/2015CocoBDPapaCoco.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birthday girl arriving!</td></tr>
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Pinata's are a staple of the kids birthday party circuit around here, it seems. I don't recall pinata's at birthday parties when I was a kid. But, of course, I also don't recall gift bags for every kid either, and we have those too.</div>
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The kids all lined up for the pinata "beating". (What else would you call it?) Pictured: Cornelia, INSERT, Hollis Monberg, Elias Buckner, Stella Monberg, INSERT, Jules Buckner, Rose INSERT, Jack Miller, Margot, Grandma Mary. <div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVDl2i11pLlTy1pXtHpz_r3DkRvpMfUriGnCyKuqOfVMhxRMDQ_oICs4MCL_osjZxw_gabEYTJ86rhADjgEVZIVc-7xNMr1-vMwkhwIO1TihYwhg2D8J0BO6xIFljNCfKiJg4ZCKDwnA/s1600/2015CocoBDLinedup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVDl2i11pLlTy1pXtHpz_r3DkRvpMfUriGnCyKuqOfVMhxRMDQ_oICs4MCL_osjZxw_gabEYTJ86rhADjgEVZIVc-7xNMr1-vMwkhwIO1TihYwhg2D8J0BO6xIFljNCfKiJg4ZCKDwnA/s320/2015CocoBDLinedup.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All lined up for the pinata "beating".</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyHbrP0dRXLyhX9f0mlcsRDOG6pP-3tUR6JT_DrGXGO9BXykBJdNnOnoXtyRQYua9ZLt_KE1OZEuWBqOgUlYMDgUiLtExCX3TsByvgiXXzwKr7CImdNsOzzuLJIvYSZumjHxls_1hfZw/s1600/2015CocoBDPinata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyHbrP0dRXLyhX9f0mlcsRDOG6pP-3tUR6JT_DrGXGO9BXykBJdNnOnoXtyRQYua9ZLt_KE1OZEuWBqOgUlYMDgUiLtExCX3TsByvgiXXzwKr7CImdNsOzzuLJIvYSZumjHxls_1hfZw/s320/2015CocoBDPinata.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coco takes her turn at the pinata.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kIGHgDmgZNtY0NkRsihmlCp0kTq88w0wVAzxkM83JYYZDpc57OXjz0g6-kOtXonjZLlZu1cAsLutfL5TOZ47BMM2YS78n_b1yEaiiW57NtnzwJ4rJ5CBDY9OuhFXvYpWeFiNKub6-CU/s1600/2015CocoBDWatchingPapa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kIGHgDmgZNtY0NkRsihmlCp0kTq88w0wVAzxkM83JYYZDpc57OXjz0g6-kOtXonjZLlZu1cAsLutfL5TOZ47BMM2YS78n_b1yEaiiW57NtnzwJ4rJ5CBDY9OuhFXvYpWeFiNKub6-CU/s320/2015CocoBDWatchingPapa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coco's not so sure how she feels about all these kids<br /> beating an effigy of Elsa.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYMBfGwyz0VwQvk3qJ3xN2SxJ2hhSTCm6f6KTtnguIUxzIFO4fRO0WQrUm8U9ou5TiA0QExsZosLNWGPcWTYIZya73N4q3XRNhffIJPu522F8ExzgzdCj-fOLcEODPd9Z3ocMZHxAoZA/s1600/2015CocoBDMari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYMBfGwyz0VwQvk3qJ3xN2SxJ2hhSTCm6f6KTtnguIUxzIFO4fRO0WQrUm8U9ou5TiA0QExsZosLNWGPcWTYIZya73N4q3XRNhffIJPu522F8ExzgzdCj-fOLcEODPd9Z3ocMZHxAoZA/s320/2015CocoBDMari.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mari and the kids</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHNa9jYsPWSsk0un4dhxAyWrPT8XFwb7PPJaX4L2iy5HBucF82TSqp5bafbtFfjsAj-V73OUJWSeNQJboh_9qJfKFUfcLnIuIeKScW-m5igk7uMXSAImO3Z2Aqmmv0UzrMdThiAaF5kM/s1600/2015CocoBDFamilyPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHNa9jYsPWSsk0un4dhxAyWrPT8XFwb7PPJaX4L2iy5HBucF82TSqp5bafbtFfjsAj-V73OUJWSeNQJboh_9qJfKFUfcLnIuIeKScW-m5igk7uMXSAImO3Z2Aqmmv0UzrMdThiAaF5kM/s320/2015CocoBDFamilyPic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSX9A9tQOOP1f-ueB_dwGUwXL7YIUDHxPLrkwFVwXgeRO4GufmniHwKOfAMEkov1E7udQyGeHZt67KC5ux2LEeztcR5MMaPbaI_mmovuic_3QdTQ1_42YjdSf6QbIMqLxvrm0Bla37Ov8/s1600/2015CocoBDDollhouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSX9A9tQOOP1f-ueB_dwGUwXL7YIUDHxPLrkwFVwXgeRO4GufmniHwKOfAMEkov1E7udQyGeHZt67KC5ux2LEeztcR5MMaPbaI_mmovuic_3QdTQ1_42YjdSf6QbIMqLxvrm0Bla37Ov8/s320/2015CocoBDDollhouse.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When you're Ken Wingard's daughter, what do you get for your fourth birthday? A dollhouse your Papa made for you out of a vintage suitcase, complete with furniture and wallpapered, of course.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"Ta da! I'm four!"</em></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-6097289615688764322015-04-20T21:21:00.001-07:002015-04-20T21:21:16.857-07:00Easter Postcards 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1609227959609605084.post-40711058947843260002015-04-02T00:48:00.000-07:002015-04-04T11:19:39.572-07:00"He's a total dude."<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWniKkZ1g6Z06-ID18MABTe5L-xvPLTPI-QKyRcn3XY4vKht7tau1htxKY_OsPK8FfWRt1Ff_arkbNwKKRT2r5vvYcHfGpG2t67PWqDNg4ZwsW0UzjW02HzIvcCNaa9CdlbBTnb9yT7Ik/s1600/201504FlynnTub.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWniKkZ1g6Z06-ID18MABTe5L-xvPLTPI-QKyRcn3XY4vKht7tau1htxKY_OsPK8FfWRt1Ff_arkbNwKKRT2r5vvYcHfGpG2t67PWqDNg4ZwsW0UzjW02HzIvcCNaa9CdlbBTnb9yT7Ik/s1600/201504FlynnTub.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="color: black;">Flynn’s now 19 months
old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s our little dude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I right or what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just look at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s a total dude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, while I don’t want to indulge in or
promote gender stereotypes, he is 100% boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOWLxX-wi_lwhz8LCxXyDXHExe9kAF35ybLi18fLxXhSAM_qxH4OyHov2UB6Ydhh7TgGNXX7Rdoaa8Bf6J7DIavaCYjJaZtoAg-kcNK_TIU8gK8gPHvqprRKOe2CDIqnX9v947f0TCTc/s1600/201504FlynnAbercrombie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOWLxX-wi_lwhz8LCxXyDXHExe9kAF35ybLi18fLxXhSAM_qxH4OyHov2UB6Ydhh7TgGNXX7Rdoaa8Bf6J7DIavaCYjJaZtoAg-kcNK_TIU8gK8gPHvqprRKOe2CDIqnX9v947f0TCTc/s1600/201504FlynnAbercrombie.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"I call this my Abercrombie look."</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Flynn has yet to demonstrate any interest in
learning or using words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s picked up
a few of the most essential hand signals: “milk” (“I want some milk <em><u>now</u></em> and why is it taking so
long?”), “more” (“More food, please. Preferably carbs.”) and “done” (“I’m done
eating and now I want to sit in Daddy’s lap.”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His preferred method of communicating is shouting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not a meaningful, creative or even
variable shout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s basically “Aahh!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Aahh” from his crib when he wakes up in the morning, “Aahh” from his high chair during breakfast, lunch and dinner, and “Aahh”
pretty much any time he wants some attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTEWiBZFbtTnkX5nM9vmCi0wX2O2clMbHB1u8wqeDrgkaHoTq7Iv2qoiyZ9drkvCUObK4xWrHUoCE_fkq8aL643TIZ970NZCpe4JZ0mtP2taCCErJV_BBBEQmnl7celrHz6nsWS0UnDI/s1600/201504FlynnDude.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTEWiBZFbtTnkX5nM9vmCi0wX2O2clMbHB1u8wqeDrgkaHoTq7Iv2qoiyZ9drkvCUObK4xWrHUoCE_fkq8aL643TIZ970NZCpe4JZ0mtP2taCCErJV_BBBEQmnl7celrHz6nsWS0UnDI/s1600/201504FlynnDude.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"Hey! Look at me!<br />I'm a hipster!"</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>“Aahh” is also Flynn's name for Margot, Coco and
Mari.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He likes to shout for
Margot, to get her attention or to get her to come to wherever he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other night I was starting bedtime stories
and Flynn was in my lap ready to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Margot was out in the hall and Flynn started calling her, “Aahh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aahh!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think the rough translation was “Margot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get in here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daddy’s got ‘Pat the Bunny’ open and time’s a-wastin!”<br />
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Flynn loves to dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hears music – the radio, a video, a
toy that places music of some kind – and he’ll start dancing around, waving his
arms above his head, doing jazz hands (okay, not quite jazz hands, but you get
the idea).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His dancing is mostly stepping
sideways in a circle as fast as he can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When he is in his high chair he’ll shrug his shoulders up and
down and shake his head.<br />
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Flynn's also a climber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He climbs everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beds, couches, chairs, coffee tables,
dining room tables . . . ..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Margot is always right behind
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately he understands the tone
and gist of an order to get down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But once
he’s down he likes to climb back up again because he likes to hear me tell him
to get down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It goes something like
this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flynn climbs something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Flynn, get down!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gets down, pauses, looks at me, climbs up
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Flynn, get <u>down</u>!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gets down, pauses, looks at me, climbs up
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Flynn, get down <u>now</u>!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gets down, looks at me and laughs and
laughs and laughs like that was just about the funnest game ever.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0O5x3zUJGRosRfWj1DuxgdFtvwb_XLinWsr9-TlWVuicNkl30NXnVr1Z3Q1a6ZhhyDKa6FytJfdeaGNS6yk4Nyoc6FH964sOeEkU-GnJPw1nguiZXyVTMG09cgi8YIY_Zg2ayB8NR7fw/s1600/201504FlynnPony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0O5x3zUJGRosRfWj1DuxgdFtvwb_XLinWsr9-TlWVuicNkl30NXnVr1Z3Q1a6ZhhyDKa6FytJfdeaGNS6yk4Nyoc6FH964sOeEkU-GnJPw1nguiZXyVTMG09cgi8YIY_Zg2ayB8NR7fw/s1600/201504FlynnPony.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"Can I keep him?!"</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Every diaper change with Flynn includes wrestling, squirming
and wiggling away from Daddy which he thinks is ha-larious!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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Flynn greatest talent - above all others - is his
ability to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With all the energy he
burns up shouting and dancing and climbing all day long it shouldn’t be a surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s always the last to wake up in the
morning, his naps are always the longest, and he never wakes up during the
night (unless Margot wakes him up).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
bedtime he is like an Olympic gymnast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From
a standing position in his crib, in one fluid motion he arches his back, turns
his head, twists his entire body around, puts out his arms and does a face
plant right into his pillow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sticks
the landing every time.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1