Candy Haul 2012

"We do what?"

Our Little Mermaid

"Mama, can you help me make a bra?" - Magnolia (4.5)

These are words I did not expect to hear from my four-year-old daughter, or really from my daughter at any age. But when a girl wants to be a mermaid and her cupcake papers are not cooperating...

Preschool Costume Parade

I'm not sure why the girls preschool wanted to do a Costume Parade the week before Halloween, rather than on the actual day but the girls, always ready to dress up, didn't mind. Any excuse to wear their fairy princess outfits that are usually off limits for school.

Rain Rain Go Away

Portland is a lot soggier than I remembered. Beijing would go weeks or months at a time without precipitation.

Wet leaf collection.

Princess Otis

K is for Kaleia

At the park, surrounded by boys roughhousing and playing with their dump trucks, Kaleia picks up a stick and with stern eyes silently and purposefully points it at each one.  When one comes within easy earshot she furrows her brow even harder, jabs the magic twig toward him and says, "I put a K on you!"

When little Johnny scowls back at her, probably a little confused, Kaleia tilts her head, smiles and in a consoling, ain't-no-thing voice, adds: "A 'tend one..."

A Letter to Kaleia at 2 1/2

**Disclaimer: Again, I started this post last January. Kaleia is actually 3 now. Her 3 year post is coming soon!**

At 2, you still seemed so much like my little baby. But I can't say that anymore. As you reminded me this afternoon, you are a big girl.

Kaleia Turns 2!**

***Disclaimer: This post was written over a year. As with Magnolia, I started writing it just before her 2nd birthday. Life was SUPER crazy when Kaleia turned 2. I jotted down notes and have been working on it intermittently. As usual, it is long. Mostly, it is for Kaleia, but I hope you enjoy learning more about my daughter through my eyes.***

A letter to my Kaleia Shalom: