Erin turns 7!

 Happy birthday, Erin!

MadLibs with a 6 year old

are awesome!

And yes, it is from the limited edition Napoleon Dynamite Book. 

Precocious Art Critic?

Erin (getting ready to do an art project):  What can I draw you?  I can draw people!
Brian: Draw me the Mona Lisa.
E: What does she look like?
B (looks up the picture on his phone): There!
E: Wow. Why is she smiling?
B: …….  !

Wrestling Rules

Translation:
This is just for people over 1 year old
All wrestlers must have undies on.
No jewelry while wrestling.
Play gently!
and have fun!

Girls Day!

1. Erin sewed two dresses for her barbie dolls. 

2. We took a bike ride and found an awesome leaf pile. 

3. We went to the trampoline place and jumped for an hour.

4. We went to the Orinda Community Park and played. 

5. We watched a wood-working show. 

Can't wait for the next Girls Day. 

Erin's Opus No. 1

Just a bit of Life, the Universe, and Everything before bedtime

Last night, just after Brushing and Flossing, and before starting Snuggly Reading Time before Lights Out.
E: Mom, what is at the end of space?
M: Well, some people think at the end of the universe there's the edge of another universe.  And at the edge of that, another.  Like a bunch of bubbles.
E: Ohhhhh.... that's great! Because then the aliens are in the different universe.
M:  Maybe.  But some people think that at the end of our universe, there's nothing.
E: (with fearful look)  But then, noooooo.  Then that means the aliens are in OUR space.

Notice Anything?

I was surprised at how much the loss of one tooth pulled at my heartstrings.  The loss of her first baby tooth felt much the same as the arrival of that tooth.  When it first pushed out five years ago, her sweet, gummy smile changed from marking her as a tiny baby to a growing infant.  When that same tooth popped all the way out it kind of feels like the little kid is changing to the big. Or at least means we're nearly in middle-childhood already.

Erin Plays Soccer!

 Not only was Wed. the first day of 1st grade for Erin, it was her first day of soccer practice!  Yes, I've officially become a Soccer Mom.  Her team is the Purple Penguins.  And thanks to Amazon prime, her cleats and shin guards came just in time.

Her team is half girls who have played since they were two and half donning cleats for the first time.  They all had a ton of fun. Dribbling....

... playing Easter Egg Hunt....

.... and taking water breaks.

So if you're wondering where we are every Saturday morning until November, you can find us at the games!  GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAL!

WW: 1st Day of 1st Grade!

Kindergarten

Good Dental Hygiene

Today E had one of two fillings done for cavities*.

Erin was a total champ.  I was a total wreck. I couldn't take pictures of the procedure, due to privacy concerns, but let me tell you friends she was amazing.  She had a large orange-colored nose piece through which she received happy vapors.  She was shown all the instruments, was told a description of each and given a brief demonstration.  The assistant held her hand throughout the entire procedure.  She came out of it looking forward to the next filling.

She couldn't eat for about 2 hours afterwards, and it was nearing lunch time.  So I got her a milk shake. A big one.  She finished about half. 

The tooth had been bothering her for awhile, so I am very glad it was fixed.  And I asked, only half joking, if they would accept adult patients.  No dice, it's pediatric only. Bummer. All dentists should be this patient-centric**.





*Yes, we brush.  No, apparently not as well as we should.  And we have been kind of slack in the floss department.  These are all things that have changed. 
** I'm sure most of them are, I've just had some bad luck. 

Pipe

Erin the Meteorologist

"Mom, guess what I heard on the radio??!!?  Tomorrow there's going to be SHOUTING and THUNDERSTORMS on EASTER!!!"

(Note, the before and after drawing.)

Fun with Clay

I picked up some modeling clay at the dollar store (LOVE that place).  The kids went to town!  Over one hour of free form play.  Robin started by using each stick as its own thing, then resorted to making teeny pieces and constructing the longest archipelago known to Casa de McMiller.

Erin busied herself with making "Mini-Me's".  Note similar pose. 

That was a fine $2. 

Princess Cody

High-fiving the Navy mascot

Mrs. Y's Present

Erin's kindergarten teacher is out on medical leave for a little while.  She's fighting a good fight, and has undergone her 3rd surgery in as many  months.  But she'll be out for the rest of the week, and will return during the new year.

One of the Moms had an idea for a very, very thoughtful class holiday present for her.

Each child was assigned a color.  They used their index finger to paint a few dots in an outline.  The outline is the shape of a peace dove.  Each unique color had a fingerprint dot on the bottom half, with the child's name next to it. (non-family members names smudged for privacy).  Such a thoughtful class gift.  I didn't get to see the final product, but we gave it to her as we caroled at her house a few days later. 

WW: Cooking with Dad

"Scientist" Erin

Erin's classroom has been working the last few months on writing their first book.  It is a book about scientific observations of trees.  Each child illustrated a concept and wrote a sentence.  Today was their "publishing" party.  They were instructed to don a white shirt as their lab coats.  They read each other the stories, then shook each other's hands and congratulated them.  "Well done, Dr. Erin."  "Well done, Dr. J".  

Very cute, and pretty amazing.