Snow and Winter

Heard at Grammy and Papa's house:

P: C, do you want to see snow?

C: Yes! (pitter pat of running feet to see the snow out the front window)

*** 45 minutes pass ***

C: Grammy, I want to see the snow again.

G: There's no snow out there.

C: Yes there is. It's winter.

G: It didn't snow yet,C.

C: Yes it did.

G: (finally looks out the window) You're right...there is snow! How'd you know that?

C: (giggles)

Today, leaving the gym:

C: It's cold out here.

Mommy: yes, it is

C: It's cold and it's blowing and there's snow and...and...it's winter!

I guess snow = winter for the little miss.

Nutcracker

The pictures and stories from vacation will have to wait until I have time to post them. For right now though, a brief story about C's first trip to the ballet. Last night we went to see the Nutcracker by the Russian/Moscow ballet company that's on tour. They performed right here on post. The storyline was perhaps a bit less clear than I recall from previous versions of the ballet, but the dancing itself was enchanting. C's enamored with ballet and ballerinas in general right now, and she sat, watching intently for 90 percent of the performance. For most of the segments, she simply watched with a captivated look on her face, but when the male dancers began their leaps and jumps, she gasped, looked at me and pointed (not that I'm encouraging pointing, but it shows how impressed she was). 

Cutting Hair

I decided it was time for C's first haircut. Lately, her hair has been something of a tangled mess, getting in her eyes, and generally all over the place. It's been uneven, and crazy looking unless I comb three or four times a day. She refuses to have a ponytail and the barrette only lasts about 10 minutes before she takes it out. So, we called my friend Tracy, who cuts hair in her home, and scheduled our first trim. She was SOOO good with C. She explained what the clothes cover was, and (it has a cute monkey applique on it) that the monkey would keep her company while Tracy trimmed. Tracy also gave C a special comb to hold and showed her the squirt bottle and what it did before she sprayed on her hair. C sat very still for the entire trim and independently too! I got to take pictures. C was so proud of her beautiful haircut at the end. How cute!

My One Political Statement

Like it, or not...there is a winner in this election, and Barack Obama  will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States in January. And it's not really him that I want to discuss, but the "like it or not". I've been browsing the news articles that address the reaction to Obama's election. I'm reading statements from McCain supporters that read as "I'm afraid for our country" and "I dread this Obama presidency." Mr. Obama has been demonized and vilified in a variety of advertising throughout this campaign, leading to these very emotional and negative responses. What good did it do to make some of our American people fearful when it comes to Mr. Obama? He's the President-elect that we have, and the President that we will be living with, and _all_ of the American people need to be prepared for him to represent us. He will be my husband's next commander-in-chief, and I, for one, have to place my trust in him to do what is best with our military. It serves no purpose to have instilled fear. Perhaps when the next election comes 'round, the candidates will consider what impressions of one another that will best serve the people, rather than what impressions will provide a "win at all costs." From here on out though, only time will tell, and we must go forward in faith, not fear. Perhaps candidates will consider that we need to be able to do that with either of them, regardless of who wins the election. (On a more humorous note, maybe we're all winners today: no more election ads!)

Footnote: I read a similar commentary on a reaction site, and this prompted the above thoughts. I can't find the site again, or I'd credit it. 

My little Minnie Mouse

I love Halloween on a military post!  I love that everyone gets in on the act--parents and kids--it's a family affair. I love that everyone in a neighborhood sits out on their front porch (weather allowing) and passes out candy together. Most of all, I love that trick-or-treating has a time limit--no starting in the morning, and no doorbells ringing at 11:00pm. I also love that I know so many of my neighbors and they all got to see my sweet Minnie Mouse. This year, I saw Halloween through my daughter's eyes, and I wouldn't have missed this for the world. We'd talked about dressing up as Minnie Mouse for a few weeks, but I didn't let her see the costume until tonight because dress-up is her favorite thing to do these days and I didn't want to ruin the costume or have it lose it's appeal before t-or-t-ing. While we ate dinner, I told her we were going to dress up and go get treats and she wasn't too sure she wanted to dress up, but when I got out the costume, she saw it and started peeling off her regular clothes. Her eyes widened with serious disbelief when I got out my makeup box and told her she was going to get to wear Mommy's makeup (mascara on her nose and cheeks). 

We started out with our neighbors, Pammie and Maddie, who ran from door to door boldly, but C wasn't so sure about going up to strangers and talking to them (not necessarily a bad trait!) and we were left lagging behind. After the first house, she came back to Mommy and Grammy and said, "I got a treat!" with some surprise. The expression on her face when I said we could go get more treats made me giggle. I'm not sure she believed me right away. I was so impressed with C's politeness tonight. At some stops she forgot to say "trick or treat," but only once did she fail to say "thank you" (and that was toward the end and I think she was just tired.) Most of the time the order got confused and she'd say "thank you," and then "trick or treat." But everyone thought that was just the cutest thing. A few people didn't believe she was (just a week shy of) three years old. She spoke up loud and boldly after she got used to the whole ritual. Such a grown up girl! Everyone thought she was adorable as Minnie Mouse (the only one I saw all night). At one house, the treat-giver must have said, "you're so cute." three or four times. When she came back down the steps to Mommy and Grammy, she quipped, "I'm cute."  A few houses later she started announcing, "Minnie Mouse is here!" as we climbed the steps of the porch. We laughed so hard. 

As far as her treats go...she was very proprietary over her pillowcase, wouldn't even let Grammy or Mommy carry it for her when her arms were really drooping. She wouldn't let the givers put the treat directly in the bag, she carried the bag up, took the treat, and then brought the treat and bag back to G & M to put hold the bag open for her and she would place it in. When she received more than one treat at a house, she would meticulously place one treat in the bag at a time. 

I was also really impressed by her responsibility. She got a piece of gum open and was chewing it for a while before I realized she had her first piece of gum in her mouth. She didn't swallow it, just chewed it for a while. When she was done, she pulled it out, held it up and said "Mommy throw this away." She didn't swallow it, throw it on the ground, but gave it to me to toss. What an awesome kid! 

By the time it was all over and we headed back home, she was so tired, but she still told us all about the evening: "being Minnie Mouse in the dark, and say trick-or-treat and thank you, and get treats! It's so much fun! Go home, show Grammy and Papa my treats. I share with them. I share with you." (So sweet--she was willing to share treats with us, without being asked!) I guess the challenge tomorrow will be explaining to her that just because she dresses up as Minnie Mouse again, she doesn't necessarily get treats! Then again, I think the dressing up part was the bigger hit of the night.

In more detail #5: Red Barn Farm

Earlier this month we went to the Weston Red Barn Farm, north of Leavenworth. When I told C we were going to the farm, she got so excited. "We're going to see pumpkins?" yes. "We're going to see goats?" yes. "We're going to see cows?" yes. "We're going to the farm!" She was ready to go and at the door in seconds, no dawdling. She is fascinated with farms and all the animals on them, and enamored with pumpkins. She shouts and points at any pumpkin or jack-o-lantern she sees. All the way to the farm C babbled about all the things that would be at the farm. When we got to the ponies, it was all I could do to keep her waiting in line and not shoving forward. She held her own tickets and was so grown up when she handed her ride pass to the pony handlers. When we went to pick our pumpkin, I thought I'd have to talk her out of a big giant one. Not so. She went straight to the bins of small pumpkins and went through them, obviously searching for her ideal. It turns out she was hunting for the smallest one. Too cute. Outside the pony corral, a small haystack pile was set up for children to climb, slide and jump on. C joined in with the other children who were playing. We left, to get a snack, and C kept wanting to go back for more jumping and sliding on they hay pile.

In more detail #4: Renaissance Festival

South of Leavenworth in Bonner Springs, technically a suburb of Kansas City, is the site of theKansas City Renaissance Festival . This is an incredibly huge event with vendors, crafters, games, performers and experiences all set in the renaissance period. I've been to a renaissance festival before, and I was impressed that this one didn't just use "Renaissance (generic) Europe" as its setting. There was a bandit's den, a more "orient" area and the other areas each had a different geography from Europe as its theme. C got to feed some goats, which were quite feisty about getting to their treats, getting a tad intimidating for her (they tried to nibble a bit on her dress!) We also got to ride on a giant swinging boat that was literally man-powered...by two men pushing it. Unfortunately I didn't get pictures of that. C played one of the games, in which she had to try to throw rings on bottles. Now, they didn't have pony rides available, but we took advantage of another option--a camel and elephant! C giggled as both of them began. I found out that the elephant's backbone was surprisingly prominent. Oh, and we also had to get her a princess outfit. Not exactly authentic, but she oohed and ahed over it, so I indulged. Check us out!