Bowden caught his first lizard today- all by himself. Our round birdcage of a bird feeder had actually trapped a pygmy nuthatch in the empty seed chamber, and we all went out to watch as Josh set it free. I casually pointed out the lizard on the wall of the house, and Bowden went after it.

He said, surprised, "I caught it!"



I talked him into letting it go pretty quickly, after he'd pet it for a few minutes, and he raced around looking for others to catch. So begins this boy's lizard hunting.

Bowden's birthday began on the ninth...and keeps going...it has density, this fifth birthday. We went to Chuck E. Cheese early on Monday...avoiding crowds.

Umpa took Bowden on a special trip to get a wagon, but ended up with a bike...
Bowden loved it, but fell asleep before the ice cream Umpa had planned to get.
Today Teacher Kathy let Bowden wear his "five crown" and be line leader all day. What a birthday!

We spent Jack's first birthday in the Valley. My grandparents came to my mother's house for cake- a chocolate one not smashed by the birthday boy- bringing my Aunt Angie. Cousin Andy came with Leyla, too, so it was actually a party! Jack really didn't want to sit for the cake. He really wanted to be with his balloons. When we finally got him to try it, he liked it.

Mostly he liked the frosting, although he did eventually try the cake.
Happy birthday, my littlest man!

Why no posts recently? I am mourning the loss of my memory card, full of memories...

I am reminded of the time in Bowden's early days when I was video taping him doing nothing and realized that the tape had been rewound, and that I had erased a large portion of his first minutes.

I tend to get too attached to the physical reminders of meaningful moments.
I'll move on.

A moment in the life of Lucy Spoon...

"Hi! I a baby anaconda!"
Speaking for a spaghetti noodle at the lunch table.
"Meet my friend, Tuppa!"
Showing noodle purple rubber band in other hand.
"Mmmmmm. Mmm."
Eating baby anaconda.
"Hello, everybody!"
Talking to forkful of soon-to-be-digested baby anacondas.

Lucy had a chance to feed Selah this visit. Lucy also likes to feed Jack.

Selah was very democratic about it all.
Jacky was not so easily assured that Bowden could feed him as well as Mama.

Yesterday was meant to be the day that Bowdenitsu graduated from preschool. Teacher Kathy had been teaching all the kids a series of dances and signing that the kids were to perform at the "show." She even bought them this t-shirt, star necklace, and bandana. Bowden had a motorcycle solo, had all the signs down, and couldn't wait to do the chicken dance with his dad onstage. "We're going to go so fast that time! It's a surprise!"
But, alas! Bowden woke up with a stomach bug, and while in the early stages we thought that he might possibly still make it, he threw up two minutes after this picture was taken. He was pretty upset, and so was I.
How much of my disappointments and celebrations are wrapped up in our children. I can't remember the last time I felt so sad.
He's doing much better today, and has left it all behind. What a troopa!