Happy 11th, Cassie!

So, Cassie, today you are turning 11.  You have long been anticipating this day because you believe turning 11 on the 11th has some special significance.  But, I have to tell you that every day with you holds special significance for me. 

I adore your sense of style.  You have an incredible ability to draw and paint.  You are a gifted storyteller and writer.  I am enchanted with the graceful dancer that you are becoming.  I admire your musical accomplishments.  And, I am in awe of your Tae kwon do skills. 

I love that you see beauty in the mundane.  I love when Lacey looks at you, her eyes brimming with admiration and says, "Wow, Cassie!"   I love that you are not afraid to be different.  Most of all, I love your sense of fairness and your desire to make the world a better place. 

Happy 11th Birthday!

 

More New Pets

Last weekend we visited the USA Science & Engineering festival in Washington, D.C.  The event lasted for two days and featured over 3,000 booths, a book fair and a career pavilion.  This was the second such national festival and our second visit.  We thought that the girls would enjoy it even more this year, since Lacey has acquired much more English.  We spent a couple hours watching robotic vehicles; experimenting with magnets; learning about our senses; solving math problems; and using software to design cities.  Our legs were tired, the crowd was becoming unmanageable and we were really hungry.  And then we saw them, in an obscure booth near the far end of the exhibits.  It was as though some invisible force was at work, beckoning the girls.  Worms!!  I don't know how the girls spotted them.  Perhaps they were tired of looking at electronic and mechanical things and yearned to see something alive.  But, suddenly, we just weren't going to survive without worms.

This fascinating exhibit showed how a few worms can consume kitchen scraps, thus eliminating trash and helping the environment.  These same few worms can also create "organic soil conditioner;" and provide "natural fertilizer."  Frankly, I'm not sophisticated enough to know the difference between soil conditioner and fertilizer.

 Les was an easy sell.  For a few dollars, he bought the plans to build a composter and took note of how to order worms by mail.

I wasn't so convinced and risked ruining lunch with talk of worms.  

"Ohh!  They're so cute, Mom" pressed Cassie.  "And, just think, we could be so GREEN!!"

Well. . . we had raised worms when I was a kid.   They lived in a styrofoam cooler in the basement and ate coffee grounds.  When we wanted to go fishing we got an empty soup can and plucked out a few worms. I didn't remember any particular benefit to the environment.  But, I did have to admit that I didn't recall any of them escaping.  Then, I shared a vague recollection of Uncle Dave raising worms in his garage.  Strangely, I couldn't recall any disasters associated with his endeavor either.    

So, I agreed to the worms.   Hey, they shouldn't be as much work as a dog.

The worms

Unpacking the worms

Sisterly Advice

Today, Lacey's going on a field trip to a working farm.  Yesterday, I overheard Cassie giving her advice on how to dress for the trip.

"First," Cassie said, "You need to wear long pants.  You might eat lunch sitting on the ground.  Or, you might be around hay or straw.  You don't want your legs to get picked by hay.  So, long pants are important."

"Okay," Lacey agreed.

"Next," Cassie said, "You need to wear a short-sleeved shirt and a sweatshirt jacket.  You don't know how the weather is going to be.   If you decide you need to keep your jacket on, you won't get too hot if you wear short sleeves.  And, if it gets hot, you can always take off your jacket."

Lacey nodded, trying to keep up.

"We can't forget shoes," Cassie said.  "You need to wear comfortable shoes because you'll be walking a lot.  Don't wear high tops.  You should probably wear your old sneakers - the ones you wear to play in the yard. It won't matter if they get muddy and they're really comfortable."

"My old shoes," parroted Lacey.

"Hair is important too," Cassie cautioned.  "Absolutely don't wear a hairband because if you decide you want to take it off, there won't be anywhere to put it.  What you need to do is wear a hair elastic around your wrist.  Then, if you decide to pull your hair back, you have that option."

"Okay.  Hair elastic," said Lacey.  "I'll go find one right now."

"No!"  Cassie said.  "I have to give you the most important piece of advice.   Whatever jacket you pick has to look good if you decide to tie it around your waist.  You absolutely don't want to look like a dork!  Well, maybe I better help you pick out your clothes."

And, off they went.

Good thing Lacey didn't come to me for advice.  I would have recommended jeans and a jacket, completely ignorant of the dork stuff.

Career Day

Friday was "Career Day" at the girl's school.  They were supposed to dress up as the professional they would like to be someday.  Cassie didn't have to think twice.  She was going to dress as an artist.  She swept through the house, grabbing a hand-painted T-shirt, a beret, and her paint smock.  Lacey had a bit of trouble deciding how to dress.  Every day life is so absorbing that she really doesn't think much about the future.  Not too long ago she asked if she was going to be able to grow up and get married some day.  So, the idea of having a profession and actually working is a little abstract.  Eventually, with a little coaching from Cassie, she decided to dress like a teacher.

"Mommy," she began, "What do teachers wear?"  

"Umm.. . . ," I faltered as I looked down at my outfit.  I was wearing khaki-colored capris, a lavender "Life is Good" T-shirt, and a blue denim shirt that has my school's name embroidered over the pocket.  This is the same shirt that I wore to the county courthouse in December when Les and I dropped off Lacey's re-adoption papers.  (I'm straying, but this is interesting.)  When we entered the courthouse, the guards all jumped up and came rushing over to us.  They literally looked me up and down, from head to foot.  They exchanged strange looks with each other.  They finally let me pass,  but then several other people came rushing over, anxious to help.  I mentioned to Les how attentive everyone seemed.  He explained that they all thought I was a prisoner being brought over for trial.  He added that they were all probably trying to guess what a middle-aged woman like me was doing in prison.  It turns out that my shirt is the same kind worn by inmates in the county jail.  Somehow, I didn't think that Lacey would want to hear that teachers dress like prisoners.

"Well," I tried, "I can tell you what teachers don't wear.  They don't wear bikinis to work!"

This got a good laugh from both girls.  Cassie offered to try to help Lacey find something nice to wear.  They found a skirt and blouse, and Cassie advised Lacey to wear her good shoes.

"But, Mommy wears flip flops!"  Lacey protested.  "Remember, Mommy is trying to set a record to see how many months in a row she can go without having to wear shoes?"

"That's because Mommy doesn't have to go out on the playground,"  I said.  "You need to wear shoes to be safe on the playground."

The girls ran off to finish getting ready for school and left me looking at myself in the mirror wondering exactly what a teacher is supposed to look like.

The artist and the teacher