Just Because

I'm going through all our pictures of Sophia in order to select a few for her week as "Diamond of the Week" in Kindergarten. While I was looking around, I came across this little gem. It was just a little over three years ago. Henri didn't make it into the picture because he was being carried. It's so hard to believe how much these kids have grown and changed in that amount of time.

That's all. Just wanted to share in the cuteness.

Disney Revisited

The last time we went to Orlando, Sophia was two. She was sweet, hilarious and obsessed with princesses. So the second sentence is still true.

We did not actually go to Disney World last time. We just did Downtown Disney and Typhoon Lagoon. This time around, we're headed for the Magic Kingdom. In two weeks, we'll be there enjoying all its glory! Just thought I'd give you a heads up...

Muscle Confusion

One of my gifts for Christmas from Mary was Come on All You Ghosts, a book of poetry by American poet Matthew Zapruder. I love poetry for many reasons, but I think all the reasons: entertainment, education, introspection, insight, beauty, pretty much all come back to one big appeal for me. Muscle confusion.

You know how cross training is such a successful workout because your body doesn’t know what’s coming next? Your muscles get used to doing one thing, then those muscles increase in power, but the rest maintain their flabbiness and flaccidity. Cross training confuses your muscles, causing them to burn more fat and develop more steadily - or something. I really don’t know much about cross training, having never done it myself. But I think that’s the general idea, and that’s what applies to poetry. Follow me?

Reading novels and biographies, watching movies and having conversations all establish our language patterns in a relatively set way. Very rarely are we surprised by the construction of dialogue or text, although the content occasionally astonishes. I know that I will note a well placed metaphor or turn of phrase, but nothing throws my brain into quite a different gear as does poetry. I love to be surprised by someone’s creativity with words. I like not being able to anticipate what’s coming next. Unpredictability in language is one of my favorite things. I like stretching the brain muscle in its language capacity. I imagine it’s how some people feel about complicated mathematical equations.

Here are a few of my favorite excerpts from this particular book of poetry.

from "Pocket":

Saying pocket makes me feel potentially

but not yet busy.

from "April Snow":

I feel like a mountain of cell phone chargers

and finally my favorite from "Poem for Ferlinghetti":

That constant humming sound is time

coming to take us
away from each other.
Or the refrigerator,
keeping the milk cold
and pure.

In case you’re wondering, context does little or nothing to change the tone or meaning of these excerpts. They can stand alone or be experienced in a creative symphony of felt words.

All that being said, I don’t love poetry the way I love reading novels or memoirs, nor do I love it as much as a lengthy conversation. I don't think it’s any more or less valid as a vehicle for communicating thoughts or feelings via word. But it can be a refreshing and invigorating change of pace for the noggin now and then. If you like - and you can comment - you can let me know what you use to exercise the brain. 

Or you can tell me more about cross training for the body.

Sledding Adventures

Sophia and Erick went sledding three days of our break. I went twice. All were big adventures. The first day, we barely had enough snow. Second day was perfect snow for building, so we didn't sled as much as work... Last day was mostly ice. So very fast down the hill, but Sophia has become a confident and independent sledder - a relief for all of us.

All three were followed by hot chocolate, of course. What's the point of sledding and teapots if not for hot cocoa? 

Funny things so far

When we spend this much time with Sophia, it's inevitable that she's going to make us laugh. So far, that's happening quite a bit.

Here are a couple of examples.

While putting Sophia to bed, I prayed and thanked God for our family. That got Sophia to thinking about them. She asked earnestly, "Are you all twins?" Before I could speak, she followed up with, "Oh no, because some of you wear glasses and some of you don't." There are many differences between my siblings and myself, but apparently none stands out more than our ocular health.

The one that really has us chuckling lately is about her presents. I also think it says a lot about who she is. You can decide.

On Christmas Eve, we let her open one present. It's never one of the main ones, but we try to make it something fun and surprising. Well, this time, we gave her this baby doll thing that has a place in the back for a Wii remote. And it came with a Wii disc for the game system. Essentially, you care for the baby while the game is on and it tells you how happy or angry the baby is in response. She had asked for the Baby Alive doll that we got in addition, but this was completely different, so we assumed she'd like the options... Unique and fun, said we to ourselves.

When Sophia opened it, this is what we got, "Oh. A baby doll." Feigning a smile and interest, while looking at us for explanation. So I sell it based on the aforementioned awesomeness. And I quickly add, "Of course you'll have lots more presents tomorrow." To which she responds, "And the presents tomorrow - Will these be from my list?"

We laughed very hard, and I had to answer honestly that only most were from her list. However, her Christmas was a huge success, if I do say so myself. I just appreciated her willingness to give us the benefit of the doubt. Being honest about her hesitation about our gift judgment, but not pouting or throwing a fit in her disappointment.

Now, if we hadn't come through on Christmas, and if she didn't have Santa to fall back on, I'm pretty sure she'd be forced to give in to despair... She's only six.

Christmas Traditions

Among the many fun things that we did this Christmas holiday, going to see the Nutcracker was definitely a favorite for me. I love that ballet. I'm not sure I love all ballet, but definitely this one. Gets me into the Christmas spirit like no other.

Sweet Little Mama

We had a marvelous Christmas here at Sophia's house. She got lots of things that she loves. Santa brought her what she asked - a soccer net and soccer ball.

Her other favorite present was a Baby Alive doll. This is the song that she sang to get Emmy to sleep.