Things are piling up. Like the coats we are hopeful we won’t have to don again, things are turning into mounds around our ears. Events to record here, celebrations to have, things to do before we leave for California.
I feel badly about it and then, it never fails, I drive by The House. The one with the manicured lawn and seasonally appropriate flag out front and a fully lit Christmas tree in their bay window.
A Christmas tree. In May.
It may be their thing, but seeing it makes me feel better about my back log.
Anyway, Ellie turned seven. Something about that transitions her from a little to big kid in my mind. It must do the same for her because she woke up and weighed herself. Then she measured herself against my arm, wanting to prove she’d sprouted overnight. The day before she cried because we told her she wasn’t big enough to mow the lawn.
She’s reaching and stretching, that girl.
On her big day we made pancakes and enjoyed them under some Spartan Alice in Wonderland decor. We followed that up with delivering May Day baskets a day late. As we drove near the base, we watched B-1s do touch and gos and oohed and ahhed in between singing along the Backyardigans soundtrack.
Elizabeth took the birthday girl to lunch and while Ellie wasn’t pleased about having to take a rest upon returning home, she did and was better for it. The crew that loves our kids well showed up for enchiladas and cake and the boys delivered in the ‘connect the dots’ treasure hunt. (Yes, connect the dots. 100% Ellie.)
Alice in Wonderland was the movie de jour- the old Disney version that made the kids laugh and freaked the adults out. So much fun! Lucy crashed and Gem and Ellie weren’t far behind her. I guess she’s not such a big girl after all. Not yet.
