Highs and Lows

Tuesday was a good day.  Daphne and I made a last minute decision to go down to Wolf Trap to see Dan Zanes.  Wolf Trap has a really cool children's theater, which you get to by going over a bridge and hiking through the woods.  

Dan Zanes was great, although I think it's more fun to see him with a whole band.  This show seemed to be catered more toward younger kids than Daphne, but she still had a good time.  Especially at the end, when we followed DZ out of the theater and through the woods singing Sidewalks of New York, which is a family favorite that Daphne has been singing since she was REALLY small (link coming soon).

After the show, which by the way started at 10:30 in the morning - so great, we went to lunch at Friendly's.  There was ice cream.  I was told many times that day that I am the best mom ever.

Which brings us to yesterday.  Sigh.  

So, I decided it was time to get my annual hair cut, and I decided that it should be somewhat shorter than usual, as I was feeling sort of swallowed up by my hair.  But I don't actually have a regular person that I go to for haircuts, so I took a chance on the internet.  And below is what happened:

Now, I actually like the way my hair looks in the picture, but somehow in real life it doesn't really look anything like that.  It's way too short, especially in the back.  Total "mom hair" in the back.  And today, it's even worse, because I have no idea how to deal with it myself.  It's still wet at the moment, because I just washed it, so maybe it will look OK when it dries, but I have a feeling there are a lot of hats and headbands in my near future.  Ugh.  

But the WORST thing is that Daphne had a total freak-out about it.  I went from the best mom ever to the worst mom ever in 24 hours.  She made a shelter in the sideyard out of a cardboard box, and stayed in there for quite a while, refusing to come inside.  She wouldn't talk to me except to say "it looks awful...it looks worse than it did before...you look like an old person...I'm never talking to you again."

Sigh.

Eventually she had to go to the bathroom, so she came in the house, but she locked herself in the bathroom for a while before she finally came out.  By the end of the day, she was speaking to me again (mostly because she wanted me to read the next chapter of Harry Potter), but when she went to bed, she said she was still sort of mad at me about getting my hair cut.

And the thing is, I have to act all cool about it, like I am not upset AT ALL that it's way too short, because I don't want to send a message to my kid that your self-esteem should be based on a stupid thing like hair, even though the truth is I don't even want to leave the house until it grows back.  Parenting is hard.

I am never trusting another person holding scissors. I said at least CHIN length.     

Today, it's Daphne's turn to get a haircut.  Wish us luck.

Scenes from Summer - Week 1

Summer is off to a big start.  Beans and peas are going crazy in the garden.

There has been more knitting than usual.

I decided that I should take advantage of the tart cherries at the farmer's market and make a pie.

I went to Wolf Trap with a friend to see the GREAT Hall (and Oates).

I got this cool shirt which I wore proudly all over town the next day.  Even though SOMEbody teased me about letting my Freak Flag fly.  I don't care.  I knit.  I count birds.  I watch Star Trak.  And I like Hall and Oates.  

Daphne, on the other hand, helps set World Records (for being part of the World's Largest Swimming Lesson), and is friends with the Mayor.

And we went to the Fire Station for a rock star tour, including a ride in the truck and a trip to the sky in the ladder bucket.

And we've also been watching a lot of soccer.

There have been two unbearably hot days, but otherwise, it's been pleasant outside.  Daphne and I are reading Harry Potter, which makes me happy.  And today, we are going to see Dan Zanes at a theater in the woods.  Summer ain't bad.

Father's Day

Kev got home Friday night, in time for a really awesome Father's Day weekend that included a bike ride to the park for a picnic, frisbee, and track-ball, a movie at the Alamo, lots of porch time, family band time, gifts, and some really good food.

Saturday night, we made scallops with butternut squash puree, balsamic roasted asparagus, and ricotta crostini.  Because we are fancy like that.

Daphne gave him a book of coupons for things like a free trip to the waterpark, five homemade sandwiches, breakfast in bed, and two weeks worth of watering the garden.

We used our new juicer to make some fresh-squeezed OJ, and we had a big Father's Day breakfast on Sunday.  

For the record, it is cheaper to squeeze your own juice than to by freshly squeezed Wegman's juice.  But not by much.

So, Happy Father's Day to Kev and to my dad, who are both really good dads and deserve to have a least one day that's all about them.

School's Out!

Kev was away on work travel last week, so I had Last Week of School duty on my own.  It was a good week.  I got a pedicure, had breakfast with friends, and caught up on blogs and general organizing.  Daphne had no homework, and got to ride her new bike a little, although big rain kept us from getting outside much.

On the night before the last day, Daphne gathered up all her night time "guys" and spent her last night as a second grader.  Sniff sniff.

The last day of school was busy.  There was some official Girl Scout business during the Step Up Day assembly.

And in the afternoon, there was an ice cream party in the pod.  We will miss Mrs. Kilfeather next year.

I left the party early to come home and enjoy my last hour of the school year at home.  Alone.

At bus time, the rain stopped long enough for me to put up a  banner...

...so that Daphne could crash into summer break with style.

When she got off the bus, she ran UNDER the banner.  She seemed baffled by the idea that shewas supposed   to break the sign.  So, we had a do-over, which made for much better pictures.

I now have a third grader.  Unbelievable.

And Finally - The Lemonade Stand

I think this is my last Spring Catch-Up post!  Woohoo!

On Saturday, Daphne had a friend here for a sleep-over, and they wanted to have a lemonade stand on Sunday.  So have a lemonade stand they did.

We got a new juicing device this time.  I don't think Kev could face another lemonade stand with the hand-juicer.  Which is GREAT if you're squeezing 1 or 2 lemons, but not if you're squeezing 30.

We made the simple syrup a day ahead, and on Sunday, we mixed it up and let the girls do their best to sell it.  

They were pros!

They took turns with the megaphone.

"Get your ICE COLD LEMONADE!  Freshly squeezed!  

Some of the money will go to the animal shelter!

And there's FREEEEEEEE PARKING!"

They made $37 dollars, and sold all but half a pitcher of lemonade.  

A very good way to end Spring and start Summer.

Bring it on.

Update complete.  House more or less tidy.  I think I'll have some lemonade.

Spring Catch-Up - Birthday

Last week, Daphne turned 8.  Which is crazy.

Her birthday has been going on for weeks.  First, she celebrated with Kev's parents, then with my parents, and then with us.  And I don't think it's over, because apparently there is at least one more package on the way.  It's must be pretty great to be 8.

Daphne got a lot of nice gifts, but I think her favorite was a new bike.  She outgrew her old one.  I hope this one lasts a while.  She seems like she is a little taller every day.  

Happy Birthday to my sweet, smart, funny, and interesting little girl.  Eight will be GREAT!

Spring Catch-Up - Field Trips

Lucky me.  I got to go on the 2nd Grade field trip.  Actually, I didn't mind.  We went to the battlefield in Manassas to see Native American dancers, African dancers, animals of the Old West, and birds of prey.  It was pretty cool.  Except for the school bus.  

We've had some small family field trips, like a bike ride to the park for tree-climbing, picnic lunching, and cloud-watching.

And Kev and I took our annual trip to DC.

This time, we had a fabulous meal at Estadio, and then went to the 9:30 Club to see the Old 97s.

Always good to see friends from home and a good rock show.  I love DC.  

Thanks to Kev for taking me on the field trip, and thanks to G-Ma and G-Pa for taking care of Daphne for us.

Spring Catch-Up - Blue Mason Jar Trifecta

The office is cleaned up, and there is laundry happening.  More calendar updating has been done, and appointments re-arranged, and I have everything ready for visits to 2 different banks.  Won't get the car back until probably at least 5:00, though, so the banks may have to wait until tomorrow.  Still, progress is being made.  I will be ready for summer by Friday.

This spring, I have been using my blue mason jars that my friend Jill gave me for my birthday last year.  I love them.  I got a special mason jar lid with a slit in it, and replaced my Nantucket jar.  My Nantucket fund is now up to $90!  And just in time, too, because we're probably going to spend a day there this summer.  I think $90 ought to pay for a nice meal.  Perhaps, LOBSTER.

Another jar was used as a vase for roses from the back yard.  I couldn't bring the peonies inside because of the ants, but the roses are another story.  So pretty on the dining room table.

And this jar is for iced coffee, which is always a nice treat while I'm waiting for the bus to drop off Daphne after school.

This vase is NOT a blue mason jar.  It is a wine bottle which we cut with my kinkajou glass cutter tool.  I love my kinkajou, but it can be frustrating.  Our bottle cutting success rate is not what I'd like it to be.  I guess we just need more practice.  Anyway, this bottle looked pretty on the porch with the peonies.  It's a shame we couldn't bring them inside.  I hate ants.

So, thanks, Jill, for the blue mason jars.  They have been creating lift at Casa Holt.