sunday

Maddie has brought up Highschool a couple of times in the last few months.
As in "I might want to go.  Because there are things I think I need to learn."

I have a while, before that happens, yet.
I'm not sure if one her friends has been talking of the imagined glamour of such a grown-up, magical, high-fashion place, or if she's thinking she's ill prepared for adulthood.

Regardless, I have a few years to remind her that she's fully equipped to learn whatever she needs to learn.... there are resources aplenty, abounding.

 Maddie chooses Khan Academy

Quarto

Quoridor

Brain games whilst eating cinnamon rolls...
that's how I'll encourage her to find her Girl Power.

The Farm

We used to have a different farm.
Well--it wasn't Ours, of course, but it was where we played, and petted, and climbed, and baa'd.

Now we have one where we help children hold bunnies, and clean out cages, and shovel the dirty straw from the wheelbarrow and into the dumpster.

There are alpacas, and piggies, and sheep and goats.  Donkeys, horses, cows, and ducks.

 

There is a farmer, his staff, and his volunteers.
That's our job.

 

I'd say life is just right.

Monday's Animals

Having a child that adores animals (think Whisperer) can be tricky sometimes.

On the one hand, they're always up for adventuring, because there is a chance to see hawks and eagles, lizards, snakes, and other wild things,

and on the other there's the caring, and watching out for the tender heart.

Maddie had been asking about volunteering, again (she has since she was about four), so today was the day we went to a farm / petting zoo, for just that.
(We found one that allows children!  Hooray!)

After a quick intro to some of the animals,

Maddie sat with the bunnies, getting to know them,

and then introduced them to families visiting the farm,

helping them to hold and pet them.

A couple of times I offered suggestions, but no, Maddie knew better than I.

She had it handled.  Of course.

We go again in a few days!
I think she'll love it.  ♥

Friday : Thirteen Feet Deep

Welp.
There we go.





Another example of what "just playin'" can amount to, I guess.

just like that.

"I want my training wheels off."
I mentioned the other day that she had said this.


Eric and I imagined that it would go something like, 'run run run after Maddie, let go, and there she goes'.
Because we know her.

This morning she made it clear that it was time to get to business.

"I'm right behind you!" I hollered, grabbing my camera.

So we get to the church parking lot (lots of smoothe, wide-open space), and after a talk of "nothing to be embarrassed about, all kids go through this" with her Mama, she's ready.

Her dad gets behind her, "Kay, I'm here", and immediately after, "Okay, I'm gonna let go!"


And that was it.
It was over.


Maddie rides a bike.

So there.

"Mom!" she comes swingin' in on the Tarzan rope next to the patio, where I'm sitting.
"Does l...o...n spell lon?"
"Well... do you mean lawn, as in 'mowing the lawn'?" I ask, very impressed... this is totally and completely new for her.
"No!.... I mean as in 'this has been a loooonn day'!"
I've been meaning to write about how it charms me so that Squeaks completely drops her g's in her words... everything ends in nnnn instead of 'ng'.
"Yes! That's just the way it's spelled, the way you say it!" Her mama says happily.
And so, my friends, it begins.
Just like that.

baby love

maddie found a baby in the house.







she makes a fine heroine.

Maddie's Pie

cookie dough




cream cheese, sour cream, orange juice, bit of powdered sugar




dusting.



yum.



This post goes to Saturday's Artist.