Nick Universe

My mom's friend Florence gave her a ton of tickets for Nick Universe, the Nickelodeon-themed amusement park in the middle of the Mall of America.  When we realized that the tickets were about to expire, we ended up with not one, but TWO outings to the mall for unlimited rides and the glories of the food court.

Eleri had very specific ideas about the rides and refused to go on most of them.  She did, however, spend a lot of time watching the huge rollercoasters in fascination, and my theory is that the baby rides are beneath her, and she's just waiting until the day she is big enough to ride upside down.

On the first day, we barely got her on the balloon ride. (doesn't she look contemplative?)

On our second trip, she went on the kiddie rollercoaster--and loved it.

Clio was more adventurous, especially on round two when Lucia was with us, too.

I have to tell you, as a rollercoaster and scary ride lover, part of me was proud that Clio was showing a real aptitude for the big guns, but as a mother, I will admit to slight terror.

This thing, which I rode with her the second time around (and which was SCARY--I am clearly out of practice-- and which I kind of can't believe she wanted to go on again) goes VERY high in the air and then drops you mercilessly to the ground.  Oh, my stomach.

Oh, yes, for the second round, Dave was there, too.

Art a Whirl

Too many times this spring, I find myself referring to events as "you know, that thing we meant to do last year but didn't.  I can't remember why."

I'm trying to remedy that by actually getting activities on the calendar and then sticking to them, weather, naps, or traffic be damned.

Yesterday we hit art-a-whirl, the open studios weekend in northeast.  We chose the Casket Arts building--smaller than Northrup King, larger than California, and, not coincidentally, right next to Find Furnish, a favorite mid century furniture shop.

It was just the right size: four floors of studios for artists working in paint, print making, tile, furniture making, mixed media, and more.  There was just enough to keep the girls going: snacks in almost every room and the occasional hands-on activity.

Clio got to run a card through a letterpress

Both girls made their own little hand held mirrors

(And got lovely new necklaces like the one Eleri is wearing here--thanks Nonny!)

We also saw art that got us inspired for our own projects

And art we might actually purchase and bring into our house.  Like a giant jellyfish (not pictured).

I love showing them something of the artist's life, and the idea of buying art from an event they attended.  And it was great to see the outpouring of support for this event--so many people from all walks of life!

Creative Clio

It's no secret that Clio is a prolific budding artist.  Lately, she's gotten really creative about inventing projects.
There have been lots and lots of output in the "paper doll" category.

I think she made these guys at school.



At home, she supersized the idea.  Meet "Crismas."  Crismas has red jeweled eyes and sparkly buttons on her dress.  (Her arms are propped behind the chair to keep her upright -- or oh-so-laid-back, depending on how you look at it.)  Unfortunatelu, Crismas lost her shoes to the vacuum cleaner.

These little ghosts got stuffed with cotton in the middle to make them fat and puffy.

She made this family of kings from that foam paper.

All of these projects were of her invention and created of her initiative (and, truthfully, with very little parental oversight.)  I am constantly amazed by the little treasures we find all over the house.

Easter Dresses

Eleri is still in the dresses-only-dresses phase, and holidays are a real bonanza if this is your inclination.  This year, my mom gave her not one but TWO Easter dresses, and she wears them every chance she gets.  While Clio has moved on to mostly leggings and t-shirts, she still relishes a super-pretty gown, and I wonder how many years she'll want to wear the full skirts and formal fabrics of little girl Easter dresses.  (Sometimes I think fashion is genetic, and if I am any indication, we've got many years to go--hooray!)

I have to say, I love Clio's glasses, love that she coordinates the different pairs with her outfits, and that we are all used to them now.  But every once in a while, we get a picture like this one.

It makes me miss her face.  Is that strange?  She looks so same-but-different to me like this.  I think, too, she got them at a time when she was just outgrowing the very last vestiges of "toddler"  (5T  to 6 makes sense to me all of a sudden--why 5 is the last "toddler" year).  In a way, it feels like this growing up happened behind her glasses, and when she takes them off like this, it's as if the growing was instant.

The desire to categorize

It happens all the time, and yet I am always charmed by the desire children have to organize their world.
In this case, the toys get lined up by color.

Also, you know I love when Dave picks up the camera.  The photos are always far superior to mine, and I love to see what he sees.

A picture's worth a thousand words

I'm so glad Grandma and Grandpa took some pictures while they were here for Spring Break--I never seem to bother anymore, since this photo expresses Clio's enduring feelings on being photographed.

Clio Grace, reader extraordinaire

At her conferences back in November, Clio's teachers set me up for this big surprise.  At first, the way they were leading into it, I got really nervous, wondered what was wrong, what my girl had done.  In the end, it was good news:  Clio was testing at a 2nd grade reading level.

I think they were disappointed by my lack of surprise and jubilation.  We knew it already: Clio is a really amazingly good reader.  This is likely because she loves stories.  Because we read to her a lot from the very beginning.  Because she has good teachers.  Because she is--has always been--really really verbal.

Lately, though, her reading ability seems to have just shot forward, and whatever reading level she may now be at, I find myself impressed.  I think the turning point came when I found her reading the Gift of the Magi.  She is reading chapter books like Junie B Jones and Ivy and Bean.  I often find her reading in bed.

I was the same way, and I love that this is something passed on from me.