Graduation Numero Dos

Eva graduated from preschool!  Again! 

She insisted on wearing her favorite dress for the occasion; the one Grandma and Grandpa bought her for Easter.  She also insisted on telling anyone who made eye contact with her that it was her favorite dress that she got on Easter.  My little princess looked beautiful with her hair all curled and wearing her favorite dress.

Eva walked right in with her cap and marched up onto the risers radiating with pride. She sang all the songs and did all the hand motions.  It was a big difference from last year when she just stood there and picked her nose.  She also kept looking for us in the audience and violently waving and giving the thumbs-up sign.  It was quite amusing.

Here she is receiving her certificate

And here she is showing the entire audience

She stood for a good long time sweeping it back and forth so everyone could get a good peep at it.  The audience all laughed and oohed and awed at the adorable child up front.  Luckily her teenage companion stopped her before it went on too long and became weird and annoying.  We always want to keep our performances on the adorable spectrum.

Just one more year of preschool before this little kitty heads off to Kindergarten.

It seems impossible.

Spitting Image

Since birth Eva has looked like her dad.  But the older she gets, the more pronounced their resemblance becomes.

See what I mean?

Superhero Dad

Michael attended school with Eva to celebrate “Dad is my hero” day.  Here’s what Eva had to say about her dad.

 

Don’t be fooled by the competent drawing of father and child at the bottom.  Eva lost interest and convinced her teenage companion do the drawing instead.  With those delegation and coercion skills, Eva will make a great CEO one day.

They had a great time eating donuts, playing games, and making a lava lamp.

Eva made Myke a money bank with Captain America’s shield on it and a badge for his shirt.  It was a good day for both Dad and daughter.

Look at him.  Michael really is a super dad.  With a super dog sidekick.

I guess we’ll keep them both for another week.

Even More Conversations with a 4-year-old

I stumbled upon my notes of funny Eva-isms last week.  Here ya go:

Making Breakfast for Michael

Me: Do you want to get Daddy some water?

Eva: Copy that.

Getting Ready for School

Me: You have jam on your face.

Eva: Don’t worry.  I’m still stylish.

Trying to Leave to Go Run Errands

Eva: I don’t want to go.  I’ll just stay home by myself.

Me: You can’t stay home alone.  What if the house catches on fire?

Eva: Mama! We don’t have any creatures that blow fire living at our house.

Falling off the Counter

Eva’s crying that her leg hurts.

Me: Do you want me to kiss it better?

Eva (Through tears): No.  My body will heal it.

Hanging around the House

I’m minding my own business and passing a little gas.

Eva: Mama!  Gross.  I’ll get my perfume so you’ll smell good again after all that fluffing.

Then she sprayed perfume all over my backside.

In the Car

Eva is blowing boogers in and out of her nose.

Me: Do you need a Kleenex?

Eva:  No.  I’m just making music with my nose.

Teaching Eva about Baptism

Michael: When you’re 8 I’ll baptize you by immersion.  That means your whole body will go under the water.

Eva: I think I’ll need my goggles for that one.

In the Bathroom

Michael is in the bathroom and Eva barges in uninvited.  She looks up and down at him for a moment then says, “That’s a weird way to pee, Daddy.”

Yes.  Yes it is.

Fearless

Letting your daughter play on wobbly scaffolding?  That seems like good parenting.

Letting your husband play on wobbly scaffolding?  That seems like a good way to collect on your dismemberment and disability insurance.

Mums for Moms

Eva’s preschool had their Mother’s Day celebration last week and I enjoyed being at school with her.  She was so excited when I walked in the door and immediately wanted to take me to get my present.  When Eva is happy to see me, my little heart blossoms with glee. 

I plopped my wide load onto a tiny chair and shoved myself under the miniature table so we could make a craft.  Eva carefully outlined my hand and I had blue marker around the perimeter of my fingers for the rest of the day.  I smiled every time I looked at it.

Finally it was time for presents!  Eva gave me a card and a flower pot that she had painted.  We sat and ate powdered sugar donut holes while I giggled at the answers on the card.  (When it says, “IDK” it means I don’t know.  It took me a minute to decipher that, but she was answering the questions with a teenager.  It would seem strange if there wasn’t texting shorthand involved.)

And a portrait of me.  I’m a fox!

On Saturday night Eva kept reciting that tomorrow would be Mother's Day.  She was looking forward to it more than I was.  She said over and over, “I have a surprise for you but you can't have it until Mother’s Day.  I made some art but I’m not going to tell you what it is because it’s a surprise.”  I heard that at least 10 times on Saturday.

Sunday morning I was in the shower when Eva came in and carefully laid out my gifts on the floor.

They are the best gifts I have every received!  At church the kids all got up to sing for Mother’s Day and Eva proudly marched up to the front of the chapel and gave me a big smile.  She looked only at me the entire time she was singing and smiled throughout the song.  I sat there and cried through the whole performance.  It’s a shame I didn’t have any Kleenex.  It’s also a shame that I wasn’t wearing waterproof mascara.  What an idiot!

I feel sad and overwhelmed sometimes that she is growing so quickly, yet I simultaneously love watching her grow and develop new quirks.  Eva is thoughtful, kind, intelligent, obedient, funny, and beautiful.  I’m a grateful Mom.

And clearly a good Mom too.  Look at all her enviable qualities.

Nasty Habit

Fancy a smoke?