I woke up to sweet giggles this morning and sneaked upstairs to find this scene. It was all I could do to hold it together. Reading to her. Just because. They've always had their special time in the mornings...I can't believe this was almost exactly 2 years ago. They are so lucky to have each other.

She hasn't slept in her crib for several weeks now, so this weekend, after everyone left from the workshop and before the kids came home, we did a little room makeover (Target loves me, by the way):

I'm going to be completely honest here: the only reason I did the makeover was to help me carry through the emotional task of taking that crib down. That's it. That's the last reminder of our baby days. I remember shopping for that crib with my mom. I remember the excitement (and confusion and fear) Virgil and I felt the first time we put that crib together. It seemed like such a foreign object in this house built for two. I remember our puppy dog spent that first night under the crib...she would not come out. I remember my hubby getting projectile poo'ed on while changing a diaper in that crib. I remember how my little Logi Bear used to look in the summer time in just a saggy diaper and rosy red cheeks waking up from a nap in that crib. I remember how excited I was to finally get to put pink sheets on that crib and how Amry would gaze up at her bee mobile until she finally drifted off to sleep.

That crib has been in our house for 7 years. Almost a decade. My mom and sister helped me take it down. I'm glad they were there. I'm also pretty sure my sis didn't see me well up when she asked if we could store it for her to use one day. It would be an honor.

And so while the crib is put away until I get a new niece or nephew someday, my little girl is enjoying her "new pink room" as she calls it. She was so excited to explore all the new things...she was especially intrigued by the dress up trunk at the foot of her bed (hence the leotard and tutu). It brings me such joy to see her so comfortable in the very room that she was born in. Comfortable enough not to ask where her crib was even if I was kind of hoping she would.

This morning, you were greeted with streamers in your doorway and a visit from the Birthday Fairy downstairs. Just like we do every year, for each child's birthday. But this year is different. Instead of the tell-tale yellow construction toys that you loved back when you were 2-5, or the strange boxes that would arrive from mail order butterfly catalogs when you were 6, this year, it's all about gears and motors and creation.

Your room looks like a funhouse, filled with all kinds of brightly colored things that come to life with the touch of a button. Your ability to read through those complicated instructions and turn those into real working models impresses me beyond belief. You live and breathe Legos and Erector Sets and Knex.

And that's one of the things I love most about you. When you get into something, you jump in FULL FORCE, usually pulling in everyone else around you as well. It can be exhausting at times, but I love to watch your imagination on fire, your unbreakable concentration as you plug through a project, your elation when you finish and it actually works.

Today, you're working on something that has 2,004 pieces and will stand a little more than 4 ft tall. That's funny...you were born in 2004 and now stand a little more than 4 ft tall. You'll get to break another board in karate to honor this day and then it's off to the Lego store, followed by the dinner of your choice (sushi), and the birthday cake of your choice (key lime pie). You were totally understanding when we discovered your sister had already opened your birthday present. You're up at the crack of dawn every day and chances are if I checked your pockets right now, I'd find some change and a bunch of Werther's original wrappers (I swear you're a 60-year-old man trapped in a 7-year-old's body). You are a funny little man, T. My quirky, funny, sensitive, technical, creative little man. And we love you...

It was Homeschool Day at Sea World and I felt so lucky to have heard about it from a wonderful client/friend last week. What an amazing experience for the entire family! It was so easy, so effortless. No heat, no crowds, no being forced to eat yucky, overpriced park food. We just toured around, fed the dolphins, watched the whale show, explored aquariums, and simply played...together. The park staff was so laid back--it actually felt like less of a cattle drive and more like how a visit to a place this magical should be.

It was also really cool to scope out the other homeschooling families in our area. I don't know what I was expecting, but everyone was just so...so...normal. The kids were happy and smiling and well-adjusted and the parents were patient and encouraging and relaxed. What a joy to see all of those families embracing the homeschooling spirit! I had no idea how many there are out there, but this small sampling was quite a decent sized group.

I also had no idea that there is homeschooling "branding." A few shirts today cracked me up. Made me feel like we needed to be one of the "cool kids," too.

I look forward to hopefully doing this again next year. And wow, I just learned about Disney Homeschool Days as well! We're going to be busy. Do you all know of any other events like this we should check out?

(Note, I realize I've been seriously remiss in updating our homeschool blog. Ugh. I should have known I wouldn't be able to keep up with yet another blog. I have been sharing some things via the Creative Mama blog, but perhaps I can try to do some homeschool updates on here every now and then. Perhaps. No promises ;-)