Letter to Teacher Erny

Fiona is writing a letter to her kindergarten teacher while on vacation. It has been cold but wonderful. After almost a week now she is just about getting through the jet lag. We should be just about getting used to the southern hemisphere winter when it will be time for Hawaii. So good to visit with family even if we're mostly huddled by the fire.

Hanging out

Fiona enjoying a bit of post bike television in kapunda.

And the salmon swam on....

Fiona on the home run today.

Post kindergarten life.

A good start to summer.

Last Day of Kindergarten

Fiona has finished kindergarten today! She is now enjoying her first official Summer Off. We are all looking forward to first grade but also to sleeping in and having some fun adventures. High marks!

Girl Scout year end

Reading

All the time reading and reading...sometimes on into the night.

Backpacking

 Here we are all fresh at the beginning of the trail in the Santa Cruz mountains

 Here is fiona helping filter water in the creek

 Here are Fiona and Devon at camp in the morning

 Fiona only needed to be carried a couple of times.

 Devon helping fiona across the log...she would have done it solo but I insisted on the hand hold.

 Fiona and Devon at the top of Silver Falls.

And Fiona took this picture of Devon and I

Will play for candy

Fiddle practice has been a bit trying for all involved lately, so rather than face it head on we turned and ran. We have instituted a rigid system of bribery which leads to happier practices all around.

A happy mother's day

I had some silly company for a post shift breakfast. Apparently mothers day isn't always like hallmark expects. Silly faces with breakfast followed by a 5 hour sleep, a quick flit around the boardwalk including Fiona as the red baron. Life is good....
Love
Louise

Almost healed

Apparently radiologists are more optimistic than mothers but they assure me that the collar bone is coming along well. They look at minute shading as a good thing, whereas I was hoping for great streaks of new bone. But we are down to two more weeks until we can break out the two wheeler out again.

Work

A six year old's work is never done. Calculator is a phone and while caring for her baby horse she's multitasking well.

Watch This

Fiona got her first watch today and is learning how to tell time. "I am so happy" she says. "I know all the o'clocks."

The final act.

The candles have been blown out and after the birthday extravaganza we are finally finished with the celebrations marking Fiona's sixth birthday. If I don't look happy to see a cake in the next few months please excuse me. Fiona had a wonderful time though and was gracious and polite despite all the sugar and partying. Thank you for all your food wishes. Love
Louise

Birthday celebration in the fog.

Despite a scorching hot Saturday yesterday, today we has a cold foggy Sunday for the birthday celebration with Fiona's friends. The cold wind was fine for kite flying though, and all the kids seemed to be fine. What a wonderful party though. Six is a great age for kite flying...connection to the sky and the wind.

Parade of horses

Parades of horses are a theme at the moment. The waning days of five are on us and the play is beautiful and creative and peaceful.

We are planning the birthday party for the upcoming weekend, the shoulder is still healing so we're planning on kites at the beach. Of course you're all invited...

Easter Birdie

The Easter bunny came in my house and he left jelly beans! He or she also left chocolate and said "share your candy."

Hello family, I was wondering if you would like to see this big bruise on my shoulder? This is Fiona. I'm feeling really good. Thank you and good bye.

Healing Magic

Magic doesn't begin to describe how fast Fiona is recovering from her broken collar bone! She is still careful of her shoulder, and we are giving her some pain meds, but four days after breaking it she is running around acting like she is fine and refuses to wear her sling (which the doctor did say was optional). She has been sleeping in our bed, but during the day when we aren't looking she climbs in and out of her bunk bed one handed for fun, sometimes while carrying some baby animal she is taking care of! And its amazing how well she does everything she needs to on her own, getting dressed, getting in and out of the car without help, etc.

I thought we would be in for weeks of very quiet activities, and now it is clear that the challenge is going to be keeping her calm and minimizing the leaping for at least a week!

D

Clavicular magic.

The doctor says Fiona Has about 3 weeks to go with the sling...and might be able to skate on her birthday...she's doing super well. Apparently kids bones heal very fast, there might be a bump at first and then that will disappear after a few months. In the meantime we are still having extra ice cream and movies...