(for Honey and Poppy – who crave news)

The Fosters began the day as usual with a little dancing in the kitchen to whatever tunes came up on the ipod. Trixie was all aflutter about the day after her teacher had given them permission to bring a board game. After a 24-hour period of careful reflection, the Trix finally decided to bring this little number. Quite a nice choice, yes? Thursday is her last day of the unforgivingly rigid schedule of “school nights” and from her behavior, you’d think she was being sent home from a tour in ‘Nam! Squidge got an early start on pestering her sister this morning. If you live nearby, you probably heard the Pixies bickering – their sonic radius measures at roughly 2.3 miles. It’s an oddly prideful feeling to realize that your children could compete at the national, nay even international level, if only there were events with titles like “Stop Copying Me!” or “You Didn’t Ask If You Could Touch That!” or even just a general Whine-Off. I really think I’d have some strong competitors here. Anyway, Squidgus is also eagerly anticipating her last day of school and ready to run at summer with full speed. We’re looking forward to arts camp and swimming at the pool and treking to the BEACH, with a few in-between trips to Honey and Poppy’s house in Georgetown. As for the Pixie Wrangler, I’m taking the summer off from work to be with the Pixies and let them scoop huge chunks out of my brain with their ceaseless, but nonetheless creative and entertaining, chatter. But as my own childhood years will attest – that’s karma baby!!

Okay, so Squidge had a dance recital this evening: a very exciting debut from whom I believe will be an “artist to watch” over the next decade! All in all, she was delightful. Dance ability – check! Personality – check! Stage presence – check, check! And, of course, appearance… (wait for it) CHECK!!! Now, why, you ask, am I so giddy about points scored in the appearance column? Well dear readers, for one simple reason. A bun. That’s right, a bun. A HAIR bun.

For those of you who don’t know me, I am relatively beauty challenged. I have cultivated the ability to get myself ready for anything in 15 minutes – although it took me 22 for Mellie’s wedding! Most days, I forget to brush my hair, and I keep it long because it requires the lowest possible maintenance. So when I was told Squidge was to have her hair in a bun, the blood immediately drained down to my ankles. They might as well have told me to highlight and French braid it. To wit, this is what Emmy’s hair normally looks like:

I know, I know, but you can leave your outrage and child abuse concerns in the comments section. The point is that despite my grievous shortcomings, I managed to pull off THIS:

Oh. My. Gosh. Yes Ma, I DID IT. Sure it took 4 gallons of Aqua Net, 4 bobby pins, eye of newt and prayer. But the tiny dancer looked GREAT… as you can see for yourselves:

Boom baby! How do you like them apples buns??

Ding dang!! I should start this thing back up again. Right after Mother’s Day – and not a moment too soon!

Here are the best Mother’s Day memories from 2007:

- the Pixies waking up and making cards back in the playroom with the door closed. At one point, Squidge comes down the hall (I’m reading in the front room) and tells me that they are just “doing some things” in the back and that I should just continue reading as if nothing is at all out of the ordinary. This exchange is capped by Squidge running back down the hall and announcing, sotto voce, “I tricked her!”

- having a Mason Jar Waffle at (wait for it…) the Mason Jar. Hands down my favorite Sunday brunch spot of all time. The waffle comes with cream and butter pecan syrup! So decadent it’s probably illegal in the more mirthless communities around the world.

- my bracelet from Squidge. The beads are all really sharp and not a little painful and there is the word “Mom” right in the middle in those letter beads that remind me of summer camp. But her face lights up when I have it on my arm – even though she tried to give it to Daddy a couple of times after I reprimanded her yesterday for driving her sister up the wall. I love her logic: “How dare Mommy threaten me with time out! I’ll take away her precious jewelry and bestow it upon my loving father – Ha! That’ll show her!!!!” (insert menacing laugh)

- Trixie reading an entire book to me while I folded laundry. I’m going to be honest here and confess that I find folding laundry, or just thinking about laundry in general, is uninspiring at best. But listening to the animated narrative voice of my oldest – and don’t think she doesn’t understand the emotional current of ANY story and turn it into a FULLY COMMITTED vocal performance – can elevate even the most menial of tasks.

- Michael cooking dinner. Any time that man cooks it always feels like Mother’s Day. Consistently delicious and appropriately varied. A girl just can’t get any luckier than this at mealtime!!

- going to bed without bathing. The Pixies were giddy. Enough said.

Thank you my sweet family for a terrific Mother’s Day. And to my sister Jennie – a wonderful mother in her own right. And to Mellie – who, since she is at this very moment growing a person, experienced her first Mother’s Day this year.

And to my own mother – hats off to you Honey! You’re the best there is!