Halloween Knight

Halloween was really fun this year with two kids that could walk long distances. This was the first year that the kids went out for a run, came back with filled pumpkins, and headed out for a second time in the opposite direction to obtain more loot. Grace went as a Pixie (see additional Pixie post), and Jack went as...well...we called it an angry pumpkin knight.

There is a bit of a story behind Jack's costume. I was happy to get him at least partially valiant at the end of it all. While on our costume trip to Wal-mart all he seemed to want to go as was a princess. OIY!!! The child needs a brother!!! Spiderman was rejected. So was Superman. I was desperate.

When I turned around and found Jack with this pumpkin mask on and a giant rubber rat in him arms I seized the day. Angry pumpkin equated to more masculinity than princess garb. I finally spotted a decent knight set, and tried to redirect his interest to being a knight, but he was stuck on angry pumpkin mask. I grabbed both, returned home and told Dad we needed to give him a whole lot of positive reinforcement with the knight and pumpkin costume. Tell him how tough and strong he looked in the knight outfit. Jack ate up the praise, but the pumpkin mask was not getting discarded. So...a compromise - angry pumpkin knight.

The quote of the night was made by the knight, after walking a good distance: "I sure am on a long journey." How knightly.

Sailing Solo

This afternoon, Grace hit the road again on her bike. Her confidence dripping over, she just wanted me to watch. And that is all I ever had to do. She has now gained complete control over her bike and can pedal for minutes at a time, start from a stop, and stop with her pedal brakes safely. It is such a joy to see the pride in her face.

Training Grace To Ride On Her Own

After our pumpkin fiasco, it seemed like we needed to redeem the day. With Grace turning 6 in one week, and a beautiful day outside, I decided it was time. Time for Grace to cross a rite of passage. We all remember the day...the day we first rode our bikes without training wheels. That day is engraved in each of our memories, and I was determined to replace the failed pumpkin memory with something triumphant.

Off came the training wheels, and out came the encouraging speeches of "When I was your age..." Grace was all for the idea, approaching it with great courage and determination. Dad came out to assist and be the running man, and we all headed out together to offer Grace our support and coaching. Of all the days to have the digital camera charging!!!

After 15 minutes, Grace was braving the road on her own, telling US to "Let go!". Her confidence took my breath away. Let go? Already??? What had I done?

Big tug on my heart strings: This was the first time she had ever asked us to let her go as she plunged ahead into uncertainty. She's growing up so fast! I don't know if my heart can keep up with the letting go.

Small Pumpkins...Who Knew?

After church today, we all headed to the pumpkin patch to pick out our traditional Halloween pumpkin. Thinking we were wise, for the first time ever, we went small - electing to pick pumpkins that were just big enough for Grace and Jack to handle (8 inch diameter). In this way, we speculated that the children could gut their own pumpkins, instead of Mom.

Grace was so excited to do her own pumpkin that it took everything she could muster to sit down and have lunch before preparing to carve it. Unable to stand it any longer, we settled down at the table after lunch to cut the top around the stem of the pumpkin. Sharp steak knife at the ready, I quickly discover that our pumpkin appears to be VERY thick headed.

** stab ** (silent maternal scream) Nooooo!
No! No! **stab**stab** NOOOOOOOOO!

No matter how hard I tried, the blade refused to go any further than 1/4 of an inch deep. A quick knock on the pumpkin confirmed my worst fear - rock solid.

Poor Grace. She was crushed. This was going to be her first "Do it all by myself" pumpkin. We resorted to gluing googley eyes, puff balls and making a wig for the pumpkin out of yarn.

In this case, bigger really is better.