A Bowl of Sloppy Joe Sauce and A Smile

11+ years ago at our wedding Mr. Eleven and I received a set of mixing bowls from Aunt Scully. At the time she reminded us that marriage was about the every day moments and that she thought these bowls were a good way to represent her commitment to our every days. This week I experienced one of the great every day moments.

Lil' loves to make dinner. She is most helpful in getting things out. She likes to open the refrigerator and find ingredients. She also likes to get the mixing bowls out and practices her knowledge of small, medium, large.

On this night we were making Sloppy Joe sauce. We measure, we dumped, we stirred. We talked about her day at school as we worked. She was telling me about her day when she suddenly stopped both her talking and stirring. She was still for a moment and then said

"Mama, guess what!"

"What, Lil?"

"This is the best silver bowl ever. Way better than the ones at school. They are sad bowls and this one is happy!"

"Why is the bowl happy Lil?"

"Because it's our family bowl."

I imagine these were the moments that Aunt Scully was talking about all those years ago.

Coach K

Wednesday's are a very special day for Lil' at school. It is the day that Coach K comes. Coach K runs a sports program that promotes healthy living and teaches the basics of many sports. In just the first few weeks Lil' has learned that you dribble a basketball with your fingers and not your palm and that you need to keep your eye on the ball when swinging a bat. She's learned some fun new games including a pirate game where she walks the plank and tries to avoid being hit by the beanbag that the pirate launches at her (Coach K is very good at getting close enough with the bean bag but never actually hits her target). This week I arrived at school during the sports class and was able to watch Lil' participate. It was fun to watch her work with her peers and compete individually. As usual her size is no indication of her determination. She lines up for a race and looks around to size up her competition. When it's time to go....she goes! And in a way that makes me proud, when the race is done, she high fives her peers and jumps with as much joy for the winner as she won the race.
At the end of class this week Coach K came over to me and told me what a joy Lil' has made sports class at her school. She told me that Lil' has an athletic future in front of her and that she sees a sweetness in her competative nature.

Happy Halloween

Carving Pumpkins with Dad.

Being Silly in her new glasses from pre-school trick or treat event.



Drumming Ghost



Neighborhood trick or treating

Happy Girl Ghost

Today was the costume parade at Lil's preschool. Lil was so excited to be walking with one of her good school pals.

Boo At The Zoo

We've been talking about Halloween costumes since July. For a few months Lil' was sure she wanted to be a bag of jellybeans. Mama designed a very cute costume. Then, a few weeks ago, she changed her mind and announced she wanted to be a ghost. Not wanting to have a costume that covered her face entirely Mama turned to Oosje who designed a two piece costume. Last night, Mama set to the task of getting the costume ready for today's events. It turned out cute, and without desigining it to do so, fits nicely over Lil's warm coat. Mr. Eleven is responsible for the creepy make up. After the reactions at the zoo event we will be eliminating the black eyes for Halloween night.



Waiting our turn for the costume contest. Mama thought the kids paraded around and had Lil' all excited for that. She wasn't as thrilled about waiting in line to walk across the stage and see the judges. She just wanted to trick or treat.

First Day of Preschool

Lil's first day of preschool seems to have been a bit hit. She met new friends, colored, napped, ate her meals and came home ready to go back tomorrow.

Her teachers, Ms. Beverly, Ms Brandy and Ms. Lori, all agreed that it seemed like Lil' had been coming to school forever....She jumped right in, like we knew she would.

Here are a few photos of her big day.

Ready to Go....

At school....