stay

don't get any bigger.

don't want anyone but me.

don't learn the proper pronunciation of the word, "strong."

don't run steadily.

don't grow lean.

don't chew with your mouth closed.

don't figure out napkins.

don't count past 14.

don't give up rocking.

don't sleep without lovey.

stay afraid of toilets flushing, ocean waves, big dogs---and flies.

stay grubby and plump.

stay a little smelly.

stay gap-toothed and goofy.

stay slightly off-balance.

stay interested in bugs.

stay good at jokes.

stay softly curly.

stay heartbroken at harsh words.

stay great at dancing.

won't you?

PLEASE.

just stay.

the making factory

at bedtime i sometimes ask my girls the question my mom used to ask me as she tucked me in: what was your favorite part of this day?

today, ally was aglow with the light of invention, having just cranked out "a leader's flag," AKA pirate flag, "a stelloscope" {you know, for seeing things that are far away}, and a model of liv's lovey, which looked very much like it, and which was very warmly received by the lovey lover. all of these creations came out of a roll of christmas wrap that she'd found under the bed.

working in her "making factory" was thus her favorite part of the day. it topped a list that also included, impressively, a trip to the long beach school district office to meet one of her new teachers, a trip to the beach, a school uniform shopping expedition and mac'n'cheese at corner bakery--her favorite. you get an idea of how much she likes scissors and tape.

much of the play around here lately has been inventive by necessity. i have, ahem, packed most of their toys. it doesn't seem to be a problem in the least. let this be a lesson to she who loves new toys {me}. we don't really need them so much.

the story keeper

this morning bim heard something in the other room and ran in to find that ally had pulled out every drawer of her dresser and started climbing it. she wanted to get some clothes for liv, she said. this is one of those scenarios i'd imagined happening {along with every other worst-case scenario a parent can imagine--you know} and had warned her about numerous times."and that's why we don't climb on furniture!"

fortunately this dresser is in our closet and it couldn't tip more than about 30 degrees. she was spooked nonetheless, so we wrote a story about it. the picture was outstanding, i think. see bim in action! note that she drew a door floating in the space between him and her and the dresser. (because he did have to run into the room.)

i love the four year-old mind.