Twirl Test

Zoe is growing out of her clothes at an advanced rate.
So she and I went for a little shopping trip to The Gap.
We had a great time, and sort of just wandered through the store for a bit. Zoe really has a feel for what she likes- pretty dresses. She spotted this sweet little frock, and was not going to leave the store with out it. First though, we had to try it on. While Mommy checks size, wear and washability, Zoe gives it The Twirl Test. The best dresses will flare out beautifully at the bottom when twirled.

Morning Reading Time

Sometimes morning can be a real pain.
People are tired. People have a lot to do before we can leave for school- eat breakfast, wash up, brush teeth, make lunches (Mommy), drink enough coffee (Mommy again), get dressed, brush hair, moisturize- all in about 45 minutes. There isn't a lot of time to play. The kids tend to get each other all riled up. Then the "to do" list drops from view, Mommy gets pulled away to play referee, and we wind up more stressed and wound up than ever.
But today, instead of playing a crazy game that gets everyone amped up, I set down my peanut butter knife to find this scene. Zoe quietly 'reading' to her brother on the couch. Oh if every day could start like this.
BTW, that is Zoe's 'Junk Art' propped on the edge of the couch. Those are sculptures made from media salvaged from the recycling bin. This is Zoe's favorite "choice time" activity at school. When Zoe is at school I have to deconstruct them, and return them to the recycling or our living room would look like Burning Man. As I keep saying, "The fun is in the making".

Woodminster Stairs

Winter Sun

Feeling snitty

In The Magic Light

Nosferatu or blueberry lover?

So today Zoe has her hand up in her mouth, and she tells me, "Mommy, there's a bunch of skin on my tooth".
Why yes, this remark has my attention. So I slide a finger into her open mouth where she is pointing and I find a large, swollen pad of gums at the back of her mouth. I know it isn't right, but it takes me a moment for it to register. I look up at Marcia with my face of concern and she says quick as a whip, "6 year molar".
I didn't even know there were 6 year molars. We are busy expecting the front ones to fall out at any time. The other side of her lower set of molars feels similar, though not as swollen. So we go on with our day and Zoe doesn't eat much after her huge breakfast. She is drinking like a camel all day, especially snow slushies, but not eating much. Then after barely eating dinner, she's brushing her teeth and I decide to have another feel. Her lower left is twice as swollen as before and the other side is getting there. Then on top, the left one is halfway in, and the right is puffy. She has a mouth full of erupting molars, and I had no idea. So after starting and not finishing 3 different meals, I gave her a bowl of frozen blueberries from a local farm. She ate them all 3 times over and in the end was a blueberry mess, but her gums were finally happy.