Recently in Alexis Category

When I went to clean the hamster's cage today I found that one of them (Archimedes) had gone to the big hamster heaven in the sky. Lex took this as you would expect a 7 year old to take this sort of thing, which is not well at all. We buried him under the apple tree in the backyard and then she cried for a while. Such is the life of a hamster I suppose. I'm not sure when he died. I saw him yesterday afternoon running about the cage.

Merlin is still here. I'm hoping that Archimedes passed away from hamster old age. If she were to lose the other one back to back with the first one, well I'm not sure that would go over well at all. Time will tell I suppose.

Rest in peace little hamster dude. (Alexis totally made me say that! ;oP)

Dearest Alexis,

Seven years ago today you were born. How is that possible? Most days it seems like it was just yesterday that you were wrapped up in that little hospital blanket, looking for all the world like a little glow worm. You were here and you were mine. I was thrilled! Seven years later here we are!

A lot has happened in your world since last year. You finally got to see "your" Statue of Liberty and you were thrilled! The look of awe on your face is one I will never forget! You truly love that statue and it amuses me the levels of your awe. Don't lose that ability to look at the world through eyes of fascination as you grow. That is an amazing quality that you posses and I hope that you never lose it!

We also traveled to Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. You had a ball on this trip and of course your favorite part of the trip was standing next to the ocean at the Cape Neddick Lighthouse. You are so my child!

We also enjoyed two trips to Tennessee, one planned, one unexpected, as well as various day trips to locations from DC to Western Maryland. You like to get out and go. I love that about you!

Your birthday party got canceled when you developed a fever and a rash. We thought for a bit you had chicken pox, but it ended up being some generic childhood thing instead. At first you were very sad, but we had a small party with Grandma, Papa, Uncle Jason and us and you quickly came around. You finally decided it was "The best birthday party ever!" I'm so glad you can take a bad situation and make it something more! This is also a good skill to have. I hope it sticks with you as well.

I still wish for you all the things that you want to see and do. I hope we get to take that trip to Paris soon. I can't wait to see your eyes light up when you see the Eiffel Tower. I hope that you see it for the first time at night when it is all lit up and sparkly. I also hope we take a trip to Hawaii as that is your latest location of interest. I hope that the world is always at your feet. It is...Never forget that!

You truly are a very special individual. You have so many friends and have the ability to make new ones everywhere you go. You have an open heart and an open mind, two very important things to have in this life. May they go on with you as you grow and learn. You are smart, funny, loving and lovable. You are the perfect mix of all of what life should be.

You are a star. You are my star. May you always shine brightly. I love you in ways I can't even explain to you, but know this...I will always love you.

Love,
Mom

The Manhattan/Brooklyn skylines taken from the Staten Island Ferry:

Alexis finally got to see "her" Statue of Liberty. It was love at first sight!

Now I've got to get her over to the Eiffel Tower.... ;oP

The Globe sculpture that stood between the Twin Towers and was pulled from the wreckage:

My understanding is that they are going to move this from Battery Park, back over to the new WTC site when it is complete.

Tulips on Broadway:

Grace Church:

I've always been fascinated with this church. It's such a gorgeous building!

Another shot of Manhattan taken from the Staten Island Ferry:

And one of my little tea cup taking in the big city:

And yes she insisted on wearing her Wellies! She and those boots pounded the pavement and good! She liked riding in the cab better though!

New York in the spring? I highly recommend it! I had forgotten how vibrant that city is and how much I love it! I can't wait to go back!

Alexis named them. I'm not sure why she chose flowers, but it works!

I had forgotten how cute tadpoles are! I mean seriously look at that little face!

They came boxed in Styrofoam and each in their own little individual bag:

Then you had to float them in their habitat to acclimate them much like you do when you buy a new fish for an aquarium:

And now they are swimming free! This will be a fun little experiment for Lex. I love this kind of stuff!

Alexis is starting to move in to some second grade work as of this week. So proud of my little tea cup!

Also Lex got a "Grow Your Own Frog" kit for Christmas from Grams and Pop. We got our tadpoles today! So cute! We'll have pictures soon.

Scene: Alexis standing next to the fish tank watching the fish and frogs do their thing when the yellow neon fish starts chasing the blue guppy.

Lex to the fish sternly: Stop that right now Banana! You know that it is not the right thing to chase your friends and Blueberry is your friend! There are two rules in the fish tank, you don't chase your friends and you must say you're sorry if you do! You have to be a very, very normal fish! You must never chase Blueberry again!

Lex to me sighing: Man this raising fish thing is hard!

I. So. Love. This. Kid!

"Mom can I have one of of those new pomegranate things I tried the other day that aren't pomegranates."

"What?"I asked completely confused and trying to figure out what in the world she was talking about.

"You know that thing the other day that you sliced that looked liked a peach," she told me in exasperation and rolling her eyes at me.

"You mean the nectarine?"

"Yes that!"

"That's not a pomegranate, not even close!" I pointed out reasonably.

"I know that!" She told me in her best teenager trapped in a six year old body voice. "That's why I said it wasn't a pomegranate!"

Well I'm glad we cleared THAT up! ;oP

"Mom what does that sign say?

"You can read. What does it say?"

"Mooooooooooommmmmmmmmm! It's Saturday. It's not a school day so I don't have to read!"

"Mom I can't take a shower. It is thundering and I might get metricuted."

Alexis, Age 6 ;oP

Dianne: *hiccup*

Alexis: *jumping* Mom you scared the jinx out of me!

Well OK then...Whatever those are! ;oP