Too Flexible?

I don't know how she did it. This morning as Taylor and I were rushing about trying to get ready to leave the house on time and Mackenzie was still in bed, Taylor sneezed a great sneeze. A sneeze brought on by the colds all of us have. Well, somehow when she sneezed she brought her right knee up and her head down. Her mouth collided with her knee and blood was drawn. Taylor had managed to hit her lip hard enough with her knee that her lip pierced her upper lip and set it to bleeding. She wasn't impressed but I was. I wouldn't be able to get my knee anywhere near enough to my lip to do that kind of damage. Maybe there is such a thing as being too flexible.

Instructor's Demo Girl

As we arrived, late again, to Taylor and Mackenzie's swimming lessons, I was puzzled to be unable to spot Mackenzie's class in the little pool. Then I heard my name being called by the mother of one of Kenzie's classmates. They were over by the big pool, standing around the big slide. Mackenzie's instructor, Kayla, was standing in the cold, big pool ready to catch kids who were brave enough to go down the big slide for a fun event on their last day of lessons. Her helper was standing by the slide's steps to assist in climbing. I was both surprised and pleased that they were over here. One girl was in her mother's arms, clinging in apprehension of the task being asked of them. Owen, a little more brave, was holding onto his mother's leg but standing on his own. I walked to the edge of the pool and told the instructor that Mackenzie had just done this on the weekend and could go under, pop up, and swim to the side. Kayla asked Mackenzie if she wanted to go down the slide. Without hesitation and a big grin, Mackenzie went over to the slide, climbed up to the top of the big slide, slid down in a blur, plunged into the water of the pool, bobbed back up, put her head down into the water and swam to her instructor. You go girl! Mackenzie emerged from the pool with Kayla's help and came over to me, "Mommy, you proud of me?" "Yes. Give me a high five." Upon seeing Mackenzie go down the slide, Owen gained some confidence and removed himself from his mother, walked over to the slide, climbed up to the top, paused, then changed his mind in spite of coaxing, and climbed back down. Mackenzie beamed as her class changed activities and headed back to the usual little pool. This day Mackenzie received her report on it was written, " Mackenzie, you're an amazing swimmer, cutie! Thanks so much for being my demonstrator all session long! Good luck next time, hope you had as much fun as I did. Kayla."

I Want One Too

On a road trip with Daddy we visited the Bargin Giant. A store full of junk or wonder depending on your point of view. Both girls have attained a thick, fuzzy Caillou blanket at this store. Our last visit included Taylor emerging with yet another pet of the stuffed toy variety, a toy tabby cat with a pink bow. Mackenzie wanted pretty much everything and ended up failing to make a choice. Weeks later she sadly revealed that she wanted a kitty like Taylor's and wanted Daddy to get one. Taylor in her new technology wisdom suggested Mommy send Daddy a picture of her toy kitty so that he might be able to buy one for Mackenzie too. Taylor is often offering her advice to solve problems as they arise; except for how to leave the house on time for school.

New Hobby Through the Eyes of a Child

We've begun a new hobby this spring with a renewed interest in catching and looking at moths and butterflies and with the introduction of Painted-Lady butterfly caterpillars into Taylor's classroom. Our first identification challenge began with a moth Grammie handed to us in a jar commenting that it was the largest she'd seen and wondering if it was harmful to the environment. It was the twin-spotted Sphinx. Next we came across a pink and cream-coloured fuzzy looking moth perked on our door frame. It was the Rudy Maple Moth. My moth and identification book helped identify the first but not the second. Thanks Google. Taylor is full of questions about these critters. When do they come out (night or day), what do the eggs look like, what do they eat, how long do they live and so forth. I'm learning more than I ever took interest in learning before. Life through the eyes of child can be rather intriguing and even awe-inspiring.

Murder or Accident?

Mackenzie and Mommy were home one day, doing laundry and other things. Mommy left the second load of laundry in to soak while she hung out the first. When she returned, at first glance, something didn't look right in the washer. So before closing the lid and letting the cycle continue, she took a second look. "Mackenzie, come here!" Mommy had something to show Mackenzie, something they usually found outside under rotten logs and rocks. There on top of Mackenzie's fleece sheets was a red-backed salamander. Mommy went and got the camera for a photo would help to retell the story later. Photos done, Mackenzie and Mommy tried to get the salamander out of the wash tub. Mommy got a fish net and a small fish container and tried to coax the salamander into either one, closing in from front and back. The sly salamander dove under the water. Mommy was glad she hadn't added borax to her whites this time. After poking some clothes this way and that, Mommy decided to let the salamander climb out on its own like it did the last time and went to phone Daddy. Contemplating how the salamander got there, Mommy decided the salamander must have been in the fallen sheet that was fetched from the puddle in the backyard - the backyard and put back into the wash. Daddy suggested taking the laundry out one piece at a time. So... back to the laundry room an hour later and no sign of a salamander. Mommy picked up the empty laundry basket and started carefully pulling pieces of laundry out of the tub, one piece at a time, dripping water everywhere for she dare not wring out any laundry. Upon removal and inspection of each article of laundry, still no salamander, just a need for a mop and rubber boots to get around the laundry room. So Mommy started the washer draining, watching the water closely, and stopping it every few seconds. No sign of the salamander. Mommy then decided to recheck the wet laundry and put it back in one piece at a time, inspecting corners and all sides. No salamander. Sigh. Mackenzie and Mommy were getting worried. Where did it go? Where could it go? What could they do? Mommy started the washer up again, new water and new soap, no borax for her mud-stained sheet. It was soon time to rush off and get Taylor from school. When Taylor appeared at the car Mum told Taylor the story about the salamander in the wash and then realised something. Uh oh. Maybe the slim salamander went through the holes and into the filter. Thinking out loud brought chastisement from Taylor, "Mommy, you shouldn't have done that!" The salamander was likely drowned now. Something only scooping the water from the laundry tub would have helped. Arriving home, Mommy checked the washer filter and was more than dismayed at seeing the pale head of the missing salamander amongst the lint. And Taylor had wanted to keep it for a pet. What was the worse fate? Doing laundry will never be the same again; especially laundry that has fallen into the backyard mud hole.

Water Rat

On Saturday, 30 May 2008, Daddy decided that he wanted Mackenzie to go off the diving board before she's four. Taylor went off the diving board and rope at the pool when she was four. Well, with coaxing Mackenzie stood in line with her sister for the diving board while Mommy waited in the pool (Mommy was in the pool because Daddy can't tread water.) Mackenzie walked to the end of the board without hesitation and then backed up, came forward again, and backed up right off the board. She did; however, jump in behind Mommy from the side of the pool while Mommy was looking the other way watching Taylor. Mackenzie didn't go far from the edge and bobbed up in her usual fashion and soon climbed out to go back in the warm pool with Daddy. A little later, Mackenzie stood in line again for the diving board. Taylor stood behind her and Daddy was beside her. Mommy was still in the cold pool. Mackenzie again walked right to the end, but not as closely to the end. We coaxed and reassured her but she wasn't ready and backed up. The young teens in the line were quite patient waiting in line. Daddy reached out a hand to Mackenzie and she grabbed on expecting to be lifted off the board and clung on. Daddy shook her loose and Mackenzie landed in the pool next to Mommy. She wasn't upset at this landing in the pool but soon climbed out. Next Daddy encouraged Mackenzie to try the big slide. Mommy was trying to spot Taylor as kids under the age of 9 are to be "within arms reach of a responsible adult." Mommy noticed Kenzie on the top of the slide and dove under the line around the bottom of the slide. Soon after catching a smiling Mackenzie, a lifeguard informed Mommy that kids aren't allowed on the slide unless they can swim outside the ring by themselves. Mommy told the lifeguard that Mackenzie could if she wanted too. Mommy tried to find Taylor in the pool as Daddy called, "you better hurry." For Mackenzie was at the top of the slide again, determined to go down. Mommy was less than thrilled that she hadn't been redirected back to the warm pool. But, true to form, Mackenzie slid down the big slide into the pool and without hesitation put her face into the water and swam outside of the ring to Mommy. So there Mister Lifeguard. Now can we put her back in the nice safe kiddy pool?