Bird/Fairy Houses, and Kindness to Fairies

 Julia, on a beautiful holiday Monday afternoon, while Aidan and Mommy were reading to each other, you wanted to do something special with me.

We came up with an idea to paint the old birdhouse that used to rest on the eave of our front porch. But, Mommy humbly requested that we not paint it.

So you and I came up with an idea... what if we MADE our own bird house and THEN painted it.

You loved the idea...but were pretty insistent that it also be a Fairy house, as needed. So, you know, any fairies that were passing through would have a place to sit and chill for a moment before carrying on their way.

We gathered scrap wood and loose supplies and came up with a plan. You and I brainstormed, and drilled and tried things out in the warm, golden sun.

And  we worked and laughed and giggled and worked somemore...

And then, it was time to paint!

The sun dried the paint before our very eyes (you couldn't believe it!), and before you knew it... we had finished our Bird/Fairy House!

I still wasn't sure where the fairies entered the equation, but I was pleased with your ingenuity and sticktoitiveness. We had made a pretty, functional, rocking bird house.

And Fairy House, you reminded me.

You came with me to pick up the groceries and brought a piece of paper and a pen. On the way you asked for my help to spell a couple of words. Then, when we got home, I read the note you had written, and I understood how this whole plan had come together in your mind:

Aha! You wanted to make sure the Tooth Fairy had a place to rest, in case she came to visit you when you placed this planned-out note under your pillow.

It was such a good note and good plan, in fact, that you inspired some brother-type people named Aidan to embark on a similar plan!

So, sweet dreams and big plans inspired a day of hard work with great payoff!

We hung the house, even found some bird seed...hopefully fairies also enjoy bird seed... and we ate dinner, swam, read, and tucked you guys in.

I don't know if you can see, but it looks like you can almost see some fairy dust in the bird/fairy house. She did visit each of you that night and even gave you each a dollar for your kindness and ingenuity. 

I had so much fun making a Fairy House with you, today, my daughter. You are an amazing, strong, kind, inspiring spirit. You believe in fairies...and I believe in you.

love, 

Dad

4.5

I was about to head out for a run on a brisk, but not too cold, Saturday morning.

You said "can I ride my bike with you while you run?"

It had been a while since we tried this. And you've gotten so much better at the bike. So I said "YES!"

We packed up the car, headed down to the Bath House at the Lake and started our ride/run!

It was a LOT of fun!

We talked and chatted and talked about life and all sorts of things a long the way. I know that's not specific, but the specifics have vanished into the ether, and that's left is the warm glow of talking with you.

You rode so proudly, and rang your bell.

Passersby cheered you on, much to your delight.

We rode and rode, much longer than I thought you would want to. But you didn't want to turn back until we hit the bridge.

We saw the big bridge over the lake, and we conquered it.

You sped down to the other side, and we kept going!

Over more trails and bridges we went together, happily moving along towards nothing in particular.

We stopped many times. For water, to look at interesting sticks and sites in the water. To check out the birds, and practice reading on the "birds of white rock lake" sign.

You even stopped when you eagle-eye spotted some horseshoe prints in the sand! You deduced which way the horses were heading, we asked some other bikers if they saw the horses. They confirmed your deduction and we tried to find them. But, alas, they had already clip-clopped too far away.

We decided to turn around. And it was kind of poetic too. Because there, across the lake, was the white Bath House building where we started!

We headed back, back through the 'bird poop' area... (pardon the smell)

 ....back up the hill...

and then back home to Mommy and Aidan.

When all was said and done, we went 4 and a half miles! You could not wait to tell your Mommy three things.

1) We went 4 and a half miles!
2) You saw horseshoe prints!
3) We went over the big bridge!

We were sore the next day. But we had a blast. And I can't wait to do it again.

New Years Day, Taking Flight

A Cold New Years Day.

Bitter chill in the air.

Warmth at home. 

We spend the day at home, doing nothing in particular. But it is the most special kind of nothing.

I load up the car with donation stuff your Mom has been gathering. 

While Mom runs to Yaya's house, the three of us drive to Goodwill.

You help me unload the old coats and clothes and glasses and toys and hand them to the young woman manning the donation truck.

Piece by piece we shed our households belongings, hoping that the the donations help someone else.

We pile back in the warmth of the car and head home.

As we pass the White Rock Lake, shimmering with the reflection of the year's first sunset, I take quick poll: "Do y'all want to go home or drive around the lake a bit and look at the birds."

The vote is unanimous. 

We turn off Mockingbird and down onto the lake path.

We drive slowly around looking at the few bundled-up people walking their dogs, looking at the birds floating in the cold, calm waters. 

We park to take it all in.

You both spot the grounded birds at the same time and ask if you can climb out of the car and chase them.

The decision is unanimous.

In the chilly cold air, you run after the birds, forcing them to take flight.

Despite the temperature and a few skinned knees, you also took flight into the new year. Disappearing into the golden January sky for moments at a time. 

Giggling and whispering and running.

And returning to me...and we, in turn, returned to our home and to your Mommy.

Then we all went to get tacos.

Weekend Warrior

Aidan, we had ourselves a little 3 day weekend (thanks, US Presidents for doing something to get us a day in mid-February off of work!)

But, given the amount of things we saw, games we played, fun we had (and how well we slept), it felt like a 10 day weekend!

And you, my son, were an energetic ball of amazingness. You jumped, you ran, you scooted, you petted, you splashed, you played...in short, you were a weekend warrior!

You and your new friend, Red Balloon, went to Home Depot with me, and then the playground.

We took a hike around White Rock Lake, and fed the birds (you continued your trend of eating most of the bread for the birds, though..but you did feed a few fowl friends).

You watched a little movie and wrestled a lot with your friend, Brady.

Even Uncle Jeremy, me and Uncle BJ got in on the wrestling too.

We were super stars at Target:

Pirates at home and the park (pirates ARRRRR your new favorite thing, by the way. You  were telling us the whole weekend "I'm a Pirate!" "I'm a Captain!" "Yo ho ho mateys!"):

You loved on and played with your sister, who has started to play back! (She even grabbed your hair, much to your dismay!)

You played downstairs:

                            

Upstairs:

Outside in pajamas:

And outside in water:

We rocked the zoo:

We rocked some picnics:

And Rocked out in general!

You wore wet clothes, dry clothes, pirate costumes, witch costumes, pajamas with sneakers and pink sunglasses.

But most importantly, you wore us all out!

But...it was in a really, really good way. And, we can't wait to battle another weekend with you as soon as possible, you Weekend Warrior!