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.
It's fall! That means we're on target for a fun fall camping trip with the Rainbow Pizza family!
By this point, you're pretty comfortable with the whole camping thing, and you're even giving US tours!
And...guess what...it was also your SEVENTH birthday!
So, mid-day, I picked you up and Ellie from school, we loaded up the car and...
3 hours later we pulled into Camp Classen in Davis Oklahoma!
As your BFFs started arriving, you all hugged, and ran, and unpacked, and played "Harry Potter," walkie talkies, and explored into the woods as the sun began to set.
The fire roaring, you all roasted marshmallows, sang, and giggled, played, and welcomed our new recruits!
I tucked you in, got you in bed, and was hanging out by the campfire. You came out, barefoot in the cold, to see me. Your tooth that had been hanging on by a thread for months was bothering you. "It's time for it to come out, Daddy," you said. "Can you pull it out?" Now of course, Mommy and I had been trying to pull this tooth out for weeks with no luck! But, I was willing to try! So you sat on my lap by the campfire so I could see. I said on 'three' I would yank. So I started counting... ... 1.... PULL!
"Daddy! You did it! It feels good! Wait...am I bleeding?"
I couldn't see...so I took a picture with the flash and.... I told you "Just a little bit sweetie."
But oh my gosh it was a LOT of blood!!!!!!!!! You swished and swished and swished and finally the blood stopped coming. But you were so happy!
And you wrapped it in tin foil, (because CAMPING!) and tucked it under your pillow on top of the sleeping bag in the top bunk in the middle of the woods in Oklahoma.
And in the morning, you were delighted to find that the tooth fairy had come to find you! She took your tooth and replaced it with a big gold coin!
You named the coin "coiny" and tucked it safely into your bunk and we all ventured out into the amazingness of a crisp, cool, camping day!
Marching to breakfast!
The hike!
Lunch and messing around camp!
Axe-throwing! Archery! BBs! Bug Catching!
...and HORSEBACK RIDING!
We wrapped the day with more playing by the campside, and a march down to the bonfire where you- seven-year-old lady - got a special Adventure Guides Birthday Recognition at the bonfire!
What an amazingly fun camping weekend. It was an EPIC birthday, and I am so thankful for the time spent with you, time spent alongside you, and time you have growing and bonding with your buddies. And, I so grateful that you and I are buddies too!
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