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

Best Weekend Ever!

The reviews are in: "This is the best weekend ever!" (that's what y'all said!) Let's find out why:

After many years of asking, we were finally able to bring Toby up to school for show and tell!

First was Aidan's class:

Then Julia's:

It was a sun-shiny afternoon, so we went down to the playground:

The next morning was filled arts and crafts and writing and drawing and Legos and (finally) finishing our first round of rock tumbling!

Then, since it was such a beautiful day, we went down to White Rock Lake.

We blew bubbles:

We climbed and "exercised":

We flew a kite!

The kite got stuck in a tree....but Julia, you and I teamed up, and found a stick and you climbed up on my shoulders and we got it down!

To celebrate, when we heard the sweet sounds of "Pop! Goes the Weasel", we got ice cream.

You guys were so happy that we actually got you ice cream that you declared the day to be "Best Day Ever!"

We took a long stroll around the lake and the boat houses, and spent the rest of the evening together:

The next morning, you guys played some more:

...and then, since it was so beautiful outside, we went for lunch and then went in search of yet another playground to visit:

At the "Challenge Park," we played soccer, Julia you climbed just about everything you could get your hands on and Aidan, you read to mommy.

This park, and this day, were even MORE perfect for kite flying- and we got the kite soaring up to the highest height, where it stayed afloat long enough for each of us to have a good long turn, and to even lay down with it:

It is so fun hanging out with you both! The Perfect Weekend!