Seven Up

Handsome little one
Originally uploaded by Phil Scoville

How is it, Little Man, that you are seven? Wasn't it just yesterday it was just the two of us, playing in the California sunshine, and now here you are, a big kid, and the oldest of our tribe? Every time I look at pictures from last year I think how little you looked then, and how much older you look now. Maybe I'll always think that.

You still love Star Wars, you still love legos, and above all, you still love playing with friends. You're handsome, you're smart and you're honest. But do you know what I think I admire most about you? Your good heart.

You battle injustice. You are worried about those less fortunate than you. You are gentle to animals. And you love your mom, and still let me kiss you in public.

Happy Birthday, Oscy.

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An Imperfect World

Phil and I worked for over an hour last night on one of those projects for Oscar's first grade class--a poster about him and his favorite things. We meticulously cut out pictures, scrapbook paper, and glued everything on poster board. Well, it wasn't perfect, but it was close. It was one of those things when you've finished it, you sit back and say, "Ah, now that was an hour well spent," and you're proud of what you've done.

Oscar bounded into our room this morning, and I directed him to his poster, to see what he thought. A few minutes later, I rose and went to check on him. He was happily labeling all his pictures (which I had decided not to do, due to lack of space) and crossing things out when he made a mistake.

I marvel at mothers who with such apparent calm, either act like they don't mind, or truly don't, that their child has just broken or ruined thus and so. I am sadly not one of them, and have often wondered at my obsession with perfection, which more than likely began during my own childhood for reasons I won't get into on this blog.

I mean, what is so great about perfection anyway? How can we even define it? Who is to say the poster wasn't finally perfect after Oscar's changes? After all, it was his poster, right? And maybe the larger question is, why am I getting so bent out of shape over a poster, and even worse, feel the need to blog about it?

After my mimi-meltdown, I took Oscar in my arms, gave him a kiss and told him I knew he was just trying to help. I guess perfection is what you make of it.

Tea Time

"Better late than never" was my mantra for Lily's birthday party this year, and Lily asking me about every other day since January when her party was going to be certainly helped prod me into action. It was a pretty low-key celebration--a tea party theme, and I think Lily and her friends had fun. And with that, we breathe a sigh of relief that we are done with friend birthday parties for a year.

Tea anyone?

Cheers

Lily's foray into the wonderful world of cheerleading was a great success, though it did start off with a few tears. To Lily's delight, we actually own the Hannah Montana song they were cheering to (don't tell anyone, oaky?), so she could practice to her heart's content at home. She learned the routine really well and was not scared in the least performing before the crowd of high school basketball fans.

Though I was never exactly oozing school spirit, it was sort of fun to be back at the alma mater, singing the fight song, and watching my own daughter perform on the old gym floor. As for a future in cheerleading...who knows? I think for now she'll have to be content with being a cheerleader for Halloween.

M-V-H-S! MVHS--the BEST!

The Doctor Is In