Thankful for Intertwined Hands

Maya, showing off her little apple pie with the daisy she made out of extra crust on top.

Guillermo preparing to make chutney for the lamb

Happy Thanksgiving!

The four of us celebrated at home and had a nice, relaxing day. We divided up the chores: Guillermo was in charge of deorations; Maya had pies; I had turkey and the sides; and Will was in charge of the lamb. It was quite a feast: tukey and gravy, lamb with pear and blackberry chutney; sweet potatoes, green beans, homemade rolls and apple and pumpkin pie.

We attended a breakfast feast in Maya's class the other day and that night we talked about Thanksgiving. She determined that Native Americans were thankful for bears, because bears gave their lives so the Native Americans could use their fur. Yesterday, however, she looked at me and said: "I just don't know what it means to be thankful. What does that mean?" At Thanksgiving today, she was too shy to say what she was thankful for, but echoed Will when he said he was thankful for the Cardinals. Guillermo said he was thankful for animals.

The best part of today, for me anyway, was the walk in the woods after dinner. Guillermo and Maya pretended I was a monster chasing them and when I would get close, Guillermo would pretend to blast a grappling hook with an attached rope to a faraway tree. He then grabbed Maya's hand and they flew off, together, to the next section of the woods. Pure sweetness!

Rookie of the Year

There's our Rookie of the Year

Guillermo finished up his first season of coach-pitch last weekend. He had so much fun the entire season. After the last game, his coach handed out certificates from the league and then awards that he made for each player. He gave Guillermo the "Rookie of the Year." He was so proud.

At his favorite position.

Little Droid

At Bat

Just because

It's such a handsome picture of Guillermo and his favorite things.

I am Reading!

Maya brought home her first take-home book today and she was thrilled to read it to us.

"It's so easy!" she boasted, but she was so proud she read it twice. "If I get stuck, I just look at the pictures!"

Happy birthday, Will

Will and his favorite people!

His ice cream birthday cake. So good! Made with love by Maya and me.

Will celebrated his 35th birthday just the way he likes to celebrate all his birthdays: lazily. He slept in, went out for lunch with me, gave a lecture on campus and then watched the Cardinals. A few neighbors came over for cake but otherwise, it was a quiet day. The cardinals lost, a disappointment but the came back the next day for a win for a day-late birthday present.

Baseball Fall

They are addicted.

It's been a Fall full of Baseball. Guillermo and Will hardly miss a game. Guillermo has been falling asleep listening to the Cardinals on KMOX. He sometimes draws pictures of plays and leaves them by his door for Will to find in the morning. Will, in turn, leaves the final score near Guillermo's door so he can check it in the morning.

Guillermo is also playing baseball this fall. He loves it. His favorite position is catcher because "you get lots of action." He looks like the little boy dressed up as Darth Vader in the Volvo commercial when he has on his catcher's gear. (Don't tell him I said that!)

I lost a tooth!

Maya lost her first tooth yesterday! Guillermo was thrilled when he lost his. Maya was a little freaked out.

"It feels like my tooth fell out," Maya said at dinner last night.

Sure enough, she had a little hole where her tooth used to be. She had knocked the tooth loose a few months ago when she fell. She was eating an apple at dinner last night when the tooth finally came out.

The sight of the blood made her a little upset and uneasy. We cleaned it up and then I took her to the bathroom to check it out. She looked a little sad and when I asked her if she wanted a hug, she started crying. The bright red spot where her tooth used to be scared her a bit. She cheered up a little later when talk turned to the the tooth fairy and by this morning she was all smiles.