A Dad and His Boy...

July 2010:

Once upon a time there was a boy, a very grumpy boy, a boy who felt wronged by the world at large. When his mother asked him "why so glum", he hrrumphed and said he didn't want to talk about it. When his sister tried to make him laugh by singing silly songs he claimed that he needed to be alone and stomped outside. He sat alone upon a back yard swing and contemplated how very unfair life was and vowed the he would NOT let his foul mood go, no matter what. 

Enter DAD. 

Dad made his way to the boy's side and after a few moments in hushed conversation a change slowly settled over the angry little boy. He became less angry and more sad. It turns out that the little boy realized that he only had one week left with his dad and then they would be separated for three long months. 

 The boy was sad that his dad wouldn't be there to play with him all summer long, that he wouldn't be there to have adventures with him and wouldn't be there to teach him things that a boy should know before turning 7 by the summer's end.

I don't know what magic words the dad spoke, that is between a man and his boy, but I know that some how the boy felt less weighed down by life's circumstances and even found it in his little soul to smile. 

 The dad and the boy wasted not another minuet in sadness and instead got to the work of playing. First up was sword fighting.

Thrust, parry, swipe!

 Next on the agenda was an adventure. What better adventure than to pretend to ascend into a magical land of the tree dwellers?

From this vantage point all problems and concerns seem miles away. 

And finally the teaching of an essential 7 year old skill...the throwing of the spiky weed. Dad showed the little boy how to pick the perfect stem and remove the weapon from its sheath. 

Then you take aim and flick the pod so that the very pointy end pokes into clothing and hair.

This is a skill that the little boy thought was simply wonderful and worked to perfect his precision marksmanship over the next several months (mom and sisters usually being the targets of choice). 

It just goes to show, that sometimes, when life feels really tough, a boy just needs his dad. 

 and lets be honest...often times, a dad just needs his boy.

China Cup Party...

June 2010:

Every 6 months my mom hosts what she calls a "China Cup Party". She sends out invitations inviting her grand daughters and the Anderson girls over for a themed afternoon of finery, decadent snacks served on china, and music fitting the event. The girls are encouraged to dress as fancy or casual as they want and to please RSVP in their own  voice. Ella wanted a VERY fancy purple dress. She would not be swayed from this. Do you know how hard it is to find an ALL purple dress? We ended up buying a totally inappropriate prom dress in a women's size 2 and cutting the padded bra out and fixing the neck line so it would fit. Alas she was pleased with her outfit and ready for a very grown up party. 

When the girls arrived the room was decked out in Indian tapestries and my mom let each girl choose a Sari to wear for the afternoon. She then gave a lesson on different spices and herbs and how they are valued and used through out history and at present.

 Ella told me later that she learned that God made plants for the good of people and that they can be used for medicine and to smell good. I'm assuming that there was much more but as she is 4, that is as much as she retained. 

At some point during the luncheon the girls each picked something out of a "treasure box"

a small trinket for them to take home.

 They were also each given a special pair of indian slippers.  

Beautiful Courtney all glammed up in her Sari 

 Lovely Ashlyn bedazzeled in layers of fabric direct from mom's trip to India a few years ago

 Sweet little Baylee with golden hair all done up for the occation

 And my little Ella, who could not be convinced under any form of bribery to cover up her purple frock. Side note, she was REALLY tired by the end of the party so she looks a little out of it. She was telling me about the party as her eyes drifted closed on the ride home.

I am so grateful for a mom who has always aspired to be a "teaching grandma". She brings culture and diversity to my children's lives in ways that really leaves an impact. 

So this time it was India and the glory of herbs and spices and although she hasn't shared the topic of the next China Cup Party, she has already started planning and gathering the treasures that will be the keepsakes for these sweet girls.