Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Funny girl

Autry called me into her room to turn her light off.

Autry, you aren't a toddler anymore, you know you can turn your own light off.
But I like you to do it!
When I'm tired, I don't want to get out of bed just to turn your light off.
But you always do!  And put my book away, and tuck me in, and bring me water, and give me a kiss, and turn on music...  it's tradition!

I laugh and give her a extra big squeeze, leaving my face buried in her neck.  We are quiet for a minute...  And then, with perfect comedic timing, she says:

Well, this is new!




Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Sierra is a popcorn bloodhound.  Even if she is supposedly fast asleep the sounds and smells of popcorn making will have her whipped into a frenzy...  Last night Brian started making popcorn around 10:15.  Sierra had been in bed since 9:30, but her senses are keen, and she yelled from her room to ask if he was indeed making popcorn.  I lied and said no, but she hopped out of bed and was begging in the kitchen within a matter of seconds.  I told her no, because she had school the next day and needed to go back to bed.  A lot of pleading and back and forth followed, and finally, frustrated, she yelled, "Good Baha'is don't lie, Mom!  You shouldn't have lied to me."

Me - Good Baha'is obey their parents, Sierra.

Sierra - Wait, wait, I've got to google that!

She got her popcorn.

Monday, February 18, 2013

The 6 year old

An earlier unpublished draft...  

Autry turned 6 almost 6 MONTHS AGO.  Way to be on the ball, mom.  We had a party at the park, which was fun/freezing.  Autry at 6 is so sweet and funny and delightful and loving.  She started kindergarden this year at Maplewood.  Her teacher was Ms Watts, who we loooove.  Autry made so many new friends this year.  She really loved and was loved by everyone in her class.  She would come home every day with love notes and tokens from various friends.  Her number one is still Allie, who lives across the street.  Some of her other favorite friends from school and elsewhere are Isabel, Sparrow, Violet, Omi, Luka, Saida, Jack, Rell, Erin...  Autry is an amazing friend.  She is loving, thoughtful, fun and encouraging.  The flip side of this is that she is very emotional about her friendships and becomes heartbroken quite easily.  Autry is happiest when she has someone to play dress up or other imaginary games with.  She also loves swimming, soccer, music, being read too (she also is reading pretty good on her own), Beyonce, dancing, puzzles, drawing, shopping, climbing, playing beauty salon, snuggling...

And now Autry is 7!

And I delayed posting the above because I didn't have time to go through pictures, but I'm posting this now because - whatever.  This kid is such a joy.  First grade was a bit of an adjustment, desks and new teacher and mostly new classmates.  She is doing well though, and is mostly happy with school.  Her teacher is Mrs. Cansler.  Autry especially loves gym and recess.  This girl is the queen of the monkey bars, and this year has learned how to ride a bike (on her first try), ice skate, rollerblade, play tennis...  She is still an amazing climber.  She climbed to the top of the rope in gym and was at the top of the rock wall at the rock gym in the blink of an eye.  She is doing well in soccer, and she also loves jump roping, riding the scooter, swinging, dancing.  Her reading is still improving, and her teacher tells us she is at the top of her class in math.  She is incredibly funny, sweet, thoughtful, loving and sensitive.  She can get very dramatic with her emotions and is very sensitive to criticism.  She always wants someone to play with.  Her top picks are Allie and Rell.  She also loves playing with Luke and her cousins.  Another favorite friend is Beatrix from her class, who apparently watches scary movies and taught Autry about Bloody Mary.  Autry wants to be a doctor, dancer, singer, cheerleader and waitress when she grows up.

Remember the Alamo


Sierra is giving Autry a hard time because she doesn't know about the Alamo.  Autry, totally nonplussed, "I do know about the out-let-mall."

Monday, December 10, 2012

JAVELINA By Sierra Guequierre
(to the tune of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah')

I heard there was a peccary,
A collared one, and it made me believe.
That nature is all around us, BABY.
It's not a cry, you hear, at night,
It's a snorting sound, that goes like •^• 

And when you hear it, you know, it's a JAVELINA.  



CHORUS
 Javelina,  Javelina.  Javelina,  Javelina, e e ein, aaaa

My faith was strong, but I needed proof. 

Then I saw nothing, but the TRUTH. 

Yes they, were all around us... Help me.
I saw them there, all bristled and hairy,
I have too admit, they were kind of scary
And from my lips they drew a... JAVELINA.

CHORUS.

Baby, I have been here before.
I've felt these burrs, I've fought that war. 

Yet never, to such extent, true'ya.
I've walked this creek, but everything's different.
When dark comes, my jacket zips it.
It's COLD, but I'm NOT BROKEN... JAVELINA.

CHORUS.

Eukaryota, Animalia, Chordata, Mammalia,
Atriodactyla, Tayassuidae, Pecari,
Yes say hello, pecari tajuci.
Upper canines, are very tough.
It has a STRONG scent gland, on it's upper rump
So when you smell it, you know it's a JAVELINA.

CHORUS.

Maybe there's a coldfront above.
But all I've really learned from love.  

Is how, to keep your jacket, to ya'self.
It's not a cry, you hear, at night.  

It's not somebody, who has dropped their light.
It's a cold, and it's a broken, JAVELINA.

CHORUS.

You say we took, your name in vain.
But they don't even know your name.
But if I did, really, what's it to'ya?
Oh yeah, uh huh, you wanna fight.
Hey, I'm, the one, who's holding, the light.  

This battle, does not end here, JAVELINA.  



CHORUS.

I did my best, though I know you hate me.  

I couldn't touch, no I wouldn't have ATE ya!
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool'ya.
Though you could give me quite a punch.

I do eat your cousins for breakfast and lunch   

But I don't really fancy JAVELINA.

CHORUS.

Friday, November 23, 2012

November Beach Trip

At Smittys
 We went to the coast over my birthday (35) and the Birth of Baha'u'llah.  Unfortunately, Sierra couldn't come because her class camping trip was at the exact same time.  It was weird not having her with us...  The Azadis and Johanna's mom joined us which was really fun.  Mom and Jessie and O, the Sepulvedas, the Duhans, and Paul and Jill also made appearances.  It was a good trip, although we did battle both bedbugs (Luke got chewed up and we had to switch rooms) and high winds.  The water was warm and everyone surfed and swam and dug in the sand.  We ate BBQ on the way up and Brian made yummy breakfasts the entire time, which was awesome... 


Crossing the ferry - lots of dolphins



Man O' War





Shrimping boat


At the birding center - thousands of Red-Headed Ducks.  Also saw some Roseate Spoonbills, some herons, coots, cormorants...


Port A has an awesome skate park





Sheltering from the wind




Thanksgiving

Jennifer, Matt, and Sadie Pearl came to visit a few days before Thanksgiving

 We had a lovely Thanksgiving, beautiful weather, yummy food - lots to be thankful for.  Granny, Mom, Dad, Star and Pam, Rose, Jessie and Otis, and Grace all joined us and brought food and talent to share. Because the weather was so nice we were able to enjoy the yard and eat outside.  After dinner we had the Thanksgiving talent show - some of the fine acts included original compositions (Mom and Dad with 'Cranky Old Man', Sierra with 'Javalina'), Granny singing an old cowboy song, interpretive dance, breath-holding competition, Rose singing a beautiful folk song and playing the guitar, Autry dancing to Brian playing the Lazy Song, and Otis and Jessie moving it moving it... 



Beautiful Granny



Sexy





PJ cousins