Photo Remainders

Some photos I've taken recently that don't deserve their own blog posts, but are probably worth sharing:

His Daddy's Eyes, His Mama's Work Ethic

 Butterfly Leaves 

(a subtle homage to the nature photography of Cedar and Fisher's Mom)

 Guy Talk

Cruisin'... On A Sunday Afternoon...

 Masterpiece

 All The Way To Texas (at 4 mph)

She Taketh Away, And She Giveth... Skittles

Dear Laney,

For a few weeks, we'd been preparing you for a middle-of-the-night visit from The Pacifier Fairy (see previous post). We explained that the Fairy was going to come and take your pacifier in order to pass it on to a sweet, brand-new, tiny baby who needed it. In return, you'd get a whopper of a present.

The Pacifier Fairy spent about an hour in the toy section of Target, trying to find a present worthy enough of your sacrifice that also didn't come with a million little giblet accessories that your mom would have to keep organized. She decided on the remote-controlled Strawberry Shortcake coupe. She also bought an Orange Blossom doll so Strawberry would have someone to play with, and because sometimes the Pacifier Fairy thinks it would be nice if Montana were more ethnically diverse.

As a complete afterthought, the Pacifier Fairy threw a bag of Skittles into the cart.

The Pacifier Fairy came to our house last Friday night, swiped all of the pacifiers, and left you a stack of presents in your room. At 5:59a.m., you woke your parents up, and this was how it all went down:

The Pacifier Fairy is trying not to think about how - for the price of that car - she could have bought 61 bags of Skittles and called it a day.

You have been surprisingly and admirably okay with the loss of your pacifier. You've asked for it a few times, but we remind you that the fairy took it, and you usually say, "oh, right," and go on about your business.

It's the end of an era.

Love,
Mom

The Pacifier Fairy

She flutters, she flies, 

She's sweet as a berry.

Surely you've seen her:

The Pacifier Fairy.

Whatever you call it,

Your paci? Your bink?

She's coming to get it,

Quick as a wink!

She covers the world -

The north to the south -

And can tickle that binky

Right out of your mouth.

You no longer need it;

You're such a big girl!

Can we tell it goodbye?

Could we give that a whirl?

In exchange for donating

That small piece of plastic,

She'll leave you a prize:

Something fantastic!

Can she take it away?

(Please don't say, "Maybe...")

It'll bring so much joy

to a new, tiny baby

She meets lots of infants

On her nightly world tours

Who all want a paci - 

One just like yours!

You've had a good run,

But it's important to share

So let's give up your "p'ar"

(Yes, even the spare).

You'll make her so happy,

and help her spread joy

and in the morning you'll find

a shiny new toy!

So just take a minute

Before you retire,

for one last "'Night, 'night,"

to your friend, Pacifier.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Love,

Mom

Ridin' The 3 Year-Old Range

Dear Laney,

We got word from your school that they want to move you up to the 3 year-old class a little early. In an e-mail from your school's owner, she writes, "She is totally ready to have more of a challenge." This is a really nice way of saying you're a handful.

Apparently, last Friday, you approached your teacher while holding the hand of another little girl and informed the teacher, "We're leaving and going all the way to Texas." Then, after walking to the back gate with your hostage friend, you returned to clarify, "But first, we're going to need some horses."

Your preschool tuition does not cover livestock.

I'd like to say that we sit up late, reading you the novels of Zane Grey and talking at length about the pioneer spirit that first looked westward and blah blah blah, but you're totally getting this Texas stuff from an episode of "The Backyardigans," called "Ridin' the Range," in which Tyrone raps:

We'll go all the way to Texas, where the hoedown folks expect us...

put that saddle on your pony, fill your pack with baloney

We got a little trip to arrange. Let's go

Ridin' the range, ridin' the range...

The song's so cute, I can overlook the shaky physics involved in a moose riding a horse.

You start your new school in a few weeks, and I can't wait to see how it goes.

Yee-haw.

Love,
Mom

Why-yi-yi-yi

Dear Laney,

"Why" seems to be the word of the day, every day, and it's not uncommon for the two of us to have conversations like this:

- Laney, please close that little window.
- Why?
- Because all that air's rushing into the truck and it's SO LOUD.
- Why?
- It has something to do with the Bernoulli Principle.
- Why?
- I don't know, you'll have to ask your dad.
- Why?
- Because I got a "C" in 7th grade science.
- Why?
- The teacher said it was because I didn't apply myself.
- Why?
- Well, junior high was rough all over.
- Why?
- I had a terrible perm, for one thing.
- Why?
- Well, Peg Peg thought she was helping, but...

At some point, you're going to start charging me by the hour for the therapy.

Love,
Mom

Beer Me.

Our yard, at present:

The Newest Razorbacks

Hey y'all -

Your "Florida grandparents" are about to become your "Arkansas grandparents."

We're so proud of you, Peg Peg.

Wooooo Pig Sooie!,

Love,

Mom