Ephemera

Mind like a steel trap: In March when we were in Mexico, Petra noticed (but never had) the mini boxes of cereal at breakfast. One of those happened to be Froot Loops. Just a couple of weeks ago, at the grocery store, Petra saw Froot Loops on the shelf. "Look!" she said, "It's the cereal from Mexico!" That girl does not miss a thing!

At school, they have reading stations, where they read a book while a CD plays telling the story. There is a "ding" every time the page should be turned. While Petra was in Mama's lap for books before bed, she had a whistle, and tweeted it each time Mama finished reading a page.

And on the rack at some store, "Look! It's Barack Obama!" Yes, it was an Obama action figure. Reader, or very good likeness for an action figure. You decide! Petra still claims she cannot read, but you tell me how "Rental Car Center" comes out of her mouth without her reading it on the shuttle bus signage!

Spaced

Coming home the other day, she looked out the window and saw a Red Bull advertising car. She asked "Look! Is that car carrying the Hubble space telescope?" There is certainly a significant resemblance! Petra's fascination with space continues. Not only does she know the planets (and everything about them), now she is learning all the moons as well (Ganymede is "large and in charge"). Ask her how she knows we're on Earth and not Mars, and she'll tell you "because there is a plentiful supply of surface water."

The last few days she and I have played "Skateboarding Saturn," in which I am a clueless Jupiter, and Saturn skates past and bumps me. She also has me tell her stories about the planets (playing baseball with meteors, going on picnics, whatever), and sing her a song about "Poor poor Jupiter" getting whacked by comets every night before bed. We will also sometimes play "gravity well" in which one of us runs past and the other tries to grab them in their "gravity well."

She is still a girly girl though (pink is her favorite color), and her grandma has been loading her up on her favorite princess gear recently (thanks Mom, really).

The princess has landed

After a visit to Grandma Kate in Eugene, we returned home and found a Cinderella tiara waiting for Petra. She was thrilled, but not as thrilled as she was when a Cinderella dress arrived today. She was so excited to put it on and, thanks to the miracle of iChat, was able to show Grandma that it fit and tell her how much she loved it.



We spent a week in Oregon around Labor Day. We arrived in Portland, and headed out to Art in the Pearl, which had art for us to look at, art stations for Petra to make art (she made a marionette and a fish print), and she got to paint a car for charity. The art show was in a park with a fun playground for her to run around in. She had fun on the monkey bars and only banged her head once.



We stayed at the Hotel Monaco, which did wine tasting in the early evenings, and also had an easel and paints set up. Naturally, Petra made a beeline for the easel and did a painting every evening.

Grandma Kate joined us on Sunday afternoon, and we also hung out for a while with our friend Patti and her son Noah. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to visit Patti & Andy’s café , but maybe next time.




We also visited the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry . Petra loved their Science Playground, but the Planetarium show was a bust. It was way too much for Petra and Alison carried her out after only a few minutes.

On Tuesday, we drove down to Grandma Kate’s house in Eugene. Petra had a blast playing with Grandma Kate, Janice, and Olivia, and even warmed up to their dog Sasha. After a few encounters with over-affectionate dogs in the past, she had taken to screaming and hiding behind the closest available parent whenever she saw a dog, but after a day or so, she was quite comfortable with Sasha, and even gave her hugs and kisses before going to bed.

As of tomorrow (the 18th), it will be 1 month till Petra’s 4th birthday. Wow! For months, she’s been talking about her “four-year-old birthday” and planning what she wants to do for her party. She’s very consistent about wanting a “strawberry heart cake”, but most of the other details change from day to day.

Cuddly

I was in my winter weight robe this morning (summer weight in the laundry). Petra asked why I had it on, and I told her. Then she said she had "some very important information" for me. She said she still liked my "old" robe, and then said (as she did it) she would climb in my lap and cuddle up and be cozy.

Such a sweetie!

National Night out on Crime

Petra participated in the National Night Out On Crime tonight, joining a bunch of our Neighbors United friends. It was the allure of the police escort that really got her involved.

She was a big hit. Especially when she stood in the middle of the crowd and said "I'm three and three-quarters, and I'm wearing a twirly dress..." and starts to spin and the hem goes out horizontal, "and I'm not wearing any underwear!"

Very big hit! A little embarrassing for Dada though. Next time I'm inspecting for undies before we leave the house!

Cranky and Sleepy

Petra fell asleep on the ride home tonight, and slept until 7pm when we carried her in. Then she was pretty cranky.

Trying to get her to eat dinner before cookies, she howls "I've had too many adults saying no!" and "That's not nice!"

Telling Mama "Your Mean!"

She also (sleep) walked through the house crying for a zebra puppet. We don't have a zebra puppet.

Poor tired girl! What did they do to her today?


Last Thursday was MUCH easier on her. I took her to work with me and she was a jewel. She charmed everyone, received swag at every desk, got snacks galore, and moved right in to a co-workers office, and stayed for over an hour playing at a 'desk' just for her (built of 2 boxes). On the way to the car at the end of a long day, she said "I had so much fun at your work today. I made so many new friends!"

What a darling!

She fell asleep on the way home from there as well!

And the weekend before was a REAL marathon - Family Reunion! Flew to Bay Area Thursday after work, spent the night with grandpa, then drove 6 hours to Humboldt county to "camp" with all the uncles and cousins. Three days in the mountains swimming, hiking, eating, and being adored by her relatives. Then a 6 hour drive, and flight back. She traveled like a champ, no trouble at all. I actually look forward to going on trips with her, because she travels so well!

The great internet famine

I'll blame this on the internet, and it's not a complete lie. 3 weeks with no network connection at all (thank you Time Warner Cable). Then success- reconnected. And then TWC cancels our account with Earthlink. A few hours on the phone with both, and voila! Back online. Until the next morning when it is out again. Another hour on the phone with both, and voila! 4 days later it is finally back again (for the moment!).

I'll also blame the Justice system. 9 days of jury duty! But at least I got to serve on a jury, rather than just sitting in the waiting room.

And now, back to what you really want- Petra!

Just so you don't think we were just sitting around doing nothing:

Disneyland on Mama's birthday, including staying at a local hotel so we could take a nap break before watching fireworks. We went swimming the next morning.

Landon's birthday at "My Gym," which Petra has decided is where she wants to have her 4th birthday party (which, by the way is "too long away" for her taste).

Katie's birthday, at which Petra and Maggie stuck their fingers in the frosting, just like last year!

Two nights all alone at home with Grandpa and Grandma while Mama and Dada skip town for Palm Springs? Check! Lots of fun and virtually no tears? Check! What a big girl we have! Page museum (sabre tooth cats! A lesson in getting stuck in tar), Buccatini, Dinosaur museum.

Los Angeles Art Walk, including murals in the park and chalk art on the sidewalk, and the Craft and Folk Art Museum.

Getty Villa (wreaths and clay "action figures") with Jenna, including a visit to see "Curly" "Hatty" and "Vasey" the three figures that appear on the Getty Villa advertising banners. Petra has developed a close relationship with on the commute to and from school.

Arts and crafts at Lakeshore learning center (stick puppets).

SoRo neighborhood street fair (bounce houses, arts and crafts, and "winning" a stuffed pig by popping a balloon with darts. Really, she just charmed the people until they finally gave her one (she did pop one balloon though, and was thrilled)).

And dozens of spur of the moment play dates with various and sundry friends.

And the sad news, Jessica Judy, Petra's favorite friend at school, has moved to Washington, DC. Petra handled it very well, but she talks about moving to DC so much that even the teachers are asking us if we are moving! I did promise that we could do a visit next year (?!), and maybe throw in a visit with new cousin Saoirse as well.