Here Comes A New Shelmet

For the past three days now, Zoe has asked that we go in to the creek. This started on Sunday, after Nana arrived, and the weather was just starting to get nice again. She had her coat, and her backpack, and her boots, and her skirt. She did an excellent job navigating through the water and over the rocks. There was an excellent display of balance and courage, while still asking me which path was the best to take to reach a certain spot. Monday night, as soon as I got home, there was the question, "Daddy, can we go in the creek." So we got dressed, this time in shorts, since it was warmer out, grabbed a sieve and a walking stick and did some more exploring. It was a lot of fun and we picked up a few extra rocks and pieces of broken pottery for her collections. On Tuesday night, again, as soon as I walked in the door, I was asked to head down to the creek. She was convinced that it would be better to wait until after dinner, this way we would both have more energy...

The holiday is almost upon us and for Passover, crazy cousin Kellie got Zoe a package of 10 plague masks. Little did I know, she already had seen these masks in her class, and played a game with them where you at them out. As soon as I opened them up, she squealed with delight and was super happy to model exactly what First Born is supposed to look like. As soon as Cheryl got home, we all got in on the action and took some group shots as our favorite plagues. Even the stuffed animals were joining in! I don't know about you, but I think I look pretty good as Cattle Plague and Cheryl really wears Darkness well. Here's to more holiday traditions in the future.

Zoe's crazy cousins the Goffbergs recently purchased a pet bird. Since the bird was only recently hatched, she still stays at the bird store over in Jersey. Hearing that this bird store was totally awesome, Zoe and I took a ride over to see Peepers, as well as the other birds in the store. At first, Zoe was a little hesitant to even pet the bird, even though Jellie and Kon were old pros at the whole bird thing. Once she warmed up to the idea, she actually asked if the bird could sit on her arm. Kellie was happy to oblige, and it looks like Zoe instantly regretted the decision, but soon realized that the massive talons of the tiny bird were not, actually, hurting her. After another circle of the store, it was almost time to leave. Zoe requested another chance to hold Peepers on her arm and, on the second time around, was much more comfortable. Since it was April Fool's, I did try to convince Cheryl that we were coming home with a bird, but she didn't buy i...