Happy First Day of Spring

Deedle has been learning a lot about spring in her pre-school class which she and Loumy attend. String Cheese was learning about it, too, and even knew the date for the first day. She and Deedle kept bringing up how fun it would be when spring came to town. So, it should have come to no surprise that the first words I heard this morning were full of the wrath of Deedle. This child can be very feisty and she doesn't like anybody to cross her.

Before I tell you about this morning, I will make an admission for which I feel quite guilty. I don't get up with my kids most mornings. Ever since Loumy became potty-trained (at least the morning poopy diaper made me feel guilty enough to get up with them), I have stayed in my bed as long as possible. The kids each have clocks and know that they aren't even supposed to get out of their beds until 7:00. Then they can get up and watch cartoons or draw or pretty much whatever they want. Deedle needs a cup of "milky". Oh, which reminds me, the first words she said to me this morning were not immediately the first ones I remembered here for this post. Deedle loves milk. Especially when she is tired or sad. She always wants milk first thing in the morning. I fill a sippy cup for her and put it in the fridge. We have the same conversation each morning, with a slight variation. Usually she wakes up after 7:00 and it goes like this (verbatim):
"Can I have some milky?"
"Yes."
"Will it rot out my teeth?"
"No."
"Is everything going to be all right?"
"Yes."
She then pads off to the fridge for her milk, lies back down to drink it (or sometimes comes to snuggle in my bed to drink it), then gets up for the day.

If it is before 7:00, (like usually the middle of the night and I know she will get the milk and fall back asleep) the story plays out differently:
"Can I have some milky?"
"Not yet. Its too early."
"Please?"
"No."
"Will I rot out my teeth?"
"Yes."
Then begins the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. After much screaming she says:
"Can I please have some milk?"
"Yes, but your teeth might rot out." More screaming and flopping about on the floor.
"Deedle," I finally say, " You can have it in the morning. Just wait until after 7:00."
"Okay."
She then climbs in to snuggle with me or goes back to her own bed until milk time.

This morning was no different. She came in and had milk at her usual time. Then, apparently after drinking her milk she'd taken a look outside. Bad news. I hear my door open and slam against the wall.
"You lied!" she cries.
"Huh?" I croak. It is quite dark in my room and I've had a sore throat for 3 weeks, so I have pretty much no voice at all.
"You SAID today was Spring!?" she asks angrily and somewhat incredulously. When I do not respond she says, with hands on her hips, "It is NOT Spring today! It is raining and dark and cold! You lied to me."
"Deedle," I try to say, "Let me explain about Spring..." but she will have none of my croaky ("on-the-verge-of-death" as Chancho calls it) voice. She slams the door and all is quiet. I reposition myself and go back to sleep.

Later Chancho talks with her about Spring. When Patti comes to pick Deedle up for pre-school, she climbs into her booster seat and announces to her, "Don't worry. It's still Spring. It's just raining for the flowers to grow."

So, all is well. Spring is here. It was not warm enough to get out the pool, as the girls had hoped it would be, but the tulips that I planted in my flower beds last fall are beginning to poke up through the dark earth, the last of the snow that was hiding under the shade of an awning on the north of the house has melted, and the Easter Tea is only two days away. The girls are content that Spring is actually here.


Here are a few photos of Deedle's first Spring with big sister, String Cheese.