It must not have been that memorable a kiss, SS is keeping her options open.

I had the opportunity to grill SS inquire about L and S. The consensus was that L, aka Cowboy was the clear winner, because SS took the time to change his name. Ah, so heart warming to see our Chinese daughter practice her version of Manifest Destiny. SS was talking about how much fun she's had with Cowboy and S. Again, it looked like the former was ahead. Then SS began to giggle, lowered her voice and whispered "Mama, I sat beside S yesterday morning." HA! At the tender age of four our daughter has mastered a concept that takes us adults years to grasp, and some never grasp at all. SS knows that there are plenty of fish in the sea, and she is a spear fisher(wo)man. Our girl is keeping her options wide open. We are so proud of our tiny Jezebel.

Please try not to cringe at the pictures below. Guess what SS did today? She did have to make up for last year, and we promise it is the last one. SS is not willing to let her "fluffy pink jacket" go. This time she paired it with another gift from Auntie C, a fluffy pink hat. I really want that jacket in her memory box, but SS is unable or unwilling to part with it at this time.

Michelle, we are deferring to your expertise in early childhood development. We can't wait for SS to find boys yucky. Hopefully until she is 50. Yeah, 50 is a great age for our daughter to begin dating. Because it worked out that well with her parents...

Post #17 of Spring Fling people!

A date with Baba.

Yesterday P had yet another news flash for me when he arrived home with SS. Cowboy and SS were caught kissing. WHAT??????!!!!!! That was my very calm response. She is only four, what the heck is with that? So much for easy going and laid back for those two. Not only did they break the school's rules, but SS is still banned from kissing anyone other than Mama, Baba and JJ. So we were doubly concerned. We both talked to our kissing machine, and at least with me SS would not rat out Cowboy. That boy is lucky I was not the one picking up SS yesterday.

This afternoon SS and Baba had a movie date, they watched Romeo and Juliet in 3D. Maybe one of these days I'll get to have a date with P that does not involve the world's cutest third wheel. But we better enjoy her to the max, because SS refuses to slow down her growth.

Rocking the 3D glasses. Wait, aren't they supposed to return those at the end of the movie?

Post #16 of Spring Fling.

School egg hunt.

This morning was P's turn to endure the madness that is an Easter egg hunt. But it was at SS's school, thus we knew hoped she would be in her comfort zone. P was unable to remain for the egg hunt. thankfully Ms. K agreed to take pics for us.

Cowboy warning the Easter Bunny to keep his filthy paws off his girl.

The Junior class.SS is small but not glaringly out of place. There are at least three other children the same height as SS.

Post #15 of Spring Fling. I can't believe I reached the halfway point.

Easter egg hunt.

SS participated in the Easter egg hunt at the YMCA. P was unable to attend because once again his employer's stinginess and lack of planning trickles down to us. One of P's most important instruments is once again inoperable (only third to fourth time this month). Since the tech lives out of the area, when he is here P is a captive audience. But as luck will have it, rumor has it that the Easter bunny will be hopping into SS's school tomorrow, and there will be an egg hunt as well. Not only does SS gets to make up for missing last year (I was hospitalized), but P and I keep some semblance of sanity by not double dipping into the madness that is an egg hunt.

Initially SS was overwhelmed and I was seriously missing P. The first stop was inside, where the kids signed in, and then moved on to decorate bunny ears and construction paper eggs. SS requested to be held, buried her head on my neck and stated "Mama, not like it here. Let's go see Baba." Sweetie, even if we left there would be no visit to Baba. When it was her turn to have her face painted SS began to cry. I told her that JJ would love to see her pretty bunny face. That was enough to get her to calm down. They did the bunny pokey and SS refused to dance. WTH? Thankfully once outside SS got a second wind and had a great time, but kept looking for JJ and Baba, as if they were going to materialize in the middle of the field.

The dress and blouse SS was wearing are the same she wore to her first Easter egg hunt. OMG, we can't believe how tiny she was back then and that she actually had some baby chub. The dress still fits because two years ago we had adjusted the dress straps to the max. SS could get more use out of the dress, but after this wearing it is going into her memory box. I had the denim jacket in the van a few days ago but could not find it today. SS did not wear the whole outfit because I did not want us to be late. SS's first egg hunt also led to her newspaper debut.

OK, I won't smile for you guys, but just for JJ.

Here Mama, you color my bunny ears.

Quick hug.

Quick Buzz pose.

And off she went...

Although SS has three Easter buckets she insisted on using her Buzz bucket. Big surprise there, right?

What do we have here?

Ahhhhhh chocolate! SS LOVES chocolate.

Something good has resulted from the outrageous amount of tuition we are paying, SS is quick to help with clean up. That is when it is NOT at home. But at least she made the staff person smile. Check out SS's bunny tail. The white on this pic and the one with the bunny are SS's second bunny ears. Me and my darn bad picture taking.

Showing off the egg she decorated. Love the butterfly, penguin and whale motif.

Caution: Bunny hard at work.

What? No, of course I am not planning to eat all the candy and chocolates. I am merely inspecting them.

Post #14 of Spring Fling, and thank goodness for Easter, as it provides something to blog.

She liked him so much that she decided to change his name.

Apropos of Spring Fling P had quite the newsflash for me this afternoon. It appears that our daughter has found a BFF or has begun her first school romance. Figures, now that P is taking over school duties, not only is SS making real progress, he gets all the good stuff. Yeah, I am jealous, so sue me for wanting to be part of all the good in my kids' lives. SS was talking this afternoon about her friend L and her friend S, both males. I do not blame the girl because my best friends have always been males. Then when one of my best friends became my husband, he put a stop to the male BFF thing.

But even if it is a budding romance do not expect SS to play dainty little flower. SS is sending a clear message as to who is in charge. Her opening salvo is classic SS, she changed his name to Cowboy. P got a kick (and the pleasure of, *sniff*) watching SS stubbornly refer to L as cowboy, ignoring the boy's protests that "I am not cowboy, I am L." SS won that round and we feel bad for poor Cowboy L, because not only has his name changed against his will, but he is about discover the obstinate magic that is SS. Then again average looking L landed a heck of a beauty, so I guess they are even.

The teacher told P that SS and L are "Kindred spirits, easy going and laid back." OK, quickly changing my mind about Ms. A. Has she met our daughter?

SS and (part of) L at her school's playground. How sweet it is to play with rather than parallel to your classmates.

L is a smart boy and did not even bother to claim the truck from SS. We think this boy gets it.

Post lucky #13 of Spring Fling.

Temporary class pet.

Ms. T brought one of her many bunnies to school to share with the kids. SS did not hesitate and got her grubby little hands on the bunny. She was very careful and tender with the baby bunny. I think Ms. T said he is three weeks old, and is a big boy for being so young. We'll defer to her knowledge because we don't know a thing about bunnies. P made a pitch for a pet by remarking how darn cute SS looked with Devin the bunny. Not going to happen, because I know the responsibility will land squarely on my lap. Sorry dude and dudette, not pets for you. I am heartless that way.

Post #12 of Spring Fling.

Almost messed up the Spring Fling challenge. My asthma and allergies are really kicking my rear end. I am lethargic and crabby. No idea how P and SS can stand being around me. I do pain well, also fevers, but give me a runny nose and I freaking fall apart. Can't stand the common cold and make everyone around me as miserable as I feel. In a very uncharacteristic move for me, I am joining SS and P in bed as soon as I click publish. Misery does love company.

Post #11 of Spring Fling. Yeah me!

Still swimming.

Al final
las obras quedan, las gentes se van.
Otros que vienen las continuarán...
¡La vida sigue igual!

Cutest chick ever.

Post #10 of Spring Fling!

Just like Baba

A few days ago SS was seating next to me while I uploaded some pictures to Co$tco to order enlargements. We have a few albums at their website and SS immediately noticed and focused on the picture below.

This was our first glimpse of SS almost three years ago. We could not get to the other two pictures for a while, because we cried so much we could not see. SS is used to the story of the first time we ever saw her face, and talks about how happy we were to see her mugshot. From there she goes on to give a short version of our journey to meet her in China. I was not surprised when she focused on this picture. Except that the commentary was a bit different this time.

SS: "Look Mama, it's Baby S!" She distinguishes between her baby days and her SS days.
Me: "Yes that is Baby S's picture."
SS: " I in China, but you and Baba not in China."
Me: "You are right sweetie, you were still waiting for us in China when the picture was taken."
SS: "I so cute Baby S Mama. LOOK Mama, I have a haircut just like Baba's!"

The last statement was followed by a fit of giggles from SS and more talk about being just like Baba. Huh?

P had just sheared his curly top a few nights before SS saw the picture. I know the girl adores her father, but I was a tad worried about SS asking for a haircut to match her Baba's. Our girl has amazing hair, and since P and I both have ugly fros we want to keep her hair long for as long as we can. For now we are OK with SS thinking of having a haircut rather than the reality that her head was most likely shaved for the convenience of the SWI staff. Since she thinks she was so darn cute with a bald head, all scissors and the hair clippers are in lockdown.

Post #9 of Spring Fling. Think I'll make it?