Holding Still: fly on the wall

December 23, 2008

fly on the wall

Lire's long-held dream came true. Ingrid came over to HIS house. Not OUR house. HIS.

And it was a great success. I picked them both up from school and brought them to our house. Oh, excuse, me, I mean his house. Farm animals and pet shop toys (not Pet Shop Boys) were taken out and set up, the "picnic truck" (Playmobil@ camper) was driven around, "picnic people" (Playmobil@ figures) squatted in the uninhabited creche/stable someone gave us and the Christmas ficus was admired. Lire gave her the drawing he made over Thanksgiving for her (I know, he's been planning this for ages!). Finally, it was time for tea. But Ingrid drinks only water and milk, as she made very clear, so we warmed up milk and poured it into the much desired teacups. I was enamored of these fancy cups myself as a wee lass, and Lire loves everything beautiful, so he really wanted to use them when Ingrid came over. She chose the white china with the red roses, while Lire chose the china with the African violets. I had the creamy yellow cup with the pears painted in the bottom of the cup. Alex joined us and opened up a pomegranate to share. Ingrid informed me that her mommy didn't want her to "eat those," so she settled for half a cupcake and a banana. Lire ate clementines, pomegranate seeds, half a cupcake and a marshmallow. Oh, and some nuts and cranberries. He likes to eat a little of everything, if you couldn't tell.

The rest of the afternoon went swimmingly, with Habtam arriving home from school towards the end, ratcheting up the activity level by 100. The swivel chair was spun recklessly, with both Lire and Ingrid yelling at him to "STOP, WE'RE DIZZY," and there was much running downstairs with Ingrid being "booed" at (Mommy, Habtamu rude. Why? Habtamu scare Ingrid!")

Lire also gave her two of his solar-colored rings he received from Uncle B who brought them back from Mexico and Habtamu gave her his pirate treasure chest.

She didn't want to leave. Who would, with such adulation?

I later asked Lire what his favorite part of the afternoon was.

"Everything."

Until after the holiday festivities. I'll leave you with a photo of Lire and his second snowman. He replaced the shell nose with a carrot nose later on in the afternoon, but Chauncey jumped up and bit it off, eating it. And then Chauncey jumped up and removed the snowman's hat and toppled it. Note Chauncey way in the back of the photo on the front steps. He is plotting his snowman destruction, though he's not aware of it yet. He's that mischievous.