Balloon Stabber

Violent villainous crime has reared it's ugly head close to home.

Around 6:30 PM last Wednesday, Vivian reported last seeing Evan's large "Happy Birthday" mylar balloon floating around in the back yard. At exactly 6:43 PM, JoEllen looked out the living room windows and noticed the balloon in the hands of her neighbor, Ms. K. She sent Vivian to go and retrieve her balloon from Ms. K. 

No one knows exactly what happened next. But by the time witnesses arrived, the balloon was discovered with several vicious stab wounds. Ms. K was found with the murder weapon, a sharp backyard stick, in her possession. The balloon was pronounced dead shortly after. 

Justice was swift and Ms. K, in an outpouring of guilt, agreed to a (nail) polish party next morning followed by a movie. Vivian was sufficiently placated.

That was a week ago. Yesterday Vivian and Evan got a ballon from Central Market. Vivian told me she planned to release the balloon in Ms. K's back yard because her nails needed some touching up.

Last Day at GG

Grace Garden has been good to Vivian. And suddenly it's her last day there. She'll miss graduating from there next year. I remember the day two years ago when my little girl strode in through those doors for the first time. Vivian loved going to school so much that there was a time when she kissed those doors when she walked in. Thank you Ms. Mary, Ms. Cas, Ms, J, Ms. Andrea, Ms. Melissa, Ms. Kim, Ms. Art Teacher, Ms. Sasha, Ms. Allison, Coach Daylyn, Ms. Sally, and Pastor Paul.

But the old order changeth, yielding place to new. And in about a year it will be Evan's time to be a Dragon Fly and a Busy Bee and all that. He can hardly wait. Looks like he's already got Ms. Mary wrapped around his little finger.

Nanny

Sharath came to visit us in Austin this weekend. We had a good time. Evan and Sharath got along well.

On the way to Houston this afternoon, Jo sat in the back with the kids. Evan was very sleepy but he just could not understand why Mommy was so close and still wouldn't pick him up. He cried all the way to Brenham. We stopped at a gas station there are and Jo and Sharath swapped seats. Good thing too because I suspect Jo would have tried to throw Evan car-seat and all out of the window shortly.

Sharath played with the kids for a while. Then, when it looked like Evan was ready to nod off, Sharath gently rocked Evan's car seat to get some predictable repetitive motion going. I looked back in the rear view mirror for mile after mile, and there was Sharath rocking Evan's car seat. And then a little bit later both kids and Sharath were sound asleep in the back seat.

One more item taken care off on the to-do list for India. Find nanny. Done.

Piggy Bank College Fund

Vivian and I were chatting about her last day at Grace Garden. I told her that when she is back in the US next year she'll go to Big Girl School. She made me tell her the whole progression:

Me: First you will go to elementary school. Then middle and high school. And then college.
Vivian: And then I will marry?
Me: Nope. Then you get a job. And then you can marry.
Vivian: OK - so after high school I get a job and then go to college?
Me: No honey - I'll pay for your college.

Vivian comes around the table and gives me the biggest hug. Then she says "Daddy - I love you. Thanks for paying for my college."

Later when Vivian and I relate this story to Jo, Vivian adds that I don't need to pay for college because she will use the money from her piggy bank. I tell her that I didn't think there was enough money in her piggy bank to pay for college. She said that she has many birthdays to go.