Slow to Let Go...

When I was pregnant with Justice, I outgrew all my Docs. Literally. Not the didn't fit while I was pregnant kind of outgrew, but the full fledged, never could comfortably wear them again outgrew. Which, considering I had TEN pairs of the things was really horribly unfair!

I tried the get them wet in the shower trick (of boat job fame - we swore by this on the Mississippi Queen). I tried the shoe horn game. The wear thick socks and limp around... But at the end of the day, reality was only my black mules and the brown sandals I talked Suzi out of fit. And the sandals might not count since they were a size 5 and all the others were a 4...

Anyway, Justice is five and a half. Obviously this was not a recent development. However, last night I finally cleaned out my shoe box. It helped that my closest friend here has Doc Marten size 4 feet. I could never have simply donated them to the Salvos. And Will teased that he was surprised I didn't ebay them. But the problem was, I couldn't.

See, oddly enough I didn't have all these Docs just because I loved them. I also had them because friends knew I loved them...

Tara gave me the coolest pair of all black double strap and buckle Mary Janes one year for Christmas. I wore them so often and with everything - I even wore through the sole... They were the coolest Doc Mary Janes I have ever seen! And the first pair I ever had without yellow stitching...

Suzi gave me the brown, nearly black sandals she picked up for a steal at Costco. I loved having sandals that added two inches!! Never mind all the fond memories of Costco runs and late night shopping trips that they represented... I miss living with Suzi in Colorado!

My red docs were the only shoes I took with me when I actually left everyone and everything behind for a little while and tried out living overseas. Which I must have enjoyed, because I took it on permanently! Every photo I have in Dublin I have those shoes on (because in Dublin I finally met people I trusted to take pictures and return the camera). Actually, I met Faith in those shoes! Trekked through Glendalough in them...

Then there were my black lace ups, which signified the endless stream of boat jobs - no matter how dolled up we got in our "vintage" uniforms, we all trudged around in the ultra comfortable black Docs.

I bought my green ones on the first ever travel somewhere together vacation I took with a friend. Worrying over balancing what we both wanted to do and see, realising we were perfectly suited travel companions... That trip to Portland was wonderful, and I always had the fuzziest memories of the day at Pittock Mansion when I slipped them on...

I know that it is so silly, but I loved all those shoes, the reminders of trips taken, close friendships, time spent in Ireland - all of it.

So, it took me five and a half years (really?!) but I have cleaned out the cupboards, unpacked the box in the garage - and swamped someone else's shelf with great shoes.

I am learning to let go.

However, I am not adverse to starting over.

I am a size UK 5 now.

And I am hanging out for a pair of cherry reds. Just in case you were wondering...

And, of course, I am a traditionalist.

Grandparents Day

It was Grandparents Day at school today. Justice and his class preformed a grandparents rap and were costumed accordingly. I thought it was sad we managed so easily to find clothes like these (in his size!) at the op shop. Doesn't he look adorable? The song was too cute! Will's folks couldn't make it down, so we "shared" someone else's grandparents for the day.

AFL UPDATE

Justice would like you to know they now know the rules, and are spending part of the time playing in teams. Doesn't that seem BIG to you?!

TRAUMA TEDDY

Justice had to get a blood test today.

NO FUN. They "missed" the vein in the first arm. The nurse claimed Justice moved, but since Will had him in a bear hug and another nurse was holding his arm down, I have my doubts... A different nurse tried the other arm (she of the ineffective arm hold) but wasn't able to get a sample. They told me to make sure he drinks plenty and we can try again next week.

That's right - make sure he drinks plenty. The test is checking for a cause for his constant mild dehydration. The test requires that he not drink the night before. They apparently don't know this. Any wonder they can't get a sample?!

He's got two punctures, one with a big old bruise, and we still have to go again next week for the stupid blood test! Poor kid. At least they gave him a "trauma teddy". Its a good match for the one he got when he put his teeth through his chin....

PRECISION

Justice is really a perfectionist.

He likes things exactly so, and he is not prone to guess when there is a logical way to deduce the correct answer. For instance, on the wall in his classroom, they put up one cut out bug for each day of school. When they were in week three, the teacher asked "Where do you think the line will be when we have a hundred bugs?". All the kids had loud guesses pointing at the wall. She was concerned because Justice would not "have a go" and just guess.

See, but that doesn't worry or surprise me. For my earnest little man she had given him a mathematical equation. "If 20 is here, then 100 is where?"

I love the perfectionist in him. He has come along miles - there was a time if he wasn't assured of doing something right he simply wouldn't attempt it. Now he is prone to give anything a try. But not if you ask him to leave out all reason.

On the teacher's suggestion, I tried to explain estimating, and I used the bugs as an example of when he should try. Justice's response was: "If you can get exactly the right answer, why would you just guess?" Precision people.

I can't wait for algebra...

AARGH ME HEARTIES!

The writer and illustrator of CAPTAIN CRABCLAW'S CREW gave a reading today at the local library. Justice and I went along to the Pirate Party (conveniently held during a school day - but this school day my car was sacrificed to the shop for some work - so Justice couldn't get over to school anyway).

The book is adorable, the illustrations are awesome, and the pair who put it out are lovely. We definitely had fun.

SO CLEVER!

Justice recieved an award at his assembly today for enthusiasm and proficiency at maths. He is doing really well. He (later today) had his first spelling test (5 out of 5!) and his first maths test (another 5 out of 5!). WOW!