Let the Record Show

1. I did not spot the High School Musical Barbie doll in the clearance section at TJ Maxx.

2. I did not pick up the High School Musical Barbie doll.

3. I did not call Alexis over to look at the High School Musical Barbie doll.

4. I did not offer to purchase the High School Musical Barbie doll.

5. I did not spend $10 on a High School Musical Barbie doll.

6. I did assemble the pool that came with the High School Musical Barbie doll.

7. I did not sit and play with the High School Musical Barbie doll.

Just sayin'.

(8. I did purchase the sound track for HSM 2 because if I have to listen to the one from HSM 3 one more time, I will scream bloody murder and probably go on a killing spree.)

From Elmo to Lord Stanley in 17 Short Hours

This morning Alexis woke up a wee bit too early (thanks again for that, Mr. I Can't Remember to Keep the Bathroom Door Closed So I Don't Set Off the Fire Alarm), so I had to crank on the Sesame Street as a survival tool. I have a few episodes saved to the DVR and randomly picked one. The right one. I had no clue, but that episode of Sesame Street ended with an Elmo's World all about penguins.

It was a sign.

Gaddum, I love that stupid furry red annoyance. Penguins!

Welcome home, Lord Stanley.

Wooooohoooooooo! Penguins!

The Light from Below

A few days ago, Alexis and I headed to our favorite playground for an hour or so of fun. After about fifty-teen zillion pushes on the swing, my arms grew weary so I asked Alexis if she wanted to go for a hike. It took some convincing, but I finally managed to get her to follow me to the wooded area nearby.

We headed deeper into the woods, and Alexis began to enjoy the exploration more and more. As she carefully navigated some stones so her glittery shoes wouldn't get wet as she crossed a creek, a group of high school-aged girls came from the opposite direction. Their nervous laughter and complaints about the terrain made me realize something: Alexis may be ALL girl at times, what with the princess obsession, need to wear glittery shoes with sundresses everyday, and her general love of all things GIRL, but she does have a good balance of tomboy going on. She wasn't complaining at all about the leaves smacking her in the face, the huge cut on her foot from a branch, or how hard it was to climb in a couple of spots. In fact, she was loving it. A lot.

We continued on, me walking behind her and enjoying the juxtaposition of girlie girl and tomboy that stumbled before me. Alexis was far too busy pointing out all the great sights to bother with staying on the path, and before long, we found ourselves in the middle of a clearing. A dense canopy of trees made it seem as if the sun had already began its descent, but a few small openings in the foliage helped the sun to paint perfectly shaped spotlights here and there.

Alexis stepped directly into one of the solar spotlights, and I asked her to turn around for a second. She stopped her excited explorations long enough for me to capture this:

Other than converting it to black and white, I made no edits to that photo. The light was that perfect. The expression on Alexis' face defies the reality of the moment. It was a moment filled with giggles and smiles and general goofiness, but no matter. For that one nanosecond, she stood in the light with a somber, sad expression on her face. I assume that flash of sad was there because I dared to ask her to pause for a moment.

A threat to tickle her fixed the sad right up:

Looking at this picture now, I realize something. It wasn't that the light was falling perfectly from the sky above. Rather, the light emanated from the eyes below me. Those eyes are the light of my life, the brightest, most vivid, most beautiful light I have ever found in this world.

She is my perfect light.