Letters for P: Making friends 'n stuff

Dear Parker,

I am typing this from the deck with the sun glaring on my computer screen. I am out here because you are playing next door with the neighbor. She is 6 years old, in kindergarten and you adore her. I'm not sure how much actual playing happens, but you seem to enjoy each other's company. I feel a little anxious about you being over there by yourself as you are only 3 years old and there isn't an adult in the backyard, so I sit on the deck and sort of monitor. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I think you are still pretty little to be hanging out with such big kids by yourself. But, anyway. You just like having friends. I hope that it works out and you can keep playing with her. Right now they are trying to explain Girl Scouts to you. It's kind of interesting.

Today, I went to Orchard's Parent Preview while you went to school in the morning. I really like Orchard - particularly the lower school. I think it would be a really good place for you. I do worry about the music program as you get closer to middle school The band program, at least, is pretty crappy right now, but I'm hoping that by the time you are in 5th grade someone else gets hired. We'll see. I suppose we can always supplement your musical education. It does make me a little sad that you won't have the same band experiences that I had, but I think having a better overall education is worth the trade off. While I say this I still don't know if you have been accepted or if they are going to offer us enough money for it to be a reasonable thing for us. We'll just have to wait and see. It's going to be okay no matter what ends up happening.

I went to your school to pick you up around 10:45. You were in your centers and wanted to stay, so I just hung out with you for awhile. It was interesting to watch what your day is like. You were more aggressive than I thought you were, which makes me both a little happy and sad. I don't want you to be aggressive, but I do want you to stand up for yourself. It's a fine line.

We came home, took a nap and then went for a cupcake picnic. We got cupcakes from the Flying Cupcake and then went to Holcomb Gardens at Butler. You had SO much fun playing in the leaves, sitting on tree stumps and looking at the flowers. You made a leaf pile and jumped in it, lied in it, took a "nap" in it and threw it in the air. We played hide and seek in the trees. You picked a million little berries, flowers and leaves to bring home to your Mom. It was a great time.

And now, you are home and sitting in the fort with 2 big girls. I think this may have been a perfect day for you. Here are some pics of you from today.