In exactly two weeks, Helen will be five. This birthday (like my own this year) is hitting hard. Five means kindergarten, grown-up conversations, more world awareness. She is looking so much more mature, and acting that way too.
We had such a great long weekend. On Saturday, Helen rode her bike with me to the art museum where we spent over two hours thanks to all of the interactive displays. The Frida Kahlo exhibit has a place to make butterflies, and the "Road Trip" gallery allows you you make and mail your own postcards. In the family portrait corner, Helen sat at an easel and drew a family picture that has all of our hearts popping out of our bodies and connected together... We ended up at my favorite hair salon where my stylist gave Helen the most adorable cut -- perfect for the warm weather we've been having.
On Sunday, we met another adoptive family whose daughter is from Daye/Hubei. Mutual friends introduced us, and we marveled at the small world connectedness. We are pretty sure that their daughter was at Daye during the time we visited -- so we most certainly saw her snuggled into one of the orphanage cribs. It was gorgeous in Half Moon Bay, and we had great fun watching the kids play while we compared notes.
Today we celebrated MLK by going ice skating, taking a long walk, and playing a rousing game of Yahtzee. Five is going to be fabulous -- I can already tell.
