five and that's all
/Remember this? "Buy Goldfish."
It all came together this weekend in time for Emma's fifth birthday today.
Nightly fish checks are required before bed. These four fish were carefully chosen from a tank swarming with feeder fish. I finally had to step in and catch them myself because I couldn't bear to watch the poor clerk swirl the net through the masses trying to pick out the "fish with the white belly. no, not that one. there! that one! right there!" I managed to catch THAT fish and three others managed to get tangled in the net along with him.
"I think they must be best friends. They were all swimming around together."--my way of convincing them to stop the fish chase right there. Thankfully, they were four unique-looking fish that fit the bill. Today we went back to replace the one that didn't make it. ("that one was mary's, mommy) and add some live plants.
I love the presents Emma is getting this year--they are so her. A pair of binoculars and bird field guide from her grandmother, roller skates from her NeeNee, and a pair of "sleepers with feet" and a helmet for her horseback riding lessons from me and Dan. I'm really not sure why she requested the sleepers. She likes to rub one foot on the other foot's heel while she sleeps. Honestly, I think she just likes the idea of sleepers and likes running around in them before bed. But when it's time to really get between the sheets, they inevitably seem to be replaced by something more heel-rubbing friendly.
I told her this morning that this was it. This was her last birthday. Five was all the older she could get. I'm not allowing six or seven, let alone eleven or twelve. I can barely admit that she's five and I shop for her in the girl's department, that she knows more words to gillian welch songs than I do or can set the dinner table beautifully with no help from me .
"But mom," she said in response to my declaration about the cessation of getting older, "it just happens."
That's right Emma, babe. I guess it does. Happy Birthday one more time.
