Turkeys

Just a little wildlife encounter in the backyard in the suburbs! I think we counted eight of them. (Click on the pictures to make them bigger for a better view.)

They came back the next day, here is a close encounter!

Pierced Ears

She finally did it! A little over a month before she turns six Paige decided today was the day to get her ears pierced. Her friend Emily just had them done and told her that it hurt less than a shot. All morning she mustered up the courage and we all trooped down to the mall. Of course that's when the real drama began. Crying, screaming, tantrums and carrying on like a total baby. But she didn't want to leave the store because she did really want to get it done but she was too afraid to do it. We were trapped there with her wanting to do it but too scared to do it. And we took every angle we could with the pep talk- telling her she was tough and strong that we believed she could handle it, down playing the pain, talking up the fun of it all, offering bribes and in the end resorting to shaming her into it. The problem was we knew she really wanted to do it and would be very disappointed if she chickened out. On the way over in the car she was dancing in her chair and singing a "I'm getting my ears pierced" song. So we didn't want to let the fear win. And we were going to do anything we could to help her get what she wanted. But it was a tough road, lasting hours, filled with embarrassment and many trips out of the store and back in. Thankfully the girls were very patient and helpful. I never saw them roll their eyes once! So here she is, Miss America.