Mistaken for a queen

 Summer is nodding the GO AHEAD to fall. Weather is delightful in St. Louis, low in the 50's and high in the 70's. Bill and I drove to the park and sat and watched the barges rolling-rolling-rolling down the river. This was a large sea worthy tug, so we imagined it was heading to New Orleans and out into the Gulf of Mexico. The leaves were click clacking in the breeze, the sun warmed us, and the hike did us good. This is my favorite time of year.

Liam has some good news. Doctor said he's healing fine and only has to wear his wrist brace during the day for two weeks. He will be glad to be free of it, but he has been a real sport.

I introduced him to Play-doh, and did he have fun poking beads from my bracelet into the soft clay.  

 I bought a bag of rice from the Dollar Store and divided it into four Zip-lock sandwich bags. Added a couple drops of food coloring and a couple drops of water, zipped the bag and shook until the rice was colored, then dried on a paper towel. This also works great using Kool-Aid; it adds fragrance.

The Bosnian lady next door has limited English, but tries so hard. She sat down to play in the pan of rice with Liam. She asked about his arm, and he babbled fast, "Lightning McQueen down steps." Telling her he rode his toy car down 5 carpeted stairs.

Her face flushed, she patted her heart, smiled broadly, laughed and said, "QUEEN?"

She thought he called her a queen. She was so thrilled.

I tell you this boy is a charmer. He saw two little girls visiting and said, "Hi friends, let's go play. My name is Liam, L-I-A-M.

He was playing at his grandma's today, looked up at the sky and said, "Wow, my Nana, look at the big clouds! So big, move so fast in the sky." He calls her My Nana to let the other day care kids know who she is to him. Ha ha.

 And this morning my other blue-eyed baby, Nicole, who is growing up way too fast, sang in her school's 3rd grade concert. We went out on the playground afterwards, and she snuggled on my lap as we ate chocolate covered coconut pieces. Never too big for a little loving.