My Son John: Red Poppy Festival

Dear John,

Two weekends ago, we went to the annual Red Poppy Festival. We made it just in time for the car show, which delighted you and your dad.

I was delighted to find this hat for you and this dress for your sister, bought in different places at different times from different stores, and get them together for many adorable Red Poppy Festival pictures. Not only that, but you wore the hat all day. Why? Because I told you to. Maybe it was a misuse of my maternal authority to demand such a thing when you really didn't care for the hat, but honestly, I was just pleased to have such blessed obedience.

And really, you and your sister were ADORABLE together.

We did the usual things. Your dad bought "carnie" food, as he likes to call it (although there were no turkey legs in sight). We looked in all of the booths. We did not visit the bounce houses in the kids' section, though, because the lines were so very long. You were very disappointed by this, but obeyed when we said it was time to walk away from the bounce houses and used respectful language to say, "I'm very disappointed." We placated you with promises of going to another bounce place at some uncertain future time. It wasn't until bedtime that night when you were still sweetly asking, "Now we go to 'nuther bouce space?" that we understood how important those bounce houses were to you. I was so proud of you for facing that level of disappointment with no fit, no fuss. And that's why the next day we did come back so you could bounce....

...and ride the train, and play the football game that the big kids were enjoying so much.

I love being able to reward your self control.

The other thing I loved about the day was sharing it with the Fords.

They arrived about half-way through our time on the square and you could not decide whom you were happier to see, Mrs. Ford, Mr. Ford, Sabrina or the puppies.

You were most possessive of Lincoln, though, You helped Mr. Ford to walk him and when the literally dozens of different people walked over at various points to comment on what a beautiful animal he is, you would run over and give him a possessive pat as these strangers were petting "your" dog.

I loved seeing you with Sabrina. She is getting so big and the older she gets, the neater she fits in with you and your sister. The spacing from you to Sabrina is about the same as the spacing from your sister to you, and you are just as sweet with her and your sister is with you.

It was a wonderful visit to the Red Poppy Festival. The weather was gorgeous. The company was ideal. The atmosphere Rockwellian as always. And you, little boy, were obedient (although I am noticing that you are being a pill in both of these pictures... I guess we'll settle for obedience at just about three and work on cheerful obedience in the coming year).