Yesterday Chris read from his recently published book of poetry along with a couple other local poets.

The event was held at another poet's home in Rockridge -- a retired landscape architect (I think).

While Chris set up at the reading site, I took the kids to Frog Park.

By the time we joined him, he was already reading on the back porch, with a hushed audience in place. We three walked down a lush side yard, planning to work our way into hearing range past the many people standing and sitting amid the greenery when Luke started blurting "C'mon, Nina!" and some other loud things. I decided we should stay put on the side of the house. Here the garden was still lovely and interesting.

After a while, Halina edged away from me to stand among the other listeners.

Eventually, she picked her way over to the porch and sidled up to Chris.

She started humming a bit while he was reading (a juxtaposition which people later mentioned enjoying).  I had a pang of anxiety that she might start grooming him and examining his ears, like she does while he reads her stories at night. But she didn't.

I couldn't hear Chris well but I did hear him say that he'd written some of these poems when I was pregnant with Halina, and now she's five.

Meanwhile, Luke and I checked out the side garden. I love the use of wavy, old mirrors throughout the garden, including in place of windows in a shed.

There were baby doll heads poking out here and there. Sounds a bit creepy, but it wasn't.

Luke and I left early for a nap. Halina hung out and hobnobbed, happy to be at her Daddy's side and kinda proud (it seemed to me) about his having a book.

Halina started off her last day of preschool a little pensive.

She warmed up with some art.

After a while, she was ready to tend to her first patient.

Next she made herself a snow cone. (How fun is preschool?)

Then there was some light housekeeping and food prep.

There are so many cool things to choose from and good friends to play with. And amazingly warm and loving teachers.

Teacher Susanna.

Teacher Jolie.

Playing trains, dressing up, swinging, climbing, running, visiting the chickens, playing with water and sand, listening to stories, having snacks, playing with toys, building and painting and pasting....

And special friends and memorable faces.

After circle, it was lunch time -- with stories, of course.

Then it was time to say goodbye.

Bye, MCPC! In our two years with you, we learned so much and had such fun and grew a whole bunch in lots of ways (and I do mean all of us). Thank you.