Clara's Very First Play Date of Her Very Own

Clara, Silvia, and Daphne

Birdie, in a circular boat like they use in Vietnam.

The Boss.  (Move over, Bruce.)

Birdie on the climbing wall in the Dora and Diego exhibit.

This morning, the Bird flew across the river to meet Clara's friends Daphne and Silvia and their mothers at the Children's Museum.  It was Clara's first ever play date of her very, very own--i.e. where the friends were just hers and not the younger siblings of friends Joe knew first.  (Her other buddies are Connor, Emma, and Avrey, but they are the younger siblings of Graham, Eli, and Austin, respectively--all friends Joe knew first.)  Daphne and Silvia came up through the KinderCare ranks with Clara.  They were all in the same toddler room, then in the same "twos" room, and have recently been reunited in Pre-C.  Clara spent some time this morning tearing about the house hollering "Daphne and Silvia!"

So excitement was at a fever pitch, and the morning did not disappoint.  Daphne hugged Clara so hard when the Birds walked into the museum, the girls nearly toppled over.  This scene was repeated with Silvia arrived.  There is a visiting exhibit about circles and after each of the mothers had painted her respective daughter's face, that's where the girls spent a lot of time.  But they also explored the World Works and Earth World galleries, and--the Dora and Diego exhibit, also visiting.  Clara was the first to tear into it, where Julie found her clutching Boots* in an ardent and passionate hug.

By a quarter to eleven, Clara was on the verge of having an excitement-induced breakdown, and you know, Julie wouldn't have been far behind her, though for different reasons.  (Another Sunday in April that feels like an early March Sunday makes for a crowded and slightly insane Children's Museum experience.)  But they made it out without incident, and then!--Julie managed to keep Clara awake all the way back across the river until they got to Punch for lunch (Pizza!  They are circles!  Wheels!  Let's find all the circles outside!  And sing songs!  What do you want me to sing?!?!  Take Me Out To the Ball Game again?!?!  O-kay!).  The Birds had a lovely, cozy ladies lunch in the mercifully, for-once-not-very-crowded Punch while the snow flew outside.

And now the exhausted Birdie is asleep.

*"A furry monkey and Dora's best friend."  Thanks, Inter-webs!