I am pretty sure Dija was looking with her blind eye when she CUT HER OWN HAIR! That’s right she cut her hair. Not the typical chunk out of the front. Oh no, she took a good 6 or 8 inches off the back making it above shoulder level on about one third of her head along one side. I’m not sure how she did it and she’s insists that Trey did not do it. She has yet to learn that it is best to blame the sibling. I think she wants the credit for doing it! In fact the clump of hair was tucked under her pillow possibly waiting for the hair fairy???

At first I didn’t even see where she had cut the hair. I saw a tiny clipping on her floor. That was likely a good thing because I was able to control the freak out that might have ensued had I originally noticed the huge chunk missing at the back of her head. Then after I had given the calm stern talk she walked past me. Gulp… Oh dear this is worse than I realized. I managed to not react.

“Dija, I’m afraid we will have to cut your hair all off. You will no longer have long princess hair.”

“All off like Papa?”

“Almost.”

“Well tomorrow after school when I go to Nana’s I can play with Neka.” and just like that she changed the subject.

No fear. No guilt. This child lives in her own fairy tale!

I immediately sent out a distress text message to my hair girl who always takes good care of me… No worries because I know she will make her look less “orphanish.” Now I don’t expect her to have time at 8am tomorrow so Dija will go to nursery school like this. I will say nothing to the teachers as I drop her off. When I pick her up I plan on asking what the heck happened to my kid’s hair. That should be good for a laugh!

By PJ time this evening I think it had sunk in a bit that this was irreversible and as she looked in the mirror I held up her hair to show her how it’s going to be short now a bit like mine. She cried a little and said, “I don’t want you to cut my hair.”

“No worries honey, I won’t be cutting it.” It will be my friend who is allowed to use scissors and I kind of hope it makes Dija sad to see the hair fall so she learns that this was not OK. Then I want her to love her new look because she will always be beautiful even when she is naughty.

For my cousin Kenda… Dija is not my favorite child today! She is still my favorite little girl but her behavior moved her down on my list of favs today

Pictures to be posted once the real cut happens.

I really need to share more about Miss Dija. She has been so full of material lately I can’t write fast enough! So I might get started here and share a series of events and stories about our Princess Superhero.

After waiting several months to see the specialist I made a phone call to find that the referral had been lost and we had an appointment rather quickly. Dija is visually challenged. All of a sudden with glasses she can now see very small bugs. Who knows what she has been missing. She needs to strengthen one eye so she has been wearing a patch for a while. Each morning she remembers to get the patch and glasses. She is totally cooperative. She obviously knows it is helping. Well at the last checkup there was so much improvement that the schedule has changed and she only needs to wear the patch for mornings. So the specialist said “Dija we are going to give you two eyes now. What do you think of that?”. She lifted her hands up with a puzzled look and answered, “but if you patch my two eyes I will run into things because I won’t be able to see anything!”

Another similar story… Of Dija being confused. I was talking to my sister and she was on her cell phone. If there is background noise on my end I hear nothing from her end. Well with these two kids here it’s next to impossible to have no noise. So I explained that I can’t hear so they need to be really quiet for a minute. Then I spoke to Tan and said, “ok go now!” Well, with that Dija picked up her plate and started to walk away from the table with her supper. I asked her where she was going. “you said GO NOW!” My sister and I had a little laugh.

Dija is a dramatic child. She is into extremes and loves to share her emotions in a dramatic fashion. I often wonder what the neighbors think we are doing to her when there are wee situations that cause drastic screams from her bedroom. For example if Trey decides he would rather Dija not touch his toy so he puts it in the cabinet… Loud noises. Not the kind most humans are capable of making! Of course she just as quickly gets over it and they are suddenly best friends again. I know this is simply training for her junior high years.

Have I mentioned Dija’s singing? Oh my… She sings constantly. She makes songs up as she goes and will go on forever and never seems to run out of words. She has even developed the art of repeating a line for special emphasis! If I catch her in the act maybe I can write out the lyrics as she sings and capture it. I would catch video if it was possible to do without her seeing. She gets totally goofy if she realizes someone is watching. Just the other day she and Papa were singing these made up songs together. It’s a real life comedy act. It was as if they were having a sing off.

Thanksgiving Sunday, Miss Dija brought me flowers from the yard and said, “here Neenee I’m thankful for this.”
“oh, for flowers?” I asked.
“yes and for you.”
I really believe that somehow she knows that life is good because she has Neenee and Papa. In fact both kids are really connected with family. They were thrilled that the bigger family was getting together for turkey dinner. They would both list everyone who would be there… As good as Christmas without the stress of shopping! (now there is a great idea!) Following the weekend when Dija was with Nana she told her, “oh Nana I had so much
fun at your dinner party!” It really was just dinner with family… Nothing out of the ordinary except the people and the Limoges China.

We had a phone call yesterday morning to tell us about Papa’s grandmother passing away. If you read about our road trip in June you may remember our visit with her. It was a visit we will remember fondly. We didn’t tell the kids right away thinking that after school might be a better time to bring that up. I wasn’t sure who would say what or how either of them would react.

Dija usually follows Trey’s lead and echoes his responses… Drives me nuts and I often tell her to use her own brain. She surprised me. She was the inquisitive child who stayed engaged. I expect Trey will want to talk about it later or have more questions at a moment when we least expect it.

“Oh no, I will miss Grandma Ann!” Then Papa asked if either of them had questions. Silly. Dija raised her hand. (school is working!) I can’t even remember her first question but there was a little discussion about heaven and how she gets up there and does she come back down. Papa explained that Grandma was very old and her body was tired. She had lived a full life of 96 years!

We told them how much it meant to Grandma to have a visit from them and that it was a very special thing to have that time together. How many children meet their great great grandmothers? I am so thankful that we were brave enough to jump in the van and go on our adventure in June. It was a special gift to have that visit with Grandma.

September has come and gone… We survived. Trey has started primary and we have been adjusting to a new schedule. He needs to be at school with his clothes on and lunch in hand by 8:00 each morning. Dija is in nursery school and we deliver her at 8:30 three days each week. So far they have arrived fully dressed and fed each day. We are adjusting better than expected!

Now for 13 days of school we have only had 2 calls from the teacher and one visit to the principals office that we know of. He confessed immediately so I think we would have heard if there were more visits. He is learning the rules though so I’m not too worried. He has a great teacher who will communicate with parents. I know Trey will do just fine.

Dija is starting a drama club in Nursery School. When I am there she is all shy and pretends she isn’t going to play with any of the kids and asks if she can walk me to the door. Strange to see her being quiet! However, I am assured by the teachers that she does in fact have friends. Lots of them. There is a group of them who fight over each other… Who will sit where or hold which partners hand… It’s not just junior high school where girls act ridiculous like that! Dija is a silly kid too who is quite happy to act up to make others laugh. I’m looking forward to the maturing of a four year old this year… I like when they get through this stage. Four is not my favorite number. I think it’s one of those awkward transitions in life where you aren’t a toddler anymore but you aren’t quite a big kid.

So that’s one month down and eight more to go until summer vacation! Oh that’s a lot so maybe I’ll start counting down to Christmas vacation first.

If imitation is the highest form of flattery… Well then Papa should be very flattered. I noticed as the boys sat watching the computer screen just how much Trey admires and imitates Papa. I watched as he stole a glance up at Papa’s face to decide just what response to have and then he actually copied the expression. I loved catching that moment. I alredy knew that he admires the men in his life. Trey is a fortunate boy to have his Papa.

It always makes me smile when I hear Papa’s expressions come out of Trey’s mouth. From simple expressions he has picked up on to the way he addresses Dija. Sometimes its as if we have miniature Neenee and Papa in the next room! “Honey, I will help you with that…” At least I hear them talking sweetly to each other when they are copying us.

I love that Trey will ask Papa to show him things on the computer… Last week it was octopus. “Can you show me on YouTube how to catch an octopus?” so they sit and search together and watch videos. Now he knows just what to do if he needs to catch an octapus! Then there are the documentaries… Hours of them on Netflix and Trey will ask to watch them with Papa. Right now he wants to know all about the Titanic. He is eager to learn and Papa is a fantastic teacher.

Beside Treys bed in drawer #2 you will find father and son 3D glasses. They go to those movies without the girls who don’t see in 3D like normal people. It’s something special for just the boys and Trey obviously treasures that experience.

I smile every day when I hear the way Trey says Papa. It isn’t just his name… When Trey says Papa it seems to encompass so much more. It is as if there is only on Papa and it’s his. If you ask Trey who the best dad is he will answer “Papa” because that’s his Dad’s name. It’s pretty much the sweetest father & son deal going on.