20 weeks, 9 videos...

Bonjour! 

Twenty weeks since the last video! Where does time go?
It's not like I suddenly stopped doing any of the shenanigans that seem to drive my parents bananas or that I somehow disappeared into the stratosphere... although, that might be my next mission!
No. You have to blame the Mom again.
But she finally decided to dig back into the overwhelming pile of pics and finally record what happened to me during the past 5 months. And since she managed to make 9 videos out of it all, you can imagine that I have not been bored.

A WEEK IN APRIL

Yes, April in Oregon... which explains the rain jacket and freezing temperatures. But I had fun exploring Smith Rock State Park with my friend Juliette and our moms. I also did more exploring of my favorite places during that last week off before school was to be over.

SPRING PROGRAM

Finally. The end of the school year. Yeah, I love school, especially if I don't have to follow directions or listen to the teacher lecturing me about spitting all over the recess ground. Adults forget that they have been kids: if you do not have access to water and you want to see how the chalk does when it's wet on the ground, you spit right? Or, you even pee because it makes a bigger waterfall and cool color mixes on the ground. Note: peeing on the recess ground gets you into big trouble.
So, they made me wear a bee costume and I was supposed to pollinate a flower, on stage, with 300 pairs of eyes looking at me. My teacher was worried. My parents were worried. But really, how hard is it to be a bee. I did good. See for yourselves.

END OF SPRING BEGINNING OF SUMMER MEDLEY

Maman had been promising for ever that I could have playdates but it never materialized. Too busy she said. Well maybe that's why I was also too busy to listen to her and Papa when they try to get my attention. But finally, Summer came and the playdates came along. 4 in the same week! Now, that was fun!


BIKE RIDING IN CANADA

On July 14, we filled up the car with my books and games and we headed North. There might have been a few more things than books and games but that's all that I needed.
After a brief stop to celebrate my cousin's birthday in Spokane, we were off to Canmore, Canada. One of the outdoor activity we did was riding our bikes. I guess we took those too. I had fund riding although I still need to develop some leg muscles to make it up little hills. Not quite ready for the Alpes d'Huez yet. I tell Papa that I want to lift his weights to get my muscles going but he does not let me. Too heavy he says. Well, duh, that's why I want to practice.
Anyway, we also found a cool cycle cross place and I loved the bumps!

WATER: GIVE IT TO ME AND  I WILL HAVE FUN.

Summer is about warm weather and water. That's what I think. I made it to the pool in Canada 5 times and about as many with Maman in Portland. As for the rivers and lakes, there were so many during our hikes that it's no wonder I fell in it with my clothes on once... you'll see that later.
But water, the pool! I LOVE it! Papa made me jump high and do back flips and it was never enough.
I also got to put my body in the Pacific Ocean.
Let me tell you, between the rivers, the lakes and the Ocean, we are talking COLD, FREEZING water around the Northwest. Brrr... Did not prevent me from going in though.


HIKING IN CANADA

After nearly 5 years of being carried around during hikes, it was finally time for me to try to do it on my own two feet. Sure the parents chose length appropriate trails but I still did it and certainly enjoyed parts of it. There is so much to explore and play with: rocks, sticks, leaves, water etc. But the parents always seem to be on some kind of mission to get somewhere. Sure they humored me sometimes but do we really need to go to the end of the trail each time?

BECOMING A JUNIOR RANGER

Our second destination took us to Glacier National Park in Montana. I had already learned quite a bit about bears and plants in Canada, so I decided it would be great to become a Junior Ranger. I took this mission very seriously: filling in the 5 page-booklet, attending the talk by a Ranger and being able to tell facts. Well, I got sworn in and I am now a proud Junior Ranger. That evening and the next days, I made sure to let every one know I was one, stopping Rangers to chat with them and show them my badge, telling kids to not throw rocks or sticks and to quiet down for the animals. My badge had to be on my day shirts and night shirts, that's how serious this job is.
Maman had the idea of doing an interview so that I could explain all I know about the Park. I'll let you see for yourselves why we had to have 2 takes on that one!

HIKING IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Our best hikes were in Glacier. It is a beautiful place. My favorite hikes were:
- Avalanche Lake where I got to hide in tree trunks and where I nearly ran all the way down to catch Grandpa who I was told had the key of the car... it turned out they were all trying to make me walk faster. I sure slept well that afternoon after 4 miles hike.
-Hidden Lake. Sure we got to see plenty of animals but walking in the snow and throwing snowballs at my parents was the best. That snow thing is kind of cold even when the sun is hot. Weird.
- Marion Lake: the parents decided last minute to go on that one; the last hike of the vacation. It was supposed to be easy. They misread the terrain: 1800 feet elevation gain, 4.2 miles round trip and lush, super lush vegetation. So why is it my favorite? Because I fell in the Lake during the interview? No. Because it was quite an accomplishment? No.  Because I ate tons of juicy huckleberries? YES, YES, YES.


BIRTHDAY DAY OR DAYS AS IT TURNS OUT...

I am not quite sure which day I was born anymore since I got to celebrate on so many dates: with my cousin first, then with Grandpa and Grandma, with Tina and with my friends.
And on the day of my birthday? I was stuck 14 hours in the car coming back home. And believe me, I was very, very, very HAPPY! I got to read and read, and read more. For the first 8 hours, that's all I did, alone in the back of the car. I also got to listen to books on CD. Love those! The Magic Tree House and Secrets of a Lab Rat were my favorite this time while the first prize went to the French comics called "Scrameustache"!
The party with my friends was about Space. See, I am kind of obsessed with Space: from building a rocket to get there, to sending you there if I am not happy with you ( that's for the parents), to wanting to explore every single planet out there, my brain is full of Space thinking and imagination. I promised the parents I'd take them there, in Space, before they die...
I was already reading and watching over and over again about the landing and walking on the moon, so when I heard that a Rover was being sent to Mars and that I might be able to witness the landing, I thought my head was going to explode. Since the parents did not want me to stay up until 10:30pm, Maman found a simulation movie of the whole deal. It's called "7 minutes of Terror". It has been 5 days now and I think I watched it 20 times and have asked millions of questions about it. Watch it, it's really cool!


So here you are, 20 weeks and 9 videos later.
I am super proud of being 5 and I am already thinking about being 10. I actually never stop thinking... and talking. My brain goes 1000 miles an hour and it is sometimes exhausting for the parents I am told. They love how inquisitive I am, they love my humor and amazing zest for life. They would like me to slow down in my head because dinner time takes over an hour that consists of me eating 1 minute and talking for 10 for the entire hour.
At 5, I love to read, I love legos and trains, I love Space and researching any subject including why the shot in my arm hurt ( did you know we have 3 layers of skin?). I love to swim, ride my bike, my scooter, play in the sand and did I mention reading?
What I don't like? Avocados and living at home with the parents: way too many rules and they make it very, very hard for me to get things my way all the time and I try to make it very, very hard for them to get things their way... They say they still love me a lot though... and i do too :)