5th Birthday (Week) of the Boss

How exciting it was to be with you on your 5th Birthday. I didn't get all the pictures I wanted because I'm not too much into taking pictures anymore I'm just trying to be in the moment...so I don't have every experience but I'll try to detail it below so you can remember. You arrived Wed night and were thrilled with the scissors I found and you cut and cut and cut the whole time. You woke up the next morning and had pancakes - which you love. 

Eating Pancakes with Daddy

PONY RIDE

1st thing up was to do something "different" and memorable.  We went to a ranch,  to see some horses, and ride a pony.

Arriving at the Horse Ranch

Waiting for the Pony. Watching Daddy read about riding a horse with you.
You needed to be 7 yrs old for that to work; so you just rode the pony by yourself.

Mommy while waiting for the pony to arrive.

Finally after waiting (longer than necessary according to Ridea!!!) the Pony  (Mr. Socks) arrived.  Here you are getting ready to go and putting your helmet back on.

This was your final lap (3rd).
The first two you went around by yourself and this last one Daddy walked around with you.

By far this is one of my favorite pictures.
It is you and Daddy coming to the car.  You wanted a ring pop at the ranch store and Daddy took you to get it along with something to drink.  Mommy and Ridea went to get the car and Mommy drove up to get you both.

LUNCH & HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Went out to eat at one of your favorite restaurants - Chili's.
This picture is after they came clapping, sang Happy Birthday to you and gave you some ice cream.

BUBBLE GUPPIES AND GIFTS

Your Birthday Cake - Bubble Guppies

You opening your gifts.  There were a lot of them.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE FOR THE BOSS

The above are pictures of you in Uptown Charlotte on Friday  July 31st.
We are coming back from Mert's Famous Soul Food Restaurant and I took some pictures of you at the waterfall.  This picture is another one of my favorites.  This picture says to me: "Ridea, you don't have to worry about me.  I got this.  Nothing is going to get by me.  I'm a step ahead of this thing called life Ridea."
It is a BOSS picture to me. 

MOVIE, COTTON CANDY & POPCORN & YOUR LAUGH

After Uptown and driving around Charlotte's East side and West side we went to the outdoor showing of "Despicable Me".  What a great movie.
Here you are before the movie started.
You loved looking in the mirror at your mouth because it was all blue.
You really laugh at the end of the movie when Despicable Me was dancing on the stage...so cute...

OUTSIDE WITH BIRDS AND BIKES 

You and Dad the next morning watering plants.
We also planted some flowers in the back yard...didn't get pictures of that...but you had fun with it.  When I was planting the flowers I was sitting on the patio but you didn't want to do that because of the bugs (ants).  You came up with a great idea to sit in your little rocking chair instead of sitting on the patio ground.  Good thinking...I didn't think of it.  Great decision-making.

Picture of you, Daddy and Mommy coming back from an early morning ride on the bike.
This was your first time riding this bike, but not your last.  We rode it the next day and to Daddy's dismay I pushed you to ride it rough.  Ride around the culdesac, come up the drive way, even with the bumps.  Get a head start and get over those humps.  After you got the hang of that you enjoyed it and the challenge that it offered.  It was a work out. 

GIFTS, GIFTS, GIFTS

We opened some of your birthday gifts.  This is your Dad working the Slurpee machine.  You and I had tried it twice and couldn't make it work, Actually (I learned this is one of your favorite new words to say) it didn't work.  It needs to go back to the store, bad design, who wants to stir for 10 MINUTES and then still it doesn't work.
Yeah, just go to 7-11 and get a Slurpee for a buck.

COMPUTER QUEEN

The below pictures are you at the Library using your new earphones.  It was an amazing thing to experience. Picture #1 is you at the computer playing games - too easy for you.  Picture #2 is you at the computer that was "broken" that no one could fix. You said; "I can fix it Ridea." You click some buttons and all of a sudden the computer is rebooting (what???) then you logged on not with my library number (which I thought was required) but with your name and it worked (what???) picture #3 is proof.  Picture #4 is you going to the next computer to play on it.  I was sitting there in amazement.  You can't teach that, it's a natural propensity. Don't ever forget it, or let anyone tell you you're not good at technology, or girls can't do that, or whatever somebody may say to break your spirit and bury your gifts and genius  You always have been and always will be good with technology.

#1

#2

#3

#4

More computer loving pictures when we got back home. The picture with you leaning back is another Boss Picture

MORE...

I don't have pictures of you in the pool, but you had a good time playing in it and "fishing" with the plastic fishing rods.

I also don't have pictures of you in the red wagon, but I had fun pulling you in it and watching you pulling it around the back yard.

I don't have pictures of us at the guitar shop but you enjoyed the drums and the drum room, but it was way too loud for us to go in there.  There was some interest in drums.  

Good Bye

We wrote this the 2nd day you were here and because it didn't rain it survived until the morning you left.

 On your way out to the car you asked Mommy not to step on your name and Happy Birthday greeting.

At the end of the day you had a good time BOSS. 

Running List of Wise Things Danaja's Has Said

1.  Danaja:  "Daddy what do squirrels drink?"  Daddy:  "Water"  Danaja: "Maybe, but Maybe Not" - @ 4 years old - Danaja continue to wonder about life and ask questions. A wise man name Socrates who lived before Christ said that wisdom begins by wondering about things.  Even when you get older, continue to wonder about everything.  Don't stop wondering...

2. Telling Daddy that the little boy on the bus was "awkward".  When asked what that meant: "he's strange and different, but it might hurt his feelings if I said that." - @ 4 years old - This shows compassion for others. I've learned after 50 years on earth that if you practice compassion (sharing in the suffering of others) you can master living, religion, and have peace of mind.  EVERYBODY is suffering in one way or another.  EVERYBODY that you meet is suffering. When you can tap into that fact you will be OKAY with your own "suffering" and know that it is just a condition of the human experience. Also being compassionate will deepen your relationship.  IT IS NOT EASY TO BE COMPASSIONATE (because your ego doesn't want to do that) but if you are showing this capability at 4 years old you can continue it if cultivated. 
3. When ordering food pointing and saying everything you wanted, but saying you are allergic to eggs, not because you are but because you don't like them and knowing if you say you're allergic then you don't have to eat them. - @4 years old - That's the way lawyers think...nothing wrong with using what you know will work even it's not 100% true. I call it twisting the truth. Lawyers and people in business do it all the time, just be careful that you don't make it a habit of "twisting the truth" as a practice. 

Citizen of the month

Danaja's Place

Updating The Blog
Danaja I have a lot of updates to make to this blog for 2014 and hope to do that before the end of this year. You came to visit me twice this year.  Since your last visit in October I decided to rename my Etsy site Danaja's Place and work on getting a spot at the local Antique Flea market as a start of the dream shop in my head.

Steps to Starting Danaja's Place
So, on Friday Nov 21st I met with the folks who own the local Antique market and there is a permanent spot that is available.  They NEVER come available because it's a pretty popular market. On Wed Nov. 26th I went down to the register of deeds in Charlotte to register the name Danaja's Place.  Oh, there are so many steps to the process...and of course there is a cost for each and every step.

The next time the Antique Flea market is open to the public is next weekend December 6th.  I'll go and check it out and make sure that it has decent traffic AND the kind of folks that typically buy my stuff at art shows. I've learned over the years not to jump until I've done my due deligence. It's only a 6 months lease, but it might not be the right spot.  So, by next weekend I'll know if I want to open the shop there or not.

Where the Name Came From
In the meantime yesterday (Thanksgiving) I dedicated myself to setting up the Etsy shop under the new name. Originally I called it Encouraging Words and Gifts, but didn't do much with it really, because it's a lot of work. In all honesty I wanted the memory of doing it on Thanksgiving Day.

I really feel great about the name Danaja's Place.  I came up with this business name about six months after you were born. When I would gather up things to mail to you I would wish there was a place for grandparents who lived away from their grandchildren where they could drop off their items and this place would box it up really nice and personal and mail it to the grandchild...so that's where the name came from...I'd call that shop Danaja's Place.

Starting With Etsy
Link to Danaja's Place on Etsy
At this point I just want to establish Danaja's Place in 2014 so when you are 18 years old (14 years from now) you can say that you have been in business for 15 years. That means something...longevity...so it's a start BUT starting is always half the battle.  I just think that no matter what you grow up to be or do that fashion is going to be a part of that. So, Danaja's Place can morph into whatever you want it to be...'cause it's your place...

Danaja Love' Actress and Dancer in the Making

It's been a while since I've updated your blog Danaja, but this picture did it for me.  Here you are at your 4 year old check-up and your mom said you didn't like wearing the gown. 

When I look at this picture I can see you on stage...acting.  You are so expressive and emotive. 

There is so much I need to fill into your blog, but this is a new start. 

During your time in summer camp everyone talked about how you danced.

Your Dad says that you like the Disney Channel and are picking up the routines from there.

Your Mom says that you are coming out of your shell. 

You are destined for greatness.