Reunion Weekend: Clara Sees Where It All Began

Along with all the other fun moments, returning to Davidson gave us the chance to introduce Clara to some of the important landmarks in her parents' relationship.

We walked by the chapel where we were married.
We met the soccer girls in front of the library where we were engaged.
We stayed at the Morrison's lake house where we held our rehearsal dinner.
We walked through the Lilly Gallery where we held our reception.

The nostalgia was all for mom and dad. Clara was far more impressed with the fine collection of sticks she was hoarding from her walks through campus.

Reunion Weekend: Clara...Class of 2030 (?)

President Tom Ross shared with us the going tuition for Davidson these days. My stomach acid churns as I type this ($47,000 per year versus $29,000 ten years ago!) and calculate the effect of that inflation rate for Clara's freshman year, 2027.

Gulp.

Um, so, Clara...we wanted to make an early introduction to the concept of athletic scholarships. Assuming that Title IX remains in effect 17 years hence, lady wildcat basketball is the best chance for covering that expense. While Kate was taking her class picture, we put Clara on the court and stuck a basketball in her hands.

She has a ways to go skills wise. (Is Auntie JOB offering lessons?) But weighing the odds, they're roughly equal that Clara can develop extraordinary talent in the coming years as dad and mom having about $500,000 to pay for four years at Davidson!

Practice, practice, practice.

Also, President Ross shared that the median SAT for entering freshmen is 1400. The median GPA is 4.08. Um, so, Clara...you're going to have to outdo your genetic potential for standardized test performance, too. You probably haven't inherited that high a score directly from either of your parents.

Reunion Weekend: Soccer Girls

There has been an explosion of baby activity among the Davidson College class of 2000 soccer girls. We all caught up for a few minutes before the reunion lunch.

Reunion Weekend: With the Morrisons

The Morrisons (Harris, Big Kate, John and Baby Katherine) were our gracious hosts for reunion weekend. On Friday night, Paul and Harris put in extra daddy duty, tending to the kids over night while the ladies caught up with friends in Charlotte. LK (little Kate) and BK (big Kate) stayed at JOB's.

This was a big "first" for Paul, Kate, and Clara. The first night away for mama in Clara's 14 months. The first morning for Clara without nursing at dawn. The first "you're totally responsible, don't screw up" for Paul as a father.

Remarkably, things went smoothly. We all gained a little courage.

Reunion Weekend: Where Did It Go?

Clara is mastering all the arts of illusion. Not only is she playing hide-and-go-seek in its various forms (1. Clara finds mama or dada hiding; 2. Clara hides and waits for mama or dada to find her; 3. Clara puts down her stuffed animal, walks into another room and asks us where it's hiding), but she now makes objects disappear and reappear at her whim.

She saw her father do this particular trick that morning with a book. Where did it go? She mimics him that afternoon as they walk across the Davidson College campus. Clara prefers to use a stick.

Sundays with Clara: Skeleton Head Evening

Our neighbor put up a styrofoam skeleton head for Halloween several months ago. It has remained in her front yard ever since, and Clara is a huge fan.

In an early evening venture outside, Clara moseys up and down the sidewalk, eventually finding skeleton face. She greets him with a gentle pat, a hug, and a loud kiss. The only other figure receiving equivalent attention is her much loved Ninja Kitty.

Sundays with Clara: Hide & Seek

We've played hide and seek with Clara for months. Until this week, she's always been the seeker. All of the sudden, she gets the hiding part. She picked a spot between two bookshelves in our back hallway. She disappears from the room, we don't hear her for a few minutes, and then we find her with back pressed against the wall waiting to be discovered. She stands there in utter silence.

Her alternative is the drapes in the guest room.

Sundays with Clara: Early Morning

Clara let us sleep in until 6:05 this morning. Divine. She came into bed, fed and dozed with us for another 30 minutes before bolting up, ready for her day to begin.

On weekends Da-da makes his morning pot of coffee. When Paul mentioned it yesterday, she ran into the kitchen and pointed at the coffee pot. We never knew she paid attention to this. Maybe it's time to watch our words and actions a little more closely. After putting a filter in the maker, Paul wanted to double check how well attuned she was to the process. "Now, where's the coffee?" he asked. She pointed to the freezer.

Oh boy. We're really watching what we're saying and doing now.

Clara and Paul go outside to get the NY Times. We all get back into bed and see how long Clara's patience lasts while pretending to read the paper.

Sunday mornings with Clara.

Clara Holds Court with the "Big" Kids

We went to Durham last night for dinner with the Goldens, meeting Moi for the first time. She is the newest addition to the family after they became legal guardians last month. She is a non-stop smiler, and Clara (and the rest of us) took to her immediately.

Our friends the Griffiths were there as well with their three kids. Clara loves being where the action is, and she tends to find ways to make herself the center of attention. Here she is holding court with the other children at a makeshift desk, banging her fist-gavel to demand their attention and babbling incoherent orders. Clara the boss.

Easter Fun

Easter Weekend 2010 proved to be such a fun one for Little Miss Clara. Although Easter 2009 was technically Clara's 1st, this year's experience was her first egg hunt, as well as her first time wearing an official Easter dress. The Drydens made a trip to Moore Square in downtown Raleigh for the city's Easter Egg Hunt, and Clara had such a blast playing with her BFF Adah. Although each only had one egg in their respective basket, the girls had more fun watching and playing with the hundreds of other kiddies. Notice Clara's first instinct was to eat the Easter egg!!

We were also able to snap a few photos of the Dryden gals wearing their Easter Sunday finest, and luckily we captured a beautiful picture before Clara's dress was quickly replaced by her play clothes!