Saturday nights as the parent of a toddler are not like Saturday nights pre-parenthood. 

That much is true.

 Since my husband works weekend nights at a local restaurant, weekends are Q and Mommy nights.

 Sometimes this means that we go to the aquarium. Sometimes, it's the trampoline place. Sometimes it's just a night of art projects at home. But sometimes, Q likes to get good and dressed up and go out on the town for cupcakes and frozen yogurt.

 No, it's not the club circuit. But I'll tell you what - it's not as much of a drag as it sounds to those who have not experienced the life-change of parenthood. 

In fact, when you're out on the town with a four-year-old like Q, it can be quite a thrill ride.

 The Q has many faces. She has many moods, most of them fleeting, except for joy, which is her main gear. She is a performer, a merry prankster, a magician, a wild card. She always has surprises in her proverbial pocket. She never fails to entertain.

She is, in a word, scintillating. 

I am a very fortunate parent, and nights on the town with my merry prankster are nothing to sneeze at.

 The contemporary art museum is our home away from home, especially when daddy is working a lot.

A bonus this season is that they have decided not to take away the homing pigeon installation, which means that Q can still visit our erstwhile guest, Buster the pigeon, when we go.

 Q has become quite fond of the pigeons, and likes to chat with them on the roof.

 One of the lovely things about Colorado weather - even with snow on the ground, you can often walk around in your shirtsleeves and feel the sun warm on your shoulders.

 The pigeon-keeper is easygoing, and often lets Q into the pigeon coop to take portraits of the birds. She took these.

 And of course we always spend plenty of time in the craft room.

 It's just such a great space. There isn't a corner of it that you don't want to inhabit.

 The bubble room is a great exhibit for a four-year-old as well.

 She has all sorts of games to invent in there.

 Like an especially cool clubhouse for one.

 As per usual, it feels like we have the place to ourselves.

 My very favorite museum.

 Now in The Voyagers Shop...

 Bespoke rag dolls.

 Details: HERE.

 This week, Q's class had a field trip to the neighborhood firehouse. 

Q adores school. She thrives on it. When the weekend comes, she pines for school. A vacation or long weekend is no prize to her. She is a social animal. She loves her friends.  She loves the order and strictures of school. She loves the learning system. She thrives on it. That's her ECE teacher, Mr. Sanford, on the right. She worships him. He is a terrific teacher, and we are lucky to have him.

 This shot was taken by my husband of the whole class lined up outside the firetruck docking bay. Q is on the far right.

 Immediately after posing for that group picture, Q dashed out, grabbed the camera from Daddy, and joined the parents in the lineup for photographing her fellow classmates.

 She loves being in the role of photographer, much more than the role of model. She adores the feeling of being behind the lens.

 Starting with this shot, all the rest of the pictures in this post were staged and taken by Q.

 Her "boyfriend", Jayden.

 Her friends, Adreanna, Bella, Noah, AJ, and Oscar.

 Teacher's assistant Ms. Patty with Jayden, Tatiana and Aysiah.

They are so cute. And I love how Q got the best out of all of them for her pictures. She has a real talent there. 

 

I love these last two photos most of all, because they show the Q in her natural role, directing the action, with everyone else hanging on her every word. 

That's Q in a nutshell. Believe that you are in charge, and everyone else will believe it too.

 We had a beautiful pre-Valentine's dinner at our friends' house, place-settings gorgeously-styled by Bella, the oldest daughter.

 Q and Bianca at the table.

All of the girls seated for dinner.

After dinner, the younger girls got themselves dressed up in belly-dancer outfits for a bit of a dancing session. Q's was a combo of tablecloth/princess. She still looked rather dashing, I thought!

Cupcake break!

Two little bellydancers.

 Hurrah!

Mini & Maximus spring collection, Rock, Paper, Scissors is up and online!

They artist collaboration series features my Crown Owl and Unicorns designs in various styles. 

Go check it out!

ps - If you order one, don't hesitate to send me photos at maialarkin at gmail dot com! I'd love to see it on your little one!

HAPPY LOVE DAY, FRIENDS!