Elizabeth and the "Littlest Pet Shop of Horrors"

Elizabeth has dramas that she creates with her Littlest Pet Shop toys. Murder mysteries I think. She actually has scripts I have found with dialogue for the characters and scene descriptions and directions for the actors.
She is trying to find the perfect fake movie blood for her special effects.  She has tried lipstick and ketchup the most.  She even has an old toothbrush labeled "LPS  LS/KET"  for the cleanup.   She has been begging me to let her make the blood recipe with corn syrup.  Maybe when we get back from visiting family in Burns.
Even when she was little (we are talking like 2 or 3) she was fascinated with scary movies.  She would disappear around the corner at the local movie rental store and come back with a dvd of some scary movie and say "look mommy, scaaaree.  Can we get it?"
She has been researching classic scary movie music to use in her movies (Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho to name one) and has since had a renewed need to have someone at home with her at all times, and  asks me each night if I have securely locked up the house.  Gotta hand it to the classics to set the right mood.
I have been telling her and Hannah that they need to team up and do a book someday.  But who knows, maybe they will end up making movies together.

Who knew facing your fears could be so much fun?

In the last 4 years there are a couple things that have happened in my life that have made me appreciate each day a little bit more, cut people a little more slack, and try things I may not have before because they are scary. My family has lucked out because I bring them along for the ride : ). Renewed perspective is such an awesome gift!

The first was the death of my mom too young, (she had just turned 62) and too sudden (we had 6 weeks with her after her diagnosis.)  The second was turning 40.  I have always loved the quote "Don't deny getting older.  Many are denied the privilege."  I have never denied getting older and I am fully aware of the privilege of each day.

I used to think I was afraid of heights.  I have since learned that those fears are much more specific.  I am afraid of falling out of amusement park rides, off of tall buildings, and off of bridges and cliffs (all even worse if I were to land in a large body of water).  I have also discovered that I LOVE to zip-line.  I think part of it is the simplicity of the harness and other equipment that is used.  I trusted it.  

A few years ago I would have never considered trying something like soaring through the air on a metal cable.  But the experience has me asking "what should I try next?".  Tim is trying to convince us all to try out whitewater rafting next year.  Hmmmm - not thinking so - remember the mention above of large bodies of water.   But I was told by a fellow zip-liner that they have some pretty great zip-lining in Kauai.  THAT I could go for.