K-lady turns SEVEN!

It's been a big couple of weeks for Ms. K! The week before school started we had a complete frenzy of activities -- squishing in all the last summer outings we possibly could. We visited a small local airport for a tour, we went to the zoo, we enjoyed picnic lunches in the park, & had one last summer visit to the Science Center. By the time the first day of school rolled around, I think we all breathed a sigh of relief that we could take a break from all the crazy fun and calm down into a normal routine.

K started first grade this year -- the first day of school was so exciting. She could hardly sleep the night before, and woke up around 6 am (school starts at 8:15, so that was a little early). She got ready & had extra time on her hands, so I painted her nails and we chit chatted for a while. My sister came over to stay with J-boy and Baby A so I could walk K into school without my usual menagerie tagging along (what a nice sister!). I knew K was a little anxious when I tried to share a little scripture with her before we left the house -- I read her a sweet little scripture about being able to call on God wherever and whenever, and told K that I knew it was true, and that God can help her at school or at home or anywhere she might be, she can just say a little prayer in her head and heart, and He'll hear her. K looked at me and said, "Mom. Idon'tcare. Let's go." Way to deflate my spiritual mom moment. :)

Then at school we parked the car and were walking towards the playground. My sweet girl reached up to hold my hand, then she let go quickly. Two steps later she reached up to hold my hand again, and quickly let go again, shaking her head and hand. Three times she did this! She was to wait on the playground with her class. The other kids ran around and played, laughing and shouting, but she was so somber and serious - standing uncertain at the cone labeled with her teachers' name. I tried to talk to her, but she gave me one word answers at best. I teared up at one point, thinking about how brave and scared she was, but put a stop to that as fast as I could - she would really detest me if I cried on the playground! :)

Once the uncertainties and unknowns of her new school went away, she settled happily into school. She was a bit grumpy and rude with me after school for the first week or so. I realized that she and I really only work together - we hardly ever play. I take her on outings and she has a good time, but that doesn't necessarily translate to, "Gee, mom took me to the zoo! I love mom!" Usually it ends up being more like, "Mom wouldn't let me get that 7 foot stuffed python at the zoo! She's so mean!" So we had a play date that Friday night - dinner, a movie, and scrapbooking. It was so nice to have a good positive time with her. She woke up the next morning, and the first thing she said was, "Mom, I had SO much fun last night!" That made up for the "Idon'tcare." :)

K's birthday was next on the calendar! K requested breakfast in bed (fruit loops, kiwi slices, fruit dip & pink milk), we took treats to school (lollipops), then we went to Red Robin for dinner and had Heather & Ryan & L over for cake and ice cream and presents. We didn't get to play too much after school because I needed to finish that silly cake! Grrr. But K made it worth it by coming into the kitchen at random times and sighing and fawning over it: "Mom, it's the most beautiful cake ever! I just love it!!!" :) She got a kid camera for her birthday, so you'll probably be seeing some original pics by K soon. She takes it every where and is very kind about sharing with J & A (on occasion). In the interest of my sanity, we've implemented a new party policy -- 'odd' years get a friend outing or sleep over, so K-lady had one friend spend the night last Friday - they had a grand old time and were only a little grumpy on Saturday. :)

Misc. K Facts:
Favorite color: turqoise
Favorite animal: puppies and cats
Favorite subject at school: recess
Favorite subject at home: Barbies, Polly's & Ponies, (but she has been known to play cars and super heroes to placate her brother)

The Good, The Bad, and....

The Good:
There is a beautiful Conservatory in our new city that has a free community night once a month! It's a beautiful place - gorgeous indoor gardens covering everything from the desert to the Himalayan mountains to the tropical rainforest. There's butterfly gardens, and there is currently a gorgeous collection of Dale Chihuly's beautiful glass art on display.

The Bad:
I dutifully printed out directions and thought I knew where I was going. But between freeway closures and detours and a complete lack of any sense of direction, it took me about 50 minutes to drive what google maps said was an 18 minute drive.
Also, I guess late August is not a good time for butterflies. The few we saw were all kind of dying.

The Ugly:
(You knew it was coming. Brace yourself.)
Due to our extended travel time, we arrive flustered and anxious. One of my children (who will remain nameless) needs to use the restroom. We unload, pack up the stroller and stride off to the building, thinking that if we can just find the front door.....
We can't find the front door. I'm too frazzeled to read the whole sign, so I just follow the arrows to the side entrance, which is locked and deserted. My child is about to wet his/her pants. In complete desperation I cast my eyes about, toss said child over the rail into the bushes and let him/her just pee in the bushes. Not a soul in sight. Dreadful, yes. But I felt it was better than wet britches.
Until the voice came over the intercom, saying, "Ma'm, that's not a bathroom."
Video cameras in the corners and an intercom so security detail can give me a lesson in proper waste disposal.
Oh, the mortification! Oh, the shame!

Just lovely. Er, I mean, Ugly.

Thirty Three??

My handsome husband turned 33 last month. We've had such a nice time enjoying his less-hectic schedule here. He's doing a general practice dental residency - just a year long. He works in the dental clinic, does rotations through the university hospitals, and is on-call with the emergency department about once a week for 24 hour shifts. He loves to work out and eat healthy. He loves to fly fish and be outside. He loves to hike, bike, climb, swim, run. He loves to play with the kids. He hates to play Barbies and loves to play sports. :)

Since our move we've had more time to be together -- I love how changes like this force a little re-invention. So we're trying to be healthier and simpler. We don't have space in the living room for the TV, and our neighbor shares her newspaper with us, so instead of watching TV in the evenings we read the newspaper. Joseph has access to an awesome work-out facility at school, so he's been enjoying that after work each day. I'm no longer teaching piano lessons, so I (theoretically) have time to keep up on running the house a little better. :) I think it's all been really good for us. We're better friends.

I love this man! He is a good man. He forgave me for wishing him a happy 32nd birthday. :) I think where we are right now is a good place to be for 33. I hope it keeps getting better. :)

Consider the Cake...

My Baby turned One.
I don't know when I turned into such a sentimental schmuck!
Little A was what it finally took for me to slow down a little (not a lot, just a little). I finally enjoyed those baby moments that I was too worried to enjoy with Ms. K and too busy to enjoy with J-boy. I snuggle her as much as she'll let me and every time I hug her I wonder if I just hold her tight enough if she'll stop growing and stay my sweet baby forever.

She loves to laugh at her brother and sister. She loves to eat yogurt and applesauce and strawberries. She loves to watch the mobile on her crib when I lay her down to take a nap. She loves playing with shoes and removing EVERY. SINGLE. BOOK. from the bookshelf. She loves to take most of the toys out of her toy baskets so she can crawl in and get cozy with the remaining stacking rings. She signs "all done" and grins. She claps whenever anyone says "good job!" She loves to play on the [very scary] stairs to the basement and gets mad when I don't let her.

I can't imagine our family without her. She brings out the best in all of us.

A's saying, "How did I get stuck with these clowns?"