three weeks in

Riveting stuff to be sure!

Me: What do you think about Kindergarten so far?

Mizz: I think that it is a lot of fun.

Me: I'm glad to hear that.

What has been surprising to you?

Mizz: That there were two recesses instead of one.

Me: What has been the hardest part of Kindergarten so far?

Mizz: Drawing persons on paper at writing time.

Me: What has been the easiest time in Kindergarten so far?

Mizz: Playing at recess, that's the easiest time!

Me: Have you made any friends yet?

Mizz: Yes.

Me: Who?

Mizz: Brody, Adam, Nico, of course, yeah (at which broke he breaks into maniacal laughter)! I have a girlfriend also but I don't know who she is yet...I can't remember her name.

Me: OK. What do you want to learn in Kindergarten?

Mizz: How to count over one hundred.

Me: Good goal. What do you think of your teacher?

Mizz: I like her.

Me: Is she funny? Smart? Silly? Really Mean?

She's smart!

Dave: Smarter than your parents?

Mizz: Not smarter than you (Dad) but a little smarter than Mommy. Well no, the same smart as my parents!

Me: How's lunch treating you?

Mizz: Good.

Me: Are you ever going to get tired of peanut butter and jelly?

Mizz: I don't think so. I'm not going to get tired of juice boxes either.

Me: Anything else you want to add for your adoring audience?

Mizz: No.

11 years strong

Dave and I celebrated our eleventh anniversary this weekend. While it might not have been the most romantic weekend--we spent it largely stripping and sanding bookcases(and by we I mean, Dave and his fantastically helpful and industrious parents), it was really gratifying and wonderful. Like in the previous post, the days leading up to our anniversary had me reflecting on our relationship. And, the gist is, that after eleven years of marriage, and fifteen years of being together, I am so in love with the man my little boys call Daddy. Much of what I'm thinking right now is too cheesy and personal to write here, but suffice it to say that Dave rocks.

Permanent Record

Yesterday was Mizz's first day of kindergarten! Needless to say, I have spent the last few days trying to get a handle on my feelings surrounding this momentous event. For months I have been saying how excited I am and how ready Mizz is for school. His reading and math skills are incredible. He can build complex structures and trouble shoot mechanical problems better than I can. He has also made great strides in his ability to work cooperatively with his friends and, in general, acts really responsible. But as the first day of school loomed closer, I have to admit that I started to feel this general sense of anxiety. Sure images of Mizz getting lost, or worse, being bullied floated through my head. But, I think what made yesterday surreal to me in many ways is that Mizz is now part of a system way bigger than me and Dave. Our influence is still huge obviously, but he is going to have lots of other influences as well, not all of which I can control. Also, he is going to be held more and more accountable and I will only be able to help him so much. As I type this the phrase, "sink or swim" comes to mind.


But enough about me. I'm sure there a number of readers (read grandparents) that are dying to know how the Mizz did yesterday. Well he was beyond excited at breakfast and thrilled by his new, red backpack. We were lucky enough to have Grandpa and Tutu with us to send Mizz off and Mizz was treating to his favorite pancake breakfast. Mizz held my hand the whole five blocks. He was excited to see all the other kids walking but as we got closer he seemed to grow more shy. By the time we got into the very bustling classroom he was in full fledged shy mode. There was definitely a lot to take in with 20 or so kids, some younger siblings and the accompanying parents. Mizz deposited his school supplies in the proper bins and after some hugs from me and Dave settled down on the carpet with the other kiddos. And then Dave, D, and I left. It really was weird not really knowing the teacher or the classroom routines or really anything. Having worked at the kids' preschool for so long, I have taken my insider status for granted.


At 2:15 I excitedly picked up the Mizz. He was waiting out with his class in the breezeway between the two buildings with a crown on his head. Pretty adorable! He answered my questions one by one. Yes, he had fun and got to play with the other kids. Yes, he played outside. Yes, he ate his lunch, and did I know that some kids got to buy their lunches!!?? Yes, he thought his teacher was nice, smart, and helpful. He didn't know if he had done any art! Yada, yada, yada.

Oh, and he had already lost his lunch box. So, it is day two and I will already be visiting the lost and found.

Beach Pics

We ate more candy than you could shake a stick at, did puzzles, flew kites, walked the boardwalk, and stared at the mesmerizing ocean view for hours. It was six days and five nights of heaven. Thanks Grandpa and Gran for flying out here and sharing an amazing beach vacation with us!

I will live at the beach one day.

Can you say Portlander? Funky hat+raincoat+coffee mug=serious stereotype

Breakfast? Not really. But we did have some delicious crab one night. We went on a great big hike one morning into some serious fog and Dave scared me with stories of getting overcome by the tide. It was amazingly beautiful though and worth some catastrophic thinking.

My kiddos with their grands. Loved, loved, LOVED having everyone together. There's nothing better than watching people who love your kids as much as you do play with them.

I got to run on the beach almost every day. See comment number one.

D Money doesn't do strollers.

Or clothes. Actually he had to be stripped down because he took an unexpected dip into the freezing cold water. Check out that form!

Mizz spent hours making power stations in the sand. Look out hydro and wind people!

Gran and Grandpa picked the bestest beach house complete with a pool table and great access to everything. If it had had a hot tub, they would have had to crow bar me out of the place.

Brubbers