First day of school jitters

I think the only person who did not have first day of school jitters was Anna.  Richard and I bore all the nervousness.  Would she make friends.  Would she be able to sit still.  Would she pay attention?  Would she like it?  Would she be exceptional or average or need lots of help in a myriad of ways?  So many questions...

Anna was just excited.  And very grown up.  She looked a little too grown up for me.  Its a good thing we got her a "Frozen" backpack to remind me that she is still my Disney princess.  But in so many other ways, she had grown up in just the last couple of months.  She has started wearing tennis shoes with laces, and clothes that would not be considered pajamas.  And she will let us put a clip in her hair.  Almost overnight she became a very self sufficient little girl.  After putting her on the bus and seeing her off to the beginning of 20 years of school, I felt like there was no way that she would eventually figure out where her class was, or who to talk to if she got lost, or how to be responsible for her own backpack, homework, etc.  

And yet, she figured it all out and showed no nervousness about the process.  There was no clinging to my leg, no cries of wanting to stay home with Benjamin and me.  She was excited.

While the weather has still been so nice, I wanted to take her to the bus stop in our double stroller.  It was nice for me, but I think Anna prefers the car :)

waiting at the bus stop, she found her "sister" Brooke-- our neighbor two houses down.  They are quite the pair and look remarkable similar from behind.

Anna and Brooke held hands as they boarded the bus.  Anna was again so excited, and I was so glad that she had a friend to sit next to on that first new bus ride.

No hesitation here.

When she got to her classroom (Senora Mazor-- pretty much the rock awesomest Kindergarten teacher ever!), she immediately sat down and assumed the position-- reading whatever book was closest.  Anna, meet school!  School, meet Anna! I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

things to do in summer

 WE had a rockin' summer.  Richard taught me a mantra when we first started dating-- "no day like today"  Of course, he kind of took it from "Rent" but it rings true nonetheless.  In Seattle we treat every summer day like it could be our last.  So this is how we spent our summer:

Eating ice cream sundaes

making patriotic pancakes

making our own parade

going for long drives :)

taking afternoon naps

eating cupcakes

staying up really late and watching fireworks

going for long walks by the beach

wading in water

making new friends in the neighborhood pool

picking blueberries

drinking Slurpees on July 7 (7/11)

climbing on giant frogs

feeding ducks

conducting experiments

watching the Blue Angels

climbing new mountains

being library "groupies"

sharing pool toys with the cute blonde

drinking smoothies in the back yard and making new pizzas

spending the day with grandma

drinking from the sprinkler

being the king of everything

making your mom breakfast

training, training, training.

richard birthday

Richard turned 30 on August 30.  One of the things I have learned in the 7 years I have been married to this man of mystery, is that he likes to celebrate his birthday in a very specific way (birthday language is like love language-- everyone has their own).

Richard likes to spend his birthday: 

with his family

sleeping in

eating hashbrown patties

watching star wars, 

eating lots of chips and salsa

taking a nap, and

eating peanut butter and chocolate.

Everything else is just details.  

Luckily, Richard is somewhat tolerant of my desires to celebrate his birthday is other ways.   Like putting together the ultimate pub trivia team:

who knew how to mix the ultimate fry sauce

 

which led to the ultimate 7th place victory...(okay, so we had a few weaknesses)

but at least one free beer bonus token was won and redeemed for a diet coke!

 

My goal was for Richard to glut himself on salsa until he started sneezing Tobasco sauce (but that would not have made a pretty picture, so I didn't take one)

And the cake that made Richard fall in love with me all over again....

Three layers of chocolate cake, filled with peanut butter whipped frosting and chopped peanut butter cups, and topped with chocolate ganache.

I am pretty sure that this is what Rip Van Winkle ate right before he slept for 20 years.  It didn't make it in the original story because its hard to fit this cake into a moonshine jug

As far as presents, all I wanted to give Richard was the memory of a great 30 years of loving and being loved.  So I gathered copies of all the editions of the newspaper that he loved and wrote for during high school, and I also gathered memories and sentiments of the people who mattered most to him during his life. 
And then we bought a new T.V.
Mission accomplished!  What more can a man ask for!

last day

Each summer has an official end. The last day you take out the bathing suits, the last time you pack the sunscreen, snacks, sand tools.  The last time you sit on a beach and soak up the sun, watching your kids play in the lengthening rays.  The last time you leave your sweater or jacket at home.  The last time you wear your flip flops, confident that there will be no need to close those toes up today.

A few weeks ago, we hit that day.

As we have all summer, I packed up the kids, some snacks, and headed toward a near beach. I can't express how happy it makes me to be near water.  The combination of water and sunshine is healing to my soul.  I try to absorb as many moments like this that I can to help get me through the inevitable gray months ahead.

I don't think the kids understood this kind of farewell.  It was a day like so many others this summer.  But for me it was a swan song to what has been the best summer EVER!

Luckily, these kids are able to be happy and active no matter what the weather, so their smiles can keep me light when the sun seems to keep its distance!

Goodbye Summer!  See you next year.