The take-down

Back to school...reflections on summer

The girls started school last week - Beatrice in pre-K (where has the time gone???) and Lily in the "Waddler" room. I'm not sure if any of us were ready - we have all cried at some point. I'm looking back at the summer and my time with the girls - it was one of the best summers of my life. I was initially afraid of being a (part-time) stay at home mama. I might get bored, they might bored, we might end up in a tizzy of whines and spilled juice. Maybe it's that the girls are at the right ages. I don't know. But, waking up in the morning, we didn't have to rush to get dressed, eat breakfast, or get out the door. All we had to do was ask ourselves, "what shall we do today?" The beach? The park? The zoo? Definitely the bakery. Always the bakery, maybe twice a day. Who wouldn't want that life to keep going?

Lily has done pretty well transitioning all things considering. She inevitably koala-clings to me when the teacher walks over to say good morning - it's as if she's hoping she can crawl back inside me. But once she is in the hands of the teacher and washing her hands, Bea and I can sneak out the door without more turmoil. Bea's transition back to school has been up and down. I don't think she fully realized the alternative to school until this summer. She LOVED being home with me or with her best-babysitter-ever Haley. She LOVED being free to fashion her day and is now struggling with the constraints of school. Don't get me wrong - Beatrice is not acting out - she will always follow the rules and conform to structure. She is terrified of getting in trouble or doing something wrong and being called out for it. I think she works so hard to conform that she is at risk of loosing her imaginative joy. It will even out as she settles in and learns the routines and I think she'll still get to have moments when she can loose herself in play. I learned a lot about Beatrice this summer - she is such an interesting, kind, sensitive, inquisitive child. She says absolutely every single thought that crosses her mind. My favorite statement of late is, "Let me tell you what I'm thinking about. I'm thinking about fairies." I miss her and Lillian every moment.

the race (sort of)

Bea is off. I think she jumped the gun.

Here comes Ruby.

Lily is off!

The cousins come to town!

We had the most amazing time with Julie, Ruby, and Niko. The kiddos were in heaven playing with one another. Ruby slept in Beatrice's room and Niko slept in a pack-n-play in Lillian's closet. Our anxieties were all for not - they all slept well! We went to the park, the bakery (many times!), the zoo, the beach, the gym - phew. The grown-ups are pooped, but very content.

Happy swinging baby

the big girls

Po-Po bunnies!

the little ones

riding wagon-style at the zoo

Carousel at the zoo

Jules and her sweet Niko

Nothing better than carrots from the garden, dirt and all.

Sisters.

Ruby and Bea paint Nana's toes.

Look at those teeth!

An attempt to get everyone in the picture.

These girls are two peas in a pod.

Sweet Ruby.

The Frog & The Fairy

Evergreen State Fair

Riding a horse for the first time!

Bea was very brave on Saturday at the fair- she rode both a horse and a roller coaster for the first time!

Labor Day 2012 - Tiger Moutain Hike

At least we won't lose her in the woods in this outfit.

Pretending to be bears - grrrrr!

This is a serious as Bea can manage in a photo.

Sweet Lily - she has already declared she is "all done" and we have another mile to go.

Lily is thrilled to be freed from the backpack.