School Days

 

Violet started Kindergarten yesterday. Two years ago when she started at Bear Hugs, her teacher, Miss Jen, told me that I would be amazed at how much she would change, and she was positive Violet would go to a regular Kindergarten. I didn't admit them then, but I had my doubts.

 

We all walked with her to the bus stop. Later she would tell me that riding the bus was her favorite part of the day because she got to do it twice.

 

She met Josh, the other kid who gets on at her stop. When she saw him again today, they were like old friends. He is in 4th grade, mind you. 

Violet: Hey Josh, how do you find a lost rabbit? You make a noise like a big carrot!!!

Josh: heeeheeeheee

 

EEEEE! Here it comes! Here Comes The Bus! Yes, it's a short bus but Violet is quite happy with it. The aide is named Bernie, the driver is Cheryl, and her seatmate is Kimberly. She is first on the bus and she sits by the window. Oh, and it is Van 4.

 

Violet waves goodbye to Jason and Stella and off they go.

 

Someone is not too happy about all this. Aw, don't get your panties in a bunch. Stella goes to school, too (though not on a bus, much to her dismay).

 

Her first day was a full week before Violet's. Violet and I drove her to school so Violet could be the big sister and show her what to do.

 

Violet: "And you go down the path this way, but don't go on the wall and don't go on Mr. Rob's grass..." as though Stella has not done it a thousand and one times before when we dropped off Violet. Stella has been chomping at the bit for about a year to go to preschool.

 

Stella settled herself right in and started on her 'work'. Violet gave her a hug and kiss goodbye. What this picture doesn't show is the roar of crying toddlers. Stella was one of the few who wasn't bawling. Even Miss Jen's daughter Kellsie, who has been in every class since she was born and lives upstairs, had eyes brimming with tears. It was downright awful, but it made my leave taking that much easier (and quicker, definitely quicker!) Stella was the one crying at the end of the day as I was dragging her away.

 

 I can't believe my kids are so big. I find that the time during which Stella is in preschool goes by ever so quickly (I have a lot of bon bons to make up with dontcha know).

What throws me is the days when Stella and I have nothing to do. No schedule, no driving every which way to therapies, no lunch on the run. It is very, very weird, and I think we are going to get used to it pretty easily. We all heart Kindergarten.

Hello, Bill

I know I'm late with this, but you are seriously lucky to get any kind of a post at all, right? Violet is currently sleeping (it is 4:27pm and she has been asleep for about 70 minutes) and Stella is watching a Snow White double header. Me? I am supposed to be making dinner, so don't you dare tell them I was blogging instead.

So, Bill.

Sunday morning I wanted to get the kids out of the house for a couple hours so Jason could have some breathing space. It was a complete whim to take the kids to the beach. It isn't something I generally do. At 8 am on a Sunday morning, I mean. Um, yeah.

See how deserted the beach was?  This definitely won't be the last time we go at 8am on a Sunday morning. We were out so early I even brought them to Parson's Beach, which is a nice quiet beach with a serious lack of parking. Hence the quietness, I guess.

What I hadn't realized was that Hurricane Bill was making his way up the coast. I stole a little map from Stormpulse so you can see just how close Bill was. It was perfect, actually. Just far enough away to be completely safe, but close enough to make some big fancy waves. If you look closer, I put a little red dot in our approximate location.

It is very hard to get a good shot of waves. I mean, sure that looks like waves, but nothing special.

 

But there was a cop standing on the shore telling people not to swim, and the surfers were all out there pretending to be out of earshot.

And when a big one came in, boy, did it ever come in. Careful, there, Violet.

After this particular wave came in, Stella wanted nothing more to do with the water. I can't say I blame her. I was holding onto her with one hand, snapping pictures with the other, and she was literally being pummelled by the wave. But look at that amazing shot! Scrapbook worthy, even.

 

Luckily there were plenty of treasures to be had on the beach, and Violet is now looking forward to winter at Parson's Beach. I promised her some seaglass, dredged up by all the winter storms.

And just to let you know, Stella has now fallen asleep next to me on the couch.This picture isn't from today - it's from last week, but the only thing that has changed is the dress. It's hard work being a princess, you know.

612

That is the number of items I have to download from my camera. I'm not even sure how to approach a post based on 612 photos. And that's only one camera. There's still the spare, and the video camera.


There has been an interesting assortment of momentous occasions recently, with more to come. Just this week Violet was in her first gymnastics show, she graduated from preschool and we had another (final - phew) IEP meeting to determine the future of her kindergarten career. Plus, we will shortly be going to her best friend's sixth birthday party, and we will leave on Friday for my brother's wedding, where Violet will be a flower girl, get her hair done with the ladies and have real nail polish on her fingers and toes.

So I think what you will get here is just a mish mosh of my favorite pictures with no running narrative to link them into something bigger than themselves. You will just have to use your imaginations to see how these all connect into the bigger picture that is our life. I have faith in you.

Stella makes princess crackers - cashew butter and sprinkles. And the princesses all feast on them. Or something. Please notice each princess has both 'slippers' on. Thanks, Mama.

Stella is every bit a princess. She adores throwing tea parties.

I know I'm biased. But she really is just beautiful.


Little House on the Prairie, eat your heart out.


Chef Stella makes a guest appearance at the Children's Museum of Maine.

In Violet's world, this place is called "New York Wild Kingdom". It used to be called "animal signs", so we're getting there.


Stella and Isabel's favorite part was undoubtedly the ducks. A fist full of food for a quarter.

Newly minted graduate. How cute is this.

Can you spot our favorite girl? On her right is her best girl friend, Cayden. On her left is another best girl friend, Alayna. Of course you all know that Evan is her best best friend. There will be a quiz later.

I am eternally grateful for the devoted, loving care that Jen Lang gave Violet at Bear Hugs. She is an amazing teacher, who treats all her kids like they have special needs - because in her eyes, each one is special and deserves to be treated according to their needs. Special needs kids. I don't know where we would be today without Jen.

Stella has been in gymnastics for a year. She loves it, and often during the week will ask for her 'eee-oh-tad' and go to 'imasics'. That's leotard-to-gymnastics for the uninitiated.

When Violet started gymnastics, she couldn't even follow the group for 10 minutes without wandering off. Now look. Look at the concentration.

She loves gymnastics. Look at that smile.