Kindergarten

We are 2 weeks in and we are happy. 

We talked about the first day of school all summer.  Sometimes we would just mention it as it got closer, while other times we would discuss a little more detail.  Owen likes to be prepared, he likes to know what lies ahead.  I didn’t want any surprises for him, so we talked.  As the fastest summer of my life began to wind down and the countdown for school became shorter and shorter, Owen showed signs of excitement for school.  I will admit that I did not see that coming.  That nervous smile showed up each time we talked about school. 

We were ready.  He picked out his required “inside” shoes and his snack bowl.  We talked about what would happen when I drop him off: Get to school and find the cubby; change out of red shoes into inside shoes; wash hands; big hug and kiss and a reminder that I miss him already and we are off. 

And it went just like that – minus the quick we are off part, that part took a little longer, in fact, I could probably add an extra kiss or two, a little more lingering in the hug, a tear or two, a small sense of fear and a few extra miss you alreadys.

And then my little friend was off – off to the window to wave goodbye to Ivy and I (we weren’t quite ready for the off all the way part yet).  From the parking lot I waved and Ivy waved.  We waved to the little boy in the window with a big smile on his face that showed a sense of accomplishment.  He was doing it.  He was staying while we drove away.  We waved and waved until he was gone.  And then he was off. 

And just like that he grew up a little.

I waited anxiously for the time to pass to pick him up.  I baked him some cookies while I waited.  I worried a lot during those 3 hours.  Would he have fun? Would he want to be friends with that little boy with glasses? Would he like his teacher? Would he know what to do? Would he miss me? 

I learned quickly the answer to all would be yes.  He smiled and waved from the playground as I pulled in and as we were reunited I was informed that he loved school, that he made a friend, that his teacher was great, that he learned a song, and that he wondered when I would be back cause he missed me.   Those were all the answers I wanted.

And to celebrate: we ended the first day of school with a neighborhood pizza party.

2 weeks in and we are happy. 

(Although, truth be told, we would be a little happier if he could remember what he did at school – seeing that it only happened a few minutes prior to me picking him up.  To combat the forgetfulness of the day, he has to tell me 3 things about school each day.  Today I learned: 1) he ate apples for snack because he knows how healthy they are for him. 2) he played with his favorite friend and 3) he liked the teacher’s helper.  The important things of course. )

In the Name of Fashion

I am a financially savvy person.  I make good decisions and manage our money with great skill.  In fact, I was telling Greg we had our spending fund set aside for Puerto Rico and he commented that I am great with money….this is all before I went clothes shopping at Old Navy to buy Owen some school clothes.

Once I got there I was finding nothing great for Owen. They had a lot of jeans and he hates jeans, more specifically, “they don’t feel right”. He only has 2 non-jean pants and I can’t imagine a 5 day school week with a constant battle of not feeling right clothes. 

In a state of sadness that there weren’t more options, I strolled out of the boy’s section with my one pair of pants, and that is when it happened, all my financial reason went flying out the window.  I can’t help myself.  I found the cutest grandma sweater for Ivy, off white, three buttons, long with a hood; a gray sweater dress; and a pair of brown boots that will look darling with the sweater dress.  My financial savvy self - gone.  I don’t know what happens to me, I see these items and I don’t even look at the price tag.  Of course, none of them are on sale and are more than half my entire purchase, but I don’t even care.  The price tag was not going to make me put them back.  I have no idea what comes over me, but the idea of her cute self wearing the clothes takes over all sense of reason.  

So, in closing, I may have to forego a meal or two in Puerto Rico, but my baby girl sure will be cute!

(She wore these to bed tonight. She would not let me take them off. )

I made it to 34

Last week it was questionable as to whether I would turn 34.  Following the most intense exercise program I have done in a long time and perhaps in forever, I wondered if  I would make it to Saturday.  Not only did I make it, but I was able to turn 34 yesterday without the assistance of my hands to pick up my legs or without Greg lifting me up and down the stairs.  (And as a side note, if I am not in the best shape of my life in 7 more weeks, heaven help me.)

Yesterday was the most pleasant of days. 

I sent Greg off to the Saturday bootcamp session.  I needed to make sure he knew what my class was like so he would continue to take care of me and I also wanted to assure that he thought it was hard .  I was terrified he would call and inform me that it wasn’t that bad, subsequently plummeting my self esteem to low levels as I realized that I was in worse shape than I originally thought.  Luckily, the report was “it was brutal” and my dear husband even had to sit down for a bit after becoming light headed.  (I didn’t sit down – way to go self… ok, truthfully, I sat out for a jumping exercise or two, but that is strictly due to a jumping/peeing problem I have following child birth, which I am working on, but you see, that doesn’t count).

So, I started the day with a little encouragement about what shape I am in, followed by an invasion of  Iowa football.  That was not on the agenda of “the perfect birthday” but whatever, Happy Hawk Day. 

My favorite Chinese food was on the agenda with a little gathering at our house with Angie and Ben.  We made brownies and sang a round of Happy Birthday led by a smiley kid who called me the birthday girl all day long. 

Angie and I worked on the transformation of the dining room to playroom and I must say I am a fan.  Lots of work to do still to make it the room in my head, but it is coming along. 

Exactly the birthday I would choose.

So as the week begins and I  head into my 34th year, I realize that the winds of change are upon me: a sewing machine for my birthday present, a most intense exercise program for a girl who doesn’t do much exercise, a small child about to start kindergarten, and a football game that only slightly bothered me. 

I am happy.