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I like to think we are a progressive family with our politics. We try at least. So I'm very pleased when Wyeth decides to just help out around the house and do the dishes. It is SUCH a help!

Just about every night, he just pitches in!

See what I mean?

On a related note, this is what I came home to one night. Three happy faces. Three aprons. I'm a lucky working mom!

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Bon Appetit!

NYC!

After we got back from Cape Cod, I worked a few days and we had a fun playdate with friends. I then went to Iowa for a week! Iowa rocked! It was calm. Relaxing. Friendly. And I was there for the huge Iowa State fair! So I got to hear all about 'butter on a stick' which sounds disgusting! Anyway, it was a fun and busy week 'on the road'.

We came home and packed up the kids to head to Brooklyn, NY to spend some time with Sam's good friend Mitch and his partner Kenton. They are just amazing! Mitch is a super chef! And Kenton couldn't be much sweeter if he tried.

When we usually visit, we make it a day trip. Brooklyn is about 90 minutes away so it isn't so bad. But this time thier friends had a free apartment available. They were trying to sell it but it hadn't sold it so they allowed us to 'camp' in thier empty apartment. Score!

We had grand plans for our weekend. We'd take them to Times Square! Ride the subway! Etc, etc. In the end, it POURED RAIN all of Sunday and by the time we got there on Saturday, we had to deal with tired kids. So we didn't do any of that! But we spent time with good friends and visited thier garden plot.

I'm always amazed how children enjoy simple pleasures. Sam and I are trying to raise kids to truly find mystery and wonder in all of things around them. I am most proud when they get a big 'kick' out of simple things. From thier perspective, Brooklyn delivered on amazing treats. First of all, the concept of an apartment blew Seren's mind.

"Wait! There are families behind every single one of these doors? Are there animals in there too? Like cats? Do people in apartments have cats!"

And then there was the old fashion elevator inside the building.

"Wow! They have thier own elevator! We get to ride it? They ride it every day!??"

They also loved that we stayed in our own apartment. It was one of the worst nights we have had a long time. "The city that never sleeps" was certainly true for us! My god! The noise of the road was loud. And then add in a huge thunder storm and lightening. Wyeth was up for over 2 hours. We were wondering at 2 am if we should just pack up and head home! But we all went back to sleep and the night was salvaged.

Did I mention it poured?

And we all had an amazing breakfast on Sunday. It was a huge treat to be with such kind, loving friends! Thanks so much Mitch and Kenton!

August 3, 2011

On August 3rd, Sam and I celebrated 9 years of marriage! 9! We celebrated a few days earlier when we were up at the Cape. Mom and Dad watched the kids in the afternoon and Sam and I went on a terrific hike! (Thanks Mom and Dad!) It was gorgeous and went all the way to the beach. Just amazing!

We then changed in the car. Something we used to do all of the time on our day long marathon dates in California and went out to a very nice dinner. It was just so peaceful. No yelling. No crying. Just a very lovely dinner.

9 years have come and gone pretty darn quick. I'm a lucky woman to have found someone amazing to share my days and nights with.

Happy Anniversary, Sam!

First Day of Kindergarten

August came and went! I have about 17 blog posts to write on August alone!

But today- TODAY was the first day of kindergarten! The real thing! And we were nervous and proud. Mostly proud.

Leading up to it- all summer- our little school lover adamently said she was not going to kindergarten. Change isn't something that Seren really embraces. She even said that last night, "I"m just not going to go."

I knew she was just nervous. And she amazed me by being really articulate about how she was feeling. "Well. I'm a little excited and a little scared." Then, as the day, today, got closer she would say, "Well, I'm a little excited and a lot scared!"

We had Kindergarten orientation last Monday. Which was totally disappointing. The classroom wasn't ready. The cubbies weren't labeled. The teacher wasn't very inspiring as she focused on the logistics and not the learning that would happen. She also didn't address the amazing group of excited little kids sitting in her classroom! The teachers are also on the verge of a strike. So there were teachers picketing the Kindergarten orientation.

Sigh.

Today, she slept in and woke up excited! And we loaded her back pack with about 2 pounds of requested materials (including clorox wipes, kleenex, pencils, snack, erasers, etc!) and headed out. We took the mandatory first day of school pictures which I totally remember my mom taking. And we set off, as a family, for the school. It is about an 8 block walk to the school. So all we went. The backpack got heavy, however, and I had to help with that. Once I put it on my back she exclaimed, "Now I can skip, Mom!"

Wyeth has been quite sad about this transition. He doesn't understand why he isn't going!

"I no go to Kindergarten? Why I no go?" and "Sissy go everyday? Why she go everyday!"

So while this really is just a 3 hour program 9 blocks away, we are all being thrown by the transition a little bit. For all of July and August, Wyeth and Seren have hung out pretty much every single day. So Wyeth too is missing his buddy.

I was more than a bit emotional getting her ready. And just like the day of orientation, the closer we got to the school building, the tigher her grip on my hand got. But when the moment came, we slid on her bag and hugged her tight. A wonderful and warm teacher greeted us at the door and said "You look beautiful in your dress! Are you ready for kindergarten!? Who is your teacher?" And with tight hugs, we said goodbye. And she walked down the hallway holding a teacher's hand.

Just like that.

NICU to Kindergarten in seconds flat. Non nursing preemie to reading kindergartener. I couldn't be more proud of who she was but also what we have done as parents. For this learning curve of parenthood has been steep.

She left down the hallway and mom bawled.

But they were happy tears too. Life is just too amazing. Too hard to really wrap your head around. Too many changes. Too many choices. And all of it- even the really hard times- is amazing.

So THAT is what it is for

Today the kids were watching me get dressed. They were sitting on my bed and I was putting on my bra.

Wyeth: Mom! What's dat?

Me: It is my bra.

Wyeth: What it do? What for?

Seren: Wyeth, it is so mom doesn't spray milk all over us.

Wyeth: Oh.

Seren: Did you know buddy that we used to suck on those? Yup. That is how we got our milk.

Wyeth: We got our milk?

Seren: Yup.

Me: But now you get it from the fridge. Thanks Seren for explaining it.

Cape Cod 2011

We spent 12 days as a family in Cape Cod this year. 12 whole days. And the best part?At the end of it, I wanted more time.

We took off and headed up to West Hartford to visit the fabulous Levy family. We then all headed off to Cape! We had our toes in the sand by 12:30 Saturday the 23rd and pretty much lived on the beach everyday through August 1st.

Awesome.

Not everyday was suny. We had a few days of rain. We improvised and did arts and crafts. Score!

There were many highlights as a family:
** I could actually relax this year. And did.
** I drank good Pino Grigio and ate great brie.
** We had some great icecream
** The kids played together as a group of four- VERY well.
** Seren and I took showers in the outside shower everyday and then I dried her hair in a towel turban. She called this 'fancy hair'.
** Both kids loved the beach.
** Both kids started to use the boogie boards this year! Score!
** Sam and I had an amazing date night- a beautiful hike to the beach and a great, great dinner out. Anniversary number 9!
** Being on the beach at 5:55 AM with two kids wearing thier pajamas and toting pails.
** We saw whales and seals in the evenings on the beach. One night we were passed by a family with two little dogs that were in harness leashes. While the three of us were geeked out by the whales, Wyeth saw this and came running up to me. Breathless he said, "I SAW REINDEER!" Apparently, seeing the dogs in the harnesses reminded him of Santa's sleigh.
** Time with my best friend Sam and my best friend Andy is a great deal!
** TIME OUTSIDE IN THE SUN

We took over 500 pictures. None of which have been edited. And since there are so many, I most likely won't ever get to it! But we took good ones. I just don't have time to really mess with them. But I will! Because I took the time to take the 500 pics!

I have had a hard time recently so just being able to unwind, unplug and just recharge felt so, so, so good.

I had that 'after vacation, I need to change my lfe/attitude/everything' feel for approximately 24 hours. And then the grind called! But it was seriously what I needed. Naps. Good food. Sleep. Family and sun.

PERFECT!

Confidence

Dear Seren,
I can't believe how much you have grown since you turned 5. Not only are you super-tall girl but you are so much more confident! It is amazing to watch you take on your world. Just since graduation, you have tried your first swimming lessons. And loved it. You have also tried gymnastics. And loved it. You make friends wherever you go. And you just join in! Your entire being at this time in your life, is just full force GO! And you live and love so well. I admire you so much.

I was putting you to bed last night. I was rubbing your back and singing to you as you clung to Rosie. As you drifted in dreamland, I was left thinking about how much you have grown. You aren't shy anymore. You aren't hesitant. You make friends. And I love to see you in this new amazing space.

At the same time, I was overwhelmed by a sadness. Someday someone will tell you that you aren't smart enough. That you can't do something well. That your ideas are 'dumb'. That you are too fat. Or too thin. Or that by being passionate about something, you don't 'fit in'. And if you are like everyone else, you'll start to question yourself. Question your own inner strength. Question your talents. Your beliefs about the world. And you won't be able to just join into groups and say 'I'm Seren! Let's be friends'. Because while the world SHOULD work like that, it doesn't. At least not right now. Maybe it will when you get older. Maybe you'll work to make it so.

And the kicker is that Mom and Dad can't do a darn thing about these messages you'll soon hear. You'll hear them at the bus stop. Or in elementary school. And I'm left worrying. About how we encourage the passion, independence, confidence and creativity you currently have. We so want to protect your heart. But we can't. And you'll have to figure out on your own terms how to be true to yourself. And how to love that amazing body and mind of yours.

So for now I'll sit back and just admire the person that you are. The confidence that you have. And I'll wish quietly and passionately that you'll carry some large percent of that confidence with you well into your 20s and 30s. That is one of my main wishes for you. And I intend to work to make sure it happens.

Love you,
Mom