Southwest County Park

In an effort to keep the "Hike a Week" going, we headed off to Southwest County Park this past Friday, our family day.  It was foggy and raining off and on, and I felt like we needed to set precedent.  We live in the Puget Sound.  We do not only go outside when it is sunny or else we have some LONG months ahead of us.  And while the kids were pretty excited to test our new rain pants, I didn't feel like that was really necessary quite yet. :)  Boots and raincoats were quite enough.  (And Josie decided at the end that she didn't even want the raincoat.  However, she was very disenchanted with the Momma rule that you are welcome to take it off, but you have to carry it.)

But back to the hike.  It was the perfect little jaunt to get us out of the house. 

Poor Nalu is so patient with the children.  Actually, I think he was so happy to come along that he would have let them do anything.

 We saw two Pileated Woodpeckers in the same tree about 20 feet away from us.  It was super cool.  Unfortunately, I was unable to document it appropriately.

Hmm, what lives in that hole? Hello? Hello? Are you in there?

Look Mommy! Seashells! (Or shelf fungus....whatever)

Nope, nothing on my lens.  It was getting a bit thick.

And we saw plenty of our favorite Pacific Northwest wildlife, the sl-UHHHH-g.  That's exactly how Josie says it and she is fascincated by the creatures. Although to be fair, so was her momma when I studied in BC. She comes by it naturally.  Secretly, I think they are our favorites because they are really easy to spot.

All in all, a great way to start our super low key weekend. After our first full week of the school year schedule, we needed a break! And we needed to ponder one of the essential questions of life: Why does everything seem better in sweatpants?

Overscheduled Children

Seriously.....I always vowed I would never be the mom who had her kids in a gazillion lessons, eating up all their free time to just play and be kids.  HA!  At two and four, these kids are already overscheduled.  (Says the mom who just signed her kids up for gymnastics lessons too.....)  But really, there are just so many wonderful things out there and I have decided against so many more than I've said yes to.  But in the end Marshall is in preschool, swimming, and gymnastics.  And Josie is in preschool and gymnastics.  (When I asked Marshall if he wanted to do gymnastics again, she shouted, "I DO! I DO!" before he even got a chance to respond.  What's a mom to do?) 

I suppose it really isn't that much, but after a summer of just us, it FEELS like it is.  But we do still have Monday morning, Wednesday morning, and all day Friday with nothing on our plates and I intend to keep it that way! (Just say no to the cool science classes on Fridays, Chrissy!  Stand by your principles! Free play deserves more priority!)  And with that said, thank God for Grandma and Grandpa.  Because the kids definitely wouldn't get to do all this with me working two afternoons a week if it weren't for them.  It is frankly hard to imagine how I lived without them living right down the street from us.  Kind of like my cell phone.  Used to survive fine without it; didn't even know what I was missing, really.  But now, I can't even imagine going without it.  I wonder if houses will start coming with Grandma and Grandpa pockets like pants, backpacks, purses, etc. do now?  Has this metaphor gone too far?

In any case, here's a few shots from our Tuesday.

Someone had a fabulous time at swimming lessons and was SOOO close to floating on his back all by himself!

And as for the munchkin, I was so worried about leaving her at school.....she was so fine with it that she didn't notice at all when we came back at the end.  Me taking all these pictures?  Still NO clue that Marshall and I were there.  She was completely zoned and exhausted but still, a little "Hi Mommy!" would have been appreciated.  And when I finally scooped her up and put her in my lap for the goodbye song, I got a "NOOOOOOO!" and she scooted right back to her own spot on the floor.  I went through a painful labor for you, young lady.  I deserve a little snuggle.

Marshall first day of school

Marshall started at a new school yesterday.  We've been pretty excited about it all summer long.  But now that the time is here, both of us are a little bit more nervous.  We loved the co-op and Marshall had such great friends there.  I find myself questioning why we left and worrying about Marshall making new friends.  But I know a change of scenery will be good for him, as will the more independent nature of the school.  Plus, two kids in co-op is a lot of WORK. :)

So far I haven't gotten anything out of him about school.  I can tell he likes it, but still isn't quite sure what to make of it.  However, he is kicking me out the door every time we drop him off.  Maybe he's just enjoying something in his life that I don't know a lot about.  Something that really is all his.

Anyhoo, here's some shots of Marshall's first day of school! (Do you like his new "picture face"?  I'm back to begging for a simple smile.)

And this is as far as I got.  Parents actually aren't allowed in a Montessori classroom.  Right after this, he peered over the little white fence gate they have in the door and said,"Bye Mom! I'll see you in a little bit!"

Get your motor running....

Okay, so it can't be ALL the gluten free diet, but I must say the change in Marshall is AMAZING.  I'm sure it has conveniently coincided with a leap in development, too, but each day I am astounded. (And tired....)  He jumps all the time now.  Which sounds silly but jumping over the lines in the sidewalk was NOT something Marshall would have done 6 months ago.  Climbing over chairs.  RIDING A BIKE.  I've been working with him on this for so long and got so frustrated.  And suddenly he just did it.  For the past couple of months he's been going strong on the trike and while we encouraged him to try the big boy bike, it took him a while to get comfortable with the whole "bicycle" motion so we didn't push it.  But after seeing all the big boys on bikes at the campgrounds this summer, it didn't take but a little "Hey why don't we try the big boy bike today?" (He also worked on it with Will last weekend when Mommy was out and Josie was sleeping so that really boosted his confidence)

Check this out!



I am so proud of him.  But more so, I am so happy for him.  Happy that he feels so much more confident in his physical capabilities.  I mean, he is still the most cautious child in the world (as you can see in the video....that car was not anywhere near our end of the street), but he feels a lot more free to do what he wants now.  And the look on his face when he accomplishes something for the first time?  I would gladly give up a million loaves of bread for that......

Josie's First Day of School

Seriously? How can this be possible? Josie's in PRESCHOOL? Yes, it's just the 2's class, but it's still school and I am freaking out. She's my BABY.......sigh...

But she is totally ready. She woke up at 6:30 this morning and wanted to get dressed and go to school. I told her Teacher Connie wasn't there yet. And then periodically throughout the morning she'd ask questions like "Teacher Connie driving her car?"

We got her all dolled up. (Forgive the blur. I didn't realize that a little fingerprint was on my camera lens until after.)

Brothers!

And then she was off.  Josie is the gift I get for sticking with Marshall while he was in the 2's class.  (As opposed to shipping him off to the gypsies?)  She was in her element.  She played nicely.  Or rather she played by herself without hurting anyone else.  She even worked with another little girl, Isabel.  Isabel (who also grew up in the co-op) peeled the stickers off the paper for Josie and she put them on her crown.  And then proceeded to tell Connie she did it all by herself.  Details, details...... She even started singing the songs and doing all the hand movements during circle time.  I had a delightful time.  No stress here! (I am writing all this knowing full well that it won't last forever, but for now, I am basking in the glow of my angel girl.)

We even managed to snap a picture with Teacher Connie on the way out the door with Josie in her "Magic Crown".

It was a great day, but I still am searching in the closets for that time machine.  It's got to be here somewhere, because I need to go backwards just a bit so I can get my baby back.  Enough of this big girl nonsense......