Farewell, Summer

As I've just tucked my little ladies into bed on the eve of their first day of school, this summer is officially over. In short, I loved this summer. Really, I did. In many ways it was way way way too busy (and fast), but I feel really good about a lot of aspects of it. We enjoyed so many visitors, got to spend time with cousins, tried tons of new camps and activities, had fun with our weekly (most weeks) activities of cooking/science experiments/crafts, got to be a huge part of an awesome wedding weekend, enjoyed family days to WI and the cities, snuggled in for movies in the basement, tried some new parks, played lots of new board games together, worked outside, got in a tiny bit of pool time, the list goes on. I am so grateful. This was the first summer that we weren't in "nap jail" with a napper, and I honestly loved it. Yes, the days sometimes get long and kids get cranky, but it's so great to be able to be out enjoying the entirety of a day or be spontaneous and not worry about getting home to nap.

Girls, you are so fun. I mean, really, really fun. You passionately adore each other (and sometimes passionately despise each other, as to be expected where siblings are concerned) and really learned to play well together this summer. It is my prayer that you will always be friends and grow up to know how blessed you are that you have each other. So as much as I loved this summer, I know it's time for it to end. The lull of tolerance for low predictability has passed in our home and everyone seems to crave the structure of the school year--it's rhythms, activities, and seasons. 

Adrienne--you are off to preschool as a "big girl" tomorrow. I pray you don't pee your pants because this has been your deal lately. I am just banking on the fact that you never do this out of the house, only when home as if to taunt me or prove to me that you are in charge. It seems intentional, but really, can't you find some other way to assert your independence? I digress. I am excited for you to get to experience Kingdom Kids and to have Mrs Leif as a teacher. She is the ultimate of preschool teachers and you will be well-loved and cared for, this I know for sure, and you will definitely learn to follow rules, be kind to others, and you will learn a whole lot about Jesus (and this will please your sister, she is dying for you to get up to her speed in the Bible knowledge department). You will make your own friends (not just hang out with Jillian's friends) and you will share your sweet, funny, ornery, and loving spirit with your classmates. My sweet baby, you are growing up.

Oh Jillian. Jillian. Jillian. Jillian. Here is where I admit that I have been so ready for you to go to kindergarten since you were about 1. I honestly have questioned my ability to nurture and feed your quest for knowledge, need for high levels of entertainment and activity, and tireless energy--I think that sometimes I felt only school could satisfy this. Now I know I am wrong, and I regret sometimes wishing that time away. While I know it is time, and that you are more than ready, my heart is heavy and anxious and a bit emotional tonight as I think about these last almost 6 years. It has gone so fast. Have I enjoyed it enough? Tomorrow I am sending you out in the world (not really, but man it feels like it!)--at least out of the bubble of Kingdom Kids, where it is comfortable, Christ-centered, and small. You are going to the big neighborhood public school, and while your dad and I feel this is the best decision for many reasons, I am still scared. Is this the right choice? Time will tell. What I do know is that you are going to rock this. Yes, you are anxious--and I admit, the verbalization of your anxiety has kind of jarred me a bit because up until about 2 days ago you've been so excited. Yesterday after orientation I took you to Panera, just the two of us, and in your classic demonstrative gesturing and head tilts you conversed with me about the reasons you are nervous, "Well, Mom, you see, Mrs Dyer said we are going to read at least like 100 words, and that's a lot. I just don't know, Mom. That sounds really hard. What if I make a mistake?" Since that moment we've had lots of talks about what it means to grow, how you have to make mistakes and should expect them, just try your best, etc. I think this will be a constant conversation as we seek to encourage you and remind you where you find your true worth. I prayed with you at bed tonight, held you close, and then we looked through my bracelets so that you could choose one to wear tomorrow as a reminder that I am always thinking of you. I am going to drive you to school with a lump in my throat and do my best to hold my happy/anxious/sentimental tears inside so that you can exit the car feeling strong, confident, and brave. I'm going to kiss you, give you our traditional 'thumbs up', and remind you that I love you. You've (We've) got this.

Last day of summer Mc Donald's picnic on the deck! 

Three Dozen

Another year has passed, and I am now 36. Yes, that's right--3 dozen years old! Whew. Regardless of the creeping numbers, I always love my birthday. Birthdays are to be enjoyed and celebrated, and it's a good time to reflect on blessings and think about aspirations. It's also the day to freely dictate what you'd like to do (and more importantly in my book--eat!). I did just that.

The day before my birthday, Matt and I had one of our Saturday morning dates. We came home after lunch and the girls surprised me with some fun gifts. Thanks to Eleyna for taking the time to do this for me--so special!

Plants in kid-decorated pots along with a poem.

A list of 25 things the girls love about me--Eleyna said she dictated verbatim. The most hilarious one is #7 (via Adrienne)--"When she hangs up her phone to nap". Lol. Guess the secret is out...I sometimes take a little snooze while we are watching a "rest time" show. 

So today I woke to breakfast and bed--Matt and the girls snuck out to Dunkin Donuts and brought home some yumminess and a "medium skin latte".

A candle for every dozen years

We then got ready for church, and I asked Matt to take a couple pics of the girls and I. Jillian decided she wanted to dress like me as much as possible, so I pulled out some polka dot dresses for the girls. Jillian found her little pearls from the wedding and asked me to put her hair in a bun like mine. Adrienne found her pearls from her Halloween costume, and we were ready to roll.

After a great church service we headed downtown for brunch at Chester's, complete with obligatory mimosa. Jillian asked to take a selfie in our booth.

Matt drew the short straw and had to sit with A (We love you, Adrienne, but sitting next to you at a restaurant is not super pleasant)

After brunch we headed home for a little rest time. Matt and I both napped while the girls watched a couple episodes of Strawberry Shortcake. Then we loaded up and headed over to "Winds-consin" to try a new-to-us place. The Harbor View Cafe in Pepin was right up my alley--quaint, awesome food, ever changing menu with all scratch food, great live music to listen to as we sat outdoors and waited for our table, and a nice view of the sailboats in the marina.

Waiting for our table

Old people

Just chillin'

Guess who drew the short straw at dinner?!?

Matt had swordfish and I enjoyed the halibut. The girls were really very good in the restaurant, but we felt that was about to end, so we unfortunately skipped out on the awesome looking dessert menu in favor of a walk around the marina and then a drive back to Rochester for some Flapdoodles.

The girls thought this huge chair outside another restaurant was hilarious.

I had a bit of trouble getting out of the chair.

Going down to touch the water with Matt.

Hooray for birthday dessert! An indulgent two-scoop waffle cone at Flapdoodles. Perfect end to a great day.

Last Week of Summer

This was the official last week of summer, and we did our best to pack some fun stuff in with some laid-back relaxing. I admit I've enjoyed non- hurried mornings where the girls often slept until 8 or 8:30 and those times where we could stay in our pajamas most of the morning, and that will definitely have to change if we are going to get to school on time. Highlights of this precious last summery week included school shoe shopping (I was thankful to be the first customer at stride rite so we had the attention of 2 sales people at once--in and out with 5 pairs in 25 minutes!), a FROZEN movie showing with our new friend Stephanie (her fiance is a 4th year med student at MU who wants to go into radiology; she is a nurse who happens to work here in Rochester and the girls love her. She is darling.), a park playdate with Ella and Chloe, swimming lessons, soccer game, and last but not least--Meet The Teacher! Adrienne will be in Mrs Leif's class two mornings a week (as Jillian was in her 3 year old year) and it was so wonderful to feel relaxed and at home as we explored the classroom with our new student. When we pulled into the parking lot, Adrienne was so excited--"Mom is this really MY school now???" She spent 3 years dropping off/picking up Jillian. Her time has arrived. Later in the afternoon, we headed to George Gibbs Elementary to find out who Jillian's teacher would be and see her classroom. I nervously looked at the class lists in the gym searching for my baby's name, and there it was amidst 20 other names we do not know, on Mrs. Dyer's class list. Mrs. Dyer seems very sweet and nice (this is her first year teaching kindergarten as a former first grade and preschool teacher), and I do love how the kindergarten classrooms at Gibbs are in their own little separate wing from the bigger kids. This is big stuff. Like a deer in the headlights, I signed Jillian up for the healthy snack program (she can choose a snack off the cart each day), and signed myself up as a member of the PTA and VIE (volunteers in education). Nothing like jumping right in. Despite our lack of kindergarten familiar faces, we did see several dear families we love in the building with their older kids welcoming us to the school. That helped this first time mom feel much better. Jillian is on cloud nine, counting the days. Thursday will be a BIG day in our family. I drop both girls off for the first time within 10 minutes of each other. Be still my heart.

My preschooler next to her name on her coat hook. Can she be any cuter??

Little kid in front of a BIG school

My beautiful big girl next to her cubbie. She was so excited to see that her name tag in the cubbie was blue--her favorite color!

Summer Fun Week 12

Another busy and fun week is in the books, the highlight of which was Grandma Paula's visit! We hadn't seen her in exactly 1 year and it was so so great to catch up. Here is the week's rundown in picture summary...

Mommy boot camp was on Monday

Learning some life skills

Checking out the backpacks as we get excited for school. Adrienne "gets" Jillian's old backpack....and she is very excited about it. Gonna ride that hand me down train while it's still fun...

Jillian's new backpack and lunchbox arrived in the mail and it may as well have been Christmas. She toiled and toiled over catalogs and choices, and in the end, went with this cute little striped number.

We finished ice skating class--Jillian passed all the skills to move up to the next level if she continues. Here she was actually skating her way across the ice to exit the rink at the end of class. Adrienne made huge progress, too, only missing one skill to advance. Awesome work for our first time!

Adrienne did her best to impersonate me...

Pretty good attempt, right?

Waiting for back to school haircuts. Yep. Wearing the headband and with her shoes on backwards. She is a real piece of work these days!

I bought myself an early birthday present. Why have I waited so long to own a stick vac???? Sweeping the floor after dinner is actually fun now.

Thursday morning we looked outside to see the flock (?) (? Gaggle? Herd?) of turkeys we watch out our back window each morning....only to discover they were having a party at the playset! 

We laughed and laughed and snapped lots of pictures of all 17(!) of them

Soccer practice for Jillian on Thursday night. She is doing really well so far.

I love my built in babysitter for soccer practice. I really need Rachel to come and live with me--an 8 year old big sister would be awesome for my girls! She does so great with A...just another reason I love that Will and Jillian are on the same team!

Friday we went on an adventure in the Twin Cities with Grandma. Matt really wanted to go to the State Fair. After driving around for 30 minutes without parking success and nearly getting in an accident he gave up and we made our way to Grand Avenue in St Paul (which is really more my speed anyway). We ate at Punch Pizza, walked around to some fun shops, and got the best ice cream cone of my life at Grand Old Creamery (Mexican Chocolate Praline, I love you!!!) Here are the girls and Grandma outside the Red Balloon book shop.

Adrienne continues to try out some new fashion ideas.

Grandma saved the day on Saturday after Jillian's soccer game was rained out. The tears stopped quickly after she revealed some gifts

Jillian exclaimed, "Oh Adrienne it's got a unicorn on it and you LOVE unicorns!"

Grandma brought the coolest craft bucket and they literally sat at the table from lunch until dinner crafting together. Precious times.

Adrienne was making her creations kiss...

or maybe fight.

Crafting is serious business.

Sunday was nice and hot. We all went to church, to brunch, and then ran a couple errands before coming home and playing in the water. The girls "washed" the cars.

Matt actually did wash (and wax) his car.

Grandma got in on the fun, too.

Mother and son

Love you, Grandma!