Lily

Audrey and Lily

It has been so refreshing to move back into our new (old) house.  (Aside: that's what Audrey always calls it, "Our new old house.")   The cul de sac is full of kids to play with, of various ages.  There's enough to go around for each of our kids.  While we were blessed to have a beautiful home in Mill Creek, there was a shortage of children it seemed.  Perhaps there were kids, but they were always inside reading Bill Gates' book, Child Entrepreneurs.  Or studying for their next Japanese business course at the local elementary school.  Or vacationing at their second third home in Hawaii.  I don't know...they just weren't around.  The school bus would empty, and they would scurry home like mice.

So here we are, back home, with many young companions to play with.  Our TV and Wii have never been so lonely...

On a School Bus Far, Far Away...

As the school year descends to a close, I found myself reminiscing about Audrey's first year in Kindergarten. I can't comprehend that this little girl will be in first grade next year. Well, I think to myself, at least I still have my little Ethan.
I remember those first weeks where Audrey was quite unsure whether or not she liked this going-to-school-business. The separation at the entrance gate was always tentative: Would she get emotional and not want to go? Would she skip off with a backward wave? Each day beheld a different action from her, though she liked her classmates and teachers once inside.
In typical Audrey fashion, on the weekends she would whine that there was no school and wish she was going that day. On schooldays, she would cling to me in the car not wanting to part. I was as unsure as she was, I think.
I have set my mind on homeschooling her with the other kids next year. I know I need to give it a try and see how we do before simply sending her to school every year. Audrey may just thrive in this environment, with more free time to express her very expressive self. She will have time for piano and gymastics, which she dearly wants to do.
I will look forward to The Adventures of a First Grader, starring our very own Audrey.

SuperClaire!!

Double click on the image to see the details...

[Bleep!]

Audrey, Ethan, and I were playing an innocent game of Hi-Ho Cherry-O when Audrey leaned over and asked, "Mom, do you know what the s-word is?"

Her sober face told me I was in for a weighty conversation.

"What do you mean by the s-word?" I quizzed her as I mentally began to fill out the paperwork required to withdraw her from public school.

"You know.... the s-h-word..."

She whispered since Ethan was sitting right there.

Now I was feeling a controlled upsetness. "Well, do you know what it is honey?" Did I really want to know the answer to that??

"Yeah, s-h-u-t-u-p," she cautiously spelled. "And it's really bad to say, huh Mom?"

Relieved, I said, "Yeah, that's really a bad word."

"Oh and how about the d-word? That's bad too." I could tell she liked stealing this small moment where she was "allowed" to say these things.

"And what word is that?" I asked, feeling enormously safer asking her this time.

"D-u-m-m-y."

And back we went to our innocent game of Hi-Ho Cherry-O...

"But wait, if you order NOW...."

I don't remember how we jumped onto the topic, but it was mentioned that Claire is a VERY excellent bed-maker. We all chimed in that her covers were military-style straight, and the pillows were always fluffed and propped like a bed and breakfast.

Offhandedly, I said that she could make some money with an enterprise like that.

The next morning I found this in the printer:

Claire's Cleaning Club

If it's not the best bed making you've ever seen, IT'S ON US!

Bed making is the lowest price you will ever see! Only fifty cents! PLUS,

not only do you get that, but if you subscribe in the next 15 minutes, you will get FREE

pillow fluffing!

Unexpected Gift

What a surprise. What an unexpected kindness.
A pot of lilies given to me by a sweet neighbor friend.
A wish that I had been so thoughtful and given it to her.
Knowing I don't need to reciprocate.
Knowing it was done with love and given freely.
Thank you Angi :o)