Author: Sarah

Primary School Meeting

Sarah School Days

Last night we went to the primary school orientation.  Because Carrie’s in the K/1 multi-age class, she won’t be in the kindergarten building, but instead in the building that houses grades 1-3.

So we went, and we learned a bit about how they manage to traffic flow, with all the kids in K-6 riding the same bus and being dropped off to three different buildings.  And then the principal read us a poem that involved ignoring the housework to hold a little girl’s hand to explore the world.  And I was really OK until Denis leaned over and whispered “don’t cry”.  Um, that was not helpful!

Repeat after me: “It will be OK.  She will love school.  It will be OK.”  This must be my new mantra, with a huge confident smile plastered over my face, at least until the bus goes around the corner…

Great Gramie

Sarah Family

My parents called me this morning to let me know that my great grandmother passed away last night.  She turned 100 last fall.

I remember going to her house and she always had homemade cookies in the freezer.  And she made us pizza fritta – only we called them belly bombers because it was so easy to eat too many pieces – with powdered sugar dusted on top.  She and my great grandpa had what seemed like an enormous garden to me as a child, but I think was really a smallish kitchen garden, with tomatoes and basil and peppers.

I’m really glad she got to meet the girls, and they got to meet her…

Soccer Mom

Sarah Motherhood

Well, I’ve had the car for five years now, but I couldn’t officially call myself a soccer mom until yesterday.  But with Carrie playing soccer, I guess that’s what I’ve become!  Granted, it’s just a week long intro to soccer skills kind of thing, we’re not traveling for games or anything – although with the amount of stuff I need to pack up and get out of the house you’d think we were going across the country to play!

Let’s see.  There’s the diaper bag, of course.  And a small knitting bag just in case for some reason I have time to knit.  (I’ve kept up this delusion for almost five years now, that I might have time to knit wherever I go.  It doesn’t really happen all that often.)  And then there’s the picnic lunch I’ve packed for all of us.  And sunblock, water bottles, hats and a soccer ball.  Plus a camp chair.  Really, I feel ridiculous loading all of this into and out of the stroller basket!

4.10 Years Old!

Sarah Monthly Updates

Dear Carolyn,

This is the last letter I’m going to write to you before you become a great big Kindergartner.  I can’t even imagine how that happened…I swear just a moment ago you were my teeny tiny little munchkin, just learning how to smile.20090809_blocks

We’ve had a busy, and I think wonderful, summer.  You’ve taken classes for gymnastics and swimming, and you just started soccer today.  We’ve gone to library story times, you’ve read to therapy dogs, and we’ve frequented the farmer’s market.  We’ve visited the children’s museum, played on playgrounds, drawn with chalk, blown bubbles and ridden tricycles…well, you did that last one, not me!  We’ve managed to fit a few playdates and playgroups in there.  I’ll admit you’ve also watched plenty of TV.  But you’ve read dozens and dozens of books and colored and played with your dollhouse and ponies and Barbies.  We’ve really probably squeezed every last drop of fun out of this summer that we could have!20090823_reading

It’s going to be hard watching you get on that bus in a couple of weeks.  I can’t promise I won’t cry, because for the past 4 years and 10 months, my life has revolved mainly around you (and for the past year, your sister too).  You’re my little sunshine, and I’m going to miss you all day long!  But I know in my heart that you’re ready – academically, socially and emotionally – to take this step, even if I’m not.  Maybe by the time you’re headed off to college I’ll have learned to let you go a little more easily.20090820_horse

Love, Mommy

Wait, this school thing is long-term?

Sarah Carolyn

A funny story: we were meeting my brother for lunch at a particular restaurant where Carrie really likes the chicken soup.  But it was 90+ degrees and I steered her away from the hot soup and suggested something else instead.

So she asked if she could order the soup another time when we went out there with Uncle Michael in the winter.  And I said that we certainly could find a day she has off from school in the winter to meet Uncle Michael for lunch there.  And she said, “Wait, I’m going to be in school in the winter, too?!?  How will I ever build a snowman again?”, followed by many tears, until I suggested that maybe they did that in kindergarten at recess when there was snow, and plus, there are weekends and afternoons.

I think maybe she thought that she’d just be in school for a few days or weeks, not that this is the beginning of nearly two decades of academia.  (If you count college.)  Wonder what other misconceptions are floating around in that little head of hers?

First (Baby) Steps

Sarah Firsts, Shop Talk

Our anniversary sale is going on this week, so we packed up the kids and all went to the shop so I could be there all day – Anna’s still nursing a few times a day, so I can’t really leave her for an entire Saturday.

While Denis and the girls were hanging out on the couches, Anna took her first couple of teeny-tiny steps.  Of course, she wouldn’t repeat it, but she did it, which means it’s only a matter of time before she’s running after Carrie!

Thirteen Months Old!

Sarah Monthly Updates

Dear Anna,

Today you are a month older than one year old.  My how the time is flying!20090717_yellow_dress

You are still not even remotely interested in taking even one single step for me.  Not one!  You would rather get down and crawl six inches and then stand back up then take one teeny-tiny little step to Mama.  Though I’m actually convinced it’s not that you can’t walk, it’s that you’re too smart to walk.  Because, after all, why walk when people will carry you everywhere?!?

On the other hand, you are more than willing to sign and try out words.  You are incredibly verbal, and besides your favorite word, “book”, you have “uh-oh” down – although it comes out as “duh-doh”, which is just so darn adorable.  You have names for us: Daddy is “da-da”, the dogs are “da-da”, Carrie is “da-dee”, and I’m “ma-ma”.  On the signing front, you can sign “milk”, “more”, “all done”, “water”, “banana”, “book”, “cheese”, “dog”, “monkey”, “bath”, “sleepy” and “chicken”.20090729_impish

You seem to be having a hard time deciding whether you need one nap or two.  If I put you down for a morning nap, you aren’t really interested in an afternoon nap, but then you are insanely crabby by about 5:00.  If I try to keep you up until the afternoon nap we can’t go anywhere at all in the morning, because you immediately conk out in the car.  I’m hoping you figure out how much sleep you need pretty soon here!  If you like, I could take one of those naps for you…?

We’ve had a busy, busy summer so far, and I think you’re going to be a little confused when your big sister and best friend ever gets on the bus for school in a few weeks.  You are absolutely delighted just to be in the same room with her, so I know you’re going to miss her.  So will I, but we can both be waiting for her to get off the bus every day, and we’ll find other things to do with ourselves all day!20090803_giggling_girls

Love, Mommy

School Shopping

Sarah School Days

We were going to try to wait until a little closer to school started to go get the things on Carrie’s shopping list, but we were all too excited for new notebooks!  And pencils!  And pointy-tipped brand spankin’ new crayons!  Although it was like a scavenger hunt, trying to find specific colors of pocket folders with brad fasteners, and plain old black and white composition notebooks.  (Did you know those come in pink now?!?)

I hope we can send this stuff in a little at a time, because her backpack stuffed with all of this weighs a lot more than she can carry safely!

Strong Museum

Sarah Carolyn, Motherhood

Susie and I took the kids to the Strong Museum for what will probably be the last time before the big kids head off to school.  It was pretty deserted, so the kids got to do pretty much everything they wanted to, including riding the train and the carousel.20090807_withjoey

I did have a little run-in with a less-than-nice person when I sat down in an out-of-the way corner of one of the rooms to nurse Anna, though.  She didn’t actually confront me, but accosted a staff member to complain about how all these women had the nerve to just sit down wherever they wanted to and whip it all out to feed their babies, and why on earth couldn’t they just do that in the bathroom?  It creates such awkward situations with her 6 year old screaming “Look, Mommy, boobies!”  And really, what about the dads who come to the museum and have to witness it?  Won’t somebody think of the dads?!?  Somehow there was also some bit about a Jim Carrey movie in there too, about how his (adult) character went up to a nursing mother in a park and started nursing and how disgusting that was.

For the record, other than myself, this woman, and one other mother, plus the 6 or 7 children who belonged to us all, the room was deserted.  Also, I don’t “whip it all out” when I nurse.  Anna and I have a lot of practice being discreet.  You’d have to stare pretty long and hard to even see a flash of my nursing bra, let alone any skin.  Plus, well, my right to nurse wherever I want (and I don’t want to nurse in a bathroom, thank you very much) is protected by law.  Oh!  And the little room set aside for nursing moms, that I would have prefered to use anyway?  That was occupied by a bottle feeding dad.  I have no idea what the Jim Carrey movie has to do with me.

Soooooo.

Luckily I managed to get over her insane ranting (it helped that the staff member apologized profusely (though it certainly wasn’t her fault) after the woman left, and that the other mother in the room was very supportive) and have a great rest of the day at the museum.

But sheesh.  Some people.

Excitement + Melancholy

Sarah Motherhood, School Days

We got Carrie’s teacher assignment in the mail today.  She’s going to be in K/1 multi-age instead of traditional kindergarten.  I’m really, really excited for her, I think this is going to be a great fit for her personality and learning style!

At the same time, I’m not ready for kindergarten.  Carrie is most certainly ready, but I am not.  I wish there were a half-day option in our district.  I wish I could keep her home with me forever.  I wish she’d stay four-and-three-quarters for always.

But, since that can’t happen, we’re going to make the best of it.  Here’s to a wonderful start to school and a lifetime of learning!