First back to school weekend

After our first week back, only Thursday and Friday with kids, we were all pooped. We went to my friend Kate and Ryan's house for some playing and wine. She has a son and daughter close in age with both my kids and we used to work together at Shore Acres. 

Aunt Lisa keeping Everett entertained for a while since he was pooped and we needed to get going but that took a while.

Saturday morning pack-man

Growing flowers

Aunt Lisa's for Timmy's welcome home and Grandpa B and Mimi's send off, they're taking a vacation. I wasn't sure if I had a stomach bug or if my IBS was bothering me from stress. Thankfully it held off for a few hours of fun while we enjoyed pool, jet-ski, playing, drinks and a steak dinner at Aunt Lisa and Uncle Ed's. 

Roxy hopped right on Grandpa B in fear of Brittany's new dog

Faster Daddy, faster!!!! It's scary how much she loves a thrill. They were even surrounded by dolphins at one point and she didn't even take note, she just had the need for speed. I'm so scared for her (my) future with her need for speed and thrills. 

Brittany teaching Clara the game Cooties. 

I love this lady. Thank you for treating us like family. 

Timmy and bubs. He just moved home from NYC.

Quinn, Ed and Lisa's baby. 

Back to school photos

Another year of job-sharing with my bestie. I don't know what I'd do without this rock in my life. Life is so fun, funny, easy, bright, and peaceful with you in it. We all love you Aunt Leesie!

We work right up until the moment before parent's and kid's feet walk through that door, somehow we manage to get it done in the nick of time. 

This is the meet and greet the day before school. Families come in to meet the teacher, find and see the classroom, etc. Ready or not, here they come.

Ms. Wright is Clara's teacher, she's in the blue. The assistant, Mrs. H is by the shelf. I snuck out of my meet and greet at 2:30 and made it over to her classroom to find her playing with her teacher. It got her REALLY excited about school, she loved the play toaster. 

Mrs. H has a 26 year old daughter with Down syndrome. Although she loves Clara, she can't wait to have her hands on Everett next year. Ms. Wright is so gentle, patient and kind. 

Daddy came over quick to hang hooks for our book bags. He helped me make them a few years ago for my portable and we stole them back! ;) 

Cupcake in mommy's room after the meet and greet. I figured if I had a sweet treat in my room for her after school it would be another great motivator for the beginning of the year. She is a very healthy eater so a sweet treat in my class might be a great memory for her. 

Bubby taking great care of Nunu while sissy is at school. JK. We all know that wouldn't happen. Nuns stays in the car seat until we leave school. She tried for a while to convince us to have Nunu for naps but I'm too scared she'll go missing and all the germs she'll bring into our home from school. I think (hope) Clara continues to understand, it's just not going to happen. I'm dreading cold and flu season with all the germs she'll get and also bring home to Bubs-a-dubs. We both come in the house, wash our hands and change our clothes, not sure if that will help much, but it's worth a try. 

Daddy had to go to CVS twice the night before school to resend the pics to make them small enough to fit her necklace. We were both up late attempting to make her first day perfect. Oh, yea, and to prepare for my class. (oops face) I've not thought much about the fact that I'm a teacher, I'm so over focused on her going to school. It's not settling right. 

Mama and dada on the left and nunu and Bubby on the right. 

As we're working at the kitchen table at 11pm Andre said, "Everett looks just like us in this picture." Then he showed me this. Turd. 

All ready! Physically.

Rose gold. I discovered it was my favorite when I picked out Andre's wedding band. I wish I would have discovered it sooner, I think I would have requested my wedding ring in rose gold.

You stole my heart...

Dear Clara, 

Your first day of school is tomorrow. You are three years old and you're going into the PK3 class at my school, Southern Oak Elem. I can't believe this time has come, you'll already be four in October. You're too smart for your own good and I hope you're readier than I feel right now. You show up at 8:15 and I pick you up at 2:45 after I drop my students off at their bus. 

I've dreamed of this day since I decided to become a teacher. This, right here, is why I decided to teach. I loved having my mom at school and holidays at home, so I knew I'd want that for my family. Thankfully I also love kids and think I do quite well at the profession I selfishly chose for my "family one day". I was always attached to my mom, nervous about school and being away, always homesick and hanging on my mom. I think you're different than I am, I'm hoping anyway.

I've cried many tears, worrying about you being in school. I can't stand the thought of you being sad, scared, tired, hungry, confused, you name it, I want to be there. We have cameras and I ALWAYS check in, I text your sitters even when I know what's going on just to make sure you're doing well. I'm losing control and I'm not fond of it. You're a big girl, a smart girl, and I know you will thrive. You're ready, more ready than I. You do tell me you're going to be sad to be away from us, you are reluctant to share your feelings, you'll always tell me but you don't want to dive into it, you always change the subject. You said you thought you'd be sad, after we got home from meet and greet today. I reminded you how excited you were, how much you loved your class and your teacher. You said I'm going to be sad because I'll miss...and then you pointed at daddy, bubby and me. My heart sinks in these moments. I don't know for sure what will happen tomorrow morning, but I believe you'll come around if it's not right away. I think you like to remain strong and confident, even if you have to fake it until you make it. I love your strength. You've never cried, maybe once or twice when daddy dropped you back in the day. You've always been able to flex with the change and deal with the umpteen sitters that you've gone through. I know you're bored at home, you enjoy Abbey's company but when she tends to Everett, you don't dive into your toys like you used to, you wander aimlessly. You need the socialization, I just hope everyone is as nice and kind as I know they'll be to you. 

You wait your turn. You ask permission with manners. You're patient and share. I want you to have that in return, but in all honesty, that's not what kids do. Kids push and shove and budge, I'm not ready for you to see that, experience that, or become that. I hope your heart stays true to your friendly, patient ways. You've never snatched a toy from someone, you try and sneak them from your Bubby but 95% of the time you ask him with manners and even find him a great trade. You're innocent, pure and sweet, I want to keep you in this bubble forever. I don't want you to see the disrespect, bullying and harsh ways of kids in the world. But I must. :(

I'm so proud of you and all you do and all you know. Your teacher met you again today, but got to play with you for a bit and she was blown away. You counted 15 cots by eyeballing them, quite quickly, you can see and write your name, you can name all the planets in order and give countless details about each, you know all fifty states in order, think deep about books when we read and draw conclusions about the characters that many of my third graders struggled with, you're observant and quick, you can almost count to 100, you add and subtract, the list goes on. I wonder if this will be enough. I think adjusting to school will be enough and socializing will be enough, for a while, but I wonder if you'll notice that you're not just a kid in that class, that you're THE kid in that class, the kid that has so much to offer this world and a really big smart brain. 

I can't imagine walking away tomorrow morning. I've never been so unprepared for my school year because I'm so engulfed in yours. I hope we both take the bull by the horns and tackle this school year together. I hope you come into your own and learn and play and grow in ways that impact you positively. I hope you smile when I walk away, and I promise to smile back and save my tears for the moment I look away. 

You stole my heart when I first laid eyes on you, and my heart will always be with you, even when I'm not right there. 

I love you with all I have, my entire heart and soul,
Mama

This is the necklace mommy wanted to get you. It has a picture of daddy and mommy on one side and Bubs and nunu on the other side. You're like mommy and don't really like things touching your neck, but I think you'll love the thought, even if you don't want to wear it. 

Here is your outfit, board and necklace all ready to go. Your lunch is packed, your bag has your folder with forms all filled out, we are physically ready. Hopefully by tomorrow we can be mentally ready. 

July 3 2017

We went out to dinner with Darren, Corrie and Ivy. We had a Manhattan in honor of Grammy Lang.

We met everyone else out for ice cream after at Candy Kitchen. Clara was in a fun mood of course. Frankenstein over there...

Oh Clara, even Everett's face is like, "Why doesn't she ever stop whining??!" 

Sparklers at home cheer her up.