Preschool?

Sometimes when I'm slowly jogging, gasping for air, forcing myself to keep going, I think: my sixteen year old self would be severely disappointed in the shape I'm in, and in my discipline concerning exercising....actually my thirty-one year old self is disappointed in the shape I'm in but that's besides the point. 

It dawned on me the other day that my sixteen year old self - very disciplined, driven, high strung (don't ask my sisters about this) - would be much more surprised to learn that I'm a mother. I often think that I was more disciplined and focused when I was a teenager than as an adult and I wonder about my maturity level over the years; but I forget that my adult life is so much more full of love and meaningful relationships than I ever imagined it would be. My years in the twenties and thirties so far have been more wonderful than I could have dreamed. And part of that wonderfulness just started preschool.

She's her own little person now. She didn't want to pose for photos. She wanted to catch and hold a lizard. She didn't want to wear the matching headband for her dress. She wanted to wait directly in front of the preschool doors, trying the handle until they were opened.

In case you were curious, she LOVES her time at preschool. 
And I love her teacher, and how Squirms runs happily squealing to greet me when I pick her up (in a car loop! I participate in a car loop!). 

To Do List

1. Write a Thank You note to the creator of the ipad battery. Last night when we were driving through Orlando, after being on the road for over eight hours, the Squirms yells "mommy!" from the back seat. The ipad had paused Mary Poppins to tell us that only 10% battery life remained. With over an hour left in our drive I would probably have started crying if Squirm's beloved Poppins stopped playing, prompting an overtired toddler to realize that she was exhausted and had been strapped in a car seat for too long, not eaten an actual dinner, and wanted her bed.....wait, that's actually what I was thinking at this time....but I'm pretty sure it's what Squirms was thinking too. But. The ipad kept playing the movie and that 10% of battery life lasted until after we arrived home!

2. Post pictures of Squirm's first day of preschool on the blog.

3. Figure out the Great's shoe size. The ability to walk is coming soon.

4. Clean the house. Ha ha ha. Just kidding.

5. Congratulate my cousin MEN on her engagement. I guess I'll have to wait to call her until after she and her fiancee return from Paris. Yes, Paris. Until then I'll just stalk her on Facebook, looking at the happy couples photos.  

Ten Things

1. We had visitors for R's birthday earlier this month! We were thrilled to have Papa, Mamé, Auntie C, and TPIII in town for the weekend. The men went skeet shooting, the ladies spent time flower-girl dress shopping, and we all enjoyed lots of pie.

Look who's here!!

2. Squirms starts preschool tomorrow. Tomorrow.

The happy couple with their nephew.

3. The Great is cutting more teeth and has a big boy car seat on order! He is on his way to 11 months old - let the birthday party planning begin, or continue, because you know I've been looking for the perfect invitations for several weeks already.

The Squirms is ready to start this pie eating thing.

4. R has an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon/specialist this week. If you've been following his adventures with neck problems then you'll be relieved to know we are not expecting any surgery, but hopefully a plan to help with relief and management going forward. 

Singing Happy Birthday to their eldest.

5. His parents might have given him a lotion called Two Old Goats for his birthday.

Thank you Sweetie Pie Baking Company

6. His parents also gave him an unexpected gift that shocked and humbled us.

Our boat.

7. We are traveling soon for C's first bridal shower! Very exciting!

Decorated with Minnie Mouse stickers.

8. R introduced Squirms to Finding Nemo this week. She was VERY concerned about finding the boat that took Nemo.

She really wanted the Great to sit in the boat with her.

9. Fall semester violin lessons begin this week.

Why aren't you pushing us? The boat needs to go fast.

10. Milestone: the angel children had their first fight over a toy while in the jogging stroller. It made me think of my sisters.....ah, memories.

Do I really need to caption this one?