Another First Day

And they are off....

It's just me and this little one this morning...

Because the preschooler...

the first grader...

and the fourth grader...

are off doing that thing called school!

Where does the time go?

more firsts

We have been so blessed that one of us has been able to be home with Grace the last six months. I am so grateful we have had this time. From February to June I was home. When Steve was out of school for the summer in June, I went back to work and he stayed home. It worked out really well.


Now, it is time for school to start and our lives to return to "normal"... with both of us working.

Last week, for the first time, Grace was left all day with someone other than me or Steve. My cousin watched all four kids all day long. Grace did great. But, with her siblings around... I wasn't surprised. Her siblings are her security blanket. If they are comfortable... she seems to sense that it is OK for her to be comfortable.

Today, was the first time at daycare. It was trial run.. she only went for a couple hours. This would be the first time without her siblings around.

She did great. She did not cry. She did not whine. and she played and played!

I'm grateful. I truly am. I can't imagine leaving her at daycare with her screaming.

But, at the same time... I can't help but think.... what does this mean?

I REALLY try not to read into everything. You could really drive yourself crazy. But, I just can't help but wonder if her easy transition to daycare has anything to do with her attachment to us, or lack thereof?

I always comment on her independence. She is so incredibly independent. Sometimes in a good way... but sometimes I wonder... has 17 months living in an institutional setting forced her to learn independence as a wee little one, far before any child should?

Sigh.

As usual, I don't have answers. Just questions.

Anyway, we will gladly accept that she was happy at daycare. And we hope she learns to love her teachers... as we do. They are fantastic.

But, there will always be that part of me that worries and wonders.

Outer Banks

We had a fantastic time on our trip to the Outer Banks, NC. It was beautiful. and SO fun.

We played on the beach. and we played at the pool.

We played bingo, and had water balloon tosses. Played tennis and road bikes.

We built sand castles. and collected shells.

Well some of us did. Some of us (one) sat on the blanket or chair and didn't touch the sand until less than 12 hours before leaving. That would be Grace. She DID NOT like the sand... or the ocean. Poor girl.

We had a few incidences... a little brush up with a jelly fish, pricks by a cactus (yes, I said cactus) and a very large wave that pummeled one boogie boarder named Braden.

But overall, it was a lot of sun. and a lot of surf.

and it was a great time!

Now, we watch the news and the very beaches we were sitting on a week ago are getting pounded by Hurricane Irene. And we sit at our house today anxiously awaiting the arrival of Ms. Irene here early tomorrow morning.

After weather the storm... school starts. Time flies when you are having fun!

the empress and her court

We interupt this blog

With a Outer Banks beach vacation.

Oh yeah.

Sun, surf, bike riding, ice cream, pool side games,basketball, shuffle board...

I'm thinking there might be a few pictures to share.

Hoping Grace's absolute terror of the sand and surf (and the bike helmet) dissipates. Poor girl.

I'll be back next week with some stories to share.

FIRST ever Red Sox Game

It was a good night.

One on one time with Daddy.

Ice cream in a helmet.

A face painting of Wally the Green Monster.

The biggest bag of kettle corn EVER.

and they even made it on TV with their awesome (made by Mom) sign!

The TV announcer said as they showed the two of them on TV... "First Baseball game AND Dad's birthday... couldn't get much better than that".

I agree.

and I think Steve and Devin do too.

We have arrived

Steve's days of mowing the lawn.... ARE OVER!

Ahhh.... it's good to be the parent.

Like a fish

Braden (and the rest of us) spent HOURS at the pool this summer. Braden is on our town's summer swim team. He practiced at least once a day during the week.

He NEVER ONCE complained about going to practice... sometimes he wanted to go twice in a day. He listened to his coaches, he worked VERY hard. And most importantly, he had fun!

His hard work payed off!

Yesterday, at "swim championships" Braden got personal best times in EVERY event he raced. 50 yard freestyle. 50 yard backstroke. 25 yard butterfly and 100 yard freestyle relay.

He dropped 8 seconds this season in Freestyle. 20 seconds in backstroke. and he literally cut his time in 1/2 in Butterfly... dropping his time by 23 seconds!!!

It has been so awesome to see him work so hard at something and then see him have great success.

Not only did his times show how hard he worked but his coaches honored him by awarding him the "Boys 9 and 10 Most Improved Swimmer" award!

Way to go Braden! We are SO proud of you!!!!!!