Starting School

We're gearing up for school. Actually, I'm gearing up for school and you three are all going about your daily business.  Is it so wrong for me to be thrilled that you big girls will be spending your days in a safe environment, learning new things with new friends? That I get to finally see that excitement in your eyes when I come to pick you up at the end of the day and you're happy to see me rather than the "oh. It's you again." that I seem to be getting lately?   Of course, the fact that you will be in school three days a week, with a full seven and  a half hours for Jordan and I run amuck by ourselves holds its own appeal. 

Your dad has applied for a new job overseas.  I was excited at first, the whole "off-on-a-new-adventure" excitement, but the day to day realities are encroaching as I research the area and look up some of the blogs that I am finding in the region.  I know that Grace will be attending Kindergarten and first grade there and Eleanor and Jordan will be in Preschool and possibly in the Kindergarten.  Todd assures me that the schools are first rate, but there will be no bus for Kindergartners without a big-kid full time escort and a really, really close look at the security of all the schools.   I know, I know, I know that I'm just being paranoid, but I am trying to look at this from all the angles. 

The job is not a sure thing. And even after it becomes his next billet, that is subject to change if he gets promoted to Colonel next year.  I love the idea of knowing where we'll be going in Summer 2011, but I know that your father takes a LOT of pride in what he does and the level of excellency and proficiency with which the job is done.  Not being promoting would bruise the pride a bit.  So do I hope he gets promoted and we try a different new adventure or hope for the sure thing? 

Pearls and bits

I know that I've mentioned that website where the woman is giving all this "Prudent Advice" for her daughter when she grows up.  Well, it's been two months since I sent her my pearls of wisdom and they have yet to show up. So in case they never make it on to the master list that I am sure to one day plagarize here, let me tell you one of those sage bits advice. 

Kill your enemies or leave them alone. Screwing with them just pisses them off. 

And yes, I probably would have put another word at the beginning of that second sentence, but your dad will one day edit this anyway and I thought I would save him a bit of red ink.  There are going to be people who you don't like. People who don't like you. Or worse, people who are just assholes (sorry Todd, that one stays) and like to mess around with people for fun.   The best thing for you is to cut them a wide berth and say a prayer for peace. Peace for you, peace for them, peace for whatever sick, twisted thing that happened in their lives that made them the way they are.

If that doesn't work and they're still persuing you, go talk to your father the master strategist and work through a plan. Think out your actions, your methods, the repercussions and consequences. Think it through.  And then decide if it's actually worth it. Think about how much time and effort you're about to expend on someone you don't even like and decide if it's worth it.  Maybe you can just walk away.  

Of course,  I'm working on the assumption that you will stay within the letter of the law. Just remember what Aunt Joyce used to tell Cousin Laura- "You'd better be committed to your cause, because we don't have enough money for bail."   That and "the best defense is a pair of shoes you can run in".  Wise woman, Aunt Joyce...

I'm thinking I'm thinking...

I've been trying to get to the computer this week, but we've had long days filled with no planned activities.  That means that I get to be on my toes and try to think of fun things to do on the fly. "Let's sweep the floor!" and "Let's fold laundry!" don't seem to be winners with you guys.  The more traditional block building and chasing each other are always a favorite, but boredom settles in after fifteen to twenty minutes and you three come looking to me for a new direction.  Bicycles? Play in the kiddie pool? Weed the garden?  Two out of three ain't bad. 

We went to the beach today

Cousin Megan and the girls

John, Aunt Cindy and Granne

We are so IN

Years from now when you all are sitting around and regaling your poor mother with all the stuff that you've gotten away with over the years, I'm going to be thrilled with the fact that I made friends with the cop on the island.  For now,  Raya is just a fantastic sprite who has incredible parents that she shares but later on in life I can see those law enforcement contacts coming in handy. 

Last year, Grace got to be the lucky kid who rode in the firetruck. Brian was kind enough to offer up the seat again and Grace, Todd and Ellery were going to go. Raya offered up the seat in the back of the cop car with her folks (we really, really need to remember to bring cool candy with us next year to throw out at the "crowds") so Eleanor and I went with Jen, Glenn and Raya in the Oh-so-cool Lead Vehicle for the parade. 

Yes, that had to be capitalized. It was that cool. 

The parade starts at the street up from the dock, passes the Canarios house, does a circle of Warner Ave and then comes across the front of the island to the fire house.  Lots of horns honking, water balloons, kids clapping- your typical small town parade.  I LOVED it.  Mock me if you must, but I had the best time. 

Right after the parade started, we pulled into Warner Ave. At the end of the street is a lovely older woman named Evelyn who had not made it out to the street yet.  When we pulled up and Glenn asked where she was, her family told him that she was just coming out. This was no easy feat. Ms. Evelyn and her walker were escorted out to the car, then put in the backseat ge e-e ntly and finally driven up the twenty yard long driveway where she was then escorted with her walker to the chair waiting for her.  

We waited.  Patiently.  Sure there were  a few tooting horns for fun trying to play "Shave and a haircut" but the whole parade stopped. And waited for Ms. Evelyn so that Raya could wish her a happy fourth of July on the loudspeaker. This is why I love Prudence.  

Your Dad was in charge of getting a pic of Grace in the firetruck again, so we'll see if he came through.  

The rest of the day was spent on lunch with the Lunds, naps and then dinner with the whole family. Pulled pork and lemon bars. Is there anything more American?   The afternoon rounded out with a moon bounce over at Eddie's house with Cousins Riley and Ella.  

I was really proud of you today!  Happy Fourth! 

Socializing

It's 9:53 and some idiot is still shooting off fireworks down the hill. Probably some of the snooty people over at Bristol Colony who have had one too many and don't have kids under the age of four.  Dorks.

Grace is fast asleep on the top bunk, Jordan is cuddling her butterfly blanket in the crib and Eleanor....sweet Energizer Eleanor is still going.  She's scared by the noises and just wants to see what we're up to- Granne and Grandbob reading their books, Uncle John trying to get the photos off the disc from the Nikon and me over here on the laptop. 

We really are an anti-social family.

You wouldn't have known it from today.  Today was one of the first days in a week that we had some sunshine. The girls have been very patient with us, but there are only so many puddle hunts you can go on with wet boots, so many times you can color on the back deck, so many times you can help wash the dishes before you start to get a little cranky.   Fortunately, there was a break in the clouds and Granne and Uncle John took the girls to the beach while I went with Jen for a work out and Todd took a lap around the island. 

The year is 2009 and we still don't have a dryer. When you're older and reading this to your kids, I put that in so you would understand  a bit of my frustration with this week. To the point that your father and I were thinking of booking us out on the ferry tomorrow night rather than next week.  So it's June/July and the days are cold and dreary. In an attempt to work off any of your energy, we drag you guys off for giggly puddle hunts in slickers and rain boots - until we hear the thunder and lighting. Then we bring you home to change into clean, dry clothes and put the damp ones up on the line inside the porch. 

Now tell me, Science Wizs, how dry do you think your pants are in 95% humidity? And forget about your jeans. Yech.  So I took a load with me this morning so that I could clean the two pair of pants that I had for each of you that I've been rotating for the last week.  Patty, mother of Olivia and Hana, was generous enough to offer us her lovely washer dryer combo while we worked out and brought it back to us this afternoon. All folded. Yes, there was a scramble to make sure that there were no incriminating undies in the pile that should have been thrown out years ago.  (We're good.)

So tonight's dinner (back to the point of the social/anti-social) was supposed to be outside on the picnic table and we used our unfailing optimism to set everything up outside. Fresh fish, rice, pasta with veg, salad, Dad's green beans, leftover cheese fondue from Jen and a nice pound cake from Jen's dad, Ray. Me? I made lemon bars.  Your father took one bite, looked at me and said, "This, this here is the reason I'll never leave you."  

Just keep him away from the Barefoot Contessa and we're good. 

Dinner was a fun, rain-splattered, jumbled run into the house after the raindrops started. Uncle John's friend is a lovely man who has a Mac and has promised to listen to me drone on about my problems in converting from a PC and got stuck in the seat next to the fridge. No escape.  Ray was in front of the water, so he enjoyed his meal along with the side of "may I have another glass of water please?" every five minutes and Eleanor was her usual charming self walking around to every one else's plate and saying, "I wantabite pleeeease."  

All in all, the evening ended with 16 people in the house eating lemon bars before heading out to Bingo at the PIA hall.  Not bad for our anti-social family...

Now if only Eleanor would stop singing the itsy bitsy spider we could all get some sleep.

When Puddles Fight Back

We're going on a Puddle Hunt!

Get em girls!

It's all fun and games until the Puddles fight back.

And then we headed back to the house...carrying our boots because the sides were causing friction on the inside of their little calves. You should have seen them sit down in the middle of the road to dump out the water!