New Routines

The start of school is really my New Year. There is something about the new academic year that feels more like a time to reflect and reset more than an arbitrary date on a calendar. In addition to the new daily routines and organization systems we set as a family this fall, I'm really trying to take a bit more time to take care of myself. I often found myself collapsing by the end of the week, and with the kids doing more housework, I'm finding it easier to keep up with the daily "stuff": laundry, dishes, paperwork, etc. So...I have set a new nightly ritual for myself, and it ends here:

Once the kids are tucked, the laundry put away, and the dishes done, I find my way to my yoga mat for a 20 minute bedtime practice and meditation. I wash my face, brush my teeth, and tuck myself in bed with my cozy corner. I make good tea in my good tea pot. Sip it from a good tea cup and saucer. Diffuse lavender. Read by my salt lamp and candle light. And I go to sleep by 10:30. It's lovely.

I wake up when the alarm goes off actually ready to get out of bed, and I'm learning to love that little bit of respite at the end of the day. Now to just continue to preserve this little space...

So Far, So Good

We are settling into a lovely little back-to-school routine. Dance has started, we have a dojo plan, and so far the kids love their teachers!

Evan is pretty sure Ms. Kinley is the best thing since sliced bread. The clincher: she eats lunch with them...and while she was sitting with he and his friends she had them teach her all about Mario. Combine that with the fact that they should be able to finish their homework at school if they use their time wisely and he would walk through fire for her.

Issa loves, loves, loves her teachers. It's another solid team that works as a team and appreciates middle schoolers in all their weirdness. She doesn't love going up and down the stairs all day, but I think she will survive.

May the whole year be this blissful.

And They Are Off!

The new school year has officially begun:

 Our fourth grader:

 He decided he did not want to be walked in this year. His little hermit self carried his very full backpack, a beach bag with the extra supplies, and his lunch box from the kiss and go lane. I didn't cry, but it did feel very odd. He is really excited about his teacher--he was not excited about pictures.

Our seventh grader:

She was very excited to capture this outfit on film. She looks 20, and she is so ready for seventh grade. She didn't even look back over her shoulder on the way into the building.

We had great open houses with both kids, and I really do think this is going to be an awesome year!

A Wild Week

We are almost back above water around our place. In the midst of Company Camp for Issa and Opening Week for me last week, Brad went down with what we now know was a lovely combo of a migraine, a neck muscle strain, and a tension headache. We saw two hospitals and an urgent care in 36 hours. Not fun. Yesterday, we saw our family doc, got good meds, and we are back in business--mostly. We are very sure we will be back in business this weekend.

What I'm awed by, though, are our people. When Brad went down Tuesday, our neighbor stepped right in with Evan. In fact, Evan basically moved in with them last week, even spending the night one night. Other neighbors took Issa to and from camp. My colleagues covered for me. Brad's dad and Nancy were already planning to visit, but they stepped in and took Evan to the dojo and entertained both kids all weekend so I could focus on Brad without feeling torn. I cried on people's shoulders and got more texts to check on us than I can count. Mom, who was traveling, and my sister picked up every single time I called. They talked me off ledges and made me laugh. Both offered to hop on planes, and I know they would have in a heart beat.

While last week was so scary in so many ways, it was also a lovely reminder of our village and how incredibly grateful I am for them. Now may we never do that again...

A Glimpse Into the Future

 The boys were away at Mountain Quest this weekend, and Issa and I had truly the best girls' weekend ever!

Friday, we went back to school clothes shopping because Issa grew two inches and truly had nothing to wear. I'm sworn to secrecy on the results, but we were very successful, hit great sales, and she actually loved some of the things I spotted. It was a first. She has officially also moved to the Juniors section, which is pretty much fun. Saturday, we did some cleaning and got our nails done. Most of the weekend, we cooked and binge watched Gilmore Girls.

But this kid:

 This funny, gracious kid:

Well...I really loved hanging out with her this weekend. We laughed so hard. At times, it was more like I was hanging out with a girl friend.

I've heard that if you survive those early years, you get to this point with your daughter. And this weekend, well, I saw a glimpse of what I pray will be our future. I know I still have miles of parenting to get to the next phase, but these weekends make it so worth it. I'm so incredibly grateful to be raising a person I want to hang out with. Here's to many more years of these weekends!

Getting It Together

The theme of this year's stay-cation is getting our house together. We've been doing a deep clean and tackling some projects, and this is the one I'm most excited about:

Our new family command station! For years, we've had a calendar and pockets on the back of our front door, but the calendar spaces were small, and the pockets became junk collectors. This summer, we had a little white board on the refrigerator that had the kids activities and chores for each day, and the kids asked if we could keep up with that system. The only missing piece from the small board was a space for whole family things and Brad and I's carpool shifts and out-of-the-ordinary events.

The new board has space for all of that plus envelopes for the tickets, coupons, and gift cards that got lost in the bigger pockets. Each family member also has a clipboard for mail or forms that need signing. No more piles on tables! No more "where did that form go?" or "do you need anything signed?"

I love August. It's all about setting up systems that will carry us through the new school year, and I can't wait to see how this one works!

Friends that are Family

The kids are at Nana Camp, so Brad and I decided to make a quick trip to DC to see the newest member of our extended family:

 Meet sweet Mara Claire:

Tim and Amy are such amazing parents, and Mara is an absolutely precious baby. We were there for her one month birthday, and she is still just a tiny little nugget. We spent 24 hours snuggling her and catching up with Tim and Amy, and it was just lovely...and I'm missing her like crazy already.

Our Favorite Villain

Issa had another fabulous two week's at the studio's production camp! As soon as they announced that this year they would be bringing The Little Mermaid to the stage, Issa started dreaming of being Ursula. She really did not want to be Ariel because she "is so needy and threw everything away for a boy." (Proud parent moment there.) Her dream came true, and Issa played a very creepy Ursula:

 There was a little one sitting behind us, and she was actually scared of Issa until her uncle assured her he knew Issa and she was actually very nice:

 We were so proud! He face really told the story:

 And she just looked like she was having fun:

 Her technique was also amazing! She has grown so much this summer:

 She was just fun to watch:

 Even if she was a little too good at being evil:

 She had fun playing a princess, too:

 And creating her first stage battle:

We were also so proud of how hard she worked. Both teachers complimented how hard she worked not only on her choreography but also all the costumes and sets. And the little ones loved her!

I just love watching her grow, and we can't wait to see her the next time she takes the stage!