Grown Up Neighborhood Party

Our friend Megan's 40th birthday occurred recently and her family planned a surprise party for her - no kids allowed!  We figure it may have been the first time the neighbor friends have been together with out our kids, ever.  We all felt some how more free (even if all the babysitters weren't!) and had a great time.  It's so great to have such good and fun friends nearby!

Here are the ladies, waiting for the birthday girl to arrive.  That's Norah & Roddie's Mom (me), Erin & Allie's Mom, Leilani & Genevieve's Mom, Lauren & Sarah's Mom and Connor & Evie's Mom.

Me, Jen, Marsha, Lisa and Jennie.

Lori (Kaydee, Kayla and brand new Kaira's Mom, Jen, Me, Birthday Girl Megan, Marsha and Lisa)

The men, were indeed there as well.  There's Connor & Evie's Dad, Lauren & Sarah's Dad, Leilani & Genevieve's Dad, Norah & Roddie's Dad and Erin & Allie's Dad.

Brian, Keith, Bud, Matt and Dan

Norah News: First Day of First Grade!

Norah started first grade this year!  This is the first year of "real" school- full days, and I can already see, a lot more content!  While she honed her reading skills last year, she has really taken off and moved to chapter books, meaningful independant reading and is coming home with a plethora of new facts (as compared to skills) that she's learned.  It is really exciting to see her learning, growing and thriving!

Unlike last year, we live in a house and not a trailer as school begins.  Turns out our front porch is a great place for back to school photos!  Norah was really excited about getting back to school.  We had a great summer, but she was ready to get back to the business of learning!

Pondering the year ahead

Big girl, first grade!

Little bro is too cool for school!  Yer.

Mommy and Norah waiting for the gang to head off to school

Not taking ourselves or the day too seriously

The OWR Kids, Jack, Norah and Kayla. 

Around the corner, we picked up Erin and Allie

The whole gang from the hood on the first day (L-R) Kayla, Norah, Jack, Erin, Allie, Cameron, Leilani, Delaney and early achiever Kyra along for the ride!

First grade also brought about Irish Step dance class, instead of the tap and ballet she's been doing for years.  So far, it's a big hit with both Norah and Erin, who is trying dance for the first time this year.

Foto Friday

Norah News: First Solo Vacation

Due to circumstances beyond my control (My Babysitter moved to California!) I was in a bit of a bind for childcare during the last week of summer.  For some reason, there is no available child care for school aged children this last week before school starts!  I wasn't terribly worried, I had back-up plans - her sisters, our old sitter and an unemployed friend, or worst case, I would work at home/take off the week.  Turns out all of those fell through and I was in a real bind.  Thankfully, I live in an awesome neighborhood with awesome friends, several of whom came to my rescue!  

 

The first part of the rescue week entailed Norah joining her friends Erin and Allie and their parents for part of their week-long vacation in Maine.  (Now that's friendship!)  We drove her up on Sunday, spent the afternoon on the beach and headed back to real life after dinner.  I was a little anxious, but as you can see, Norah was just fine.



Jen, knowing I was a little anxious about this whole thing, sent me pictures throughout the two days she was with them.  Norah is right between the two girls in age, so the three of them can be as thick as thieves.  This was the shot from the first night

Movie Time!

The next morning, by the time I got to work, Norah was enjoying their traditional vacation breakfast - fresh donuts.  Good thing she got sugared up, since she looks so sad...

They had a busy couple of days, beach, arcade, trolley ride, ice cream, mini golf... it was hard to keep track!  Jen called me a few times to let me know how she was doing, and tried to get Norah on the phone.  Sadly (for me), but awesome (in the big picture) mostly all I heard from Norah was a whisper to Jen, in the background "I don't really want to talk right now"  Sure, a small part of me wanted her to need me, but overall I was really proud of her!  We didn't plan this trip because I thought she was ready for such an adventure (though clearly she was) so the working mom guilt thing was weighing heavily on me. 

While they were mini golfing, apparently Jen was snapping pictures of the girls and someone asked if she wanted a family pic with her three daughters.  Laughing to herself, she agreed.  Kind of seems fitting, given the way the kids were back and forth between our houses and yards all summer. 

"Family" Vacation Portrait.

When she came back, she seemed like an older, more mature version of herself.  Still our Norah, but with a new sense of confidence or maturity about her.  I am so thankful for such great friends!

BFFs!

Foto Friday

Roddie Report: You're Finally 4!

Roddie, I can’t believe you’re actually 4 years old! In part because the time has flown by since the summer of 2010 when I was so, so very pregnant with you… it was a long summer for me with heat waves and all, but your arrival was worth it all in the end.  Do you know, we almost did the house addition that summer?   We must have been crazy to consider it, and in many ways I am glad we didn’t do it until later.  I think part of why you and your sister are so close is that you shared a room for the first 3 years of your life! The bigger reason I can’t believe you’re 4 is because in my mind, you’ve been 4 for months already.

As an oldest, I always figured, that if I had two kids, that there was no way that I’d treat the older and the younger the same.  Well, buddy, I’m here to tell you, sometimes you just can’t help it.  Sometimes this isn’t the best thing, for you, as I expect too much, and Norah, when I don’t give her enough freedom.  Dad and I are working on this, so be patient with us, and rest assured you will NOT drive a car at 14 just because your sister is.

You’re a mama’s boy right now, and I love it.  I know that someday soon you’re going to outgrow it, and prefer smelly boy stuff over your mom, so for now I cherish each and every kiss and snuggle.  It happened with Norah (around age 4 in fact), and it will  happen to you.  You are a sweet, cuddly boy, generous with your hugs.  Don’t tell Dad, but I look forward to your visit every morning for a snuggle before I get up.  You’re a smart kid, you never show up too early.

Mamas boy or not, a boy needs his Dad, and I see you light up when you and Dad get to do guy stuff together – not runs to the “po, but fishing, or T-Ball, tossing a football or catching a wave.  I can do these things with you, but I was never the athlete Dad was and it really doesn’t seem to hold the same shine.  Buddy, just so you know, that’s just fine with me, I’ll be there cheering you on no matter what you’re playing. 

It freaks me out to think that you’re starting school soon. I feel like I spent more time on readiness with Norah, but then I remember, you just turned 4!  You know all your letters and their sounds, you’re doing great with counting, you know the days of the week, all your colors and you’re able to understand and remember the plots of all your favorite stories – including some long ones I would never have read to Norah.  You see buddy, that’s the up side of being the second in line, sometimes when you get pushed a little, you rise to the occasion!

You like all things fast – the obvious things, like cars and planes, but also fast flip flops and shorts.  I am not totally clear on how you define such things as fast or not, but it’s clear to you.  I guess you’re just a fast guy!

You do a great job at keeping up with the big kids.  I don’t know if you’ll remember this when you’re older, but there are a lot of kids Norah’s age in the neighborhood, but not so many your age – at least not that we know yet.  Don’t worry though, I’m on the lookout for pals for you, and I am certain that we’ll find them when you start school next year.  Plus, the big kids won’t seem so much bigger as the years go by.  And, they’re mostly girls, so I am guessing that you’re going to go to a lot of proms.

You love music, especially your guitar.  When you’re a little older, we’ll start you on some music lessons.  This is important, because we have something called the “Family Jam Band”, and I’ve been pretty lacking in my contributions.  I hope you can make up for meJ 

You’re a little anxious at times, and I worry about that.  I hope that you’ll outgrow it, at least a little.  There is so much life to live that I would hate to see you miss out.  Dad and I are doing our best to build you up and give you the confidence you need.  See, this ins one of those times I forget you are only 4.  I think this is one reason why you have a few close pals and are not the social butterfly your sister is.  That’s ok buddy, quality over quantity when it comes to friends. 

We’re going to give hockey a try this year.  We’ll see how you like it, you’ve shown a consistent interest in hockey, or at least the idea of it since you were pretty young.  I am sure it was re-enforced by Papa, when he gave you those hockey sticks a few years ago.  You see, you and Papa seemed to have a special bond since you were very young.  Maybe because he waited almost 40 years for a boy in the family.  Anyway, that could all change soon, you have 2 more cousins on the way!

So Roddie, these are the things I want to remember about you when you turned 4.  I hope you forever remain my sweet loving boy, and it’s ok with me if you also move on to smelly boy stuff too.

Roddie report : hockey day at our house

Foto Friday

Foto Friday