First Grade -- Check!

It's hard to believe that first grade has come and gone.  That was, without a doubt, the fastest nine months of the child's life.  And that's saying something, because they all seem to be speeding by on high octane fuel.

She had a great year, but was very excited for her 'first real summer vacation'.  Her other 'school' years just bled into summer -- the only change was that she had water play a couple of times a week. Now being at real school she has real summers and that means camp.  She's about to finish her first week of camp and she loves it.  It is everything Arden...crafts, music, swimming, boating, fishing and what is the current biggest hit, archery.


She has a couple of weeks of camp and then she'll go on to Camp Grandma Mary and Nonno.  They are staying for a few weeks post wedding and will get lots of quality Arden time.  Then it's back to camp in August and before we know it, second grade will be upon us.

I swear it feels like she was just born and now we're talking about second grade.  Amazing.

  First day

Last day

Here's To The Bride

Yesterday we finally had our pre-wedding sister bonding experience.  We'd originally planned on on a tour, tasting and dinner at Nashoba Valley Winery, but we had trouble lining up a sitter for the kiddo.  Given we are short on time (13 days, folks!) we opted to change the day around and had a picnic there instead.  They offer a 'gourmet picnic' for purchase, or you can bring your own food.  The only rule is any alcoholic beverage consumed must be theirs!  We ordered the picnic through them and the food was phenomenal.  We added on a cheese and fruit platter -- which turned out to be cheese, fruit, sausage, salami, crackers, pate, you name it.  It was a meal unto itself!

The weather was spotty at home but just 30 miles south we found the sun.  We dined, learned how they make their wine and spirits, tasted our fair share of their creations and just generally had a grand old time.  We will visit again!

Only missing Annette, she was serving as the photographer.

Picnic tables and green as far as the eye could see.

Arden played two hours of soccer while we were there.  Good thing we found her soccer ball earlier that morning.

What I love about this place is it's okay for a 6.5 year old to a) be there and b) play.

The gazebo just screams quaint.

In the Blink of an Eye

This year has flown.  Well, the school year has anyway.  Before this week my last post was the day she started school.  Somehow first grade has passed with the snap of a finger.  It has been one hell of a year.  Many ups, many downs.  More chaotic than we could have anticipated.  In fact, probably the most chaotic year since Arden arrived nearly 7 years ago.  We've all been running at top speed since September.  I'm hopeful summer will allow us all to slow down.

Arden starts camp on Monday and her excitement is palpable.  We visited the camp last weekend and she took off ahead of us, introduced herself to her fellow campers, asked questions of the counselors.  Montessori skills in action, it seems.  She will attend for a couple of weeks, and then spend some quality time with Grandma Mary and Nonno in July.  Once they head back to the desert she'll head back to camp.  We may even sneak a trip to Disney -- Florida in August, I must be really desperate for a vacation to event contemplate such a thing.

Well, it is practically dawn and I have yet to sleep so will end this now.  We're just a whisper away from the biggest event for the family in quite some time -- the wedding.  Amazing to think that the day is nearly here -- there are still many things we need to tie up!  Coupled with all of the end of school activities we are running at warped speed.  Stop the bus, I want to get off!

Rules

As do many of you, we have rules in our household.  One of those rules is not snuggling the kid to sleep because like a Pringle, it's never just one. She can't rely on us to help get her to sleep.  And I get it, I really do.  But then I'm reminded of how lucky we are to be able to snuggle her to sleep.  This is Lucy.



Lucy is a sweet little girl who was diagnosed with cancer 18 months ago.  Her family recently learned that her cancer is back, and this time, it's unbeatable.  Her parents and her siblings have only so many snuggles left.  So in honor of Lucy - break the rules.  Snuggle them to sleep.  Dance in the rain.  Let them stay up past their bedtime to watch the lightning out their window.  And spare a thought or two for this little girl and those who love her.

Technical Difficulties

First things first to my genius sister-in-law who helped me fix my technical difficulties.  I've been trying to log in and post for awhile and I couldn't get a posting screen on blogger.  With a switch from Internet Explorer to Firefox, we're back in business.

Saturday Ramblings

Well, technically it's Sunday.

I spent most of today purging our house. With Arden starting her new school on Tuesday I am trying to get the household organized. Everything changes with the new school year. Dora assumes the glamorous job of dropping the kiddo off while I will do pick-up. Breakfast at school is not longer an option so I'm coming up with creative breakfast ideas that Arden can eat in the car.

I bought some fancy new Bento style lunch boxes from www.easylunchboxes.com. Trying to get creative with the lunches too -- making interesting things that the child will approve of. Always a challenge. We are again in a nut free environment so there goes the idea of peanut butter sandwiches as a quick, easy and non-cold requiring option once in awhile.

Anyway, I did a total overhaul of the child's closet. It's now ready to fill with all the new clothes we've been acquiring over the past month or so. I finally parted with stuff that I was holding onto for no good reason. I even had a pair of tiny tights from her baby years hanging up in the closet. I think it's safe to say that 6-12 month sized tights will not fit the child.

We located the missing pieces from her school list today -- a 1inch black binder and dividers. The first day of school dress arrived yesterday (thanks Grandma Mary!), so all signs point to us being ready for Tuesday to arrive.

I just wonder if our emotions are ready...

Growing Pains

Another glamorous Monday in our lives. I've been thinking about motherhood a lot lately, and will elaborate in a more extensive post in the coming days. Suffice it to say, it's going too fast, I feel like I blinked and the last six years disappeared, and I fear that if I blink again she will be 12. We run and run and run and miss the most important things. So today after work and school, I didn't immediately deal with the chores that needed my attention. We played a few games of Crazy 8s and then went for a 2.5 mile walk with the dog. Halfway through the walk she took my hand. Someday soon she will think she's too big for that, won't she?

Here she is this morning, the first day of her last week at Little Sprouts ... she's been at this location of LS since she was around 18 months old. Next week will bring big changes.