Frances's First Field Trip

Frances had her first field trip to Farmers Market. They got to take the Max train from their school downtown to the market and back. It was just one big ball of awesome. The weather was amazing, the colors of the market were incredible, and the kids are spectacular. I remember chaperoning when Henry's class went...with Frances in the Bjorn...and so it was a bit surreal to now be there with Frances and have Maggie in the Bjorn. I love preschoolers. I have been staying late at drop off every day and playing. Today the teacher said "you are going to be so sad to go back to work because you won't get to play as much". Hit the the nail on the head on that one. Sniffle sniffle.

Closer to 40 than I am to 30

I crossed the line...the one that is closer to 40 than 30. Yes, I turned 36. On my last birthday I was a bit worried that I was now officially "advanced maternal age" and hoping that I could get pregnant and have a healthy child. I am thankful and in awe that a year later I have Miss Maggie in our life...even if I now have the lovely pounds of pregnancy to work off. My parents gave me THE BEST present ever...a weekend in San Diego at their place, while they babysat the kids. We had a great time. Mark kept saying how relaxing it was having just a baby -- oh the perspective you have when you have three. We ran on the waterfront, went to the farmers market, a Padres game, and went to a birthday party for my Aunt Pat. I adore my Aunt Pat's daughters, they are like cousins to me, and it was a hysterical night filled with laughter and stories.


On the way home from the birthday party....at 11:30 at night....Mark declared that he had to satisfy his In and Out craving. So, we found one and drove there. It was us....and the 20 year olds who were just starting their night. I felt old and young all at the same time. A really healthy way to kick off my 36th year. On our flight home today the airplane was completely full. Mark is an MVP so he got first class. In a wonderful act of kindness, he gave me the first class ticket. I wasn't going to bring Maggie with me to the fancy schmancy section...but there was another baby there....so I figured I would go for it. It was sheer bliss. I plan on winning the lottery so that I can travel in that fashion from this point forward. 

Timbers!!!

Through Henry's soccer team we got tickets to the Timbers game. The first fourteen parents that responded also got their kids into the "fan tunnel". Since I am still on maternity leave....I was quick...and Henry got in. Holy moly. I had no idea that being in the fan tunnel meant that Henry was going to be on the field!! It was a bit unnerving to have him taken away from me to go on the field (no parents allowed), but after I bought my beer and sat in the stands I felt better (hee hee). I seriously got goose bumps on my neck when I saw my little man walk out on the field. He loved it. In fact, he loved it so much that they put a close up shot of him looking in awe at the players on the big screen. So cool. I wish I had brought a better camera, but you get the gist. 

Maggie is 3 Months!

 

Frances at 3 months....

 Henry at 3 months...

Miss Maggie turned three months......WHAT?? She continues to be a wonderful baby that has learned the art of being the third child -- roll with it. She discovered her hands and feet and how she can use them to move things. Her concentration and focus to hit an object within reach is admirable....perhaps she is training to be able to defend herself against her siblings? I am cherishing and soaking up the many alone moments I have with her now that Frances and Henry are in school.....and starting to get a knot in my stomach when I think about going back to work. 


Above are pictures of Henry (rockin the jean overalls) and Frances (hello Blondie). 

Five Days of Preschool.....Five Dresses

As most of you know, prior to September 7th Miss Frances had a long standing boycott on wearing dresses unless forced to wear them for a special holiday.

That said, when we went preschool shopping, she choose a dress to wear the 1st day. I thought it was fluke. Five days later, she has worn a dress everyday to school.

My friend Brooke said it best -- it is like we have a WHOLE new wardrobe of clothes in the closet and we didn't have to go shopping.

Bowling to Escape the Heat

After a packed day of the festival, the Chinese Garden and Henry's soccer game, we dashed over to Grand Central bowl to escape the heat and get our "bowl" on with friends Anna and Brian and their three kids. In a nod to how old I am getting, Henry scored more points than I in both rounds of bowling. The decline has started...

Under the Harvest Moon

Chinatown had an "Under the Harvest Moon" celebration. The celebration itself was a bit on the cheeseball side...but if you went, the kids got a stamp to get into the Chinese Garden for free...which was MAGICAL. I don't think we brought much "zen" to the garden or to the people that had probably visited it for that reason, but we enjoyed every moment. They had a great guide that walked the kids through the experience and kept them focused on looking out for new things. Wish I could bring a piece of that tranquility home...

Pool Party

We went to our friends Dan and Emily's house for dinner. They had received a blow up pool from a neighbor that the packaging showed it to be huge and spacious. After filling it with with her own breath....it was discovered to be a bit smaller...but just as awesome for the kids. It had a basketball hoop...so it was pretty much Henry's (and therefore Frances's) dream. I couldn't get a good picture of my kids because they were running and dunking, but was able to get a great picture of Ellie squealing with joy. It was a lovely summer night.

Frances Goes to Preschool!!

Today was a very big day in our household. Frances had her first day of preschool. I knew it was going to be a phenomenal day of firsts when she actually wore the dress that SHE had picked out. Yes, a dress. She also wore the sweet jean jacket she picked out...even though it is in the mid 90s here. Joan Jett - eat your heart out. She also insisted on wearing a flower hair clip...and that I wear one too so that we were twins.

When we got to preschool she was a bit nervous and clingy. BUT...then she found the area with the babies in it and the play began. She also felt very comforted because a tree that Henry had made when he was a preschooler is in the classroom and she remembers it fondly and I think it makes her feel like a piece of him is in the room. Finally, I told her that in five minutes I would need to leave. Three minutes later she told me "Mom, it is time for you to go now". Seriously. I swallowed the lump in my throat and walked out with a equal dose of pride at her independence and sadness that my little girl is now more independent and won't be home with me all day.

When I picked her up,she so proud of herself...and EXHAUSTED. Her teachers said she was very talkative (wonder who she takes after?) and told MANY stories. One teacher said that during recess, she took a break and sat down next to her. After a moment or so Frances turned to her and said "I just LOVE everyone". Classic Frances.

Tonight when putting her to bed I hugged and kissed her and told her that I was so proud of her and how brave she was and that I knew she would be so happy in preschool.

As I reached her door she said "Thank you!". I asked her why she was saying Thank You and she said "For getting me preschool".

A top ten day as a parent.

First Day of First Grade

We officially have a child in grade school -- hello 1st grade! Henry is really excited about the new year and we are excited to see how much more he will grow and all that he will learn. In typical Colleen-fashion, we were running a bit behind, so we had to run up the hill to school -- me pushing the stroller - and so by the time we got to the classroom I, Henry and Frances were all sweating. Lovely first impression.

Labor Day in Manzanita

We went to Manzanita for Labor Day. On Saturday it was HOT....like a wear a bathing suit in the ocean hot.....which is pretty much unheard of in Oregon. As we were sitting on the beach, while our kids played in the water, Mark looked at me as said "By the way, we have been transported to the Jersey Shore". Brookie and Josh came down, which made it even more fun. We had our friends over on Saturday night that have a son that is going to preschool with Frances. After a bit of warm up time, Frances walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders....and then his chest....and then she asked him to play upstairs. Oh boy.