Mr. Grasshopper

We have a little resident in my organic basil plant (from Costco...I love Costco). Hello Mr. Grasshopper.

I can't believe how well this basil plant is doing... given most plants come to my house to wither away and die. Also... often I have to wait for the bees to stop gathering nectar before I can gather some basil for dinner. I'd like to say it's because I'm very in-tune with nature...but it's because I'm a big chicken and I don't want to get stung again. (I was stung on a 4th year hike when I was a teen at Girls Camp...IN.MY.EAR. I had to yank that sucker out of my ear...so gross)

Hopper's self-portrait

This is Edward Hopper - when he was a kid he was extremely tall. So he was nicknamed "grasshopper". Hopper is the artist my first grader is learning about this month as part of the parent-volunteer art program for the entire elementary school. I love this program. It's self-funded through fund-raisers. The kids all learn a different track of artists each year. Last year I volunteered in the kindergarten class and felt like I was getting a chance to do the art I never really did as a kid. With each lesson we learn about the artist's life and do a project to reinforce the art from each specific artist. The kids have a blast.




This is Edward Hopper's "The Long Leg". He loved boats. His paintings often evoke solitude. He was a very solitary, lonely, quiet man.

Preschool Days

My little one, Dauntless Daughter (DD), who is almost 4YO, started her second year of preschool this Tuesday. I think school should never start until after labor day. It's just cruel otherwise. So while big sister AGG has been in school for a month, DD and I have gotten the chance to read, put together puzzles, cuddle, clean and run errands. Luckily she only goes to school three days, so I still have a little buddy to hang out with.



She received a father's blessing the night before and was so excited! Of course she warned us. "Momma, I am going to be just a little bit nervous."


She was.


Then, when we went to pick her up - she was her bubbly little self.


DD has some great teachers. They are sisters. They did an in-home visit prior to school, and did a play date for all the kids a week before school started. I love the energy and enthusiasm these lovely ladies have.


Picking up our little sweetheart.

School Days

Saw this adorable line-up when I went to pick up AGG

Can you believe how grown up and composed she is this year?

I thought I had prepared well.



We were afternoon kindergarten last year.


So knowing school starts before 8am...is daunting.


We had a back-to-school night meal. Simple, fresh and filling.

simple chinese chicken salad with green beans, salt and pepper garlic olive oil pasta w/rosemary asiago cheese, corn green beans and Parmesan, fried egg, artichoke

Last night I packed a water, half turkey sandwich with Havarti, string cheese, dried mangoes and some natural Cheetos into my 5YO, Avant Garde Gal's lunch box. I planned to cut up an apple for her in the morning.



We picked out her first day of school outfit. Read stories, had a family prayer...We had her back pack filled with her supplies - the house was organized for the big day. She had a father's blessing to start off the school year. We bathed, and got to bed early. We were set.

Bright and early, and on-time!

Then, the iPhone alarm I set for 6:30am did not wake me up. I woke with a start at 7:15am. We needed to leave at 7:35-7:40am to be on-time.



I rushed to get the girls up, while my husband snoozed.

I ran downstairs to prepare a quick breakfast and slice up the apple - as the pancake and eggs had to be shelved for another day.


I reached into the fridge to pull out my daughter's lunch box to find...

IT WAS NOT THERE.

*queue panic*

"how do you get to school chart"

I turned to the kitchen island to discover that my husband had left it out all night. He had removed it to get milk after we were all in bed, and as is typical fashion, simply forgot and left something that could spoil out of the fridge. At least it wasn't the milk, or juice, or sandwich meat this time.

*queue irritation*

This year they sit at their own desks!

So - I had to rush to remake a turkey/Havarti sandwich, throw out the cheese as well and then make sure my sweet AGG had a few bites of cereal, bagel and apples as we ran out the door.

Mrs. D...love both their dresses

Thankfully we all made it in time.

*queue relief*

Mrs. N... both are super friendly and kind

Turns out we were also lucky to have the two teachers who allowed the parents to enter the classroom with our kids. Already - I am thrilled. Looks like we'll be blessed a second time with fabulous teachers. In fact, Mrs. D called AGG yesterday afternoon to welcome her to class. Hello extra mile... I am so grateful for mother-heart teachers who pay attention to the small things that make a lasting difference.




AGG did remarkably well. Brilliantly. When we got home I could tell she was exhausted... in the "about to have a breakdown" stage. So we got home, sat on the couch and I rubbed her legs (she gets growing pains now and again). She also ate her entire lunch...except for a few Cheetos and dried mangoes. I was so impressed, that's more than the entire year of lunches I sent last year for her. We chatted...and for the next hour she calmed down and I got to hear all about her first day. I hope this comfortable pace is here to stay.

End of the day... putting my homework (forms to fill out) in her back pack to go home!

Day 1 done.

How many more left?

*queue exhaustion*

AGG's classroom is right next door to our fabulous, brilliant, heroic Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. E. We love Mrs. E.