Leslie

The end of an era has come.  We will not be going to daycare every day and today was our last day. 

Lots of fun during one of the last weekends of summer

August brings a sense of urgency for me.  The clock is ticking toward a huge change in our daily routines and schedules have to be managed.  I know I'm not the only mother who feels it so that itself is comforting.  I try to prepare the kids as much as possible by lots of talks and lots of purging (rotating clothes in dressers, cleaning up papers, etc).  Samantha accomplished both her end-of-summer goals, tying shoes and riding her bike without training wheels.  Sofia is asking every day if she can go to preschool and it's a huge relief that she's really excited about it.  I'm trying to squeeze in as many summer adventures as possible.  Here's a smattering of what we've been up to:

We had a picnic at Minnehaha Falls...

We tried to take Grammy to Como, but ended up at our local zoo due to traffic and parking issues.  It was a good day, just not what we planned!

Family Reunion with Grammy and Horse back riding with Nana and Papa

We had a busy day!

We headed to Red Wing for a family reunion with Grammy's side.  It was at a park which allowed for plenty of play and enjoyed a huge spread of food.  Everyone enjoyed themselves and the afternoon flew by.  We had to head home for the next leg in our adventure.

Nana and Papa had the girls stay at their house (allowing Daddy and I to complete the much-delayed task of cleaning out the garage).  They visited Todd, Shelly, Jordan and Dylan which has become a beloved routine.  On Sunday, the girls went horseback riding. Both Samantha and Sofia reminded Nana not to step in poop.  Papa took Samantha who got a bigger horse (she repeatedly told me how her horse peed) while Nana took Sofie for her first time!  The girls loved it and as usual, cherished their time with Nana and Papa!

Family-oriented Saturday

Our day began with a trip to meet Uncle Todd and his family with Mitch and Marla, Nana and Cousin Julie at Como.  We looked at a few animals and headed to the adjoining amusement park for rides.  Sofia's favorite was the Tiltawhirl while Samantha preferred the roller coaster.  It was a quick visit, but we did manage to have lunch with Nana and Julie.

Once we got home, we made progress on a few projects.  Samantha "purged" her room by herself (!) while Sofie helped me pull weeds in the backyard.  Her desk is now ready for doing homework. It's our routine to prep for the school year by cleaning out things and it's a "skill" I hope both kids acquire.  There are no hoarders in this house! 

Reunion with Daddy

Daddy came home yesterday and the dynamic adjusted in our home. Sofie was tired and usually needs some time before she will accept Daddy, Samantha did her own thing for a while and was eager for some time with just her and her dad. I was exhausted so I wasn't matching Daddy's level of excitement, not that I wasn't happy to have him home! 3 weeks is long time (even if he returns on the weekend) and I'm honest about it being difficult. It's also empowering to know what I can accomplish and I'm proud of myself. I didn't rely on the TV and all the grandparents helped, as did Antie She. Thanks for the support!

Samantha and Daddy got their wish for some adventures as they spent all day at the Mall of America.  They went through the mirror maze, enjoyed plenty of rides and went to the aquarium.  Their relationship is special and that is how it should be.

1st grade playdate

This week we got together with a few other 1st graders to welcome a new student and chat.  Samantha's school principal came, which is one of the things that I love about the school.  The principal is a warm and caring guy.  Even though the weather wasn't perfect, the rain held off until a minute after we left and it was nice to spend some more time with Samantha.

I like to be involved with her school because it gives me a perspective I wouldn't have otherwise.  Samantha seems to appreciate my involvement and until her feelings change, I'll be there.

Another attempt at backyard camping

For the second year in a row, we ended up in sleeping bags on the floor at our friends house instead of in a tent due to rain.  We had a fabulous dinner, built a fire (thanks to the dads) for smores and had a great time playing.  The kids all enjoyed Namaah's make-up kit, riding bikes and plenty of giggling at bedtime.  The next morning we loaded the kids up for bagels and coffee for the moms.

Maybe next year we'll manage to stay outside!

Canoeing with Samantha

Today we were able to return to a new favorite park for some quality time, just me and Samantha. We were overdue on an adventure with just us and this was a great idea!

I haven't been canoeing since the adventure with Daddy and Antie She when I was pregnant with Samantha. It was fun and Daddy would've been proud of me because I did well getting us around!

Samantha also did well even though she tired out quickly. Not only was it physically exerting, but it was Thursday night and she had spent most of the day in a pool. She spent most of our time on the water telling me where she wanted me to go and to hurry. (I wisely chose to have sense of humor about it.)  We were playing a game to retrieve sponges and Samantha's competitive streak came out a bit.  There are times I feel like I'm looking into a mirror when I'm with her, which makes me a little scared, but very proud too.  It is such a honor to be her mom!