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That is what we have done over the last week.  We have gone from the lazy days of August to the craziness that is September.  Between 4 days of school, getting the house back in order after being away, doctors appointments, canning tomatoes and salsa and a trip to our CSA......we were all EXHAUSTED.  It was a hard week and I am not sure who it was hardest on, the kids or me.  Based on the huge meltdown that I had on Friday afternoon over a dozen broken eggs (this meltdown was complete with tears, yelling and laughing), that it was ME. 

Looking around at the other mothers in town, most of whom are trying to cram in a whole lot more than me, September is crazy for everyone.  I have to remind myself to take a deep breath, focus on the important things (the KIDS) and let some things go (canning 3 types of salsa...really??).  I know it will take a month or so to get into our new routine and because of this we have planned lots of lazy mornings.  The beauty of afternoon preschool is that you have all morning to hang out in your jammies and play, that is if you schedule time for it.  So that is what we are trying to do at least 2 times a week.

So this CRAZY mom is trying to take this month in stride and while remembering those moments of peace during the lazy days of August. 

BTW...Sorry I have been absent from my favorite blogs.  I will be back around as soon as I can :)

First Day Jitters

Z had his first day of school yesterday and did GREAT!  He was very nervous about going but did not give me any trouble when it came time to get into the car (unlike the day before for Open House) and hopped right out when his teacher came to get him out of the car.  There were no tears, he kept busy and despite a "load of bees buzzing in his tummy all day" he did great!  I have a feeling his nerves will be in play for the entire month (he has started biting his nails again and was chewing on his shirt sleeve) but he is in an amazing environment and I know with time he will settle in and really like it.

When he got in the car I asked how it was this is how the conversation went:

Me:  How was school Z?

Z:  Great.....okay.....yes okay.  We couldn't go outside and I missed you mommy.

Me:  I missed you too but you probably had more fun at school than you would have at home.  I did laundry while C napped.  What did you like about today?

Z:  I don't like anything.  Well except the animal game I played with Mrs. T, the snake game, the number blocks.....(and he named about 5 other things).

Me:  It seems like a great school and I think you are really going to be very happy there.

Z:  Yeah.....

Over all he had only positive things to say.  He did say that he missed me and wishes he could be home but I explained that this school is an opportunity to learn new things and play with friends.  Today he had no problems going.  I am hoping this is a GREAT year for him!!!

Good Bye Summer

We got back late last night from three CRAZY and WONDERFUL weeks at the lake.  It was three weeks of sun, swimming, four whiny vocal children under 5, boating, Tropical Storm IRENE (we came home for two nights for the storm to "batten down the hatches" and lost power at home while they kept it at the lake), Physical Therapy 2x per week for me (my back), sand castles, daily trips to the general store at 6am with Lil' C (girl just wouldn't sleep), s'mores, star gazing, ice cream, birthday party for my niece and Z and so much fun with family and friends!!! 

While at the lake, whenever I would put Lil' C down for her nap or to to bed she would do a little "good-bye" routine.  As we walked up she would say "good-bye" to everything. "Good-bye beach, good-bye rock, good-bye water....etc.".  As we walked up the path yesterday afternoon, she went about her usual "good-bye" speech.  When she got to "good-bye" rock"  I started to cry.  There was a good chance that I would never hear this same little voice say "good-bye" to this rock.  It broke my heart and as she finished her "good-bye's", I added, "Good-bye Summer!"

Tomorrow school starts and we get back into the crazy school year routine.  Z is really nervous about starting but after dragging him to open house today (kicking, crying and screaming) he seems a little calmer now.  Please keep your fingers crossed :)
 

Making Memories....

It's been a summer of museums for us :)  Having the memberships has been so much fun for us and we have definitely gotten our money's worth (3x our money's worth at least).  The kids and I love to go in during the afternoon and explore the museums when they are quiet.  S can often join us around the dinner hour and it is a wonderful mid-week family experience.  I hope to continue (at least once a month) during the school year :)

Water Fun

The Life of a Bee

Captain of his Ship

Light Fun

T-Rex!!

Standing in Both Boston and Cambridge :)

Our Favorite Bees! 

Focus on the Family--September Edition

I cannot believe it is already September!!!  School will be starting soon and before we know it the leaves will be changing, apples picked and kids calling out "Trick or Treat".  We are in our last few days of summer before the formal routine begins.  With Z starting formal school this fall, I want to make sure that our goals help him to be successful.  He is very nervous about this transition and has so enjoyed being home.  So here are the goals!

Family Time

*Go on a family adventure

*Spend a weekend at the lake

*Spend some time with S's parents

*Have one family moment mid week, each week

 

Z and C Time

* Help Z transition into school

*Ease back into a formal routine

*Enjoy our mornings together

*Limit screen time
*Get OUTSIDE 
*Plan Z's Birthday

Momma Time

*Start Formal Exercise Program again (Turbo Fire??)
*Girls Night Out

*find some ME time each week

*Month 2 of my Happiness Project--Order

Momma and Papa Time

*Date Night

*Start 5 Hours a Week (more on that later)

*Home Date Night

Home Time

*Continue to fight clutter

*Start up Once a Month Cleaning Again

*Get back to healthy eating
*start using my soap nuts :)

Counting My Blessings
Summer was filled with many happy and lazy days.  As the craziness of the fall starts up, I hope to remember to keep our schedules simple with lots of free time.  I hope to continue to say "NO" to things in order for my children to have time to be children.  Childhood goes by too quickly and I want to make sure that they have plenty of time for play.

My Happiness Project--Monthly Themes

In the book The Happiness Project, Gretchen broke her year long "Happiness Project" into 11 focus areas (one each month) and used the last month as a "Bootcamp" to try out everything she had been working on.  I decided to follow the same set up for my own  "Happiness Project" but changed up the themes a bit to make them fit the things that I want to work on.  Here is my plan broken down by month :)

August--Attitude

September--Order

October--Energy

November--Marriage

December--Friends and Family

January--Relaxation

February--Being The Best Mom I Can Be

March--Simplify Life

April--Money

May--My Passion (Education??)

June--Fun

July--Month of Reflection

The Move to Montessori

In our state, the cut off for Kindergarten is September 30th.  All children who turn 5 by that day, should be enrolled in Kindergarten.   Z was born on September 26th and when I was in labor with him, I knew that no matter what sex the baby was, my child would be starting Kindergarten at age 6.  I had seen lots of kids in my days of teaching who August and September babies and were far behind either academically, socially or both.  I knew that the extra year would do my child a world of good and so from day one that was my plan.

My friend K feels the same way I do and her daughter A was born on September 1st.  A and Z attended preschool together and it was our plan to do 2 years of preschool, one year of private Kindergarten and then they would attend public Kindergarten the year they turned 6.  We ran this plan by the office at our elementary school were told that it was a fine plan.  K worked hard to find a private Kindergarten we could afford and everything was all set (or so we thought).

As a formality, I emailed the principal of the elementary school in April to see if there were any forms I had to fill out.  She informed me that Z would have to start Kindergarten this coming year and if I sent him to school next year at age 6, he would have to start first grade.  She said this was the law (well her interpretation) and that the only thing I could do would be to hide him for the next two years and then send him to first grade at age 7 (they wouldn't be able to force him into second grade without having first).  This news was like a blow to the stomach and K and I didn't know what to do.  We could fight it with the school board but I was not sure I wanted my son's education to hang on the decision of a group of strangers. The private Kindergarten he was signed up for was okay but not a place I wanted him to spend two years....what to do??

I had been hearing/reading a lot about Montessori and decided to do some research.  I had a few friends who sent their children there and I probably would have to if it had not been so much money.  I searched the internet, bought a book and fell in LOVE with what I read.  This truly was the perfect learning environment for Z.  I emailed the school in our area and there was a spot available for Z.....now I just had to convince S, break the news to K and figure out how the heck we were going to pay for the next two years of Montessori.

S was not hard to convince, especially after I told him it was only going to be an additional $120 a month (only....).  We would make more cuts to the budget and figure out a way to make it work.  We both wanted (needed) Z's next school experience to be a positive one and this felt like the perfect place for him!  K was sad at first but my decision forced her to look closely at her situation as well.  The school we had picked was a bit of a drive and with an infant, it was a lot for her.  She decided to go with a more expensive school closer to home which she LOVES.  It all worked out.

In a few short days, Z will start school at the Montessori.  I have loved our time at home together and I am going to miss him so much.  He will go every afternoon for 3 hours so we will still have our mornings together :)  I am confident that this experience will be a good one and I LOVE the teacher he will have.  So back to school we go next week......let's hope there are not too many tears.

Making Memories....

Good Old Fashioned Summer Fun :)

The end of summer always makes me sad, I use to hate when those Country Time Lemonade commercials would come on about the end of summer (I think I mention this every year ;)) or the millions of back to school ads.  I realize that most of the country is already back in school and even some New England Schools are going back super early this year....but I am not ready.   I plan to soak up every last minute and enjoy the fun with my kids!

Family Journal

 Back in May we started a Family Journal.  We fill it in a couple of times a week at lunchtime and Z loves to have me reread the past entries.  It is a great little memory keeper and I hope to one day go back and add photos to it.

We had tried this last year and drew little pictures with each entry.  I could not keep up with the pictures so the journal fizzled after about three weeks.  This time around I bought a blank journal at the bookstore, decorated the front and have kept it really simple....just words :)  We don't write about every day but try to make sure we write about the important events that happen.  It has been a great model for Z in the purpose and joy of writing and he was inspired to start his own journal :)  Lil' C has even gotten in the action and I gave her a blank composition book which she works to fill with her own "writing".

It has been a great thing for our family and it really gets the conversation flowing around the lunch table....lunch is often the meal that is the quietest around here.  We have even had S write a few of the entries when he is with us on the weekend.  I hope that this is the start of a long lasting tradition :)

My 10 Commandments :)

For my Happiness Project, I wanted to have my own set of Commandments to live by for the year.  Gretchen Rubin had 12 in her book but I felt 12 was too many for me :)  So 10 it is and here they are in no particular order:

1.  Keep it Simple

2.  Be ME

3.  Do it Now

4.  Just Say "NO"

5.  Let it Go!

6.  Act the Way I want to Feel

7.  Spread Joy

8.  Give Thanks

9.  Be Present

10.  Own Less, Experience More

Some of these were taken from Gretchen, others from her readers and some were things that I already try to do.  I have this list typed out and hope to post it in a few places.  Throughout this journey I hope use this list to help me be a better and happier person.   Last year's journey was all about Simplifying Life.  I want to continue that journey and weave it into this one and thus commandments one, four and 10 were born :)   I am very excited about this list and hope that someday soon they will all become apart of me so that I will no longer need to refer to the list.  Happy Day!