Girls' weekend.

Man, have I been spoiled this summer! First a week with my mission buddies and then a weekend with some of the greatest high school friends a girl could ask for. Our catching up cost us an entire night's sleep (we went to bed shortly after I usually get up - 6:30 a.m.!) and I might still be reeling from the impact. The years have shaped us (and I'm not talking about our muffin tops) and it's refreshing to see how we each have a deepened sense of self that is evident in the way we approach life and motherhood. It was so fun to reconnect, laugh, cry, and support one another. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy friends - especially those with whom I share childhood memories. Until next time...

Everything she needs to know she's learning in kindergarten.

At least that what Lily thinks. She revels in school. She even made sure to let me know that the stations we had during the month of August when we had "homeschool" are not as fun as the ones in kindergarten. Well, Miss Lily, during the stations we did at home, you actually learned something more than how to cut out squares. For the record.

She continued on, expressing how much she LOVES learning and I validated her for a few minutes before wondering to myself, does she think that school is the only place of learning? I asked her where she learned to garden. Answer: home. To read? Oh yeah, home. How about addition? Home. The gospel. Church. Oh wait, I mean, home! (I had to prod her on that one.) How to grate cheese, clean the windows, ride a bike. Home, home, home. Tim and I went on and on. I think we made our point. But I'm not insecure about my child misaligning who's doing the real teaching or anything. Really.

Out of the mouths of babes.

A couple of weeks ago, after a successful Family Home Evening lesson, we took a moment to discuss reverence. We talked about how being quiet enables us to better feel the Spirit. I then asked why that is. Lily, without hesitation, responded, "Because it speaks in a still, small voice." So, so true. It's been on my mind lately, and I've been keenly aware of what I do (and don't do) that hinders my ability to be guided by the Spirit, to receive answers to my prayers. And, as I've made a few changes in my daily habits, I have noticed the difference. I'm more patient, more kind, more aware of the needs of others, better able to prioritize, and more keen on discerning truth from error. In a world full of "noise", I am grateful for this priceless gift.

Seriously?

Rachel pooped in the floor vent in her room. As she put it, she was "too tired to run to the bathroom". Just another way in which she follows in her big sister Anna's footsteps. Now I just have to wait a couple more years for her to defecate in the sandbox. Oh wait, we got rid of it.

What the?

Time is precious. I inserted every little detail of my schedule until December into my iTouch last night. Every soccer practice and game, swimming lesson, carpool, snack for kindergarten, Joy School lesson, field trip I've agreed to attend, volunteer assignment, church meeting, playgroup. I could go on and on. It took me somewhere in the ballpark of an hour and a half. Then, this morning as I was scheduling a doctor's appointment for Eve, I glanced at this Thursday and realized (it was fresh in my mind, you see) that several events were missing. All of them, in fact. Sometime between inputting my life into my beloved iTouch and resting my head upon my pillow last night, every bit of data disappeared. Gadgets are wonderful. Except when they aren't. I'm backlogged on blog posts up the wazoo. But I'll be organizing my life tonight. For the second time. Blech.

Joy school. Take three.

She's been groomed for Joy School. I went into labor with her the very day I taught Joy School when Anna was that age. She's attended with both sisters, wishing to be big, but just grateful for the opportunity to be included. This summer, I struggled to find a solid group with which to do Joy School. It was truly down to the wire. After doing it for the past four years, I couldn't even fathom what I would do with Rachel if everything didn't come together. Preschool is too expensive for my tastes (and unnecessary, really) but I SO wanted her to have a regular, positive, social experience and Joy School (which teaches values) has always been my cup of tea. It sounds silly, but it was important enough to me that I prayed repeatedly for it to work out. And it did. Thank heaven. I'm grateful for another year of working with kids at this tender (and yet difficult) age. Especially my kids - who seem to take the terrible threes to a whole new level. Thank you to all the moms who are willing to take on this adventure with me.

Tomato harvest.

Our overall harvest this summer left plenty to be desired. I suppose that's to be expected when it's still snowing in late May. But check out this baby!

First day of school.

Sigh. The summer is over. I can tell Anna is growing up because she faced this new year of school (at a new school, no less) with a whole lot of courage. I am so proud of her and optimistic about what this year will bring. So far, I'm impressed that she comes home talking less about who was mean to her and more about what she has learned. Driving her 25 minutes away 6 times a week is proving to be a huge commitment, but I relish the decompression time she gets to spend with me instead of on the bus. I pay for it the days she is gone for 9 hours instead of 7. And I miss her, too.
Lily was born to go to school. There must be something in the name because she is an exact copy of "Lilly" in Kevin Henkes' books. She asked every day for the entire month of August when school would start. I'm trying to pretend that it was the terrific job I did "homeschooling" her a few weeks before school started that inspired her (instead of the alternative: that she was tired of having me as a teacher). Phew. I'm glad I don't have to answer that question anymore. Upon fetching her from kindergarten every day, she is keen on revealing what new friends she made and how much she LOVES station time. It's gonna be a good year.