Loyal. Forever. True.

 College football starts this weekend! Although I'm afraid I already know what's in store for the Cyclones, I'm still super pumped.  I'm excited to wake up on Saturday mornings and put on my Cyclones gear.  I'm excited to go through the emotions of close games and even blow-outs (really, I am).  And I'm excited because, in honor of opening weekend for college football, our friends Isaac and Kari are coming to visit.  There will be lots of football watching, swimming, catching up, and laughing this weekend!

Long story short: a teacher at work is from Iowa, and her friend who still lives in Iowa was bringing her freshman daughter to Ames a few weekends ago to move her in.  She took this gem of a picture at a house in Campus Town:

I know it's a little frightening, but it sure makes me laugh for two reasons: 1. I feel like I know those guys (my husband probably would have been one of them), and 2. just ... COLLEGE ... what's not to love?! (and miss?!)  Don't tell me you're not just a little jealous of those young, hip collegians.

Steve and I purchased our tickets for the December game at TCU.  I don't foresee a Bowl game in our future (again), so it will probably be the last game of the season for the Cyclones.  Still, we can't wait to go cheer on our beloved Clones and hang out with a bunch of alumni wearing cardinal and gold.

We are ALL IN. Loyal. Forever. True.

Great Success!

Sara's first day of school was a great success!  She and Steve walked to school this morning; he stayed for about fifteen minutes to find her classroom and get her settled, and then he left her busy chatting with a new friend.  When I picked her up this afternoon, she said she'd had a great day.  For specials, her class went to music, and she thought eating in the cafeteria was really cool.  She's planning to buy lunch on Friday when it's pizza day.  This evening Sara was also quick to announce, "I don't even have any homework yet!"  I'm so thrilled and relieved that she had a good day ... starting well is so important. 

 

Emma isn't in any pictures because she refused to pose for any this morning.  Her start was a little rough: first, she was very aware of the fact that she and Sara were going to different places; second: she was totally unhappy when I handed her over to her teacher this morning.  I had to make a quick escape.  But like I knew would happen, she was fine a few minutes after I left and she ended up having a great day.  When we asked her this evening, she responded "yes" to whether she liked school and whether she made friends.  So in the end, great success!

I know we'll all be dragging by Friday ... we are already exhausted and plan on sleeping well tonight.  In fact, the two school-goers are already asleep.  And that, friends, is a great success!  Happy School Year!

All About Sara

My sweet Sara is starting kindergarten tomorrow.  Her teacher's name is Ms. Blanks, and though I know nothing about her, just knowing her name is exciting.  In honor of Sara's new favorite word, which she uses liberally: I know it's going to be a totally great year.

 

A couple weekends ago, Sara and I spent a great Saturday together.  We shopped for school clothes and had lunch at Chipotle.  We had a really fun time together, and of course came home with loads of new gear.  Although it didn't surprise me, it was funny to watch Sara shop and sort through the "cute" clothes and the ones that just wouldn't do.  She also managed to talk me into a purse and some new sunglasses - since those are so essential in a five-year-old's wardrobe.

On Thursday of this past week, Sara lost her second tooth!  I don't think I lost a tooth until 1st grade, so Sara's totally in the lead here.  Her first permanent tooth is just starting to pop through.  The Tooth Fairy has decided to continue with a decent yet modest $1 donation per tooth.

The other weekend Sara got to spend some special time with her Papa and Mamas ... and like the title of this post, it was all about her.  They took her to Chuck E Cheese and to a big event in their neighborhood, which included bounce houses, face painting, and even a visit with some Disney princesses.  She came home happy and exhausted!

 

To round out her camp-going this summer, Sara had cheer camp this past week, and she had a lot of fun.  On Friday, Steve and I were both able to sneak away from work for a little bit for the end-of-camp exhibition.  Ms. Mayra brought Emma to it, too, and Sara was thrilled to see us all in the audience.

Her squad did a jump sequence, four cheers, and then a dance with the other squads.  Sara got to lead one of the cheers, and did a great job.  We've been hearing lots of "Y-E-L-L, everybody YELL, YELL!" around here.

 

It's hard to believe this summer has come to an end.  I am so aware of how much impact these next few years will have on Sara - they hold such potential to shape her as a learner and as a person.  For the first time, I truly understand the mix of fear and excitement (and cryball in the throat) parents feel when they literally hand over their children and say, "System, do your thing ... and please do right by my baby."  I trust the system (I am the system), and I believe in my baby.  Her first day outfit has been selected, and her backpack is ready to go.  We've read "The Night Before Kindergarten" multiple times ... I think we've covered our bases, and we're as ready as we'll ever be.  Kindergarten, here comes Sara Noel Brittain! 

a lesson in pool safety

Today we all  got an unexpected lesson in pool safety.  Steve and Sara were already swimming as Emma and I were making our way outside.  All of a sudden, a baby bunny, who lives in our bushes that back up to the fence, fell into the pool.  When Steve went to scoop him out, the bunny must have gotten scared because he floundered around and swallowed a bunch of water.  Steve put the bunny in a towel and laid him on the driveway to dry off.  He was barely breathing.  The girls desperately wanted to pick him up and take care of him, but saw that he was tired and needed to sleep.  All the while, Steve and I were just hoping we wouldn't have to explain what it meant if the bunny didn't wake up.

 

While the bunny dried out, we all got back in the pool and checked on him occasionally.  He looked so small and sad as he struggled.  After a while, Steve decided the bunny had dried and should be moved to the shade.  When he set it in a shady spot, the bunny opened his eyes, got up, and hopped away.  We were all happy that the bunny was okay, and totally relieved that we wouldn't be hosting a burial behind our house.

We couldn't have planned it better ourselves: a good hands-on science + pool safety lesson with a happy ending.  Excitement at its finest.

Little Drummer Girl

Sara's trashcan may never be the same because Emma has discovered that it makes great sound.

Book Talk

Well, I did what I said I was going to do: after a hiatus of nearly 11 years, I finally finished the Harry Potter series.  I'm so glad I did.  I had forgotten how great those books are.  It's amazing how quickly you can fly through 800 pages when you're engaged and excited by the writing!

I read about The Interestings in a magazine, and then found the Kindle version cheap on Amazon.  This story follows a group of six friends who find each other at a summer camp for fine arts in the 1970s.  They call themselves "The Interestings", and their shared summer at camp forever permeates their relationships.  Some of the friends stay close, while others take different paths; they each deal with their own successes and struggles, finding that the baggage they carry weighs heavily on their lives.  The book took some turns I didn't necessarily expect, and although it's not one of my very favorites, it kept me turning the pages, wondering what might come next.

My sister sent me her copy of The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates.  This is the true story of two boys (now men) named Wes Moore, who grew up in the same neighborhood in Baltimore in the '80s-'90s.  Both are black and were raised by single mothers. Both were privy to violence, drugs, and the high murder rates that plagued their community.  One became a Rhodes Scholar, and one is spending his life behind bars.  It's amazing the trajectory our lives can take, and how fine the line and circumstances are between success and failure, freedom and imprisonment.  This book is highly worth your time.

"In a good book the best is between the lines."

Swedish Proverb

Das Boot!

When your five-year-old makes flowers for the the kitchen table, and can't find a vase, and then says, "Hey, let's use that glass boot thing that's in the cabinet under the stove," and goodness knows we're not filling it and passing it around much these days (although, why not?) ... das boot!

Ten Things

I spend a lot of time worrying, stressing, wishing I had something I don't, etc. ... and I think that's pretty normal.  But it's also unnecessary weight to carry.  There is no return on investment.  It's so much better - and more enjoyable - to focus on the good things (the very significant or the just-for-fun).  In an attempt to provide therapy for myself, here are ten things, in no particular order, that are great about my life at the moment:

1.  School is right around the corner, and Sara is SO ready for kindergarten.  I quizzed her the other day on spelling our last name and reciting our address, counting to 100, and reading her sight words.  This girl is ready to go, and I couldn't be more excited for her.

2. I live in a house that I love.  Sure, my master bathroom looks like it's out of another decade (or another century, really), but it's big and it works, and someday when I have an extra $10,000+ hanging around, I'll update it. (There's a joke in there somewhere.)

3. Emma's speech is finally starting to blossom, which is cutting down on the tantrums.  She's still loud and proud when she has one, but communicating makes life easier.  She even uses hand gestures now when rambling about something we can sort of, maybe, halfway understand.

4. My kids have a lot of things, but I can still thrill them with a $1.89 purchase.  May simple pleasures always abound.

 

5. I really love my husband.  I know that may sound obvious or brag-gy or cliche or ... whatever ... but it's true. I know that a lot of people live in loveless marriages, and I'm thankful that I don't.  And it's not because we're so good at it or because it comes easily; it's because, even when it's hard, we choose each other every day.  I know I'm lucky to have this constant in my life.

6. I love to read and I have the means to help myself to good books.  I'm in the middle of one now, and I have one that just arrived in the mail from my sister on deck.

7. Sara continues to have a love of art.  Camp this week has been right up her alley.  Ms. Mayra said that Sara is just so excited everyday at the end of camp, and each day she has come home with a fun new "under the sea" creation.  I am so glad we signed her up for this camp.

8. This little surprise arrived from my sister earlier this week, and I immediately put it to use.  If there was a coozie that could make my Cyclones one #2, this is it.  Did I already mention simple pleasures?

9. We're starting to make plans for Christmas, which I think will be spent in Florida.  What's not to love?
10. I found a pair of inexpensive jeans at Tar-jay that fit like a glove.  I haven't had decent fitting jeans since Emma was born, and this new pair feels great.  We all know that I'm cheap and I enjoy attempting to look decent, so you can imagine my happiness at scoring this recent denim deal.

See, the good things can be big or small ... the point is that they're there if we look for them.

Sunday Funday

Lounging, Dancing, Singing.

Not pictured: cleaning the bathrooms & floors, mowing the lawn, etc.  The fun is what matters.