Indian Summer!

We are used to getting a few nice days in September...but a whole month of gorgeous weather is simply unheard of.  Concerns about global warming and the longest rain-free stretch in Seattle history aside, this month has been a real treat for the kiddos.  Long days, lots of outside time, and for Lily, the start of Kindergarten.  Yep, that's right - she's now an honest-to-goodness elementary school student.  It's both exciting and bittersweet, but Lily has handled it like a champ.

While Chris was a fan of our local school, and especially the opportunity for Lily to attend school with the kids in our community, I was on the fence.  Having only attended private schools myself and knowing Lily, I had some misgivings.  Several tours and many conversations with other families later, we wound up deciding to give it a shot and I have to say I'm consistently, pleasantly surprised.  

Throughout August the school hosted "play dates" for the incoming Kinders, giving them an opportunity to play with and meet their fellow classmates.  Between these and the Discovery kids she was in pre-K with last year, we felt confident she would settle in quickly and feel right at home.  I had to be in LA on her actual first day (heartbreaking), but was able to take her to the teacher meet-n-greet the day before.  Having declared the Kinder testing a few weeks prior "fun," I was surprised when we walked into her new room to meet her teacher, gift in hand (before setting out, Lily ran to the basement and selected a board game to give the school - love that my sweet girl is always doing this!), only to immediately freeze and whisper to me "Mama, I'm scared of these kids."   My heart sank.  I took her up to her teacher, she solemnly handed her the game and then asked to go outside.  Once on the playground, though, she saw her friend Lena and shot off like a jack rabbit to play, all fears and inhibitions gone, replaced by crazy feats of strength on the zip line.  The next day Chris to her to school and she discovered Ella, one of her favorite Discovery friends, in her room, immediately putting her at ease.  That night Lily proudly told me about her first day...her favorite thing being the bus ride at the end of the day - "Mama!  School buses are SO MUCH FUN!"  No tears?  Happy and excited?  I'll take it!!

While Lily has taken the leap into big kid school, Matteo has increasingly acted like a big kid.  His new trick is at pick up time.  It started with him waddle-running over to me as soon as I walk in and wrapping his arms around my legs, letting go, then walking with purpose over the the cubbies, grabbing his coat, then staring expectantly like "come on!  let's go!"  It has since progressed to him getting up, making a beeline to the "lonchera" cabinet, grabbing his lunchbox (the day I got him a new one was pretty amusing), and swaggering over like a tiny businessman, briefcase in hand.  Sometimes, as a topper, he blows his "MWAH!" kisses to his teachers...but usually he prefers to look stoic.

Now that she is a Kinder, I'm wondering if Lily feels extra grownup and that's the root of her high heel obsession kicking into high gear.  While at the local consignment shop she eyed a pair of patented leather Mary Janes with a small square heel - picture tap shoes without the taps - and fell madly in love.  They are about 3 sizes too big so I won't let her wear them out of the house, but that doesn't stop her from asking me at least 3 times a week.  "Mama, can I wear my high heels?" or "I'm going to go put on my high heels" are common refrains.  Of course I sealed my fate by allowing her to get a pair of blue patented leather clogs at Gymboree - they aren't stable enough for school or during outdoor play, but they will likely be worn to stumps just around the living room and on errands.

Matteo has an equal, albeit cheaper, obsession.  His tongue.  Man does he love that little pink thing.  He sticks it out, licks all around his lips and mouth, makes raspberryish noises, lip blub-blub-blubs, and a strange sound similar to a cat coughing up a fur ball.  He cracks himself up - I so wish I could be so easily amused!  

Finally, Lily has shown us that being a Kinder makes her quite knowledgeable about all ideas good and, particularly, bad.  She loves to point out bad/incorrect behavior and announce "that's a bad idea!"  This includes:

- Anyone riding a bike without a helmet

- Swimming too far out in the ocean "They will get eaten by a shark - snip, snip!"

- Smoking "Gross!  They're smoking!  Hold your breath!!!"

I don't disagree...but sometimes a little discretion would be nice.

Not to be outdone, Matteo has also shown his safety prowess.  I was worried about taking him to Lily's swim lesson as there isn't a whole lot of space for him to wander safely.  Turns out I didn't need to worry - little dude made a beeline for a tiny yellow lounge chair and planted himself in it like he'd been lounging poolside for years.  He loves oatmeal for breakfast, and I'm always very careful to blow it off for him.  He's picked up on this vital step and now tries to do it himself, starting to blow out in front of him as soon as I approached the table with the bowl.  He doesn't actually blow ON the oatmeal, but he clearly gets that blowing is part of the process.  He's finally growing out of 6 - 12 month clothes so why shouldn't he also act like a wee adult?

And, as always, the Lilyisms that make life her so much fun....

- In the car..."When do I get to take driving lessons?"

- Me: "Who is the best mom ever?" Lily: "You are!  But you're a bad singer"

- "Hush little baby, don't say a word..." Lily serenading Matteo when he fussed in his crib post-nap

- "I want to be this one, and this one, and this one...you can be that one" - Assigning princesses/Little Ponies/etc to us when watching TV/reading books

Oh - and we started a new tradition - ditching school to go to the County Fair!  Next up - FALL - which means Lily's birthday, Halloween, trees "getting naked"....all the traditions we love.  Can't wait!