Caroline Starts School!

Today was Caroline's first day at preschool. She asked all weekend long if it was time to go, had her outfit picked out days before and we get there and she melts down. "Don't leave, Mommy, don't leave!" After attempting all of the tricks I know: consoling, distraction, bribery of food, I decide to do what I do best and tell her I have to go to work and she is just going to have to not be a baby. So I peel her arms off from around me and hand her to Mrs. Mira, her teacher, who seems to have done the trick (I spied on her through the window as I went to the car). Kids must be born Catholic, knowing how to make you feel guilty for anything, even attempting to bring in more income so they can have a house, food and possibly go to college. By the time I got home tonight, Caroline told me she had made many friends but she didn't know their names. She decided she would just say, "Hey girl" to each of them. I guess that would work.

Jill is staying home these first two days until she starts school on Wednesday. She pretty much watched T.V. all day long- with John and I calling every hour and then him running home twice to check on her. I guess 5th grade comes with some license to be alone and independent. Not that I like it, however. She gets to meet her teacher tomorrow afternoon and is very excited to do that. I'm having John take her to meet the teacher- need to utilize his parental strengths now that he is closer to her school!

Her first full day will be Wednesday- she is very different than Caroline in that she will not cry when boarding the bus. She has always been a big girl when it comes to things like that. Dancing and singing in front of hundreds of people- not a problem. Brand new friends at summer camp- bring it on. We finally found her report card and test scores from last year that we couldn't find earlier. She is really worried her teacher might think she has gotten anything less than an A or Commmended Performance on the TAKS. I don't know where she gets this competitive nature.

Thrift Stores Rock

Well, it is the last weekend of freedom for both the kids and me- so to make it really worthwhile we spent the entire day yesterday going to thrift stores! Jill is still a little uneasy about thrift store clothing, but after showing her that there are Gap, Justice, Limited, Old Navy, etc. brands, she may be a believer! Caroline loves looking at toys, books and housewares. Especially glass housewares. Fun for me, glass-holder interference master.

Thrift Store finds certainly abound here in the Seattle area. BFOD (best find of the day) will have to go to the 99 cent pristine-condition Battleship game that Jill and John played last night. We have yet to hit the Goodwill Outlet in Seattle or the biggest-ever, reputation-precedes Salvation Army also located in Downtown Seattle. All in due time!

I am off today to paint the remainder of our "craft room." We have decided to dedicate the fourth bedroom to being a place where the girls (well, John is certainly welcome) can be store and create crafts. We picked a lovely green for the walls and will accent with black- Jill loves the color and so do I. If Caroline had it her way there would be rainbows on every wall! Pictures to come very soon of our Craft Room Paradise.

School!

Well, after a long and laborious search I have finally found a job. Consequently, the girls must go to school. Jill will be riding the school bus (and couldn't be more excited) and Caroline is enrolled in a daycare minutes from the house. We are enjoying our last weekend sans school and are planning on heading up Mt. Rainier tomorrow despite the forecast for rain!

Hanging out with Maxx!

The girls have had an awesome time this past week hanging out with their cousin, Maxx. Today is his last day here in Washington! What to do, what to do. They've enjoyed riding bikes, visiting the ocean and challenging him on the Wii (which he is really good at).

Parks!

The girls and I have been exploring parks here in Washington- St. Edwards, Carkeek and Discovery just this past week! We've loved visiting with a teacher from Jill's old school- Kathy Kaju- and taking her to parks and Pike Place and of course, thrift stores to buy books for her classroom!

Discovery Park was today's visit- 550 acres of amazing land with miles of beaches to explore. We found a jellyfish washed up on the beach along with countless shells and rocks. The girls seem to be getting closer as sisters and friends as each day of summer goes by. I am enjoying spending the days with them. I wish summer would last forever!

Watching Concerts at Marina Park

The girls and I met a new friend of a friend at Marina Park in Kirkland. We watched "Recess Monkeys" play kids songs (a band made up of Seattle teachers). It was great! There are free concerts every Thursday we may go to in the summer. It is right on the water and just beautiful.

The Girls Speak

Jill says, "We are now safely living in Washington having a grand ol' time. The house is amazing and there are so many cool places to visit. Plus, I love my great new bed and bedroom. The place is awesome. I miss my friends at Sherrod the most!"

Caroline says, "I have lots of time spending time with all my family and my friends. And what I love most of all is my friends. And I love the whole world. I like my new house. I like Owen and all my family. I love movies to watch with my whole family. I love you whole world!"

Heidi says, "Caroline is really in a good mood tonight! Things here are wonderful- I am loving staying home with the girls and getting all of the things settled. We painted the girls rooms and will paint more...the whole house is yellow! Whew! Our favorite park is St. Edward State Park- there is a terrific playground, beach area to play and a huge indoor pool we just discovered. Still can't find a teaching job- may end up staying home with Caroline full time next year (which would be fabulous). That is all for now!"

Almost to Washington

So we are sitting at my brother Jay's house. Picked up both girls from my sister Resa's house. They seemed to have had a really great time at camp and spent loads of time with both my sister and her daughter Ally. Fun times!

Our drive to Washington was grueling. We loaded up all of our stuff (which was way too much) and left much behind for friends. The drive took 3 days- without the help of my brother Jay and my brother-in-law Mike it would have taken much longer.

Jillian just realized tonight we gave our two dogs away- something we decided to do as a family but nonetheless she cried her eyes out. What a huge heart she has. Caroline hasn't realized it yet- we were wanting to wait until they got to the new house to tell them. We are staying the night tonight with my brother Jay and his wife, Megan in Missoula. Another 7 hours of driving seemed suicidal after going almost 3000 miles in 7 states.

Tomorrow we take our beauties to their new home. Lots of pictures to follow! Hoping to get Jill on here blogging her thoughts soon...

Heavy Objects, 4-year-olds, and Sugar

Well...the bowling party went off without a hitch. The cake was so cute, the children as well-behaved as possible on as much sugar as we gave them and the parents and friends really, really helpful! We only had a couple of near-emergency run incidents. The best part was the preschool teachers watched us adults scramble to take control of the kids. Funny ha-ha for them.

Caroline's school- ECYC at First United Methodist Church has simply the best teachers and parents around. They have loved my Caroline so very much- not much more you can ask for! Caroline sobbed and sobbed tonight after leaving the bowling alley. She misses her friends and her teachers already. It is strange how she gets that she is really leaving all of this even though we've tried to shelter it from her as much as possible.

On a funner note, she told me tonight as I was tucking her in bed that the best thing that happened to her today was that her bottom finally was big enough to fill the toilet seat in her room. A childhood fear we forgot- that we might fall into the great swirling abyss of urine-water. She told me having a big bottom means you are growing up. I must be really grown up.

Jillian is burying her head in the Lemony Snickett series to avoid talking about leaving. Her two friends that came were super sweet. She hasn't said much after we got home and went straight to reading. Avoidance is a good strategy that has a proven track record in my family! John is sad I am taking his girls away for over 2 weeks. I don't know where he gets the suspicion that I won't bring them back (although there is a part of me that truly was born to run)!

Off to bed- a busy day of packing and flying tomorrow. My girls last day in Texas.

The Last Party!

Jillian and I are getting ready for the very last and I mean last going away party tonight. This time it is for the girls. Caroline's friends from church school will be there as well as two girls from Jill's school. You can tell the parental involvement downslide as almost all of Caroline's friends will be there and only two of Jill's responded! Jill just made the cutest necklaces for the girls. She is super creative. The boys are getting squirt guns and cars. We are meeting friends at the bowling alley an hour early to camp out since the reservation fell through. Funny how things never quite work out as planned. Party pics to come...