Ninety-Five Months of Second Grader Frances

Ninety-Five Months Fun Fact:

• Trooper:  Frances really rose to the occasion.  We went to a very popular apple orchard.  It was a terrible decision.  Parking took fifteen minutes.  Getting to the farm proper took another fifteen minutes.  By the time we'd paid to enter, we were told that the donut shop would be closing soon and the donut line would soon be horrendous.  We hurried ourselves to the donut line, along with everyone else.  A woman near Frances was frightened by a bug (in all fairness, it was huge).  She jumped and she bumped into the concrete block corral that was steering us towards to donuts.  A concrete block fell and scraped Frances, almost from knee to ankle.  Frances did very nicely, considering her leg was bleeding and about fifty people were watching her be miserable.  And there was a war re-enactment going on down the road, so there were lots of explosions going off as well.  Then someone else bumped the concrete block corral and it fell on Chandler.  I do wish I were making this up.  In the end, Frances pulled it together, we got our donuts (and some ice cream, courtesy of the farm) and managed to pick apples.  What a mess.  Next fall, we will drive to a less popular farm and Frances won't have to be such a trooper. 

Not my idea (this year)

Last year, when we roasted pumpkins, we counted the seeds.  I thought it was the nerdiest activity ever, but good counting practice.

This year, Frances reminded me of last year's counting and insisted me do it again.  

She even got quite snippity when Chandler was less than precise in her counting.

Then they bickered.

Then they fought.

Then they cried.

Repeat, ad nauseum.

It's my Groundhog's Day, all year long.

What a beautiful day...

...static electricity and all:

My Artists

Someday we'll have a proper making space.

In the meantime, we have the kitchen floor.  Luckily, the girls don't seem to mind.

I love Ms. Coughlan

Last year, when Frances was in first grade, we started going to the library with her teacher, Ms. Coughlan, one day a week after school.  Ms. Coughlan wanted to encourage kids to use the library.  We went weekly anyway, but I wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to show the kids it wasn't just their crazy mom who liked to go to the library.   We've kept up the practice this year with quite a troop of kids.

One week, we had Darcey, Ms. Coughlan, Frances and Chandler, along with a lot of other kids who didn't make it in the photo.

The woman is a saint, I tell you.  Frances, of course, adores her.  I was sure Chandler was going to hide in Ms. Coughlan's room if her kindergarten teacher ever tried to discipline her, but so far, so good.

Autumnal Equinox!

I love the sound of that: autumnal equinox.

Must be time to roast some pumpkins!

I had a recipe for Butternut Squash and Cherry Bread that became Pumpkin and Cranberry Bread.  I thought it sort of screamed "Massachusetts in the Fall!"  And it turned out so well.  There were also pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin oatmeal and pumpkin oatmeal pancakes.  The children ate it all, despite their picky tendencies.  There may be hope for those darling ingrates.

The Time Has Come!

Little Person started K1 (free preschool)!

The first drop-off went incredibly well.  She's familiar with the school from hanging out there last year; not having spent time with her new teacher or her new classmates didn't seem to faze her a bit.

She didn't even seem interested in me walking her from the playground to the classroom, but all the other parents did it, so I tagged along.  I needn't have bothered.

Drop-off on the second day was not at all as rosy.  I ended up carrying her to school.  It's no small feat, carrying 35 pounds of wriggle, but we made it.  Every day since then has been a breeze, more or less.  She's making friends (yay!), she loves her teacher, and she's learned most of her letter names.  She doesn't seem to be quite the Queen Bee that Frances is, but she is thriving in a quiet, beautiful way.

Forty-Three Months of Rising Kindergartener Chandler

Forty-Three Months Fun Fact:

• Academics:  Nope.  She can write "ChA" in her name.  That's it.
• Fabulousness: You betcha.  I mean, look at the sunglasses, purses, jaunty air.

Ninety-Four Months of Second Grader Frances

Ninety-Four Months Fun Fact:

• Academic: Frances started second grade on her ninety-four months birthday.  This year, Mr. Vega is her teacher.  She adores him.  Last year, after we transferred into the JFK, she was placed in a classroom with a lot of kids who spoke Spanish at home.  This year, she's in a classroom with kids who mostly speak English at home, so she's got a lot of new kids to meet.  Frances's cup of tea.  She seems to be thriving.  There was a teeny, tiny bit of trouble when a boy called her skinny.  Mr. Vega tells me this is how second grade boys flirt.  That did not make me feel better about the situation, but I think it has resolved itself.  Stupid hormones.

Big Day!

Frances finished what turned out to be a hot pad, rather than a scarf.  (She now sleeps with it, so I guess she knit her own lovey, in the end?)

And, big girl lost another tooth.  

I believe this was the eighth tooth to call it quits.  This is such a relief.  My memory is that my baby teeth refused to fall out and most of them were eventually pulled.  I can't believe this is completely accurate, but I am sure that my teeth were a bit delayed.  Thank goodness Frances didn't inherit that gene.  If we can just dodge the acne gene as well...

Long

If this crowd ever asks you to a picnic, join them.

That would be Mimi, Sir, Mark, Cathy and Mim, accompanied by Frances.  They may not look like much, at least in this photo, but they can spoil a couple of girls like nobody's business.

Last year, on this picnic, the girls went swimming with the aunties.  This year, swimming wasn't even mentioned, but we did go exploring for a bit.  It took us about three minutes to stumble on to a hunting camp site.

My Third Baby

My older two don't like when I coo to it, but they sure don't mind eating it either.

That's right, I love my sourdough starter.  I was gifted a seasonal sourdough cookbook and I've been working my way through the recipes.

In Maine, I made a Tomato and Lebany Galette, a.k.a., a pizza.

Not as pretty as the cookbook's but highly edible.

Sunset

Maine

Chandler wanted to hang out on the swing, but she also wanted to be as comfortable as possible.

See the pillow and blanket?

And then, later the same day, this is me lost on the Canada Cliff Trails.

What's a little pathetic is that this was my second time lost on the Canada Cliff Trail.  The first time, us hikers were completely at fault.  The sign had an arrow pointing the way.  We ignored the sign.  This second time, I think Acadia National Park needs to take a little blame.  One sign said "New Trail," the other said "Old Trail," as though they were equivalent.  The trail we followed led to a camp ground, bus stop and swimming beach.  Not bad, but not the idea either. 

Eventually, we'll get this trail right every time, we just aren't quite there yet.

Ship Harbor, Avec Mim

Using "avec" makes it fancy, and different from the seven other times I've posted pictures of Ship Harbor.

I am again convinced we need to do one new thing in Maine every year.  I will start planning now, in January, so if next summer goes haywire, like 2017 did, I'll have a new location/hike/island/restaurant lined up for exploring.

Yes, More Ice Cream in Bar Harbor

I've lost track of how many times we got ice cream in Bar Harbor this summer.  Four, maybe?

Sometimes I wrestle with the kids' eating habits.  They eat a lot of sweets.  They do.  But handmade ice cream, full of good fat and, this time, tasting of Butterbeer, eaten on the grass in the fleeting warmth?  Man, it's hard to argue with that.

Alewives Fabrics, Where We Take Selfies?

Mim and I drove the kids to Maine.  We stopped on the way at Alewives Fabrics to stretch our legs and drool at the fabrics.  It's possible Frances and Chandler were less interested in the fabric than Mim and I, since I found these pictures on my phone from outside the store.

Never mind.  I got some lovely fat quarters for my never ending Christmas tree skirt project and a Hansel and Gretel kit for Chandler.  Don't tell Chandler.  It's a surprise for her birthday.

This Woman Needs Grandchildren, People

A year ago, I had casually mentioned to our friend Mim that Frances wanted to learn to knit and that she was in charge of that project.  I don't knit.

This summer, Mim and her friend Lindi came to stay with us for a couple nights.  And what does Mim do?  She shows up with a knitting kit - yarn, needles, instruction book, scissors.  I could have wept with gratitude for the wonderful women in my girls' lives.  And Mim taught Frances to knit!  Patience of Job, people.

And Gorilla looked on, because Frances wanted him to learn to knit, too.

I'll explain opposable thumbs next summer, when Frances matures and stops worrying about possibly hurting her stuffties feelings if she were to leave them behind when she goes to college.  She'll stop worrying about that soon, right?

Anyway, all hail Mim!

Total Eclipse of the Heart

Not really.  The lyric just popped in my head.

We did watch the eclipse from a local library that was way more organized than I was, i.e. the librarians had purchased viewing glasses.  The girls were suitably impressed, if not blown away with the disappearing sun act.

While at that library, I saw a notice of a party for rising kindergarteners at our local library.  This was very handy, as I'd completely forgotten the upcoming party and another party at our other local library.  (It was such an odd summer; have I mentioned that?  Lots of forgetting.)  We made it to that party and Chandler received her yellow "I'm going to Kindergarten" shirt.

On our way home from the party, we bumped into the JP Honk band, practicing outside the train station.  One of the musicians noticed the girls standing around and gave the girls egg shakers so they could participate.

(I love JP; have I mentioned that, either?)

It was a great way to finish a hectic day.  Nothing like live music in the open air at the end of a long summer's day.

Like The Wind, Almost

I was training for a half-marathon and needed to go for a four mile run.  Frances wanted to go with me.  I didn't feel I could say "no" - who says "no" to an offspring asking for physical activity? - but I didn't think I'd get my run in either.  Leisurely chat, I thought.

Boy, was I wrong!

This kid ran four miles:

Talking the whole time, first we went a bit, and then a bit farther and a bit farther still.  I was blown away.

She hasn't exactly begged for more runs, but I will take what I can get.

She Does What She Does

Chandler does her own hats.

Here you see her wearing her bonnet backwards.

She's further modified the bonnet by chewing off and disappearing one of its snaps.

In my next life, when I'm wise, I'm going to get all my kids' clothing at the Goodwill.

Scenes from the Nuthouse, August 19, 2017

Sourdough cinnamon rolls, because why not add another layer of complexity to a recipe I swore I'd never make because it was too complex.

And, Chandler in pink, because I don't know why either.

Stupid Pinterest

Pinterest told me that if the girls mixed dirt and water, the dirt would separate out into distinct, interesting layers, visible through a clear container.

Pinterest lied.

Maybe the dirt from our garden is too unnatural, too much augmenting from our industrious downstairs neighbor, but after several days of sitting we had a whole lot of non-sedimentation going on.

Nevermind, the girls kept themselves occupied for at least 30 minutes.  A win for all.

Mass Audubon to the rescue, again

The girls and I had to take the "new" car in for some work (I believe we'd broken a seatbelt; our mechanic said he'd never seen that particular problem before, but it was a summer full of specialness.)  To salvage the day, we had snacks and a run-around at Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon, MA.

It's an old farm site, so there are plenty of stone walls around to admire, but there's also a bog.  The girls had a great time squelching their way through there, looking for fairies.  Moose Hill completely came through for us, saving the day from the Braintree strip.