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Week in Review

Afterschool

What a week! If you need proof, I didn’t even manage to take any pictures. I always take pictures. I got home Saturday morning, after an all-night flight (with two layovers) from my Grandpa’s funeral in Utah. Mike left for a business trip to France four hours later (he forgot to take pictures, too). France – where I lived for three years, and somewhere I would love to visit! Luckily he brought back some delicious French chocolate. =)

All three kids were sick all weekend. They were well enough to go to school Monday morning, but they have a cough that will probably linger for the next six weeks (like every single cough they get).

Emma and Johnny are both loving school, and Emma does the best to repeat her day in kindergarten each afternoon with Johnny and Lily as eager students. Lily loves Emma school in the afternoons, but she is really struggling with having her siblings gone in the morning – especially Johnny. Johnny and Lily may be 19 months apart, but they have been inseparable ever since Lily was born. Lily was okay with Johnny in preschool so long as Emma was there; without Emma she doesn’t know what to do other than cry and ask to be carried around. So far she isn’t interested in activities just with me, apart from a farm trip on Wednesday. I would take her to the farm every day, if it weren’t 10 miles away…

Well, Lily actually has chosen one activity for herself: potty training. Depending on the day, we have anywhere from a 15-70% success rate. I think it’s all about her mood, and how much sleep she got. Napping is not a Lily-approved activity, so I have to get her to fall asleep without her realizing what is going on.

Tuesday night was Emma’s curriculum night at school. She desperately wanted me to go, so I found a babysitter. Our favorite babysitters both moved to Canada (I wanted to cry when I found out they were moving, especially since they loved to come play with my kids for free!!!), and the neighbor girl we have used before wasn’t answering her phone, so I called another nice teenage girl I know. She was available, and I knew she would be a good babysitter. I picked her up, and Johnny and Emma were thrilled to build castles with her out of DUPLO bricks. Lily wanted nothing to do with her, and in fairness barely knows her. So I took Lily to school with me, where she patiently sat through the principal’s speech in the 90-degree room (no AC and no fans). Then it was time to go to the classrooms, and Lily lost it when she realized she would have to sit again. So we went to look for Emma’s family picture, which was (of course) the only one missing. It had somehow been misplaced… I wound up taking Lily home instead of listening to the teacher talk – at least I have friends who were there to fill me in on what I missed! I was wondering why I even tried to go, but I came home to a happy Emma and Johnny who had cleaned up their room and part of the playroom in my absence. So Emma was happy I went, and I’ve found another good babysitter!

We haven’t done any formal afterschool activities. We had one play date last week, and will have another one this coming week. Mostly we play at home, and spend time outside when the weather is nice! We’ve been walking the mile to and from Emma’s school most days, and I’m hoping we get sunny, crisp fall weather for more walks! I’m carpooling with a friend, and I love that both Emma and my friend’s son will chose walking over driving so long as the weather is nice!

Mike got back from France Thursday evening, and we were all fast asleep by 8pm! Friday was our first day of stunning New England fall temperatures – wonderful after lots of mugginess! I hope it lasts – autumn is my favorite time of year to live in New England, and as far as I’m concerned temperatures in the 50s and 60s can stick around as long as they want!

AND… On this day, a while ago now, I was on my way to Freshman orientation when I turned around and spotted a tall, lanky, blonde guy. I said hi, and we were instant friends. Today we celebrate thirteen years of memories, with many more to come. I love you, Mike!

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MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

14 thoughts on “Week in Review”

  1. Oh I’m sorry to hear about the coughs and colds – we’re suffering with those too right now! Changes in seasons can be rough. Hopefully your beautiful fall weather will last and last and you’ll post lots of pictures of autumn colour!!!

  2. Oh, poor Lily. My girl whose girls were 18 months apart had the same problem. Alice cried so much that my friend bit the bullet and asked this school (it was a small private school that went from preschool to 8th grade) to take Alice too. It worked out well overall, even though now these two teenagers fight more than cooperate :)

    1. Johnny goes to a public preschool on an IEP, so their rules are very strict. I actually think Lily would do well attending preschool with him, though, if she were allowed.

  3. I can totally see why you forgot to take pictures! I remember making my brother play school. I was always the teacher, of course. I’m really missing the New England Fall. Enjoy it much for me! Oh, and happy day you met Mike!

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