Preparation...

We are getting ready to start school! Soccer! Gymnastics! Piano (a resurgence)! 


Today was Tate's Kindergarten Orientation, which she LOVED. I got a tear or two in my eyes as they discussed our children coming in and being just fine, and getting bigger. My baby! She seems so little, but she is so ready to go on the bus, take her backpack, join her brother.


And her brother...so I'll have one starting and one ending elementary school! Where have the years gone. I remember when Tate was a baby and Smith was catching the bus for kindergarten - how I would run out to meet his bus while she was napping, and as the year wore on, and she wasn't napping, Smith and I would be greeted at the front door by a little Tate face and hands banging on the screen.

Heartbreak hotel, this is us meeting him after his first day of school. Oh the love those two share.

And then this is today (albeit a TERRIBLE picture of her) at her orientation, looking all grown up.

Okay, I must stop looking through all these pictures. Here are two cute ones from today. We joined a dear friend of mine and went ice skating! In August! We had to dig out those jeans, jackets and gloves - kind of a good thing to be prepared for, as it will be getting chillier here before too long.

Less Dishwashing

I absolutely love having my kids home all summer. I love love love summer break, spending time with them, going on fieldtrips, reading to them, all that. That is not to say that we don't have bad moments, bad hours, bad days, but overall, we really enjoy each other, and it's a fantastic summertime.

However.

I have loaded and unloaded this dishwasher sometimes more than two times in one day, and almost always twice every day this entire summer. Yes, it's a testament to us eating at home, talking (or reading by ourselves) around the table, saving money by not eating out. But MAN am I sick of the dishwasher! Is that an reason to be excited about the start of school??

Dishes, dishes, dishes.

9/11

There was a motorcycle "parade" of sorts through Leesburg today. Approximately 1,700 motorcycles came from the site in Pennsylvania, through our town, and toward the Pentagon to show support of our Country in this 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. They are making their way up to New York by Saturday? Sunday? Not exactly sure, but wow was it a site to behold!

It is hard to believe it's been 10 years. Smith was only 3 months old when the attack happened. We lived along the C&O Canal at the time, just minutes away from Washington, DC. In fact, David was home with Smith and I was driving toward the Pentagon for a meeting, just before the plane struck it. I didn't see anything.

We were directly under the flight path for Washington Reagan/National Airport, and the 5 days of air silence following the attacks was memorable. The three of us went to a local deli and just sat in stunned silence. We watched the tv over and over, and I cried and cried. 

We did not know anyone personally that was killed in the attacks, but it felt so personal nonetheless. David had been to a hotel directly across from the World Trade Center just a few months before. When we drove to Arlington or Alexandria, we went right next to the Pentagon. This was our world that they shook - our America.

I am sure I will be a big puddle of emotion come 9/11/2011, along with hundreds of thousands of others. While I do not believe in all the choices made in response to these attacks, I do feel that it has made our country stronger, with a bigger belief in ourselves and our National Pride. 

This was a very moving tribute to those who fell that day. I am glad I bore witness.

This Moment

From Soulemama

Home and around

Had some soccer practice, played at Mema & Dodaddy's pool, froze some peaches and made some granola (it's my go-to house air-freshener!). Love summer days.

This Moment

From Soulemama