Swim Class

The girls have been taking swim classes up at Robert's Pool these past weekends. Interestingly, Molly is more excited about it than Clara. Perhaps it's because Clara's the only kid in her Parent-Tot class? Molly, on the other hand, clearly relishes having her teacher's attention (almost) all to herself: the only other kid in the class mostly refuses to get in the pool.

Garden Bounty

With only minimal attention, we've been enjoying a nice little harvest from the backyard. The peas were fun, the beets were yummy, the artichoke was delicious (although that plant makes a big show for a few bites), and soon we'll be enjoying some tomatoes.

The most impressive, though, are the plants that came in almost by accident. I noticed some weeds by the coop that looked like squash leaves, so gave them a chance. They took a mile. From what I can tell we have at least 3 squash plants and 2 tomato plants. The most prolific squash seems to be a crookneck squash that we just can't keep up with. We cook flowers and squash into everything, but it keeps going. I'm excited to see what the other squashes end up being.

(the orange flower is a sticky monkey flower that is looking amazing this summer)

Camping

We also went camping that weekend at Del Valle with friends. The girls had a blast (the second picture is a portrait of Zach taken by Molly).

County Fair

We went to the County Fair a few weeks ago. Not our best trip to the fair, but not a complete bust. The corn-box was a big hit. As was the ferris wheel (for Molly & Zach).

Growing Up, Molly edition

This morning, after the now-ritual lice-check & sign-in at preschool, Molly looked up at me and said: "You can go now, Mama."

Drop-offs over the last two years have evolved only slightly. In her first (Beluga) year we would cuddle in the little play room (originally the foyer of the house-turned-preschool) by the Beluga Room and read a book. Then Molly would race to the windows of the Beluga Room and wave goodbye to me in each one as I walked by on the outside. At first she struggled with sharing this goodbye time (the other kids wanted to wave, too), and the teachers helped her find her space peacefully (no pushing allowed!).

In her second (Lion Cub) year we would cuddle on the couch in the cubby room, a sunny former back porch, then say goodbye at each of the windows as I walked by on the outside. At one point a few months ago she started getting distracted between the book and the window and I (wrongly) assumed she was done with the window routine (most Lion Cubs were). I got a note that afternoon from Molly & her teacher asking that I please remember to say goodbye at the windows. Apparently she remembered a few minutes after I left and was rather upset that I wasn't still at the windows, waiting.

A few weeks ago I noticed that this window routine was getting more and more abbreviated, and sometimes she just wanted the book and then to "push" me out the door. But somehow that didn't prepare me for this morning: not even a book! not even a ritual "push"!

I tried to act casual, surely she was confused:

"Oh, no book today?"
"Nope."
"Okay, so where do you want to say goodbye?"
"Here's fine."

I gave her a big hug and a kiss on the head and held back tears when the teachers said: "No book today, Molly?" "Nope."

(And I picked her up extra-early this afternoon.)

Fireflies, Fireworks, & More

Molly & I had a fantastic trip to Maryland at the beginning of the month. It was a special time for us, and her grandparents! We studied fireflies, recycling, and butterflies, watched fireworks & pandas, rode a horse, and generally enjoyed ourselves.

(note, there's a lot of pictures in this slide show! Click on the photo to jump to the picture website where you can browse the pictures.)

mayohead birthday

Thursday was my birthday, and I had been planning on going to work, but Molly has been fighting off some head lice and when we got to school they found enough lice "nits" in her hair that she had to stay home. So we decided to make a fun day of it. Her teacher had recommended a simple home remedy - basically you cover the head with mayo, cover that with a shower cap, and wait a few hours while all the lice and nits suffocate. Then you wash and comb them out. So we bought some mayo on the way home and had at it. I went ahead and did myself as well, both for fun and in case some of the buggers had tried to jump into my head. All in all it was a fun father-daughter bonding experience and a fun way to spend my birthday.

Clara and Daddy Weekend