Baking at Auntie Julie and Uncle Bill's

We are so lucky to have family nearby who are so wonderful to our kids. While Mommy and Daddy had a special day and night in Annapolis sans kiddos (going to a Navy game and out with friends), Addie and Sam clearly had a marvelous time baking away at Auntie Julie and Uncle Bill's. Happy almost-Thanksgiving.

Samantha and Papa at Playground Using Digger

All is well in Annapolis

Morning friends and family:

It's looking like the storm was not as severe as they were predicting. And thankfully folks at all levels seems to have done a good job preparing communities. We have power and all slept soundly until 8:30!

Still concerns for folks on the water in terms of the tide and the amount of water from the rain, but I guess there are a few benefits to not living directly on the water :-)

Whew, what a relief.

Samantha has no clue about anything related to the storm, and Addie is sad the "hurricane" is over since she had placed LED candle lights all over the house and wanted the electricity to go out. There is certainly a lure in us humans to hunker down and get back to the basics.

Much love,
Jess

Looking like worst may have passed us..,

.. Time to watch another episode of walking dead :-)

Winds have settled a bit and map looks like worst has passed us.

Sweet dreams
Jess

Winds picking up but doing good so far

Winds are picking up but so far so good. Girls are snuggled in our room and jc and i still have a fire lit from this morning.

Minor leaking in our ceiling. Fingers crossed it stays this way.

Lights flickering a lot but power holding!

Sending out wishes of safety for all
Jess

Awaiting sandy

Hi friends and family,

Thanks for all of your thoughtful check ins. So far we're doing great, enjoying a fire and quiet time all together. Clothes are clean, house is clean and fridge and pantry are full-- a trifecta of domestic life that rarely occurs :-)

Will keep you posted. Main storm is supposed to hit late tonight.

Hugs
Jess

Catching Alice

We caught Alice all by ourselves. We love to catch crickets. We like to catch insects. Addie, Zoe and Ella

Blessing from Auntie Cherie, Uncle Jeff, Ethan and Lindsay

We hope Addison's love of learning grows immeasurably throughout her
school years and is nurtured and fed by her school and teachers. May
each new person she brings into her circle through her school
both influence and be influenced in way that is life altering and
still true to the special being that her parents lovingly created.

The kissing hand

The Kissing Hand, project from Addie's first day of kindergarten

It's my first day of school
And "the Kissing Hand" is what we read.
It's about a raccoon
Who did just as his parents said.

Like the raccoon's first day
I was scared and a little shy
But because of what you said
I was brave and I got by.

All through the year
I'll make more things for you.
So as I change and as I learn
You can see my growth, too!

Successful Send Off

Today was a dream come true, walking Addison to school hearing the sounds of morning and along our way seeing moms and dads walking their kids to school.

There is a beautiful mixture of children at the school, and the principal was there greeting children. I checked in with Mrs. Johnson (Addie's teacher) to see if they needed anything else and said I might go before I started to cry and Addie confidently said, "well, then you better go." Good advise. She gave me a sweet hug and seemed very comfortable.

 

As I waited with other parents outside the school, I felt such anticipation to see Addie. She came walking out with a HUGE grin on her face, excited by her day and then right around the corner came Zoe (great buddy in her class) and Ella (great buddy in first grade at Eastport) bounding out the door to give Addie and Zoe huge, warm hugs congratulating them on their day. Families stood around and visited, enjoying the COOLEST EVER catepillar Shannon found and kids played in the school yard while parents visits.

That feeling of "it's as it should be" kept coming to mind.

I saw and felt today how a school can truly be the heart of a community, bringing people together.

OK, I'm a shmaltz, let me move on to Addie's more partical answers to her favorite parts of the day.

1) Quiet time when you get to do a puzzle, draw, or rest (during which she drew a picture for baby sister)
2) Recess

:-).
Thank you for today,
Jess

Addie's Dental Day

Addison braved the dentist this week. After donning goggles and a bib, she received a cleaning and was given two thumbs up from the dentist for having healthy looking teeth (which was good to hear since sometimes we are a little slacking on the brushing).

Sammie is scheduled for her first cleaning in December, right after she turns 3.

Addie's 1st Tulip Twist

On her way to becoming a top tier balloon artist at only 4 years old, Addie twisted her first tulip twist. She tried about 10 times on different balloons until she finally got it correct. Look at her happy/prideful smile.

Day 11: Home to Daddy

We had a wonderful time in Texas. Tons of adventures, reading time, delicious meals, time with nature and each other. Thank you Nana, Papa, Aunt Janie, Uncle Gary, Anna, Micki, and Nancy for our fun kid and adult time.

The flight was actually full of quality time and low drama which is surprising with two high-personalitied Snell/Johns girls :-)

It was also equally great to turn the corner and see handsome daddy waiting for us-- one of those heartmelting moments where girls go running to daddy who swoops them both up :-)



Also have to share Samantha floating on her first moving walkway.

Love

Jess/Mama

Day 3 of Texas Fun: Father's Day

Sunday morning the girls and I enjoyed making father's day bouquets from the many flowers, ferns and shrubs in my parent's beautiful backyard--- a place my sis and I tromped around at these same ages years ago! Then Aunt Jane had us over for a lovely brunch. The smells and feel of the kitchen brought fond memories of the farm and of Grandma Snell. The girls had a grand old time in Aunt Jane's yard and climbing through Essie's dog door :-)

Samatha sneaking up to whisper "I love you."

Addie and Daddy goofing off on a relaxing Texas Father's Day.

Don't let the pigeon eat the ice cream!

Endings are tough.

Last Friday was Addison's last day at MICH (Montessori International Children's House). She had a fun week including a playground meet up for ice cream (where she continued to work on mastering her monkey bar skills) and a "grandparents" day, attended by Great Auntie Julie who truly is great :-)

On the actual last day, I waited in the pick up line, vividly remembering my first day dropping off my sweetie pie, watching her stoically walk up the hill in her pink and white polka dotted dress with her pillow.


First day of MICH, Sept. 2011



Last day of MICH, June 2012

On this pretty summer late morning, Addison bounced up to the car as usual, with Ms. Gawell trying to keep her on the earth; being with our sweet oldest child at times can be like trying to pin a cloud down. They got to the car, and I saw Ms. Gawell (the non huggy teacher) stop Addison and ask for a hug. Tears started streaming down my eyes, imagining what it must be like to work so hard to teach and form and empower these little creatures and then truly say goodbye and send them on their way.

Addison got into the car and started sobbing with big tears. It was one of those cries of true awareness of loss. It made me ache. She cried, explaining that Ms. Tettemer was retiring and this meant Addie couldn't come see her at the school if she wanted to, like she could to see Ms. Gawell. Big tears and gulps as she sobbed, "She told me I was a joy to have in her classroom." Man, don't you remember those words from your early teachers. Words you hang on to. That shape you.

I stopped the car and we both sat there and cried for a few minutes. I wasn't much help! And then I told her she could go anywhere she wanted. I received a quick response... Chucky Cheese! We had a great time. I reminded Addie of her tears when she started school. She said "yeah, at first I cried cuz I didn't want to be there and now I'm crying cuz I want to be there :-)"

She's bounced back quickly. Daily she is talking about things she learned and things she did at school. The other day she drew this awesome bird. We hadn't taught her to do this and weren't quite sure from where the inspiration arose.

Then today, we see a card in the mail from Ms. Tettemer. The cover is "Don't let the pigeons do the phonograms... but I want to." Addie was delighted. She immediately ran downstairs cut out a card and asked how to spell... "Don't let the pigeons eat the ice cream. You are a great teacher. I love you."





I don't know the story about the pigeon, but I do know today was not one of those days when I worried if MICH was worth the money :-)

Addison, I love you.

Ms. Tettemer and Ms. Gawell, your ways were different than we are used to, but my daughter grew a lot last year.





I got ya.

As we were snuggling in bed this morning, Samantha wondered if today was "choo choo" class. Can't believe she someone put two and two together and sensed that after spending lots of time together and sleeping in for two days, the next morning (AKA Monday) it's choo choo time. Either that or a lucky guess :-) She just loves this kindermusic class, and it's such a treat to have this time together.

After dropping off big sis and before heading to class, we popped into Michael's to get a few things and waited outside in the cold. I asked for a hug to keep me warm, as Sam had her puffy winter pink coat and as usual, I had not coat. As we were walking out of the store a bit later, commenting on the cold again, Sam wrapped her sweet arms around me and said, "I got ya." Man, those are the moments you just soak up for a cold day.

Fun times in Florida 2012

Samantha being a cutie pie

Samantha running around a field looking as cute as can be.

Synnove swinging at the park we've gone to for years.

Fun dinner together.

Spring Break 2012