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.