Hot Springs Virginia... in August

Did I ever tell you that Nick and I went to Hot Springs, VA for a weekend in August?

No?

Well... we did... and it was GORGEOUS.

See?  Blue skies.  Surrounded by mountains.  Amazing weather.  (No cell phone or internet service for 50 miles of the drive.  Oh, wait.  That wasn't all that good.  Moving on.)

Oh... and we went WITHOUT the children.  When does that ever happen????  Look how relaxed we look!

We (finally) pulled into the resort.  What can you say but "WOW"?

The Homestead could not have been more breath taking.  It was totally worth the long drive.  (Although it's still questionable if it was worth a flat tire in Maryland and 50 miles of no cell service on Little Calf Pasture Highway.)

I could have taken photos all day.

 Our room was lovely and quiet... and quite Colonial.

We settled in and then took a short walk around the grounds (well... the immediate grounds... the resort is HUGE).

Again, we just relaxed.  It's rare to be able to take a leisurely walk and not chase children.  We just strolled and took in the surroundings. 

And then we got ready for the reason we actually came to the resort.  Wedding!

So, on top of some time sans kids, beautiful weather and scenery, and relaxing... there were fancy clothes...

and cake.

I don't know.  What do you think?

Sounds like a rather perfect weekend away.

(If you leave out that flat tire.  And the lack of being able to contact anyone from Little Calf Pasture HWY, VA in the event that you were attacked by a bear... or a mountain man.)
:)

Grace in Small Things - 126

1.  A rainy day (because it meant I didn't have to water the grass Nick planted).

2.  An hour spent watching 30 second(ish) videos of Zoe when she was 2 and younger.

3.  Having every piece of laundry in the house clean and folded.

4.  The fact that Ana believes that the sole purpose for the FaceTime video phone call app thingy is so she can make faces at Daddy while he's not here.

5.  Watching Zoe speed through her math homework (I hope she always finds math as easy for her!)

Preschool Days

As I sit here this morning, Ana is in her 4th morning of preschool. She's back in the same school where she was for toddlers (and where Zoe was for 3 years before that). She's in her big girl preschool classroom now, with the same 2 teachers Zoe had.  It has such a nice familiar feel.

Ana is excited about preschool (I think) although you would never guess that from the way she walks into the building.  She wants me to carry her (and I'm resisting).  She holds onto my hand for dear life.  If she could climb in my pocket and hide I think she would... but she settles for squishing her face into my side and trying to make it so no one can see her.  She covers her eyes and tells me she's going to hide while we walk in.  She acts completely shy.  I honestly don't know if she REALLY is feeling shy and nervous... or if it's just a funny act she's putting on.  So, I'm not quite sure what to do about it other than drag her along into the classroom and just hope it passes.

Honestly... when we were getting into the car the first day she LOOKED and ACTED thrilled.  She was all poses and cheesy grins.  She barely stood still for a few photos before she was racing to the car.  Silly girl.

When she started on Monday we were all finally back to a routine.  Zoe's off to 1st grade.  Ana's off to preschool.  Nick is back to his normal work schedule (including a trip to Spain next week).  And me?  I get a couple of hours to myself 4 mornings a week.  I think I need to make myself a schedule and accomplish a few things (like regularly blogging!).

It's nice to have some time alone... but I sure do miss this silly girl while she's busy doing all of the things a preschool girl does.

Grace in Small Things - 125

1.  Taking some time to just sit alone with the quiet that comes from both girls being at school at the same time.

2.  A phone call telling me my iPhone has returned from it's unplanned solo cruise to Bermuda and is waiting for me to pick it up in the office at the NYC cruise pier.

3.  Time spent at a neighborhood block party in our awesome neighborhood.

4.  New friends.

5.  Pink MaryJanes.

1st day of 1st Grade

Zoe is a 1st grader.

I just have to keep repeating that to myself.  Zoe is a 1st grader.  It was hard enough to believe she turned 6 years old this summer... but now she's a 1st grader!  No more 1/2 days for us.  No more sleeping in for afternoon kindergarten.  No more lunch dates in the middle of the week.  She is truly a full fledged elementary school student.  It's going to take a little while for that to really sink in for me.*

I'm so proud of how Zoe has handled the transition to being in school a full day.  It really is a big difference.  Last year she was in school for under 3 hours.  This year she's there for over 6 hours (which was especially long for me and Ana).  She (of course) eats lunch at school, and is excited about choosing to buy lunch in the cafeteria.  She gets homework (which didn't happen in our kindergarten).  She has "technology" class.  She has a desk and a locker!  1st grade is so different from kindergarten.  It's REAL school.  (Not to say she didn't learn A LOT in kindergarten... but I'm sure you understand what I mean.)

With all the changes our girl is still taking it all in strides.  She hopped on the bus the first day full of smiles and a big "Hi Mr. Willy!" for our favorite bus driver.  She was the first on the bus but wasn't phased the slightest.  She picked a seat, put on her seat belt and gave a wave to Ana and me.  Off she went.  Zoe constantly does things that make me think she just might be the most confident kid I've ever met (Nick and I have no idea where she got that from!!!).

And so... with a smile and a wave the school year started.  I'm so excited to see all of the things Zoe will learn this year... and to see her become even smarter than she already is.  She really is going to be an amazing 1st grader!

*Right now the only time it REALLY sinks in for me that Zoe is a 1st grader is when I'm rolling out of bed by 7am to make sure we make it for the 8am bus.  I don't know that there is any way to prepare parents of PM Kindergarten students for the beginning of full day 1st Grade.

Summers End

It is the last day of our VERY busy summer.  I feel like we were just having the last days of kindergarten and toddlers.  But now I think back over the last couple of months and can't quite believe what our schedule contained.  It's hard to believe I was just planning out our activities and trips and now today's schedule includes running out to pick up Zoe's back to school supplies and stopping by the school open house to meet her teacher and see her new classroom. 

CRAZY!

The summer really has been FULL.  I'm sure you could tell from my (lack of) blogging that my time was spent being with my family.  If you're friends with me on Facebook you might already know some of our summer stuff (since it's so much easier to update there while on the go).  My family was up from Florida to visit and we went down to visit them, too.  I went to San Diego for BlogHer (and had an AWESOME time).  Nick and I went (without the girls) for 2 nights to a wedding in Virginia.  We also just got back on Sunday from a cruise to Bermuda.  When we WERE home we spent our time at the pool or having fun on little day trips. 

Now summer is suddenly coming to an end. We had an awesome time.  I know we made a lot of fun memories.  But, boy.... was I a busy stay at home mom.  I'm ready for a vacation!!!  The realization is now hitting me that I might actually be getting some time to myself soon.  It's a little bittersweet.  Free time does sound amazing... but my girls are growing up.  Zoe will be gone from 8 am when the bus picks her up, until 3:30 when it brings her back to me.  I already feel myself missing her.  And starting next Monday Ana will be in preschool from 9-12 on 4 mornings.  I will actually have a couple hours alone.  I'm having trouble imagining it.  (Although as I type I'm having a discussion with Zoe and Ana about how it would be nice if they could give me 5 minutes... JUST 5 MINUTES!... of calm quiet... so 2 1/2 hours sounds like HEAVEN.)

So how will I spend 2 1/2 hours alone 4 days a week?
Food shopping by myself.
Making appointments for haircuts and dentists and doctors, etc without getting a sitter.
Doing laundry without little hands helping.
Sorting through toys (and clothes) without little people saying they NEED to keep EVERYTHING.
Scanning Aunt Prudy's photos.
Tidying clutter.
Sitting in a quiet house.

And maybe... just maybe... getting back to some regular blogging.  I might actually get to tell you about BlogHer and Florida and Bermuda and Virginia.  Imagine that!


So, excuse me in the next couple weeks if I seem a little melancholy or lost.  I'll be missing my girls a bit and trying to figure out what to do with myself.  But... you might also see me doing a happy dance around town while I enjoy a latte BY MYSELF.  I might die of happiness with the first quiet calm sip.