Summer!

It is hard to believe that last Thursday was Oliver's last day of preschool.  While he is so  big, he really is still so little - I can't believe that next year he will be in kindergarten.

Oliver had two amazing teachers this year and class full of wonderful friends - he thrived.  The last week of school Oliver got very sentimental and kept making necklaces and attaching cards to them - cards saying things like "You are Wonderful," and "I love you."  By the end of the week I was weighed down with necklaces and paper (he refused to let me remove the cards from the necklaces).

On the last day of school we were invited to participate in the final circle, and we watched as the friends received peace hearts and yearbooks.  It was really sweet event.

And then summer vacation officially began - with a rumble.  Thursday night the stomach bug descended upon our house.  Oliver, Davis, and I were hit hard.  As usual, Henni used her honey badger skills and scared away the bug and remained healthy (go Henni!).  We managed to survive the weekend, although there were times I questioned if we would.  With the bug gone, we are looking forward to a summer of fun.

Just plain fun

I knew the last few months were not ideal, but I didn't truly understand the impact unemployment, over employment, job dissatisfaction, and no Hollie had on our household.  While life is, of course, crazy, employment, job satisfaction, and Hollie's return had made it so that the everyday crazy is (almost) blissful. We've settled into a routine of fun and adventure.

Henni and I have a truly lovely playgroup on Friday mornings.  Five girls who adore eating, babies, and each other (read the girls have fun while the adults actually get some adult time!).

And Oliver and Henni have continued to be best of friends (except when they are not).  Henni's favorite phrase is "me too," and she actually is able to do most everything Oliver does.

There is a special place in Henni's heart for Lucy.  When these girls greet each other they scream with joy, hug, kiss, and chatter...and that is after being apart for a few minutes.

Henni's sense of style is continuing to emerge.  She is currently in a floral (aneurysm) phase.

And Oliver continues to give Davis projects.  Here is this year's hat for fun hat day at school.  Davis managed to pull this jet hat off in a matter of a couple hours.

My neighbor told me the other day that with sunshine in my heart I could do anything.  And indeed he was right.  A Memorial Day weekend of pouring rain ended up being one of the most fun weekends I can remember in a long time.

We visited the Rockland Children's Museum,

Bowled,

And spent a day at Fort Knox.

And happily used our umbrellas.

Hell Cat

Henni adores cats and, because of the plethora of Hello Kitty merchandise, she has lots of Hello Kitty items (shoes, bags, jewelry, stuffed animals, clothes, music box...).  What cracks me up is that she just can't quite seem to say Hello Kitty - instead what comes out is Hell Cat.  I just giggle every time she puts on her kitty shoes, looks down and yells- "Hell Cat!"

Hell cat is a good secondary descriptor for Henni (Badger being the primary).  She has mastered the balance bike - flying down the road, top speed, feet in the air... So we pulled out the big girl bike the other day - the crazy girl that she is, did an incredible job riding up and down the street, trying desperately to keep up with Oliver.

Away

The alarm was set for 4:30, but at 4:00 I awoke to a little face smiling at me - Henni was up and eager to begin our trek to Man O War.  After singing in the shower she got dressed and then laid out clothes for Oliver, all the while distressed that he was still sleeping.  To her dismay we packed Oliver into the car - asleep - and headed to the airport.  Little Miss. Smiles laughed her way to the airport and, somehow, managed an even bigger grin when her partner in crime (more on that later) awoke.

Our two little travelers were incredible.  On this trip we even achieved the Holy Grail - only carry on luggage - and the kids carried/wheeled their own bags!  

When we stepped onto the boat and headed towards Man O War I took a breath and realized that I hadn't truly taken a breath in months.  On the water, surrounded by family and blue sky I relaxed, smiled, and felt that sense of relaxation and comfort that you only feel when you are home and in a place of wonder and love.

Oliver and Henni drank up the magical juice of the Abacos and were just so amazing the entire trip.

Oliver has been practicing his snorkeling in the pool and was so excited to snorkel in the ocean.  

Henni was also a fish.  She wore her bubble most of the time, but at the end of the week she was attempting swimming sans bubble - the girl has no fear.

Despite being fearless she is a sweetheart when it comes to her babies and Baby Charlie (her stuffed animal which looks exactly like Charlie, down to the red collar) - she made sure they got some time to relax.

She is also clearly her daddy's girl - she ditched her shoes on day one and walked barefoot on anything and everything - meaning even the super ouchy coral.

Speaking of tough and fearless... I am chatting with family and friends and suddenly hear the golf cart start.  I look over to see Henni at the wheel and Oliver pushing the gas.  Thankfully they crashed into their stroller in pretty short order and stopped to see what they hit.   I ran over and asked if they were scared.  Henni looks me in the eye and simply says: "Not scared.  Fun Mommy!"  Oh dear God, while I give them points for working together and ingenuity, I am terrified thinking of the trouble these two are going to get into together.

The highlight of the trip though - spending time with family.  We haven't had the opportunity to spend much time with Tim, Carolyn, Catie, and Alex, so a week together was such a treat.  The kids had an incredible time playing and getting to know each other.

And, of course, we all ended up at Nipper's (a couple times).  Swimming, beach, drinks, dancing...

Girl friends

Friendship is a powerful thing.  It brings laughter, tears, joy, support, strength, and love.  It can falter, it can end, and it can endure.  Aristotle captures the incredible power of friendship: "Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods." 

I am so lucky in that I have several girl friends who have been dear friends since I was two, and several incredible girl friends who I have met since I was diaper-free.  These girl friends ... I can not put into words how important they are to me.  I so look forward to the moments we are able to share together, and I cherish the times our children play together.

Henni has a friend, Lucy, who comes over every Tuesday and Thursday morning.  The two of them are so happy to see each other.  They spend the morning eating an obscene amount of food, playing babies, and loving being together.  When I look at them playing I think of my dear girl friends and how we once played together, and how we have grown up together.  I am hopeful that Lucy and Henni's friendship will endure and that they they too will be able to draw strength from each other, laugh together, cry together...that they can look back on these pictures on their wedding days, on a girls weekend, or just for fun - and reflect on just how special friendship is.