Trip to Virginia

Two weeks ago, we took a weekend trip to Northern Virginia to visit our friends.  We were scared out of town due to all the hype around the pope, and how many roads would be closed, in addition to expected crowds and who knows what else.  So rather than find ourselves trapped in the house with nowhere to go for a weekend, we got out of town.

We drove down on Friday afternoon, and made great time til we hit the beltway outside of DC. It took 1 hour for us to go the last 30 or so miles of our trip- rush hour on Friday!  We had a nice dinner on Friday night, then managed to get the kids down to bed and the grown ups had time to play games- trivia and Pictionary-style games that you play through your phone.

On Saturday we got ourselves together and went out to Cox's farms, which was like a fall festival wonderland.  There were animals, slides, hay rides, kettle corn, apples and apple cider, pumpkins...  Eric said he felt like he had 4 kids, because I was always off and running to find the next thing to do.  There was a big slide that we went down on a burlap sack that I loved more than the kids did!

My 3 and my friend's oldest on the hay bales

Hay ride

Mommy and Benjamin on the hay ride

our Christmas card?

Charlotte posing with a goat...

Who loved her very much!

Baby girl with a baby goat

It was the start of fall weather- for which I am unprepared and in denial.  But it was cool and gray, and the leaves were starting to change.

Saturday afternoon we attempted to get the kids to nap, and totally failed.  So we ended up with the husbands taking the big kids to the playground, and my friend and I went on a long walk around the neighborhood with her baby.  Then we cooked dinner and ate at our friends' house- they had suggested eating out but I worried what kind of behavior we would get from the kids after no naps.

On Sunday, we went out to breakfast, which was a disaster!  Charlotte asked for eggs and then refused to eat them and threw a tantrum on the floor.  I ordered oatmeal, which came with sliced bananas, and Asher (who was 2 people away from me at the table) pulled his "My tummy doesn't feel so good!" nonsense and stood by the table gagging because he saw the bananas.

Fortunately for my sanity, my sister and I coordinated a run in Arlington, VA, and DC- we met in Arlington, but ran back and forth over the bridges into DC and back again.  Over the course of our run, it turned into a beautiful day.  We did a little loop on Roosevelt Island, which is hard to believe is mere feet from the Capitol.

Roosevelt Island

We then got in the car and drove home, with no problems at all.  It turned out that things had been quiet and pleasant in our neighborhood while we were gone- so no real reason to flee, but we had a wonderful weekend away as a family.  It's rare that we get to spend a weekend together, since Eric and I are always engaged in individual tasks on the weekends.  We were together, and we had a great time- we hadn't seen our friends in ages, and they had just bought a beautiful new home with plenty of room for all of us.  It was relaxing just to be away from our house and all the chores we always do, and we enjoyed the ease of being in the company of old friends.

Benjamin & Asher: 5.5

Last weekend the boys turned 5.5; now they are closer to 6 than to 5. Then we went shopping for a whole new fall wardrobe, because I discovered, as the weather turned cool, that they are way too tall for 75% of the clothing they currently owned.  I keep getting surprised when I see them and register just how big they've gotten!

Tired boys and their half-birthday cakes

posing at Old Navy

 Benjamin at 5.5- He is becoming more mysterious to me.  While he is still easy-going almost all the time, he occasionally shows strong emotion. The transition to kindergarten hasn't been completely easy, and he has burst into tears and said he "just feels sad."  At the same time, he seems to love his new teacher, who does seem very sweet, and he doesn't seem to have trouble going to school in the morning.

Blankie as cape, Angry Birds pajamas, and rain boots. Totally doing his own thing.

He's made some new friends, most of whom appear to be girls (Carolyn, Irene). His teacher said she loves that he's not afraid to do his own thing- which included wearing a purple stick-on mustache to school last Thursday. He's also a big goofball, with dancing and singing whenever he feels like it.

With his purple mustache

Our main struggle with Benjamin is listening- when he gets tired, his ears shut off completely. I find myself yelling at him, "Benjamin... Benjamin... BENJAMIN!" I hate raising my voice but I don't know any other way to get his attention. Other than tuning us out, he is generally a pleasure to be around. He's very perceptive and will often ask questions that I'm surprised he is thinking about.

Benjamin selfie

Asher pimpin' in his faux-fur vest

Asher still likes to be the boss, and be in charge. He likes to be the center of attention, and doesn't always make good choices as he tries to get attention. He's been complaining about going to school, but seems to have a good time when he's there and comes home happy.  We haven't had any reports of bad behavior (not that I expect any!) and his classmates generally seem happy to see him when he shows up in the morning.

Asher is definitely a manipulator- when we went shopping he started acting sad "because he wanted to be with Daddy," which I quickly figured out was a ploy to get a treat. I called him out on it he dropped the act pretty quickly.  I don't like that I suspect my child of anything other good motives- but I don't always trust him!  I just hope that we can teach him that even though he might WANT something, doesn't mean it is ok to do it or get it. Eric lost $10 in the house the other morning, and I'm still not sure that Asher didn't take it, even though he has proclaimed his innocence.

Our biggest problem with Asher is his pickiness around food.  He's still focused on carbs and begins making choking/gagging sounds whenever fruit is in the same room.  I have totally lost my patience for it and always point out that he's not pulling that nonsense when his classmate eats a piece of fruit in class.

He is also still a wonderful snuggler, loving and affectionate. He watches out for Charlotte- and I trust him to do it; to keep an eye on her if I run in the house to use the bathroom.  He's big and strong- he seems to have had a growth spurt over the summer!

Snuggling over the summer

I love that even though my boys are big kindergartners now, they still want me to love them and hug them.  I love their sweet and delicious faces and strong, growing bodies.  I know I say this every time we pass any sort of milestone- but I can't believe how fast time flies and how quickly my loves are growing!

Cape Cod 2015

I skipped our vacation post in lieu of back-to-school- but here are a few photos from our week at the Cape.  I can't believe we were there less than 2 weeks ago; it feels like it never happened! I love the pace of those lazy vacation days, and all that time with my sweet-faced babies.

We drove up on Saturday, and I finally got Eric to agree to stop for lunch in Providence- we have managed to skip Providence for the past 3 years, and Charlotte's never been!  We went to my favorite falafel place and the guy working there asked if I used to go to Brown.  Eric was very impressed! I swear I didn't eat that much falafel... I must just have a memorable face.

Asher and Charlotte with my freshman dorm in the far background

On Sunday my cousins' cousin and his wife came to visit with their 4 year-old.  The kids had a great time playing together (except Asher, who couldn't hold it together and had to go home and nap while Benjamin and Charlotte stayed up and played). After dinner, we went out for ice cream on the bay and the kids were total goofballs.

Goofballs on the pier

The rest of the week blurs together- we spent most mornings at Great Pond where the kids swam and played in the sand. They made friends with a girl from New York named Iris, and everything was more fun with her there.  Last year, the kids just stayed at the edge of the water and played in the sand and shallow water... This year, the boys knew how to swim and kept going out in the water. It was a little more scary for me. And Charlotte thinks she knows how to swim even though she doesn't! She is more brave than her abilities warrant.

This was funny- I commented on this headline in the Globe (to say, "Is it really such a surprise that foster children are mistreated?):

And Asher's comment was, "I am going to call the police on you, Mommy. You only gave me HALF a donut this morning."  Yes, Asher, call the police about that one.

We had another bonfire on the beach and made smores.

Goofing around before the fire got started

My footsteps next to Benjamin's. His baby feet are getting so big!

Our roaring fire

Sunny beach morning

Stripe selfie

We had our lobster dinner by the water and got 4 lobsters instead of 3!  Then we went out for dessert at Ben & Jerry's- we hadn't been in YEARS and my sister and I wanted to share a sundae. We reminisced about our many late nights there as teenagers trying to flirt with the employees.  I am pretty sure that Eric was embarrassed on my behalf.

Sweet boys and a beautiful sunset

I convinced Benjamin to get the phish food ice cream- another teenage favorite of mine.

My girl posing in one of my favorite flavors

We came home on the Sunday of labor day weekend, and had one day before school started.  I took the kids to the pool (it was hot!).  This is how the boys handle Aqua Zumba- Asher lay out his towel to get a close up of the woman "dancing," and Benjamin stood back and followed along.  Such different boys, but both so funny.

I hate how quickly vacation flies by when I spend all year looking forward to it.  I love the pine trees, the sandy streets, and coffee on the balcony each morning.  I hate that it's another 12 months until we get back there, to everyone's favorite place.  It was only 2 weeks ago that we were there, but already it feels like forever!  Now I am hoping for a happy and healthy year of school for the kids and work for Eric and me.

First Days of School

This week all 3 kids had their first days of school- Charlotte went back to the JCC and is in the "younger 3's" class with some of her old classmates, and the boys started KINDERGARTEN!  It has been very disjointed- orientations for the boys on Tuesday, then nothing til a full day Thursday; regular school hours for Charlotte Tuesday through Thursday... Plus we are inundated with paperwork from the various schools and programs, so that I am sure I have missed something of the utmost importance and just hope that someone catches my error before there are any serious consequences...

Here are the kids on Tuesday before orientation and school:

Asher and Charles Broccoli

Benjamin and Pandy

Charlotte Eve in the dress her Memere bought her

 I took the boys first to their "Explorers" orientation- this is a half-day enrichment program since kindergarten only goes until 11:50. The Enrichment teacher is very friendly and energetic. She had a bowl full of snack- cheerios, raisins, and marshmallows- that Asher couldn't keep his eyes off of.

Coloring self-portraits

Asher's portrait and getting-to-know-you. He drew himself "as a mailbox"

Then we had another 45 minute orientation at the elementary school. The boys went into their classrooms and the parents to the "cafetorium" where we learned no new or helpful information.

Benjamin on the way to orientation

Wednesday the boys were home with their babysitter while I worked and Charlotte went to school and her first dance class.  Meema took her to dance but said she had a great time there and was cooperative and enthusiastic.

In her special tutu

Thursday was finally the boys' first day.  I thought I would cry, but we were so busy getting bags packed and 3 kids to 2 different places plus me to work, that next thing I knew, the boys were at school and I was alone in the car headed to the office.

Asher & Benjamin headed to their first real day of school

The boys seem to be doing ok- Asher is more quiet and reserved in his opinions. He says he can't remember anyone from his class's name, and is hazy on what he did during the day- I know he knows all of this, because he knows everything about everyone, so I assume he just doesn't want to talk about it yet.  Benjamin said he already has a new friend, Charlie, who he invited over to play after school some day.  Their teachers both seem friendly and we have heard good things about them from other families.  I am hoping that we are soon in the swing of things and I don't feel so disoriented around what I am supposed to be doing as a parent, too. It isn't made easier by the fact that after 2 days of school, the kids only have school a maximum of 3 days a week until October.  I guess we're starting slow!

The End of the Summer

It's the final washing of the swimsuits and towels, faded from their many hours in the sun.  Placing them in the bag with the forgotten sunscreen and beach sand still in the bottom.  Knowing how many months it will be until they're needed again.

It's picking out back-to-school clothes- clean, no holes.  Thinking of sweaters and corduroys but needing shorts and t-shirts.

It's the surprise of the Jewish holidays and the traditions so familiar and so intertwined with all of fall.  Apples and honey; sweet, round challahs; dressy clothes, and days off from school just as the routines begin.

It's tucking my loves into bed when the sun has already gone down, instead of arguing about why it's time to sleep while the sun is still out.

It's the crickets singing us to sleep at night and the soft, yellow slant of light in the morning.  Cool evenings and even cooler mornings broken by hot summer heat at midday.

It's the end of crowds at the pool, the beach, the ice cream store.  

It's the last meal eaten outside while the kids play on their swingset.

It's the first night with the heavy quilt; the first morning with a sweatshirt.

It's watching the leaves start to fall; noticing that bit of brown at the edges. 

It's the return to the routine and structure of school and work; the end of our freedom of unscheduled days and car trip adventures.

It's no more late nights with faces sticky from ice cream and hair stiff from the pool.

Another summer gone by.

Camp 2015

This is a very belated post- but all 3 kids had a great summer, and that included camp. The boys went to the same camp they attended last year, but this year loved it much, much more. They adored their counselors, made new friends, and learned to swim!  We had 5 weeks (camp ran 6 but we were on vacation for one of them) of no complaints and happiness to go.  Each boy chose a favorite counselor who they hugged and loved everyday.

Their summer ended with a camp "show" where each bunk did a choreographed dance.  Benjamin was totally into the dance and did an amazing job. I have been begging him to sign up for dance class ever since, but he's not biting.

Benjamin on the right. Asher is at the end of the line vaguely waving his hands. He said he couldn't dance because he'd hurt his pinky.

The boys with their beloved counselors

They loved camp so much that when we drove past it a few days later on our way to Sesame Place, they asked if they could go back to camp instead of going to Sesame Place. I guess it was a pretty good summer!

Charlotte had less to say about her camp, which was at her preschool, but she seemed to have fun.  I was not overly impressed by her counselors, who never took the time to introduce themselves to us, were often running late, and seemed somewhat disorganized.  I'm pretty sure she will go to camp with the boys next summer, even though the drive to get there is kind of a pain.

We got this super cute picture of her with her bunkmate/classmate:

She has become very confident in the water and although she doesn't know how to swim, knows her limits.  I am sure she'll be swimming soon, but for now she loves playing in the water and splashing around.

These camp photos are followed on the camera roll by something completely unrelated but funny- Benjamin asked me for rice krispie cereal for breakfast, "like on the box."  Here is a photo of the box:

So I made him this:

Which resulted in him rolling around on the floor, crying, with tears running down his face, because I made it wrong.  I am truly mystified by this parenting thing. 

Cancun

Eric and I went away last weekend, just the two of us, to Cancun. It was a friend from college who got married, and we spent 3 days and 3 nights at a resort, just us (and a group of friends), with a lot of sun, water, and fun.  Ahhhh.

I wasn't sure I could actually not DO anything for an entire day, but it turns out I can! We spent the day on Saturday at the pool with books and friends, swimming, talking, and eating.  I managed to just do nothing and enjoy it.

Friday night's Welcome Dinner had a woman doing henna, so I got some done. I liked how it looked and said, "I wish it would last forever!" but of course that isn't true, because if I wished I could have something drawn on my body for eternity, I would have gotten a tattoo by now. I guess I wish it lasted a little longer.

Our hotel was very nice, we had a big king-size bed (it's on the list should we ever win the lottery) and a room with a balcony looking out over the ocean.  It wasn't all-inclusive but the wedding events covered a lot of meals so we only needed breakfast, one lunch, snacks, and daytime drinks.  We had free coffee and Eric and I had our breakfasts on the balcony looking out over the ocean. 

The beach at our hotel

Eric doing nothing

Amanda and her husband, Brad, NOT doing nothing. They are working.

The view from our hotel room balcony.

 Saturday night dinner was outside by the water.  Eric and I got this picture of us together:

which, I have to pat my own back, we look damn good!  We are 35 and have 3 kids and we look even cuter than we did 10 years ago (in my opinion).  Ha!

My friend, the bride, had gorgeous outfit after gorgeous outfit, tons of beautiful jewelry, and her hair and makeup were perfect. She was stunning!  Here she is in her golden princess bride outfit:

 The wedding was on Sunday, midday. A Hindu ceremony (the bride is Indian-American and the groom is Puerto Rican).  It was steamy and we had fans to cool off. The groom rode in on a horse- every one at the hotel had gathered at the edge of the resort to watch the procession.

The groom on his steed

Bride and groom after the wedding ceremony

The wedding reception was Sunday night. There was a very long cocktail hour-and-a-half, and then we went into the dining room for speeches. There was no food or drink during speeches, but then there was a huge Indian buffet.  Eric and I got seconds it was SO good.  Then lots of dancing on a light-up dance floor.

Me with Amanda. I am sure we look exactly the same as we did 15 years ago in college.

With the bride and groom

It was a lavish weekend, with nonstop celebration.  We enjoyed the amenities at the hotel, and the company, and the reason for being there.  It was a great getaway and some of the calm carried over into the week.  My parents kindly and generously watched all 3 kids all 4 days we were gone, and spoiled them rotten (Froot Loops and french fries for breakfast! Ice cream for dessert!).  The kids were alive and well when we returned, although Meema then needed a few days away from them.  Then back to reality for all of us- messy house, laundry piles, working, and a case of strep for me. Thank goodness our next vacation is only 1.5 weeks away!