Sickies

Cora and Oliver stayed home with colds today. One week at school and the kids are swapping germs like crazy. Cora got to watch movies all day and Oliver was tickled to have her around to play with. It's a fine line when a five year old gets sick--they're crafty enough to realize the perks of getting "sick" more often--so you've got to make them suffer a little while at home. I know it's a beautiful day and you want to play outside, but you're sick, remember?

Oliver goot new shoes for the fall, and his feet have slimmed down to wide from 2X wide. Cora is still growing like a weed.

They Said It

Cora, hugging me goodnight:

"Daddy, I love you as much as a granule of sand."

(She was upset at the time).

School--Day One

Day One is in the books, and Cora came home from school on Cloud Nine. What a contrast to the stereotypical scene of children kicking and screaming as they are dumped at the school door against their will. Abintra is such a home away from home for Cora now after three full years. Her teachers have all been wonderful, and the staff really seem to have a special place in their hearts for Cora.

When she was two and in the Toddler room, one morning she breezed into the classroom and said to her teacher, "Casey, I'm going to make you angry now." Cora walked past Casey, climbed on top of one of the schoolroom tables (a verboten act), turned and smiled at her. Casey handled it beautifully I'm sure, and saw it as a clear indicator of Cora's intelligence and resourcefulness. Supposedly Cora was way ahead of the developmental curve in her premeditated efforts at pissing off authority figures.

The love and acceptance that Cora has received year in and year out was so evident this morning as she jumped out of the car with hardly a goodbye on her first day back after several months away. She has such trust in her teachers and the school itself, and for good reason. They have earned her trust over several years, and she is flourishing there.

Oliver, meanwhile, pined away for his sister all day. When he went to sleep at naptime the last thing he said was "Cowa." When he woke up, "Cowa." He starts school tomorrow with Kate--she'll be working with a few younger kids and he gets to come along. I think Oliver will love the Montessori environment as much as Cora has.

Transitions

Cora starts kindergarten tomorrow. Wow.

Oliver is now sleeping in a bed instead of a crib. He is using a fork at mealtimes. Wow!

Stuff

Oliver sat in the bath tub tonight until the water got cold, playing with cups, pouring the water back and forth from one cup to another. He loves bath time ("bat!") and water play in general. He has also enjoyed clacking around the house in Cora's high heels lately. His feet are so wide they fit into her dress-up shoes. He can barely walk in them but he loves the sound they make on the hardwood floors. Cora enjoys having a dress up partner. When I came home tonight Oliver was sporting a purple hairband. With his curls he is mistaken for a girl enough already. Every day-- "She is sooo beautiful!"--even when he is wearing blue from head to toe. Hair is a powerful marker. And at this age it is hard to tell boys from girls without clothing cues.

We're getting back to normal now and dinnertimes have been smooth thanks to the cooking brigade of Anne and Carol last weekend. Our freezer is stocked so dinner preparation and bedtime rituals don't get as pressurized, urgent and frazzling.

When Cora came out of her bedroom this morning Kate and I both had the same first impression--she grew overnight. Sure enough, we measured her against the wall and she had grown since yesterday. Amazing. She has really sprouted this summer.

Ahhh...7:30pm

It's a rare joy when both kids are in bed by 7:30pm. Such a humane bedtime for the parents, and good for the kids too, although they don't appreciate it now. Cora starts her last stint at camp tomorrow morning. In a way this starts her school schedule again because school begins next Monday. She is very excited. She has two teachers (they're called guides) in her class. One is the lead guide returning from last year. The second guide is new to the school. Cora can't wait to see what she's like.

All the family left today; it seemed they were gone as quickly as they arrived. It was a whirlwind visit but a good one.

Phyllis

Grandma Carol and Aunt Anne and Uncle Nate are in town this weekend, following hot on the heels of our friend Phyllis' departure after a four day visit. Phyllis is anywhere between ninety two and ninety five years old and full of vim and vigor, piss and vinegar, "the spirit", whatever you want to call it. She ran for mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts, last year just to stir things up. She's a dedicated lifelong political activist and a self-described agent for change. No moss gathers on her despite her age. Her visit coincided, overlapped actually, with Kate's return from the cabin in West Virginia. She arrived home with Oliver after eleven hours on the road to a full house. We've been trying to recover ever since. Phyllis flew out on Wednesday morning just as all the airlines shut down because of the British terrorism plot. We weren't sure she would make it out at all, but it seems that everything turned out fine.

Daily Updates

I was inspired by this local Nashvillian's blog today. He keeps his loyal readers updated on his life in daily detail, meaningful or otherwise. I think I'll try that for a few days to get the blog machine rolling again.

Catching up

Cora blackberries
Originally uploaded by Wingates.

We've been negligent around here keeping you guys updated on our lives. Between the stifling heat and children running amok, I guess we've been running out of steam in the evenings. I've had a mental list of blog-worthy quotes and events over the last few weeks, but sadly most of them have escaped me now.

We're into August already, and it's going to be a wild month for us. We'll have guests in town every weekend until mid-September. We always have more fun when guests are over. In September I start a new teaching schedule that will crescendo in October and November and conclude on December 14th.

Kate and Oliver are taking a road trip this weekend to visit her high school buddies at a cabin in West Virginia. Cora and I will be hanging out here.

We went to the Chattanooga Aquarium last weekend and had a great time. Their aquarium is fabulous, and there are great things to do and see all around the Chattanooga area. It feels like we have found a good family tradition vacation spot that won't cost too much and will be easy to reach by car.

Cora starts school in a few weeks. She has one more week of camp lined up and then the school year cranks up again. She will be attending Abintra again this year--which we didn't expect--things have a way of working out.

Our garden is overflowing with tomatoes right now, and the cucumbers are staging another wave of ripeness. Mom's soaker hose has kept the veggies hydrated through the heat wave.