Well the day that I’ve been dreading is finally here. Summer is over. over. Everyone thought I was crazy for not enrolling David in a school or some class or camp or whatever. How will you get work done? He will go stir crazy. Blah blah. As it turned out, he was awesome. He played hours of legos and ran around in the backyard. He learned addition and subtraction. He learned to read. (I mean he really can read now!! it’s amazing.) He played with his brother. And he was awesome. Neither of us regret it one bit. One little bit.

We had a meet-and-greet in his class today so we got his school clothes out. Which included these light-up Spiderman shoes. Of course, Nathaniel immediately wanted to put them on. And then, of course, he immediately wanted to take them off. My boy, so predictable.

And then he sucked his thumb a bit. It’s much better but now I’m nervous about it getting sick again of course.

David lay down on the floor, pretending to be asleep so Nathaniel tried to “wake him up.”

And then gave up and went to sleep with him.

And then it was time to go to school. David’s teacher had this photo of a school outside the door with all the kids’ names on each apple. I asked David if I could take a photo and this is the smile I got.

While we waited for it to be time, he played in the playground. And Nathaniel wanted to go too, but we didn’t let him.

Then we went in and he explored many of the corners of his new classroom.

And here he is with his new teacher. She looks quite nice to me.

After we came home, the kids sat on the floor and did what they do often: played legos together. Look at my boys.

And tomorrow is the first day of school. I know I am more nervous than David. I know he will do great cause he always does. Let’s see how well I’ll do.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that David’s new school and class appear to be wonderful. I really hope that he loves every minute of his school life there.
2. I am grateful that Jake’s taken some days of to do this with me. I am anxious and it really helps to have him be there with us.
3. I am grateful that I am a little back to my routine today. Tomorrow will bring a new routine but I am still grateful for having exercised, done some art, etc.

Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. going to his new school.
2. playing some didj games.
3. daddy.

Happy Sunday. Today was quiet and just the way I love it. Little boys played with legos.

And other doodads.

And then Daddy tickled the little one while the big one attacked him. Love these boys.

I love these boys so deeply.

So so much.

The little boy loves going outside, and wearing Daddy’s flip flops.

And we love him. So so so much. I have no idea how I got so lucky with all my boys but I assure you I am counting my blessings all the time. I did two layouts today, which is more than usual for me. I also started an artsy project. And read some. This book is going slowly but I will finish it.

Tomorrow starts the big week. We have a meeting at David’s school in the middle of the day and Tuesday he goes to school. Kindergarten. I don’t know why I keep thinking about this but back when September 11 happened, I remember this one story about Cantor-Fitzgerald which was a company at the World Trade Center. Every single employee who was at work that morning died. The CEO was walking his daughter to school on her first day of kindergarten and so he was late to work that morning. And he survived. I don’t know why I keep remembering this story but I do. And on Tuesday all of us will be taking David to school. We love him so.

I hope everyone’s week goes smoothly and happily.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for our perfectly ordinary day, filled with laughter and joy.
2. I am grateful for the art I did today. Always happy when I get to do some art.
3. I am grateful for my life. for all the big things and the really tiny things. for everything that makes us who we are right now.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. legos!
2. drawing in my connect the dots books.
3. daddy.

We’re finally home! We spent the last four days in beautiful San Diego. Back when we lived there, we used to love the Crystal Pier Hotel and always wondered how it would be to stay there. So when I was able to randomly get a reservation I jumped at the opportunity. And we got cabin #14. And it was lovely. We had this beautiful deck and got to watch sun set over Pacific Beach every night. Quite magical.

After the really long drive, we finally made it home and I am really happy to be here. So were the kids.

Nathaniel was tired but it was too close to bedtime so I tried to keep him up and he wondered around and rediscovered his toys.

David played Wii since it was his day and he was already bummed to have missed some of it.

I just lay on the couch and tried to recover from the car trip. I am feeling exceptionally exhausted. Tomorrow starts the events for David’s school. We have a social and a ribbon cutting in the next two days. And then Tuesday starts school. Wow.

Well I am off to get my life a bit back in order. Put my clothes away. Find my neighbor to get my mail (there’s some happy mail in there so I’ve been waiting all day for her to come back home!) and to read my book.

More tomorrow.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for my amazing husband to drove eight hours there and eight hours back in four days without a word of complaint.
2. I am grateful to be home and that we have such a comfortable, happy home to come back to.
3. I am grateful that it’s only Saturday and I get to rest for one more day before it’s workday again. It’s extra nice to come home from vacation and have some more vacation.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. being home!
2. playing wii.
3. daddy and mommy and nathaniel.

We started this morning nice and early at 5:30am. Kids were awake so it meant we were, too. We sat around for a while, desperately trying to wake up and then got the kids ready to go out.

This is the face David made when I told him to smile like he was about to get a ton of legos.

Then we walked down to Mission Beach and ate at a beachside cafe for breakfast. It was a little chilly but overall amazing. Nathaniel was already yawning 100 times so we came back to the hotel for his nap and we all ended up dozing a bunch (except David of course.)

Once he woke up, we drove to Scripps to get to the Birch Aquarium. I used to take David here when he was little and it was neat to go back. David loved every moment of it and ran from exhibit to exhibit. Here he is, on a special exhibit where you go into this room and then it records you reading the “news” and you can watch yourself on TV as a newscaster.

Nathaniel loved it too, especially the room with the huge fish tank.

After that, we went to our old neighborhood and had lunch at Wired cafe where we used to go regularly. It was neat being back there, too. Then it was time to come home so we could play on the beach which turned out to be a disaster. Both the kids got scared of the water, David took off. Anyhow, that ended badly. So we came back and walked down the pier and saw a bunch of dolphins which made the day amazing again. A little frozen yogurt, some healthy snacks for the kids and our day was over. I am tried and ready to stop living out of luggage. But I do love San Diego.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for the walk down memory lane.
2. I am grateful that we took the kids to the aquarium. I have photos of David there a little younger than Nathaniel is now and it was so neat to be there again.
3. I am grateful to be going home and for this short vacation. It was really nice to be here. I expect the next two weeks to be stressful as we adjust to our new routine but I suppose the sooner it comes, the sooner we can create our new routine.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. the aquarium!!
2. eating a chocolate chip muffin for breakfast.
3. daddy and mommy and nathaniel.

Today started with an early morning breakfast with friends of Jake. Both of the kids grew impatient after a while but they were great considering we were there for almost two hours.

We then came back home and went up to my favorite place in San Diego (or possibly one of my favorite places in the world.) Torrey Pines State Reserve. Nathaniel briefly fell asleep in the car which is why he looks so sleepy in this photo.

And here’s David “posing” for the photo. David did not want to go near the water but then he walked in too far and was caught by a wave that came in. His shoes and pants got soaked and he was really really upset.

We then rushed back to the hotel cause Jake had to meet with someone and Nathaniel needed to nap. While the little boy struggled and then slept, I snapped this photo from our balcony. We’re literally on the pier in Pacific Beach and look over to La Jolla. It’s stunning here.

I did some work on the computer, relaxed and read while David watched a bit of Thomas and played with his legos. To me, this is a lot of what vacation is about. Relaxing and doing what makes you happiest.

Nathaniel woke up and we had an appointment at the apple store for me to get a new power cable, cause mine died. And just as we were leaving the hotel I saw that the diamond had fallen off my engagement ring. The ring was still on my finger, but not the diamond. I really freaked out and was so sad but decided to leave anyway and look for it when we got back.

We went up the the store, got a new power cable and then had some lunch. On the way back we made a brief stop at Anthropologie (yey!) and Michael’s and Paper Tales (local scrap store) and I bought a bunch of punches. Because I can never ever have enough as it turns out.

By the time we came back, we were all tired and I was again sad about my diamond. We got the kids ready for bed and Jake was supposed to leave again so I asked him if we could look for the stone for fifteen minutes. As I said it, I was making David’s bed and picked up the folded sheets. I heard a small sound and amazingly we found the diamond! it was right there. We couldn’t believe our luck.

Now that I was super-happy again, the sun was setting, so we went out to the balcony and I tried to take some photos. As you can see, not everyone was cooperating.

Nathaniel absolutely loved being outside and especially walking up to our neighbor’s door.

And up and down the pier.

We kept trying to get him back in to the room.

But as soon as we closed the door he’d cry and try to claw his way back out.

This little boy loves being outdoors. So, all in all, a full and wonderful day and I am happy to be here. To breathe some of the delicious, fresh beach air. I am really really glad we found my diamond. And thankful for getting to spend so much time together.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for the beach air. For our comfortable hotel and relaxed trip.
2. I am grateful that we found my diamond. I am sad the ring broke but so glad we found the stone.
3. I am grateful to be healthy today. I am so sad for my wonderful friend Katie whose father just got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. My heart and soul are with her and I am hugging my own family a little bit tighter tonight.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. the puzzle/coloring books I got today.
2. watching Thomas and being in San Diego.
3. daddy and mommy and nathaniel.

Long long long day. We spent most of today in the car. And it also was one of the rare rare occasions in which David threw up. All over the car. All over everything. It was not pretty. Anyway, it was a long day. But we got here and Nathaniel was super-happy.

When we sat at our favorite cafe I asked Jake to snap some photos of David and me. And now you can see why I take so many photos of Nathaniel and not as many of David.

And then I just gave up and tickled him silly.

The kids are finally asleep and I must say I am wiped, too. All my muscles feel like they are aching. I look forward to tomorrow. To relaxing. To being together. To being here.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we made it safe and sound.
2. I am grateful that my kids are really amazing in the car. Eight hour drive and I heard maybe 10 minutes of whining total.
3. I am grateful to be here and to get a little time off. Time with my family.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing with my legos.
2. being in San Diego.
3. daddy and mommy and nathaniel.