Preschool

Pictures before leaving for the day. It was so easy to move North through the morning.

"North, first you must eat all your oatmeal, then you go to school. "North, first you brush your teeth and wipe your face, then you go to school." "First you go potty, then you go to school." It was lovely.

I wonder how long I can use school as an excuse to complete tasks?

My child refuses to consistently smile for pictures. Luckily he has an older cousin who has gone through this phase, so I have hope for the future.

Five minutes in and he is already telling the teacher "no." Yikes.

Skyler and I picked up our veggies share from Eddie's farm while North was at preschool. I think strawberries are a perfect reward for such a good day at school. No tears, no fears, and he even sat at circle time! We will work on the "yes-ing" later.

Orientation day

Today was orientation day for North's preschool. This evening I went to meet the other parents and hear about the practices and policies of the school. Earlier in the day, North and I (with Skyler) spent 1/2 hour in the classroom meeting his teacher and picking out a cubby.

I feel a little emotional about this.

This is my kid going off to school, preschool, the age in which I consider kids to be grown-up enough to be in the care of other adults. As I listened to the teacher list off the ways that crying kids are helped and comforted, all I could think was, "you are going to let my kid cry and not call me back in?"

So not the attitude I had when I was a kid-less teacher myself. I was of the "push the parents out the door and their kids will work it all out'" branch of teachers.

I am not worried about North's interactions with other kids (although he did use the Tiger Claw this morning when another child moved his blocks) or his ability to communicate with others. What I feel is a impending emptiness in the space in which he has occupied for the past 2 1/2 years, next to me every second of the day. I know what I feel is normal and will soon be resolved. Maybe I might even transition into "what! Summer vacation already?" but give me a moment to mourn.

Part of the memory surge comes from the location of his school. The CDL is part of the greater college campus. This evening, before the orientation meeting, Reed and I switched kids and cars. I used the bathroom in one of the college buildings and as I sat I reflected on the quietness of the moment.

I was alone.

No toddler perched on my knee, no telling North not to touch anything or "yes, I have enough paper, thank you anyway." Could I take a moment to pretend to be a college student again?

At that time, I just wanted to be finished with my degree so I could live on my own time. No more committee meetings, papers or trying to fit work hours in. I was so tired of sitting and listening to talk, talk, talk. I wanted to live a greater, more practical life. As time went on and I graduated, much was achieved on a fairly predictable path with greater confidence and wisdom learned from experiences that a classroom can never teach.

But, I do miss that quiet mind. I was an open, dark space, eager for all kinds of information. Now as I try to remember whether the kids have eaten all the food groups and "did I brush both kids teeth today?" and "rats, we are out of honey again", I feel as if I am battling schizophrenia. (Note to my parents: I am TOTALLY healthy!)

And now North is on the campus as a student of his own school. A school in which as a HSU student I thought was boring to work at (the kids didn't have many behavior issues), but now as a parent I have a greater appreciation for. North will be surrounded by very well-educated head teachers and a fleet of college students who will be under the watchful eye of some of my previous college professors. I couldn't ask for a better educational situation.

But I just might be calling up my mom after I walk out that door next week as I leave North.

Solo dancer

The night I called my father out from Trisha Sand on Vimeo.

Pictures from the river and a farmhouse hoedown

Day at the Fair

First we said goodbye to Reed's Jeep.

At the fair we walked over to the animals first. My child climbed the fences in his excitement to see.

North was fascinated by the twin baby goats nursing. Those babies were rough! It made me hurt!

Good old fashioned turkey racing. At one point, the remote-control truck hit a turkey and knocked a pile of feed loose. The turkeys stopped running after the truck and focused in on the pile on the ground. Race over!

So we found some real races. Horse racing!

While watching the horses warm up, Reed picked out the winning horse. I wonder what the odds were on that horse. We could have won a pile of money...

Whooping cough vaccination. North was impressed by my bravery.

Both North and Sky loved the big slide. And then North spotted a little kids roller coaster. He said he was ready to ride it. In retrospect, I think he thought Reed was going to ride with him because as Reed snapped North into the train car and the ride started, North freaked. Luckily the ride operator was really good about watching for situations like this and stopped the ride. North was very relived to be off the ride and diplomatic about his nervousness. He sat in the stroller for a bit and watched Sky and Reed go down the slide.

The kid obstacle course and a carousal ride renewed his confidence.

We finished off our fair day with some tractor play. I think my boys need a tractor to play on. Can I find a broken one on Craigslist?

Body awareness

Sky loves to tickle and be tickled. It can be very cute when he leans over to tickle person's neck or to pet the dog. He usually will giggle and chatter as he does it. However, last week Sky developed an infection involving his foreskin. It cleared up very quickly with some antibiotic ointment and 24 hours after I noticed the problem he was back to normal. But because of all the extra attention focused on that site, he has penis awareness big time. Now when we change his diaper, he reaches his hand down to his penis and says, "tickle, tickle!"

North has been very confused about how I pee. He knows that I don't have a penis like him, his dad and brother do yet somehow I am still able to pee. At the river a few days ago he went with me to the bushes and as I squatted down he studied the action very seriously. A few seconds later he announced with much joy, "Oh, there is the other hole!"

A few nights ago, North and Reed were in the bathroom. North was very sleepy as he sat on the potty. He reached his hand down... and felt something new. Reed tells the story best, but I will do my best to try to recreate the moment.

Fully awake now, North looked at his dad with a startled expression.
"What are these?!" followed closely by "what are they for?"and then "and what do they do?" Reed ran through different scenarios in his head involving the explanation of testicles, their function and sperm creation. Finally he just said, "Those are your testicles. Be very careful with them because they are sensitive." North poked and pulled, prodded and examined them before he decided that they passed inspection and could remain. I don't know how he missed this body part before.

Birthday gift

Thanks for the gift Aunt Leslie! from Trisha Sand on Vimeo.

A Redwood Wedding, A Bay-side Reception

North rather liked the bubbles at the end of the wedding ceremony. He patiently waited throughout the vows before blowing them (granted the tube was hidden in Reed's pocket. It made the waiting easier, being out of sight! )

We all liked the dancing at the reception. North didn't understand why we had to stop when it was time for the money dance. I asked him if he wanted to dance with the bride, he said yes so Reed gave him some money and off he went. What a funny concept the money dance is: I can't say I am totally cool with it.

After a bit more dancing, it was time to cool off on the deck.

It was late, but the kids kept going! I think they would have danced until they crashed, but I don't parent like that. We leave (or try to, most times) before the melt-down no matter how much fun the adults are having. Maybe one day we will get to stay out past dark!

Sibling Play

Iko, Iko from Trisha Sand on Vimeo.