Olivine has definitely been standing, walking while holding, and even taking a few steps.
Tonight was the first time she tried over
and over.
She would land in her brother’s arms
as they cheered her on.
She would walk all the way around the roombut then stop to take a thumb sucking break.
Sometimes in the standing up from a fall she would act super silly.
All eyes are on her and she loves the attention.

Everyone was awake before I left for work:
I carpooled in the morning so Joe could have the car. It is one of my favorite days of the entire year. My students have been studying about India (counting in Hindi, greeting each day with “Namaste”, labeling maps, reading about Gandhi & Mother Teresa, etc.)
I have a table set up with artifacts that enhance our learning. All of this culminates in a school-wide, multicultural day celebration. The last couple years I have been teaching my students some of the dance steps to “Jai Ho” (the song from Slumdog Millionaire) and this year they were so synchronized:
Parents come out and this year many students had outfits to wear. One student had a grandmother who made her a dress from looking at a picture in one of our books.
I even had a parent who found some clothes in her garage from when she was younger and so I dressed up. I am posing with my student who earlier in the week won the oratory contest at school for her recitation of part of a Maya Angelou poem. This is the first part of the day, and then the students are treated to an Indian meal which Joe usually picks up for me and brings to school with children in tow. We enjoy rice, curry, naan bread, chutney, samosas, and mango juice. It is exhausting but so worth the effort. On the way home, little ones fell asleep and had a late nap. Dinner was celebrated with classmates who are  all officially done with the purple side at Isabel. He is moving to the school age side in the fall. There was an amazing slide show and plenty of play time after eating.
There is my guy who is insisting he doesn’t need any help and has a look that disdains my even asking. I can’t believe he is already five. Where has the time gone??

We give lots of warnings so that little ones don’t feel like play is being interrupted. Tonight it was a fantastical game of climbing with a harness made from shoelaces while wearing a glove, belt, and various other climbing tools.
We try to sit down at our table most nights.
Although we are falling into a routine where Olivine starts her meal early so she can have plenty of time to practice using her fork or spoon without distractions.I caught those wiggly toes again, this time long enough to add a dab of polish.
I am grateful for a table full of happy faces to share my meals with. It’s never perfect. There are meltdowns and disagreements about what is being served, but then I remind myself of the routine we are in the midst of creating. This is the one meal where we gather together. Our chance to practice slowing down, listening, and taking turns.

Today marks my first day (after many) without tears and I feel loved. One of my students gave me this miniature rose plant last week and as the buds open slowly in my windowsill they are a reminder that life continues.
Timing is Everything. So when Henry handed me a package from my dear friend Angela today my heart swelled. Angela is my soon to be momma friend who I had hoped to see in Portland a couple weeks back.
I haven’t seen her in a long while and I had randomly booked a flight to attend her baby shower. I never made it to Portland and my suitcase remains packed. Frozen in time. Not wanting to fully acknowledge that my Ji’chan is gone and that I never made it to Portland. She put all these treasures together, small and significant, from her doorstep to my own.
My package for her is overdue, her thoughtfulness is never ending, and my guilt is overpowered by being reminded of how loved I am. It is easy when you loose someone so close to your heart, to fear that feelings of being loved will never be the same. However, friends and family keep reminding me and reaching out to offer their love.

Olivine has a these wiggly little feet all through dinner. She goes from resting them together
and then pressing them against the tray as she leans back to stretch.
If she leans to one side she can
almost reach the little foot rest
and this momma notices these details (the third time around) because it is one more tug on my heart that this little baby is quickly becoming a kid right before my eyes.

means farmer’s market for dinner
means short sleeves
and sweaty foreheads
means agua fresca
means face painting while wearing flip flops

They woke me up with breakfast in bed

and homemade gifts.

They were in their bathing suits and a gift bucket filled with treats was hinting that we would be spending some time seaside.

At the table Olivine played peek a boo

with added enthusiasm just for momma.

My boys are fearless in the water

and someone was trying to copy them

in the water and on shore.

It felt like summer in the “endless time for relaxing” sort of way (which was exactly what Joe was aiming at).Although there was a small burst of fog, most of the day was gorgeous.

A really amazing, low-key, all about the family sort of day.

And we are hoping that a little salt water and sunshine is helping speed recovery from pink eye.

a van from friendsso we could take our car in for serviceand run our errandsdone

We stamped up envelopes
 and filled them with homemade goodiesto show some love to the folks who watch and teach our children.
I helped Henry with addressing his: he has two teachers named Eric. He loves them both.
Plus I love some of my coworkers, so spending time saying “thank you” has been a good focus for this week (I have still cried every single day, truthfully). Students brought in cards, flowers, candy, and teacher appreciation was in full force, headed in all directions this week.
Then there were conferences. I love that the focus is quotes by our kids and photographs to show their social, cognitive, and physical growth.There is the upcoming meeting for Paul starting kindergarten, so Joe took him to get a physical and a TB test as part of his registration packet.And last night, we were exhausted yet Joe went to urgent care with Mr. Henry as his eyes are messy, the opthamologist didn’t want to wait.Once again we are thankful for insurance and doctor recommendations because he has pink eye, along with baby. Medicated eye drops and warm wash cloths are the remedy at hand.