Falling for it

The school year has it’s ups and downs and this year will be no different.  Kiddo had a bit of a meltdown this weekend over some homework and math practice she needed to complete, but we got thru it.  She was forgetting to carry the one or borrow the one in adding and subtracting 3 and 4 digit numbers.  So, I found a way to help her remember and we crushed some practice.  I found a way to make it personal for her so she’d remember.  Kiddo loves animals, so in adding, I told her to carry the baby mouse up to it’s new house and when borrowing, she needed to ask her neighbor to come over and play.  She got it and it stuck with her.  Carry the baby mouse up or ask a neighbor to play.  It was cool watching her click with it and mumbling to herself as she did the practice.

Besides that, it was a great weekend.  It was 25ish (77F) all weekend and that was awesome.  We had the house open and fans on and nothing more.  It was so nice to get some fresh air and just lets the house breath.  Also, J and I have been craving steak (which Kiddo doesn’t like) and trying to find a time to have that since we had in house vac packed in the freezer, but it’s been so hot that lighting the grill and standing in front of a 275+ degree (525F) grill on top of 38 degree (100F) heat plus sun was not something that sounded like a good plan to me, so we’ve been holding off.  With the nicer temps, it was time.  Plus, we have hotdogs in the house (Gotta love Costco) so that was an easy meal for Kiddo to add to the grill as the meat rested.  Mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus to go with it and then I did a red wine sautéed mushroom, leaving the excess in the pan and reducing that for a red wine mushroom sauce.  It was, in a word, perfection.

Topping that all off was that we got to set up and eat on the patio table set that we got.  It’s big enough for all of us and comfortable to boot.  Plus, it was nice to sit outside and to eat.  Watch the world get dark around us and the tone of LQ change.  For the foreseeable future it’s dinner outside, because dang it’s nice.  We followed up steak with chicken and rice last night and again it was outside.  Again, we kind of watched the world darken and the tone shift.  It’s been fun.

Speaking of fun, we got back to the sandpit.  Sadly, I think it was our last trip as someone (not naming names) brought home approx 97.3% of the sandpit in their shorts, shoes, undies, shirt, hair, and body.  Honestly, I think I vacuumed up about 84 pounds of sand as the unnamed person bathed and showered the play away.  I was, I will admit, simultaneously amazed and repulsed.  HAHA

The weather turned and autumn is upon us.  That’s a treat.  We are loving it.  More time outside to play.  More trips to parks and outdoor activities, since it’s not blazingly hot all the time.  Also, since we now have a big kid with her own key, she’s been venturing out solo to see if kids are at the playground.  It was a nice treat Sunday for her to want to go out solo as J was working (final Masters class on top of work and life and new job as Language Arts coordinator, plus she’s vying for a spot at a conference that would be a career booster) and I was watching some college football and us not having to break away to go with her or play which parent will it be.  She cold go and I could coffee and watch a game and J could coffee and work while half watching.  Or, just sitting outside and enjoying the weather and working.  We’re impressed with her and at one point, just after she left, I got up to turn on the dry cycle on the washer/dryer and that window faces the playground.  I saw Kiddo walking, look for cars, see none and dart across to the walk way.  Then, as she was running towards the playground, she jumped to try to touch a leaf.  Missed.  Stopped.  Back up and tried again.  Got it and fist pumped to herself and kept on running.  I wish I got a vid of it because it was priceless.  I’m glad I got to see that little moment for her.

This week is normal, but next week is weird.  Saturday is a weekend day, but Sunday is a school day.  So are Monday and Tuesday.  Then, October Break and they are off 1st thru the 8th, back on Thursday and Friday and then a weekend again.  So, three days, a week off, two days, weekend.  I don’t make the schedule, I just shake my head at it.  

Let’s go, Kiddo… you’re doing great in math and getting it, I’m glad that we figured out we need to carry the baby mouse up to the new house.  I’m so proud of the work you’ve been doing…. And your reading level!  It’s a V. For voracious reader.  That’s Grade 5 levels of reading.  Good for you.  Break is coming.  So is a play date with H.  Lots of fun to come.  Before you know it, CNY will be here and so will Thailand and elephants and then Da Nang and the beach and pho and getting you a dress made.  We can’t wait to explore, grow, and just love with you.