Second Grader

Sorry that these things are all out of order... I'm tired.

Last Wednesday, Nate started second grade.  HOLY MOLY--I have a second grader!  I'm glad I'm still not thirty, or I might have completely lost it.  Nate did wonderfully, loved his teacher and had a great day.  The real test is always whether or not he wants to go back the second day, which he did, so we'll call it a huge success.  Nate's teacher is Mr. Stovall, a Van Hise alumni, like myself, and Nate's classroom is my old fifth grade classroom.  What a small world.  Madison schools received funding to have parent conferences during the first week of school, so we've already met with Mr. Stovall, something that I greatly appreciate.  It was nice to be able to tell him about Nate, his strengths and weaknesses, and my concerns and aspirations for him.  I really like Mr. Stovall and feel like he'll be a fantastic match for Nate's personality and growing self.

I must admit that despite this being his third year of school, I still spent all of Wednesday in tears.  Abbie will attest that these weren't small sad moments, but huge heaving sobs, for a good part of the day.  I guess that I just loved having Nate home with me all summer and felt a pretty big hole without him.  But Thursday was better, especially once I knew he liked school, and now we are already back into our old school rhythm.  I like that.

Finding old buddies on the playground is always exciting.  

Nate's 1st grade class was split into five different second grade classes, so he only knew a couple of kids in his class (a 2/3 class).  One of these guys was in his kindergarten class and the other he knew from the playground--They were happy to find each other in Mr. Stovall's line that morning.

The required desk picture.  I wonder when Nate will tell me I can't do this anymore?

I wanted Nate to have something special to come home to, especially since I didn't know how his day had gone.  Baking also helped keep me busy, which sort of, maybe, lessened my sobfest.  Who doesn't love a massive chocolate chip cookie?

My Baby is Five

Happy birthday, Abbie.  My sweetest little girl turned five today.  Five seems so much older than four.  It's one of those big birthdays, at least to me.  I'm so glad that we didn't test her for kindergarten this year--I think that we both need another year together...  I remember five years ago today how surprised everybody was at Abbie's birth.  8 1/2 pounds, 3 weeks early.  I had been contracting since 31 weeks and dilated to a four since 34 weeks.  Abbie has always done things her own way, on her own time.  I guess that some things never change...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY GIRL!

Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival

Is there anything in summer as good as sweet corn?

Poor Nate doesn't have enough front teeth right now to eat the corn on the cob.  We brought a bowl, knife and fork so that he could enjoy the corn, too.

Crazy Sky

I've always loved being able to actually look at the sun when it's behind a cloud.

Soccer Camp 2010

Nate and Abbie participated in MSCR's Soccer Camp last summer and loved it so much that they decided to do it again this year.  We were lucky to have signed up for one of the cooler weeks in August; if they had gone the week before, I don't know how much fun they would have had.  They both enjoyed camp again this year.  Nate worked on his endurance, speed and skills, while Abbie led her team in scoring and speed.  I am continually surprised by how much skill Abbie has picked up just by watching Nate play on his team for the last two years.  I am equally impressed at how fast Nate can run, especially since he is usually the shortest player on the field.

Dubuque, Iowa

A couple of weeks ago, Alan and I really felt the need to escape.  The Bahamas would have been fantastic, but we settled for Dubuque.  We left on Saturday morning and got to Dubuque on Saturday morning.  It's a shorter drive than Milwaukee!  We did some touristy stuff and stayed at a Bed and Breakfast.  It was our first B&B and we all loved it.  The kids were so excited to stay in a mansion.  It was a good trip for us, not long enough to be exhausting, but far enough that we felt like we'd actually gotten away.

Here are some pictures from our trip:

 This is the B&B where we stayed.

 Gorgeous chandeliers in almost every room!

 Staircase up to the rooftop deck.

 Alan and I stayed in the Paris Suite.

 This was our shower.  It would have been better if the shower head turned--Marble is cold!

 Nate's and Abbie's bathroom.  There was a toilet, shower, and linen closet on the other side of the room.

 Nate's and Abbie's room

 The kids woke up at the BCOD, so Alan took them up to watch the sunrise.  Unfortunately, it got blocked by the clouds.  Yes, then he went back to sleep.

 Nate and Alan played a game of chess.

This is the Fenelon/4th St. Elevator.  A man built it so that he could go home every day to have lunch and take a nap.  A man after my own heart...

On Sunday morning, we went to the Mississippi and National River Museums.  Other than the fact the my kids are terrified of fish, etc., it went fine.  We just didn't stay too long.

 You can thank Abbie for this one... Alan always takes the opportunity to grab a picture on a toilet.

After the River Museum, we headed to the old County Jail.

On Sunday afternoon, we visited The Hamm House, a mansion from the late 1800s.  We weren't aloud to take pictures in the house, but the site also contained the oldest structure in Iowa, a log cabin.  There was also the remains of an early lead mine.  You'll see the cabin and mine below.

Even just for a day trip, I would highly recommend Dubuque!  It's so close, with so much to do.  Thanks for looking!