She's a big kid now.

Riley started kindergarten right after labor day, which brought a lot of changes- new school, new friends, new teachers, new schedule.  It's fun to see how much she has blossomed in this new environment - they hit the books running.  She's already learned a bunch of sight words and loves to flip through whatever I'm reading and look for words she knows:  the, at, are, one, two, three, four.  She was already getting the basic idea of reading, but to learn real words in real books - it's pretty exciting for her. 

First morning- she was so excited, she would NOT stand still and let me get a good shot.  So, instead, we have this goofy one.  Which is just about perfect, after all. 

The school she is at has a dance company that comes into the school and teaches lessons, so we signed her up for ballet and tap.  So far, so good.  She loves it, looks forward to it and can't wait to show me her 'moves' afterwards.  I appreciate that she gets to participate in extracurriculars, without me having to figure out how to get her to and from them.  It's been really pretty great, so far.  And I say that very reluctantly, because her tap shoes should arrive early this week.  Heaven help us. 

Even though she loves Kindergarten, she's had a few teary-eyed episodes of missing her former teachers at her old school.  I understand- I miss them too!  They were such a big part of our everyday and so important to both of our well-being.  It bittersweet- watching her grow up, and knowing that one of the lessons she has to learn is how to move on.

First day of school - after school at pick-up.

So, yep...we're a family with a school aged child now.  Homework, school lunches, permission slips and backpacks - they are all part of our daily routine,  a routine we are beginning to relax into. 

I'm continually amazed me that we've been on this journey together for five years already - that my Girl is a Kindergartner!   Time really does fly.

And oh, how I love this girl.

Lessons learned from 35

It always happens in September.  The leaves change, the kids go back to school, and I add another spin around the sun to my age.  Fall makes me contemplative, and my birthday seems to make me even more so as I get older.  Lately, I've been reflecting on what I've learned from the past year.  What I want to keep with me as I move into the next year and what needs to go. 

This past year has been a little sleepy in some ways, but has also contained some really big, really important days.  There have been moments that have been game-changers, that altered the course of every part of my life, and there have been a thousand more that simply coasted on the energy created from daily living.   I've made a few big scary leaps into new areas of my life, and I've shuffled my way, slowly and cautiously, towards others.   Such is the way of life, I guess, and as long as I keep moving forward, I'm good.

Still, there are a few ideas I've really had hammered into me this year, lessons I've learned over and over again in various forms and through various means.  And a different lesson I learned a while ago is that when things keeps showing up, it's probably a good idea to pay attention.  So- the lessons that kept showing up this past year - here goes:


**Simply put, I must avoid the drama queens.  Although my caretaker tendencies urge me to jump in and fix/help/comfort/problem solve,  I am SO MUCH happier and balanced when I listen to my gut, cut and run.

**Although it might cost me treasured friendships, although it might make me rather unpopular in some circles, I will never regret telling my truth.  Never.

**My priorities are just that - MINE.  They don't need to fall in line with anything other than what I need and want and I don't need to justify or explain them. 

**It's worth mourning relationships as a way to bring closure, but it's not worth living in the "what ifs" and "whys."  It's just not. 

**It's ok to be incredibly grateful for all that I have, for all the abundance in my life and to still ache for the few things my whole soul desires.  The dichotomy is natural and good, and the longer and stronger the aches burn, the more effectively they function as a refiner's fire.  I know what it is I want. 

**Good things come to those who wait -  Good things come to those who work and strive and plan and keep trying.  (I stole this from Pinterest, but it's so very true.)

Pretty simple, right? 

Yeah-it seems that way - even to me - but those lessons have been hard earned, paid for with work and sweat and grace and faith. This past year required a lot of me - it forced me to define who I am, what I believe and what I want for my life.  It wasn't easy, but it's been good.   Real and good.

photo by Amy Gretchen.  I love how she sees the world.

And now- onwards and upwards, right? 

36 is waiting and I still have a lot of living (and loving and learning) to do.

It's pretty amazing....

 Being the mother of a superhero. 

Scraped up nose and skinned knee were the result of a nasty downhill spill- I guess even superheros get banged up some during the course of their day.

Her Superhero Birthday Shindig was a week ago- a blast was had by all!

I can't believe my SuperGirl is going to be FIVE!

Moving On

Riley has been at the YWCA daycare/preschool since she was 8 months old.  We have both really enjoyed her being a student there.  She was constantly learning and growing under their care, and I knew she was well cared for, safe and loved.  I truly count this place, and the teachers there, as a huge, HUGE blessing in our lives. 

Still, all good things come to an end.  Even this. 

Riley was voted the "Best Smiler" of her class.  I agree! 

Last week, they officially "graduated" the class of kids who will be moving on to Kindergarten with a little graduation ceremony.  It was cute in the way these things are - kids singing and smiling, parents beaming, a few tears here and there (yeah, I mean me...) 

With two of her school friends - these girls have been friends since they were TINY. 

The Girl sang and danced - I think she liked the attention. Shocking, I know.  

 Leaving the most precious part of my world somewhere everyday is a hard thing, but honestly, the teachers she has had over the past several years have been so amazing and have made it not just doable, but easy to feel great about.  They have taken incredible care of Riley and have taught her so much more than just letters and numbers.  They have encouraged her to think creatively, helped her understand her world a bit better and have helped ME understand how to better parent my own child.  They have been more than I ever could have asked for when looking for someone to nurture, love and teach my little girl; there are no people on earth I would trust more.   

Candace

Jen

Kajsa

 

Taylor

You can see in the photos that Riley loves all her teachers and they adore her right back.  Even though it's on to a new chapter for the us, I will always be so grateful that her education started out this way, in this place.  It's been the best possible option for her, and for me, for the past four years.

Holding Steady

(I wrote this on Thursday, August 16th.  I'm not sure why it didn't post then, but you should probably know when I wrote it for the dates and days to make sense.  mmmmmkay?)

Over the last several months, if you were to ask me "what's new?"  the answer you probably would have received is "Not much." or "Nothing really."  or, if I were feeling a little bleh, "My life is sooooo boring.

The truth is that things have been pretty routine.  There has been no major drama, no major struggles, and no battles I feel the need to fight.  Our day-to-day consists of work for me, preschool for Riley, a workout, some coloring.  Somewhere in there, we make a few meals, read a few books and get some sleep.  Sure, it's been busy because the life of a working single mom is just busy, but overall....same old, same old.

Just so we're clear - I'm not complaining about this.  I've had quite enough drama and fought quite enough battles, thankyouverymuch.  I'm enjoying the ease and the quiet.  I'm soaking up the extra time I've found to spend with my family and friends.  And I'm savoring the time Riley and I spend just hanging out together- exploring our neighborhood, going on walks, collecting bugs, and crafting it up. 

It's been an easy, relaxing, quiet summer. 

I guess I'm reflecting on this today because I can see that it's all going to change quite a bit in the next few weeks.

Tomorrow, Riley "graduates" from the daycare/preschool she's been in since she was 8 months old.   The next day, she celebrates her birthday (a couple of weeks early to accommodate school start dates for all her friends), and then, in a couple of weeks, she starts her new school where she'll be in Kindergarten.

KINDERGARTEN!

And with that, we move into the life that goes along with a school age child.  I'm not certain what will change and what will stay the same.  I know there will be lunches to pack, homework to do, new friends to make.  I know that the drop-off pick up times will adjust slightly- which will require me to change my work schedule slightly.  I know that closed toe shoes will be required.  But beyond that - I'm not certain what to expect.

I'm not too worried about what is coming up and while I'm anticipating some changes, I'm not too concerned about how to navigate these changes.  We've found a rhythm that is working for us now, and I'm going to try to hold onto what still works as we move into the new school year.

But, for all my thought on the subject, it's a few weeks away, so for now, we're just holding steady.  

Still

There are still days when I am consumed by the wonder that this child, this perfect little girl is mine.

All these things I want to tell you

It's been a while since I've been around here at my blog. I miss it when I'm not here, much more than I really think I could or should. Then I come back, and everything that has been bubbling away in the back of my mind tries to spill out on the page.  

So many things I want to tell you.   Many more than could really be coherent in one blog post. 

So let me just do a quick catch-you-up, and we'll move on from there.

 Hmmm....where to begin...

-I have been devouring books this summer- staying up way too late reading on most nights.  I've always read a lot, but I can't seem to get enough these days.  These are the books adorning my nightstand right now.  

-I co-taught a class this summer at the U on Community Engaged Research. Although it's always a big time commitment,  I LOVE teaching. I so enjoy the interaction, the conversations, the ideas that happen in the classroom. I always learn as much as my students do - probably more than they do, to be honest.

-My work is going very well.  I feel so incredibly blessed to have a job that I love, and that allows me to support myself and Riley.  I really enjoy the people I work with, and the projects I work on. Want to check out what I'm working on a lot these days? Yes? Ok, go here.

 -Riley is in Kindercamp this summer (basically, it's a small class at her preschool that is supposed to her get ready for Kindergarten) and she is loving it. They keep a very busy schedule, and most days she comes home ready to drop, but she's having a ball.  They've gone on a bunch of field trips, and her dad has chaperoned several of them- Red Butte Gardens, the Fire Station, even Rock Climbing.  I'm glad that he's participating in her life in this way, and I'm very grateful that we can work together to parent Riley in a healthy, happy way. 

-My sister and her family came to visit for a week, and the time I got to spend with them was so fun!

Man, oh Man!  I just adore this little family.  
My niece is so funny and determined and fiesty and so so so cute!

And my nephews...MY NEPHEWS!  Such sweet little men! I'm completely smitten with them!

-Summer is in full swing right now, and Riley and I are having a lot of fun outdoors (when it's not too crazy hot) and having some crafty adventures inside when the sun is just too strong for our fair skin. 

 

I'm going to try to be better about showing up here on a more consistent basis.  I have some ideas that I want to incorporate here and I'm going to try to spend some time on the layout and design when I get a chance.   You know, someday...

Overall, things really are great here in my corner of the world.
Say it with me now:  Life is gooooood.