First Field Trip

Little Miss had her first field trip this week. Naturally, I was nervous about it...because that's what I do- I worry. I'd considered not attending the first trip- because it was right here in town...and it would be good for her to spread her wings...yadda yadda...then I decided I was thinking irrationally and definitely needed to chaperone.

The kindergarteners took the activity bus over to the Island Farm...which was a much bigger deal than the field trip itself. Who doesn't love a bus ride?! Little Miss was thrilled to tell me all about it when we met at the welcome center of the farm. 

Sidenote: Parents had to pay separately. I had prepared for this & stuck cash in my purse. But apparently they only take correct change!? Um, really? No change for a $20!? What's a girl to do?

We've visited the Island Farm on several occasions. Little Miss enjoys it...but the chickens and roosters always freak her out. They are very social and will trot right over to you! (And I mean, step-on-your-toes, right over to you!) Maybe she is sensing my nervousness around them. When I was little, we had a duck named Peaches. (Yes, I named her. She was my easter present.) Peaches was evil. She had no idea she was a duck, she was quite sure she was a guard dog, of sorts. She would chase people out of our yard- and if you weren't quick enough, she'd bite you...and draw blood. So I'm always kind of leery around big birds...they're kind of gangster, you know?

Baby Lilly didn't mind the chickens.

After a presentation by a man who was slightly less friendly than the chickens/roosters he was discussing, the kiddos were allowed to pet a hen. Little Miss looked on as her friends and teachers touched her...while she kept her hands firmly placed in her lap. 

For the last few weeks, Little Miss has been telling me about her 'boyfriend' Alonso. I met the little fella yesterday and can tell he's quite smitten with her. He stuck right to her during the whole trip. She got a little embarrassed when I asked to take a photo of the two of them. Can you tell?

After chowing down on some squished PB&J, Little Miss climbed back onto the bus and went back to school. I followed the bus and honked like a maniac when they turned back into her school. That's right...I'm that mom.

Fall

Fall has fallen, once again. The air is crisp and my bones...they are a'achin'.

This is my favorite time of year. Work has slowed down just enough for me to take a deep breath and be thankful for all we have. Little Miss is thrilled b/c its finally cool enough for her to wear her new red boots that she purchased back in August. (Don't let her fool you though, she's already worn them. She sweat so much in them I had to air them out in the yard!)

Listening to Little Miss's daily ramblings from her school day is fascinating. Today, she came home with riveting tales about fire safety. She sat with me and filled out a fire safety information worksheet that she received from a firefighter, visiting her school. She then belted out to a "stop, drop, roll" tune that I wish I could've rocked out to when I was her age. She was also excited to inform me that she moved her "clippy" to purple today. (This is a big deal.) She was able to move her clippy up from green to blue, then on to purple because helped a classmate and then used her manners!!

Along with changing seasons and school schedules comes sniffles. Little Miss has had puffy eyes and a stuffy nose for the last few days. While it hasn't slowed her down much, by bedtime she can hardly hold her eyes open to read a book.

The homecoming parade Tristan and I rode in was the first big event in my 10 year high school reunion weekend. (Partially the reason I decided to test out the parade in the first place!) For a few months, I have toyed with the idea of going- but never could exactly pinpoint why I wanted to. In the day and age of social media, face to face reunions seem like a dying breed. Not to mention the small town most of us still live in...I run into more classmates at the Piggly Wiggly on any given day than at an actual reunion.

It took Little Miss and her puffy eyes to finalize my decision on going vs. not going. She wanted to snuggle with her mama...and that was all it took for me to forget all about the reunion.

I didn't feel like I missed out on a thing...I'm not much for talking about myself and my life anyway. I mean, isn't that why I have a blog? ;-)

Tiny Dancer

A few weeks ago, Little Miss began dance class again. It's her third go-'round in ballerina training and she absolutely loves every second of it. I got to sneak into her class this week to snap a few photos...you know, because I'm that mom. The one who's like "You won't even know I'm here! Click, click...can we turn the lights up a bit? How about this shade? Can we raise it?"

That's a lie...I really was quiet- and I think most of the tiny ballerinas forgot I was there and those who didn't just smiled extra big every time they caught my camera's eye.

It was fun to see Little Miss in her dance element. She's shyer than I imagined...and very no-nonsense. To love the class as much as she does, I only caught her smiling once or twice. Homegirl had her game face on.

I never took dance growing up...because I have two left feet and couldn't dance if my life depended on it. That said- most dance-days when Little Miss tells me what she's learned, I smile and say how proud I am...then google whatever she has said. I've learned a lot of fun words and since I became a "ballet class crasher" the other day, I can now put those words to better use.


(Yes, she has a tattoo on her arm. That's how she rolls.)

Lean with it...rock with it...what? That's not the song...oh. Right..and I'm supposed to be quiet. Right, right.

Little Miss getting a little extra help from her newest teacher, Miss Bri.




After my "class crash" I kind of want to join dance, myself..Ms. Lisa? Miss Bri? I think I'd probably work well at the preschool level...is there a spot for me? My slippers are ready! ;-)

Nail Polish & Roses

Sometimes, you just need a little pampering with your 'sister from another mister'...I swear, sometimes nail polish will fix what ails ya. Little Miss and I spent the day with my "turtle" sissy, her broken back and her precious 1 year old little girl. It was a total "girlie" day complete with a photo shoot and bubbly pedicures. (Sidenote: nail polish remover will win in a battle against a kitchen table.)

Little Miss loves hanging with younger pals, like little Gracie. So much so, that tonight when we discussed our rose and thorn of our day- she said her rose was spending the day with Gracie...and her thorn? Having to leave Gracie. Is your heart melting? Mine did...my rose instantly became hearing about her rose/thorn!

A few nights ago, I mentioned I'd extended an olive branch to a few special family members my heart has been missing. While I was prepared for any outcome, I received emails and calls from them that were filled with love, thankfulness and excitement. I was a total sap and cried when I read their messages. We all agreed that we could focus on making new memories, remembering happy past ones...and close the chapter (that didn't directly involve us) of negativity.

I would have to say reuniting with family and learning about their current lives, even through calls/emails, was the rose of my week. And my thorn? Well...I can't say I have one.

Family

Family. They can drive you crazy. They can hold you when you cry. They can make you laugh until your sides hurt. They can hurt you- and because they're family, you forgive them.

All families have their issues. They have arguments and go through periods of time where they don't speak. But the thing with family is that nothing will ever change the fact that you are that...you are family. We stand by our family...which can make arguments among family members difficult for innocent bystanders. While we want to stand by and support those in the 'ring'...we want to be able to continue our own bonds, as well.

I decided today that life is too short for rifts, arguments and silence. Before we know it, the chance to call & say "Hey...this is out of hand- let's fix it and make happy memories" will be gone. Reminiscing about past memories together, won't be possible. Sharing those memories with the younger generations will be lost in the shuffle of an argument that grew faster and larger than a crop smothered with miracle grow. An argument that began so long ago...we're all thinking "wait...what is it we're fighting for, again?"

So today...I reached out to family members I haven't spoken to since Little Miss was a wee-one. I put myself in the position to get rejected- to have my olive branch swatted right back at me. I opened my arms (via facebook- it's not just for cyber bullies!) and my heart to my family...because I felt in my heart, it was what I needed to do. For me, selfishly...just for me. Even if the olive brach is swatted away, I won't harbor ill feelings. I will know I did what I needed (for me) to heal my own heart.


But coffee, memory sharing and kids playing in the near-future sure would be nice. ;-)