the first day of summer vacation

                                  
It is going to be a dreadfully long summer. You can only build so many hotels, roads, garages, saw mills, airports, and train tracks.

We set the alarm for way too early this morning so we could get an early start on the day. We were invited to visit a friend's ranch. I had low expectations for life after preschool but this was my best day ever. When we got to the ranch, there was even a cookie waiting for me that was purchased at my pastry shop!

We started our visit by going for a long walk. I climbed up a mountain of dirt. I swung from a low-hanging tree branch. We found the stream and I splashed about and tossed rocks in. We returned to the house and looked in toolboxes.

Then we sat under the large oak trees and ate snacks.

Did I ever nap well this afternoon.

All I can think about now is going back to the ranch.

strawberry

This is my first effort at growing strawberries. This photo was taken several days ago. Yesterday, I celebrated/mourned the end of school by eating my first perfectly ripe berry. It was so very juicy and sweet.

My next berry should be ready in a few days.

I have a little area in the yard staked out to become my strawberry garden.

my teacher cried

Here is the last photo taken of me and my best friends at the end of the school day after we stayed and played for a good long time in the burning hot sun.  It was always our habit to shed our shoes, and sometimes other articles of clothing, the second we dashed out of school no matter how cold it was or how hot the pavement felt.

No one wanted to say goodbye today.

It was such a lovely day. We started with chapel (parents attended too) so we could celebrate the students who have completed preschool and will begin kindergarten. Then we had a party with some snacks. Nicholas and I both arrived prior to chapel when they were setting up all of the snacks and one of the moms thought we were just cute/pitiful enough to allow us to have just one item to eat. Big mistake . . . one strawberry turned into five and one cracker turned into nine or so. They were lucky that there was any food left for the others!

We had another water day today so I got to wear my swimsuit to school again. It seemed odd wearing it to chapel but that is what they told us to do. My mom had even purchased my very first Penguin polo for the last day of school. It sits in my drawer unworn.

The day, no the year, ended too soon.

When my mom came back to pick me up, we had to gather all of our belongings and take some snapshots and whatever else needs to be done on the last day. I dawdled and I was the last to say goodbye to my teacher. And she cried because she is going to miss me so much.



Footnote: My teacher said she has never met any child as happy as I am.

the end of the year

Tomorrow marks the end of my school year and I am not very happy about it. So quickly I went from crying crying crying when my mom dropped me off to wanting to be at school every minute of my life.

This dog, Millie, is one of the things I love most about my school. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, she greets me outside. I am always the first student to arrive.

There was no school last Tuesday because of parent/teacher conferences. There were no surprises, really, for my parents. In the opening minute of the conference, I was described not once but twice as intense. I can be, and no one knows this better than my mom.

When I started at the school in January, I was able to become close friends with the kids in the class who did not easily make friends prior to my arrival. I am loved by all. And I love all of the kids.

It came as no surprise that I am exceptionally bright. I have a more sophisticated level of play than a child of my age normally has. Also, my planning skills are remarkable.

What else?

I have an obvious love of language. I love to read and I notice patterns in language. My conversational skills are well developed. I have a wonderful sense of humor.

The only thing my teachers thought was a drawback is that I don't always like to follow directions. I can and do follow directions but I sometimes disagree if I don't see the point to whatever I am supposed to do. The little known trick around this is to get me to think something is my idea. I can sure bark out directions!

It will be a sad day tomorrow when I have to say goodbye to my beloved teachers. I cried for an entire hour when I got home from school on Tuesday.

our new neighbor

At long last, the Whole Foods near us finally opened today. We had been impatiently watching the construction for months and months.

If we were any crazier, we would have gone to the ribbon cutting this morning and been there right when the store opened. As it turned out, we had appointments and other responsibilities to tend to so we didn't go until the dinner rush. Apparently, we were not the only people who decided the new Whole Foods would be the perfect place to dine tonight. I enjoyed a piece of pizza (which was even better than at the flagship store) and the bakery features a cookie bar.

Our lives just got so much easier. No more hour-long drives into downtown just to buy groceries.

lesson of the day

We woke up way too early today so we could drive my dad to work. I visited his co-workers for a short while so I could brighten their day and then my mom took me to the park because it was still a pleasant and cool morning (less than 80).

The park was stunning with its rolling fields of yellow wildflowers. The most important lesson of the day was, if I run five miles along the path, someone is going to have to carry thirty pounds of toddler all the way back.

By the time we were done, it was no longer less than 80 degrees.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day started out like many days do: cleaning up cat barf followed by a little plumbing project. The water problems continue but my mom is handy enough to be a certified plumber by now.

My dad and I went to the new bakery near us and got treats. He got my mom quiche (which I loved) and a dirty chai. I had cocoa and a blueberry muffin. My dad had a croissant that he said was delicious but he could tell it would taste much better in Canada. As much as Americans might try, they just cannot get the pastries quite right. And you cannot even find black forest cake here! or proper crumpets. Don't even try to order a London Fog at the coffee shop. sigh.

I made a Mother's Day gift at school. I even painted my own wrapping paper. The biggest surprise of all is that we did get a bluebonnet photo this year. I did not tell my mom that day back in April when they marched us all out to the field of flowers and took our photos that were then turned into magnets.

Speaking of school, the year is almost over. I only have two regular days of school left. Tuesday is a parent/teacher conference so my parents can hear just how smart and popular I am. Then I have two normal days of school. The last day is a celebration to send the oldest class off to kindergarten and to say goodbye to my dear friends and teachers. I am looking forward to the academic rigor of the Montessori school, and I really need it, but this has been such a positive preschool experience for me. I have made plans to visit with my school friends during the summer and to stay friends with them forever.

35 months

I celebrated my 35-month birthday yesterday. It was a relatively uneventful day as I am currently in planning mode for my third birthday party. It is going to be a grand affair. I tell everyone I meet that "I am 2 1/2" and I suppose I will need to soon practice saying I am 3.

We have enjoyed some fierce storms this week and, thus, much cooler weather. My dog has been quite afraid. I am scared of thunder too and even ate dinner under the table one evening. My dog turns to me for support though so I need to act brave for his benefit.

There has been no greater joy than frolicking in mud puddles.

99 degrees and counting

Yes, you are reading the temperature correctly in the top photo. We made it to 99 degrees today. This did not stop me from thinking I should be outside for a good long stretch of time to practice my football skills. My touchdown pass is remarkable.

The second photo was taken earlier this week when we foolishly thought a comparatively cool 93-degree day was hot. silly us. I have been reading a lot during the hot afternoons and I devoured the latest issue of National Geographic.