Settling In

I can't believe it's been nearly two weeks since I posted last; that might be a record.

All is well.

Just busy.

School started and the kids are back in their routines.  Same teachers, same classmates.  That makes the transition into a new school year easier, if a little boring.  Next year, in middle school, will be exciting enough, though.

A few things have changed--the day of Girl Scouts, the timing of kung fu.  And Sis has radically changed her extracurriculars.  She has dropped piano, added horseback riding, and switched from figure skating to speedskating.  I'm so proud that she's trying something new, stretching herself, taking a risk.   I'm trying not to think of the real risks, as she suits up in helmet and kevlar neck protector!  But they take all the precautions, even have huge mats on the walls of the rink.  She was exhausted after the first session, which included more than an hour of conditioning--including hopping up the stairs and also doing crossovers up the stairs!!  But she hung in there and did it.  Then she spent about an hour learning the positions of speedskating and trying it out, all on special skates!  She really was pretty amazing!  A mom of a nationally-ranked skater said Sis would do well, that she was already taking to it quickly and she had strong legs.  She does like to go fast.

After she hobbled off the ice, we soaked her in Epsom salts and gave her some ibuprofen.  The next morning, she woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to go again.  She had horseback riding that evening, which also involves strong legs--with all the posting (essentially standing in the stirrups to keep weight off the horse).

For myself, I'm getting organized for our first GS meeting tomorrow and for historic house tours starting at the end of the month.  Hospice is ongoing; I'm with the same woman I visited in the spring and summer.

In addition to school and activities, the church year has also started.  It was nice to be back, after a bit of an absence in the spring when they canceled our early service.  Good to see friendly faces, important to reflect on September 11th.  I'm a lay minister, mostly in charge of meal coordination for people in need.  One of our summer recipients was up and about after extensive back surgery; she looked great! And I'm helping to teach a young member how to crochet.  I also signed up to be on the religious education steering committee. Meetings are before church, which is easier than weeknights.  There was also a book (re-)sale, at which we always find great items.  Mama got a book on the daughters of Genghis Khan.  I picked up The Hare with the Amber Eyes.  Sis picked up a few YA books.  And they chose for me a book on New England's stone walls.  I made an appreciative "ooooh" sound when they handed it to me, as Mama apparently predicted I would.  They all say I make that sound when I see an old stone wall (I love old stone walls.)  They say I make the same sound for raptors, butterflies, old houses--and a much gruntier sound for snakes!

Then we went for a delicious pancake and omelet breakfast, one of our favorite parts of going to church.

That's how the last two weeks have gone.  The temperatures have started to drop at night but are still warm for me during the day.  Our dogwood tree is already changing, though, most likely because of the moderate drought and stress of the extra heat.  I think we set a record on Saturday and will again tomorrow.  Ugh.  Bring me fall!

Summer Fun: Birthday Bash

We've had birthday parties (by year):

1.  in the backyard with everyone we knew to thank them for helping us;
2. again in the backyard, this time with bubbles (described in retrospect in third paragraph);
3. at the nature center with animal time, craft time, and playground time;
4. at the zoo, with animals and a craft;
5. at the Aquarium, with a tour and a craft;
6. at the church hall, for Legopalooza;
7. at the invention museum, with a hands-on woodworking project;
8. at the dance hall, for a pop music dance party;
9. and now, at the ice skating rink.

Which means I'm pretty experienced with the "away" party.  I thought I had already written a post about hosting a take-away party, or whatever they're called (I remember there was a name for them), but I never posted it, can't find it, or didn't actually write it.

Still, a few suggestions:

• have a pad of paper to record names and phone numbers of parents who are not staying on site;
• don't forget matches and candles, very few places have them available;
• also remember bowls you might need to serve snacks;
• bring a Sharpie to label the kids' drinking cups;
• I always try to have enough food for seconds and for parents who stay (today, we barely had enough cupcakes for the kids);
• cupcakes travel and serve more easily than sheet cake;
• bring 1-2 garbage bags to carry the presents away;
• money for a tip for the assistant (I aim for 15-20% of the fee);

Today's birthday party at the skating rink was great.  The kids woke up this morning so excited and grew more so when Goo arrived.  They had their skating lesson first--it was Bud's first official lesson--and then helped us set up for the party.  The set-up was pretty minimal--bowls of potato chips, lemonade and water, ice, cups, napkins--and then they began welcoming friends, both from school and from kung fu.  

Most of the kids could skate and Sis helped those who couldn't (with more experience than Bud, she's the better helper.)  We had talked to them about how to be a host/hostess--welcome everyone and explain any details, talk to everyone, buddy up with those who are alone, help serve food and drink, thank them when you say goodbye.  They did a great job and the two groups of kids, strangers to each other, got along well.  

They skated almost 2 hours, with barely a break for pizza; after skating, we sang "Happy Birthday" and ate cupcakes--those wonderful "TARDIS in the Time Vortex" cupcakes that only a couple of people understood.  As the Zamboni cleaned up after public skate, we said goodbye to everyone and cleaned up.

And now, after opening all the wonderful presents from generous friends at home, the kids are off to the movies with Mama and Goo, after a big sushi dinner.  I'm home alone, resting and rejoicing . . . and writing it all here.

Ice, Ice Baby

After Sis had so much fun at an ice-skating birthday party, we offered her the opportunity to take real lessons. She already takes gymnastics, but only once a week; this would give her another sport--and she's so strong (and the fastest runner in her class) that she'll probably be really good at skating.  At least it is fun and different (very different from me; lest I forget that the Northeast is a different culture from the Texas one I grew up in, I just need to look at ice skating and hockey and horseback riding/equestrian not rodeo to remember that it's not just the accents and foods that are different.)  We signed her up this morning and she'll start next week.  She'll get her skates from the rink, rental, and will wear a coat, bicycle helmet, and mittens for warmth and protection.  She's very excited.  Last night she even dressed up her doll Felicity in her ice skates and outfit.  And then, of course, there will be the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, with lots of ice skating.

Ice Queen

Sis went ice skating for the very first time on Saturday as part of a friend's birthday party.

And I, having only been skating once before, in third grade as part of a class get-together at Houston's Galleria ice rink, was unprepared. I didn't know to bring gloves for her hands or her bicycle helmet for safety; I barely remembered to dress her warmly.

Still, she got out on the ice, clinging to the wall with some of her friends.  And, with the help of a friend's dad--the only adult on the ice--she eventually got away from the wall some.  I had to leave before she was skating much on her own, but she tells me she did it.

And she had the bruises on her knees to prove it!

And a smile on her face that said she'd be doing it again.

Friday Night Ice

On Friday night, we trooped--with the Brownies--to Disney on Ice, our first time at that show.  It was crowded and chaotic, swarming with young children and things to buy.  We had great seats, rink-side, and could see everything, from the ice-skating Cars to the flying fairies.  The fairies were my favorite; Sis thought so, too. We all liked Toy Story--laughing at dancing Hamm and admiring Jesse's lanky moves (Bud did not like that Barbie ripped up Ken's clothes, though; he thought it was mean, even under the circumstances)--but Sis thought it was too long.  They were a bit confused about the appearance of an undersea set, not sure if it were Nemo or Little Mermaid, even with "Under the Sea" playing.  Clearly, we're not quite ready for Disney World!  But we were a very enthusiastic audience, sipping slushies and eating cotton candy while smiling and even waving at the skaters.  I definitely admired the athleticism and artistry of the skaters, who demonstrated some of their jumps and spins in a post-show technical explanation.