New Chapters

My life has some big changes in it right now.
Sometimes it is hard to sit back, relax, and try to make memories of this time of my life.
Both kids are in big transitions and I am right in the midst of it.

My 6 year old starts kindergarten tomorrow.
She is so ready.
I drew flowers on her backpack and lunchbag this evening to make them unique. I am sure that there will be some other little girls at school that have the same back pack. Hello Kitty is still pretty popular.

My 2.9 year old is almost potty trained. He DOES NOT want to wear diapers anymore. He wants to wear Diego Pull Up! We are so excited to almost be out of diapers. My one question is do we have to have a full box of 60 diapers when he finally decides to be done with them? Is that the way the world works?

Thankfully my work and MD's work are stable and understanding. I told my boss that I might be a bit late tomorrow and weepy and she said she expected no less.  I don't want to cry tomorrow. I wish I could understand why I cry. Why do we cry at happy occasions? Is the emotion so overwhelming that we have to let it out through tears?

Before we even get to the school thing - I have to get my kids to sleep. That doesn't make me cry at all - that just makes me a bit frustrated.

So say a little prayer for my munchkin tomorrow and let's hope she wants to go back the next day!

When dreams get ugly

I was thinking to myself just the other day that I hadn't been dreaming and remembering them.
Well - I have now had two scary dreams that have woke me up at about 5am in the last 4 days.
The slightly weird part about it too was that my daughter met me in the hall on the way to the bathroom and she had been woke up by a bad dream as well.

Getting ready for sleep-

Having a snack first.

Potty training

My youngest is getting so close to being potty trained. He had a dry diaper tonight and then used the potty before bed.
I will not take a picture of him on the potty so you will just have to be happy with me when I say I can't wait to stop buying diapers!

A Milestone

Check it out!
I hope we can get in touch with the Tooth Fairy at this late hour.

Social Norms

I find being with my 2 year old refreshing in a lot of ways.
He asks lots of questions that are off-limits for an adult to bring up but a 2 yr old can.

Today we were walking up the block and a man and woman were walking in front of us obviously just after some sort of exercise.
'Why isn't that man wearing a shirt?'
'Why is the other man wearing a shirt?' (It was a woman with a pony tail so obviously he wasn't paying attention...)
'What's that man's name?'
'Where is that man going?'

These are some examples of the questions I answered as we were walking behind them. I especially like the social norm questions. Why do men get to be in public without a shirt but women can't? I wanted to answer that it's because men can't control themselves around breasts. Obviously I didn't say that - but I have a hard time explaining why some things are the way they are.

If any of you want to borrow my 2 year old for some good fun - let me know. He usually talks loud enough for the person to hear at least his side of the  conversation so that makes it extra fun.

Where I can be

A familiar cycle in my life has come around again and I cannot believe that my time in the BWCA is that far in my past. 
I miss the consistency of the week - living in a tent, eating what we cooked over a fire in close proximity to nature and those we love, dipping my paddle into the clear water while my head is tipped to the heavy wind.
I sometimes wish that I could infuse my life with this schedule but modern times do not wait around for the fire to consume the fuel. So instead I yearn for those moments in my life where I can leave my city life behind and I can burden my back with my packs and canoe and search for those lovely spaces where I can be.

First Camping for the youngest

My Trees

For quite a while now, when we travel past these trees, I have said, 'There are my trees'.

Classic photo

From the Dubuque River Museum.

I could NOT get my youngest to listen.
In his defense, it was 2p and he hadn't had a nap yet.