Run-rise

"The sunrise, of course, doesn't care if we watch it or not. It will keep on being beautiful, even if no one bothers to look at it." 

--Gene Amole

I still can't stomach calling myself a morning person, but I've consistently woken in darkness for nearly nine months now and each time I see LA's vibrant sunrise I feel empowered, peaceful and deeply grateful. I dream of the oranges, pinks and purple, I crave the sweat, I whine when the alarm buzzes only to reach an endorphin high while running down Beverly Glen. This world, our town, my life, they all can seem as dark as my first few strides in the morning, but the ever-steady sun slowly rising and painting the sky with brilliance gives me hope. And those are feelings that make converting to morningism seem like a pretty smart choice.  

Pocket Pal

For the first couple of days Cora was devastated when we dropped the kids off at school because she didn't understand why they got to leave the nest while she had to wait another two weeks for her school to start. To a three-year-old Coco-bird, two weeks may as well have been an eternity! She'd whine and moan and on the very first day of school planted herself on the sidewalk as a peaceful-ish protest to me forcing her back home. What can I say, that girl knows how to tantrum like only the baby of a family does. 

But slowly she realized something I had been trying to tell her all along: being Mom's pocket pal is the ultimate dream. We spend our days while the Bigs are away playing princesses and make believe and cooking in her pretend kitchen. We clean and check off our to-do's, yes, but we also set up train sets and cuddle on my bed for stories, we do dot art in the homework area and she has free reign of the magnatile bin. A few days ago Coco got it in her head that we should make muffins and 30 minutes later we were in a clean and quiet kitchen making blueberry muffins. Why? Because without others dominating my attention I really can just focus on Cora Nicole and what she wants to do, and it's been so much fun! 

For the last few days her tune has changed and now she cries when it's time to go pick up the kids. "No Mama," she says. "I want it to just be you and me for a little longer." I can't blame her, this little season feels extraordinarily special to me too. These are my last few days before I'm a full-time school mom. Our two weeks is almost up and my baby bird will start preschool on Tuesday. I can't wrap my mind around her being old enough for this to happen, but I'm holding it together with the knowledge that we'll still have an hour or two of alone time before we get the others even when her school starts. I love having her as my pocket pal.

She graduated from her toddler bed and into the trundle under Quinny's bed and is loving her new princess sheets and extra space. I can't believe how big she is looking all of a sudden. 

Train tracks are cool and everything but what she really likes to do is take a train and try to make a ridiculous amount of noise by racing it on the hardwood!

Folded laundry and had to send a quick email and when I shut the computer I started laughing because Daniel Tiger characters were surrounding me!

Blueberry muffins made completely by Coco. I was so impressed! (All I did was crack the eggs...but she probably could have done that too?!) The cutest part was when she said she would take care of the "covingtons" AKA--muffin tins!!!

First Day of School

There's a stirring scene in the movie Wonder where a dedicated mother played by Julia Roberts sends her special son to school on the first day and while she watches him walk into a crowd, a school, a life with so many unknowns she whispers, "Please God, just let them be nice to him." 

This year, I was Julia Roberts. (Without the big lips and big hair, but still). I walked away from my babies and prayed all the way home that they could make new friends, be happy and thrive in school this year. And I prayed for all those other kids as well. "Please God, just let them be nice."

Our house was filled with nervous energy last Tuesday morning and there were some tears and whines about whhhhyyyyy they had to go to school but by the time I picked them up for our annual first-day-of-school Cookie Talk they were beaming and my anxiety went down at least 10 notches. They had a great day, thank heavens. They all took on my challenge of making a new friend and remembering their name and they couldn't wait to tell me all about it. Plus they liked their teachers, had fun on the playground, shoot they were even excited to do their homework! I know everyday won't be as sunshiney but my Mama heart needed a good first day of school, and we got it.

(It shouldn't surprise anyone that Quinn was not involved in the whining, crying or begging for endless summer. That girl was up before the sun with her Star Wars shirt and camo backpack on, waiting for us to take her to school. She couldn't have been more excited if she tried. While many kids were crying and clutching onto their parents Quinn escaped without so much as a goodbye only to be found already sitting on the rug for circle time. When I picked her up, her first comment to me was, "Why did you pick me up so early and when do I get to go back?" My Sunshine Kitten is ready for full-day school, whether I like it or not.)

In an attempt to get the kids to smile James was pretending to lick my ear. Gross, yes, but it worked! These are the faces we got when James got too close and really did lick my ear. EWWWW!!! Quinn's face kills me though, so I had to include it.

Everett is in 3rd grade this year (on the big yard with brother and so excited).

She misses the cut-off by less than a month but TK opened at WWC and we were all over that idea! Hooray for Quinny and three kids at one school.

T is in 5th and rules the school. I can't believe we are one year away from middle school...ahhh!

This baby doll has to wait until after Labor Day to start school, but hasn't gone a day without walking the kids to school with her backpack on. She's ready, people! 

Shouldn't surprise you that Quinny is leading the pack. 

All I wanted was a picture with my Quinny Cat...

...but then Daddy wanted one as well...

...and Coco was not going to be left out!!!

First day of TK, done and done. 

Summer Fun Randoms

Summer is over, whether I like it or not, and time is not on my side with back-to-school schedules and lessons and practices and homework. Each year I get busier and that's just the way I want it, but I'm thinking instead of a million separate posts for the remainder of our summer adventures I'll just put them all in this one post so I can keep moving things along. Summer randoms, here we come!