Bonnie's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 5/19/07 -------------------- 4/18/07 2/27/07 1/18/07 12/21/06 12/2/06 11/11/06 10/13/06 9/24/06 9/14/06 9/4/06 8/23/06 8/17/06 8/3/06 7/28/06 7/24/06 7/21/06 7/11/06 6/29/06 6/26/06 6/25/06 6/24/06 6/21/06 6/15/06 6/13/06 -------------------- Bonnie's Introduction

Saying goodbye to summer

September 14, 2006

We have returned from another divine two week sojourn down to Cape Cod.  All in all, this summer I spent over four weeks down on the Cape which is more time that I've spent down there since I graduated from high school and moved away.   I have to say, it was really nice.  Not only is the Cape awesome (obviously, or so many people wouldn't vacation there) but there is such a comfortable feeling to be 'home again'.  I feel as comfortable as I do at my own home, but even a little more relaxed since I also have the security blanket of my mom nearby, to help with the kids and just be with.  And to clean... ha ha.  What a treat.

This last trip down to the Cape was especially nice since my grandmother was there too, as well as Lorelei of course.   It was very special to have four generations, and five girls, all together.  We didn't go out to dinner as we usually do, due to a certain Miss Crankipants' preferences for evening scream fests, but we managed to do a number of lunches out which went well, with Lore sleeping in her car seat through most of them (I'm also not too proud to breastfeed—discreetly—through a whole meal if it keeps her quiet).  We also all went up to Providence together to help my cousin get situated as she starts her freshman year of college at Brown.  We are so proud, and thrilled to have her so close to us. We had to rent an SUV in order to fit all of us and once we were done shopping even that big boy was busting as the seams. 

Mostly, however, it was a lot of just hanging out at my mom's place, and that was wonderful.  Ella adores my mom, of course, but she also really got to know and become even more comfortable with my grandmother, her 'great-gran'.  The two of them would spend hours up in great-gran's room, with Ella playing with my grandmother's new Yorkshire Terrier Scooter and my grandmother's collection of stuffed birds.  Of course, my mom and grandma loved the opportunity to see their newest granddaughter but I have to admit Lorelei was pretty stingy with her smiles.  It looks like she may be a bit of a momma's girl, which is fine with me, although it does make it a little harder for others to help out by taking her if I need to get something done or to just spend some one on one time with Ella.  We all managed, however, and had a great time doing so.

On the 10 ^th we had a small birthday party to celebrate Ella's #5.   I had given Ella the option of having a kid party up here but she said this was her preference, which was fine with me since I hate throwing parties.  Instead it was just her grandparents and parents but I went and got all the fixings—streamers, cake, balloons, even a piñata (per Ella's request and selection)—and we all had a very nice time.  I asked Ella what she wanted for food and she listed her two favorites—Mac and Cheese (of course) and pork.  I got creative and made a kind of casserole with both involved.  It actually was pretty good, if I do say so myself.

Back home, yesterday was Ella's first day at her new school.  She was pretty anxious about it at first until she found out the first day parents stayed the whole time.  As long as she knew I was there, she was happy to explore the classroom and check out all the other kids.  It was interesting for me too, of course. Unlike her old school, where kids attended full time and both parent generally worked, this school, being only three hours/day, is filled with kids and parents that are used to spending their days together.  As such, the first day of school was noticeably more traumatic then Ella and I were used to. 

One thing that made me very happy was to find out that many of the children in her class have similar birthdays to Ella.  I was initially concerned that Ella would be the oldest child and the curriculum would be younger then she could handle.  Well, imagine my surprise and delight to discover that four children have birthdays the same week as Ella and all of the children will be five by January.  Not only does this make me happy she is where she is, but it makes me happy that we didn't end up getting her put into kindergarten early, as I had tried to do.  Today is her second day of school but first day with no parents.  She didn't seem worried at all, but was mostly focused on the heart shaped cupcakes that we had made together to bring in for her birthday.  A great distraction!  This afternoon is her first day at the new ballet class then later this week soccer starts as well.   A week of firsts but I am happy that we have a way to fill our afternoons.

Finally, I must take a moment to comment on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 ^th terrorist attacks.  This event has always evoked mixed emotions for me, as it occurred the day before Ella's birth, one of the happiest days of my life.  Looking back at that period I have never been able to fully separate the two events and this leaves me feeling understandably conflicted as I try to reminisce.  I have very much been enjoying the tributes to the victims that many bloggers have been posting.  It is nice to be able to really understand and remember an individual and celebrate their positive qualities so that we can focus on healing rather then the hatred.  I have had a few conversations with Ella about the attacks and about the fact that they happened the day before she was born.  Mostly she is unaware of the enormity of what happened however.  I was watching old coverage last night and was horrified all over again.   I said to Jamie that I am dreading the day that I know my girls really can and do understand what happened that day, and what mankind is capable of in the wrong circumstances.  It will be a sad thing to process with them.  A chore I wish I could avoid forever, but this is not an option in our world unfortunately.

Thanks for reading,

Bonnie