Kinder Comienza -- Kindergarten Begins

Moose está ahora en Kinder! No puedo creerlo. Este puesto por Toddled Dredge resume muchos de mis sentimientos sobre nuestro hombre grande en la escuela. Yo estaba sorprendentemente tranquilo en el primer día de escuela con sólo unas pocas capturas de la emoción en mi garganta. Estoy totalmente de espera para derramar algunas lágrimas. Las lágrimas de hecho llegó más tarde a partir del día primero éxito fue total y la realidad de Moose se había ido día tras día se me ocurrió.

Moose está asistiendo a un programa de inmersión dual (de ahí el español), que significa el 90% de su instrucción en Kinder es en español. Más inglés será añadido como el progreso a través de los grados y él y sus compañeros se salen de la escuela primaria no sólo bilingües, pero biliterate también.

Translation:
Moose is now in Kindergarten! I cannot believe it. The post by Toddled Dredge summarizes much of what I felt about our big guy being in school. I was surprisingly clam on the first day of school with only a few catches of emotion in my throat. I fully expected to shed some tears. The tears came later after the successful first day was complete and the reality of Moose being gone day after day set in.

Moose is attending a Dual Immersion program (hence the Spanish) which means 90% of his instruction in Kindergarten is in Spanish. More English will be added as he progresses through the grades and he and his classmates will emerge from elementary school not only bilingual, but biliterate as well.


Moose met up with his buddy, Carson, at the crosswalk.

Moose and several of his friends from preschool: Lily, Carson and Cooper
Big guy, we are so proud of you!!

It is really amazing how first day jitters cross language and cultural barriers. The mix of tears and excitement was so evident on the Kindergarten playground that first morning. Even as a baby Moose rarely gave a backwards glance after our goodbye hug and kiss, so it was little surprise that he quickly jumped into playing when I dropped him off. One of Mooses's little friends, though, was crying for her mom not to leave and Moose called out, "Don't worry, Lily, I'll be here with you."

Alcatraz Sharkfest 2009

Thanks to all of you who supported my participation in the Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim 2009. It feels so good to finally check this off the list.

I trained for the 1.5 mile swim six years ago thinking I would be able to take the place of a friend that couldn't do the swim. A few weeks before the race I called to confirm that I was swimming and found out that I wouldn't be able to take his place. It was a bummer and though I went and paddled a safety kayak for the swimmers, I have had the desire to do the swim niggling in the back of my mind since 2003.

Swimming is my favorite exercise and I was able to continue swimming while pregnant with Jelly Belly. In either a case of insanity or optimism I registered last November (8 months pregnant) to do the swim this August. With the support of Os, the kids, and an army of babysitters I was able to train for the big day: August 15, 2009.

I have often compared labor and delivery to a difficult athletic race and the similarities really are amazing. For me it is the anticipation that is so hard to deal with. In the words of Prince Humperdink, "Let's get ON with it!"

Finally, the day of the race. Finally, checked in with required ankle timing chip and race swim cap in hand. Finally, the wetsuit is on. Finally, on the ferry on the way out to Alcatraz Island. Finally, the jump off the ferry into the bay. Finally, the horn blows and the race has begun...

As with labor and delivery, the race was different than I imagined it would be. Some things were expected, i.e. freezing water temperatures that gave me a momentary brain freeze, but many things were different.

I had expected being that there were 800 swimmers that I would be swimming with or, at least, near people. Not so. For much of the race I was by myself. I could see other yellow caps bobbing along, but that was it. It crossed my mind that it was a good thing that the name of the race was not based on any facts because I did not have the safety in numbers. At times I would be going along with another swimmer, but not very long.

The water was also different than anything I had swum in. I swam in Hawaii and San Diego, but the waves there were rollers so you could expect where your body would be when you came up for a breath. In the bay it was so choppy that I never knew which side the waves would be coming from or how big they would be. I was glad I had trained breathing on both sides.

My biggest concern was that I would not finish in the required 1 hour 15 minute time limit. At one point I looked up and could not see anyone -- only a few boats far away on both sides of me. I finally was close enough to a kayaker to shout out and ask if I was on pace to finish in time. He reassured me that there were still plenty of people behind me. After that I felt like I could relax and bang it out.

As I neared the Aquatic Park I noticed I was slowly gaining on a swimmer wearing a hot pink shirt. I set a little goal for myself and managed to pass him just as we entered the park. It felt so good to be on the home stretch. I stumbled out of the water at one hour and 5 minutes and met with my fans (Os, the kids and Os's brother) with relief and smidge of elation.







I feel so blessed to have the health and opportunity to compete in this swim. What a gift!

Happy 5th Birthday, Moose!

Happy Birthday, Moose!


8-month-old Moose

1-year-old Moose


2-year-old Moose


3-year-old Moose

4-year-old Moose

5-year-old Moose!
We are celebrating with friends later this month, but on the big day we filled Moose's room with balloons and he got to pick dinner: "Hot dogs, steak, bread & cheese, and salad!" He is thrilled with his candle presentation! Yes, you saw that right -- candles in the hanger steak.

Adair By Blood Or Marriage

The "Adair" girls are all together. I find it striking how much I look like my mom in this picture. Speaking of which, who is Jelly Belly's mom? I think she looks a lot like her Auntie Kim (without any blood relation).

A Hughes Adventure

About a month ago, the kids and I went down to Santa Cruz to visit Michelle and her kids for a weekend. We had a wonderful time hanging out and even ventured to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. (A place I love as much as my kids. Oh wait! I mean, a place I love as much as my kids do.)



The most ethereal, by far, are the jellyfish. I could stay at this exhibit for an hour.


BiggiE could have watched the sharks for an hour. All the other kids could be lured away with snacks, but not BiggiE.



LiviLu and Jelly Belly were fast friends. (Livi was so enthralled to have a baby in the house she could hardly look at the camera.)


Carson and Moose had a blast. They were cracking us up giving each other baseball pointers.

The matching outfits were their idea...

What a sweet barrel of monkeys.

Summer Fun?

I swiped another idea from Angie who blogged about this idea for making summer fun plans visible for everyone in the house. I executed the plan in my usual no-craft-supplies-on-hand, don't-have-a-square-inch-of-room-in-my-two-bedroom-house fashion, as seen here:

Look closely and you'll see an unexpected entry.

Yes, you read it right -- BiggiE's dentist appointment. I'm not trying to brainwash the kid, it was his suggestion. Ever since Moose went to the dentist several weeks ago and came home with stickers and a new toothbrush and talk of holes in your teeth BiggiE has been so excited for his turn. I know many families do dental appointments during the summer while their kids aren't in school. I am very curious to see if a trip to the dentist makes BiggiE's summer fun list next summer.

Jelly Belly -- Seven Months

A seven-month-old fashion show of dresses and expressions. Jelly Belly has received so many wonderful hand-me-down dresses she could go without a repeat for weeks. Ah, what to wear? The question begins so early.