this and that

the transition from home to work (for me) and home to school (for bug) has been a pretty good one, actually. there was the expected first few days of holy terror in the morning, but those simmered down at the end of the first week after adah privately pulled my mom to the side for this confession: "actually, i really like school." the past two mornings have been much more calm and uncluttered by the nervous outbursts of "i don't want to go to school!" i think she's decided to reserve that phrase now for middle school, which is understandable.

and speaking of middle school, oh how i'm enjoying the outward energy and silliness required to keep those kids entertained and learning. i'm pleased to report that two weeks into the school year, i'm still in a honeymoon phase. and have i mentioned what a blessing in disguise this almost-back-to-full-time -work has been? frankly, i had a terrible experience teaching part-time the last few years. i was grateful to have extra time with adah in the afternoons, but i felt so entirely shitty about my work. i only got to see 1/4 of the school, and i felt less committed and motivated than i ever have. there's a lot to be said about staying for almost the entire day and getting to see the kids in the classroom and at breaks, recess, lunch, etc., that forms a whole new relationship and fosters a totally different level of engagement. i also get to talk more with my peers, which is energy-giving in itself, and my paycheck is much easier to look at. benefits all around.

what else? seul! seul, our favorite housemate evah, had to go back to korea, so we had to eat pie and wish her the best and say goodbye. bummer. does anyone know anyone who might like to marry her? fraudulent green card marriages are only punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

i'm so comforted by the fact that today we welcomed fall. summer clearly wants to stay, but i'm ready to let go, and this season is perfect for that symbolic gesture. i'm ready for a slower pace-- afternoons with my family in front of the wood stove, rainy day walks, lots of baking, and long baths, in particular. and i'm going to learn how to embroider, dammit. so we're sending away summer by collecting early fall treasures and eating dinner outside on blankets for as long as we can stand it. so entirely exquisite:

my girls waiting for dinner last night. the crowd went wild for sandwiches. note to self: keep it simple.

tonight anne's away in seaside receiving a work award for her excellence, so here's a sweet view of bug waiting for her macaroni and cheese with broccoli:

while we were eating i mentioned that i was going to call grandma sara to see how she was doing and adah's response was, "you mean without grandma bonnie?" i meant in general, but that, too. the kid's brain is amazing. she proceeded to ask questions like, "where did grandma bonnie and grandma sara meet? and "how did they start to live in the brown house? "she thinks about that woman a lot. seriously comes up in a couple different conversations per day. sigh. people say that kids don't remember things until they're four or five. i'm hoping they're wrong, and she'll always have a sense of bonnie.

on a brighter note, here's the little one procrastinating on coming indoors for bedtime, pretending that she was going to sleep on the porch.

i like her.