Saturday, June 16, 2012

Last day of preschool

Josie's last day of preschool was very eventful. We wanted to make the day special for her. We started with a favorite breakfast of Daddy's homemade waffles, that she promptly filled with blackberries.


 Once we had all sufficiently overindulged on waffles, we headed to the front yard for the annual last day of school photo shoot. These photos really capture just how much she has grown.

On the porch:

With "the peace tree:"
Sidebar: Oh no! I literally just realized as I was typing that once we move we won't have the peace tree as our metric for growth anymore. Ugh, there's the sinking feeling. Well, here's to establishing new traditions! (I should mention we still have no idea where we are moving and the whole process has been an important lesson in who we are and what we value. But I digress...)

Bea was SO excited to be romping around outside so early in the morning!


And both girls spent lots of timing just prancing through the yard celebrating the approach of summer vacation!




A little celebratory round of "Ring Around the Rosie" was in order.

Bea is still working on the right timing for "all fall down." And sweet Josie, who is so patient with her, helps her up every time - even if that means 10 "all fall downs" in a row.

One more random thought to share.  This was a bit of an out-take, but it really struck me as I was going back through the photos. This is pretty much my view from my seat at our kitchen table. Our New Year's Resolution this year was to eat our meals at the table together. Out of convenience, we had been eating at our island since we moved into this house. It seems ridiculous now. Josie, Louie and I all lined up and Bea in her high-chair. There really is something simple and powerful about sharing meals around the family table. And, mid-June I am ready to call this the first New Year's Eve resolution that has actually stuck!




SCHOOL'S OUT Zoo Trip

Part of our celebration of the end of the school year was a Sunday afternoon trip to the zoo. We love our zoo, and we love popping in and out of there with our passes and weaving through the crowds to hit our favorite spots.

We hit the carousel first. The interesting thing about this particular trip was that Josie, instead of wanting me to pick the animal to ride beside her, asked me to either stand several feet away from her or behind her so she could be by herself. I guess that whole "I'm a kindergartener now" has really sunken in. We are proud of her new independence, but it is definitely a bittersweet transition.

Oh, speaking of that independence, this same weekend we went to Lunken Playground and Josie asked Lou to let her swing by herself. She swings by herself all the time, so he was confused, but she explained. She had met a new friend at the park and she wanted to join her friend across the playground alone instead of having one of us even near her. We obliged, but kept a close eye as we talked about how insanely fast she has grown up before our eyes.
(Cue "David's Mandolin by Elizabeth Mitchell & Family.)
 A little peacock posturing:

A lucky snap that captured her stealing a smooch from a seal statue:

Zoo Snooze:

Three little birds that joined us for lunch:

And when I say "lunch" I mean a giant chocolate-vanilla swirl ice cream cone complete with (peanut-free-yay!) sprinkles that Josie picked to celebrate her Pre-School Graduation:


The sweetest little baby Zebra, just a few weeks old. We will enjoy watching Miss Savannah grow:

 Sisters:

Those sweet, sweet sisters:

The obligatory stop at the Children's Zoo playground:

Sweet Bea watching Josie on the balance beam, longing for the day...

Another exercise in independence:

 

Bea standing still just long enough for a quick photo:

The new Galapagos Turtle exhibit (which is great):

Time to feed the goats. Even Bea got in on the action this time:


Moments like these make me long for a farmhouse somewhere. Truly.