We have a kindergartner!

We got to spend a moment inside Meryl’s classroom (the only building we’ve been able to enter) and meet her teachers. School rules. The pandemic has changed a lot, but I’ve gotta say a benefit is that we’re all learning how to be more helpfully communicative - and more understanding. It’s a feeling, and I like it. We also like that everyone at Meryl’s school gets COVID tested weekly and that feels good too. Goal: Swab those boogers!

A lot. I have a lot of memories, and a lot of wishes, and a lot of frustrations, and a lot obnoxious and heart-swellingly happy and funny reminders of Dad being Dad. It’s all a lot, and thank goodness it is because that means it was all worth it. Still is. It’s just so hard to take in. For now, I miss him, a lot. Thank goodness we got to mean a lot to each other, obnoxiously so. And thank goodness we have photos (thanks, Mom).

I’ve missed the blog so much, in all of its meaningful randomness. Watch out, there’s a lot of randomness to come as I catch-up. How lucky we are to have meaningful moments (like this?) to remind us that being present is the present, the gift that keeps us all moving forward. Talk about a toehold on life:)

Mask: Lola. Clothes: Xanna. Shoes: Birthday. Style: ALL MERYL.

Girls night on Bainbridge! Meryl and I walked onto the ferry for an all-girls-all-the-time adventure and sleepover:)

Must say, it was a delight! We ferried merrily, we did the town, we treated ourselves to ice cream, this monkey practiced swinging on more bars, we imaginary fished, she bath-bomb-bathed, and we fell asleep to Frozen.
When we walked off the ferry, Meryl mentioned that Bainbridge didn’t look like what she was expecting. What vision might that have been? “A bridge, with something on top that looks like a brain.”

Wasn’t long till the boys joined us! (That was the plan.) Plus, it’s Frank’s BIRTHDAY today! TODAY! Bainbridge smash burgers for lunch and an extended celebration into the weekend.

And like every great adventure, we’re overstimulated and tired of the car and glad to be home! It was great to be somewhere else, and it’s great to be home! And, we finally watched Frozen II.

At least that’s what we call it. Pretty cool, huh?

We have been through a lot of clothes lately. Turns out, discussions on saving the environment with fewer loads of laundry have no impact on the need for multiple wardrobe changes to adapt to all the environmental changes inside our house.

Admittedly, both of them are enjoying the liberty of picking out their own clothes and we are enjoying their choice picks.

Holmes has been treating nap time as an exploratory exercise session lately. (Structure and boundaries are meant to be tested, right?) Lola had the magic touch today, and didn’t mind the side-by-side slumber one bit:)