The Time Has Come - For 1st Grade!!

Yesterday was the first day back to school.  I officially have a 1st grader!!  And since I have not been allowed to call Jocelyn a 1st grader all summer, it really is official!!
We've had a really fun summer and I'm going to miss my little shadow, but she's so ready to get back to school!

Jocelyn has a tendency to bring up important subjects right before she's supposed to go to sleep.  I am sometimes torn between not wanting to shut down something that is really important for me to address, and my desire for her to just go to sleep!!!  

This week I knew she was stressing a bit about school because for a number of nights she would bring up this new school year and her worries -- Will I see my friends?  Will I like the teacher?  How will I know how to find my classroom? -- So much of her worry was about the unknowns of the first day.

But Friday we went in to the open house so she could meet her teacher and see her classroom and desk, and yesterday morning when she got off the bus, her teacher was there to greet her.  

Her school has a really fun routine for the first day.  Parents put their kids on the bus and race to the school to be there when they get off.  Hundreds of parents cheer on the kids and follow them to class to help them start the day.   I love this event.  Last year it was so hard not to cry!!  This year, I knew it meant security to her.  She thrives on routine and predictability and this was the start of that for her.

By the time we said our goodbyes, 45 minutes later, I knew she was ready to go.

Being the helicopter parent that I am, I've already had a number of emails sent back and forth with her new teacher.  I am thrilled that she welcomes parent volunteers (Happy Dance!!) and she is so receptive to my ramblings about Jocelyn's belly issues, and my need to be overprotective.  I'm sure she's seen it before...  

With Mrs. Rutan Jocelyn's 1st grade teacher

At the end of the day, I couldn't wait to get down to the bus stop to see her again and hear about her day.  At 4:05 she bounded off the bus and declared "I HAD A GREAT DAY!!"  I could not have asked for better than that.  So as much as I would like to stop my baby girl from growing another day older, I am one proud Mommy today.  My sweet girl is a 1st grader -- off to new adventures, out to solve new mysteries, and ready to take on the world.  I love you my girl.

Remembering 9/11

Earlier this week, I had the chance to go to NYC to see the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.  I have now been to all three memorials of the events of that tragic day, September 11, 2001.

Shanksville PA

Pentagon Memorial Washington DC

As emotional as those two locations were, by far, I was struck the most by NYC.  I expected that I really didn't have any concept of how big the area of Ground Zero was, but I was so overwhelmed by my feelings when I got there.  We got off the subway and walked around the corner, and there was the new World Trade Center 1 building.  It is HUGE!!  I love this photo with the reflection in the World Trade Center 3 Building.















It took my breath away just to be there, but as we walked closer and closer, I was overwhelmed by the emotions I felt being at the memorial and being surrounded by what I had been seeing only on TV all these years.  The pools are spectacular, and the PERFECT, serene memorial to those that were lost that day.

The 9/11 Museum is underground, under the pools, which is amazing.  You actually get to see the footprints, indicated by bases of the sheared off pillars that used to be the tridents around the towers.

Here is what's left of a fire truck, one of two in the museum.

One of the things that I was looking most forward to seeing was the Last Column.  I have read a lot about it and was very interested in seeing it for myself.  The column has an interesting story.  It was buried under so much rubble that when they originally went to remove it they had no idea how deep it went.  As layers were removed, photos, signatures, and memories were written on, or attached to the column.  Ultimately it was the last thing to be removed from Ground Zero, and was preserved with the expectation that it would one day hold this important place in the museum.

The Vesey Street stairs were the route 100s took that day to escape.

This piece is called Impact Steel.  It is the area of the North Tower where the Flight 11 plane hit the building.

As heartrending and emotional as these items were, there was a much stronger experience in a huge area under the North Tower pool, that we were not allowed to take photos in.  This area contained all the personal effects, photos, videos, and  memories that demanded respect -- and brought such overwhelming sadness.  

Being an amateur quilter, I could really appreciate this amazing quilt.  This is only about 1/4 of the entire thing and there is a photo of EVERY victim on this quilt.

The museum and memorial were incredible, overwhelming, and emotional.  But they were also beautiful, strong, and completely fitting, to remember such a difficult day.

No Day Shall Erase You From the Memory of Time

So Many Faces

Just because I can't resist a little fun.  Here's some of my latest favorite pictures.

Relaxing at the Dentist - of all places

Still able to wedge in there

Date night celebrating 11 years together

Swimmy Fish!

Yummmm....   Cinnamon Sugar - good to the last crumb

Your eyes will stick that way!

Who's bubble lip is better?

With Nemo... and Nemo!

Don't ask...

Trip to Grandmas!

Last week we made a trip to Grandma's in Western PA.  We got to see everyone because Pat's brother and his wife also were there from Indiana.  The family was all together!  It was nice to get the chance to visit and for Jocelyn to have some one on one time with Grandma.

On Saturday, we went Mini Golfing which was lots of fun.

And then Go Carting, which was so much fun for these two, and absolutely terrifying for me!!

We certainly wish it was possible to get there more often to visit.  It's good to see everyone and to see how happy Pat's Mom is in her new home.  Hopefully we can visit again soon.

Stepmom Weekend 2014

Most of my blog entries are about my time with Jocelyn, but once in a while, it's time to talk about me!

A couple weeks ago, I went to my second Stepmom weekend in Ohio.  Last year was my first year and I swore then that I would never miss it again if I can help it.

Once again, it was an experience I will never forget.  This year there were fewer SMs, about 23-25, and many of the ones from last year, weren't able to make it this year.  But it was still a wonderful experience.

The count down is on for next year!  Can't believe I have to wait another year to be with these ladies again.

This year Hearts the Frog tagged along for the trip.  She brought Jocelyn home a big bucket of lollipops!  As great as this weekend is, it's hard to leave my girl.  She's so excited when I come home!  And I'm so happy to see her, and my hubby of course.  :-)

 

Summertime, Summertime, Sum, Sum Summertime!!

I thought the summer was going to be laid back, but somehow 5 weeks has flown by!!  We're having so much fun though!!  I'm loving every minute of quality time with my girl.  There's so little of it during the school year.

Jocelyn had a week of gymnastics camp early on in the summer, and she will have another week next week.  She comes home exhausted after just 3 hours, but she loves it.

Jocelyn also had an art camp which was all about making art projects from recycled material.  I can't believe all the great stuff she made!!  At the end of the week, they did an Art Show so we could see everything she did.  We were so impressed!!

There's so much more to summer, than camps though!

Like a real live Indian Pow Wow!

Fireflies!

Mommy Daughter Pedicures!!

And lunch with Daddy!!

There's 4 more weeks of summer to go.  Hopefully we'll work in more pool time, and time for play dates, more lunches with Daddy, and trips to the library.  And most of all, MORE FUN!!!   That's what summer is all about!