Life as We Know It, Is Over

Isabella Claire Holsten

• Age: 4
• Education level: Preschool, 1st Day
• Eagerly anticipating: Art
• Future vocation: Firefighter (that does flashlight duty and puts out fires with water)
• Car Ride Anthem: "I'm going to preschool, yeah, yeah, yeah! I'm going to preschool, yeah, yeah, yeah!" (lyrics and vocals by ICH)

Isabella inherited many things from me: stubbornness, a feisty temperament, a touch of drama...but one thing she did not inherit (thank goodness) was an apprehension to try new things. This girl walked through the doors of her preschool and enthusiastically announced to every kid (and teacher) that she met, that today was her first day of school.

As we walked into her classroom, soft music was playing and stations were set up to greet the kids: playdough, painting, a bin with dinosaurs, a dollhouse, a play-kitchen area.  I was not sad, but I was emotional, because I knew what a perfect match it was for her and how ready she was to be there. I kissed and hugged her good bye, and left her to play at the dollhouse station with only one parting thought: oh please may there be no tornadoes that hit that dollhouse. 

P.S. After dropping Isabella off, I headed back to the car with Matthew and could not, for the life of me, figure out how to get to the grocery store. (I guess I was more emotional than I thought.) When I did finally get to the store, I could not, for the life of me, figure out what to do with my new found freedom of having to grocery shop with only one sleeping baby. (I quickly adjusted. I can get used to this!)

Officer Isabella Reporting for Duty

Every once in a blue moon, Mark takes his turn at "Flashlight Duty" at our church. Every evening, for one week, Mark has to walk the perimeter of the building to make sure doors are locked, windows are shut, etc. The last time he did this was when I was pregnant with Matthew. He took Isabella along with him, so that I could rest. She. Loved. It. 

An actual flashlight is involved, but not really necessary during the summer months. A bike helmet is not required, but she's four, and is rarely with out it. Or her bike.

Isabella's job is to run around the building and try all the doors to make sure they're locked.

Mark's job is to report any findings.

Maybe, though, the best part of Flashlight Duty is doing relay races on the front lawn, afterward.

Jubilee

So many reasons to love summer:

1. The Girl and her Trampoline.

This summer Isabella and I jumped on the trampoline after dinner. It was our thing. One hot night we brought some blankets and a pillow out and read books by lantern light until the cool breezes kicked in. We were more fascinated, though, by the zillions of bugs attracted to the light. 

2. Our First Harvest

We are terrible gardeners. But we grew enough tomatoes to make this:

 

and it was delicious!

3. Fish fry

Mark even had a t-shirt to go with the theme. Now that's dedication.

4. Baby M. 

"In Love" pretty much sums it up.

This summer Matthew figured out how to turn from his tummy to his back-big milestone!

5. And then there's his big sister, who stole my heart a few years back...

Here's just one reason why:

A summer headline you probably missed: Isabella Moves Into Box...

After (Doll)House is Hit by Tornado.

Thank goodness her fire truck was close by to assist in the rescue.

6. The Freemont Diner.  

We made an impromptu stop at the highly hyped roadside farm stand 

with its dirt driveway and chicken farm. 

Our family reviews: 

Katie liked the layout and font style of the menu.
Mark liked his coca cola.
Isabella thought their mac n' cheese was too pretentious.
Matthew liked everything--except the food, which he didn't eat, because he knows nothing compares to his mama's roasted bananas and blueberries, pureed to perfection.

The dinosaurs thought is was all very prehistoric, but the turquoise tables were a nice touch.


7. Family Reunion.
Surrounded by family is the best way to end a summer! My Dad's family gathered at their house for a lovely dinner and visit. Elinor and Bob came from Southern California, while Tom and Margo were visiting from Pennsylvania.  We love and miss all of you already!

 When we look back and say, those were halcyon days, we're talking 'bout jubilee.

Dueling Pianos

Around the same time last year, our family was approached by two different parties looking to unload their lonely, un-played pianos. What were the odds--especially since Piano (singular) topped my It's-Too-Expensive-but-I'd-Really-Love-One Wish List. PianoA belonged to our landlords, purchased at an auction in the hopes that one of their grandchildren would take up lessons. Never happened. They weren't technically giving their piano away, they just wanted it in a home where it would be played. PianoB belonged to the Delurys, good friends of my parents. They were planning a living room renovation and were deciding whether or not to depart with their beloved piano--for good.  Theirs, however, was located in their home in Roseville, 80 miles away. We decided, in the end, to become the temporary custodians of PianoA, since we only had to roll it down the driveway to get it to our house--and since the Delurys weren't quite ready to give up their piano...

...until this summer. They asked us again if we were interested and, well, it was too hard to pass up an opportunity to have a piano of our own. We rented a truck, drove up to hot Roseville, and had a lovely visit with Jane and John. A neighbor graciously helped Mark load the piano in the truck.

This little spinet is a beauty. It plays beautifully and looks wonderful in our living room. Thank you Delurys for such a generous gift! (Isabella was fascinated by the hammers hitting the strings to make sound.)

When I told our landlords that we were ready to give back their piano for a chance to have one of our own, they told me that they really didn't want theirs back. Hmmm. Quite the conundrum.

What to do with two pianos? In a strange, twisty kind of  pay-it-forward act of kindness, and upon our landlords' request, we were able to find someone and give them...a free piano. Now the two lonely, un-played pianos are lonely and un-played no more!

On the way back from picking up the Delury's piano, we stopped at the Stephens for a pool party play date. Matthew and Leo were a little unsure of each other in the beginning, until they realized how much they had in common: hair, soft skin, drool, fun toys, etc, etc.