Kindergarten here she comes...

Miranda has completed her Montessori preschool tenure, three years which have taken her from toddlerhood to a reading and writing, singing her heart out, sassy outfit wearing, little girl. Next fall, she will join Jove at our local public school, which may be a bit of a let down after having two teachers for a class of only 5-6 kids, lessons in music, foreign language, etc. I have convinced myself that the elitism of private school is somehow more permissible for little pre-schoolers than older kids. She has had an amazing pre-school experience and I was choked up when we left on her last day knowing that all of the people that were such a big part of her life won't be a part of her life anymore.
Miranda's pre-school graduation was equal parts ridiculously cute and ridiculous. Caps and gowns and speeches by five year olds.... Oh my!! My favorite part was the kids singing and playing instruments, they were happy and free and not so focused on "graduating."

It's that time of year....

All along the east coast of the United States in estuaries like Long Island Sound and Chesapeake Bay, during the month of May horseshoe crabs come ashore to deposit their fertilized eggs in the sand.  In the top photo above, the larger female in the front of the pack is being pursued by multiple smaller males who would like a chance to be the lucky father.  Yesterday afternoon, the kids and I visited our local beach, in what has become a sort of annual pilgrimage to see the the horseshoe crabs.  We used to see them every year when we lived in the Bronx and the kids would occasionally, accidentally uncover their small green eggs while digging to build sand sculptures.

I still feel awe every time we visit the ocean and I don't take it for granted that I can drive for fifteen  minutes to the beaches in my city: to watch wildlife, swim, comb the beach for treasures and listen to the waves.  As someone who grew up in Michigan with its Great Lakes, I could always appreciate the immensity and beauty of big water. But, I don't think I ever saw or felt the ocean until a trip to Florida when I was maybe ten years old and I didn't see the Pacific Ocean until I lived in Costa Rica when I was nineteen.

 Every time we go to the ocean I see something new.  Yesterday, it was low tide when we arrived at the beach and we found a lot of live oysters and slipper shells that had washed ashore.  Many of the oysters had what looked a larval form of some creature attached.  Jove is holding a clump of oysters below.  We haven't been able to figure out what it is yet.    Clue: they are not oyster spat (juveniles), which was my first guess.  Any guesses??  We threw it back in the sea after snapping this photo so they oysters could live on.

Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.--- Rachel Carson

big girl birthday

Miranda turned five on the first day of Spring and we had a big flower party at our house to celebrate. We have a tradition of big birthday parties for the kids and they dream and plan for months about what they want to do at their parties. Miranda wanted crafts and flower games and flowers on her cake. The flower idea first popped up when we gave Jupiter's mom fresh cut flowers on her birthday and Miranda said she wanted fresh flowers on her birthday, too.

Although Miranda leaving her baby ways behind her has been happening for awhile, this birthday seemed momentous. I am trying not to get sappy about my baby growing up, but I have been feeling a little nostalgic lately. I am going to attempt to describe all of Miranda's ways as she embarks on being a big kid. If I had to describe Miranda simply, I would say that she pays attention to everything and knows so much. Miranda has opinions about things, her own analysis of people and ideas. She is detail oriented. She tells me everything she does in school. She asks a lot of "why" questions ... a lot. Miranda memorizes songs she hears once. She loves foreign languages, stories, singing, dancing and painting. Miranda does not like injustice and feels particularly upset about people killing animals to eat them (she is the only true vegetarian left in the house). Miranda loves to be outside, run and climb (especially rock climbing walls). Miranda cares about how things look and appreciates beauty. She loves to bejewel and put glitter glue on every thing imaginable. Miranda is very affectionate and loves to cuddle and be cuddled. She is motherly towards babies, our bunnies and her dollies. I can imagine Miranda as a ten year old and I know she will be kind and smart and probably more girly than I ever was.

Spring vacation

Spring vacation is upon us and we are so enjoying being home together. We have a few fun things on the calendar this week but mostly we plan to relax and play at home. This semester I have the heaviest teaching load I have ever had and I need to rest and catch up on everything else that has been pushed aside the past couple of months.

The kids have been playing together so much and have elaborate invented games going on all day. They will run into a room to get something they need (scissors, legos, a blanket) and run back to wherever they are playing. Yesterday, they made slime which was a birthday present mailed to Miranda by our good friends across the miles. They had so much fun pretending the slime was a beard, tongue, snake, etc. My kids remind me constantly that the formula for a happy childhood is simple: a few toys, friends (or brother or sister or bunny) and the freedom to play.


Our neighbors whose grandchildren are visiting, hosted an egg hunt in their yard and we spent Easter afternoon hunting for missing eggs and visiting while the kids played. We have have only two houses right next to us but it feels like we have a neighborhood because our neighbors are such good people.

Miranda's big news, which she would gladly tell you herself, is that she got her first haircut. Her hair had become quite uneven over time and although her long locks were beautiful it had to be done. She is quite excited to have short hair especially because the older girl who lives next door also just got her her hair cut short. Miranda now says that she looks at least like a six year old, maybe even eight.

Harry and Rosie

We are very happy to welcome two baby bunnies into our family. They are ten weeks old and ridiculously cute and funny to watch. Jove and Miranda rush through all other necessary activities to make sure they have bunny time every morning and night. Miranda turned five last week and the bunnies were her birthday present from Jupiter and I. She loves taking care of animals and pretending to take care of her dollies and stuffed animals. She carries Rosie around like a baby. We have "bunny jackets" on a leash so that the bunnies can get some outside time. The plan is (was) to put them outside in a hutch with the chickens we are going to get but I like having them around. Two things I never knew about bunnies is that they can be litter box trained (which they are already) and they need to have their nails trimmed. Who knew??

good news

As many of you know, my brother moved to Connecticut a little less than a year ago to improve his job hunting prospects. Jason, or Tío Jason as he's called here, is a chemist and had a lot of trouble finding a job in Michigan. He worked for a few months at Macy's department store here and just last week was hired as a scientist by the local health department. It is a great position and comes with all of the benefits and security of public employment. After years of unemployment and underemployment, we are all so thrilled for him. Congratulations Jason!!!

a few of my favorite things

My favorite view in the house

Holiday celebrations with family
Playing beauty parlor with grandpa (Miranda's favorite)

Cousins

Celebrating with school friends







Trying something new