Halloween One Week Later

Sorry to be a bad blogger. . . Happy Halloween one moth later!

One new tooth; one on the way out. . .

Here is my new fake tooth (bye bye flipper)and Rain's almost gone front tooth. Sorry to be such a bad blogger.

More Soccer

While Carol and Tom were in town, they stopped into Rain's and Finn's soccer games. P.S. Ma Jo and Grandpa are always there:) And Paul and Finn had fun posing fir the camera -- two cuties!

Open House

Rain is so happy in school this year. Here are some of the lovely works he shared with us at his Open House a few weeks ago.

Peeps at Soccer

Here are some of Rain & Finn's peeps at soccer. Ma Jo and Grandpa are always there, but I'll have to get their pics next week.

Soccer and Paleontology by Day. . . Ninja by Night

Finn Plays Goalie

Finn volunteered to be goalie during warm up and while goals were scored, his energy was infectious. He is just too darn cute!

Schiller Sabres!

Rain also had his first game today at 1:00. He made the first goal of the season and the only goal in the game. Yeah, Rain! It is quite a jump from tiny tot to pee wee, but it should be a great fall.

Schiller Storm!

We had our first soccer game today and it was excellent. Here are pictures from Finn's game at 11:00!

Thanks, Babydoll!

Elizabeth (and her handy new sewing machine)made two fabulous blankets for Rain and Finn. I haven't seen Rain smile so truly in a year. Thanks, Lizzard. Not only did she bring cuddley warmth over last night, she also brought cuddley fluff named Bonnie. She and Casey were so cute together that it ALMOST made me want to get another dog.

Thanks, Onnie!

Finn digs his new Halloween costume that Onnie got him. I am not a huge fan of cartoon costumes, but he looks pretty darn cute.

Finn Follows

As usual, Finn followed suit. He did his own poses and he sure does look good in his jammies.

More Loose Teeth

Yesterday morning Rain said his front right tooth was loose and by the end of the day both front top teeth were loose. How many days will it take for them to fall out? I'll keep you posted; meanwhile he actually had a happy face for pictures.

Rain Rocks!

Finn is not the only happy camper. Rain went back on Wednesday and insists they are not working, just playing. His teacher, Mrs.M., happily reported that they eat, they walk around a bit and go to the bathroom and it starts again. My chickens are happiest in school. While he likes school, I think Rain is less amenable when is comes to being photographed.

Fantastic Finn!

Finn finished up his first full week of full day school on Friday! It was a great week and he is thriving in the full-day environment. Here are some pics. Here is another cutie in his locker!

Old Man's Cave

Here are a few pictures of our trip to the Hocking Hills. Even though they complained the whole trip there, they were inspired by the cave and the story of the Old Man. Lastly, a photo I like.

Have 4 Months Really Elasped?

Okay. . . well I said this was a blog about the first year of school for Finn and Rain and technically for most of the past 4 months there has been no school. The reality is that I am back in school to pursue my M.Ed. and I don't know where the time has gone. Additionally, anytime I entertain the idea of trying to catch up on the blog -- to fill you in on how we have have gotten from April to present -- I am utterly daunted and watch TV.

So here it is the night before Finn starts school and the only excuse not blog is too exercise. It is clearly too late for that, so I blog. Tonight wraps up a week of vacation at home for our family. We stayed at home taking shelter from the tumult of the last days in August. We did lots of art projects and made a trip to Hocking Hills. We capped it all off today with a busy schedule of breakfast with great-grandparents and grandparents (complete with a trip to the pool); then a mad dash to Rain's K/1 picnic. We topped it all off with a grand summer supper with Paul and Elizabeth of fresh pasta with pesto (with basil form our gardens) and heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad. It had even cooled off enough to dine outside.

We raced to get everyone to bed early; we lost, but finally Rain and Finn were asleep and I could dash to the store for last minute lunch box necessities and such. After a little PTA business, here I am. I am sitting on our deck we built in June enjoying the crickets and the cool breeze by candle light (only briefly interrupted by a loud cat fight)as I blog to avoid my melancholy.

This is a new step for Finn as he goes the full day to preschool (8:30-3:30) a full year before Rain spent such a long day in Kindergarten. Aside from the minor guilt (Rain had that extra year of nursing, too, on Finn) this is more than just the new beginning of full-time school life for my last baby. This is definitively the last few hours of my time at home parenting my young children. My life as god has run its course. This is not to say that I will no longer parent or be god from time to time, but these sweet days of -- diapers, nursing, parks, libraries, museums, art projects, frustration, isolation, fear, contempt, peace, love, more peace, more love and unadulterated joy -- have changed into the new rhythms of a different kind of life.

In actuality the change had come. So subtly. So seamlessly. The liberating force of their burgeoning independence and place in the world beyond our tiny family blinded me to the loss. What feels like loss on this night is so much more and holds such beauty and promise, but tonight I indulge. I grieve. Tomorrow celebration. I hope.

From the kitchen to the field!

Whether Finn is helping in the kitchen or running on the soccer field, he gives it his all.

Soccer Fun!

Here are some shots from yesterday's soccer game. Rain is fierce and Finn is enthusiastic!

STORM!

Here is an informal team picture of the Schiller Storm. . . more game shots to follow!

Lisa, Rain, Sebastian, Chase, David, Tanner, Ivan, Shavonne, LuLu, Julia & Finn