Lately Claire has picked up on the word enjoy. She will say: this walk in the park, Mommy, I joy it. It’s one of those things that I don’t really want to correct because it makes me smile every time I hear it.
On Labor day we drove home from Michigan and Brian had to be in on a phone meeting part way through the trip. They don’t celebrate Labor Day when we do in Europe and yes – he works way too hard. We parked at a McDonalds and the girls got some orange juice while Brian sat in the car and did his meeting. But this isn’t about the phone call – it’s about the surprisingly happy time the girls and I had when we walked down a road and discovered a lovely little meadow. We could have stayed in the McDonalds for an hour but it was getting me down in there and besides it was a perfect cool morning outside. So we headed out and found a place that looked like a truck turnaround or something, but it was overgrown enough to be a meadow. The first thing I noticed were a bunch of little goldfinches and other birds perched on the teasle. So many of them flitting around in the morning sunshine. Then we walked around some more and I pointed out some pretty grasses that Claire got really excited about. Bea wanted to spot the grasshoppers that kept popping up as we walked through the grass. And then we were so pleased to find a big brown praying mantis. Bea couldn’t stop looking at it. We saw a gray kitty lurking through the grass and a whole bunch of potato bugs too.
It sometimes feels like we are far from nature compared to our home in Switzerland. But really I just need to remember little times like this – it may not be the alps, but it was absolutely beautiful to be in that little spot on that morning. I joy it.
We finally sat down for a session of painting. We were inspired by these paintings. Everyone was focused and into the process for a long time – that makes me so happy.
Brian and I spent a lot of time anticipating how Bea would adapt to school. She liked school in Switzerland and she got a lot out of it, but she had some big issues. So I worried and worried and worried some more.
So far it’s been going really well and we are encouraged. Aaaaah – big sigh of relief.
She has been really chatty at times. Spilling lots of information about what her class did that day. Everything is super new to her. She thinks it’s odd that they don’t change into slippers when they arrive at school. She can’t understand why the kids – even the big ones – don’t walk to school by themselves. Staying at school for lunch is a new concept. No orange vest? – why she asks.
The school is nice. One of the first grade rooms has a fireplace. It has old charm and also seems completely up-to-date for our modern kids. We got to take a tour last week – it has some beautiful old murals in the auditorium. They must be around 75 years old – I’d like a closer look.
She’s made friends with the boys on either side of our house and they go freely to each other’s houses. To suddenly find a neighbor kid in your house when you come down the stairs with a basket of laundry – just what I wished for.
For me it seems really odd that it’s just Claire and I eating lunch. It snuck up on me – the fact that our hours on end, togetherness, days spent at home are over. It makes me think back to when Bea was little and we spent our days around here doing whatever we pleased – walking around at a toddler’s pace – it looks so rosey when I look back. And soon Claire will start preschool – two mornings a week. Then I will have to get serious about some projects around here.
I’m missing the beauty of Switzerland – I miss zoning out on the train while I look out at the scenery wizzing by. None of the ugly busy strip mall sprall that we have all around us here. I’m often annoyed at having to drive somewhere to do an errand. I shouldn’t be annoyed because in Switzerland I probably wouldn’t even be able to get the item that I’m going out to get. I just hate the parking lots and the hotness of the car and all the car seat buckling. I know this is silly stuff to complain about, but it’s the little things that all together make up a day and when I have to heft Claire into her car seat and fiddle with everyone’s buckles more than two or three times a day I start to get grumpy. I seriously miss the chocoalate. I want something sweet after I put the kids to bed and I plunk down on the couch. I miss going to our chocolate cupboard and breaking off a couple squares of something sweet and dark and nutty. It’s just not as available here. Even the smallish grocery stores over there have a chocolate aisle with so many bars of great quality chocolate lined up so neatly. And one more thing. Americans are sorta loud – maybe I’m guilty of being loud too. But I notice it when I pick Bea up at school and it’s a little overwhelming – all the moms chatting and yelling out to their kids. Maybe the fact that I can understand what they are saying makes it harder to ignore – it’s just different.
Here’s a poor picture of the little back-to school party that we had on Monday. I’m still hoping to get a photo of Bea on her way to school – between the rush of getting out the door and Bea not being in a picture mood it just hasn’t happened.
I still feel a little like I’m waiting for something – I’m not sure what. Maybe just a feeling of being settled. Maybe waiting for the house to feel like our house with our memories.
I do think I need to get back in the habit of taking photos of my lovely daughters. I’m aware – when Claire holds my hand – that these things don’t last forever. We may not have the alps to gaze upon when I look out the window, but my neighborhood is beautiful and I should take notice. The sweetness and newness – I should remember it all.
School starts on Monday – to finish off our summer we spent a good chunk of the day at the Beach. Everyone else had the same idea – it was busy, busy, busy!
I was hoping to come away with some lamps or a hamper for Claire’s room, but instead I found some pretty old sheets. I was thinking some of them would make darling nighties. Or I could just use them for making muslins – can’t beat the price. Or maybe we could just use them as… sheets.
Laowai 