Kindergarten!

This morning, Charlie dropped Scarlett off for her first day as a kindergartener. She's in the same classroom as she's been for 2 years- that's the Montessori three-year cycle- but this year she's one of the big kids, with more responsibility and classroom jobs.  I remember how, her first few months, they paired her with a kindergarten girl who showed her the ropes, and ate lunch with her, and was her classroom friend.  I'm excited for her to play that role for another kid. 

She's reading more, and together we're reading all kinds of books (we just finished Superfudge), and she likes her privacy- so we have to knock and be welcomed into her room when the door is closed.

Her lunch today was a sandwich with cream cheese, cucumber and salami (salami is her #1 new favorite food) and honeydew melon.  She wore her new green raincoat, which she likes because it's similar to daddy's coat. 

I remember dropping her off her very first day of school. How could it be two years since then?

Grimm conversation

A while back, we started checking out books on tape from the library, for car trips.  Scarlett loves stories and asks for them all the time.  The content has evolved, and lately her favorite are these Grimm Fairy Tales.  She asks to listen to them at home, and they've been a life saver during these past few weeks when Charlie needs to take brain naps, and I'm catching up on work.  She'll sit listening to them, then run into the room to tell me how Hansel went to hell and fought with a dragon, and Gretel cut off her own finger.  They are super gruesome- lots of toes and fingers cut off, bodies that come apart and are magically put back together, and that's not even the worst stuff. 

To her friend Leo, during a playdate: "let's make kids and their dads walk into the sewer."

At bathtime: "I'm going to have a bloody bath!" [puts red bath drop in the water]

Playing by herself with little miniature doll house-type toys "What kind of weapon do you have?"

Also, Charlie said that during a recent playdate, she was talking to Ramona about hell. 

Charlie, age 35

A belated happy birthday to my bestest guy!

It's been a hard few weeks so I hope I can be forgiven for posting this late. Charlie got a severe concussion.  Lauren is gone.  It's been confusing and complicated and busy, but I've been feeling so grateful for my loving and supportive family, for a husband who gives me all the hugs and sadness time that I need, and he is sad too.  Sometimes I feel okay, but there's this nagging feeling that I can't escape, and then I remember about Lauren and I feel so lost and sad all over again.  I think it is getting better, because that is happening less often.  Scarlett picked out a photo of she and Lauren to put on her wall in a frame, so we can look at her.  I'm not ready to hang it up yet, though.

We had a party for Charlie and it was nice, with fish tacos and lots of friends and kids.  Happy birthday to you baby, concussion and all.

Drawing

"Scarlett, is this a submarine?  Or the Titanic?"
"No Mama, it's an ALLIGATOR!"

Lauren, with love

Today, the world lost a beautiful and vibrant soul, and I will have a hole in my heart forever.  Lauren Elizabeth was my first friend in high school, when we were 15.  But years of diabetes and kidney issues, going on and off the transplant list, many false hopes and setbacks, left her body weak.  Her spirit has been so strong throughout, I just never thought I would have to say goodbye.  Lauren has always been like a sparkling light in this world.  It hasn't hit me fully yet, that her light it out.

Amidst all this heardbreak, I am very thankful.  I was able to see her and say goodbye, even though I'm told that her brain was already gone by that point.  I was able to hold her hand and cry with her family, who have treated me like family since I was a kid. 


Auntie Lauren always loved Scarlett, she always made people feel special, she always knew the right thing to say and to wear.  I will never forget you my friend.