Back to School. Welcome!

And just like that, summer whizzed by and we're back to school...and just welcoming school life (for Aria).

 Aria was a little hesitant to get out of the car. I think mostly because the new principal she had never seen before and it was a bald man. But Frederic got out and coaxed her out. Then she grabbed the principal's hand and walked into the school without looking back. Luc helped unbuckle Aria, got out of the car and went into the building without so much as a goodbye. :-(

The kids had a great first day of school... and a few days in, are still liking it. Well, Aria LOVES school! She tells me all about it when I see her, sings the songs she learned, goes on and on and on.
Luc is giving me a little more details this year. It's taking time for him to realize he's in the big leagues now and school is no joke.
He learned this hard way when he missed the 4th day of school because of his cold. I thought he was well enough to go to school, but he was self-conscious of his asthma cough. Also, we had a 3-day weekend for Labor Day and I think he got back into his summer mindset. So we let him stay home. Well the next day at school his teacher gave him all his make-up work. And that evening after his guitar lesson and shower, we sat and did all his make up work, plus that night's homework. He asked if he could just do some and I told him it's the law he goes to school and does the work the teacher gives him. It's not an option anymore. And now that he's with the big kids, he has to make up his classwork and homework of what he missed. So now he has a responsibility to determine for himself when he's only feeling 'slightly' unwell whether it's worth all this make-up work the next day or not.
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Luc was asking what grade he'll be in when Aria is in Kindergarten. I told him 3rd and that he'll most likely start going to a public school near home that year instead. He looked at me and I asked if he liked the idea of that? His neighborhood friends would be in the same school too. He shrugged and said "I guess, but in that school I won't learn about Jesus!"  When I told him he could go to Sunday School for that, he seems okay with the idea. I never would've expected those words from Luc. He's always been blasé about learning about Jesus, rarely would repeat stories or songs at home. He would put up such a stink when we took him to church too or when I told him to pray to God at night when he couldn't sleep. But I guess he internalizes more than I realize (and beginning to realize more and more lately), and it's all starting to stick and make room in his heart. :-D

Bye Bye

The summer ended with two doors closed shut. We went from a house full of extra people visiting since the end of June, to just the four of us. We were busy planning day trips, the kids had new friends to play with, and we had adult conversations with others than just ourselves. Then they all went home. School started. Summer ended. Bye Bye.

Philou

Philou came to visit us this summer on a whim. He found a good deal on a plane to JFK and bought it. He stayed with us for two weeks before we dropped him back off in NY.

 Philippe taught Luc how to hold his breath longer under water during our pool days. Now he can hold it longer than I can!

 We went to NYC with Philou the day before dropping him off at the airport. That was a long day, but a lot of fun!

Saying goodbye to Philippe was really hard. Aria fell asleep in the car by the time we got to JFK. I wish Luc had as well. I was sad to say goodbye. But then I got more sad knowing how sad Frederic was to say goodbye to his godson. Then I got extremely sad seeing Luc crying in the back seat and asking to hold my hand as we drove away from the airport. Poor Aria woke up in the car a little while later and looked around and asked where Philippe was. Then she made a really sad face, and there I was again, fighting back tears.

Steph, Johnny, TiTi

Steph, Johnny, and Timea came to visit a few days before Philippe left. Like, I said, we had a full house. And we were busy shuffling people around, spending time together, going places, etc.
We went to the butterfly house and walked around the gardens.

The kids loved most just playing with Baby TiTi. They followed her around, kissed her, played with her, watched her every move, and just straight up loved her. They were also really upset that she had to go home and that she lives so far away.

Summer- end scene.
whew!

Luc-y Luc

 Dear Luc,

How are you almost 7 and going into 1st grade!?
You keep asking me if 1st grade will be hard and saying you're nervous because you want to have play time during the day like in Kindergarten. Well, you will have some playtime but the teacher says you have to earn it. And will it be harder? I think you're pretty darn smart, so I don't think you'll have any problems.

You'll be one of five boys in the class, all your good friends, so I have no worries about the social aspect of school for you. Even though you didn't want to go to camp most days this summer, you were able to spend more time with Ethan and Jackson. You've become really good friends with Ethan, trading Hotwheel cars and playing. You've also been able to have play dates with Adam, which you love. I'm so happy you've made friends with really nice boys who compliment you and don't turn you into someone you're not.

This summer I also really realized how much like me you are. I see a lot of myself in you. As a kid, I was so shy and hated being stuck somewhere when I didn't have a good friend there with me. You're the same. On the days you knew Ethan wasn't going to be at camp, you'd cry for me to stay home from work to watch you instead. I feel your pain. I hated that feeling of being alone and not outgoing enough to walk up to just any other kid and start playing with them. I'm sorry I had to make you go, but this summer things were complicated. And I hope with you that next summer you can hang out at Grandma's. I'm also proud of you for making it through each of those rough days. And when I picked you up, you had something good to say about what you did at camp. You're a champ!

I know you'll pull through any situation that isn't familiar and comfortable with a lot more ease and courage than I ever had.

I love you, Monkey!
Mommy

My Aria-Boo

Aria,

As you're going into Preschool and turning 4 years old soon, I'm replaying the past few years in my head.

You started acting older than your actual age so early, that it doesn't seem like you're only turning 4.

Nevertheless, you are morphing into a wonderful little girl! You're my salty and sweet, my sugar and spice, my spitfire. You throw punches, pose with sass, and fight to make your opinion right. At the same time, you snuggle in close, hug my head resting on your shoulder, and give endless kisses. You care for your babies like you're their real Momma, while also throwing cars around to crash and break them. You cook a perfect chocolate muffin soup in your kitchen and rough up your knees outside with the best of the boys.

You're too dang smart! I fear you'll be bored as anything in preschool this year. Yet, I know you'll make instant "best" friends with many of the girls you'll meet (just like you did at camp this year).
As you grow more and more into your own self and don't let anyone dictate what you should think, how you should feel, and how you should express yourself, I also fear for the future world and what tornado you will reign down on it with your force and power. Please make it to better the world with that precious smile, empathy, and compassion. Leave the potty mouth, hitting, and fighting at home for your brother.

I love you, Aria-boo!
Mommy

Lovin' Summer, Summer Lovin'

This summer has been crazy busy, with lots going on. It's not even over yet, and there's more people visiting, but here's what we've done so far.

Since my mom had her bypass surgery in May, that halted chemo treatments, we put both kids into summer camp at the school. Aria loves it, though every morning it's a struggle to drop her off. Though you pick her up and she makes a dramatic exit waving and saying goodbye to everyone in the classroom. Luc enjoys camp...sometimes. It depends if his friends are there or not and if they go outside to play once or twice a day.

June

Nathalie and Alexis came to visit for a few days in between their trip to Belgium. We finally got to meet Alexis! She is soooo cute and sweet. The kids were in love with her and treating her like their own baby. It was adorable. And Aria still talks about Baby Alexis all the time.

July

We had more visitors in July too! Marine and her boyfriend, Nikolas, came from Belgium. And they went to LBI with us! The kids had a blast with them. They nicknamed Nikolas "Strong Man" because of the weights he was able to lift at Bonne Maman's house when they "camped" over a few nights.

While the kids stayed over at Bonne Maman and Bon Papa's house, Frederic and I switched the kid's room. And Luc's room got a paint job. Aria moved into a big girl bed and Luc finally got his bunk with the desk underneath.

Then we headed off to LBI. We rented the top and bottom floor of the duplex so Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Dave were on the bottom. We were on the top with Marine and Strong Man.


Luc and Aria climbed up the old Barney lighthouse- 217 steps!

We spent every night hanging out on the deck playing with DropMix.

The kids enjoyed the sun, walks to the bay, and sharing a bedroom. (They both had a hard time when we got home sleeping alone in their rooms. Luc started coming into our room at night and sleeping on the floor. Aria didn't want to go to bed and fall asleep before Luc was upstairs in his bed too.)

 We had lots of fun on the beach and had perfect weather the entire time. No rain!

We looked for lots of shells to bring home.

The kids were exhausted after the days at the beach...

 The bay had some great sunsets again

and of course, fishing with Grandpa.

August

Matt's friend from college got married in Frederick, MD, so they took advantage of the travel and stayed with us for a long weekend! :)

Matt brought his guitar to play with Luc (btw, Luc just switched to guitar from ukulele after vacation).

But then Jackie, Aria, and I got into an improv session and rocked out. Aria screaming "We don't care!" "We do what we want!" "Yeeaaaaaaaahhhhh!" It was hilarious!!

Sunday we decided to walk around Lake Kitt, even though it was in the upper 90's. We were sweating and hot! But we saw turtles, a beaver, rabbits, pretty birds, cool flowers, and little fish. The kids also got to feed the geese...because the ducks were hiding out somewhere from the heat. So it was worth it. Oh yea, and getting Coldstone afterward also made it totally worth it too.

Then we hung out on the deck while we BBQ'd dinner. The kids cuddled up before bedtime since Matt and Jackie were leaving in the morning.

While the kids were giving hugs & kisses goodbye to them before bed, Aria told Jackie, she wasn't going to close her eyes and sleep so that it wouldn't be tomorrow and she wouldn't leave. Aria just didn't understand why they couldn't stay and kept asking why they were going to leave.
💘