New Friend

Joe has made a new friend at school, and has been on his first after-school (solo) play date. It all started when Julie was at the so-called "parent pick-up" at the final bell about three weeks ago. While she was milling about with the other parents, her friend Erica introduced her to another mother named, Anne--also known as Caden's mom, who had asked Erica if Erica knew a Joe. Erica said she knew Our Joe, Fans, and pointed to me.  That was when Anne told Julie that Joe was the sweetest boy (making an instant Anne Fan), which she'd discovered when she came upon him the day before in the hallway crying. It seems Our Hero missed the whistle signal calling in his class, and was then at a loss as to what to do, worrying that he would be in trouble. Anne gave him a hug, told him not to worry, and then took him to find his classroom. She also explained to Mrs. S what had happened.

Fans, you know, sometimes you read the front page of the newspaper and sort of despair at how we treat one another sometimes, and then you chat with Anne at parent pick-up and think how the world is filled with so many kind people.  And THEN, Anne hauled off and asked Julie if Joe might want to get together and play with Caden one day. Julie about fell over because usually, she's the one asking and the people she's asking are explaining that they are all tied up visiting relatives on both sides--like cousins thrice removed--and their best friends from second grade. (Minnesotans love for their native state and its pull on them is both impressive and frustrating.) Smd a THEN Anne hauled off and shared that Caden's transition from half-day kindergarten to full-day first grade had been a little tough. Julie liked her so much right off for being so open about the things about which all parents worry. (Julie might have made a new friend, too.)

So Julie tracked Anne down straight away and they got a play date on the calendar. A week ago Saturday they met up with the boys at the school's park. They circled cautiously for a bit, but then Caden asked Joe if he wanted to swing and that was that. By the end of the morning, they'd ridden bikes, Joe had seen Caden's house and room, and Joe had been invited over after school a day later, on Monday. (Caden lives about two blocks away from both White House and the school.)

So now, as we understand it, Caden has joined Joe and Karlis in "the watchtower" at recess. (This sounds a little creepy, right, Fans?! It's the top of the jungle gym in this turret-type tower. To them, it's like a treehouse. They just chose the creepy sounding name in their first-grade wisdom.) Apparently, they "just hang out." But Joe has already said he can't wait for winter so they can go sledding, and it seems like he's picked up another buddy to go with.

LP Zoo

While in Chicago, "Grandpa and Grandpa" took the kids and Ted to the Lincoln Park Zoo while Julie worked her law school forum downtown. Joe really wanted to see the birds so we headed there first and got up close to lots of colorful avian friends.  That brought us by the giraffs, and an Africa exhibit where the kids crawled around a replica of a termite nest. We ended with some big cats where we saw the lion lying on his back much like Berenice does. It was s beautiful day for a walk around the zoo!

Merrily We Roll Along

This weekend finds us in Chicago visiting a Grandma Connie and Grandpa Charles. Clara often refers to them jointly as "Grandpa and Grandpa," and yet, interestingly, addresses them as Grandma Connie and Charles--just Charles.  We drove to reach Grandpa and Grandpa Trump's which brought, as usual, all manner of interesting questions and observations. Clara asked why old people die, why we have night, and why we breathe.

Joe spotted two blue herons in one of the areas still flooded by this spring's heavy rains. He said that he had to tell Joe, his Bird's Eye View camp counselor.  He then added, "I am not daring to let that out of my brain."  When darkness fell, before he fell asleep, but perhaps after we'd established why we have night, he was trying to spot an owl.

Some families like to play the alphabet picnic game on long car trips, or the license plate game. Not this family! We tackle Big Life Questions and go owling as we roll along.

Maxi Dresses Are the Max!

A number of you commented on the skirt Birdie is wearing in the pictures accompanying the post about her first day of pre-K.  The skirt is, in fact, a maxi dress.  No one will be more sad that Birdie when the maxi dress is no longer trending. To a four-and-a-half-year-old girl, a maxi dress is a de facto princess gown. Julie knows because she spent a good portion of her years aged six to nine (and probably before that only she can't remember those years) tearing about in dusters and lusting after long polyester nightgowns to which she referred as "slinkies" and "slimmies." Clara sported two maxi dresses this summer season and she wore them each at least once every week, even though one required ironing after washing. Julie would shake her head at herself, but she believes in wearing what puts a spring in your step and figures that's not a bad thing for Clara to believe either (though she also embraces coordinating one's ensembles and weather-appropriate wear and sometimes the four-and-a-half year old mind does not).

Peace

Now, what follows is the story of something that did make Julie cry.  Joe's class spent time this past week talking about their classroom community and ways to make it a peaceful one.  They created artworks illustrating what peace meant to them. You can see Joe's below, together with the caption, in case the picture isn't entirely clear.