Kindergarten!

waiting....

all buckled up!

happy girl!

home from her first day!

Today was a big day. It's been marked on the calendar for a while now and I have been waiting patiently for it to come. Kindergarten. Moms all over our district sent their babies to their first day of school today-but for us it was a little different. I tend to think I have a slight advantage over those other moms. Moms of typical kids. Kids who may have never even been to preschool-or only ever went to a day care center. See, Avery has been a student in our school district for 2 full years now-because she is enrolled in special education. So, I wasn't totally freaked out. I didn't cry. Avery was so ready for that bus to pull up. She has been riding one since the day she turned 3. It's old hat to her-but the awesomeness hasn't quite worn off yet. She loves it just like she loved it back in 2009. The thing that is a little scary is she will now be attending an Elementary School with lots more kids and new people. Her old school was all special education so we were still protected by the bubble a bit. Bubble no more!

Over the summer, at least once a week, we drove by her school, and through the parking lot and I would tell her " sissy, this is your new school. Your class will be right down there-with Ms Carol. You are going to Kindergarten and are going to have so much fun!" And I would turn around and see her looking at it all and then I'd see the dimple. The dimple is a good clue that she is pretty stoked on whatever you are saying. So that was good.

Last night as I tucked her in, I whispered to her about the bus coming tomorrow and her new friends and her new teacher and she smiled as she drifted off to sleep. I had to wake her up this morning to get her ready and fed for her big day. She waited patiently for the bus and when it came-a huge grin and a gallop down the driveway! Plus lots of screams for her driver and the other two poor stunned kids on the bus!

When she got home, she was a happy girl. I asked her a million yes or no questions: did you like your aide (YES) did you like your teacher (YES) did you use your Tobii (YES) did you meet new friends (YES) do you want to go back tomorrow (YES).

I went through her backpack and it totally hit me-my kid is in elementary school! She is a Strandwood Roadrunner! And she already has a reading assignment-well more like one of those contests where you log your reading time and turn it in for a prize. I was happy to see that the SDC students are included in this school wide contest. Very cool.

Im looking forward to getting to know a new team and making some serious strides this year. Im going to come in soft and friendly-hoping to start pushing for time in the regular ed class. Stay tuned. Tomorrow, back to school night/date night!

wine and lunch for a good cause

On saturday the 6th we were so lucky to be included in a fantastic lunch/wine tour and tasting with great friends. This day was donated to the auction at Erika's Dream 5 this past February and our amazing friends "won" this unforgettable day in wine country. What a day.

It began with a champagne filled limo ride, at 11am.

Then we arrived here.

Rubicon winery, owned by the Francis Ford-Coppola. Previously known as Inglenook Winery and soon to be know by that name again. The whole story was explained to us but by then I had had plenty of sparkling wine and cant recall all the details. The place was gorgeous. We were brought in to the building and poured some Sofia blanc de blancs which was lovely.

We were then brought around back and met by the head chef who gave us the most amazing behind the scenes, amidst the vines tour. They even had some chilled Chardonnay waiting among the growing vines for us. I typically dont love chardonnay, but this was amazing. The weather was ridiculous and the we couldnt have been surrounded by lovelier people. Ill drink to that!

Immediately following the tour we were led back inside and upstairs to a lovely private dining room above gigantic barrels of wine. The food and wine was so good it was silly. My favorite was the heirloom tomato, baby basil and burrata salad. But it was all so good.

Here is a group shot of all of us. We were missing one lovely lady who was sick with the flu-we missed you Lis!

And, of course, a shot of my fave dish.

After our meal, which included a lovely dessert and coffee, we went off to a few more wineries. Here is the gang at Rutherford Hill.

What a beautiful place. And beautiful friends. thank you!

worth a thousand words

this photo was recently sent to me by one of our good friends who took it at Avery's party. im so glad this moment was captured. it just sums up the day. Avery is beaming, Im wiping happy tears (we were singing happy birthday) and we are all happy. Just had to share it here.