Catch up

There's too much to say, and I don't know how to chip away at it.
-Ana's started kindergarten. She is reciting poems, infusing French phrasework into everyday stuff, singing new songs ("Camp Town Races"), and working on this whole new approach to phonemic awareness that involves pictures of lips in various positions. And she glows. Each day that I pick her up, she's shining and bubbling over--or completely tired and surly. Both signs of a good day. Her friend is Mason. She's "the cutest thing you'll ever see in your life." And yes, she is--red-headed girl with pink glasses, and looks much smaller than the other kids- You like her because "she's not into Barbie and all that kind of stuff."
-I've done a lesson at her new school, signed up to be room parent, then backed out when I saw other candidates (and the many other ways there are to be involved). There are SO many events there, and we're participating in fits and starts. Feels good, and scary at the same time, to have Ana as part of "The Class of 2022!?"
-Elliot's started his four-year-old program. Lora Jane is his best friend. They sing songs about monkeys and happy and you know it on the Listening rug. Thomas hit him once. Thomas is his best friend(!?). He has chocolate milk everyday. He likes Haz3l Park.
-I've joined the PTO, and gotten the reluctant administrator to write the grant to Kaboom. I've come at the teachers full-on. And backed away when I saw they were just unorganized at the beginning. They care, and El's put them under his spell. And they communicate. And he's shining and bubbling over at pick up. At bedtime, after homework(!), Elliot nuzzles up, and gives me one word answers to the questions we've been told to ask...but he's so happy to talk about it with me. I've sent Lora Jane's family a note--coz there's no real way to meet each other over there. He talks about her every day. Even when there's no school. I've heard she has white blond hair. The picture of them in my head is priceless.
-Oliver loves being at Abeona House, and is just starting to walk around from here to there. He doesn't cry at drop off, but has discovered where I am, I think. He's asleep by 6 pm each night, which makes me kind of sad. There's little time for US to be US anymore. I know this will change as you get used to the routine...
-Kevin and I are managing the routine better than I thought. It's actually helped us to get organized. I'm trying to exercise, and am enjoying the little time I have once Kev brings the kids to school. I want to be a part of everything, and am working on picking and choosing. CD has a consuming social calendar, that I realized quickly I couldn't be a part of completely. I'm happy to meet the other parents, but honestly, want to be in the classroom. With both my kids. Doing little things here and there.
-My brother's 3 month anniversary is this coming Friday. I've reached an odd place (maybe coz I'm so busy) that it doesn't feel like it happened, and I'm mostly numb. Unless I think of a specific moment--or something triggers a painful memory. Sometimes I feel like it never happened. Ana asks me every month or so if I'll always be sad about it. I try to explain to her that it will always make me sad to think about. But I'm not generally sad. She seems confused about how I can be happy and sad all at once.
-Oliver will be a year old very shortly. He's such a jolly love...I can't believe (again) how quickly they grow and change.
-This flu has me scared...for my little ones, and for Elliot who is especially vulnerable.
-I'm looking into schools for Elliot for next year already.
-I'm kicking off a fall fundraising campaign for AH, planning a symposium at UNO while writing 4 grants due around the same time. And organizing the kids' tent thing for the PoBoy Fest. And if this grant comes through, I'm sure to help with this playground at El's school.
-And at the same time, Dad turns 75, Becky gets married in Austin, I turn 35, and Kevin and I celebrate our 7th year of wedded insanity.
-The reason for this litany of stuff TO DO is because one of the things that helps me get through all this stuff is reminding myself that this period is ONLY temporary. But honestly, I don't think I've had much down time. In a long time. How much of this do I create? And shouldn't I be grateful for every last bit of it? I'm just sayin'--somewhere in the To Do I'd love a girls-only weekend at the beach--or at a local spa--or at happy hour.