Back to School!

Our back to school celebration began on the "First Day of School Eve" by going out for a nice dinner at a restaurant of Kendall's choosing.  She chose the Alligator Cafe.  This baffled me a bit, since the food is cajun/creole and has nothing that can be called "entertainment" for children, but then I realized that they have mac & cheese.  Kraft mac & cheese, to be exact.  Which she could've had for free at home ... but apparently it's better in a cajun atmosphere.  And my blackened shrimp caesar salad was really good!  And as an added bonus, Grandmother and Pops met us for dinner!

For the first time EVER, Kendall was excited about having her 1st day of school picture taken, mainly because of her new Mickey AND FRIENDS "pack pack" and lunch box that have everyone on them!  We got a few shots inside and then ventured outside.  

... where we were lucky to get the following 2 pictures before the ridiculous humidity fogged up my expensive camera lens causing me to freak out about potential water damage and hurry it back inside.  (The humidity this morning was reminiscent of Gainesville, FL weather and not ok with me at all.)

When we got to school, Kendall marched right into her classroom like she owned it and showed her teacher, Ms. Michelle, her new lunchbox and "pack pack."  Then she helped me unload her stuff into her cubby and went to wash her hands (the first thing we do when we get to school).  This year Kendall is in a small class of only seven kids with one very experienced, veteran JCC teacher.  Her afternoon "nap class" teacher on Mondays and Wednesdays is one of her adored teachers from last year.  

I knew all would be well this morning when she asked Michelle if she could "cut" (meaning "use the scissors) and Michelle's response was "you are always welcome to use anything in the art center during free time!"  Oh boy - unfettered access to scissors!  After warning her (3 times to be exact before I realized I may have been hovering just a tad) that she was to use her scissors on paper only and never her hair or that of anyone else, I left and all I got was a "Bye Mommy ..." and a half-hearted wave behind her head.  

I picked her up a little after 4:00, a bit early because I was excited to hear about her day and I also had a bone to pick with the director for posting a picture of me (looking like a frazzled, fat cow) and Kendall (looking all cute and excited) walking up to the school on their Facebook page.   Kendall's official report of the day was that it was "SUPER GREAT!"  And she talked about it the entire drive home.  My ears are tired.  But so thankful it's from hearing a positive report and nothing negative!  I think this is going to be a perfect year for Kendall!  

Oh, and I managed to be giddy enough about her fabulous first day that I allowed myself to be talked into signing her up for gymnastics on Monday afternoons (attractive also because her teachers dress her for gymnastics, take her to their new state of the art gymnastics center, then get her back in her clothes and take her back to her nap class - all while I'm in my cozy, kid-free office!)  2 dance classes, 2 swim lessons, 3 school mornings, 2 school afternoons, and now a gymnastics class every week.  Good thing she's young and has the energy because I'm tired just adding it up!  

Swimming update

Kendall's most recent swim lesson (lesson #12) was every bit the same nightmare as her very first lesson.  I was ready to give up and left in tears.  BUT, for some reason, since then, she has done a 180 and instead in place of the sheer terror of the water she has exhibited all summer, she now shows a complete and total disregard for the fact that she cannot breathe underneath it.  I'm not sure which one I prefer.  Here are some pictures of her at the back to school bash at the JCC pool.  

And here are pictures in her friend Sean's pool.  I finally put her puddle jumper on because the child seems to be under the belief that she can swim.  She cannot.  

The kid's a sinker.  I took her to the JCC pool this week a couple of times because we skipped her formal swim lesson for the first week all summer.  (Partially because it coincided with her school open house, but admittedly, I could've rescheduled the lesson and just needed a personal reprieve from "Nockin'bird Swim" for a week.)  Several times, she threw Goofy 6 feet from the stairs, yelled, "I'll get you Goof, don't worry - I'm a lifeguard!" and then launched herself into the water.  It gave me great hope to see that she CAN actually swim 5-6 feet (though it's not pretty to watch).  The fact that each time she reached Goofy, she grabbed him, promptly sank and then subsequently yelled at me to leave her alone when I scooped her off the bottom of the pool ... not so great.  

Next week, she'll continue her lessons at Mockingbird Swim on Thursday mornings AND she'll have weekly swim lessons at school on Mondays.  This child WILL be able to swim on top of the water by this time next year if it kills me.  Kills ME, not her.    

Painting with a Twist

Last Thursday night, I went to this fabulous place for a girls' night called "Painting with a Twist."  I was dubious about this since it was going to require me to be artistic, but agreed based on the fact that it was also going to require me to drink wine.  It was, in fact, a really fun time!  We brought wine and appetizers and a teacher walked us through a painting of blue (and red) bonnet flowers.  I wasn't 100% thrilled with the outcome of my painting, but did discover that not only did I paint better after more wine, my painting looked better after a few glasses of wine as well!  So there you have it.  The key to great art is wine!  

Below is a picture of the birthday cake my sweet and wonderful friend, Marissa, made for me!  She is an absolute master in the kitchen and it was almost a shame to eat something so beautiful ... but then she informed us that instead of oil she used butter ... and instead of water, she used milk.  Oh.  My.  God.  It was beyond delicious!  Oh, and the grapes were rolled in egg whites and then sugar.  Only thing wrong with this cake is the number on it.  Ugh.  

The girls with our masterpieces!  

MY masterpiece!

The next morning, Kendall wanted to paint a picture like Mommy's.  

Given the fact that she didn't have the benefit of an instructor giving her step by step instructions OR wine, I think she totally showed me up!  

The newest "uniform"

Sent by Nana.  And it is absolutely adorable on Kendall!  She has done very little other than dance in this thing since it arrived.  In fact she's done very little outside of this dress in general.  It cannot be comfortable, but she's napped in it at least once and eats all meals in it.  Even went to a pizza night at a neighbors house in it.  Because she loves this dress so much, I have been allowed to "put away" (not throw away, however) her old ugly white thing that has been reduced to rags.

I'd like to say this last picture is because she tuckered out, but it is in fact a fit being thrown when asked to remove the dress for dinner.

"Ella" Still here!

Yesterday, I was asked to serve "Ella" her own snack, in her own bowl, at her own place at Kendall's playroom table.  Shortly after I snapped this picture and was heading downstairs, I heard Kendall say, "What?  You're not hungry anymore?  I guess I can eat your snack for you!"  And she did.  

PS - Yesterday's snack was oranges.  Had she requested something less healthy to be served in duplicate, she would not have been so successful.

Meanwhile, "back at the ranch"

.... the kid was being spoiled rotten.  Here she is with a new mermaid doll ("Blondie") from the aquarium where I assured her she would probably not see a mermaid.  As usual, I was proven incorrect.

And here she is in a magician outfit I ordered for her just before I left.  "Mommy guilt" required me to leave her with the promise of a gift each day.  Little did I know, but in hindsight should have suspected, that Nana and Saza were going to double my gifting attempts.  Next time I will leave the unnecessary gifting to them.  

Of course there was some naked magic too.  I think she may have been trying to make Ginger disappear.

I don't have pictures of all gifts, but in addition to the magician outfit, I came home to find a Minnie Mouse bingo game, a Minnie Mouse matching game, a new Minnie Mouse purse, a Cinderella nightgown and dress up shoes (admittedly from me), a new Minnie Mouse outfit, and new coloring paraphernalia.  

Meals were served in odd rooms of the house ...

.... and it wouldn't be a visit with Nana without cupcake decorating.  Warning:  do not eat the cupcakes around here if you're concerned about a few kid germs.

Or about the fact that they were decorated while half naked.  

I think Kendall had as much fun with Saza and Nana as I had in Coronado.  Saza and Nana, however, are now in need of a serious vacation!  :)

This post has nothing to do with Kendall

It actually features her parents in our first kid-free vacation in almost exactly 3 years!  Kendall stayed home with Saza and Nana while Chris and I spent 3 nights and almost 4 full days in Coronado, California catching up on some much needed R&R and escaping 110 degree temps in Dallas.  Oddly, they were having a "heat wave" in Coronado/San Diego and were complaining about 82 degree temperatures.  Seriously, the news channels were warning people to "drink lots of water and not over-exert themselves."  I couldn't help but laugh at everyone who asked me if I was "staying cool!"   

We got in early on Wednesday the 8th (having left our house to get to the airport at the ungodly hour of 4:30AM) and not only was our hotel able to check us in really early, they were able to give us a better room with a bay view rather than a pool view.  I highly recommend the Hotel Loews Coronado!   The first day was spent at the pool running up a $100 bar tab.  We did make it to town for dinner (first trip of two to Tartine), but were back to the hotel and O-U-T before the sun went down!   

Look!  He CAN relax!!  

The next day we spent some time on the beach at the Hotel Del.  Nice place but we were glad we stayed elsewhere b/c it may as well have been Disney World judging by the number of kids there.  Not that we are kid haters, but we left ours at home for a reason!  

Lunch at the Del, sponsored by a very thoughtful birthday gift from my Aunt Melanie and Uncle Hugh, who were just in Coronado with my cousin and her family the prior week.   Best $14 sandwich I've ever had!  

It appears that I took a lot of pictures of food (I'm not posting even 1/4 of them here!)  I suppose this is because we basically lived from one (large and fattening) meal to the next.  The appetizer pictured below (which was not so large in size but was quite fancy and largely a mystery to me) was at The Marine Room in La Jolla, where we dined for my official birthday dinner out.  Apparently at high tide, the waves reach the windows of the restaurant!  I'm kind of glad we weren't there at high tide after seeing old pictures of the waves coming INTO the windows on our way out!  

The next day was again spent at the Loews pool and bar (Chris and me) and at the Loews spa (me).  I believe I had a Mai Tai for lunch before my massage.  

That evening, our rental car refused to start, but this was only a slight hiccup in our plans and solved quickly by our super attentive hotel valet staff.   We had dinner for the 2nd time at Tartine and this time I ordered the gorgonzola and pear sandwich that came highly recommended by my cousin.  It was indeed to die for!  

Afterwards, we drove back up north to watch the sunset on Sunset Cliffs.  Absolutely gorgeous!!

I'm pretty sure, "stay back" does not mean stay "behind" the sign.  

When we returned that evening, our room keys didn't work.  We weren't sure what fate was trying to tell us since we had a hard time leaving the hotel that night but then couldn't get back in our room once we returned!  

We slept in on our last morning (who am I kidding?  We slept in ALL THREE mornings we were there!) and got up for one last fabulous breakfast at the hotel.  A $50 breakfast voucher for each morning came with our room so, needless to say, we stuffed ourselves silly every morning .... you know, so as to not waste money.  :)   After we checked out, we did some final gift shopping for Kendall in Coronado and then headed to San Diego for lunch before returning to the airport.  This is my final picture of food and honestly the highlight, at least the culinary highlight, of my vacation!  It's lobster mac and cheese.  Again recommended by Stacy, my foodie cousin who spends a month every summer in Coronado.  I cannot begin to describe how good this was.  Chris got the lobster BLT sandwich (also recommended by Stacy and fabulous!) and, despite the fact that we shared our lunches, we both had a good half of our lunches left by the time we were unable to physically hold any more food.  Because I didn't want to cry at the table, we had the leftovers packed up to take with us.  Where, you might ask?  To the airport?  It just seemed so wrong to leave the best food I've ever had in my life on the table!  I'm not sure what we thought we were going to do with our culinary treasure since we had to turn the rental car in and go to the airport an hour after we left the restaurant.  Maybe it was wishful thinking for rapid digestion?  Leaving these leftovers in the trash can at the Budget Car Rental place may have actually hurt my heart as much as leaving Kendall at home for a few days!    

Finally, Chris got to do one "manly" thing (aside from the impressive eating displays) on our vacation but we ran out of time to actually tour the boat .... ship.... carrier ... whatever it's called!  So we just got a picture.  

Here's one final sunset picture!  Simply.  Stunning.