Ladies and Gentlemen...

...the front roll.

Up Norf...

Last weekend we went up to Leland to relax and hang out with our friends Tom & Phyllis... we trade them a parking space for Michigan football games for easy northern getaways. The trip started like this...which was planned. Makes for a quieter trip. We arrived, settled in, had a great home-cooked meal... and Alex took to our hosts like they were family. The next day we made the short walk to Lake Michigan...Alex swam...It was cool...But Tom was still searching for Petoskey stones...then we went out on Lake Leland on the boat... Alex was very excited to drive...and ten minutes later was sleeping...The next day was rainy. Good day for going to the bookstore, napping, reading, and splashing in puddles...Then we headed home. Bellies full of delicious viddles made with love. Bodies thankful for less humidity. Batteries recharged. Back to life in the lower half...

Thank you Mendenhall's!!! We would like to make a reservation for next August in advance, please.

Separation anxiety...

Last week Alex started in a new room at daycare... Preppers. It was not explained what they "prep" for. Presumably the next room. Of course, the next room is Pre-School, which preps for Pre-K, which (as denoted by the name) preps for Kindergarten. So yeah, Preppers.

Alex has been excited for a long while to go to Preppers. Max was there (though he has moved on). Many of her friends had already graduated. They use the potty like big girls. All kinds of fun stuff. She was clamoring for it.

I worried the first day that drop off might be difficult... new surroundings and all. But she took it like a pro. Put stuff away, snack, kiss, goodbye. Like it was completely normal. Then, when I picked her up that afternoon, the real problems started. It turns out that the number one reason she has been looking forward to Preppers is that they have slides on their playground. Twaddlers did not. Worse, Twaddlers playground is just on the other side of the fence. The fence through which Alex gazed upon the forbidden fruit that was the slides. So when I went to pick her up, and they were outside, instead of running into my arms screaming "Papa, Papa!", she ran to the slide. And again. And again. Again, again, again, again, again.

I finally had to threaten to leave alone before the spell was broken. Our new rule is "Five Slides After I Arrive". As yet, this rule has not worked... but we're working on it.