School is Cool

Peyton's preschool sits atop a gently sloping hill that overlooks a large enclosed pasture filled with grazing cows and, when the land is not in drought, delicate wildflowers. The building is small and the classrooms are cozy and there is a low turnover with the staff which is generally a very good sign that the school is a warm and friendly kind of place-- a kind of working family.

We would pass by the school all summer on our way to the gym and Peyton would sometimes chirp from the backseat that that was HIS school and talk about old friends Allie and Alaina or teachers Mrs. Greenleaf and Ms. Oster. Sometimes, my heart would feel sad for him when he asked when he was going back to school. He goes stir crazy during the summer months, especially this last one when it was so blazing hot that we couldn't emerge from the house very often.

So, he was beyond excited when he saw the package of uniform shirts arrive at the door for him, and he wanted to try on the shirts then and there and not take them off again. Still, he had to wait another two weeks before the BIG day.

When I told him that "today is the day" he was going back to school, he was a frenetic ball of energy; little able to still at the kitchen table to finish a bowl of oatmeal and a glass of milk before rushing off to brush his teeth and to don his uniform. He wrapped his fingers around his backpack loop and dragged that bag throughout the house, inspecting the pockets and checking out his nap time blanket and extra clothing with all seriousness.

 He smiled large for the camera then bounded away to the car, ready to meet his first day back with gusto.

Troy took our ever-growing boy to his first day of school and captured his small, lean, little body amble down the hallway looking for his new class.

Here he is, checking out his newest digs, with teachers Mrs. Visor (on the left) and Mrs. Maggie (on the right). I have a soft spot in my heart for these grandmotherly teacher types that seem to have a whole measure of patience and who never seem to tire of teaching these moldable little souls.

When I went to pick Peyton up from his first day, I found him at work at one of his favorite past times-- the computer. This boy is a technology junkie through and through and has been from his earliest months here on earth. Needless to say, it was hard to convince him to come home!

Here is Peyton's name tag and bag hook. His Toy Story nap time blanket is peeking out!

Here are Mrs. Visor's notes about the first day back. She's been updating her notes every day and it's nice to know what Peyton has been up to at his home away from home!

Summer's Last Hurrah

Heat, ma'am! It was so dreadful here, that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones. ~Sydney Smith, Lady Holland's Memoir

The summer of 2011 was a doozy. We went 31+ days between July and August with temps of 100 degrees or higher until all of the landscaping in our yards withered from the unrelenting sun and the lakes began to shrink away from the shores leaving mudlands all around the rims. We didn't go out to play because of the high risk of heat stroke, and from what our friends tell us, the swimming pools felt like hot tubs. Finally, about four days ago, we got some relief. There's been no rain as of yet but the heat pattern finally broke and we enjoyed a beautiful balmy day of 88 degrees. I ate breakfast in pajamas and a robe out on my patio and felt the wind lift my hair and stir the leaves on the trees and it was glorious. Now that we are edging closer to fall, I feel nostalgic enough to write about August! 

August and September are busy, busy months in our family. My Uncle Bruce celebrates his birthday August 1st, I celebrate August 5th, Troy's half sister, Laura celebrates hers August 18th, and Troy's mom celebrates on August 21st. Then September begins and the birthdays continue with my mom and my friend Isela on the 1st, my friends Kelly and Amy on the 2nd, my dad (today!) on the 7th, my friend Haley on the 10th, my sister-in-law Naoko on the 11th, our friend Aaron and Troy's brother Jason on the 21st and Troy on the 25th! Whew!  

My friend, Elizabeth, asked that I post about my birthday (which seems forever ago) and I decided today would be as good a day as any to jot down my thoughts about the day. Troy had to work that day since it landed on a Friday, but I was heralded a very happy birthday by nearly everyone I've known for the past 10 years via Facebook land. :) 

My neighbor friend, Kelly, stopped by bringing a large tupperware bowl of fresh fruit which was enjoyed by all (we are fruity kind of people in the Majoue house) and my other friend Haley brought by these beautiful deep red flowers in a glass vase that looked so real that I went to water them the day after she brought them by and realized they weren't real after all! My other friend Val dropped in and brought me large, gorgeous stalks of violet gladiolas that graced my bathroom and brightened my day every morning for a week. At the door, I received flowers twice from a florist, once from my Uncle Bruce and his wife Chris, and again from my dear Troy.

flowers from Bruce and Chris

flowers from Troy

When Troy got home, he brought with him a box of the most delicious cupcakes from Gigi's that I've had since the time I went to Sprinkles with Aidan and Jeremy about two years ago. They looked (almost) too beautiful to eat but after we ate dinner, we tore into those delicious morsels until we were sugar sick.

gigi's cupcakes

Troy also gifted me perhaps one of my favorite gifts of all, a giftcard to Amazon so I can pick out the books I'd like to read next. My mom and dad also spoiled me by giving me a giftcard to go shop at Ann Taylor Loft for some new pretty things. Thanks to everyone who called, stopped by, emailed, gave me a shout out on Facebook or who brought by some form of endearment or another. I love you all!

As for the heat of summer, here's to hoping that the dog days of summer are now over so we can enjoy the cooler weather that fall brings. Already, my fall wreath is gracing my door, autumn leaves decorate my mantel and I have dreams of making pumpkin cheesecake, spicy gingerbread loaves and chili and cornbread.

Oh! Speaking of cheesecake, I made this one for my birthday and it was spectacular:

 lime-coconut cheesecake from Our Best Bites.com

If it's still hot and summery where you are, give this cheesecake a whirl-- it's cool and refreshing and helps cut the heat! Enjoy. :)