Today was Simon’s last day of (this year of) preschool. I wanted to get a picture of Simon holding a picture of himself on the first day of school (spotted the idea somewhere on Pinterest). I didn’t plan ahead enough to get an actual picture printed, but I did have an idea in case I (and by “I” I mean Jason in this instance) ever do fire up Photoshop to fake it. In the meantime, imagine with me that the first day picture is in the frame Simon is holding in today’s picture.

As I predicted, preschool was a really good thing for our family. Throughout the year, we had some rough drop offs with the clinging and the crying and the just-one-more-hugs and, oh.my.goodness. the clinging, but Simon came home happy every day, without exception. I only got to hear about school in teeny details—a song he sang to his sibs here and a tree he could identify as a conifer there—but from what I could piece together, he really, really liked it. And I deeply enjoyed my time with Ian and later Clara too.

I still do wonder what Simon is like when he’s not around me. It warms my heart to hear other kids call out his name to greet him or say good-bye. He simply says, “That’s my buddy so-and-so.” I ask him sometimes who got in trouble that day, and once he answered, “No one had a time out today. Not even me.” Hmmm. I talked to one of his teachers today, thanking her for a great year, and she said, “Simon was always a delight. He always brought something [then she made a gesture around her head that I took to mean “imagination-wise”]. He always brought content, information.” It seemed like a positive thing, and knowing Simon as I do, I think I kind of just intuitively got what she meant. It was an interesting thing to articulate, though.

We made some Garden Hand Scrub for his teachers (about two parts sugar to one part dishwashing soap, stir it up in a jelly jar).  The notes, dictated by Simon, said, “Dear Janet, Thank you for being my teacher, and thank you for reading the story every day I comed to preschool” and “Dear Lorie, Thank you for being my teacher and thank you for being the caboose on the hike.” And to both: “I want the teachers to have a day without anyone complaining or crying.” Just a tip there, Simon, Mommy would like a day like that too.

I can definitely see a difference between the first and last day of school pictures—and, more than that, I can see differences in my growing-up-but-still-four kid.  Yes, he is wearing the same outfit—not on purpose, but it works for me. These now and then pictures, though (both taken at the Nature Center), kill me dead.

Me: I’m thinking of something green.
Simon: A tree!
Me: That’s right! Your turn.

Simon: I’m thinking of something yellow.
Me: Is it something you drive?
Simon: No.
Me: Is it something you play with?
Simon: No.
[Several more questions, all answered with “no.”]
Simon: It’s corn!

Me: Okay, Ian, it’s your turn buddy.
Ian: My turn! I’m thinking ‘bout ants. . . .

Me: Okay. I’m thinking of something red.
Simon: That’s my favorite color!
Me: I know, buddy.
Simon: Is it my lawnmower?
Me: Nope.
Simon: My lawnmower is red.
Me: Yep, but that’s not what I’m thinking of.
[Several more rounds until he guesses correctly.]

Simon: I’m thinking of something brown and bushy. . . .

Ian: My turn! I’m thinking ‘bout my faaavorite color. Broooowwwn.
Simon: I’m thinking of something brown.
Me: [After narrowing it down.] Is it a train?
Simon: It’s not the train, but it’s close. It’s what the train runs on [without waiting for me to guess]: the tracks!

Ian: My turn! I’m thinking ‘bout brown. My faaavorite color.  I’m thinking ‘bout brown trains.

A series of portraits of the kids.

One of the ways that Jason and I are very, very different is in how we approach food. I love to experiment and am ever trying to cajole my family into eating “the same thing” but a more healthful version. Jason is opposite: if he finds something he likes, he sticks with it—he does not see the point in deviating from the tried and true. To his credit, he does always try what I make—and will keep his opinions mostly to himself for the boys’ sake. My latest attempt was (the really delicious, in my opinion) Black Bean Brownies. (FWIW, Jason prefers Betty Crocker’s Frosted Brownies.)

Jason: Interesting.
Me: Do you like it?
Jason: I don’t not like it.
Simon: What did you say?
Jason: I said, “I don’t not like it.”
Simon: What does that mean?
Jason: It’s called “diplomacy.”
Simon: What does that mean?
Jason: It means I’m trying to be nice.
Simon: Oh. It kind of sounds like you don’t like it.
Jason (to me): You’re loving this, aren’t you?

I finally admitted to myself that Clara has nearly grown out of her 0–3 months size clothes. I was so sad about that and have all week been putting off the task of boxing the clothes up and getting out the next size. But now I’m sitting here two-thirds of the way through sorting through and folding the 3–6 months size clothes—some handed down by beloved friends, a few saved from her brothers, some brand new as gifts for Clara, one or two (or, um, several) I couldn’t stop myself from buying. She is snoozing in the bassinet nearby, and, oh good grief, it is taking every single last bit of willpower I have to stop myself from waking her up and changing her clothes three or four times in a row. For the next three months, at least, our little Mei Mei is going to be one stylish chica.

So liquid sidewalk chalk is just like sidewalk chalk, except you apply it with brushes (or leaves, if you’re Simon and feeling imaginative). It’s easy to whip up a batch and lots of fun to paint with. You can find the recipe on many different blogs (I found mine here by way of Pinterest).

1 part water
1 part cornstarch
food coloring

Mix up the water and cornstarch. Pour it in muffin tins or small cups, and add food coloring. I left several cups white, but, of course, all the colors eventually got mixed together.

In keeping with my new addiction to natural dyes and because I was almost out of food coloring, I thought I would try to make a few natural colors. Turmeric produced a nice yellow, but for some reason the paprika didn’t mix very well (to make red). I think next time I will try the natural coloring by preparing the color in the water (like you would to dye eggs) before mixing the water with the cornstarch; I imagine the colors will be really muted, but I could be surprised.

Dishwasher and washing machine swishing, soapy water in the sink and a bucket for the kitchen floor, Monday seems like a good day to open up the windows, crank up the music, and get my head straight and my house clean (well, cleaner, anyway).

(And, no, this picture doesn’t really have anything to do with all of that, but isn’t she precious?)