Florida

What can I say about a perfect week in Naples? Here are the highlights:

• Seeing my grandparents: We got to see my grandparents most days that we were there, which was great since they're the real reason we went to Florida. We ate dinner, played bridge, and took lots of walks around their home. Ellie was on her best, most charming behavior with them, which was really important to me. I had forgotten how good my grandma is with little kids.
  
• Swimming in the Gulf: Every morning we went swimming. The waves were negligible most days, so we really got to swim. Mostly it was Ellie, my dad, and me in the water. However, my mom even swam every day and I got to raft in the waves with her for a long time one day while Ellie and my dad played in the beachside pool.
  
• Sand dollars: About waist to shoulder deep, the bottom of the Gulf was literally carpeted with sand dollars. You couldn't take a single step without stepping on several. My dad and I put on goggles and looked under the water and saw 6-12 per square foot as far as we could see.
  
• Running on the beach: Three times my dad and I ran on the beach at sunset. I went at a slower pace than usual and surprised myself by being able to run 12-14 minutes straight with no break. (Isaac kept telling me to run slower, and no surprise - he was right!) Afterward, we would take off our shoes and plunge into the water. What a way to cool down! One night the waves were big and we played in the surf until long after dark. This time with my dad was really special to me.


• Shelling: I love to find neat shells. I didn't take any home, but I had a great time looking. Ellie had absolutely no interest in the shells. Whenever we'd show her a shell or a sand dollar, she'd throw it back in the water with only a glance.
  
• Tin City: It was funny to go back to the tourist shops I remember from being a little kid. I saw all my "unique treasures" that I had saved for year and found out exactly how common and cheap they really were.

There's a lot more to say about the trip. I haven't even mentioned the wine and Scrabble games I shared with my dad! Or how cute Ellie looked in her water wings. Or the nice pilot that took us up to the cockpit and let me sit in his seat (I didn't know they could do that any more). Or my jellyfish sting and the way we actually saw the jellyfish the next day and watched it in the water for a long time. Oh well. This is really long and I need to make myself stop!

As great as the week was, I have to admit that it's really nice to be back home with Isaac. I missed that handsome dude!

Substitute!

I'll miss the third week of school when I'm in Florida. This is the first time I've ever had to prep for a substitute. Oh my goodness is it a lot of work! Remember how obsessive I was writing notes for Ellie's babysitters? (My classic is telling my own parents to make sure to watch her while she eats so that she doesn't choke.) I'm not quite that bad with my classes, but I'm still very thorough. I sent home a packet for my sub with schedules, forms, attendance, curriculum, notes, et cetera today. I really hope I didn't forget anything!

Ellie's Reason for Wanting a Baby

Ellie often comes home from Grandma's house talking about getting a baby sister or brother. (Note: this is NOT an announcement - it's purely Grandma's doing, I think.) Anyway, she was talking about a baby again today. I asked her if she still wanted a brother or sister, and she said yes. I asked her why. She said, "So I can bring the baby to Grandma's house!"

Thanks, Mom.

Favorite Kid Stories of the Week

Ellie wants to be "an airplane pirate" when she grows up.

Here's a conversation we had in the car:
Ellie: "Mama, how high is that airplane?"
Me: "I don't know, honey."
Ellie: "Why?"
Me: "Because I don't have enough experience."
Ellie: "Why don't you ask Grandpa? He'll know." Then sweetly and wistfully: "My grandpa... the one who babysits me."

At preschool I was talking with a little boy who likes camping. I told him that my family camped in the rain a lot this summer. He asked me if it was a storm. "No," I answered. "Have you ever gone camping in a storm?" His eyes got wide and he laughed. "No! I go camping in the woods!"

First Week of Preschool

The first week of preschool went very well. Both classes seem calmer than last year! I'm really excited about this year and all the things we'll do. I'm working on focusing a bit more on academics this year, especially in phonics and prewriting. I've also implemented "official" class helpers and better assessment procedures.

My assistant teacher last year was as close to perfect as possible, so I was worried when she left us for a job closer to her home in Minneapolis. However, the new assistant teacher is working out fabulously and I am equally excited about her. Ellie warmed up to her right away and regaled her with stories today from the moment she walked in the door.

Great Names

I found this on GoodyBlog, and I think it's so much fun. I knew about finding my "stripper name," although I did it differently, but I've never heard of the others. Try it - it's fun!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Amore Voyager

2. YOUR FLY Guy/Girl NAME: (first initial, first syllable of your last name)
A-Van

3. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Nicole Maple Grove

4. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
Van-Al

5. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
The Blue Riesling

6. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
John Donald

7. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)Purple Orchid Milky Way Dark

8.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names)
Kay James

9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
Skinner Sacramento

10. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Peach Sockie

11. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
Omelette Maple

12. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)
The Scrapping Blizzard Tour

Running

For years I've wanted to be a runner. I like the idea of it, the high exercise payoff in a short time, and the way Isaac and I could run together. I would really like to have a runner's body and endurance! I tried running several times, but the problem remained that I just didn't like it. (The sweat and the exhaustion may have played a role in my dislike.)

Anyway, about six weeks ago I asked Isaac to take me on a run. He's a great encourager, and balances pushing me farther than I thought I could go with making me feel like I'm doing a good job with what little I can do. Anyway, we ran three blocks, walked one block, and so on to the library, where he dropped me off and finished another 3 miles before picking me up!

Since then, I've been pushing myself to run 3 times a week. I have a 1.5 mile street route that I've been trying to master. The first time I did it, it took almost 16 minutes and I walked 6 blocks and ran the other 18. By last week, I was down to 13:45 and walking only 3 blocks.

Yesterday, for the first time ever, I ran twelve blocks straight with the jogging stroller! (My previous record without a break was 8 blocks.) Then Ellie and I walked and rented a video, and ran back. I didn't know if I'd be able to run all twelve blocks back, but I did! (Full disclosure: I stopped and took a brief water break, but didn't walk at all.) I am so proud of myself!

I really want to get past the "feel-like-I'm-going-to-die" feeling and get to where I enjoy running. I'm closer than I've ever been, but I'm not there quite yet. But I'm finding that I love the feeling of accomplishment, and that confidence sticks with me until the next run.

I have a long way to go. I was talking to an acquaintance last week whose fourth baby was born a couple months ago. She's already up to running 40 minutes at a time while pushing a double jogging stroller! After I get to the point that I can run my route without a break, I'll start adding two blocks at a time until I can run for 20-25 minutes at a time. That's my plan, and I really hope I can stick to it!

New Mattress!

Isaac and I have had the same mattress since we got married, so almost 7 years. That's not bad - pretty new even - except when you consider that we were given it used from someone who said it was so old she was embarrassed to even give it to us. It accomplished its purpose, but was hugely sagging in the middle and was too damaged to flip.

My parents gave us a new mattress and boxspring for Isaac's birthday! It feels bigger, even though it's just a double, because we don't have to roll to the middle unless we want to. We had a great night's sleep last night, and I am so happy.

Comments!

Okay, this is funny. I thought no one was commenting on my blog, which wasn't really a big deal. But then a friend said they had posted a comment that I hadn't approved yet, so I went looking for comments and I found 16! You all love me! (Sorry it took me so long to approve the comments - I didn't know they were there.)

Oh well, that's really pretty typical me, isn't it?

Just for fun, here are some of my favorite pictures of my beautiful family. Ellie and Isaac are making monkey faces, and I'm doing a sloth.

Labor Day with the VanLoons

We spent today with Isaac's family in Faribault. Nathaniel beat me at chess and Ana beat Isaac at Sequence. Ellie beat all of us with her energy on the trampoline! We also squeezed in a delicious lunch (grilled by Dan with Grandma VL's delicious potato salad), looking at the horses, a family soccer game (okay, I watched from the trampoline in all honesty), and Pictionary.

My favorite part (other than Grandma's homemade peach pie) was watching Nathaniel and Isaac run together. I rarely get to see Isaac sprint, and he's a beautiful sprinter. His face and head stay perfectly steady and just glide through the air as his body runs. Nathaniel loved the lessons Isaac gave him.

Once we got home, Isaac went to work with a new hire and Ellie and I crafted at the dining room table. I finished laminating a bunch of material for preschool this week, and made a beautiful daily schedule with pictures of each activity.