In the Past Month

As already mentioned in the two earlier posts, Allie started Kindergarten... And Sami started preschool. Both girls practically ran into their classrooms on the first day, nearly forgetting to give me a mere "see ya, Mom." I already have piles of their art projects collecting on the dining room table, and both girls love their new friends-- Sami plays with Zoey, Cameron, and Samara on the playground, and Allie seems to have really taken a liking to Caitlin and Rori. Julia, a precious red-head, is sweet to Allie, too, having tackled Allie with a tight hug when we reached Mrs. Georgeff's classroom yesterday. Thankfully Julia has been transferred to Ms. Gregg's class with Allie, so she won't feel so alone. Arrrg. The whole situation still upsets me...

Kevin turned 33 on the 5th, over Labor Day weekend, which we spent in Miami with Kev's parents. Friday night, we put the kids to bed, and Mom and Dad sat in the hotel room with them while Kev and I went out exploring Miami's famed South Beach, with the party-crowd going full-swing-- groups of girls in slinky dresses, with their glossy lips and dark eyes, the guys reeking of cologne, and little me in my denim capris and glasses, with my hair pulled back, and no make-up. But we walked out to the empty beach, the moon reflecting off the surface of the ocean, and put our feet in the warm water. That Saturday we spent at Jungle Island (a pseudo-zoo where they throw macaws all over you and take your picture, and tease alligators as a crowd pleaser-- a bit disturbing and upsetting, but the girls had fun in spite of all that), while Mom and Dad explored The Coral Castle. We met up for dinner in our apartment-style hotel room to eat sub sandwiches, just in time to watch the Cougs' upset over Oklahoma-- an especially great birthday treat for Kev. On Sunday, we attended the nearby Spanish branch, with the nearest English-speaking ward being a thirty-minute drive away. All of us know some Spanish, but none of us is fluent, so communication was limited. By the end of the third hour I had a nasty headache from having to concentrate on comprehension for so long. But even still, it's amazing how the Church is the same everywhere-- the organization is familiar and consistent, as is the warm fellowship from the members. The branch members attempted to welcome us and introduce themselves in broken English, we introducing ourselves in Spanish. We were all especially inspired by their strong testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I mustered up the courage to share my own testimony with the Relief Society sisters in Spanish (after having chickened-out in Sacrament Meeting). For me it was terrifying, but the sisters understood me enough, responding to my sentiments with endearing murmurings of "Que lindo!" Monday morning we quickly explored the nearby lighthouse, and then made our way home, taking a short detour through the Everglades.

As for other events of the month, we attended a couple Manatees baseball games-- well, the first 45 minutes of each game, both having been free for Harris Corp. employees and their families. We have yet to actually pay to attend a game. Kevin and I woke at midnight to see the shuttle launch, and we attended the water-game-themed Primary activity at church for the girls.

A quick update on Allie's school situation... She's home now. I asked her how her day was, "Good,' she said-- the usual answer. No tears, no sadness. She's fine. Came home and asked to "play computer games," just like she does everyday. Whew! For once I wasn't annoyed with that question.