Friends Visiting

NORAS FIRST DAY AT PRESCHOOL
Nora had her first day of preschool on Tuesday and it went really well. Dropping her off was a little hard on me--she insisted on wanting to use my old lunchbox-which I was COMPLETELY flattered and thrilled by. But the fact of the matter is that it made it harder to say good bye to her. She was walking off in a little line of kids towards a different building, holding onto her snoopy lunchbox. I got serious tears in my eyes and a little choked up as I got back into my car.
On the evening of the first day, she was a mess. VERY tired and cranky. I think its a lot for such a little person to process-new expectations, new teachers, students...everything about it is new!! Last night she was asking to not go back, said she is scared. Patrick and I re-assured her that sometimes doing new things is a little scary and it takes a while to get used to new experiences. She seemed to be somewhat re-assured by this. We'll see what happens when it comes time to drop her off this morning... She goes 2 days a week.

FRIENDS VISITING
This past week we've enjoyed the company of Ray, Julie, Lars and Ilsa-in town from Seward. I first met Julie 5 years ago when she was doing traveling medical work--filling in at one of the local clinics. I was recently married at that time and she was single. We would go on walks, skis, cook dinner and have such a great time. Now we both have two kids and she is in Seward...her husband Ray enjoys hunting with Patrick and going fishing here in Kodiak so we see them at least once a year! Their kids are almost 3 and 18 months, so close in age to Stuey and Nora. All four of the kids are showing the beginnings of playing together, which is SO fun! We talk about how in a few years it'll just be easier and easier because the kids will be off playing and probably won't want us to interfere at all!

The other day we all went to Mill Bay beach with kiddies. Ilsa was such a trooper as the first thing she did when she got there was sit down in a stream for a while, then proceeded to walk into a minil-wave in the ocean and get wet. She didn't mind being soaked one bit!

Lars, Stuey and Nora enjoyed rock climbing up a little crevice. They did it several times-I could tell from the look in their eyes that they felt like they were on a little expedition. Fun times.

Zoya