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Well, we've survived the first month of the school year- and it's been something. Millworks, the cohousing next door to us, opened this summer. We've more than doubled the number of kids on our block in less than a month! Ian started at The Cottage School. It's a little mixed age preschool for 3-6 year olds. I'm thrilled with it. Our neighbor, Leah, goes there as well, so they're getting a chance to build their own relationship. It reminds me a lot of the preschool that I went to as a kid, and feels like just the right match for Ian. Cooper had the opportunity to repeat kindergarten, and stay with the fabulous teacher he had last year. Sadly, two weeks into the school year we were told that Happy Valley was overstaffed, and Cooper's teacher had to move to an understaffed school across town. sigh...it's settled now, and Cooper's happy with his new teacher- when I pick him up, he tells me, "I like that new classroom!" He's doing great, and has already added two hours to his day compared to last year. I started at a new building too. I'm teaching 5th grade for the first time since 2005, when Cooper was born. We began with 38 kids in the class, but are now settled in with 28 ( which has never looked so small!) I'm just teaching language arts, working from 8:30-12:15. It's the perfect schedule because I'm home in time to pick up both boys from school, and enjoy the afternoon with them. This week, Cooper woke up at 2am with the croup. Wheezy, coughy, hard to catch your breath- yuk. Scared Chris and I, but once the spell was over, he was okay. t one point he said, "I'm sick and coughing, and I need Fireman Sam to rescue me!" hysterical. I finally have my 45 minutes a week for this project- Cooper has speech after school, and Chris is home in time to keep Ian at home. Hurrah!

The Triple- Double

When we got this tandem in Spring, I was thrilled to be able to ride with Cooper. Of course, the dilemma I hadn't anticipated is that, generally, I'm home with both kids. I finally stumbled across a picture of a set up like this, and realized the bike seat in back was identical to ours...so here we are- the Triple-Double, so named by our niece, Molly. Let me just say that, while it's awesome, pedaling 100 pounds of cargo definitely limits my biking range, particularly when there are hills involved. Nevertheless, I can get them to school and to the park by myself, on the bike, which makes me really happy! Now if only Cooper would learn to pedal....

Camping

Camping at San Juan County Park
We have been camping here for more than ten years now. Most years, the Orcas pass through regularly, and we sit on the bluff - everything coming to a silent standstill to watch. We throw rocks on the beach, walk in the nearby sculpture garden, sit by the campfire, and mostly, enjoy this first family tradition.

Bet you can guess the parents of Mr. I-don't-want-to-be-in-a-picture.....

Bring on The Rain!

It's been quite the winter here (and elsewhere, too, I know). I feel like it's been 45 and raining for as long as I can remember, with little bursts of 55 and sunny to keep us from going off the deep end. This year, I realized that it's not so much the rain, as it is being cooped up with the boys. On top of that, we got our new bicycle and it proceeded to rain for the next 10 days straight. So, after much digging around, I finally found a solution: foul weather gear! One piece, rainproof oversuits that should allow me to throw the boys outside or on the bike no matter the weather... I even have one of my own from my pre- kid sailing days. So, bring it on, northwest weather, we're ready!



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Location:Bellingham

It's here!

Yep, here it is, our fabulous new tandem that has foot pegs, shortened pedals, and a rear seat with back support. Cooper is thrilled, and I almost cried when we got out on our first ride. It's been such a struggle to get Cooper to even attempt anything with wheels- bikes, scooters....the trail-a-bike was a total flop...so, last summer I'd gotten to where I'd almost given up trying to ride with Coop. And that made me so sad- biking really is one of my favorite things, and its such a good family activity. But by the end of last summer, I'd pretty much given up....until we got this grant (and a big thanks to you, United Healthcare Children's Foundation) that helped pay for our new bike. So now, we can ride together, and Cooper can get practice balancing, and gaining the comfort and skills he'll need to ride on his own one day. Today, I feel like we won the lottery.



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Spring fun

Highlights from this spring....where to start? A fabulous visit to Kentucky to see Chris's parents, a surprise
detour through San Diego on our return, Easter egg hunting, and, yes, you guessed it, more rock throwing.

Cooper started buddy soccer and an "adaptive" aquatics program this week ( on an aside, I couldn't actually say what's adaptive about
the swimming, but it's one on one time in the water with a pair of volunteers who can get way more out of Cooper than I can!)












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New bike

A friend gave us this balance bike over the weekend, and it is clearly the love of Ian's
life! For my own self, it means I can go on a fairly good paced walk without pushing a stroller or carrying a kid in a backpack. I'm Floored by how fast he's gotten the hang of it!

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