New Helmets!

We finally have helmets for both kids; Espen rides his little car when we go for walks, and has successfully learned to stop at the corners and wait for everyone before crossing and/or maniacally laughing as we repeatedly say STOP ESPEN. We had to abort our walks early a few times to teach him how to cooperate, but it worked! He was a model citizen on our walk last night. 

Lucia, on the other hand, really needs a new bike (but has a brand-new helmet!) We took her training wheels off last night to let her try to scooch her bike along for the walk and get used to balancing, and it was a disaster. Pete carried her home with the bike in the other hand, with her sobbing. :( So, a new bike is in order.

Summah!

And so we begin our last week of summer, in our new house. The summer feels like a blur since we found out we were moving about two weeks after school let out. Seven weeks into our new house and it still doesn't feel like home; I'm trying to figure out what the magic thing is for that? Pictures on the walls? Maybe I'll work on that this week. We are blissing out in the suburbs; last night I said to Pete, I'll be right back, I've got to walk to the neighbor's tree for some lemons to make salad dressing. We've also been taking walks after dinner where the kids ride scooters or scoot-toys. Espen wakes up every morning and says, Mommy walk? He loves loves loves his walks.

In the meanwhile...

Lucia has been up at a camp the past three weeks with her best friend Eddie where she learns a little science, then goes on hikes to the beach every day. She is LOVING it.

Espen has been unhappy at his new daycare, and while it's OK, it's not great, so we are moving him to a Montessori school near our house in October. It's adorable and he can stay there until he starts kindergarten. We're beginning introducing him to the potty, which is pretty cute. 

School starts next week! I'm trying not to lose my mind with the to-do list and nerves over meeting new parents, will we fit in, etc. Lucia will be doing Girl Scouts, and I sincerely hope the troop is not as snotty as the one we tried joining last fall. I've got my first meeting with moms only tomorrow night. Say a prayer they're nice. :) We meet her teacher on Thursday and see her classroom, then go to a new parents orientation Wednesday night, then a picnic Saturday night for the whole school. There are only 200 families in the whole school, so we are super excited to get to know people and hope it's what everyone says it is: a close-knit community. Below Lucia is modeling her new uniform. Why she wanted to wear a cardigan in this heat is beyond me, but I was so happy she wasn't crying about her uniform. 

Pete has hacked our window AC units so we are not melting in the heat wave. Northern California doesn't get very hot, but when it reached 100 yesterday it was pretty uncomfortable. The kids room was around 70 degrees though. Woohooo! Major shout-out and props to him for it.