A Summer of Firsts

I took the summer off, as it turns out. And now that it's over, I've come to realize that it was a monumental season. The girls have grown and changed so much in the last couple of months. It's been the 3 of us at home together all summer, which I thought was going to be a nightmare, but actually, ended up being kind of fun. Most days. A recap:

First Bee Stings: Hazel was running through the grass barefoot when she stepped on a bee and let us all know it by screaming bloody murder. About six weeks later, Violet did the exact same thing. So did I, about 25 years ago.

First Babysitter: What the effin' eff took me so long? Sara'i is the girls' new favorite person - she does their hair, she paints their nails, and she lays on the top bunk with Hazel til she's asleep. Hazel says, "Mama, sometimes I wish Sara'i could be our Mama, and you could just come sometimes." Awwwwww.

First Funeral: A milestone, to be sure. Hazel was relieved to know that Great Uncle Frank would not be a skeleton for a very, very long time.

First Over Nighter: The girls and I took a 2 week vacation to SoCal, at the end of which, Haze decided that she wanted some "alone time" with her grandparents, great grandparents, uncles and auntie, so she stayed behind, while Vi and I had some alone time of our own. Three days, and I missed her.

First New Bike: The last new bike I can remember having was metallic navy blue with a banana seat and those little beads that make noise in the spokes. It may or may not have had pegs. My new new bike - the first I've purchased - is white, with pink walled tires and silver and pink flames. She is called "The Betty." She is one sweet ride, and I'm addicted to her.

First Garden: We totally re-landscaped our back yard, with the help of my brothers, and not only do we have flowers and shrubs and a gorgeous new emerald green lawn, we also have a planter box. Growing happily in that box are two kinds of lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, lemons, carrots, cucumbers, green beans, zucchini and herbs. The girls and I water, weed and talk to our plants, and they love us for it. Hazel snacks on cilantro that she picks herself. Violet strokes the baby cucumbers lovingly.

First Day of School: Hazel started kindergarten last week. Let me repeat that: Hazel started kindergarten last week. It simply blows my mind. She has made the smoothest transition possible, from going to preschool with friends she's know her whole life, to going to real school, alone. All day. And loving it! My heart is bursting with pride and love for my big, brave, smart, wonderful girl.

First Day of Daycare: Violet calls it "preschool." I call it "sanity saver." It starts tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

First Bunk Bed: It's from Ikea, it was a free hand-me-down, and the novelty of the slide has yet to wear off. Priceless.

First Friends: The girls really turned a corner this summer, and went from barely tolerating each other, to actually liking each other. They can, and sometimes do, play together for hours at a time. They still get impatient with each other, and they get on each other's nerves, but for they also share, joke, help and giggle a lot. They play mama-and-baby, doggy-and-person, doctor-and-patient (guess which is which?); they play hide and seek in the backyard; Hazel makes tiny bird eggs out of clay and Violet smashes them gleefully, one by one. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the two of them conspiring against me, or helping each other, or cuddling on the couch, picking each other's noses.

If I had to sum up the summer quickly, I'd say it was long, hot, and a lot of fun. Not necessarily in that order. Check out the updated pictures!