Back to School First

Another first for the school record book: first day starting in September! With our move to NJ last fall we made it to a district with a post-Labor Day start for the first time. Since the girls were at a charter school that always started early in NYC, they had class the last week of August and our summer always seemed to be shortened by a good few days. Of course I was usually not complaining but it did seem a bit off. So today was our first time waking up after a quiet Labor Day recovering from the cousins' departure to a FULL day of school. No half measures here! And the girls were excited. Starting 3rd and 6th grades and you can see in those smiles they are ready!

Coney Island Farewell

How do you say goodbye to New York City and to summer in one perfect day? Head to Coney Island, Brooklyn, of course! Our farewell weekend with the cousins included a leisurely ramen lunch and Diego-in-charge hang out on Saturday (while we snuck away to karaoke) and then a ramped up Sunday at Luna Park in Coney Island. The cousins were guaranteed an amusement park visit and after briefly considering Six Flags, I thought this was the better option. Why not enjoy the beach views and the famous sights of one of New York's best summer attractions? The day was a solid success and according to Sara it was her favorite part of the trip. Our girls impressed me with their roller coaster prowess and I think they enjoyed racing to and fro with their unlimited wristbands. 

Los Primos En Nueva Jersey!

The cousins have arrived! And they are quickly assimilating to life in the Jersey burbs. I mean, what's not to like? We have a pup, a yard and all the malls and shops you can want. The first night we took them up to Fitzgerald's for a little pub fair. It was the first night and I was already realizing that cooking for 7 was going to be an interesting challenge for this household. Luckily, both Sara and Diego were up for the adventure and the next day we headed to the Garden State Plaza Mall and did a nice tour of the shops, stopping at Shake Shack for lunch. The rolled ice cream was another hit and it started to feel like this week was going to be a very tasty one...

Checking out the world that is Claire's

Sara and Elisa diving right into the lipstick at Sephora

Making our own Lego characters was a long, but fun process...love the results!

Rolled and covered in toppings galore

Sara's first time bowling was a smashing success

Dominoes for the win :)

Pool day!

The new playground at Watsessing was a nice distraction on a hot afternoon

Finally made it to Kreme & Crumbs, the new ice cream shop in Bloomfield

What Do You Meme? and mocktails for a fun night in

Diego in his happy place with Taylor Swift at Target!

All Groomed Up

Bailey might only be six months old, but sometimes I feel like she's been with us for years. Case in point, she has changed appearance so much since we picked her up in February that I often feel like she was a pup ages ago. Her scruffy hair has been getting more and more tangled and matted lately so I knew we were getting to the first of many grooming experiences. And I dreaded it. I didn't want her to end up looking weird and bald or like a dog I barely recognized. And honestly, I didn't want her to lose that cool tricolor puppy coat. But as the last few weeks wore on, she was getting lighter no matter what I did. That black-tipped fur was disappearing and I realized it was time for the shears. The matting had to go. Luckily, I found a good grooming place in Montclair and got her in just after her boarding stay. So here's to the new and improved Bailey. She's a lot blonder and a whole lot softer. It's kind of growing on me. 

Last day!

The last day of school shot for 2018-19. What a year it's been! When we started school in Queens in August, we really had no idea we would be moving in just a few short months. Years of looking turned into a reality so quickly--the abstract became fact. And by October we were buying a house in a town I could only have dreamt of--in New Jersey! To say the girls have handled it well would be an understatement. They have flourished! And that has made this transition look easy. Of course we all had our moments, but truly it was the biggest, best change I've made as a parent. My kids are happy and I'm happy for them. Seeing them settled into their new schools has been such a joy. School plays and concerts, new friends and activities. So much more independence. We have so much to look forward to for next year already. But for now, I'll just wish them a happy last day. They earned it. 

Linden Lions Roar

Today was Carolina's 2nd grade promotion at Linden Avenue School. It was the kind of sweet affair that makes parents a little teary-eyed and kids really ready to jump around and let off some of that excitement. Fortunately, there was time for both as they took to the stage to sing a few songs, then watch a slide show where each kid had their baby photo featured next to a current pic. Having just moved here this year, it was a nice way to catch up on the first 3 years of their little lives. All those faces blossomed into the kids I've met now. And Carolina has blended so seamlessly into the fabric that sometimes I think even she forgets she wasn't always here. Of course, we've had our share of nerves and tears too. Like the other night when we received her notification for next year's classroom. She was anxiously awaiting news of her friends' assignments. I dutifully texted all the moms I knew and waited. Nothing. None of her new friends were in her class. Oh the tears! I tried consoling her with logic and with the idea that there were new friends to be made. But that was not helping. She went to bed sobbing that she just wanted one kid from her current class to be in there with her next year. Then came word that one of her friends who is already on vacation is in fact in her class next year. Salvation! We woke to a much happier girl and Move Up Day 2019 went off without a hitch. 

So seeing her have a day today just to celebrate what she's achieved so far was really nice. Linden put on a good show and the party afterwards was way better than any elementary send off I've ever received. They had an Italian ice truck, DJ and photo booth. The parents and teachers mixed and kids ran around the Learning Garden feeling every bit of their almost 3rd grade selves. Carolina really hammed it up for the photos and I enjoyed watching her be so social and so at ease. Hopefully the future holds more of the same. My sweet girl deserves it and I know she will do well next year at the big school with Elisa. Onward!