full day school

today when i picked ella up at school she ran towards me with dust and dirt billowing off of her clothing and she threw herself in my arms and looked up at me and said "today was the best day of full-day school ever!"

this was her second day.

we've stepped into a new phase of life.  today was my first day working an 8 hour day since before elenora was born.  it's amazing to not have to think about who is watching her and when i need to rush home so that j. or mom b. can get to work.  it's really freeing, and i'm so excited for all of the things ella gets to do this year.  for instance, next week she gets to do farm chores with the animals.  and today she went ponding.

last week when i dropped her at school for her first day i was a little bit worried about how she would do.  her best friend at school is only there in the afternoons, so i had really been emphasizing to her all of the other children who would be there.  but as soon as we arrived she said "oh, there's my friend!" and ran off to play in the sandbox.  she hardly even looked up when i left. 

and i had taken the day off of work, so i suddenly found myself with 7 hours of whatever i wanted to do! 

can i say that again???  whatever i wanted to do.

i went to the gym and then wandered across the street to chrisotpher's table to order ella's birthday cupcakes (blue frosting with rainbows) and to get a coffee.  then i meandered through the town sipping my coffee and glancing in various stores for party ideas.  then i went grocery shopping.  then i went home and cleaned and did the dishes and vacuumed, and when all that was done i sat and read a book.

it was the ideal day. it made me think "oh this is what it feels like to have no responsibilities!"

(kind of made me excited about kindergarten next year.)

(and, yes, that is this mother's ideal day.)

so this week is the first week where ella is at school full day and i'm at work full day.  last night i found myself packing a lunch and 2 snacks for elenora and also a breakfast and lunch for myself, so i packed a lunch for j. just for good measure.  i have to be so organized.

this saturday is elenora's birthday party, and i really hope it doesn't rain because we have the coolest party planned.  we're meeting all our friends and local family and taking a short hike around Appleton Farm with a treasure map and then ending up at the picnic area where we'll have the cupcakes and rainbow trail mix and rainbow fruit salad.  i got miniature my-little-ponies for all of the kids to find at the end of the treasure hunt and temporary hair color so that elenora can finally have blue and pink hair.  i also got a rainbow of nail polishes, so i think the kids will have a super time.

please don't let it rain!