Tickle-Teeth Update

I haven't updated the tooth-brushing status since last January. A lot has happened since then and most of it is due to Marni.

The combination of Marni growing some teeth, and wanting to do everything that Stella does had led to teamwork and healthy competition in the tickle-teeth department.

Now, whenever we announce that it is time to brush teeth, Marni screeches with joy and rockets down the hallway into the bathroom. Not wanting to be left behind, Stella chases after her and gets on her pink stool. And the dual teeth-brushing event is off to the races! I think Marni would gladly brush her teeth 15 times a day if we let her. And Stella is finally done with her tooth brushing battles.

Visiting Tyler and Delia

It was time for a road trip to New Jersey for an afternoon of fun in the sun with cousins Tyler and Delia. Nana Audrey and Papa Harold were babysitting along with Grandma-In-Law Carol.

It was boiling hot outside, so the kids stripped down and "painted" the deck with water. Next, time to play on Tyler's new mega swing set. The slide was broiling from the sun, so we cooled it down with water. This led to wet and muddy bottoms. This, in turn, led to a fun-filled play time in Brian and Jills mega-shower.

It didn't take long for both girls to pass out on the ride home.

Sisters

Overheard #8 (Stella)

Over the weekend we pulled into a gas station to fill up the car. Stella asked why. Lisa explained that the car needed food just like people so it would have energy to move. She went on to explain that instead of food like people eat, cars "ate" gas.

Stella then asked: "The kind of gas that comes out of our tushies?"

We wish that was the case because the Shepard family could then solve the energy crisis!

Stella Starts Public School

Today was a milestone for our big girl, Stella. This morning the four of us walked over to P.S. 39 to start Stella in Pre-K.

We met Ms. Cassens, Stella's teacher, and got a look at her new classroom. Stella was very excited and in good spirits. She told Ms. Cassens her name when asked and even told everyone what her sister's name was.

After the one hour orientation, Stella went over to have a little chat with Ms. Cassens and thank her for sending her the book Owl Babies.

Tomorrow Stella goes back to school on her own (for an hour). Hopefully no drama. It's hard to believe that we have a girl in public school. How did this happen!!!

Bye Bye Summer

And so the three New York Shepards sadly packed up the cottage; said goodbye to Beverly, Dana, and Steve; and motored back to Natick to join up with Stella.

Lisa and I kept looking at each other in disbelief as we prepared to head home. How did the summer go so fast? Even Marni seemed a little confused by it all. I have to say that the summer in Old Orchard is the highlight of my year. It's what I look forward to most in the year. And to have it slip away so fast is devastating.

Although the idea of staying at the beach for a whole month seems heavenly to some, it is really quite an undertaking for Lisa. She has the kids 24/7, and is running a virtual bed and breakfast most of the month. She did a fantastic job as the head of the household, but next year we may have to make some changes in order to reduce her stress.

Just before we headed home from Maine, we added a set of super-cool bike roof racks to the mini van. This will make it a lot easier and a lot less stressful to carry our bikes all over the place.

After a 24 hour visit with Nana and Papa Shepard, we found a few square feet of extra space in the Odyssey to shove in Stella, and headed back to Brooklyn. Stella slept part of the way. Marni didn't sleep at all and never shut up for one second!

Brooklyn was just as we left it. The girls were happy to be home and were thrilled to be reunited with the toys they left behind. Soon the apartment was in shambles.

That night Marni work up crying at about 12:30. That's a bit unusual, but I guess she wasn't quite use to her bedroom yet. After I got Marni back to sleep, Stella came up to sleep with us. This marks the one year anniversary of the beddy-buddy truce (when I decided not to fight with Stella if she wants to come up and sleep with us).

Today we took a walk with Stella (and Marni) to see her new school. Then we biked to Prospect Park and had a picnic. The girls are now asleep and tomorrow is Stella's first day of public school! Marni starts back at Raindrops on Wednesday.

I've been asked by a lot of people if the constant commuting between New York City and Maine in August is disorienting. Not really. The most disorienting event is the end of the summer when we all come back from Maine into the city. I feel completely lost. It will probably take a week or two to get back into the regular flow of life. But for right now... things are just strange.

Fun with Nana and Papa

Nana and Papa Shepard came up to OOB last Wednesday and brought Stella back with them to Natick for a few days of fun.

The main event was a trip to Boston with a very ducky theme. The threesome took the T into town and headed for the Boston Public Garden to ride a swan boat and see the statue of the ducks from the "Make Way for Ducklings" book that Stella loves so much.

Next stop was a ride on the Boston Duck Tour, where they all took a sightseeing adventure on land and sea.

The next day Stella got a haircut and played a lot around the house in Natick.

On Saturday we were greeted by a crazy-happy Stella who met us at the top of Nana and Papa's driveway as we arrived from OOB.