Our baby is in Kindergarten

I guess I'm a couple of weeks behind in posting this, but Sydney started Kindergarten! She's been so excited for school to start that I don't think she cares it means that summer is over. (Or maybe she can't tell the difference, given the summer we've had here in Seattle-- rrrrggggh.)

From the naptime phase-out (yes, she was still napping 3 months ago), to biking up to the school just to play on the playground, to back-to-school shopping-- every step has been exciting for Sydney. There are at least 15 kids in the neighborhood who attend her Elementary school, including 3 other little girls in Kindergarten. One of them, Madeleine, is in her class. Our families have started to become friends, which is really great for the girls and for us. They even have a 2 1/2 year-old little boy! Sydney and Madeleine were adorable on the first morning of school, each wearing dresses and toting empty backpacks.

When the bus arrived, they practically ran on; the driver had to ask them to stop and wave to Mom.

Sam and Liam (Madeleine's little brother) were disappointed that they didn't get to climb onto the bus behind them, but they've got the routine down now. Sam opts for the stroller ride to the bustop each morning, not caring that I affectionately call him "The Little Prince" or that the 2 year-old little girl down the street has told us that strollers are for babies. The bustop is a hefty uphill walk, and why should he expend the energy if he doesn't have to? Of course, we don't live in our grandparents' generation, where the bustop is uphill in the snow both ways, so he runs back ("I the leader!") and I am stuck with an empty stroller.

But back to Sydney... some days she comes home a ball of energy, and other days she is so exhausted she melts down and cries half of the way home from the bus stop. Despite the fact that she has been in school or daycare for her entire life, grade school is undeniably exhausting. She loves her teacher, Ms. Beaver, and is horrified by the thought of ever disappointing her. I certainly hope that continues!

In the two weeks since school began, she is already starting to read more, trying out lots of words all the time. Madeleine just turned 6, and can read short chapter books, so Sydney wants to learn to read today. Ms. Beaver has a wonderful outlook about children's differences and really helps them all to see their particular strengths so that they don't focus or worry about what others can do, but let's face it: Sydney is a type A, firstborn girl. She wants to be able to do it, too.

With the increased flexibility in my schedule, I am going to try to volunteer in her class once a week. They need readers, and I love reading to children, so it's perfect. I think her teacher wants us (volunteer parents) to start the 2nd or 3rd week of October. Stay tuned... I will be very interested to see class in action!

Musical (Mis)adventures

As we're living in Seattle now, we have decided to explore the local music scene (OK, this is mostly just me, with the sometimes enthusiastic, sometimes reluctant support of Michael). The internet makes sampling music tremendously easy now; instead of just reading a review, I can download music and listen before deciding what to buy or get tickets for. And I have definitely found some great stuff! Early in the summer I stumbled across a local Seattle band called "Slender Means." We love their music, and listen to it often enough that Sydney can sing along. Check it out:
www.myspace.com/slendermeans
I have no idea why these guys haven't made it big, but I hope they don't before I get a chance to see them on a small stage for $6 at least once. In June, they did not have any information posted as to their upcoming concerts, so I posted a question on their website. I got an email back the next day from the lead singer-- how fun is that?

Along the way, I've also "discovered" a couple of not-so-unknown names that we really like. Brandi Carlile (www.brandicarlile.com) is one of those; I was in for quite a shock when I found out that she was coming to town and tried to get tickets. She is playing at the Paramount Theater, a biggish theater downtown. When I tried to buy tickets, a week after they had gone on sale, I could only get seats in the last row of the 3rd balcony! OK, I guess I can't say I discovered her. But we still really like her music, so on a total whim I bought tickets to her concert in Bellingham, WA, which is about an hour-and-a-half drive north of Redmond. By calling the theater directly, I was able to get seats in the 9th row of the main floor, and they were cheaper than the Seattle tickets. Definitely worth the extra drive. (At least I think so now.)

The problem with my new live music infatuation? I'm not sure we're cool enough for this anymore! Most local bands get playtime on weeknights at downtown clubs, which means that we have to get a weeknight babysitter and stay out 'till past midnight (*gasp*) on a school night! Even Brandi Carlile is playing on a weeknight, since we are going to see her at an off-prime venue. So between now and October 30th, I'm going to have to get in good enough with one of our neighbors to ask them to take care of the kids until past midnight on a Tuesday. (I don't think I can reasonably expect a 16 year-old to get permission to do it.)

One of my recent finds was a UK-based band currently touring the west coast, named Back Door Slam. They have a kind of updated classic rock sound. Does that even make sense? I'm not sure. We were supposed to see them a few weeks ago, but Mike caught Sydney's new school cold and instead we stayed home and went to bed early. We are so not 22 anymore.

All in all, I probably calendar 3 shows for every 1 that we will make. But I've decided that's not bad for a 35 year-old with little kids, right?