Hannah is doing well so far in 1st grade, although I feel like the new school is like a prison or something...no stopping on by to chat with her teacher. The one morning I dropped her off, I wanted to go down to her classroom to say hello to her teacher, and I was not allowed. I do appreciate the security to keep the kids safe, but the school has definately lost the "small town" feel they had. How do people get to know these teachers? I met Hannah's once at the open house and basically introduced myself, that was it. So, I did make an appointment with her, which I am doing today, and I guess it's just to say hi.
So now we are training for The Dempsey Challenge 10k race (not relay!!) I have never done a 10K before, but this morning we did it on our practice run! I am so psyched, since I have not done it before and I felt pretty good! 
So, I will continue to get up a few mornings a week at 4:15 to run, at least until this 10K is over on October 2nd...then I might have to take a break for awhile! (Although I probably won't!)
The last weekend of August we had an end of summer luau...Shane and Larissa came to visit, we had a crazy time, eating, drinking, socializing, and doing a little late-night swimming...(we did NOT expect THAT to happen!) What fun!
Two days later, Hannah started 1st grade. It was somewhat anticlimatic...she still does not tell us much of anything that happens at school. I hate it! I wish I was a fly on the wall to see what goes on all day. I don't know her teacher at all, and hope to get to know her better as the year goes on. The great part of all this, though, is that Hannah is always excited to go to school, and she is confident and matter-of-fact about not knowing her teacher, or any kids in her class, etc. I do not worry about her during the day when she is at school.
Then, four days later, my baby girl turned 6!! We were going to have a pool party with a scavenger hunt, but Hurricane Earl threatened to wreck the swimming for the day, so we changed the venue to Chuck E. Cheese. It was a great idea! She had a blast, and it was well worth the money...they really make a little girl feel very special on her day, with songs, games, a chance in the ticket blaster, a crown, a medal, and lots of her friends there. It was really nice.
Hannah in the ticket blaster. She HAD a blast!!
Going to the ocean beach...going to Aunty Shari's cabin in Michigan...camping at Whit's End campground...playing on the swingset...barbeques on the back deck...swimming in the pool with friends...making smores around the campfire...fishing with Grandpa off the dock...eating fresh Maine blueberries...learning to jump off the side of the pool into the water...going to the lake beach and floating in the tubes all afternoon...lots of delicious, fruity snacks...relaxing the the air conditioning and falling asleep in front of the TV...Hannah reading a book everyday...having margaritas with the girls by the pool as the kids swim...sleepover with Julianna...running at 4:30 in the morning and sweating in the humidity even then...Chris taking a trip to New York City for the Iron Maiden concert...camping at Acres of Wildlife with the Ruginskis...tie dyeing T-shirts...Hannah having a great time at gymnastics camp for a week...the giant waves at Scarborough beach yesterday...swimming in the pool more than we have any summers in the past...Hannah learning to swim...Madelyn swimming with just the floaties in her suit...watching fireworks at the cabin...jet skiing for the first time (Madelyn)...Hannah braving the water in her face to ride on the tube...watermelon...getting dirty playing on the beach at the campsite...riding in the back of the truck around the campground...late-night dance party when camping...make your own sundaes...teeter-tottering...mine tour...chutes and ladders...flying in an airplane to Grandma and Granpas...Hannah and Chris and Drew falling off the jetski into the lake...Mom's triathalon at Point Sebago...Hannah bungee jumping...running away from pirates...sunburns:(...Reese's birthday party...watering Mom's plants by the pool...spraying each other with the hose...playing Marco Polo in the pool...And we still have three weeks to go until school starts!!! Whew!!
It is all good, though, because the summers go entirely too fast around here!!
I have not one, but TWO swimming girls now, as Madelyn has moved up to swimming with just the arm floats and her floaty suit...they both are jumping off the sides like crazy!
This is also the first summer of being able to take the girls to the beach and they play nicely for about 2 hours or more!! I dare say, it is ALMOST relaxing for me...I better not say that too loudly...
But I have to confess...I have been secretly thinking about school shopping, fall clothes, scrapbooking, and quilting...all fall/winter activities...shame on me!!
She started doggie paddling on her own before we left for Michigan, (see below), and it was amazing when we were on vacation how confident she was getting in the water. She actually fell off the jetski with Chris and Drew and didn't even get upset. She rode on the tube with lots of water spraying in her face and didn't mind.
Well, the week we got home, she just decided one day (with a little motivation of watching Alex) to put her face under the water with goggles on. The next thing I knew, she is swimming underwater, jumping off the side of the pool, and even doing forward and backward flips underwater!! She mastered all this in about 3 days! 
When I say finally, I mean I finally am finding the time to write a bit about this. It is now Friday, and I am finally getting caught up on rest, work around the house, etc. The trek was a great weekend! I had so much fun. The biking was hard, definately not a cruise in the park. I was very glad to know that I was prepared for it physically, granted, the end of each day was a challenge but I never felt like I had to quit.
These are the people that were on the team with me. The picture on the top left is me at the finish line in Belfast!! Great weekend, I have to sign up again next year.
Transition from swim to bike.
Exiting after the swim (I look better than I felt!)
Me and my girls, just before the start. (They decided they would swim, too!)
So, the cutest part was one day when Madelyn pointed to the second sign which was on Hannah's bedroom door and said sadly, "That say no Madelyns. I can't go in Hannah room, Momma." I felt so sad as parents do when one of their children is left out. SHE didn't seem to care, though, because immediately she went in anyways. Luckily, the person who posted these ominous signs was not at home to witness the trespass.
Rose, Dena, Dottie and I took the girls to get pedicures yesterday. It was a new experience for Hannah, and she was so cute when they were scrubbing her 
This is my favorite picture of the last week...taken Memorial Day weekend at one of our ice cream stops. Hannah picked a dandelion and put it behind Chris's ear, saying, "Now you are a BEAUTIFUL lady!" Yes, he definately is a beautiful lady. The funniest part of this was she then took the dandelion out, and replaced it with some gross looking weed, and was giggling away, because Chris still thought it was the dandelion.
I haven't posted for a few days, and I tried to find a few pics 
beach, visiting Grandma,
going out for ice cream (two many times!) and, as always, a little bit of napping which always happens with too much fun! And, Aunty Aimee, if you are reading this, then again, Happy Birthday!! (Just checking to see if you are reading or not!) 
Well, it sure feels like summer is here! This was
I usually make about one quilt a year, and this one I think has been about two years in the making. I know I picked out the fabric for this over two years ago!
Although some parts of making a quilt are very tedious (sewing on the binding!!) I had alot of fun making this one, and I did something new, which was the applique! The girls really seem to like them alot.
I have made 3 for Hannah, and she is already asking me for another one! The other night while putting her to bed, Milo came in and started scratching on her quilt, and she yelled at him to stop, saying, "I don't want him to scratch up my quilt!" I was so happy that she understood how much work went into it, and to take care of it.
I am so glad I did! It was a beautiful mile and a quarter walk, and the girls had a great time. Hannah and Katey were especially excited, you would have thought we took them to Disneyland!
What a great way to spend a Saturday morning. It is a wonderful thing when your kids are young enough to appreciate a simple, free, adventure!
Tresa
Hi! I am a 38-year old wife of 7 years to Chris and mom to two little girls, Hannah, age 5 and Madelyn, age 3. Despite my vow to never live in a small town like I did growing up, we live in Buxton, Maine, a small rural community outside of Portland, Maine. I work as a full-time CRNA (that's Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, for those that don't know) at Mercy Hospital in Portland. I made an excellent choice in my career decision, I love my job! I spend the majority of my time parenting, but lately I have become addicted to doing 5Ks and triathalons, so I spend alot of time running, biking, swimming, doing yoga, and strength training. I love doing just about any type of crafty thing: scrapbooking, quilting, knitting, and now blogging! I also enjoy reading, shopping, hanging out with friends and my family. Right now life is pretty good!
