Rowan is 5 years old...

Rowan is officially not a baby any more. Sigh. Over the last few weeks I have been reflecting a lot about the last 5 years. And it all seems a blur. I always tell people that when they ask me how we have gotten through all this, but really I think its just sleep deprivation, killing brain cells that is preventing me from remembering some of the really difficult times.

I remember a theory that was popular when I was in physiological psycology in college about how when women are giving birth, we release a lot of endorphins, you know those crazy hormones in our brains that make us feel good after working out. Anyway, the theory was that during childbirth we release this happy hormone, which also interferes with our ability to remember things. It can prevent you from making a long term memory. The idea was that if we remembered all these painfull/difficult times, we would never dare repeat them (on purpose). And then the population would decrease dramatically. I think there is something to this theory...

Anyway, the reality is that Rowan has given us so much, that we can easily forget the YEARS of sleepless nights, and serious illinesses. It's just a blurr now. Time/poor memory heals everything.

We have been working hard to get ready for the birthday party on Saturday. Yesterday at school, we had a small party with her class. And then we went out for dinner. But home early for bedtime, because it's a school night. We find ourselves paying more and more attention to things like school nights, and bedtimes than ever before. Parenthood comes in wierd doses to us.

The weather has finally given us a break here. The grass is really brown, and all the communities around us have water usage restrictions. We did finally get some rain this morning, but it was the first in over 2 weeks. The weather has been 95+ for nearly as long.

I've taken some time off of work this week, and have been doing lots of odd jobs around the house. Bryan is going to take off on Friday. He really needs some time off. His job has been very stressful for the last 2 weeks, and he has put in extra hours to keep up. We both will go back after the 4th.

I'll write more after Rowan's birthday party. So look for pictures and the play-by-play. I know your all dying to hear about the 5 year old party (AKA social event of the season).

'Til then,
Colleen

The sounds from Rowan's room...

I wish you could hear the singing that is coming from Rowan's room right now. Bedtime. Its that blasted time of the evening again. By the time bedtime comes around, Rowan is so wound up, she does everything in her power to fend off sleep. And right now she is singing her heart out. Bryan and I are down stairs in the family room, working on our computers, and listening to her over the monitor. Sing, Sing, sing...

Rowan's (first) summer break is nearly over (yes Greg). On Monday she will go back to school for a shortened school day until the middle of July, then she will have a 2nd summer break (and we'll take a family vacation). She and Nanny have a had a nice time together and on special days, she gets to spend some time with Nanny's grandson Connor. Connor has just learned to crawl (and Rowan's house is not very baby proofed).

Since last weekend Rowan has been suffering with a head cold that we keep passing around. On Saturday, we went to a birthday party for Emma, who is 2, at local playground. On Sunday, Rowan seemed out of sorts, but I blamed it on the excessiveley hot weather we had. But by Monday, it was clear she had a cold. Monday and Tuesday weren't too bad. But by Wednesday she wasn't too good. She can get dehydrated so quickly. Fortunately today, she started eating and drinking again, and hence...the singing. She's back to her old self.

Bryan has been busy with work this week. I'm not totally clear about what is going on (not that I would understand it, but I try), and he's been working a little later in the evenings. We have also been cleaning out our desks and reorganizing our home office. Its been a pretty daunting task. It doesn't take long for a desk drawer to get completely out of control, and fill with useless stuff. Bryan has also downsized from a large desk to a medium sized desk. That was hard.

I have been busy taking care of Rowan this week and doing odd errands that I have a little more time to do, now that she's home from school. It's almost like a mini vacation - except I go to work.

Mark your calendars for July 2nd, 4-8 pm, for a backyard bar-be-que to celebrate Rowan's 5th Birthday. Invitations will be coming to a mailbox near you soon.

Until next time, all our love,
Colleen, Bryan & Rowan

Since my last post, we have kept pretty busy with work and home life. Rowan finished the school year on Thursday, and today was her first day home for her two week summer break. On June 20th, she starts summer school, or extended school year (ESY) as they call it in education-ese; it's only a four week session, followed by another 2 week break, and then back to school the first week in August. Viola. Summer is over just like that. It sure wasn't that short when I was a kid.

During the break between summer school and the start of the next school year, we are going to try to squeeze in a vacation in Traverse City, MI. We stayed there last summer, and had a mahhhhhhhhrvulouuuuus time doing nothing. We are once again, being graciously hosted by our friends Tom & Kumi Bosch at their parents cottage on Lake Leelanau. We are really looking forward to it again this year.

Yesterday (Thursday), Rowan and I went on a field trip to our local zoo, Niabi Zoo. Its really a nice zoo and has many improvements in just one year. The pictures on our website are of this trip. The highlight, as usual, is feeding the ducks & koi. When we petted the goats, we didn't feed them (they are part of the petting zoo exhibit) because they are so fat; I just couldn't feed them anymore.

On Memorial Day, we drove up to the Mississippi Pallasaides State Park near Savannah, IL. We packed a picnic lunch and found many handicapped-accessible trails. It was a really lovely day here, and it was nice to get away. If we would have stayed home, I would have just worked in the garden some more.

My garden is finally shaping up, but it is so dry here, that I am watering nearly everyday. Let's home for rain next week.

Bryan is doing well. Nothing much to report from him. Work keeps him out of trouble. I try to come up with more about him in my next post.

Until then, all our love,
Colleen