Walking Backwards

The summer slide, it seems, has begun. We woke up this morning at 8:45, almost two hours later than our normal, pre-summer wake up time. I need to start working on getting us up earlier. Why, you ask, would I do something that would prevent me from sleeping in and getting the rest that I so urgently need and deserve? Because we are missing out on all of our normal activities! Nicholas' old preschool was having a playdate this morning that we were supposed to go to, but we would have missed if it hadn't been cancelled due to the rain. We also need to be at Boggy Creek Farm by 9 am, at the latest 9:30, to get all of the good organic, locally-grown veggies that my spoiled family needs. Story-times at the library start at 10am around here, but you best be milling around the library ahead of time if your looking for a spot to get in. But not only are we missing out on all of the cool kid's stuff to do around here, by the time we wake up it has reached the ungodly level of hotness you would expect of a Texas summer. I need to cut out the late nights and sleeping medicine and become reacquainted with my alarm clock. It might also make Nicholas take a nap in the afternoon, something I sorely need.

In the past week I have had some great conversations. Yesterday I was talking with friends about the underlying messages that we've found in children's books and television shows. Take a close look at Curious George, Babar, and the Smurfs; you can read a lot into it. We also have been discussing views on contemporary literature and what we think are hallmarks of a good novel. It's almost as good as being in school. I'll have to talk more about it later, right now I have a small gremlin breathing down my back looking for a spoon for his yogurt.