Happy 6th Birthday, Reed!

Happy 6th birthday to Reed!  Reed came home from school yesterday, delighted to be wearing the coveted kindergarten birthday crown.  He celebrated with his classmates by sharing a dinosaur birthday book and passing out dinosaur-themed goody bags to his friends (no snacks at school celebrations to protect those with allergies). Reed was just bubbling with excitement to share how he got to sit in the birthday chair at school and how Mrs. Plunkett led the class in singing to him.  Later in the afternoon, our family headed to Beak & Skiff to pick apples, play on the playground, and get some treats.  We then came home to eat pizza and sing to Reed over 6 candles on a cider-donut.  Happy birthday to our favorite boy in the whole wide world; out of all the little boys in the whole wide world, we'd pick Reedy every single time. 

It's About The Journey...

...not the destination.  Reed and Willa's parents celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary last Sunday (17 years together) with a walk with the family.  Stella swam in circles at Labrador Pond, while we simply walked out to the pier and back.  Dispute the fact that we did not go far on our adventure, we have come so far and built so much in our time together.  A marriage, a family, a farm, friendships, and our own little community.  And we are so lucky.  Plus Reed got to try his hand at his mommy's good camera and he seems to have quite an eye.  The last three photos were taken by Reed and, quite possibly, the two of us are the among the best of us ever.  

Party in the Park

Reed celebrated his 6th birthday last weekend with his friends at Marcellus Park.  Many buddies, including a lot of Treehouse kids from Reed's old class at Jowonio, came out to celebrate on a very sunny Saturday afternoon.  A surprise appearance by Reed's beloved Treehouse at Jowonio teacher, Katie, made the day even more special.  The kids snacked on "make-your-own-trail-mix", watermelon, and cupcakes, of course.  There was a piñata, a scavenger hunt, and the playground, too.  It was a perfect afternoon to celebrate our very favorite boy with his very favorite friends.

 

Bunny Room, Here She Comes

And this week, Willa began in the Bunny Room at Jowonio.  It's a short, toddler program but Willa could not be more pleased to get to finally be a student at Jowonio, or "Joni" as she has always called it. Such a big girl but always our baby. 

Off to Kindergarten

Early that first morning, we all waited together for the bus at the end of the driveway. Reed, in his big backpack filled with his lunch box and wearing new sneakers, Willa, excited to see a school bus come there for HER BROTHER, their mom and dad swallowing lumps, biting their lips, trying hard not to cry.  The bus pulled up and with a few hugs and in a blink, Reed happily was off for his first day of school.  All smiles and no tears, for Reed at least. We are so very proud of him!

Beachy-Keen

Reed and Willa and their parents snuck in a late summer afternoon at Green Lakes on Labor Day weekend.  The sand, surf and slides were all big draws for both kids and Reed was very proud to jump into the "deep end" of the lake, where it is 15 feet deep, and swim to the ladder independently.  He loved it so much he waited in line twice to take the plunge.  In fact, he was the youngest person in line by at least a few years.  This boy has certainly grown his fins and flippers this summer!