I love Kanye's Isle of Sadness on that map.

Hec, how wonderful! May the transition continue to be seamless.

Hec, how wonderful! May the transition continue to be seamless.

You'd really love her school, smonster. After lunch everybody scrapes off their plate into the recycling bucket. Gardens all through the interior courtyard and around the perimeter of the school. Her class had a fishtank and a terrarium with stick bugs. Teacher Helen was hoping to get a guinea pig this year.

I was worried that the school facility wouldn't be as nice as her private preschool, but that wasn't the case. Parents in the area have ponied up a lot of money to upgrade the playground, and library. The room itself was really nice, with a central mat area to meet and talk with the teacher (and sing songs. Much Laurie Berkner.). But also a separate area to read books in nice chairs (one of which was surrounded by a curtain so you could have some private reading time). Painting area. Kitchen area with fake food. Tons of toys. Excellent outdoor play area with water table and sand box, play structure and many tricycles as well.

I know the dominant gripe for years in the country is the failure of public schools, but this is a really nice school and a very lively happy place.

Well staffed: Two extra teacher helpers, plus another teacher to sub in when Teacher Helen has a break, or goes to a meeting. Plus somebody from the kitchen to bring in the food, set up, and then clean up.

Also there are a lot more girls which is good for Matilda.

Finally, an electric Snuggie appears

That's exactly what the Coz-E is. It's a wearable blanket just like the Snuggie and the Slanket, but this one heats up for those extra cold days. It has an included remote control to let you crank up the heat if you so desire, and it's just as fashionable as the original. For only $68, how can you say no?

Very easily.

it's definitely aided by moving so much in the Air Force so I can date stamp them by the places we lived.

Same here. In fact, my earliest memory is moving from Alabama (where I was born) to Iowa at almost 3. I remember watching our house out of the back of the car and being sad to leave.

And, yay for a good first day, Matilda!

I have become that mother that sneaks vegetables into food, but for myself. Before I discovered zucchini bread, I was frantically grating zukes and throwing them into existing dishes in my freezer. I'm now eating chili with added zuke, and you totally can't taste it! Yum.

Timelies all!

The earliest memory I have that wasn't what someone told me happened was when I was 5 and had my tonsils and adenoids out. Not the actual surgery, but being silly with my roommate at the hospital.

I love these sexist (mostly) ads. Now with bonus bacon.

Turns out I did get the meeting invite while I was out to lunch, so I was 20 minutes late.

That's good to hear about Matilda's first day!

I love zuchini bread so much. I need to make some.

D's ex was here for about 2 hours, and it was fine. we'll see them tomorrow night for dinner, and then for a thing at the Nelson that they came here for. She's fine with me, but I guess I'm just protective of D. Ah, well. It's just a couple of days, and there will be wine at dinner and at the Nelson thing, so there's that.

M has grown a ton in a month and a half!