The Secret Garden

Packing my apartment makes me want to throw away all the things. Yep, I’m moving! No fear, we still love living downtown, so we aren’t moving very far. In fact, I’m staying in the same building. We’re packing up all our belongings and moving down a few floors. The layout is a little different and I’m kind of excited/nervous about it. And while I haven’t thrown away all the things, I have purged quite a bit. I guess moving is good for that. Fingers crossed that things go smoothly this week.

I had a lot of fear at the start of this school year, mainly about Littlest. He is a very active little boy and we didn’t send him to preschool last year. Kindergarten was going to be his first school experience. I just knew that there would be a phone call the first day of school about him not following directions. Or that I would have to pry him off my legs with us both crying. While there were definitely nerves the first week or two, he is absolutely thriving. In fact, proud Mommy moment, he has received two super star ribbons at school for good behavior ‘above and beyond classroom expectations’. He was so proud of himself for earning this special ribbon for good behavior (and there has been lots of positive reinforcement happening at home).

My musical theater performing sister, last seen in The Music Man, is now starring in The Secret Garden. If you’re in the Dallas/Fort Worth area you can catch her at The Artisan Center Theater in Hurst. I went last week with my husband and a good friend. I grew up watching The Secret Garden movie, and I’ve read the book, so I was very familiar with the plot line. But going to the theater I was certain that I wasn’t familiar with the music. I was wrong. Just a few numbers in and I found myself singing along. And then recalled that my Mom, the broadway music lover, has the CD and I’ve heard it many times. Funny how things like that stick in my brain. (Thanks, Mom!)

More proud Mommy moments with Littlest. He surprised me by being able to tell me all the planets in order from the sun. And he learned them by watching YouTube videos! Also, he says really cute things when he wakes up. I asked him what flavor of toaster pastry he wanted for breakfast the other day and his answer was, “I have to think. With my mind.” His school starts first so in the morning it’s just the two of us for quite awhile before Youngest Twin has to get up.

Next week is our first Book Club meeting! If you haven’t started the book yet there is still time. This month we’re reading House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. RSVP to cocoandcocoa@gmail.com for the Google Hangout. I hope you can join us!