It's not easy staying green

The trees don't seem to shimmer any more. I was driving down Fisher Ave this spring, when I first noticed the cluster of trees near Island Park seemed electric. Every trees singing it's own symphony of green -- all the shades of the spectrum. Today, the trees are looking a bit muted in the sunshine. A few leaves have already begun to yellow. It's subtle but the leaves are a bit dull.

Then again, maybe I am waxing nostalgic because I know The Boy starts Grade 3 on Tuesday. Hardly seems possible -- my baby in Grade 3. He's grown like a weed this summer. Last week, we tried on his school uniforms and nothing fit. Nothing. As in, it doesn't do up at all. Not even if he sucked it in. This sent me into a bit of an organizational tizzy*. Skipping over size 10 right to 14 doesn't seem right. Should have knows when half way through our trip, I noticed much of the child's clothing was no longer fitting. And the food consumption... whoa. I think we need to start a food fund for when he hits puberty.

Kind of sad to be going back to the routine. The rushing to get to school for the 8:45 bell (oh hush I'm not a morning person.) We've been costing in the mornings. Talking about the day over rice krispies with fresh blue berries. Maybe I'll try to move that tradition up a bit. Working like mad monkeys. Homework. Back to the post school activities. Jui Jitsu. Swimming. Life gets regimented.

I don't really like summer in Ottawa, it's usually too hot and too humid. I much prefer summers on the coast. And well, I could easily summer in Gros Morne. This summer, well, this one seemed right. It all feel into place briliantly. The Boy's summer camps, no major drama at work, and the trip... for the first time Autumn is feeling like a bit of a let down. So I wait for the leaves to go from muted greens to fiery reds, yellows and oranges.

And I ponder another marathon.

_____
*Tizzy is code for mad panic, he wears uniforms what would we do! UNIFORMS!! Show up on the first day wearing ratty old shorts, and all the parents would think he has the worse parents in the world. Top Marks, the uniform supplier, were happy to rush me my order (at no extra charge) and completely amused at my state of panic. He now has shorts. I'm not sure if the pants will make it through this year. As an added bonus The Boy has a tie for the first day.

Comments

[Joe Girl]

Hey Nat!

Sounds crazy... glad you found something for The Boy to wear tomorrow. Routine can be good. Just work with it. Q does Jiu-Jitsu too - green belt. Loves it.

Loved your description of the fresh leaves this past Spring. One of my favourite drives is along the Ottawa River, heading to Dunrobin, just as the leaves are popping out. You see every branch on the tree, but then a chartreuse green haze, almost like a veil, ready to burst open any minute.

[Penelope]

Ponder a marathon? Are you nuts?? Do you know how far that is?!!
(I know you do, I just couldn't resist!)

[Selma]

Muted greens - lovely. As you are going into Autumn, we are going into Spring. My boy is growing out of everything too. The winter PJs I bought him at the start of the season are now half way up his arms and legs. He looks like an orphan.

[XUP]

The key is to stop feeding the kids. Not only does it save on grocery bills, it also saves on new clothes. As an added bonus they'll be too weak and exhausted for any extra-curricular activities. Win-win

[Richgold]

I heart Top Marks. They're very very fast when need be.

Re the jump. Holy crap! And he's only in Grade 3. My 12 year old is just getting out of sized 10s (mind you he's ridiculously thin). And, shorts are good. Doesn't matter how long the guys legs are.

Reminds me of a quick story of my brother-in-law, when he was young and grew a couple of inches over summer. He grew out of his perfectly functional jeans, so his mom sowed a new hem of PLAID. Maybe this is an option??! ;-)