Addie is a big fan of parties. Dance parties, ‘bert-day’ parties, etc. She’s getting used to the idea that not all of them are for her, and that’s pretty ok as long as she gets invited.

Today we went to Aunt Jeanne and Buddy’s house for Mama’s birthday. The whole in-town family was there, including her cousin Baby Lyndon (not sure when she’ll drop the ‘baby,’ or who she is differentiating him from, but for now that’s his name). Addie designated herself chief caretaker for the evening except when the trains went by. Then she had to relieve duty to Lyndon’s grandma so she could go watch out the window.

“Autumn” is officially here in Austin. It was a breezy low 90s with overnight lows dipping below 70. For us Texans, that’s downright chilly. Mama brought a jacket to dinner. We debated whether Addie needed a blanket in her stroller. That kind of chilly.

Anyway, we took a mid-afternoon trip to the park to celebrate the break in weather. A few of Addie’s “friends” were already playing there. She jumped in to playing with trucks and racing up the stairs and down the slides. We tried flying a kite, but it turns out Dad’s 25 yr old kites are just a little brittle. Nothing a little duct tape can’t fix (or maybe a new kite, says Mama).

After the park, we all went on a “dinner date” to Mandola’s. Addie scarfed down pasta (“No cut, mama!” “No cheese, daddy!”). She picked out cookies and gelato from the dessert display case for us to share. As she says: “Deeee-licious!”

Addie headed off to her first day of school today. New shirt pulled on (they are birdies, not chicken drumsticks…), new (Scotchguarded) backpack in tow, she was all set heading into the building and her classroom. She had recited what she’d say many times in the early morning hours the days before as we listened on the monitor: “Addie school. Bye bye mama. Goodbye daddy. See you laaaater! Addie friends. See Jennifer.”

This morning she told us “Addie too shy” when we asked if she was ready to see her new friends, but she headed in anyway. Goodbye to dad went as rehearsed, but when mom said bye, the reality of the situation hit. Miss Jennifer scooped her up and we headed out before more tears started flowing. It’s possible mama had a few tears too.

Fortunately, she made it through the morning and on her lunch date with mom, recapped her adventure, “Addie had a tear. I wash hands.” She told us she played with trains and bottles, but she’s not planning on going back. “No school Addie.” Hopefully the lure of her backpack (which she brought into Costco and held in her lap), new dolls and a kitchen to play with will help convince her otherwise on Thursday morning.