Last week, Max’s school celebrated their Festival of Courage.  It’s a Waldorf school, so they are big on seasons, rhythms, feasts, celebrations, etc.  This one celebrates Michaelmas and they commemorate St. George’s battle against the dragon.  The eighth graders put on a courage course for the kindergartners, and everyone was invited to think about the dragons in their own lives and how they might meet those fears with courage.  Max was very brave and swung on ropes, walked over mud pits, and jumped over jump ropes… I mean snakes.  The older grades performed a pageant, complete with dragons, knights, farmers, and gnomes.  It was a little bizarre and very sweet.  Max and his classmates thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Early August.  Hazel started preschool at a Mothers Morning Out two days a week.  She LOVES it.  She asks to go every day, but she knows Tuesday and Thursday are school days.  She loves playing with the babies and the strollers, singing songs, painting, and the playground.  All her friends say, “hi, Hazel!!!” when she arrives.  When it’s time to go, she gets a sticker, tackles me with a hug, and runs back to tell Miss Emily and Miss Marissa thank you for her sticker and “Bye!  See you later!!”  She waves and yells goodbye to all her friends all the way to the car.  As the only extrovert in the family, I think this place fills a special need for her social, people-loving little heart.

Mid-August.  Floating in Carmel River.  This is about half a mile from our house at Carmel River State Beach.  One side the beach is the Pacific, and the other side is this river.  We often stop here in the middle of our run and choose “ocean side” or “river side” to play.  The ocean side is more dramatic and has the cool sticks to build with, but the river is safe enough to play in (the ocean side has rip currents).  Max usually chooses ocean side and Hazel chooses the river side, so we take turns. Hazel now thinks rivers are called “riverside”.  As in, “Hazel go riverside swim?” I wouldn’t call either side much of a compromise.  It’s 360 degree beauty around here.