2000 – The Times They Are A Changin’

January 28, 2000  “We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” Joseph Campbell

Thursday, January 6^th  - Blue’s Clues at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium with Jeff &Josh Hofmann

Jan 9, 2000 Tea & Toast in bed mid morning – or as Pooh would say: “A little smackeral of something" while we listened to "Really Rosie & the Nutshell Gang" on tape and read the little books by Maurice Sendak that inspired it: Nutshell Library: Alligators all around / Chicken Soup With Rice / One was Johnny / Pierre

On January 11^th I received terrible news in an e-mail from Deb Goul. Her son Michael had died on December 26^th from injuries sustained in an accident that had occurred a few days before. My reaction was strong and visceral and could not be hidden. Not yet 4, the child God blessed our lives with, comforted me. Even though they could not fully comprehend, they understood enough and brought me something to wipe my tears. A beautiful lavender colored cloth napkin from her table where we had been having a tea party. I remember stopping to take a break, check my e-mail and connect with the “real world.” It took me awhile to find any words at all that I could possible write back. I promised I would BE more present and have more tea parties.

Jan 12th You woke singing “Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me!!” J

Jan 18th We made snow cream for breakfast just like Grandmother Bear and Little Bear. Yum!! First snowstorm Jan 18-19 when we had just enough to build a snowman and then we had to defend them! And have cocoa, toast & jam, apple wedges and watched "Little Bear" with friends Stephanie Lamm and Tanner Kelley.

Grammy arrived to stay with you while Daddy and I went on a cruise to celebrate his 50^th Birthday.

Record snow fall in NC – 22”!!!!

Tuesday, Feb 14, 2000 – Valentine's Day. We made Valentine's for each other and then took a long walk around our neighborhood. When we got back home we walked barefoot in the yard and got “mud between our piggy toes”. The next day, we took a long drive and then a long walk... this time on the beach! Wrightsville Beach is more than 2 hours away, but well worth the drive to be able to put our bare toes in the squishy sand on the inlet side, where the water was much warmer than the ocean side.

A few days later, Aunt Chris and Uncle Johnny called to ask if they could spend the night one their way to Florida. Of course we said yes, and they end up inviting us to join them on a grand and wonderful adventure with their family (Michelle, Ryan, and Amanda) your cousins. Aunt Chris was pregnant with Nick at the time. On Feb 21^st, we all piled in their van and headed to Florida!

"It'll make a great story, and life is all about stories." :)

Friday, Feb 25, 2000 Unfortunately, you were sick nearly the entire time :( but we made the best of it and had fun at Disney with Unlce John, Aunt Christine, Michelle, Ryan and Amanda, who is just 2 months younger. 

Your 4th Birthday was the first of many that included Ginger :)

Sunday, March 26, 2000 journal entry - A great night's sleep and a wonderful wake up, answering all my pain and worries with this simple but powerful sentence:

"I love you, Mom, you are perfect" - Thank you God for this fabulous gift. Amen.

Wednesday, March 29, 2000 “Let’s go hiking” you said, so we went to Hemlock Bluffs J

April 11^th – Jordan Lake with Jackie Kelly, Tanner and Madison. Quote of the day:

"It's beautiful, Mommy. Thanks for bringing me here!"

Different day, same tshirt :) May 5, 2000

 Wed May 17^th First Science Safari class ever! Sharks & Rays 1-2 pm and apparently chocolate pudding afterward :) apparently you lived in this t-shirt that summer :) 

Saturday, May 27^th 2000 very 1^st butterfly catch is a cabbage butterfly J

May 30, 2000 – Inspired by Magic School Bus episodes (“Cracks a Yolk” and “Ready, Set, Dough”) “I know, let’s make ginger crinkle cookies!” This was at 9 am, and by 10 were were at Nature Nymphs class at Hemlock Bluff Nature Center.  

As we were arriving a few minutes late, I was asked what the topic was and when I said "owls, the reply was: "I know about owls.” :)
June 5, 2000

June 27 - New umbrella hat, and rain to go with it!












Trip to Connecticut for my 39th Birthday included a "sleepover" at your cousins' home which was in Simsbury at the time. Story time all together before bed and our yoga video was a hit in the morning.

July 14, 2000 Watch Hill Flying Horses Carousel

Scanning in 8x10 for safe keeping 4/12/24

 There were some great photos in your scrapbook, but I pulled them all apart in 2023 and put them in 5x7 clasp envelope to save space for whatever we are going to do with everything when we move to Ireland. (this note added 4/12/2023). 

I came across this photo and journal entry that I do want to include here:

July 16, 2000 Outside at Grammy and Grandpa's house

Finding comfort and peace while I was spinning and fretting over who is going to the beach, who's not, who's riding in Grandpa's boat and who is not, is your father getting upset, blah, blah, blah... reading a book, outside, by a tree and flowers with purse Aunt Karen sent a camera tucked inside, holding a caterpillar, and, although I cannot see your face, I know you are content, comfortable in your own skin, divinely guided always

Monday, August 7, 2000: Hemlock Bluffs Nature Center 10-12

Science Safari 1pm – Colonies of insects and they’re behavior was the focus of this creepy, crawly class. Music class at 6:30 This was an example of a "way too much in one day" kind of day

8/8/2000 Played with "Cat Banjo" in the pool - so happy - and happy to be going back to Bright Horizons September 1st. So happy, got dressed before coming out of bedroom in the morning and did a "ta da! I'm ready to go to school!" 

Since it was only 7:30 so we had to wait a bit, and still we were the first ones there we got to say hi to Miss Chris and be the first to choose cubby. This is the picture we placed there.

 

And then said: "you can stay zero minutes Mommy" Talk about happy to be back! :)

Within a few days, though, it was a different story. Most of last year's friends had moved on to Kindergarten and there was no desire to go to school with the "babies" - their younger siblings. Wanted to learn new things, and the curriculum was pretty much the same as the year before. So, we made the best of it. other classes on non-preschool days, and so much more, like sewing - Just look at the intent!!

Sept 26,2000 at Jordan Lake 

"I just want to go build a sandcastle and then we can check to see what the water temperature is. Look! That sign says wheelchairs can come here. Look! Three cars! That means friends might be here... I just have to be sure they're not strangers."

Halloween 2000