Weather: It doesn't feel much like the first day of summer. It is rainy and cool, not even 70 deg.

Line of the Day: Seeing a bunch of geese and their half-grown babies today, Stephen mused, "I should have been a gosling." I have no idea what he meant by that, but I loved it.

Goslings

Daniel's last day of kindergarten is this Thursday, so we've been busy getting ready. His teacher asked each of the kids to bring in a "Kindergarten Memories" poster tomorrow to decorate the walls for their graduation ceremony. I bought posterboard and some foil lettering at Staples this morning, and we worked on it tonight.

We glued on pictures from Daniel's first day, the Halloween parade, Thanksgiving pageant, and zoo trip. I added one of Daniel's paintings, a page from his "Writing to Read" workbook, math equations, and stickers of bugs and the moon and stars to represent science and nature. I think it turned out pretty well.

Another thing we have to bring in tomorrow is some kind of ethnic food for the kids' heritage lunch. As I told Miss Dawn, Tab is Polish and my background is primarily Irish, and neither nationality is known for its kid-friendly cuisine. Pierogis and cabbage? Corned beef, potatoes, and more cabbage? I don't think so. Tab suggested I check one of the local delis for some imported treats since we live in a predominantly Polish neighborhood. It was a good idea; I found a package of strawberry-filled cookies from Poland at Henry's.

Around here there are many Canada geese who have settled in the local office parks to raise their young. The eggs hatched about six weeks ago, and the goslings have reached that awkward, leggy stage between cute, fluffy babies and graceful adults. Watching a family group of geese while I waited at a traffic light on my way in to Princeton, I thought that the young of many species go through a similar gawky phase. Kittens, puppies, ducklings, human children (once they grow out of their newborn head-lolling): nearly all are adorable. I know there wasn't a single ugly kid in Daniel's pre-K or kindergarten classes.

But from about age 10 to 14 most kids go through an awkward stage, with teeth too big for their mouths and facial features that are starting to mature out of their baby softness. Once they are past that in-between stage some kids become good-looking teenagers, but others of us never regain our former appeal.

But we were all beautiful babies. Just ask your mother, if you don't believe me.

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