Sunday afternoon at the park

It is very rare to get a picture of my boys smiling rather than posing with the strained "let's get this over with" smile.



Take this for instance: How often have you seen this smile on here? This is a "happy to be a nine year old boy playing outside in the sunshine with my family" smile.



I was using my zoom for this. She was not talking to me. Actually there wasn't anyone to be talking to near her. Oh, wait. Maybe Sarah or Grace.

Which reminds me of this quick story: Before I get started, do you remember Sarah and Grace? They are the imaginary friends of Daisy. One day last week most of Daisy's toys appeared in the living room. I asked her to put them up before we left to pick up everyone else from school.

Her reply: I didn't bring them out here. Sarah and Grace brought them out here. They have been so bad. I need to find some new pretend friends that don't make messes.

She came up with two new friends - Mia and Myla. They didn't last long, though. Sarah and Grace have been back (and better than before.) As Daisy puts it, they have straightened up!



And the ever camera ready smile. She did really well at school this morning. She actually wanted me to let her walk in by herself

homework

The kids seem to be settling into the school year routine. Daisy is anxious to start school but still has a few weeks to wait. Lake had lots of homework Monday and Tuesday afternoon. One of his supplies was a planner that was ordered through the school. He received his yesterday and in it, he listed his homework for the afternoon. He wrote very neatly, began his homework without any prompting from me and really enjoyed crossing off the tasks as he completed each one.

Tate's homework has been limited to reading for 30 minutes daily, finding an unfamiliar word in the reading and writing the definition. He took a spelling pre-test on Monday and since he scored 100, he is exempt from the spelling homework this week as well as the test on Friday.

Rosie has not had homework yet. She still reads with us every night. We have a couple of books going right now. As a family, I'm reading The Reptile Room to everyone. Lake has to read The Cay for school so I checked out a copy and am reading along with him. Tate is reading Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye.

Overall, I think the school year has started off well. This week started off rough with John Henry going out of town for the week and Rosie crying in the morning but this morning she went into the class without any tears.

On her second day of first grade

Bubbly

That is the only way I can think of to describe the attitudes of Rosie, Tate and Lake when I picked them up at school this afternoon. Rosie exclaimed, "I feel like I need to scream because I had such a good day at school!" I am trying not to dwell on the first day of kindergarten for her last year when she said that it was the best day of her life.

And then the second day of kindergarten was the worst day of her life. Ever.

The boys were just as happy with their day. Usually I have to really ask them lots of questions to find out how things went but today it seemed as if they couldn't talk fast enough to tell me everything.

If you are curious about what Daisy and I did today - she changed clothes 5 times and then got a blanket, a cup of chocolate milk and her blanket and curled up in my lap.
We stayed that way for nearly two hours. She will start preschool after Labor Day but seemed content to play with me today.

Back to school

First grade

My Rosie was the hardest to wake this morning. Once she got moving, she ate a good breakfast, got dressed, asked me to fix her hair (curling the ponytail, I might add), put her book bag on her shoulder and was ready to go!

Third grade

Tate has been excited about school for the last several weeks. He was the first to wake this morning - and he was in a good mood, too! He has a teacher that is new to the school so of course there are lots of questions.



Can't you tell that he is just about to burst with excitement?

Fourth grader

Lake is ready for fourth grade. I told him that this was my favorite year of elementary school. His best friend is in his class. They went to preschool together and although they have been at the same school, this is the first year for them to be in class together.



He was nervous and excited at the same time.

Last day of summer break

The kids go back to school tomorrow. They are all very excited. We met the teachers last night and it looks like we should have a good year. After running several errands (hair cuts, doctor office for medical forms twice) we went for a swim at a favorite pool. It's not the one we use (which is 5 minutes from home and includes an Olympic size pool, wave pool, kids area and beach area.) This one is about 15 minutes from home but there is just something about it that we love; therefore, it has become a tradition over the last three years to swim at this pool on the day before school starts.



Lake on his way down the slide, with his good friend following closely behind.



Tate was able to stay seated on his way down.



Of course, Rosie.



No need to have sympathy for Daisy. She had several turns on the slide while sitting on my lap. This was taken as we were drying off a bit before heading home.