Fall Days

It has been busy, busy to say the least. We've been working hard to put the house back together after all of our summer projects. And it seems impossible to fix up or tidy up one area of the house without feeling like you have to do all the other areas of the house. More to come on all this....

Girls have both started Girl Scouts this year and love it. M is a Daisy, and K started as a Junior. Both girls have been making new friends at their new school, enjoying their teachers, and generally having a great year (which I am so thankful for). I am learning huge amounts about the Montessori curriculum and appreciate it the more I learn.

M has actually begun reading. Several weeks ago she stated to me "I just really want to know how to read." Bit by bit she has begun sounding out words. It is very exciting to watch.

The girls' school does historical Halloween which is incredible to see. Lots of George Washingtons and Queen Elizabeths, but also John Lennon, Mother Theresa, and Frieda Kahlo. The most amazing part is watching the entire school get into a giant timeline. And there was also a living Mount Rushmore!

This year's Halloween costumes included a witch and Lucille Ball (courtesy of Grandpa of course--I contributed the wig and the hat). K won third place for Cutest Costume at our local Halloween Festival. She was thrilled and received more candy than she could possibly eat and tons of other goodies. Great to see her so happy.

J had his birthday last week. The best part was going to an early morning breakfast after dropping off the kids. We were also treated to a yummy Thai dinner by his father.

Crazy schedule this semester, but everyone is doing well and enjoying their activities. Can't complain....

Adjusting

K and M both started at a new school this year. It was a sudden switch for K and she was understandably upset at first, but thankfully, both of the girls seem to be adjusting really well. They both like their teachers, and they are making new friends. And the girls like to see each other during the day. It's an adjustment for us, too, getting to know a new routine, new school, new people. So far it's been a positive experience for everyone and the values of the school seem to be so much more in line with our own. Plus this school has a music and art focus--right up their alley!

M started Girl Scouts tonight. She is a Daisy Troop, and she had a great time. Hoping that she will form bonds with this group of girls and have another resource available to her as she grows up. Want to get K into an eqaully positive Juniors Troop. Mostly, I want my girls to be happy, well-rounded individuals who get to do activities that they enjoy.

Slowly all the house stuff is coming together. I am impatient, though. Maybe an office pic tomorrow? It is the room that is the most put together right now.

Ready, Set, Kindergarten!

It's here. The day I've been dreading and dreading. M starts kindergarten tomorrow. How did that happen so quickly? Sigh.

Too Funny!

I just had to put this up!  I thought it was clever, creative, and funny.  Best of all, it features one of my all-time favorites stores--Ikea!  It is a serialized soap opera filmed by a group of actors in Ikea itself without the store's knowledge.  Be ready for low quality filming, cheesy soap opera acting (but I kind of thought that was hilarious), and lots of intrigue.  You may find it a bit silly, but I have a warped sense of humor.  I have yet to finish the "season," but enjoy....

Simple, But Sweet

It was birthday time yesterday (look at the blazing cake!). Seems like birthday celebrations get smaller, but so much sweeter as you get older. K and M have been whispering and planning since last week, and they pulled off a very thoughtful little gift. Ate yummy dim sum with my family (parents included), got treated to delicious frozen yogurt, and received phone calls and emails with good wishes from family and friends. What a wonderful time!

Gold Country!

K learned all about the California Gold Rush last year in fourth grade. She was itchin' to try her hand at panning for gold in the same rivers where the rush began. So two weeks ago we planned a short trip to Sacramento and Coloma. It was actually a lot of fun (I figured the summertime valley heat would put a damper on the fun part). We visited Old Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum, and Sutter's Fort. Then on to Placerville (Hangtown as it used to be know) and the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park where we saw Sutter's Mill (where gold was first found in 1848) and got to try our hand at panning. No "Eureka" for us (we just found some really pretty shiny flakes), but the man next to us found a big nugget--and he didn't even have a pan!! What a memorable trip for him! We still dug (get it?) the experience and had a great time.

M's favorite part had to be the "fancy" mermaid statue at the hotel in West Sacramento. My favorite part had to be our stay at the historic Cary House Hotel in Placerville. It houses the second oldest elevator west of the Mississippi and we could only go in it two people at a time. I think we will have to plan more "theme" trips in the future. There was something for everyone in this trip!

Growing Up

Look what happened today. Sigh. So very exciting that M is growing up, but also a little bittersweet to realize she is not a baby anymore. Kindergarten starts in two weeks. How can the last five years have passed by so quickly?