First Days of School

 If you can't tell, I've been going through the uploaded photo files and trying to catch up, someday I'll post something current, but for now we'll be backing it up.  Here are some shots of the girls' fist days of school (since Ruby is in kindergarten, she started a week later than Eden).

She is such a sweet and bright little girl. I love her so much and I'm so proud of what a good girl she is.

 Eden loves school and loves reading.  She's always such a good friend to everybody and loves participating in all the different activities they have.  She is continuing to study spanish this year. Her school offers a lot of exposure to the arts, and they are always doing putting on plays, even in the classroom.  I got to go help with one of her grade's "Wonder Days".  They had been studying different civilizations and the teachers organized this huge activity where the kids got to choose if they wanted to be a Roman or a Han (the teachers were inventing the scenario of who would have won, the Romans or the Hans). Then they made weapons out of butcher paper, made coin purses, earned coins, etc.  Then at the end they all met on the grass and had a battle with their paper weapons and had as many lives as coins they earned.  It was really funny and the kids loved it.  Eden, however, did not appreciate me singing Mulan songs about the Hans around her friends :)

 I like this one especially because it shows Joel in the background just finishing up a workout (WoooWooWee! Hubba Hubba!) He is no doubt mixing himself up a protein drink.

 Here's Jay walking Ruby into school on her first day.  He misses her so much while she's gon--thank goodness she's only gone in the afternoon while he's taking a nap.

Ruby standing in front of the weeping mulberry (Joel hates this tree, but the kids love to play under it in the summer--its like a tent) before school.  Ruby is studying Chinese this year and is absolutely thriving being at school she has some really good friends (and they have old fashioned names too-- Sessily, Chloe, Joseph, etc.) Her teacher is wonderful--if Mr. Rogers was a woman, then she would be Mrs. Farley.  She always lets the parents know what is going on in class and makes learning really fun for Ruby.

ohhh Ruby, school was so exciting on the first day that she couldn't make it the 2 miles home before she fell asleep.  I love this girl so much.

Workin' Hard or Hardly Workin'

 Jay simply has GOT to get things done.  He is a driven boy, he's got a lot of work done, so stay out of his way.  Jay loves sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, pouring stuff from one cup to another, etc.  If there's a mess to make or attempt to clean up (but make it messier while trying) then Jay is your man.  I snapped these when I was looking for jay and found him on the side of the house.  He had found a pile of scrap wood and something needed to be done about it.  (ABOVE: here he is finding the stack and starting his project)

 Here he is loading it in the back of his fire truck

Now I guess he needs to drive the lumber around.  A job well done.







NEXT PROJECT:  Teach Molly how to scrub a toilet (she's got to start pulling her weight around the Flanagan home)

 (These photos were taken in August when the Flanagans were visiting)

Molly: "Ummm, Jay's teaching me how to get the toilet water all over the floor.  First we start with a toilet that has toilet paper in it" (hopefully nothing else)

 Jay:  "OK Molly, this is my face that I make when I'm trying to smile but I think I might be in trouble--remember that."  (see, she's a good learner--she's watching him closely)

Jay: "Last thing, remember when you're cleaning toilets to get the scrubber out of its holder, throw the scrubber holder anywhere you want in the bathroom.  Also, you're going to want write this down-- Use 3/4 of a bottle of shampoo, and soak the floor with the toilet/shampoo mixture.  This way you're cleaning both the floor and the toilet."

Halloween 2010

 

 We had a great time this Halloween-- and I even got SOME pictures-- not a lot of great shots, but at least I have some this time around!  (above: Joel and I as the corpse bride and the dollar store masked monster)

Baba & Dedo and our friends the Sandbergs came over to trick or treat and have soups and salad.  No pictures of Baba & Dedo--which is really too bad as they came as a very regal King and Queen .  (I think my friend Rachel has some pictures of them, I'll have to get from her)   


 (above:  Ruby, Halle, Emma, Mia, Jay and Eden getting ready to get poured on outside)

 I am a robot. Give me your candy.

The kitty cat and the Senorita forged the way through the soaking rain.  (on the right: The Sandbergs-- notorious for actually dressing up each halloween-- and doing with style! This year they were theQueen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter--AWESOME!)

 Beware of the sleepy-eyed Tinkerbell--she'll sprinkle you with fairy dust!

--

Jooooooooooelll! Put that mask back on!  I didn't spend $1 to have you carry that thing around!

Nice.

Mary Beth and Byron stopped by to eat with us, then we let the kids run around and play while we watched an episode of Hoarders.  We sure know how to party! We really had a ghooooouuuuuully great night!