One week (almost) done, and who knows how many more to go....

Meagan and Natalie are now offically third and first graders. It was very sad for me because it was the first time that I couldn't take them to their first day of school.  Last year, I didn't start work until September, so I was able to take them.  Thankfully, last year was the big Kindergarten year, so at least I didn't have to miss out on that milestone (not that I would.  Somethings are not to be missed.) Andy took them to their classes and got this cute photo on the way.  Both girls really like their teachers.  They also seem to like their Y group after school much better, which is one less thing for us to worry about.
My school is doing well as well.  It is actually a little bit weird that things have gone so smoothly, but I am taking it and running with it.  This was the easiest start to the year that I have ever had because I know each and every one of my students since I looped up from 6th grade to 7th grade.  Being back in 7th grade makes me miss my old buddies from "the other school." I actually really lucked out at a jobalike last week to get to hang out with several of them.  It was like I never left, just fell back into talking like we still see each other all the time.  Pretty cool.  I like my coworkers now too.  I am on a great team.  I was bummed out to move rooms, but I like my new roommates too.  All is good.  My friend Amber has a calendar with the amount of days left on it.  I think it is like 176 or something. :-)

Kicking it at the bowling alley

Andy's parents came to town and Bob and I love bowling.  Apparently, you don't have to be good at bowling, because Bob and I were terrible.  Matthew (that is a scary photo there with his eyes!) scored better than either of us did.  As you can see, he got some help along the way.  They didn't have any of these things when I was a kid.  We had to just throw it down the lane and hope that you accidently hit a pin or two.  Now they get ramps, gutter blockers, etc.  Of course, baby Jenny got to bowl too.  She is an amazing bowler.  She can get the most difficult splits! We are trying to get ready for school starting on Monday.  I can't believe it is that time already.  We went to back to school night for the girls.  Meagan's teacher's son was in Natalie's class last year, so we know her, which is nice.  Very exciting time of the year!

The imagination of a toddler

 I have always found it funny that children will play for hours with a plain brown box.  Forget all the toys in the room; I have a box!  Today Natalie took a box that a dress arrived in and made it into a "rocket ship."  Matthew insisted on making a cave complete with pillow and blankets.  Not sure what kind of rocketship this is, but he likes it.  Today he came home very proudly showing off the imprint of another child's teeth on his arm.  We had to sign an incident report.  Not sure what the story is yet.  Other people have had to sign incident reports due to our little guy.  Boys are so different than girls, although his friend who bit him (if he is to be believed :) is a girl. 
In other news, tomorrow is my last day of freedom.  Yes, I am returning to work already.  I have throughly enjoyed this summer although I haven't done most things that I had planned on doing.  I feel ready to see everyone, but not ready for the back to school stuff.  I love meeting the kids, it is all of the planning part that is a bummer.  I have a new classroom to set up and a brand new (other than one other former 6th grade teacher who is also moving up) team of teachers to work with.  Scary, but a fun adventure anyway.

Rock Climbing

 Meagan has really taken to the climbing wall at Lifetime.  She is good at it!  I am pretty impressed because let's just say, I wasn't so good at it.  My brother was fairly good at it and climbed Castle Rock up in Colorado with camp. This picture is of Meagan and her friend Isabelle, on of her besties from school.  Love these two girls together. 

Another trip to Sea World

 We went to Sea World last weekend and stayed over that night.  It was a fun weekend!  The kids loved the Sesame Show again.  Matthew rocked his new hat.

 

 

 

Last, but not least, Brian cooking!

I came right out and told Brian D that I wasn't leaving until I got Chocolate Chip cookies.  If you love cookies like I do, which might include a few of my friends and family (love you April!), Brian makes heavenly cookies.  I adore them.  We also got to have fresh homemade pasta which I was also pretty amazed by.  He is quite the renassiance man.  I even got to bring home some homemade soap that has tiny coffee beans in it and makes a fabulous exfolliant.  It is like a resort, being with them. :)  We also managed to squeeze in a short visit with Michelle, my adopted sister in law.  Her husband Pete was unfortuantley out of town, but I did get to finally meet sweet baby Kai!  Love, love, love my CA family (and Michelle, Pete, and Kai are a part of that.)  One last lunch with Becky, who is now back in Dallas.  We are thrilled to be able to celebrate holidays and happy events with this girl whom my girls (and Matthew soon!) love so much.

The beach house

 We had a blast at the Brians' beach house.  It was amazing.  It was around 60 in Bodega Bay, where they have the house, but we drove for 20 minutes and it was sunny and hot.  You can see our quite different wardrobes.  That was all in one day!  We went to the beach at a local river and then went to a cute little town that had an incredible bakery and farm.  I could totally see myself living up there.  It is very peaceful....