The First Day of First Grade

Sophia started first grade on Wednesday! Seriously! My baby is a first grader. Sigh.

She is so happy to be back. And she's loving that it's familiar this year (I can tell already that she's more confident than last year, even at the end of the year).

I can also tell that the long day won't be as tough on her this year. She doesn't seem as wiped out when she gets home and it's been much easier for her to transition from school to playing with Oliver in the afternoon. Still I think we'll keep afternoons and weekends for family even though we've already started getting invitations to join various after school activities.


I'm not sure if I'm entirely ready for the new school year, but, a little like Sophia, I'm more ready than I was last year.

Just Look at these Three

Aren't they gorgeous?
They're as sweet as they look.
Someone tell me how I got so lucky.

We Went Walking

For my birthday.
And it was lovely.
I could stand to have a little of this every day.

Our Summer

Where, oh where did the summer go? If you based that question on the weather you might ask did it ever arrive, but I'm wondering, of course, where the time ran off to.

I vowed to enjoy every moment of the summer, and I did more or less (more on the fun, less on the sleep deficiency) but somehow the whole summer just slipped by anyway.

We did so many fun things, it's a shame I wasn't able to update the blog periodically with our adventures, but since I was so busy having fun (in a sleep-deprived, bleary-eyed sort of way), I never got around to it.

Luckily, Sophia has agreed to do a recap. This then, is "Our Summer, 2010:"

This  summer  was  really  great!
We  started with  going  to  Lopez Island,and  that  was  fun,but the only sad part was when  we left.
And  another  fun  thing was the downtown Jamison  Square !
In August  we picked blackberries and we got ice cream , snow cones ,and  new special drawers!
In July we picked  blueberries  and
 In June I  started  summer  break.

Well, that about sums it up!

We had a great time, as always, in the San Juans, and like Sophia wrote, it was hard to leave. The only other bummer about the trip was that Sophia was sick most of the time. I think she had a sinus infection. In any case as soon as we got home her fever disappeared and she was back to her joyful, energetic self. Oh well.

We also went to the beach with friends (Maya, Herb, Chloe, and Justin) where we played in the sand, kicked back, and even visited Neskowin Valley School for Gnome camp (I know!).

We got a kitten in June, little Posy, who isn't as little anymore, but still cute.

We found a new trail on Mt. Tabor (I never would have guessed there were any we didn't know about!) which is our new favorite.

We spent a lot of time playing with "library" friends, had several visits from grandparents, and spent most of August at the pool (despite the cool temperatures a lot of the month).

And then of course the big focus for us this summer has been baby Norah. Mmmm she's sweet. I knew I wanted another baby, but for some reason I've been taken off guard—yet again (you'd think I'd expect it by the time I'd gotten to the third baby)—by how much I adore  this child.

But of course I'm not the only one. There's some serious love happening in our house these days. Can I just tell you how happy we are? I mean seriously. Concerns about the future aside, it's just pure bliss around here.

You might think I'm kidding, but I'm not.

The only thing that could make life even sweeter would be finding "our place." We're anxious to know where we're going to finally settle—and to do just that. Be in the house we'll stay in. Plant our apple, cherry, and hazelnut trees. Put down roots.

Maybe I'll have an update in the next post. Anything is possible, right?

Hestia, Goddess of Hearth and Home

Sophia's kindergaten/first grade class put on a play about the golden apple that involved a lot of Greek Gods and Godesses. Sophia played the part of Hestia.

Isn't she just gorgeous?

I can't believe Kindergarten is over in a week. Where did this year go?

Welcome Baby Norah!

Look at this precious little thing we brought home yesterday!

 

  

Isn't she scrumptious? We're all madly in love already!

She was born March 2 at 7:52 pm, weighing a tiny 7 lbs 11 oz (my smallest baby!) and measuring 21" long. Labor was short - for me - 10 hours total. 

We're both healthy and so, so happy. The whole family is spending the week just looking at her, which is just about as good as it gets!

Hanging Out

 

With such a handsome guy!

Aren't I lucky?

Painting Day

Everyone needs a painting day now and then, don't you think?

 

 

 

Tim found some old acrylic paints in the basement (there was a massive clean out to make room for the train) which we put to good use. The kids loved painting with "grown up" paints.

So fun!

Grandpa's Visit

Grandpa Wagner came for a quick visit a couple weeks ago. We all had a lovely time—especially with the surprise he brought along...

 

 

 

 

It's Tim's electric train that he got for Christmas when he was five! It's been a huge hit! We're all so glad Grandpa was able to bring it out in person and help us set it up!

The Kind Acts Book

Sorry for the lapse in posts! Sheesh, time does fly when you're on winter break, doesn't it?

In any case, I'll try to catch up a little by starting with the very super cool present that Sophia gave the family for Christmas.

This is The Kind Acts Book. Inspired by the same type of book that Sophia's classroom has, this one is meant for anyone in the family to record kind acts by any other member in the family.

Seriously, how cool is that?

Our first kind act to record was on Christmas day:

 

 

"Oliver gave me a candy cane just like I wanted and I said, 'Thank you'."

:)