First Day of School 2011

Today was Bob's first day back in the classroom with kids after a great summer vacation.



It was quite different than his first day back last year and his second first day back last year.

Kind of the same as two years ago, and kind of the same as three years ago.

I've written and written about not going back to school and don't think that I need to write anymore about it right now. (You're welcome.)

And some how in the whole swirl of things I've technically missed Etta's first day of school since she started yesterday. I don't think that I should really be calling it school - she is "just" hanging out in the Beacon pre-K/kindergarten room while I am teaching band. But the more I think about it - and talk to friends - the more it is really school. Pre-school. Or play school I guess. But school. I am not with her, she is in a classroom and she has to follow all of the same rules as the other kids. But since I am on site I hesitate to call it her "real" first day of school. That and the fact that little sister also gets to hang out with all the bigger kids too...those lucky second children...

And thanks to Aunt Molly for the AWESOME fireman boots. I think it will be all that she wears for quite some time...

Summer is Over

This morning Etta and I were having a discussion about how summer is "over" because Bob has to go back to work all day every day.

Etta: "Mom, I want you to go back to work".

Emily: "What would you do when I went to work?"

Etta: "Go with you!"

Emily: "What would sister do then?"

Etta: "Stay in the car!!!"

Outside

We have been having a fairly mild August from what we normally have in Lewiston. And I am a-okay with that!! A week ago it was even nice enough in the evening to just hang out on the lawn.

Mae is starting to not mind the grass as much.



Etta wanted her story time to be outside. Great!

Rainbow!

Etta has been observing "rest time" from 1:00-3:00 instead of taking a nap. She stays in the music room. Don't fear, she has all of her books, her trains & a variety of markers, crayons, etc. It has been working out pretty well. She has some self-directed play time and I have a chance to do some things by myself.

The other day she drew this:



(Okay, so I totally don't know why it scanned in like this...hopefully you get the "picture".)

She drew the rainbow all by herself with no help from anyone. Did the colors in that order because...she knows the order of colors in the rainbow I guess. I am very proud of her!

Hey You at the Computer...

GOOOOOOOOOOO VANDALS!!!

Bounty

Here are a couple of pictures of our "garden". Bob & Steve built the clothesline last spring for me and Bob "worked the land" this spring to get it ready for a gardenish plot. We have four big tomato plants, two sunflowers that have the potential to be HUGE, four pepper plants, a couple of viney plants that came in voluntarily from the compost we used and a plethora of marigolds. I love it!

Babyzilla

Whenever we meet someone new, or not, and they make any kind of comment about or to Mae, Etta says quite proudly, "We call her BABYZILLA!" Which then evokes chuckles. And yes, she is quite the Babyzilla. Always on the look out for something to to knock over or destroy. Mae ripped off the cover of every. single. magazine. she touched at my folks this summer. And one of her favorite modes of transportation is to put whatever toy she may currently have into her mouth and then crawl willy-nilly. Amazingly enough I was able to get a photo!

What up, Dawg?

Mae disappeared for a few minutes the other day and was pretty quiet. And just when I was starting to get concerned she returned...



With her sister's hat on. Pretty proud of herself too.

The Beach!!

We have been reading a lot of "summer" books this . . . summer. Bob found the book "Bats at the Beach" and Etta has been wanting to go. So I decided, why not? We have a really nice camp ground/beach area just minutes from the house. Hell's Gate State Park. So we loaded up some hotdogs and s'more fixin's and headed to the beach with Jackie, Rachel and Grandma Cathy.

Mae was loving the water on her toes.



Etta wanted to build a sand castle.



Exploring with Grandma Cathy.



The Girls wanted to build sand castles too. I'm SO glad that they love to play with Etta.

Secret Fort!

When I was getting ready to vacuum yesterday I realized that I had never made a fort for or with Etta. So we got it set up and ready to go. It was a hit and I hope that we will do it more often. Thinking it will be good this winter when we don't go out and about as much.

The fort. Really not so secret if you ask me.



The secret door to the secret fort.

Happy Birthday Aunt Molly!

Another pigtail post for your enjoyment. I talked her into leaving them in for "three minutes because she's three".

Lower ponies



A little blurry, sorry. But still pretty cute!

Naturally Inquisitive

When Etta was "little" we used to actually sit with her at the piano and play. And when she could finally reach the keys herself it was a proud moment for her.

But since we have Etta around I (unfortunately) haven't really taken the time with Mae to just sit and play the piano with her. But it didn't take her very long to figure out that the tall thing makes noise. It helps me keep track of where she is. Not just the piano "playing" but also the fact that if she gets stuck or can't quite reach the keys from a given point she is quite vocal in her frustrations!

First Harvest

It's not much, but it's ours. First tomato and green pepper of the season from our very own "garden plot" under the clothes line. Super tasty!!

Summer Fun

We finally made it over to Pioneer Park to play in the fountain. Both girls loved it!

Mae is really starting to "crab walk" quite a bit. I don't know if she doesn't like certain textures on her knees or if she wants to walk. I'm thinking textures.



I'm a big kid, mom!



Happy baby in the fountain.



Summer is so fun!!!

Approaching One

Mae loves all things that Etta does or has. Including her water bottle. I wasn't sure if she was going to be able to figure it out right away, but boy was I wrong. It is nice that she can use it since it has been pretty hot here. Now we just have to figure out how to get her to leave some water in the bottle! I'm guessing that we should probably get her her own though....



And check out those blue eyes!

From the Mouths of Babes

Etta says while looking at her picture Bible: "The Lord is kind of sad because I was being not nice to my sister".

Up, Up and...

Away. She's working hard. About the same time that Etta did.

Duets

And it begins...





Although Mae usually wants to join with Etta on the same piano, not stay on her own. (Notice her eyeing her sister's keyboard & daddy pointing to her own...)

11 Month Annibirthery

An annibirthery post on the actual day! Stop the presses - what are the chances?!

It was a happy and sad day at the same time. We got to go to the baby pool with our good friends Kai & Niko. And they came over for dinner afterward and played. But unfortunately it is one of their last days in town and they will be moving back to Seattle. We will dearly miss them as everyone plays together so well and we have a great time.

But we did get our picture this morning. On time even. Etta still likes to get involved, just like when she was 11 months old.

Not much new to report in the last two weeks. Growing ever closer to walking. Am thinking that it may happen before she turns one, but making no bets. She sure knows how to get her way and wails when something is not happening fast enough. We also have a biter/pincher on our hands. Oh the joy of that. And when she is told "no" that bottom lip sticks out and the cries start.

But thankfully she is happy the majority of the time. She and Etta are actually starting to play a little bit together. Except when Etta lets me know, "Mom! Mae is bugging me!" I tell you what, she had better get used to that.

Mae did not really want to get her picture today and thought it was hilarious to roll over as soon as I got her flat. I had to plant one foot on her body and then click the picture quick while she was giggling. Really it was pretty cute, but not so much at the time.



She really just wanted to get up and play, play, play. The bedroom is where they really have all their fun. There isn't even any toys in there! Night time is the worst. I mean, best. They lay in there and laugh and laugh and laugh. I'm surprised that some nights they go to sleep at all. It is hard to be strict with them as it is so darn cute to listen to. I know that I'll miss it - sooner than I am ready I bet.