Is there a bird on my head?

It's one of Andrew's favorite jokes. He loves the book and never looses the opportunity to recreate the humor.And a picture of Chloe wearing her new "dress." Which turns out to look exactly like one of Katie's favorite shirts (with a safety pin helping out a little). If Ryan is willing to get them dressed, I'm not going to complain about what he chooses.

Sunday Fishing Outing

We only catch water-striders and minnows, but the little stream close to our house is way more interesting once my children are armed with nets.

First Day of School

Here's Mason, dressed for the first day of school. Wearing the shirt we bought for him when we were in Australia visiting his grandparents. When he was in 1st grade. He is now in 4th grade. Which is, somewhat unfortunately, an old enough age for picking his own clothes out.

When we went to the open house, someone (a teacher or resource person--I didn't know who she was) stopped me and asked, "Are you Mason's mom? He is such a nice boy." And that he is.

And here is Katie, before school. She came home in tears because her class was all different, one of her best friends was gone, and the bus route had been changed and the girl she rode with all last year was on a different bus. The new girl she sat with didn't talk to her, even when Katie tried. Change can be hard. I've never had a child come home sad from the first day of school, and I have to admit I have been pretty sad for her ever since she came home. But tomorrow is a new day, and I think it will be a better one.

And here is Andrew, who ran back in the house to grab his backpack once he realized we were taking the kids to the bus.

And here is Andrew arguing with us about whether or not he's old enough to ride the bus and go to school.

And the bus arrives...

And Andrew holds out hope that they'll let him on. But they don't.

But he still has a puppy to keep him company

So back home they went.

Back to the Blog...

It's hard getting back into blogging after 8 months, but sending 2 children off to school this morning seems to have freed up just enough space in my brain to sit down and do this again. That and the fact that my kids were looking through their photobooks the other day laughing at the stories I had written about them--which were almost all from my blog. And now there is almost a year of no stories, so I need to get back to work.

A quick shot of Mason, who is now 9 and starting 4th grade.

Our newest addition, Scout, who is about 3 1/2 months old. Having a puppy really is like having another child in so many ways. He's been great, though.
Katie has been trying out horseback riding this summer. The great thing is, I take lessons with her. And Andrew gets to have his turn on the pony.

And rounding out the crew is Chloe, who turns 2 in November and has been a lot of fun. She'll miss her brother Andrew when he starts preschool next week.