Scraps

E1, E3 and I spent the evening making tied fleece blankets that will be delivered to Children's Hospital for Christmas. E3's pony Nemo gathered the scraps for us.

Golf Girl - Year Two

E1 had a good year of golf again this year, and the team did much better overall.

What DOES the fox say? This one likely says 'FORE!'.

Golf courses are lovely places to hang out...beautiful surroundings, tooling around on a cart, watching my kid do her thing.

It's driving me crazy that my text isn't centered, but I haven't figured out how to fix it.

Art As Fashion

This rare artifact was unearthed recently in a closet clean-out event:

by E1, circa 2004

I started laughing as I pulled it out of the deep recesses of E1's closet. Then she read it aloud and started laughing...and I laughed even harder. Tears streaming down my face laughter. I remember the day she brought this home from her Brownie Scout meeting and the thought that crossed my mind...which was, 'Oh, I hope she doesn't want to actually wear that anywhere.' We felt it should be photographed for posterity.

Reading Bender

I've been swept away by young adult fiction lately. I think the last grown-up book I read was the second book based on the TV show Castle - Naked Heat. How's that for deeply intellectual? School book orders, where all the cool people now obtain their books.

I moved on to finish the Ghost Girl (this link has sound) series I began reading when E1 borrowed them from a friend. Both were equally entertaining, but maybe a little less so than the first book if only because I knew the general gist of the story background.

From there, I moved on to one of E1's choices The Gallagher Girl Series. Since we already had books 1-3, I was assured reading material for an extended period of time, right? Except young adult fiction, unless it's something mucho big like Harry Potter*, isn't usually all that much in the way of loads of pages to read.

Really though, this series is super cool and very entertaining - a secret spy school for girls! HI-YA! E1 received the fourth book as a Christmas gift, which we both soon devoured...only to be crushed by the news that the fifth book in the series won't be out until early 2012. ARGH! She and I agree that is an unreasonable amount of time to wait before learning Cammie's fate. I may try to track down The Heist Society, which sounds like the alter-ego (in book form) to The Gallagher Girls.

Next, it was the first of the two books in The Sisters Club , books I ordered -because three sisters that form a club? Yep. I've only read the first book, despite having both on the shelf, but it was cute and I think my girls, especially E2 and E3 will find it very entertaining.

Finally, a few days ago I started one of E2's selections, Flipped (I couldn't find the author's website), now a major motion picture! The first chapter was a bit slow to start for me, but last night I picked it up again (cable went out, so I couldn't watch Parenthood) and got sucked-in big time. I haven't finished it yet, but I'm really, really, really enjoying it. I think I'll finish it today. The book I've linked to is what we have from the school book order, and it includes photos from the movie. Unfortunately, the photos are in the middle of the book...so I've avoided looking at them so I don't spoil the ending for myself.

Although not Young Adult fiction, I have been reading Ivy and Bean books with E3. We gave her the first one at Kindergarten graduation, and she received the next two books as birthday gifts from her sisters. I'm trying to put in more time there, because girlfriend is convinced she doesn't read very well even though she SO DOES.

E3: I can't read chapter books.
Me: Yes you can - remember Lost In The Snow? You read almost half of it before I started reading it at bedtime.
E3: Yeah, but I had to skip some words I didn't know!

Perfection, it is her nemesis.

*Totally worthy of mucho bigness, by the way. In fact, I'm still waiting for J.K.Rowling** to write Hogwarts - A History so we can all know as much as Hermione does about Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

**E3 recently learned J.K.Rowling is a woman...E3: I thought a boy wrote Harry Potter. (big satisfied smile at the realization).

Signs Of Yore

This summer, the day before we left for Texas, E1 and E2 participated in a girls' day out event at our Community College. E3 and I picked up some last minute things for our trip, and then I planned on stopping at a playground after a quick drive around town. I remembered going shopping there back in the day - back when Woolworth's still existed. Unfortunately, during our drive around town it began to rain - eliminating our playground time.

So, I took pictures with my phone...and discovered the most recent software update had added zoom to my phone. Woo!

It's a Carillon! I don't think I'd heard the word before that day.

E3 at the Carillon.

E3 wanted a picture of the stone on this house...we circled the block something like three times and this is the best shot I could get. Well, without stopping the car...there was no place to park nearby.E3 also wanted a picture of this fighter plane in the park...she was certain it was the same plane her friend A's Mom flies in Iraq. A's Mom is a surgeon, I think, but E3 got the Air Force part right.

Finally it was close to the time to grab some sub sandwiches and go pick up our glamour girls.

Last Day Of Summer Vacation

The day before the girls started school we made a quick trip to the St. Louis Zoo. E3's arm was still in a splint waiting for a cast, but she was comfortable and it hadn't really slowed her down so I figured we may as well carry on as planned.

This boulder they're sitting on is a water feature at the North entrance that has brass 'critters' worked into it. I forget how many there are - a docent once told me, but it has frogs, bugs, snakes, mice, turtles (one eating a snake!). I don't think we've ever walked past it without them climbing on it.

E2 wanted a picture of the map after she pointed out that the zoo is shaped like a shoe.

We visited the Sting Rays and just missed their feeding time. We did get to pet them though, and that little one at the top of the picture is only 15 months old. Awww, Baby Sting Ray! That's what you hear when you're with three girls, "Awww!"

There was a docent near these birds, but I don't recall what any of them are. She mentioned that when this particular bird flaps it's wings people always assume it's preening for their cameras, but she thought it was the bird's way of cooling off (it was really hot the day we were there). I told her I do the same thing only I call it "cooling my pits".

Breezy!

Look at the talons on this guy!

There are two turkeys that roam in the Children's Zoo and they're remarkably friendly. Oddly enough, they seem to be at their most relaxed state while watching the river otters.

River Otters.

There was a new addition since the last time we visited the zoo. E1 and I were convinced this one was stalking us. We called it Stalker Chicken.

Hedgehog!

Hungry Hungry Hippo!

Stalker Chicken! After seeing him cross our paths several times, E1 followed him to his hiding place...where another chicken was sitting on a nest! He made funny growling noises at me while I took this picture. Growling Stalker Chicken.

Aside from entering the penguin exhibit, a chilly 60 degrees, this is the best way to catch a cool breeze on a hot day at the zoo.

All That And Processed Meat

It's been quite a weekend. A long one, of course, with the Labor Day Holiday in there, but busy too. Friday was Grandparents' Day at school and I served the Grandparents and Christine lunch (having picked up Christine after her flight so she could be here to surprise the girls and her parents), Rob and the girls camped out at the pond on Friday night, Saturday E1 went to a birthday party and there was a Family Fun shindig here in town, Sunday niece G was baptised and that evening we went back out to the pond for a bonfire and more s'mores...and yesterday, we just collapsed and hung around here for a while.

In the midst of all that was funeral preparations for Aunt L's father, who was buried today...a burial with military honors. I've never been to a burial with military honors, and I wasn't there today either because I babysat a couple of Aunt L's grandchildren.

While hanging with the kiddos I ate a slice of bologna. When and why did I stop eating bologna? That stuff is tasty.

Rain has moved in since this morning and it's got me feeling like I could just snuggle in bed. But I can't. I've got three loads of laundry to fold and then I have to go cover E1's 'let the dog out' job. Why can't E1 cover her 'let the dog out' job today? She has art club after school. Last year, E2 covered for her on art club days, but this month E2 has basketball practice after school on art club days. Adding to that today, I had previously (as in, before we learned of the basketball practice) scheduled haircuts for all three girls because it's picture day at school tomorrow.

Right. And E2 and E3 both have soccer practice tonight...if the rain doesn't cancel things.

Really, when did we become people with kids involved in too much stuff? Actually, I think the reality hit me the night we got the basketball practice schedule. I honestly didn't realize basketball would be beginning so soon...I thought it would just overlap the end of soccer.

Wrong. September and October are going to get a little crazy; time to strap-in!

Birthday Spoils

Flowers from our sweet nieces R and G (the flowers in the background are E3's get well flowers) (I changed their water right after this photo).A kickin' new camera bag from my E's.

And my blog archives in book form from my sweetie.

I'm still processing that one because it's pretty overwhelming...really? Four volumes? So far, all of what I've written is familiar...but I've forgotten many of the comments, which are funny to read again. E1 has worked her way through Vol I and has started Vol II...and she keeps reading/quoting things to me like maybe I've never heard it before, which is a bit odd. Overall though, it's very cool...and clearly, if E1 is so enamored with it then it's a good source of family stories for them when I'm old and cranky and just want to be left alone with my 12 cats.

My birthday itself was very busy, especially the afternoon and evening; I donated blood, made dinner, helped get two kids ready for soccer practice, and went to parent information night at school all before we could finally have birthday ice cream.

All in all, it was a very delightful birthday!

Honest Like Abe

E3 got her cast Friday after school, gathered signatures from family all weekend, and headed to school today with markers in tow with a narrow strip on the underbelly of her cast still empty for her classmates. This weekend she had to sit out of three different opportunities for swimming/water fun, but she handled each well without one bit of whining, even stating matter-of-factly that one fun thing about having a cast was having people sign it but a not fun thing was not being able to swim. She's relishing soaking up the sympathy, and at yesterday's pool party held court post-meal with a group of 8th grade and high school freshman girls as they laughed at her silly jokes and cooed over her giggle.

I have pictures of her cast, but I'm once again woefully behind on getting those from my camera to the computer. The girls' cameras are here too, and I'm supposed to be taking the photos off those as well...I think the sit around and wait of photo downloading is what feeds my procrastination.

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Friday was the first full day of school and E1 came home with a 'Getting To Know Your Child' form for Rob and I to complete. These are always tricky, in my opinion, and Rob and I tend to collaborate on the answers. Your first inclination might be to list all those traits that you as the parent have to get after them for...but I always find I counter that with avoiding giving the teacher pre-conceived criticisms. You know, maybe those things that bug us won't bug the teacher...at least not at first...right? Better to let the teach draw her own conclusions.

This time, I went through and answered the easy questions, like "What are the things your child enjoys?" (creative writing, reading, crafts/art, playing golf), and "How does your child feel about reading and writing?"(She loves both)...and then Rob answered a few too...but there were a couple that were stumpers for us. We knew what we wanted to say, but how to word it kindly, politely, positively?

One was, "What motivates your child?" My first answer suggestion, of course, was 'chocolate' and Rob agreed. The girl loves her chocolate. That didn't seem appropriate though, so Rob consulted E1...who chuckled at the suggestion of chocolate, but said her "straight A streak" is what motivates her when it comes to school work. So, he wrote both. Yes, he wrote chocolate AND getting good grades.

I give the three of us an A+ for that one.

The other was the general, "Is there anything else you'd like to tell me about your child?" Well, yes, of course there is...but how does one fit that into a two-inch space? "She's a pre-teen girl." seemed too vague. I wanted to say: She often doesn't give herself enough credit, I fear she struggles with standing up for herself in the face of what other girls think, she takes criticism to heart no matter how 'constructive' it is... I didn't want to embarrass her, but with her eye-rolling, but smiling, permission I settled for "E1 doesn't always realize her own awesomeness."

The form may be in two different hand writings, and include some silly with the serious, but there it is.

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Today was the first morning of Faith Formation (formerly P.S.R.-Parish School of Religion) classes before school. Mornings are not E2's time of day, but she managed fine today. By the end of the week it will most likely be another story. This the first year of morning religion for E3, and this has added another facet to E2's morning routine...chattiness. I forget the debate the two of them were beginning at the table this morning when I looked up at the clock and informed them that they needed to leave in five minutes and both still needed to finish their breakfast, brush their hair, and their teeth.

Beginning tomorrow a handful of kids from the home daycare next door will arrive on our doorstep to walk to school with our girls and it really bugs me when they have to wait on my punks.

Time to adjust the alarm clocks.