First Grade

It's been almost two years since I last posted.  The girls are now in first grade.  FIRST GRADE. 

Last night, before their first day of school, the girls went to bed very excited about starting school as "graders", as they called themselves.  (You know, "First grade, second grade, etc." as opposed to "Kindergartners"). 

Around 1 a.m., I was still up (night owl), when I heard a noise in the girls' room. 

I walked in to see Caroline sitting up in her bed, peaking out of her bedroom window from under the shades.  

"What's wrong honey, did you hear something?" I asked. 

Caroline turned to me quizzically, and said, "I'm just a little bit confused."  

I thought she might be dreaming.   "Are you having a bad dream?"

"No, I'm awake." 

"What are you confused about?"

"I'm trying to figure out when it's time to wake up," she answered. 

"Are you excited about school tomorrow?"  I asked Caroline. 

She broke into a wide grin and nodded.  

"ME TOO!" shouted a voice from the other bed.  Katherine popped her head out from under her covers.  

We all started laughing.  Then I laid down on the floor next to the girls' beds to help them fall back asleep.  

My "graders" on their first day of school as first graders:  

More photos and stories coming soon

So it's been 7 months since I've posted on this blogsite. I've been a little busy with another website.

More photos and stories will resume shortly!

Hot and Naked

It's 88 degrees in our house at 7:18 pm.

The girls are running around the house naked, screaming, "I'm nudey!"

Normally, I would discourage this type of behavior. But tonight, if they are cool, I am cool.

Quick Thinking 3 Year-Old

On Saturday this past weekend we ate dinner at a friends house. Caroline had been playing in their backyard, and was riding a 3-wheeled scooter. She loved the thing.

Today in the car, Caroline asked the following to me and Terri:

Caroline: "Mommy?"

Terri: "Yes?"

Caroline: "Can I have a scooter?"

David: "I don't know, Caroline. Those are pretty expensive."

Caroline: "Well . . . (pausing to think). I think I saw one at Target."

David: "Really? How much did it cost?"

Caroline: "Ummm, about five dollars."

Later that same day, as we drove to dinner, Caroline brought up the subject again:

Caroline: "Mommy, I saw a scooter at Target. It was only three dollars."

Terri: "Three dollars? I thought you said you saw it for five dollars?"

Caroline (not pausing to think AT ALL): "No, the pink one was five dollars, but I saw a RED one for only three dollars."

I'm torn between being very, very proud of Caroline's analytical skills and quick-thinking, and very, very frightened of her ability to manipulate us!

No More Nap Time

So the girls are slowly but surely starting to drop their afternoon naps.

Some days the girls are fine without the nap.

Other days, this happens during dinner:

Too tired to eat.

The great outdoors

The great thing about California is the ability to enjoy the outdoors and all it offers. I'm determined to give the girls an appreciation for nature.

Last weekend, we took the girls up to Tahoe, where they got to see it snow for the first time.

Today, I took the girls on their first hike to the Edgewood County Park in San Mateo County. The girls said they had a good time because, "We got to play with sticks and get dirty!"

Katherine even did a full-on belly flop into some mud by mistake. Rather than cry, she shook it off and kept on hiking. I was very proud of her!

Here are some photos from our adventures:

The girls made a snowman.

Hanging out in front of the cabin.

Checking the trail map with their sticks.

Hiking!

Mountain fever made them silly!

Click on any photo for a larger view.

Change happens in small steps.

Last night as we were watching Barack Obama's victory speech, the girls stopped playing "Candy Land" long enough to look up at the T.V.

The following conversation ensued:

Caroline: "Daddy, what's he doing?"

Me: "He's giving a speech."

Caroline: "Why?"

Me: "That's going to be our next President of the United States."

Caroline: "The black man?"

Me: "Yes."

Caroline: "Oh. He looks nice."

[Resumes playing Candy Land]

It occurred to be at that moment that Katherine and Caroline will grow up in a world where it's is NOT a big deal to have a person of color as President of the United States.

That thought made me very, very happy.