Moolah's Days

Moolah has started "extended day" at her school. She gets to take her lunch and stay til 3 pm.  She has been doing very well and showing amazing progress.

This year, the school has started sending home weekly updates, which has been great.

The first week, Teacher Jessie reported that Moolah had been enjoying:

• Socializing with her friends - her social network has grown since joining extended day.
• Phonogram lessons (letter combinations: sh, th, ee, er, oo)
• New embroidery lessons

Last week, the report said that Moolah had been enjoying:

Socializing!  Joining extended day has helped Moolah branch out socially, but she struggles to contain her silllyness.  It is - of course - adorable but she has a hard time knowing when to stop.  We have reviewed A - Z and are still working our way toward phonetic reading. Still about the sweetest thing ever!

I'm pretty sure that Oosje and Bampa never got a report from my teachers that I was excelling at socialization and having a hard time not being too silly, although Nanna & Papa probably did get those kind of notes for Daddy.  I'm pleased that Moolah is developing some balance between social and academic skills and will give Daddy all the credit for that.

First of many...

Ace is still a few pounds lighter and a few inches shorter than Moolah, but we did a comparison this morning and confirmed that his feet have outgrown hers. 

Medical week

Moolah has recovered from two days of fever with the help of a half dozen Barbie movies that daytime mama loaned her. Everyone was happy that she could return to school today.

Ace passed his hearing screen with flying colors. The audiologist said she wanted a video of him to show to other children.

Mama now knows more than she ever wanted to know about health insurance available in the Rainy State and will be able to finish the last task created by the layoff (well, other than gainful employment) after meeting with Daddy's accountant tomorrow. To HSA or not to HSA. That is the question.

10 Years...

I love you, Daddy!

Daddy and Moolah are putting together a new toy...

Daddy has wanted a telescope since he was only slightly older than Moolah is now.  Business at Rose'sDaddy and Strider'sDaddy, LLC has been going well (which is an update I never gave... Daddy and Rose's Daddy finally opened their long anticipated firm on August 1).  So, Daddy got to splurge on a telescope. 

Here's a picture.

Cute, isn't it? 

Moolah knows that she will be able to see stars, and planets, and moons.  She is excited.  She is watching the DVD about the solar system while helping Daddy set it up.  She is having a conversation with Daddy about Venus. 

"Who lives on Venus, Daddy."
"No one lives on Venus, it's too hot.  Everyone lives on Earth."
"And even Idaho, right, Daddy?  Idaho is so not Venus. Or California." 

Yes... Idaho and California are "so not" Venus. 

Oh.. and here's a picture of Moolah and Daddy's new telescope:

Followed quickly by...

First self-administered haircut, which was not bad at all in the range of possibilities.

She was playing with paper dolls, and the tabs were frustrating her... and me.  I got out the sticky putty and was very proud of my parenting problem solving.  But, the tabs were then in the way and I was asked to cut them off.  Since Ace was otherwise occupied, I thought it would be OK to give her the safety scissors.  Then I left the room to change Ace's diaper and came back to scattered locks on the floor.

Much testing going on...

One of the lesser-anticipated milestones...

Moolah threatened me yesterday.  Outright and pretty seriously. 

"If you don't let me get out of this stroller right now, I'll never be nice to you again." 

Really?  Hmm.  That's interesting...

Of course, we had to have a talk about threats, including defining what a threat was, and that it would not work.  The interesting part was that once she realized that it didn't work, she was (apparently) deeply traumatized.  We talked about it, she apologized, we hugged, and moved on.  This morning on the way to school, she was still thinking about it. 

"When I told you I'd never be nice to you again, I was just kidding."

Then I had to define the difference between kidding and changing your mind, which was another challenge.

.... And all I wanted in the first place was milk, lettuce, and olives. 

Sigh. 

M says the weekend was 'funner than fun'

Saturday at the beach. Sand castles, big holes, and rock towers, followed by spaghetti, a trip to the toy store, and stop at the candy store.
Sunday morning cartoon, a trip to the farmers market for blueberry pie for the bouncy house potluck party, and dinner at the giant jungle gym restaurant.
Everyone will sleep well, and soon...

We found a picture of Lil 11

Ace and I are in the waiting room at his new allergist. There is a picture on the wall of the Boise River Fest. Ace found a train, balloons, horses, bikes, dancing people, and Lil...in pink...right in the middle.

Wish

"Mama, I blew the wishing flower so you could make a wish. I wished, too. I wished I could meet Peter Pan. What did you wish for?"

'I wished for healthy, happy children."

"oh! That's a really good wish!"