late August.... photo Friday

2006.  9 months old

2007

 2008

 2008

2009

2010

2011

 2011

2 summer activities... photographed

Two of the things on our Summer Poster were "learn to make naan"  (this was because I was tired of paying $3 for it at the store) and "sidewalk chalk paint".

We did both of those things back in August and I snapped some photos during each day.

making naan (a flat bread common in southeast and central Asia)
I looked up a recipe on Yahoo.  You know, we recently learned that only old people use Yahoo's search engine.  Apparently, the hip cool "kids" are using Google exclusively.  Lew was informed of this from someone who works for him.  Someone younger than he is.

It was super easy.  Quick mix up of the dough.  Knead some. 

Let it rise 45 minutes.  Dump out. 

Make 8 little balls.  Roll those out.  She did all of that herself while I cooked them.  We were quite an assembly line.  

Cook about 1 minute per side in a frying pan.  

So, Gretchen is the Little Red Hen and here is one of her lazy friends.  He did not help make the naan, but he was right there to help eat the naan!

But, I am pretty sure it tasted better to the little girl who did all the work!  

It was one of many Pajama Days we had this summer.

sidewalk chalk paint

recipe:   1 c water, 1 c cornstarch,  food coloring

The fun part was throwing the excess paint when we were done. 

Don't worry - those colors were pretty vibrant, but they left no stains on the driveway once the paint was rained away.

two 1st graders!

Today was the big day!  First grade!  As i was getting out of the shower, Gretchen came in and held a shirt out to me.  "Is Carl supposed to wear something under this?"    Slow down, People.  It is 6:30.  At least brush your teeth before putting on your new clothes!  (They were excited to get this party started!)

I left the room and stood in the hallway to listen tot hem say the Pledge of Allegiance.  Then, I headed home to edit these photos you see above.  Lew and I have a tradition of meeting for lunch on the first day of school (well, 2 years so far... that's an early tradition... ) at a local restaurant on the intracoastal waterway.  Child free.  No cheeseburgers.  Don't get me wrong.  We love cheeseburgers.  But, once a year, a nice seafood on the water lunch with no kids is definitely in order.

 Island mahi mahi with mango salsa and double veggies instead of beans and rice.  (low carb version... I would love beans and rice with my lunch most of the time)

I bopped over to Costco to buy some lunch box items and pick up some photos before heading back to school to wait in the Parent Pick-Up Line.
kids coming out to the van ...

This is how she got in the van...  they both gave a glowing report of the day!  Gretchen did tell me, "We didn't learn anything today because we are busy learning the room."

Back home, we mixed up some pumpkin muffins and they played outside while they baked.  Once they were done, they consumed 9 of the 15 muffins the batch made.  Apparently, first grade makes them hungry!

They look much more awake at 3 pm, don't they!?  The first day of school was a lot of fun.  They have no homework for this first week either!  Woo Hoo!!

'twas the night before 1st grade

Thanks to Grandma for the new book to commemorate the occasion.  After a great day with their friends, dinner out at a favorite place of theirs and a bath...  we read this book and everyone got to bed on time for the big day tomorrow.  Carl cannot wait!  He keeps blurting out, "I can't wait for First Grade!"  or "I can't wait to go to school tomorrow!"  or "We start First Grade tomorrow!  Isn't that crazy?"  It's cute that he thinks it is as crazy as I do.  Gretchen is excited, too - just not as flat out vocal about it.

Earlier in the day, we went to a pool party with a bunch of kids from their kindergarten class.  What a perfect Last Day of Summer Vacation thing to do.  The weather has been rainy and cold (for here) all week, but today was 85* and sunny.  They had so much fun swimming and snacking together.  Then everyone said, "See you tomorrow!" as we headed out for home.  Sadly, none of these kids from today are in the twins class, but one other little friend is.  Several of these kids will be together, though.  Many of their other classmates from kindergarten won't be back to this particular elementary school.  4 or 5 of them have bought homes in another school district or will be attending a different school for other reasons.  Oh, and remember I said it looked like they have 3 sets of twins in Carl & Gretchen's new class?  Well, when I checked the Birthday Chart, there were not 3 sets of matching birthdays.  Turns out, the 2 little boys with the same last name are brothers but they are born 9 months apart.  So, only 2 sets of twins in the room - both boy/girl (the best kind, as everyone knows). 

Goodbye, Summer Vacation 2012!  If I had attempted to script you back in June, I don't know if I could have put in as much fun and togetherness as you gave us.  We're sad to see you end, but really looking forward to the 2012-2013 school year, too.  Bring on the learning!  (and the routine!)