Let it be known, the boy is FIVE (and where did the time go?)

He's five.  I can't get over it.  And he won't let me get over it, because he makes sure he tells every single human being we come in contact with.  "I'm Finn and I'm five" (flash five fingers).   I'm clearly having trouble reconciling the independent five year old with the feisty little bundle I think of him as (still).

Goodies from Wis-can-sen

E traveled recently to a regional office in Madison, so naturally when he asked if I wanted him to bring something home, I replied "cheese curds".  He came through and tossed in a few surprises to boot.  Locally made cinnamon roasted almonds and chocolate covered cranberries, as well as a bottle of Bitter Woman beer.  The latter puzzled me a little as I am neither a beer drinker...nor bitter.   He thought it was hilariously funny.  

She Turned Seven (um, like 2 months ago)

So in July, with some of her favorite girls for company, she ate her fill of nutella croissants, pain au chocolat, baguettes with fromage, fruits, and Orangina, of course. She played silly games, posed for silly pictures and all around had a great day. Oh, and Wonderboy was our waiter. Naturally.

We stretched out the birthday fun with a visit to the pediatrician for ear piercing, which she had begged for for some time. She's quite proud of her bejeweled lobes.

Nauvoo

Grandpa and Grandma J came to visit a few weeks ago and since they had never seen Nauvoo, we took a little road trip with them.   With lots of tours and wagon rides, we learned so much about early Nauvoo. 

4th grade, 2nd grade. Ready, set, go!

Just when I was fully adjusted to having the kids home all day, and enjoying the slow pace of summer, school starts. Wonderboy is enthusiastic about two things. First, 4th grade comes with a move to the upper floor of the school. All those cool 4th and 5th graders too cool to mingle with the commoners (K-3rd), enjoying their mezzanine level classrooms. Second, entering 4th graders' school supplies include a flashdrive. He doesn't know what a flashdrive does, but whatever it is, he's sure it must be cool.

My girl is thrilled to be headed to 2nd grade. Just because. She's the happiest, easiest-going girl I know. It's good to have one of those. She just can't wait to see what I've put in her lunch bag. Love this girl.

Quote of the Day

"Oooh! My shoes smell like jellybeans!"

(Author's note: His shoes most definitely do NOT smell like jellybeans.)

Little Ballet Dancer

Miss S's dance yearly dance recital was a couple of weeks ago. And while she begins to loathe dance class about 3/4 of the way through the year - it is so boring...so passe, after all - the promise of the formal performance helps her abide the drudgery. She must be quite unlike me in some ways after all, as I'm sure she loves center stage as much as it terrifies me. She takes the performance very seriously and knows her part, as well as those of the other girls in her class most thoroughly.