last weekend highlights

Practicing for the first spelling test.
Playing with dough.  This can go on for hours at our house.
Posing with the dough maker.
Mixing chocolate mousse from a pudding-like package.  
Fun to make but not so tasty.  "Mommy, I can't even taste the chocolate."  We went for ice cream.
No images but we hiked and canoed Saturday at a local state park and went to baby Annabella's baptism on Sunday.

first day of school

Here is Elizabeth yesterday, on start-of-school eve.  Remove fingernail polish:  check!

Here she is after school today.  Daddy took her out to breakfast and met us for lunch.  She's telling me things and swinging her arms in this one.

I could not resist the matching plaid headband and belt.

The year is off to a good start.  Mrs. Carlson seems very nice, and sometimes the clean desk fairy leaves candy on neat desks.  Tomorrow is the first full day.  My mostly unsentimental self was sobbing in the gym after we left her classroom.  She's in a GRADE.

Mary Austin

This is my other niece, Mary Austin. It's been over a week and I am still not over her leaving. She may be the most loving child ever. Imagine a niece who stops what she is doing to run to her uncle and hug his leg when he comes home from work. And she says the sweetest things with the prettiest little voice. She can really melt a heart. Elizabeth adores her and talks about her constantly. Have you heard of "mentionitis"? Oh, and did I say that she is an incredibly talented gymnast?  Look at that form.  She is five years old and placed in a ten year old class.  Actually, her class mates may be older now.  She is promoted so often it is hard to keep up!

Check out her dive.  If she wants her body to do it, she can.  Excuse the blur.  Even the camera cannot keep up.
Love you and miss you, Mary Austin.  I am glad school is going well!