Are you ready for some football....

SCHOOL!!

First day of school is here! Luke was VERY excited to start his new school - his BIG BOY school. He is going to St. Philomena in Portsmouth, RI.

He loved his first week. So much so that on Friday (he goes Tues and Thurs) he woke up and said, "Mommy, you forgot to pack my lunchbox for school" too cute. I think it will be a great place for him. We are very impressed by the school and everything they have to offer. The grounds are BEAUTIFUL, on the water. They start French and Spanish in Pre-K. Luke came home from school on Tuesday and taught Paige what Bonjour meant. Luke is most excited about the class bunny rabbit, Obi-wan. The kids get a chance to take him home for the weekend throughout the school year.

This is the cutest picture. He was so excited the night before school, making sure his lunch was all set -


First day of school (allowed to wear "home clothes") -


First day of uniform (little German boy) -


The carpool gang -

IRENE

Lots of talk about Hurricane Irene in our house. The kids of course know something is going on but don't really get it. Some of the talk includes: As we are in the backyard putting all the toys in the shed, Luke: "Is the storm stronger than my ATV? Is it stronger than the tree and the house? Where will the spiders and worms go when the storm comes?" Paige: "I better go inside, the storm will be scared of me" - certainly not the other way around! The best is that for some reason Luke keeps mixing up the word hurricane with the word diarrhea. He has done this 3 times today. "Mommy, is this going to be a huge diarrhea?"

Kids were not at all happy about having to stay in all day -



Marley and I took a walk during the storm -

Farmer's Market -

During the summer months we have a farmer's market within walking distance in downtown Padanaram.
The library comes and does a storytime for the kids which they love. But I think Marley loves it the most. He gets more attention when we walk around down there.
King for a day.

Paige washing her wheels -

Wednesday's with Dadddy -

On Wednesday's, when schedules work, I bring the kids down to daddy's work for lunch with daddy. They love it, especially on the days we get to go up to his office afterward.
Downtown New Bedford has some good restaurants. The kids love Brick a great little pizza place right around the corner.
LOVE seeing daddy in the middle of the day.

Fairytale Stories -

This is Paige telling her very own made up fairytale. OK, maybe not the next JK Rowling....

Scene one -


Scene two -


Scene three -

"Quiet Luke I'm Dancin'"

NH Weekend -

We headed north this past weekend to have a break from the beach and enjoy the mountains, lakes, bears and horses. On Saturday, we met Kel/Scott and the kids at Clarks Trading Post. Kids loved it. Lots to do and see for the kids.








The rest of the weekend, we just spent hanging around the farm. The kids went swimming in the lake with Papa and the dogs. Luke spent a combined 56 hours catching frogs up there. Good for him, there were plenty to catch. At any given time, he had a good 2 or 3 in his "bucket". Luckily no frogs were harmed but I think a few had minor heart attacks :)
The kids loved brushing the horses (mostly Paige) and feeding them treats. Luke is getting more comfortable around them.
Jay got to ride Tigger - just like old times. He rode Tigger in 2005/6 when we took lessons before heading to Tuscon. He is a big guy (Tigger...not Jay)

Fun in the backyard -

Luke has always loved animals. This summer he has spent HOURS in the backyard creating habitats for his various (plastic) animals. He makes forests, rain forests, lakes, creeks, mud pits, you name it. He loves it. He will stay out there for hours if you let him, getting good and dirty.
This is just one of his creations. As you can see, he couldn't wait to change into his clothes for the day, he is out there first thing in the morning.