Kindergarden!

Anna had her first day of elementary school today. She was excited and very nervous about school and new friends this morning. After school, Anna was excited and ready to go back in the morning. I am happy that she had such a nice first day of school.

Sam's First Day of Pre-School

Mr. Sam with his backpack on in front of his new pre-school. Sam brought his Monkey named "Sam" with him and had "circle bread with chesse" as his lunch. He had a great first day of school. Sam picked the hook as his symbol and spent most of his day playing in the sand box. Sam wore a coat that was worn on Henry B's first day of school. Sam was just a few day's old when Anna started going to school at JLP in September 2008.

Return Of Milton

After being lost for almost a year, the swim puppy Milton, has been found. In celebration of the event, Stella wore her doggles.

Sam had a big day yesterday. After calling his sister, Anna, "Nana my Sister" for two years. He finally is able to call her "Anna." The best part was once Sam said it once ... so very proud ... he yelled "I got it! Anna my sister."

Fairy Queen Play Date

Unicorns: The Extinction

Anna and Sam play acted the big bag theory to explain why the unicorns are all extinct this afternoon. The have been watching the tv show Dinosaur Train a lot this summer ... and well I thought it was a good guess regarding the lack of unicorns, pegasus, and dragons in Portland.

Three Years Old

Today Sam is three years old. He spends most every day now dressed as a pirate with a sash, sword, and pirate hat. He likes to explain himself to people as a "1/2 pirate." This is because Sam likes to brush his teeth and everyone knows that pirates do not brush teeth. When Sam wants to feel extra pirated, he will use an ice cream scoop as a hook hand and take off one shoe to pretend that he has a peg leg. Sam has a great imagination and is a lot of fun to watch in action ... we are lucky to have him in our lives. Happy birthday my pirate boy.

PDXYAR

Captain Cockroach, we meet again ... this time Sam was much more prepared for how amazing it is to talk to a real pirate.

Robert!

Cousin Robbie was in town last weekend and boy was everyone happy to see him again. Robbie has a huge fan club at our house. We had such a fun weekend with the Children's Museum, Zoo, Gustav's, Timber's Game, a big BBQ ... is was really fun and very busy. We hope Robbie and his family come back again soon.

The Pirate Is Back

Sam lost his "pirate" for the last week due to being naughty ... boy was he super happy to be back to his old treasure hunting, blood thirsty, pirate plundering ways this morning.

Princesses

Anna had a playdate this afternoon with her friend Amanda and a two extra princesses.

The Ballet Tea

Anna and I went to her ballet classes annual tea party today. We have been waiting for this event for month's. The party is a very big deal at her studio, the girls have a drawing contest to see who will create the invitations and tee shirts. Her teachers personally invest a lot of effort and attention to the tea. They made most of the treats for the party and created a hair clip for each girl. Anna and her friend Elsie spent most of the party dancing with the pre-professional ballet dancers. At the raffle Anna won a princess tent, she was so excited! I had spent 5 minutes telling her not to be to upset when she did not win .. and then her ticket was the first one pulled. She told me that she just knew she was lucky!

When I Root, I Root For The Timbers!

After the busy day at Dozer Days, Nana and Pop pop's took the kids to a Timber's game. They love to go to the games and have been to four games so far this season. Sam is especially excited about all things Timber. One of his favorite things to do is walk around singing the soccer chants ... my favorite chant so far is "No pity in the Rose City!!"

Dozer Days

On Saturday, Anna and Sam got to play with some heavy construction equipment. Anna was fearless, determined, and very excited about the entire process. Sam was very nervous about being inside the big rigs and did not really work the machines much. He was more excited to play in the sand pits and look around. Nana was competitive. She was about to lift, move and drop a basketball .. woo hoo Nana!

Down A Tunnel

Thursday Art: Playdough Monsters

Duck Tape Autobahn

Long Piggie Tails

Two Bikes

Charles found a little free bike for Sam to ride.

Stacking Elephants .. Like Dumbo's Circus

Our Tupperware Zoo

Strange little displays of toy animals, soaking in water, in tupperware containers, and on a pink towel started to appear in our kitchen each morning ... I think it must be Anna. She fakes knowledge of the new zoo; however, seems she does know that the lion is in charge. "He is the zookeeper! Can't you tell he is in charge?"

Play Dough

I have been working the past few weeks. Anna and Sam had a Nanny while Nana was on a trip with Pop pop's. The kids had a great time and learned all sorts of new was to make and play with play dough. The favorite new trick is to make scented play dough ... pink peppermint, green lime, and purple grape.

Found On The Camera

There's A Bird On Your Head

A favorite book, complete with hand gestures and silly faces is on the must read every night list.

A Pirate Most Of The Time

First Ballet of 2011