So, Two Days Ago . . .

This handsome quartet

started school!

I didn't have much (any) time for arranging/staging/requesting smiles. Three quarters of the group were mortified that their mom was even doing this and the other quarter was in a general state of mild panic I think.

He ended up having a great first day, (quote from his teacher at pick up time, "William is so well prepared for kindergarten." (-:), but was NOT happy about me and the camera slithering around the room.

I know how to read a face.

And this face says, "Here is your smile, now will you please get out of my fifth grade classroom!!!"

After their half-day we did our (mostly) annual "1st day of school lunch" at the local Big Boy. Or as William thought it was called, "Big Bob." Yep, one of our quintet is missing. He was invited to a friends farm after school. When we collected him at the end of the day he had a fascinating tale to tell about how that night's chicken dinner came right from the farm yard with the mom butchering and preparing the chicken as the boys looked on! Wowzers, not sure I can beat a "playdate" like that with my dried snake skins!!! He did say however, it was some of the best chicken he ever had! (-:

The first day of school was inspiring for him.

He followed up at the house with an experiment they tried at school.

By the end of the day this dandy was in my freezer.

What gave me a chuckle was that these pencils were all located without my help. YET, when someone needs a pencil for homework it's all, "MAHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMM, I can't find any PENCILS!!!!!!"

Meanwhile, our oldest gal took me up on glancing through an old (new to us) copy of "The Joy of Cooking" that I left on her dresser and decided she needed to make a lemon filled jelly roll. She was doubling the recipe and realized she used a 2/3 sized measuring cup instead of the 3/4 size cup she was supposed to use, while doubling the recipe mind you, so she simply got out a pen and paper and FIGURED OUT THE DIFFERENCE so as to add the correct amount more! Are you kidding me? I would have tossed the whole thing and started over. She amazes me!

Jelly Roll Cake, baked to absolute perfection!

And rolled perfectly with a divine lemon filling!

(the whole process took her over three hours!!!)

Way to go, Lara!!

Then, the next day (yesterday) we had a lovely visit from Aunt Sally where she dropped off this:

The gorgeous sweater, not the gorgeous toddler! (-:

It's called a Baby Surprise Jacket and it fits her perfectly.

Isn't it beautiful?

And, if all this didn't wear you out, it sure did this boy.

He sacked out all afternoon after day 2 of school.

(though his four immunization shots right after school might have helped too)

So, off we go. The 2011-2012 school year has begun. Lara in soccer, Ben in Cross Country (to condition for hockey (-;), Piano starting after Labor Day, Livia and Mom doing a music/movement class at the Y, William taking life easy with his mornings full of kindergarten and maybe some tennis or hockey for Harrison, we'll see...