SCHOOL BIZ

Daddy let her go to school with her dress backwards and her sweater underneath. And he doesn't care that I disagree with this arrangement. Cora is undecided on whether she cares...

While we're very proud of his 100 (bummer it was just for a candy reward and not a grade, since he needs a little help with his science grade - no idea why, since he knows all the stuff when we quiz him, but his real quizes and exams have not gone as well as this candy quiz), it was his graffiti up top that had us cracking up!

A common scene on Tuesdays (and sometimes Thursdays) as we plow through homework before Bootcamp starts (since there is Scouts and soccer after, and thus no time for homework at home).

FROZEN CRITTERS

Cora has relocated all of her Calico Critters from their shelf in her closet (where they lived in the Lodge and Ballet Stage) to Elsa's Frozen Castle (since Elsa never really lives there). She doesn't think she has enough rooms though, so don't be surprised grandparents if she comes asking you about an even bigger dollhouse this Christmas... (which may or may not be cheaper than the kayak she was originally asking for...)

GUMMY BEAR MATH

(Photo from Mrs. Sorrels' 3rd Grade Math webpage)

SUNDAY BUSYNESS

SOCCER SMILES

Soccer started this week!

MAD SCIENTIST 5K

ERDC held their first (open to the public) running event on station this morning and it was a huge hit! They had more registrants than Chill in the Hills! Being one of the few 5Ks in town, if they can get the lawyers to agree to let it become an annual event, it could become very well attended (and raise some much needed funds to improve our on station fitness center, which is not Army funded and thus is full of very old equipment).

I did not run fast (I'm just not there yet - not even close, really), but I did actually run the entire course, which is a first for me. Yes, I know that seems weird to say - I can run a 50K, but can't run a 5K?! Well, ultras basically require walking (and it's expected). 5Ks are supposed to hurt, and they do, but I'm not the best at pacing myself and usually burn out before the end (and require a walk break). So, slow and steady made me very happy today! Plenty of time to get some speed back next year when I'm back in shape and more confident in my knee strength.

AUTUMN'S BIRTHDAY MOVIE NIGHT

Cora attended an evening birthday party tonight with 10 girls to celebrate Autumn's birthday. I ended up sticking around for the party to help Autumn's mama (and be the photographer), and it was quite entertaining watching the girls pair off, group together, reunite, regroup, etc. throughout the 3.5 hours. It was generally chaos, but everyone behaved and had fun. And there were only 3 minor injuries (Cora was not included - don't worry, they were toe stubs and foot scrapes from running around without their shoes on, nothing at all serious).

(Taken right before they sat still for 20 whole minutes of the movie)

 (Kauri was not pictured because she arrived late)

COMING TO A MAILBOX NEAR YOU

The kids are doing a project for their GATES classes where they created Flat Characters (similar to the Flat Stanley stories) called Flat Alesea (she's a vampire) and Flat Knight (he's a knight, obviously). They were instructed to pose them in various places over Labor Day weekend to show what the kids did for their holiday, and will soon be making a trip via mail from Bowmar Elementary to 5 different mailboxes across the country (heads-up to the grandparents, Eli and Addy, Uncle Jamie, Manu, Willow, and Auntie Robyn). Once you receive your Flat Character in the mail, he or she will need to go on an adventure, then write back to tell about it.

Caving and tree climbing, and getting photo-bombed by a barred rock in the coop.

 Daddy thought it would be fun to create a volcano out of the giant mound of dirt that still lingers (and is constantly played with) in our yard:

 Then it was back inside to rest for a while with books and video games.

 The kids are loving GATES this year (and we're loving the open communication about what goes on in that class for once!)

FRESH PAINT

Jay decided to clean out and redo the aquarium (soon to be vivarium), so what better time to repaint the kitchen?! (It's needed a non-matte finish refresh for years anyway.) And while we're at it and have a coupon, why not buy paint for James' room (since he's been asking for months)?!?!

 New vs. Old (it's not quite as different in person, but it's definitely brighter and glossier, and bit more purple and less gray than the old blue)

Jay painted inside the glass cabinet too, and I love it! We don't have everything back on the walls yet, but it seems so different to us. Cora says we have a lot of blue rooms in our house. Must be our favorite color...

James' room is going from a bright turquoise blue (see against the back wall in the first photo) to a deeper couple of greenish teal blues. So yeah, still blue. He picked two colors - one for the wall where his bed will be moved to and one for the other 3 walls.

During (above) and After (below)

KITTY LOVE

SILVER LINING

Of all the chores we did over Labor Day weekend, polishing the silver was not planned. But when you repaint the kitchen and scrub it clean from top to bottom (and inside and out - cabinets), you find that your wedding flutes and candlesticks need some TLC. What better some for 4 little able hands?

PORTRAITS AND YEARLY UPDATES

 I know, we took each of their yearly portraits late (a month or more after their birthdays), and are even later getting them posted to the blog (and uploaded to Snapfish). Somehow the task just kept getting away from us (it's a team effort). So, without further ado, here are our favorite portraits that Jay took to commemorate James' 8th birthday and Cora's 7th birthday:

 The kids grew a lot in the past year (literally and figuratively). If we recall the correct stats (since James is now 8.5 years old and Cora is 7.25 years old, and the sidebar on the blog shows their current stats, not their 8 and 7 year stats), James was 60 lbs and 50.5" while Cora was 50 lbs and 48.5". She tends to stay right around 10 lbs and 2" behind him, though she's determined to maintain the same number of teeth lost (seriously... it's been 7 months since she pulled that upper incisor and there is not even a hint of it breaking the surface yet).

Normally I would write a lengthy update about their current activities, favorites, and behaviors, but since I'm really late writing this and I'm combining them into one post, I'll just give a short summary...

In his 8th year, James continued to play soccer and progress through the Cub Scout ranks (he graduated to a Bear just after his birthday last spring). He took up dance in January, taking 3 classes (ballet, Acro, and boys dance) and really enjoying both the lessons and end of year recital. He had a stellar end to his 2nd Grade year and received many accolades in both math and reading (most of which us parents weren't expecting him to receive, so it was a fun surprise). His personality and behaviors are pretty well established at this point, and he continues to be a friendly, sweet and sensitive, creative, calm, well behaved, loving and cuddly, witty, aims-to-please kind of guy.

In her 7th year, Cora also continued to play soccer and have fun with her Scout friends as a Daisy (she graduated to a Brownie at the end of the year). She excelled in Acro and continued to smile her way through ballet and jazz - she truly loves dance and is always extra happy on dance class days. She progressed so much with reading during her 1st Grade year and was her TA's favorite kid (because she was always so helpful and cheerful at school). Our Queen has some pretty set-in-stone behaviors herself (some, despite our best efforts...) - she's outgoing, fearless, compassionate, imaginative, independent, and strong, all of which she is very proud of.

We know we're lucky to be on this adventure with these incredible kids, and we couldn't be happier with the paths they're taking already in life. We are blessed, and we work hard for them. We are so very proud of their strengths and individual characteristics, and we will continue to support them in their endeavors (academically, athletically, and any other way they choose - while they are involved in many of the same activities these days, that could always change). They keep us busy, but we make it all work and still manage to carve out family time and opportunities for adventure, which always seem to bring us closer together and remind us to be appreciative of each other.

VIOLET

Cora's friend Ruthie brought her bunny (Violet) to show and tell today, so there was a second show and tell on the playground after school. I got to hold her like a baby! Did you know that bunnies can smile? Her teeth showing through her smiling lips made me laugh. Then she fell asleep.