Tina takes a walk.

First day of first grade

 Already?

 Really?

 First grade?


7:36AM "Mom, why didn't you wake me up? You where supposed to get me up six minutes ago!!!"  Sorry, Charlie, I was just changing Isaac's diaper first.

7:37AM "I'll just eat whatever. There's no time for waffles." There is plenty of time for waffles. It's your first day of school and you can have whatever you want for breakfast. Waffles it is.

7:45AM "Why are you taking so long to comb my hair?" Because your hair is so long.  Please, stop touching it. I'm almost done.

8:09AM "Can I go to the bus yet?" It won't be here for another 10 minutes. We have lots of time. Let me take your picture.

8:10AM "THE BUS IS HERE! IT'S EARLY!" 

9:00AM Jack: "Can I go sit at the bus stop and wait for Charlie to come home?"

A perfect day for Jack

Nothing is more exciting for Jack than to hear, "Jack! Come quick! There are snakes all over our back yard!!!" Indeed. I decided on Wednesday that four days was a sufficient amount of time for the tent to dry after Father's and sons. As I reached to pick it up a quick little garter snake zipped out and under the fence. Just the day before we'd been talking about how we hadn't seen any snakes this year. Last summer Jack caught five. I was so sad that I'd missed this guy (but not sad enough to actually consider grabbing it before it got away). As the adrenalin settled, I proceeded to lift the tent only to find four more little guys curled up on the cold cement under the tent at which point I called in my in-house snake catcher.

Jack spent the day with his snakes. One got away during snake races. One was let go after it "threw up". Jack said, "I'm not a real expert on snakes, but it was time for that one to go." The final two where released at dinner time after a day of begging and pleading for us to keep them forever and ever. (Did we not just get a dog? And we already need snakes? Then, if we keep snakes, what's next? Well, I asked Jack and he said, "A bird and then a turtle and then a king cobra and a baby tiger and then a baby mountain goat, a bearded dragon, and then I'll have a horse. A baby horse. A baby. Small." Oh, okay. As long as it is small. "And then a cheetah and a kitten." Well, at least I know what the ultimate plan is.)

A proud moment in parenting

Finally, one of our children has discovered how to roll his tongue.

Charlie looks on wishing he could curl his own tongue.

Ike is looking more and more like a boy and less like a baby. How lucky is a kid to have two dimples?!!

Meet Tina

Miss Tina

Tina, is our new little girl. She's the best little puppy. We love her to pieces. She's a teeny tiny puff ball. Isaac loves her kisses and says "Bu-bee geesus. 'gain. bu-bee geesus. 'gain" and laughs and laughs as he rolls on the floor while she kisses him and grabs his ears. We've realized that Isaac is very much a puppy himself and now wants to actually be a puppy. I saw him sneak a piece of her food to try today. Then later, he was doing all he could to clip her leash to his shirt and finally settled with holding it under his chin. He loves to sit on the floor and chat with her in his baby babble, tell her about stuff, sing her his songs.

Although I tried naming her Mei Mei, we decided to go with Tina because of our favorite llama and her uncanny resemblance to the Queen of Rock n Roll. She's a maltise poodle/shih tzu/cocker mix. The puppy that is.. not the Queen of Rock n Roll.

 

For updates on Amber..

I was heart broken to hear of Amber's condition this morning.

I just learned that Amber's family is posting the latest information HERE.

Amber's friend Emery is posting updates as well.

Charlie and Jack's Read-A-Thon for IASK

Charlie and Jack are participating in a read-a-thon on Saturday, August 14th to raise funds for IASK. International Aid Serving Kids provides free dental and medical care to children in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. I've posted about Greg's trips with IASK and now the boys are excited to contribute too!

How it works:

You can make a pledge per page or a specific amount.

Charlie will read as much as he can for a full day on Saturday August 14th including, but not limited to, at least 2 hours with his church primary youth group. Although Jack can't read yet, Greg and I will read to him and he will count each page we read together.

After the read-a-thon, we'll report back to you the total amount Charlie and Jack read and will be collecting the money by Saturday, August 21st.

100% of your donation will go directly to medical and dental supplies for the children in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. If you would like more information about IASK please visit their website at http://www.iask4kids.org/

Thank you for your support of Charlie and Jack as they participate in this great cause.
Photo by Janae.

"Anybody want a peanut?" --Fezzik

 

We are planning on bringing her home in 2 weeks but can't decide on a name! 

Today, we're really leaning towards "Peanut". 

We've also thought of: 

Philly

Daisy

Fifi - short for Princess Fifi Von Schnookie Mittens, of course

Tina - after the llama in Napoleon Dynamite

and

 Sweetums