Fourth Grade...

First day of Fourth Grade was yesterday. I didn't catch the brown boots in this picture. Can you tell the backpack weighs more than her? Kate is sad because she did not have a backpack but Jackie had her carry her lunch bag (which is like a mini-backpack and which she got from Grandma). She's a smart kid and though I wish the little one was cooperating for the middle picture, I really love Jackie's expression and body langunage in it. She finds Kate trying at times, but she loves her more than anything. You're gonna have a great year, Jackie. Love ya. Mom and Dad. NOTE: If you look closely at the left side of her backpack, you can see the bead buddy made by her cousin Sara hanging off a zipper pull.

Today was a nice day. We had lunch with Uncle Brian and then went to see Karate Kid with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith. Last year Jackie was upset because some kids teased her and called her Jackie Chan - of course because her name is Jackie and she is Asian. I really wanted Jackie to see a Jackie Chan movie before school started because, quite frankly, Jackie Chan is awesome. He works really hard and does all his own stunts and he is funny. Jackie loved the movie, so my hope is if someone calls her Jackie Chan this year she will say, "Have you seen him in Karate Kid? Wasn't he awesome?"

Anyway, after the movie we came back to our house for a very simple dinner of which Kate ate none but, to her credit, when she asked for a fudgsicle later and I said essentially 'no', she did not put up a fuss. After Brian went home, Jackie and I worked on her two major dance numbers for her Annie play which is coming up this Friday and Saturday. It has been so fun watching these kids over last couple months. They really have worked very hard and have had so much fun working on this production. Jackie was a trooper tonight because it was late and she was very tired, but we watched the videos of Never Fully Dressed and Hard Knock Life and went over the routines and over the routines and over the routines so she could be more comfortable with her numbers. (I videotaped a couple of their practices with the choreographer, Ms. Jennifer - thanks Mom for letting us borrow the camera and burning the discs for us. Someday I'll be a grownup and learn how to be more proficient with the computer.) The kids have done great. It has been fun to watch each kid grow and develop over the last couple months.

Jackie starts school in a week and a half. I think she is ready, but I think she also enjoyed this summer. She got to try new things and spent some great quality time with her cousins. She is very, very happy that she will be getting off the bus at Grandpa's again this year. I am too. It's been really neat to watch Jackie and Dad's relationship develop over the last couple years. It's also really comforting to know that Jackie can talk to Grandpa about her day if she needs to. Plus, this means Kate will see Grandpa and Grandma often, which she loves.

Grandma has been stocking Jackie with school clothes over the past year. I did a quick count to see what we needed to fill in but Grandma scored three tan pants, three navy blue pants, one navy blue skirt, two short sleeve white shirts, three long sleeve white shirts and one dark turtle neck. I think we are actually pretty well set!! Thank you!! Grandma also went on a 40 mile bike ride today in Rolling Prairie. 40 miles is farther than LaPorte, and it takes about 40-45 minutes to drive there. Zoiks. You rock, Grandma.

Well, suppose I should turn in. I am up late because Kate's Mimi rag doll has been in desparate need of a bath so I snuck it from her bed and into the washing machine after she went to sleep.

Well-intentioned Plans

I have dishes, laundry (and laundry and laundry) and thoughts of running today, but so far all I have accomplished is:

...omelettes for breakfast with green pepper and tomatoes from garden (yum)

...being Bat Cat (from Charlie and Lola with mask made by JJ)

...being a Prince (as directed by Kate)

Enjoying...

Jackie is enjoying:

* Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief movie (she already read the book)

* 'Annie' rehearsals

Kate is enjoying:

* playing with the toys that she hasn't played with in forever but now loves because they are in the going to Goodwill pile (of course)

* the pink nighttime sky: 'It is going to rain,' says she.

* Charlie and Lola episodes on YouTube

Dave is enjoying:

* unexpected phone calls and e-mails from Pat in Africa

* 'Sea of Monsters' book - 2nd in the Percy Jackson series

I am enjoying:

* online community at Runner's World.com. Really, really, really need to get running again. I wonder if the Potato Creek Triathlon at the end of September is too much to expect.

* listening to Kate sing to herself as she plays with her new-found old toys

* Jackie's interest in Michael Jackson. We've been watching Thriller, Beat It, I'm Bad, etc., on YouTube.

Oh, and you can also find Cha Cha Slide on YouTube, too, much to the girls' delight.

Shabby Blogs Website

I just stumbled across the Shabby Blogs website while searching how to add some buttons.

See the two buttons on the sidebar (Welcome Family and Friends and Journey)?  Those were free from the Shabby Blogs site which is fun to check out.  Hopefully, I did the link to the site right.  You should be able to just click on the title and it will direct you there.

Okay, no more posts from me today.  Have a good night one and all!

First T-Ball

Kate started t-ball last week. It's so much fun to watch. At this age, most of the kids' shirts hang past their knees when untucked and their hats hang over their eyes. They're not sure why they can't just walk off the field and, say, go to the big park just over yonder.

For Kate, waiting in line to bat is the hardest. When I asked her which she liked best, throwing, catching or hitting, she said throwing and to tell you the truth, she's got a pretty good arm.

It's the Hard Knock Life

It's all about Annie here, all day, all the time.

JJ's playing one of the orphans at a local Church production of Annie in Niles, Michigan.  It's amazing, really, how much effort is being put into the play by the Church. We've been listening to the Annie CD of all the songs over ... and over... and over... :0)

JJ's very excited and has been singing and dancing her heart out and getting little sis to join in.  Kate sings parts of 'It's a Hard Knock Life' with great enthusiasm. 

It's too bad she's so young.  She would have made an adorable orphan, too.