Busy weekend

Enjoying the morning quiet before a 5-year-old's Barbie birthday party, University Day at Seton Hall and a men's soccer game tonight vs. Pittsburgh. Tomorrow it's a Laurie Berkner concert in the city. Here's Greta and Duncan last weekend playing dress-up.

Picture Day

Greta's was yesterday and Lincoln's is next week. Because we're frugal and because our children are among the most photographed on the planet, we did not buy any individual shots and she just sat for her class photo. I did take a few when I dropped Greta off in the morning. For grandparents worried they won't get a new 5x7 for Christmas, Greta and I are having a portrait session over Columbus Day weekend when we're in Portsmouth, N.H.

Masculine dress-up

Since I've posted plenty of pictures of Lincoln dressed in feminine attire, thought I'd share a couple more superhero shots. His pal Emma Hayden gave him her Batman cape and somewhere he learned to grab the side of it and sweep it over his face while exclaiming, "the dark knight!" His Power Ranger costume, mentioned previously, simply gives him super jumping and running ability.

Why I'm not looking forward to 2018...

Last water play of 2010?

It neared 85 here on Saturday, so we broke out the slip 'n slide for one final hurrah.

Strike a pose

The kids last weekend in their favorite costumes. Linc scored the Power Ranger get-up for $1 at the local consignment shop. I took four quarters from his piggy bank.

Back to school night

We attended our first this evening. Way too long in the "cafetorium" (that's half cafeteria, half auditorium for the uninitiated) listening to the art, music and gym teachers tell us how they're making our 5-year-old a well-rounded young adult, and then about 30 minutes in Greta's classroom with her teacher, Mrs. Mendez. I told her Greta was a big fan and she said she was a big fan of Greta's. Each kid made a self-portrait on a paper plate and inserted it on a stick into their favorite T-shirt. We did not discuss the periodic table.

Daddy time

Best bath-book-bed night I've done solo in a looong time. Two very cooperative kids in the tub, only had to ask them twice to brush their teeth, they each picked a book (then agreed on a third one, "Curious George & the Pancake Breakfast"), and each went down after their unique final routine (for Lincoln, the "I love Lincoln" song and for Greta, a kiss for each of her years on the body part of her choice).

 

For those who are curious, Carey attended the first meeting of our new Neighborhood Watch. Seems a few other folks don't like the gangs of kids loitering in the park or the dime bags littering the playground. Might not be good for resale values.

Extemperaneous poetry

Friday morning as we walked to the car, I asked Greta to stay off the wet grass and stick to the sidewalk. She obeyed and began to softly sing:

"Dew on the grass is beautiful.
When the sun hits it,
It sparkles like a diamond.
It's so beautiful."

It's hard to convey the melody, but I'm certain it was wholly original. The loveliest part? That evening, as Carey was making dinner, she sang it again and wrote the nouns and verbs on a piece of paper. (Click the image to enlarge.)

New playroom!

After months of waiting, we finally have a new playroom, courtesy of USAA insurance and my Dad.  The floor and walls were damaged by the monsoon rains we had in the spring of 2010. USAA's contractors tore out the paneling on the back wall with the window and sheet-rocked it. Dad and I tore down the ceiling tiles, he plastered it all, then primed and painted it. He also painted the rest of the paneling and USAA installed a mahogany floor. It's much brighter and it doesn't smell like mildew. Now I have to make good on my promise to buy the kids a new TV. This morning, the computer had to suffice as Lincoln watched "Super Friends, vol IV."

Show me your muscles!

Lincoln is a picky eater, so we're always telling him to finish his food or drink his milk so he can grow big and strong. He has now associated big and strong with muscle-bound superheros and has taken to posing with his muscles. His sister tries to mimic him, but I don't think she's ever going to make it to Venice Beach.

School days

I haven't managed to get a good shot of both kids smiling as we set off for school in the morning, but each of these is worth saving.

Hairy

We trimmed 2" off it the other day at the mall, but Greta's hair still falls in her face. Doesn't bother her, though. Last night we had taken a bath and were having a chocolate cookie for dessert when she turned her head to reveal what looked like brown paint in her blond locks. Pressed for what happened, she said she didn't know she was chewing her hair. I wasn't quick enough with the camera before Carey whisked her upstairs for a cleaning, but this photo is from earlier in the day.

Ready for some football!

I never played the sport and think there are a great many things about it that are ridiculous -- the shape of the ball, for one, Philadelphia's Kelly Green throwback uniforms today, for another. (Greta called them Tinker Bells, perhaps the only time she's ever used that name derisively.) But the thrill of muscle-bound men colliding at high speeds, I can understand that. And so, apparently, can my children. While I tried to watch today, they ran around the house with a small rubber ball, jumped on each other, tried to tickle my toes, and laughed, laughed, laughed.

Rainy Sunday

While Carey switches out the kids' closets from summer to fall, I watch the NFL's opening weekend and the SLR battery charges, the kids are enjoying "My Neighbor Totoro" on the back porch.

How we all feel heading into Friday...

First day photos

We're back up and surfing the Internets at Chez Merrill. But we're also all exhausted, so I'll just share these three photos and call it a night.

Neighborhood kindergarten kids -- from left to right, Dakota, Emma, Duncan and Greta

Greta moments after finding a seat. Only 17 years of education ahead, kid.

Proud mom and doting daughter. They walked halfway, skipped the other half.

Kindergarten report

We're in the process of changing our ISP, so no photos until tonight. But a few stories from Greta's first day for the anticipating grandparents. When asked her favorite part of the very long (845am-315pm school day, after care in the cafeteria/auditorium until 530pm) day, Greta enthusiastically responded: "Recess!" She had it twice yesterday and all 7 kindergarten classes went outside at the same time, so she got to see her neighborhood friends who have other teachers. She also told Carey at pick-up, "Mommy, I'm really tired." Sound asleep at 8pm and other than a "bad dream" at Midnight, she slept until 7. When pressed for other details about the day, she said Mrs. Mendez helped her put her barrettes in her bag when they fall out of her hair and that Will was "not a good listener."

Off to school!

T-minus 12 hours to K-Day

How is it that I'm sitting here typing on the eve of Greta's first day of kindergarten? How is it even possible? I'm thankful we have this blog archive so I can look back and prove to myself that, yes, it has been 5+ years since I wept under an elm tree at Bethesda Naval, thinking our 8-week-premature baby wasn't going to make it through the night. And now the little girl who I call "Big Kid" is asleep in her bed after not making more than a single fuss about tomorrow's momentous occasion. Carey, however, thinks she ought to go buy another dozen pencils just in case. She's working from home tomorrow and I'm taking a later train. Unless Carey feels like posting it before then, I'll share the obligatory Girl Wearing a Backpack (which in our case will be Girl Wearing a Messenger Bag/Backpack Combo) photo tomorrow night.