Suzanne's Inimitable Style

For a girl who used to hate dresses and skirts, and who wouldn't wear tights because she thought they would hurt (?), Suzanne has developed a unique and quite girlish style.

The other evening when we went to Elizabeth's school open house, Suzanne got "fancy" by wearing a dress half on (only one arm through a sleeve) and a shirt wrapped around her waist as a skirt.

And somehow... it worked.

Here's another uniquely Suzanne outfit: those are leg warmers on her arms.

posted from Bloggeroid

Omnivore

I love many things about Suzanne. One of them is her love of food that many American kids (or Elizabeth, at least) find impossible to choke down.

She loves fat trimmings from steak, for instance. And tomatoes! The other day Suzanne ate four small tomatoes in a row, chomping on them like they were Gala apples.

Elizabeth was a more adventurous eater when she was younger. I hope Suzanne doesn't grow out of it, as Elizabeth did.

That's a tomato.

posted from Bloggeroid

First Grader

Elizabeth was distressed that Summer was over and she had to go back to school and wouldn't be able to just play all day, every day. Who can blame her?

But once she got back into the classroom, she loved it. Her first grade class consists of both her and Lily's kindergarten classes combined. Twenty-eight students is a lot!

Her teacher seems good. Elizabeth likes her. And Elizabeth is thrilled to be in the same class as Lily and their mutual friend, Freya.

The class is jam-packed with books, toys, puppets, art supplies -- and kids. The teacher's desk is shoved into a corner and practically buried in paper.

But it's a warm, homey sort of jam-packed, and when we all went to the school Open House this week, I could see why Elizabeth likes it so much.

Here's the student at Open House, playing freely. That mark on her cheek is a temporary tattoo of a black cat.

posted from Bloggeroid

Lily is Six

Lily's birthday party was, as we have come to expect, creative, fun and relaxing. The theme was 'bugs.' The "cake" was a gooey confection that resembled dirt and was served in a galvanized steel bucket, complete with gummy worms. Awesome. (Not to mention the chocolate rocks that looked just like rocks. It was uncanny; I was half convinced the first kid to bite in would break a tooth.)

Then there was the piñata. It was beautiful, home made, and shaped like a butterfly. But I've had a lot of experience with piñatas at little kids' parties, and it's always the same: dangerous swinging of heavy clubs, worried parents warning their children to stay back, and mounting frustration as the piñata proves nearly impossible to break open. This was no different. Until, that is, Aaron broke out the sword.

Eventually the hull of the butterfly dreadnought was breached and the children got candy and gift bags and were happy.

The day was also beautiful, if a little hot, and there were lots of good people to socialize with in Aaron and Wendy's expansive back yard.

Happy birthday, Lily Joy!

posted from Bloggeroid

Getting Ready for Mom

I was happily surprised this afternoon to come home to find that the Vegepocalypse had begun: Barb had done some massive trimming of the privet hedge, in preparation of the arrival of Mom's mini-home.

After dinner, the whole family spent time together hacking away at thirteen years of unchecked growth. The girls used their little round-tipped scissors and were very proud of the piles of leaves they amassed.

Everyone's excited!