Christmas...Old Skool

Julian being a good sport with Santa....and how old is he anyway? I guess about 4yrs old. Well, he was young enough for me to get him into a nice, red Christmas sweater anyway.

I miss that little boy...

Audrey's Awesome Art

I need to show everyone how INCREDIBLE this drawing is that Audrey made this morning. There is no one in her kindergarten class that can draw with this accuracy and detail!! Audrey is a great study of Claire, who is also a beautiful artist.

Where did September go?

The gals who work across the parking lot from Christopher had this cake made for his birthday. It was a HUGE 18 inch coffee cup shaped cake that was at least 6 inches high. Filled with chocolate cake and chocolate ganache, we were in sugary bliss for a couple weeks.

These sweet ladies (they are like mother hens who watch out for Christopher and monitor all the comings-and-goings at the espresso stand) also had several electric guitars fashioned and painted from wood that are now hung and lit up. So "Rock City" has taken on a different meaning...at least to the public. The lights around the guitars look cool, especially since it gets dark at 4:30 pm here. Perhaps there will be a picture posted here sometime soon.....

This summer Christopher's sister and family came to visit Jofannie in Olympia. A neighbor offered to take a professional family photo, and thankfully the Washington weather cooperated.

Claire's got a new cute 'doo...

Audrey-isms

Audrey brings home a monthly calendar from school that has short activities to do each evening, such as writing numbers 1 to 10 or retelling a story she knows.

One evening's activity was to name 5 things that are made with apples.

Audrey paused for a really long time and then finally said, "LEMONS!!" rather proudly.

"No, honey. When you have some apples, you can make other foods out of those apples. What foods can we make from apples?"

She was not quite sure when she answered, "Lemon meatballs?"

That's our Audrey!

THIS EMAIL IS FROM AUDREY'S KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, REGARDING ME (JILL) HELPING OUT IN THE CLASS. THE PART YOU WILL LOVE READING IS THE "P.S."

Hi Jill!
I have another parent that is willing to share, and we can all just split the duties. (Me included). We are going light on the harvest party this year, but would still like to celebrate. The phone tree needs done soon, you are right. My best time to get together is on my lunch from about 12 – 12:40, or after school any day. I can also do my specialist times, if you would like to see me in the middle of the day. I will touch base with the other room parent, Tanya, and see what a good time for her is. She does p/u so I assume she is here for a few minutes before and after school.

Thanks,Matt or Matthew, Save the Mr. for the kids.

P.S. – A.D. came up to me and said “I like your haircut Mr. S.”
“Thank you,” I said, appreciating that someone noticed my recent trim.
Then a short pause.
“Why did you shave triangles right here?” Points to where my hair is showing serious recession…
My hairline is kind of a running joke in my family, so needless to say I had my whole extended family rolling on the floor laughing as I told this story. Too funny.