Ghost Lake Camp 2008

This weekend H was in the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, and we all went to a cabin nearby, about 14 miles out of Cable, WI on Ghost Lake. The cabin was fabulous and the kids had a great time. Here is the view out the kitchen window, looking down at Ghost Lake:We had yummy breakfasts both mornings, including Sunday. Rose #3 loves fruit with vanilla yogurt; you can see her at the end trying to spoon the yogurt into her mouth.

On Saturday night we had a roaring fire and Rose #1 read The Mitten to the kids.

The Fat Tire Festival is one of the biggest mountain biking events in the US. On Saturday we went to see H at the finish line, and it was a really neat family oriented festival at Telemark resort, which doubles as a ski place in the winter. People were there from all over the country, and we saw lots of muddy bikers. H did the 16 mile race, and I was very proud of him for finishing and for the time he did it in (1:21). There is also a 40 mile race, and those bikers ended up much muddier! I think their route got more rain or had more mud, or maybe both.

Unfortunately it rained most of the day on Saturday. We got out for a short walk with the girls, but mainly we were indoors. Huge bummer, since Ghost Lake camp has a number of boats and fishing rods! Rose #1 really wants to learn how to fish. Sunday was a bit nicer - we got out on the paddleboat - but only for a few minutes before we had to leave. We hope to go back next year for the race again.

P.S.: Congratulations to Jill and Tony on the birth of their twin daughters! We can't wait to see you guys!

Rose #3: Not Ready for Prime Time Player

Well, she may not have a "first day of school" post, but here is Rose #3's saucy self, a photo from the other night when she was out playing with the neighbor kids:And, here is a shot of her in her little fleece jacket number:

Can you tell, just a little bit, from these photos why we call her "Mr. Stinkerpie"? (All in good fun of course and with an abundance of fondness?) And, by the way, I don't know why it evolved to "Mr." Stinkerpie vs. "Ms." Stinkerpie. It is one of those nicknames that just, well, fits.

Rose #2's First Day of Pre-K

St. Paul offers a fabulous program - 4-year-old kindergarten! That was where Rose #1 learned to read, so we figured: a great place for Rose #2!! Today was the first day of 4-year-old kindergarten, and we have a little tradition where Ahma and Ahgong come over to see the child off on the bus. Rose #2 was so happy to be with Ahma and Ahgong and have the spotlight on her:We went down to the bus stop and then sat on the big retaining wall for a family photo. I am sorry that Rose #1 was already at school - her bus comes about 30 minutes before Rose #2's (at the same corner, I might add):

Here is the big 4-year-old kindergartener herself. She has a Disney princess backpack (with her bus tags of course!) and I finally did get my act together to buy school logo sweatshirts (lucky since it has been about 55 degrees the past few mornings):

The bus was on time (hooray) and I had to give Rose #2 a quick kiss before she left:

And, thanks to her daddy's good photography skills, a photo of her looking out the window:

She seems so tiny, but I know she will be fine. Rose #2 - I am so proud of you, you big, big girl! You are so ready for 4-year-old kindergarten (heck, you are ready for 5-year-old kindergarten). You are going to take the place by storm!

Menus for Next Week

Quickly here so we can go to the grocery store:

Saturday Night - Pizza Party at Barb's (thanks Barb!)
Sunday Night - Maddie Kay's Birthday Party
Monday Night - MND (thanks Guppy!)
Tuesday Night - Steak and Baked Potatoes
Wednesday Night - H's class night - Spaghetti, Bread and Salad
Thursday Night - Turkey Tacos, Corn, and Fruit Salad
Friday Night - Soup Night (Sausage and Tortellini Soup), Bread, Crudites

Second Day of School Pictures!

Since the bus arrived too early and left too quickly for any pictures on Tuesday, here is a picture from Wednesday! Happily the bus stop is just down the block, so H has been able to bring Rose #1 to her bus each morning. Rose #3 is no longer permitted to go, since each time Rose #1 leaves, she sobs uncontrollably.So far it seems that first grade is going well. The first graders have started a phenology log - in case you don't know, phenology is the study of the times of recurring natural phenomena. My best guess is that this means "season watching," but they are using the proper scientific term. Rose #1 was breathless to report that they were observing flowers and bees, which sounds more like a spring phenological observation, but maybe there is still some pollenization going on in the late summer. Anyway, I am very, very hopeful that she is in the right school, the right environment, and she will get to know all the kids and they won't tease her. Phew.

Cross your fingers for next week, when Rose #2 starts 4-year-old kindergarten. We are very excited for that, and so is she. Tonight when I told her that 4-year-old kindergarten starts next week, she hopefully said, "Tomorrow?"

School, Day One, Check

Rose #1 had a good first day at school. Despite the last minute dash for the first day bus (the RNC is in town, and I think the school district dispatched buses earlier than advertised), she made it to school, found her classroom, unloaded her backpack (last minute school supplies that I forgot to drop off on open house night) and generally settled in. Her tablemates are named Felix, Michael and Sophia. She said that some children had questions about her hand, but they did not make fun of her or tease her. I want to send a big thank you out to the universe for watching out for Rose #1, my little Bean, today. The act of putting a child on the school bus - to things unknown, to places unfamiliar - is tough. Really tough! It all turned out well.

Next week is Rose #2's big day. She received a postcard from her teacher, Mrs. Stromstad, today, saying that she was looking forward to having Rose #2 in class. This is a very smart way to get the parents on your side early! What a cute idea!

Rose #3 wanted to go to school with Rose #1 today, and it will probably get worse tomorrow. Maybe I can find a morning class for Rose #3 and her nanny to attend. Poor Rose #3. It is hard to wait to do things when your big sisters are already out in the wide, wide world.

School starts tomorow...

Tonight Rose #1 finally started sobbing - she is nervous about starting school. I was wondering why she didn't seem more nervous. I remember being nervous myself before each school year started, but I think Rose #1 has more reason than the normal new school year jitters to be afraid. She has to climb onto that school bus tomorrow, face a bunch of kids she doesn't know, and she has a different body than everyone else. I almost can't type it out, I almost can't even think of it. What if the kids are mean to her? I am not that worried about her classmates - they will all be under the watchful eye of Mrs. Swenson - but I am worried about the bus. Kids can be so horrid.

What is the right thing to say to her? I thought about saying that if she wants to wear long sleeves and hide her hand, for the first day, or for the first week or first month, that's OK. I thought about saying that no one will notice and everything will be fine. I thought about saying that anyone who teases her has a small heart and isn't worth the dirt on her shoe.

In the end, I settled on: "You are perfect exactly the way you are. We love you more than anything. There is nothing wrong with you. You are going to do a great job in first grade."

I hope that was right. I am making this stuff up as I go along.