Family Photos

While we were visiting with my parents in August my Mom insisted that we have our family photos done again.  After all, the last time we had them done was when Jocelyn was just two years old.  So...I guess every five years isn't asking too much.  I really appreciate that she made us do it.  I love how the pictures turned out and have had a hard time deciding which ones to print and send and hang on the wall, etc.  So let me know what you think!  My only regret is that I didn't make my parents do one with us, or on their own.  So, I will have to work on that.

August 2013

Woburn Village Festival

This last weekend Jon took us to the Woburn Village Oyster Festival.  Mostly, so that I could have oysters.  He's so sweet that way.  It was pretty busy and in a little market town that I loved.  They had an amazing flea market set up, lots of games and rides for the kids, oysters, mussels, sausages, and music.  Joci had a great time dancing to the big band music.  She told me that she'd like to play the trumpet.  Joe actually tried mussels, Joci did too, but Joe truly liked them.  Nobody tried an oyster with me.  I found a gorgeous antique platter for the kitchen.  We all had fun.  It was a good time.

I promise, Jon was having fun, that's just his picture smile.

Joci and I tried on pretty, fancy hats.

I took this picture with my phone's camera that adds action shots together to make one shot.  Pretty cool,, huh?

September 7, 2013

Joci and Memphis

Jocelyn LOVES horses.  All things horses, ponies, pegasus, unicorns, etc, etc, etc.  Any time we see a horse or drive by a pasture, she gets so excited.  So when we were back in Arizona I contacted an old colleague of mine who has a horse to see if she would be willing to let Joci meet her horse.  She said yes and so Joci and I spent a little time with my friend, Suzi, and her horse Memphis.

Suzi was very gracious in letting us, especially Joci, stroke and talk to and about Memphis, and he was such a good boy standing perfectly still, letting her pet all over him and even give him a hug.  I really enjoyed watching Joci interact with Memphis.  I feel pretty proud for making that happen for her.

August, 2013

First Day of School

Well, well, well.  This is pretty lame.  I'm posting about the first day of school when my last posting is about the last day of school and have done nothing in between.  I guess that goes to show we had a nice full summer.  I never promised that this blog would be in chronological order...did I?

I was definitely ready for school to start.  The kids and I had loads of fun, but I am certainly ready for a little alone time and to get back to our routine.

I've had a hard time coming to terms with Jocelyn starting junior school, the same that Joseph already attends, this year.  She will be in Year 3, Joe in Year 5.  My baby is no longer a baby.  She is very much her own person, with her own personality, her own likes and dislikes, her own gestures and way of speaking.  Joci still likes to cuddle and gives tons of hugs and kisses, she still has her favorite blankie (a new one that Grandma made for her), and unfortunately she still sucks her thumb whenever she can get away with it.  She looked so grown up in her dress today for school, in red, no longer yellow.  She was so excited this morning while getting ready and during our walk, but when we rounded the corner she grabbed on to me and said "it's so big and there's too many people".  She was quite clingy until we saw her friends and then she was back to her happy, sassy ways.  It did take us awhile to figure out which door to go into, where to put her lunch box and bookbag, but once that was done.  She was off and ready to go.  Bless her, my big girl.

Joseph, on the other hand, was as cool and confident as a cucumber.  He was excited to join his class, his has the biggest classroom, and really couldn't wait to leave Joci and I and join his friends and class.  He was up and raring to go quite early and was very chatty on the way to school.  I wish I could have walked in with him as well, but he was off and didn't really appear to need me at all.  Joe is growing so fast, as well.  Where did the last nine years go? 

I walked back to our house, it was so quiet when I closed the door, and immediately my mind began to race with all the things that needed to be done.  Back to the grind, back to the schedule. 

When the kids came home they excitedly told me about their day.  Joe did see Joci a couple of times during the day, though Joci did not see Joe.  They enjoyed their lunches (chicken and cheese sandwich, cucumber, apple, and a yogurt), and both seemed to have teachers suited to them.  Joe's teacher had them do a large sunflower craft based on Vincent VanGough, Joci's teacher had them play miscellaneous games including one for numeracy.  I was so happy and relieved that both of them came home with big smiles on their faces and lovely stories of their day.

Best First Day of School EVER!

On their way to school.

Add caption

I love how she and her friends were holding hands.  So sweet.

This should pretty much be captioned "Enough with the pictures!"

Finally settled in class and working on her name word search. 

September 4, 2013