Carolina Livin': August 2008

SHE MADE IT!

>> Sunday, August 31, 2008

We are so proud of Alyssa! She hasn't danced for 5 years, but when she heard that her elementary school was adding a Dance Company she decided she wanted to try out. Auditions were held last Thursday afternoon from 3:00 - 4:30. 46 students and only 30 openings. The sealed envelopes came home on Friday and the first line of hers read,
"Congratulations, your daughter has been chosen for the
Aviator Dance Company."
We are so proud of Alyssa for sticking her neck out and trying. We're also very excited to see her go back into dance. They will be performing The Little Mermaid in December and will have a part in the High School's production of Cinderella.
Way to go Alyssa!

Here is a picture of 6 year old Alyssa after her recital.

BACK TO SCHOOL!

>> Thursday, August 21, 2008

Here we go again.
School started today. Alyssa and Matthew were excited to start 5th and 4th grade! They were happy to be back with their friends and they are both happy with their teachers.
Looks like we're off to a good start!

New lunch box

Here is a glimpse of what the car pool line looked like today. This is more than a mile away from the school!!! When I dropped the kid's off and headed back home the line was still over 3/4 of a mile long!!

Ethan was not happy to have to drop the kid's off today.
He can't understand why he can't go to their school too.
He starts preschool (just 2 mornings a week) in another 2 weeks. It's going to be a long 2 weeks!

WE'RE BACK!

>> Monday, August 18, 2008

This is where we have been....
Unfortunately, I left my camera charger in Cambridge so I can't post any pictures yet. As soon as I get it I will show you what we did and who we saw while in MA.

Soap Bubbles!

>> Thursday, August 7, 2008

We're getting ready for our 15 (?) hour trip up to MA on Saturday. I asked the kid's if they would help out today by washing the rubber mats that go on the floors of the car. At first no one responded. Then I said they would be using the hose and soap. Suddenly everyone jumped up and ran outside. It turned out to be a great activity on another very hot day.

As usual Alyssa ended up doing most of the work while the boys played.

HELPFUL PICKET SIGNS

>> Friday, August 1, 2008

***UPDATE***

Apparently these kid's look more threatening than we thought.

Strike has been averted.

I guess forwarding these photos to the top brass was a pretty good idea.

*********

Dad, this post is for you.
The kid's and I were hard at work today making signs for you and all the guys. Let me know how many you'll need!

Riverbanks Zoo

One of our favorite places in Columbia is the Riverbanks Zoo. If you've ever come to visit us, I'm sure we've taken you to Riverbanks.
I decided to take the kid's today despite the near 100 degree temperature. I figured we would go for about an hour and go home to swim. Well we got there and got going and kept going and going and going, for more than three hours. I think we ended up seeing everything except the (smelly) penguins.

It was a fun day with just my three kid's and me. I love that our house and outings usually include as many children as we can fit into our minivan, but I have to admit, I cherish the few times that I have my 3 to myself.

Cooling off in one of the mist spraying fans

Feeding the goats

This isn't the best picture, but these guys were oh so cute. Two month old lion cubs still in the nursery.

We watched the trainer feeding the elephants

She quietly said to one of the elephants, "Bella, go home" and guess what, Bella went home! My kid's need to take lessons from the elephants, or maybe I need to take lessons from elephant trainers!