Tooth Fairy Excitement!

Our major excitement of the week happened on Wednesday when Analese's tooth finally came out. It was just hanging there for a day or two, which was actually kind of gross.
 It finally came out during her piano lesson on Wednesday afternoon. She was pretty stoked. Try to ignore the smear of blood on her face. ewwww.
 Of course, being her first tooth lost, we had the tooth fairy make a big deal out of it. We snapped this photo while she slept with her tooth in a baggy under her pillow.
 The tooth fairy left this two dollar bill and a note (under the photo) saying "Thanks for the tooth, but I already have enough." This was because Analese really wants to collect her baby teeth in a little metal gift box.
 

 She journaled about the excitement the very next day.

Long Time no Blog

My only excuse is extreme busy-ness. This is our second grade and pre-K school year, and it is leaving me with very little time to be creative and listen to my writer's inner voice. We are beginning to settle into the daily rhythm of the school year, however. July and August are busy school months for us, so we can take time off in September to go to the beach. Can't wait for that one! Analese has 3 loose teeth, one of which seems to be hanging by a thread, but it does not seem to want to come out. Any day now. Both girls are roller blading fools! I could not believe that even Mariele took to roller blading like a natural. She is definitely the tiniest person on K2 blades at the roller rink. She is a sight to see. I'm trying to also get them into walking. They will have new walking shoes and geopalz pedometers delivered tomorrow. Seems like walking is too dull an activity for my little thrill seekers. I'm determined to get them into it, however, as it is one of my preferred forms of exercise. I will leave you with some photos I took before church this  past weekend.
 

Happy 4th!

We had a wonderful day at the science museum. The kids especially enjoyed the live butterfly exhibit. Mariele was determined to find every butterfly on the laminated guide.






Analese really liked the gem vault. She was also impressed with this large geode.



After a late lunch / early dinner, we were exhausted. We decided to watch PBS fireworks instead of going back out. It was, overall, a very relaxing day spent together as a family.

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Break...

We are starting second grade on Monday, and we had a little over one month completely off school. It has been a busy and fun break. This week, Analese is doing Vacation Bible School. The first day that we left Analese there, Mariele cried all the way back to the car. She kept saying, "I want Analese! I want Analese!" Those two are the bestest of friends, and they don't separate very often.
 
 I've been able to knock out some of Mariele's pre-K on these mornings that Analese is at VBS. Mariele loves school, and is learning her letters and phonics.
 Analese has had some math brain drain on her break, but her reading has blossomed. She is completely obsessed with her chapter books lately. She reads a chapter book at a rate of a book every day or two. She is a voracious reader, and I am so very glad. She even got her own library card a couple of weeks ago. Bedtime at our house typically looks like this.
 
 She is engrossed! I'm so glad she loves Ramona like I do.
 I will try to get back into more regular blogging. I was just enjoying the break from our normal structure and routine as well.

Evolution of an Exercise room...

We just had three floors remodeled in our home. The kitchen (which needed it pretty badly), the school room (which is always covered with a rug, but it did need the refinishing also) and the exercise room. The exercise room showed the most dramatic difference. The day we decided to buy the house, the exercise room looked like this:
 It is hard to tell from the photo, but the floor was not in the best condition. It does look like a warm, cozy little office, but we had visions of a home gym. So the first thing we did is rip out those built in cabinets. I know you are gasping, but wait...
 Ripping out those cabinets created a lovely hole in the floor and a lovely unfinished back wall. To add to the charm of this rustic room, we placed an old TV on top of a cooler. We were well on our way to being featured in Better Homes & Gardens.
 This configuration DID get me through the first few months of my first 500 mile challenge. We did spring for a new TV, but the room still had a way to go.
 Following the wall and floor refinishing.......TADA!

Beauties in the morning sun...

Saying goodbye...

Analese's very first teacher at The Little Gym is leaving to pursue her teaching career at a private school. Ms. A is wonderful, and the school will, indeed, be blessed by her many talents. Analese and Ms. A in January of 2009 (just a few days before Mariele was born):

Analese, Mariele and Ms. A yesterday: