Two Boston and Beyond: August 2009

Almost three months ago - Jacob and Hannah had their last day of kindergarten. They were absent the last 8 days of kindergarten because of our trip to the Marshall Islands. In those three months we travelled thousands of miles, visited their birth country and birth families, brought Boston into our family and home, and began our new life as a family of 5.

Today Jacob and Hannah began 1st grade. What a big step for them both - and very exciting to see them ready for it! Peter worked from home this morning until the big kids got on the bus. Boston was very curious about the bus and where Jacob and Hannah were all day.

The first day of first grade was a hit with both Jacob and Hannah. They got off the bus (again in the rain) and came home hungry to finish their lunches! Hannah told me it was "lovely" that I sent them food that they liked, but that spoons were not allowed at lunch! So glad I spent the money for the good bpa-free thermoses! She had not eaten her alphabet soup, and Jacob hadn't gotten to finish his mac & cheese. I've emailed with their teacher since and learned that food requiring spoons is fine for lunch - but is not allowed for morning snack...so just a misunderstanding! Jacob said it was all fun and he had lots of important work to do at his desk. He also said that the day went by fast! Hannah said that it was so much fun, she thought it was the 100th day of school (a big party day in kindergarten). With the rain today they couldn't go outside for recess - but they even said indoor recess in their classroom was fun.

Hannah and Jacob posing for a picture before heading to the bus this morning in the rain.

Boston and Peter waiting on the front step to wave goodbye to the bus one more time as it heads to school a few stops after ours....

Boston playing with the grocery bags after a trip for groceries this morning.

Here are a few other pictures from our terrific summer!

Fun in the sun with the North Carolina cousins Anna & Jared at Lake Michigan earlier in August

All three kids passed out in the car on the way home from more fun with the North Carolina cousins and other family. (I was at a stoplight when I took the picture - fyi!)

Fun with the Minnesota Stenstrom cousins Isabella and Maxwell at Brookfield Zoo just this past weekend!

Hope the new beginnings in your lives this fall are going well too! Here's to the second day of First Grade!!

Love, Lois

Hi everyone - Hello from our family. We are fine here and enjoying the last weeks of summer before school begins again. We've had great weather and have spent time at parks and splash pads and the pool.

The kids and I just spent part of two days in Michigan with family - enjoying the sun, sand and water at the beach, and blueberry picking. There were 7 cousins together on the beach - ages 4 months to 6 years old! Here's our first-time blueberry picker, ready with his bucket.