Tuesday, August 30, 2011

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!

Today is Gus's first day of preschool. If there is a better looking 3 year old in the entire world, I have not met him. Seriously, look at this boy:


"NOOOO, don't take a picture, it's time to go to SCHOOOOOOOL!!!"


All told, it was pretty uneventful. We went in, hung up his Darth Vadar backpack in his cubby, went over to the table with the name tags. He was nervous, and couldn't find the one that started with the letter G. Teacher Jakki helped him.


He went right for the toys, but teacher Mary asked him to pick a book and sit on the rug. Which he did. When I left, there he was: sitting quietly on the rug, completely engrossed. Hardly a wave goodbye - his sister was really the upset one (since she didn't get to stay).


I was sadder than expected. I've left him at babysitting rooms, ECFE classes, with baby sitters, and he's been away from us overnight at least a half a dozen times. But this was different. The hippie in me reared up a little bit, thinking "this is day one of 15 years in an education system that will ultimately fail him and leave him ill prepared for the world."

The real thing, though, was that Dave and I are the most important people in his life. And while he's only 3, that's the way it's always been. There's never been an adult whose word he values more or who he looked up to more than his Momma & Poppa. I love his teachers, I think they will do a fantastic job, but a part of me is just a little sad that pretty soon we won't be number 1 and number 2 any more. We won't get to meet his friends when he does, we don't get to be there for every conversation and interaction, ever time he learns something new. It's a good thing, I know that. He's a smart kid and he's going to love preschool. This next adventure is going to be super fun.

Monday, August 29, 2011

SHE TOOK A SWIM TOO



Sunday, August 28, 2011

HIDE AND SEEK

Her new favorite thing is playing hide & seek at the record store, but she still hasn't figured out how to tuck in her feet!

Friday, August 26, 2011

CUTIES



Thursday, August 25, 2011

LISTENING


Gus and Nova spend a lot of time at the record store.


Gus likes the listening station.


Jungle Book!



Wednesday, August 24, 2011

FISHIN'


Just sittin' and fishin' in the sandbox....whiling the time away.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

MONSTERS AT THE FINISH


They helped me cross the finish line last week. Gus is serious about this race, you can tell from his face.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

ALL WRAPPED UP

And a baby doll stuck in there to boot!

Friday, August 19, 2011

JUNA'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Juna Bea turned 5!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

THE BOOK

What book is Nova taking very seriously right now? Can you see it?

Let me zoom in a bit:


Oh! It is the Sweet Pickles book Turtle Throws a Tantrum!
An absolute classic, as far as the Broderick's are concerned!

I am really starting to hope the message sinks in ...

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

WE CAUGHT A GRASSHOPPER!!!





Tuesday, August 16, 2011

BREAKFAST WITH A VIEW



Monday, August 15, 2011

KASHYYK


Gus and I built a duplo Kashyyk for the wookies.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

MINI ME

There was once a Christmas that we shared with our aunts and uncles. Like most family gatherings - there was a ton of appetizers and food laid of for everyone to munch on until the big meal was ready. My Uncle Jim made the mistake of eating all of the black olives before I had a chance to grab any. I threw an absolute fit about it leading my uncle to - for YEARS afterward - always bring me a can of black olives. The gift for me wrapped and under the tree was - yes - a can of black olives for many years. It was silly, maybe a little embarassing, but I was always really glad that I got to eat the whole can myself.

This one? This one is all mine.





Saturday, August 13, 2011

THE ANIMALS

When I was a kid, one of the stories told over and over was how my sister, at age 2 or 3, fell down the stairs because she was trying to carry too many stuffed animals. Strange, I always thought - why would she have been carrying so many?

Now that I am the wrangler of a 2 year old girl I completely understand. She does not go anywhere alone. In fact the other day she started SCREAMING at 6 AM - she was awake and out of her bed and wanted to come wake us up - but she couldn't figure out how to carry more than 6 animals. 6. And they were all totally necessary.

Friday, August 12, 2011

SANTANA COLORING CONTEST

The week we got home from Fargo our record shop hosted a Santana birthday party - complete with a record coloring contest!





^Nova did a great job. Gus got distracted by the glitter pens.



Our friend John Marshall was the contest judge.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

CRASH



Wednesday, August 10, 2011

STREET FAIR


Before we left Fargo we hit up the annual street fair. The heat was unbelievable but it didn't stop the monsters from riding the barrel train with cousin Jonah! Nova's pigtails are so perfectly curled in this^ photo!




WHOA


On Monday, Mick Jones came into the record store. If you don't know who Mick Jones is, click here. That is a pretty big deal. No, that is a HUGE deal.

As you were.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

THE WEDDING

The kids got all fancied up for the wedding despite the 100 degree heat.




Unfortunately (predictably) we didn't make it very long before we needed a break. We checked out the rest of the church (and the view)


(don't they look good? They look good)

and we found the nursery!



Monday, August 8, 2011

FARGO-FANTASTIC

I realize I am a little behind on posting - I will try to get you up to date!

A few weeks ago I took the monsters with me to Fargo for a family wedding.

Nova was super excited for the drive - she even packed her own bag!


Gus did this for most of the drive


And was pretty ecstatic that the happy meal toy was a LIGHT SABER!


Please note - this was the first last and ONLY time I will take my kids to a McDonalds Play Place. It was conviently right off the highway and had the afore mentioned light sabers. Unfortunately Miss Nova climbed right to the top of the thing and could not find her way down. Gus tried to be helpful but could not find her - so I got to climb into it and help her out. Not exactly a banner day - but the sabers certainly helped.