Last Days of Summer & First Days of School

We packed in the final days of summer with tons of fun.

 Sewing projects for the kids' Idaho animals.

A trip to Burke Lake Park with Dad.

"All aboard!"

Tess and Drew have become pros at riding the merry-go-round.  

Tess, home from the pool at 8 pm: "Oh good, there's still time for us to stay up and watch the nighttime sky!"

Tess and Drew, gazing down on their subjects.  

 Occoquan bakery run.  "I'll have a sugar cookie and a millionaire dollar cookie and a monster cookie."

The porch of "Mom's Apple Pie Bakery" makes for a great racetrack.  

And then it came to an end...

Tess' first day of First Grade!  She had a few worries in the morning, but no tears.  

She had a great day, if you leave out the part about coming home with a 103 degree temperature!

She ended up missing the rest of the first week of school with a 

104 degree fever that raged on for 6 days.

 Drew's first day of preschool at St. Matthews.  He will be attending 2 mornings a week, from 9-11:45 each day.  The other two days we will be part of a home preschool group.

Drew's first day and Tess' second day!

Drew was very excited be starting his own school, and having somewhere to go in the morning "just like Dad."  I walked him, got him situated playing play-doh and told him I was going to go.  His eyes welled up and got all red.  His teacher reassured him, he wiped his eyes, put on a fake smile and waved goodbye!  He did just great and was very proud of his first day.

Drew with his official St. Matthew's tote.  Green, of course.