Authoress

She's not going to be earning any spelling awards any time soon, but Clara is all about putting pencil to paper, creating a story, and illustrating it. I usually find these creations littered all over the kids' art desk, but she brought one home from school the other day that she created during free time. Her teacher loved it so much she had Clara stand up and read it to the class. Does that count as her first live author reading? ;)

Here it is, in all its phonetically spelled glory ... see below for the translation!

 

 

One morning a boy named Joey lost his dog. It was a puppy and it was a white dog with brown spots.

"Wait, there's a hole in the fence! My dog must have went through the hole. But I don't think my dog would do that. But let's see. Wait, I hear something. It is behind that bush. I found him!"

And they lived yappily ever after.

Jumpin' Good Time

There's nothing that super-charges a bunch of six and seven year-olds like a jumpin' good time at an indoor trampoline gym. I've never seen kids with redder cheeks, crazier hair, or sweatier bodies... and wow, I'm glad they all weren't at our house!

 

We celebrated Clara's 7th birthday with a whole bunch of her classmates and a few of her cousins, with pizza and rainbow cake, and with decibel levels approaching insanity.

 

In summary, baths and wine were a requirement when we got home.

 

 

 

(I love this picture, even though it's blurry and you can't even see Clara's face. But you just know what's plastered all over it... joy. How lucky are they?)

 

Seven!

The eternal, amazing fact about motherhood is that our babies just keep on growing, whether we like it or not. They morph from sweet-cheeked angel babies who give you no trouble at all, to spirited, pig-tailed, sassy little toddlers, to independent, determined, still spunky little girls.

 

For our Clara Jane, this year of change between being a six year-old kindergartner and a new seven year-old first grader has been almost shocking. She's finally lost that adorable toddler tummy that I loved so much, she seems to be stretching out and growing taller by the minute, her brand-new big front teeth are giving her a brand-new look, and her new love for jeggings, cowgirl boots and jean jackets are all conspiring to make her look like a teenager.

 

Sigh.

But while we're losing those sweet rounded cheeks of old, we're gaining a new maturity that has us pinching ourselves.

It started during the second week of school when Clara's new first grade teacher walked her to me after school, and couldn't stop gushing over what a wonderful helper she was in class, what an amazing reader she was, and what a good example she was to others.

Some sort of magic was apparently afoot.

She started bringing home multiple "red cards," which despite their scary dangerous-looking color, turned out to be a card that only the most well-behaved child in the class gets to bring home.

Then, one day while I was helping in the library, the teacher's assistant came up to me, and asked, "Are you Clara's mom?" When I nervously said yes, she leaned in and whispered, "Is she your oldest child? She has to be!" When I told her that she was actually a middle child, she almost didn't believe me, and said, "That's so strange! She acts like a classic oldest child. She's so responsible, always follows the rules, and is such a leader in our class!"

Looking over at my angel child, standing quietly in line to check out her library books, glasses perched on her face, and books clutched to her chest, I had to agree that she definitely looked the part.

Now excuse me while I look for some wood to knock on!

Sisters

Sometimes, a magic blanket seems to settle over our house, and the girls realize what a gift they are to each other. It usually happens at bathtime and bedtime, amidst the tub bubbles, while playing with "bathtime Barbies," while scrubbing their teeth and getting their hair dried, while reading books, and most especially when getting their jammies on.

They love to pick out matching jammies, trade names, and pretend to be their sister. Maybe it's something about stepping into the other's shoes that makes their love increase... but it's true magic that I wish I could bottle for every other time of day!

Hatching a Home

We've been a little preoccupied by a big project for the last two and a half years, but haven't mentioned it on the blog yet.  There were so many ups and downs, and twists and turns, that sometimes it felt like it was never going to feel real.

But things started to get really real during the last three months, and now, when you drive down a certain street in Moraga, it's impossible to miss a brand-new roofline peeking through the trees.

You get a little closer, and you can see the beginnings of a brand-new house!

It won't be complete until next spring, but if you want to get the whole scoop on this crazy adventure, you can hop over here, so this blog doesn't get completely taken over by construction pictures!

Little Moments in August

Nothing says hot August summer night quite like roller skating in a tutu!  

 

 

We've been busy soaking up every last minute of our gorgeous late summer weather, along with fitting in vet appointments, appointments (phew! we don't have a third kid in glasses... yet!), board games, late-night reading, a trip to Tim's new office in downtown Oakland, after-church playground trips, even more A's games, and finally, a "Singin' in the Rain" performance by Clara!

 

 

 

First and Third Grade!

Wow, it's a strange thing to have two children in actual "grades." And three children who have backpacks and need snacks, lunches and paperwork signed most days of the week!

Good thing I have a new hip-high filing system!

These two knew exactly where to put their things as soon as they walked in the door yesterday after their first days of first and third grade!

 

As you can see, they were not very excited, and didn't have any fun at all! ;)

Cousin-Palooza Part 3: Arnold

These two crazy grandparents not only make a habit of opening their home to nine grandkids under the age of eight, but it seems they're trying to entice them to come even more often!  

 

 

They were putting the almost-finishing touches on the most adorable treehouse you've ever seen as the SUV brigade carrying our kids and the Stecher Six pulled into their driveway. All their hard work and special touches -- including a basket on a pulley, a fun balcony, and a huge chalkboard inside the house -- paid off, since the kids were entertained almost 24/7 by "their" new house.  

 

 

 

Of course, we did other things during our four days in Arnold this time, including some hectic meals, lots of pool time, board games, and play time in the "bunk bed room," but for now, the lasting memory is of the treehouse, and we can't wait to get back to enjoy it some more!