Obligatory back-to-school pictures

So much for smooth beginnings. Erin spent the night before her first day of Kindergarten throwing up half her body weight. Bruce did bring her in for the second half of the day but no pictures were taken of the event. These were taken the next day on her first full day of school.

Erin with her teacher, Mrs. Payton:


Andrew started school a couple of days earlier. He has Mrs. Carver this year. So far 3rd grade is going fantastic for him.

Their first bus ride together. (Yep, I could drive them, but they find the bus more fun and it comes early enough that I can still make it to work on time after seeing them off!)

Waiting on the bus to arrive and momentarily getting along...

Erin's urt sal

I should have realized when Erin bounded into the kitchen every 2 minutes or so, asking for tape, scissors, etc., that something big was up. Turns out she was making an "urt sal" (art sale) sign. She had printed off about 40 pictures of Clifford (the big red dog) off of the computer and wanted to sell them roadside for $1 each. We bounded outside with her sign and the papers and a jar that she'd conveniently brought to hold the mounds of cash she was bound to receive.

Long story short, we live in the middle of the country and it was the middle of the day. About 3 cars passed by. Other than swerving to avoid our dog, they didn't really notice us much. Even if they had seen us, they probably couldn't have read the sign!

Of course, the minute I posted her story on facebook, people started queueing up to buy her urt. Bruce complained that at this rate she'll make more money at that than he will in real estate.

From 7/24/10

While playing doctor today, Erin looked into my mouth and declared I had a broken uvula.

From 7/21/10

Jill Johnson Sillery can't believe the 3 cars that drove by her house (going 45 mph) didn't notice Erin's sign (in 1/2 inch letters) saying "frum Erin urt sal" and stop to buy the pictures of Clifford the Dog she printed off the computer. For the low, low price of one dollar.

From 7/20/10

Andrew: "Adjectives escape me."

From 7/9/10

Erin: "Mom, I just can't explain it. You'll understand when you're little."

From 6/15/10

Drew recommends the Old Town Buffet in Crawfordsville because "their fortunes are the most informative."

From 5/9/10

Jill Johnson Sillery is getting breakfast in bed...2 1/2 hours after getting up, preparing a cd/slideshow/reading for church, doing the dishes, and making a casserole for lunch. My family is funny but I wouldn't trade them for anything.

From 4/7/10

Bruce accidentally gave Drew a black eye tonight at baseball practice. Drew's big worry this morning? That girls would be all over him today, a la Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

March 2010

We had one of those $150 condo thingies to redeem so we chose to vacation over spring break in Boyne Falls, Michigan. We LOVED it. Bruce has wanted to take the kids skiing forever. I attempted it as well but ended up horizontal more than vertical. The kids took to it pretty well. We were able to meet up with a Spring Babies friend, Nicole, and her two kids. We also managed to get lots of good lakeside views and a movie or two. It was very relaxing and peaceful. I got no ski pictures whatsoever but have a few pictures from the rest of the trip that I may come back and add at a later date.

From 3/8/10

Erin referred to her performance on a computer game as "dorkful."

From 3/7/10

Drew: "Mom, I think pitchforks probably started as a positive thing, like to pick up hay. But somewhere along the way, angry mobs came along..."

From 2/24/10

My youngest child just entered the room and introduced herself as "Erin McLovin'".

From 1/28/10

Erin: "Wait for it...wait for it.... Oh. I've got nothing. I thought I had to burp."

From 1/17/10

Overheard tonight: Erin telling the toy fish in the bathtub that they were "overreacting".

From 1/16/10

Infomercials strike again: Last night as I was scolding the kids for all the toothpaste globs around the sink, Erin told me that this wouldn't be an issue if we'd just get the Touch n Brush.

From 1/5/10

Me, to speech student: "What is the word for these?" Speech student: "Cowboy boots." Me: "Yes! Great job! Now, tell me: Where do you wear cowboy boots?" Speech student: "The radio." Me: "Radio? Why would you wear boots there?" Speech student: "You know, because cowboys have to ride all those wild animals there and sometimes they fall down."

From 12/24/09

When playing a few minutes ago, Erin handed me a Bible and called it her "survival book." I can't think of a better way to refer to a Bible than that. May all of you who believe have a wonderful CHRISTmas celebrating Jesus' birth--as outlined in the "survival book".

From 11/16/09

Erin was performing a baton twirling show for me and Buddy earlier this evening. She addressed us as "Ladies and Gentledogs".

From 11/15/09

Drew just got a new water gun. He came back from outside and said, "Heh heh. I just shot the plants. I like to mess with them and make them think it's raining."

From 10/27/09

Perhaps I should not be in charge of storytelling after two, 12-hour days. Tonight's topic: Sheldon the Sheepherder discovers that he has armpit hair and goes on a quest to buy deodorant.

From 10/22/99

Erin: "I've known you for YEARS, Momma."

From 10/18/09

Jill Johnson Sillery thinks that music moguls need to forego Nashville and come here. Erin's recent hit: "Just Give Me That Taco" (featuring some very awesome 4 year old vibrato). Andrew's contribution: "Don't Hit Me in the Booty. Wooty Wooty Wooty."

From 10/12/09

Erin informed us that we are not from Europe or Asia. Yesterday she used the word "impolite". I'm thinking her preschool dollars are well-spent.

From 10/6/09

Erin's sitter: "You need to stop talking and eat your lunch." Erin: "I just have to tell you one more thing. Then I might be ready to stop talking."

From 9/20/09

Jill Johnson Sillery never expected to use the phrase "going commando in a poodle outfit." Life was REALLY boring before kids.

From 9/6/09

We took a trip to Fair Oaks Dairy that day. I lamented that Drew (a former ag teacher's son) said, "You mean EVERY glass of milk I drink comes from a cow?"

From 9/5/09

Jill Johnson Sillery loves that Erin swiveled the chair with her Barbies in it so that they were in a better position to watch television.

From 8/20/09

Andrew: "Well, it's official. Owen's gotta wear braces for the rest of the season. (Sigh) I just hate this."

Um, Owen is a cartoon character.

Super Saturday

Purdue offers enrichment classes every fall, spring, and summer. The fall and spring versions are called "Super Saturdays". In the fall Drew took a "Weird Science" class and absolutely adored it. Even better, his friend Colten (a friend from SEFE who moved to W. Lafayette) was also in his class.

In January, both kids enrolled in classes. Andrew's was "magnificent machines" and Erin's was an art-based class (something about "beyond crayons"--the title eludes me just now). Again, Colten was enrolled with Drew. Both loved their classes. Drew made a video of himself as part of his demonstration. (I may try to figure out how to link that later.) Erin is shy by nature so the class was great at getting her out of her shell. Her teacher actually commented that her ability to be quiet, observe, and reflect was one of her greatest strengths.

From 8/16/09

Jill Johnson Sillery loved her son's homemade 12-page "impossible quiz" that he made up tonight. (He had discovered the internet's version of this and made a handwritten verson for us. It rocked.)

Catchup Time...

This was meant to be more of a family journal b/c I wasn't handwriting in either kids' personal journals. I'm on the computer all the time anyway, right? Since I put so much stuff on Facebook, though, updating here just seemed silly. Now I realize I need to go back in time and catch up before I forget what the entire 2009-10 school year was like.

Deep breath.

So here I go...keeping in mind that some of this stuff is just for remembrance purposes, not really to entertain, and also noting that most of the cute kids' stuff was already told on Facebook.

Drew was fortunate enough to be placed in the high ability 2nd grade classroom with Mrs. Peevler. He did encounter some bullying issues with a couple of boys but generally loved his year and learned so, so much. He got new glasses in October (his eyesight went from 20/25 to 20/80 in ONE YEAR'S TIME). They are adorable and it seems like he's had them forever now.

Erin went to preschool at the Williamsport Day School thanks to my friend Kim, who took Erin and Allie together 3 days a week and did 98% of the transporting both directions. (In going through some old Facebook posts, I had to chuckle at her parent/teacher conference in October. Her teacher, Mrs. Girdler, gave her the highest possible marks in all but two areas: verbal skills and imagination. I rather think anyone reading this blog will disagree.)

Erin celebrated her 5th birthday with her friends Isabel and Allie at Monkey Joe's in Lafayette. Drew turned 8 in April and designed his own cake (a stick person stuck in a homemade chocolate cake to make it look like he was drowning).

Both kids were in soccer last fall (Erin in the 4-6 year old group, Drew in the 6-10 year old group) and loved it--despite Drew having to, at one point, play his "archnemesis from preschool." They are enrolled again, in fact. I will be coaching Erin's team. Quit laughing.

OK, the next few posts will be random quotes/info from Facebook just to get caught up. Get some popcorn, take a nap...whatever.