If you can't talk them into it,

Make your own dog--out of balloons....

The Good Thing About Cousins

They tend to have things like lipstick.

Hmmm

Now this is interesting.

School starts and the paper starts rolling in.

You are instructed in one sheet that you can refer your own child to the gifted and talented program.

Do you do it?

Is your kid really that smart?

Do you really want to find out?

Or do you wait and see how much trouble he gets in once he has the hang of the rules and gets bored?

Do you think maybe this is a crazy system?

What parent doesn't think their child is gifted and talented?

How low does the threshold go for gifted and talented?

Aren't the teachers supposed to have some input here?

And the real question, do I really have time for/want to deal with all of the extra homework?

Do I really want to deal with any standardized difference in their education?

And the real heart of the matter, aren't they in Kindergarten? Can't we all just enjoy Kindergarten?
Bleck.

Stunningly Ridiculous

Pre-school

We just picked up our 16 uniform tops yesterday.

All Before We Left The House

Wednesday morning Nicholas brings everyone around the hibiscus plant in the yard to mourn the loss of last year's branches, which my dad had cut back while he was here last weekend. As the three stood around with their heads bowed to the stubble at the ground (one girl took no interest in the lamenting), I explained that it would grow back in the spring.

At the mention of spring, Nicholas' eyes light up, and he gives up and walks toward the car ready to get in now. "Will we go to Aunt Lori's in the Spring mom?"

And then we begin the review of last year's Spring visit to Texas. And we all agree that was fun and we should do it again. And I mention, "And you know what? Aunt Lori is going to have a baby! So we have to go visit."

As I'm finally buckling everyone in to their seats, this: "Mommy, where do babies come from?" Just like that. Just those words. And just then, a baby girl started fussing for her gloves, and I was conveniently distracted from hearing the question and mumbled that Brian and Lori love each other very much.

There you go. The cycle of life in reverse all while loading the car.