Partners in School

In about a week the girls will finally be in the same school together, and both are experiencing some anxiety about the new school year. Cecilia is a bit nervous because, this year, she moves upstairs where all the "big kids" are, and away from the familiar turf of the 1st-3rd grade classrooms which are all downstairs. Ruby has a little bit of the new-school jitters, but she takes great comfort in knowing that her big sister will be there to show her the ropes. In fact, the other day Ruby informed me that Cici promised to kiss her every day. When I asked her for clarification, she told me that Cecilia had said she would give her a hug and a kiss every day at her classroom before Cici goes upstairs to her own classroom. And even though Cici hollered from the other room, "ONLY for a few days until she gets used to school - NOT the whole year," it still warmed my heart to know that this arrangement had been made. This summer the bickering has reached new heights (or are they lows?), but at the end of the day they are best buds and have each others' backs.

This is how it should be.

Fountain

No rhyme or reason to this one - I just found it on my computer and thought it was worth sharing because I think it captures their personalities pretty well. And Cecilia might also be choking Ruby, I'm not entirely sure...

More Than Just Cheese & Packers

Ruby: Does Green Bay have Halloween?

Me: Yes.

Ruby: Oh. We should go there sometime.

Birthday Tradition

I'm not sure if this has ever been mentioned on the blog or not, but there is an interesting tradition between my grandmother and the girls on their birthdays. She knows that we don't buy them much junk food (rarely to never), so she has made it a tradition to buy them some less-healthy food items and gives them as birthday gifts. These presents are always wrapped in newspaper and they are always highly anticipated. This year was no exception, and here is the birthday girl with some of her birthday presents from Grandma 2:


The Cocoa Krispies are loooooooong gone, and we're down to 1 of 3 boxes of macaroni and cheese left. It's a fun and special treat.

Swimming and Diving

After August 4th I promise to post something every day for a month, but until then I'm just hanging on for dear life (blame graduate school). I did want to share this, however, because swimming and diving lessons ended today and I feel like this nicely captures the way I feel about my oldest daughter:

Cici is an awesome girl to have in class. She is fearless when it comes to diving! When she smacked doing a pike dive she got right back up, setting a wonderful example for the class. She is well on her way to reaching her dream of being a professional diver and swimmer. -Laura

This was written by her diving coach for the past 2 weeks. I often say she is fearless - not just about diving but about living life in general - and it makes me smile to see that others recognize this trait, too. I hope she doesn't lose this quality, because it will take her far.

[Ruby is fighting bedtime.]

Dadam: Ruby, that's enough noise in here.

Ruby: But Dad, I can't sleep!

Dadam: Well, you're not trying very hard.

Ruby: Well, what should I do?

Dadam: You need to lie there quietly and settle yourself down. You could try counting sheep in your head - imagine them jumping over a fence or something.

Ruby: Counting? But that's - like homework!

Maybe they've been watching too many British movies/musicals for grownups . . .

Overheard Ruby playing with friends yesterday and crying out in a rich British accent, "No you don't, you bawstard!" Had to laugh when I heard Cici whisper, "Um, Ruby, that's a bad word . . ."