Heat wave

We are in the middle of a heat wave. A massive one. Like temps over 100 degrees in Pasadena.

So the kids have been cooped up and have had limited outside recess. Ellie has had her after school program inside in the cafeteria all week.



But she and Ishbel have found an upsides...they have been designing American Girl doll clothes and outfits and houses together ahead of their planned play date this weekend.

The weather has definitely affected Calvin and we've been doing breathing treatments each morning and evening.



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Routine

We are definitely back to our routine. The kids have, for the most part, fallen back into their morning routines. School. Dinner. Piano practice. Playtime. Bed.

Fortunately Ellie hasn't had ANY homework so far, just a reading log.





Update: for the past three nights, Calvin has slept in his own bed ALL night. He has come into my room between 6 and 6:15 which is fine as my alarm goes off at 6 and I hit snooze until 6:18.


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Milestones of childhood

There are a few milestones of childhood that build character.

Like when your mom comes and pulls you out of class and makes you do a breathing treatment at school.



Or when you get lice. And your mom smears lotion on your head, blow dries it, and makes you sleep in a shower cap. Then she wakes you up super early and makes you shower. And then she combs your hair for a long time while you are eating breakfast. But at least she said her head didn't itch today.


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SD zoo 2017

Over the weekend I had a gala event in SD that I had to attend (with Al Gore, Nobel prize laureates, and genius scientists). So Nick and the kids shared my hotel room and on Sunday we went to the SD Zoo.

Ellie was happy to see the pandas again.
And she continued her diligent note taking and research.







Calvin was over the moon to see the hippos. And he was fascinated by the snakes in the reptile house and the insects in the insect house.






We were all amazed that the animal handlers had an ant eater just walking out and about.


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Sense of excitement

Ellie had a party at school today apparently. She came home with face paint and a soccer ball that she won at bingo.


Calvin couldn't wait for the pizza man.






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Drop off at Webster

Ellie was so excited to show off her new backpack at school. When I walk E in, we park on a side street and then we all walk into the school. She was very excited to show off her backpack at school.







When the warning bell rings at school all the kids freeze. Then the official bell rings and they go and line up. Calvin likes for freeze as well.


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New lunch boxes!

I ordered the kids new lunch boxes. Because they wanted them to be personalized they didn't make it here in time for Ellie's first day of school. But they are here now! And E got a new backpack as well. (They put a bird on it!! Hahahaha, hipster millennial humor)






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New toys at school

Sorry I forgot to upload this last night.

Ellie seems to have settled into her new class routine.




And Calvin is so happy with the new toys at school. Really he is. He just didn't want to take a picture.



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Eclipse 2017

Nick saw more eclipse than I think he wanted.

Calvin may or may not have seen anything (it's unclear if he watched the live feed).

Ellie watched the live feed in her classroom but the during lunch borrowed glasses from a friend and saw the very very end.

I stayed inside and used some office supplies to see the eclipse on my desk.




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Fifth day of third grade

She seems happy.



Today at preschool it was dress like one of your parents day. Calvin didn't have to try very hard to dress like his dad.



He also had fun with a friend who has a broken arm and brought a microscope to play with as sh can't play in the swings.


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Fourth day of third grade

Problem:



Solution:


Factoid: In the same school year they teach cursive they now teach typing. #thirdgrade #communicationfor21stCentury


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Third day of third grade

I'm out doing field work in the desert (in August, yes I have sunscreen, a hat, and am drinking water). So grandma got the kids to school today.



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Second day of 3rd grade

She lines up and goes in. She isn't happy with her desk partner, but at least it's a known quantity. Other things seem to be going well...but she's learning that getting older means school gets a little more serious.








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Firsat Day of 3rd Grade

She's a 3rd grader!!


Today was the first day of school. She reported that it was great and she loves her teacher and her class.


Calvin couldn't resist being part of the first day of school photos.





Both kids wore their new shoes to school. Calvin thought he could run faster in his new shoes.


Obligatory picture in front of school (with Calvin...)



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SB zoo Camp Day 5

Last day of zoo camp and Calvin was WORN out.



Ellie practiced all her new skills including setting an IV and suturing hot dogs, taking an X-ray, and birthing mammals.

The real star of the day was Great Grandma Van. It's her 94th Birthday!!



Party Time!


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SB zoo Camp Day 4

Calvin said they saw more animals and sang songs. I'm sure they did more than that, but he is three and doesn't necessarily have words for everything they did. He did say they saw the turtle today.

Ellie had a big day. She dissected a squid by themselves. She was talking about livers and egg sacks...sounds good to me. She also went behind the fence at the elephant enclosure and fed the elephants cabbage and got to touch their toes. Tomorrow they are learning about delivering mammal babies...glad that lesson will be taken care of.







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SB Zoo Camp Day 3

Calvin got a hat. As he reported today he "saw animals, played on the playground, ate lunch, ran around, and went home".






Ellie learned how to do sutures and bandage animals. Apparently they practiced sutures on hotdogs and oranges. She also got to go behind the fence at the giraffe enclosure and see how the vets feed them. She also saw X-rays for a sick crane that swallowed a coin (don't throw change into fountains and ponds people!).



And then there was ice cream.



And crazies.


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Zoo camp Day 2

According to the kids, Ellie used real needles and learned how to give shots and start an IV, they practiced on fruit and hot dogs. She also got into the kitchen where they talked about how they make animals sleep to see the vet (gorillas get medicine in Gatorade, otters are trained to visit the vet, and they have to shot the lion with a tranquilizer).

Calvin rode the train, which he is now expecting to do everyday at camp, and fed the giraffe. The giraffe had a scratchy tongue and it licked him.










And they are getting spoiled with hot breakfasts with Grandma!


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