The Black's Family Web Page

It is only the first of October and it already feels like the end of November.  We have had our first frost and already turned our heat on.  We have been having highs in the fifty's and lows in the 30's.  burrrr

Where did summer go??

Fall is here!  

September, as usual was packed full of activities.  It was a month of a lot of firsts and a lot of fun.

 Lauren

Lauren started playing soccer this year.  Her team is second and third grade girls and their name is the dolphins.  Lauren suggested the name and it got voted in.  She is the smallest one on the team, but does a great job for never playing before.  They practice once a week and have a game once a week.  They have won all three games even though 2 of the 3 games were in the pouring rain.  We were watching with our coats on and umbrellas while the girls were in shorts and short sleeved shirts getting soaked.  Lindsey and Jared like to play with the other kids on the practice fields.

Lauren also is doing well in school.  She just came home with 4 A's and a high B on her mid term grade sheet.  She likes school and learning about new things.  They made a solar oven last month and cooked snacks for the class.  All the second grade classes took a field trip to the planetarium and then to a park for a picnic lunch.  They also had their main school fundraiser already.

Lauren is keeping busy with friends, brownies, and birthday parties.  It seems like there is always something going on. 

Brownies

I am the brownies leader for Lauren's troop this year.  There are 17 girls in the troop.  It is a lot of fun, but more work than I ever imagined.  We are trying to do a lot this year as a troop, and that means a lot of planning. I had a parents meeting at our house, a brownie meeting, and a community service project cleaning up around the school already. 

We are having our first ceremony next week and a field trip the meeting after that.  I have been doing a lot of paperwork, reading, research, and going to leader meetings.  I have to go to three classes next month, and an 8 hour first-aid and CPR class on Saturday, a couple of other classes in the next few months, and an overnight training camp out at the girl scout camp this spring.

Lindsey

Lindsey really likes going to school everyday like Lauren.  Every morning she spends a long time deciding what she is going to wear and how she wants her hair.  She likes her teacher and is very excited when she gets off of the bus in the afternoon.  She can't wait to walk home and show me what is in her backpack.  She is doing well in school also and is enjoying it.  They go to art, music, library, gym, and recess just like the older kids.  She sold cookie dough for the school fundraiser also.  Her class is going to walk to the fire station next week to learn about fire safety.

Lindsey learned how to ride a bike without training wheels early in September.  It only took her a few practices before she could ride fast.  She learned on Lauren's bike and the seat is a little higher and her feet couldn't touch the ground.  When she would stop to turn around, she had a hard time getting back on and getting going.  She stuck with it and didn't get mad or shed any tears.  After trying and trying and falling and getting right back on at least 100 times she learned to start and stop on the bigger bike in about an hour.  We took the training wheels off of her bike and it was a breeze for her since it was lower to the ground.  She always puts on her helmet before she even gets her bike out.

Lindsey had her 5 year old check-up at the doctor and she had grown 3 pounds and 3 inches.  She is now 34 pounds and is 42 inches tall, both 40% on the growth chart.

 MAPS

Again this year I am involved in the school parents club.  We had a meet the teachers luncheon and a meeting already.  I am in charge of the  Campbell's soup and Tyson labels.  I am also the co-chairperson for the new playground committee and I'm in charge of our school day at one of the local grocery stores.  busy, busy, busy!

Jared

Jared thinks he is big now because he goes to school too.  We had a school open house early last month so the kids could see the rooms and meet the teachers.  Jared only cared about the room with the train table.  His first day of school was Sept. 11th and he loved it.  He goes on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 until 3:00.

I don't know what I am paying for because when I asked him what he did at school he always says "we didn't do anything".  He has already had blue day and come home with a lot of pictures, songs, and crafts.  The teacher told them that they need to practice with scissors at home, so Jared has been cutting up everything even his hair.  He tried to cut off his colic that is right in front.  He thought the teacher would like it better that way.  I was asking Jared about the songs they were singing and he was amazed that I knew the eensey weensey spider song.  I had asked him one day if he ever played with a boy that I know his mom and he looked at me real serious and said, "I don't know what his head looks like".  Now he is learning more of the kid's and teacher's names and is making some new friends.

He asks me everyday if it his school day.  He has his own backpack and he takes it and puts it by the door just like the girls do if it is his school day.  He already had the show and tell bag and I'm sure you can guess what he took - Gordon.  When I pick him up at school he always has the biggest proud smile on his face.

We celebrated our 11th anniversary by going out to dinner without the kids.  We enjoyed our night out, but I'm not sure if the babysitter did.  When we came home Katy had a brand new look.  The girls had given her a make-over with their real make up and nail polish. 

Dennis also took a half day off and came home at noon.  We went out to lunch with Jared.  We don't get to spend much time with him by ourselves.  I think he liked all of the attention.

Here are a few pictures from September.  Click on the image to enlarge.

girl scout

clean-up