Settling into second grade

Cups had a lot of fun at Westfest with friends and got three goldfish. (She got four last year, and one survived ten months until it committed suicide jumping out of the water. This time all three have passed away already - sad.)

To clear ourselves of busy energy from Westfest, I wanted us in nature - did not say hike! John took the family to Discovery Park.

Ever since Ama showed Cups how to make eggs, she hops into position whenever anyone asks for eggs - a nice break for me. It's a bonus that she doesn't make a mess.

This was Cups' writing assignment the week after Westfest.

Gofres wants to do most everything his sister does. As soon as Cups brought out crayons and paper to make her teacher a birthday card, Gofres was right there. Any concern that he would mess it up was instantly resolved by the inclusive and creative big sister's making a section for his contribution.

We were blessed with another visit from Uncle Ryan and Auntie Christie from Alaska this year - always such a treat! We love visiting with Auntie Amy, too, whenever we have a chance. Uncle Ryan and Auntie Christie lived in Seattle for a while, and I enjoy exploring different parts of Seattle when they visit. Thank you very much for all the present and treats, too!

Agong turned 70. May your life continue in great health, love, joy and abundance. We love you!

I am grateful daily for the blessing of having kids that love me and want to be with me (haha).

Cups and friends ran toward the movie theater - excited for the New My Little Pony. (A mom friend stayed with me for the movie, and we wondered where the ponies were. It turned out that the ponies had turned into human - go figure.)

 It's dark earlier now - journeying to the library a block away after dinner.

It's happening! Cups is picking up books to read to herself!! (This is a picture documenting the first incident. The behavior has continued.) She's never been discriminating of books presented to her, but she's always enjoyed being read to more.

 And this is how they roll. I remain grateful (and surprised) for how well they get along.

Gofres sighted Cups in her dance class.

My little monkey and me while Cups danced away

 Cups had a day off on Friday, and we played summer!

Even after school started

This picture melts my heart whenever I look at it. A picture is worth 1,000 words, and this one depicts their closeness.

We stopped by a corn farm on the way to camping on Agong and Ama's lawn - to fulfill the family's quota of camping once a year.

We really appreciated Uncle Nick and Auntie Jennifer for inviting us to their swim club. The adults enjoyed the great company. Cups had a blast with her girlfriends, playing in the water, having pizza, enjoying a frozen treat, playing Foosball and running around until dark. 

We stopped by the San Gennaro Festival to visit Auntie Marci, who had a arancini (rice balls) booth. Cups loves the face painting artist that they've had the past two years.

Gofres played dress-up with Cups. (Most recently Cups lost one tooth while spending time with Grandma on the Oregon Coast, and the following weekend she lost another on the way to visiting with Agong and Ama.)

On Back to School Night we found Cups' self portrait on the wall. She is constantly renovating her creative style. The current self portrait has a rounder/bigger face with lighter hair, ha. If I couldn't recognize her, the headband and her favorite sweater would have been the giveaways.

Cups read to Gofres while visiting with Agong and Ama.

One lazy evening I herded the family down the alley to a pizzeria a block away for dinner ten minutes before happy hour ended. Yes, we had s'mores from the wood-fired pizza oven as well.

Cups lost her third tooth in a mini doughnut at Pike Place Market a week since she lost the one before.

Before visiting with Uncle Wing Onn's family the kids fed ducks on the Kirkland waterfront.

For Cup's first reading assignment she read If You Take A Mouse to the Movies, and I loved how she laughed when she found delight/surprise on the next page.

We continued to take advantage of visiting the beach before bedtime as fall peeked around the corner.

We showed up to volunteer at the food bank, but the event was cancelled. Molly Moon was still open across the street! See you next time, uncles!!

Cups is back in a dance class, and they are working on putting together an Annie production.

Cups had a play date with Eva, and everyone helped Auntie Jennifer put together a cake for the cake walk in the school carnival fundraiser, Westfest.

First day of school!

I walked Cups to class with her school supplies and emergency kits (juice, snacks, family picture, comfort letter, flashlights and emergency blanket) for the new year. Sometime during kindergarten she asked me not to walk her down the stairs to her class. Sometime during first grade she asked me not to get out of the car to help her get her backpack on when getting dropped off in the alley. Her independence over time has led to the decreased number of school pictures.

 

Her new teacher had a word search of the names in the class for them to work on before class started. I spent a little time helping her, and we couldn't find her name easily - oops.

Cups visited with Mrs. Blanco from first grade with her completed math sheets from the summer for a goodie bag. We love you, Mrs. Blanco! Cups generously shared her Skittles with Gofres and me - and enjoyed the ring pop and Tootsie Pop herself. She also enjoyed the school supplies very much.

Cups had her first day of school, and Gofres had a new haircut.

Cups loves the collection of Barbie stories that we came across at Costco. Score - more material to keep her reading! We have been reading these stories "tiredlessly" at breakfast before school, and I wonder quite a bit, "Is that alarm to get the uniform on going off anytime soon?!"

To wrap up the summer we visited with Uncle Steve, Auntie Angela, Sarah, Laura and Jonah for a day. The kids had a great time playing together as always!!

Cups attended Vivian's birthday party.

We got together with Uncle James, Auntie Jo and their four boys, O, Ry, Oli and Coop.The kids had a great time playing at a spray park, having pizza, savoring frozen yogurt and playing card games past bedtime. Oh wait, was there bedtime during vacation?!

For Labor Day weekend we met Grandma on the Oregon Coast. Cups enjoys many things at the beach house.

Having easy access to the beach is always a luxury!

Grandma treated us to ice cream before we headed home. We had a great time. Thank you very much, Grandma!

We took it easy on the last day of summer vacation and spent part of the afternoon at the park.

A special shout out

We thank Auntie Jennipher and Auntie Stephanie so very much for their extra and creative support today! We are very lucky to have so much love and support!!

Posted by Auntie Jennipher on her FB.

Magazine Drive! Get your magazines HERE!
Support this sweet gal, Elizabeth & her school. ♡

Posted by Auntie Stephanie on her FB. We thank you and Uncle Kevin for your super generosity! Do they have to be your FB friend, Auntie Stephanie? hahaha

 One of my BFFs, Cupcakes (aka Elizabeth), is selling magazines for her school. If anyone needs a new subscription to one of these great mags, pretty please order them here! If you do, let me know, and we will award you with a Willy's Lo N Slo 's sandwich of choice!

Summer Vacation - Part IV

At a movie night the girls took turns petting Romeo, the pet hamster from one of the two kindergarten classes, before they attended to their agenda for the evening.

Cups watered Marji's garden while Marji was away on vacation. When I told her that she'd be paid, she said, "She doesn't need to pay me." She was very excited about the prospect of being paid and added, "She can pay me half." Marji paid her handsomely and even gave her a bag of chocolates - what a bonus! We were just happy to be of help, considering that Cups had spent four years of her life there. :)

We bumped into Auntie Rira at the Food Truck Rodeo on Capitol Hill - so good to see her in person. I especially enjoyed the atmosphere, which had a feel of the Taiwanese night markets.

We celebrated Uncle Eric's birthday. It's always good to spend time with family!

Cups had a study buddy for a bit of the summer. We really enjoyed having Daniel over. The three of them played really well together.

Auntie Jennifer, Eva and Dean invited us to the Pacific Science Center. We had a great time. Thank you for a wonderful treat!!

Thank you, Uncle Wing and Auntie Michelle, for a grand dinner! Averie is their sweetheart, and pink rocks!

We toured the Alki Point Lighthouse.

Agong and Ama checked out the beautiful scenery at Daniel's beach house. Thank you for the super fresh and yummy crabs, Alma and Cip!

We hosted a movie night, and the girls were just ecstatic to get together.

We took Agong and Ama to Bainbridge Island. Thank you so much for my new S5, Mom and Dad!! I love you! haha (Can you see a difference starting with the picture taken with Averie?!)

Cups and a mossy frog. As long as she gets shoelace licorice from the specialty candy shop and pictures taken with frogs, Cups considers her trip to Bainbridge Island complete.

Cups and Daniel read for their pancake breakfast. All kids that read at least 15 minutes a day throughout the summer get to attend the pancake breakfast when school starts. Each kid gets a goodie bag, a new book and a poster - all prizes the librarian earns by running book fairs.

We stopped by the Pike Place Market to play and pick up some flowers for Auntie Evelyne before taking her out for lunch to celebrate her birthday.

We had a great visit with Auntie Evelyne.

 Cups tied up bags of bulk food donated by PCC at the Greenwood food bank.

The kids were thorough and helped with clean up.