First Days!

Yes, they did start school.
Relia started on Monday. I felt a little teary-eyed dropping her off at her before school program (MPLS Kids). But I know her teacher and she will be fabulous. Perfect for Miss Relia. She is asking her class to call her "Rellie". Third grade is such an amazing year I pray that everything helps her head in the right direction.

Felix started Kindergartenon Wednesday. I took them to MPLS Kids, dashed off to my school to help our Kinders get settled, and then dashed back to see Felix to his class. He was great. He sat down and looked at books. I left and miss Relia was the one who didn't want me to leave. 

He is so tired coming home. The first few days he told me he didn't want to go back. It broke my heart. But now he seems to be getting in the swing of things. He says he has friends and he loves Gym and Art. 

She's Eight!

Grampa took Felix to a fly-in at the Blaine Airport in the morning. Felix was ready to go at 6am.
He slept in that AOPA hat that gramps let him wear.



When everyone arrived, we played all the games Aurelia requested, musical chairs, and pin the tail on the Unicorn. We also had a clothing relay:




Felix got the hat stuck on his head


Time for cake and presents
Birthday Girl!


My goodness she is beautiful.
I love that she requests that nana make her pink angel food cake every year.





We ended party with Aurelia "busting in" to eight with an eight piñata

Climbing

Relia went to a friend's birthday party at Vertical Endeavors yesterday. I decided to stick around and see what they were doing

She made it all the way to the top of this wall. The auto belay is super cool.

Our guide, Jessica, was always willing to belay whenever someone wanted to try a wall without an auto belay. 

I was amazed at how all of the girls were totally game for climbing and were willing to keep trying when it got hard. And the energy...I would have been beat just doing one wall. They did it about 15 times.
Her school offers and after school class at VE. Now she wants to sign up. 

Cousins!

The Giberts came to visit us today!





Heidi finally got Felix to be in a photo...

Kelly farm

We headed out to Kelly Farm today. One of those things I'd put on my list of summer stuff to do, and never got around to. We hoed the garden, sewed patches on grain sacks, and investigated sheep, oxen, horses, pigs, chickens and cats. The latter was bringing home a chipmunk dinner. 

I think their favorite part was pumping water from the well into buckets and bringing them to the ox. 

Evil knevil

I look up from my book to find Leo here

Gerbils

I don't remember how it happened, but somehow, several weeks ago, Relia got it into her head that she wanted a hamster.

I had mice, hamsters, and gerbils growing up. I remember them being fun. Mice are noisy at night. Hamsters bite. Gerbils rock. I convinced her that a gerbil was the way to go.

She saved her money. She rocked a few lemonade stands, and it wasn't long before she'd saved up $35.

But apparently finding a gerbil is a challenge. Humane society and pet stores have plenty of mice, hamsters, guinea pigs and rats, but few gerbils.

We were told our favorite pet store would have some today, but like a fool, I didn't call ahead to make sure. After a few tears, I decided to stop at another store on our way home. They did have one! (We'd planned to get two, but they'd need to grow up together). One it was. We'll take it!

Then another employee whispered to the guy helping us that they had two in the back for adoption. They had essentially been "returned". They were brothers who came with a complete cage. Even better.

Now we have Blackie and Darkness. I love the names she chose. We got them home and I showed her how to pick them up and hold them. She learned pretty quickly how to get them and play with them. She is so excited to have her very own gerbils.




I have noticed that when she is in one of her almost completely out of control angry moods, sending her to her room to play with her gerbils has a quick calming effect. Such a wonderful side effect!