First Day of 5th Grade ~

5th graders with blue hair ....

it had to happen at some point, right?!

~ zoe dianne ~

~ ella marie ~

~ the girls with me ~

~ the girls with tom ~

~ hanging out before the doors open ~

~ their class for the year ~

(zoe next to mr. hausman, ella top middle)

Meet the Teacher -- Grade FIVE!!

okay, first things first -- grade FIVE!!  WHAAAT???!!

and second -- this is totally going to be another amazing

school year for the girls.

meet mr. hausman ....

ella and zoe's 5th grade teacher.

the teacher we've only heard extremely positive things about -- 

from other kids who have had him, from other parents whose kids have had him, from other teachers at falcon heights and from other teachers from st. paul that know him because his wife is a 4th grade teacher at a st. paul school .....

he's taught 5th grade for years, so he knows his stuff.

he's a dad of three girls, so he really knows his stuff.

he was welcoming and kind and is really easy to talk with.

so our first 'meet and greet' went really well!!

he also has a student teacher for the fall, mrs. prosser,

who seems equally kind and approachable, too.

so even though it's hard for me to picture zoe and ella

as the 'older kids' at falcon heights, they are!!

and they're ready and excited to get the year going ......

we really can't ask for anything more than that!!

yay 5th grade!!!

cabin time ~

real minnesotans still go boating ....

....and tubing....

and stand-up paddle boarding .....

and kayaking ....

.... even when it's cloudy and kind of cold outside ....

real minnesotans also know how to get a rat (ICK) out of a stored kayak,
without even getting wet ......

.... and how to soak in the sun when it does decide to shine!!

real minnesotans rock long pants and sweatshirts,

and playing the corn hole game ....

.... and celebrate big when the youngest/oldest team

wins the tournament -- again!! 

real minnesotans also wear sundresses with cardigans and sandals

when they didn't realize how chilly it was going to be ....

AND know how to completely rock the eye patch!!!

illinois

Road Trip 2016 -- 

girl time kicking off to wisconsin, michigan and illinois ....

our escort to the farm -- 

always good to have some 'soule' while road tripping!!

hello 'half-stoned holler' and uncle dick!!

hello auntie lois and big fluffy cat that only has one expression .....

hello other big fluffy cat ....

hello exploring half-stoned holler at night ....

..... and during the day, too!!

hello relaxing and reading and soaking it all in .....

hello live music at an art show in a small town .....

(featuring an electric violin of all things!!)

hello driving the kubota ....

hello time with family ....

hello car time and cuddling with auntie jen ....

road-trip 2016, thank you for fun from start to finish!!!