Last night and this morning

Last night after school and before dinner it was moderately warm so we went outside and played some sport - Bluet played tennis, Wilder football and Ilona basketball. Then this morning - Wilder's long naps at school are meaning he keeps on waking up (and waking us) around 4AM, so we asked his day care to shorten his nap time. This means he needs something quiet to do when he is woken up and the other kids are sleeping. So now he goes to his school with a school bag, filled with books and duplo and cars. As you can see he would very much like to ride the school bus too,  but the bag is good enough for now.

First day back at school

Finally our exceptionally long summer holidays are over and Bluet and Ilona returned to school this morning - Ilona to First Grade with Ms DeBonis, and Bluet to Third Grade with Ms Pimental. They were up bright and early, dressed and fed, teeth and hair brushed and out waiting for the bus at least 15 minutes early, so excited were they. Of course, Wilder also wanted to put his backpack on and wait for the school bus. 

BLOGSTRAVEGANZA III!

Belatedly we come to the third instalment of our trip to Missouri. Back off the river, I think we spent the next week mainly on the Charleston farm, and were visited by various cousins. And Emily had a slightly early birthday party, which was great fun. Let's see what the photos remind me that we also did,

Ilona successfully blows bubbles

This tractor was Emily's present for her 4th(?) birthday. Still going strong

Bluet decided she wanted a cowgirl hat, so we got her one from boomland

As you can see, the weather was hot and sweaty

Meanwhile, the thing that Ilona wanted most in the world was a backpack, so Nana bought her one, and sewed on velcro so she could fasten it in front, just like Bluet's backpack

We went out for dinner for Sarah's birthday. In a nice local restaurant

Then the cousins from Missouri (Nate and Lila) arrived

Ilona has a new role model

Early morning helping Nate build a playmobil campsite

Meanwhile, Bluet also really really wanted to climb a tree

Learning to ride a trike

Wayne built an adventure playground from an old tree

This is how you hold a cat

Sometimes we played inside with play-doh

Oh, and I took Bluet to see the Minions movie, which she enjoyed, mainly the bits when the minions fall down or do something similarly slapstick.