....and summer sweetens all to me." - James Russell Lowell

July 20 * Granddaughter Shelby celebrated 17 with cheesecake 

July 21 * All mine. Chocolate shake at Steak n Shake with Shelby and Elijah and Neil. Can't believe they didn't want one.

July 21 * West side of town

July 21 * And on the east side of town, the sky painted a different picture

July 23 * Destruction of living room floor still in progress

July 23

July 23 * Retired, when he's not destroying the living room floor

July 25

July 27

July 27 * Knox red-faced from some backyard baseball practice

July 27 * He's done

July 28 * Lunch at Zaxby's with Grandsons Elijah and Knox and daughter Kelly

July 28 * Cousins. Knox is the little brother Elijah never had (picture by Kelly)

July 28 * After lunch, these two amused themselves dancing to Just Dance 3 on the Wii. I think the Just Dance videos are up to number 50 these days, or some such. But they had a great time.

July 28 * That thing I look forward to every summer. Finally got one. Large. Second shake in a week. Worth every big fat calorie.

July 30 * Elijah. First day of school. But not really. It was a two hour day for him. 7th grade already.

July 30 * Knox went to school for about an hour to find his classroom and meet his teacher. 1st grade this year.

July 30 * Shelby is a senior this year. Still can't wrap my little brain around that one.

July 30 * My grandpeeps. How they've grown! I need a pause button.

July 30 * Ice cream treats at the Lazy Cow Creamery. First day of school, and all. But not really. Good excuse to get ice cream, not that we need any excuse, mind you

July 31 * Making progress. Honest.

July 31 * Knox's first (real) day of 1st grade

July 31 * Shelby's first full day as a senior. Chaotic she said.

July 31 * Elijah's first full day of 7th grade. He refused to let me take his picture again since we did all that yesterday. So this will have to be his official first day of school picture. 

"That beautiful season the Summer! 
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; 
And the landscape 
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood."
-  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"People take pictures of the Summer, just in case someone thought they had missed it, and to prove that it really existed."
-  Ray Davies

First Day Of School--Sort of ...

Grandpeeps Elijah and Shelby started school today with a 10:00 dismissal--two hours to have a look around, figure out where their classes are and if they share any classes with friends, and maybe meet a teacher or two. 

Shelby was already familiar with the high school so she was ready to leave by 8:30. Her day was "meh". She'll let you know how it goes by the end of the week.

Elijah, on the other hand, just out of elementary school, was in a whole new world at his middle school. What are my classes? Where are my classes? Who are my teachers? And please let there be a familiar face to share in my confusion.

His first impression of middle school: It's awesome! My teachers are awesome! I like it better than elementary school!

Shelby told him that would most likely change. She should know.

For now, he's happy with the new situation. He'll be in band (maybe we'll have another band geek in the family at last). He's excited about a class called Principles of Design and Technology. Best of all, his science teacher has a hamster as a class pet. 

School is in session. Off tomorrow. Wednesday they dig in.

So ... is it Fall Break yet??

Stay tuned.

AND SO IT BEGINS ... AGAIN

First full day of school today ~ a day of lasts and firsts. For grandson Elijah, he is in fourth grade, his last year in elementary school. I asked him how his day was and he said, "Awesome!" He's excited about this new school year and he likes his teachers.

Granddaughter Shelby is in ninth grade ~ her first year in high school. She describes it as being "a little fish in a big pond" and admits to being a bit freaked out this morning when her mom dropped her off ~ it is a huge school with over 2200 students ~ but she's happy to have survived her first day. 

Looking forward to seeing all the great things these two will accomplish this year.