August 27, 2008

The Davis Version of a School Bus


riding to school
Originally uploaded by gennabby.
BIKES! It took us all of five minutes to ride to school. Noah got to spy a bus on the way: "Busss! Busss!" He exclaimed, while pointing.

FIRST GRADE!


FIRST GRADE!
Originally uploaded by gennabby.
Today is Abby's first day of first grade! She was just itching to get out the door this morning. Seriously, she woke up at 7:00 and by 7:30 was asking if it was time to go. And she kept asking every five minutes until we left! We made it to school in PLENTY of time after riding up the street about a mile to School. It looks like Abby's class will be studying BUGS to start with. She was shy and pouty when it was time for Noah and me to leave, but I think she will be over the newness in a day or two. So Noah and I are on our own. He is eating a cheese snack and drinking milk (and dumping milk in order to wipe it across his high chair tray...ah, boys...). We've got another 45 minutes to play before nap time.

It is a great joy to be able to see Abby grow up and experience new things. We're aware of how precious her life is and how special each day with her is to all of us.

August 15, 2008

Summertime is nearing an end


Farmer's Market
Originally uploaded by gennabby.
We have had quite a full summer. Most days have been spent playing, swimming, hanging out, eating, and later watching olympics.

Abby is about to start 1st grade (on the 27th!) at a new school: Willett Elementary. She is very excited. I'm taking deep breaths as my little kiddo heads into elementary school. This is a big deal.

Noah is officially saying "bus" and "outside" and (occasionally) "eggs." He is pushing a little ride-along car (walking behind it) all over the house. As far as I can tell, three of four molars have broken through his gums now. It is not fun to feel for these things, though; he bites HARD if I stick my finger in his mouth for too long. He's being clingy with mommy at the moment; I can't get much of a break from the little monkey, but he is snuggly and darling almost all of the time, so I'm soaking in the love while I remain the #1 woman in his life. I know that will change down the road. Way down the road.

Matthew is feeling good about his job application. It is coming together well. I read his teaching statement the other day and was SUPER proud of him. He is an intentional and thoughtful teacher, and I kept thinking: "He is an awesome candidate. I would hire him. He's totally gonna get a great job."

And me. Well, I am still having a hard time feeling inspired to write my first dissertation chapter. I am tightening up my syllabus for this coming quarter's class and preparing to give my research more energy.

Other news: I killed a black widow today. We had at least 4 of them on our patio and had an exterminator come out to spray. Well, I was out counting dead black widows and looked down to realize I had just been standing on one in my flip flops. Problem is, when I took my foot off her, she started crawling! AAAACK! So I did her in with a broom. I hate spiders.

OK, back to watching Michael Phelps swim :) Click on the photo to see a few more pics from the last couple of weeks.

August 8, 2008

swingin'!


swingin'!
Originally uploaded by gennabby.
Matty rigged up these swings for the kids so that we could avoid the afternoon heat (and, from time to time, the smoky air from fires!). They have been a big hit in our place.

Summer is going by quickly. Abbs will be starting school this month, and the grown-ups are officially back in school in September. At the moment, the dining room table is covered with teaching evaluations for Matthew's 5 years of work at UC Davis. We're going through those and putting together his teaching portfolio for his job applications.

On the Noah front, Abby and I think he said "Bus" a bunch of times today! We were out and about and saw a big yellow school bus, which Noah was wild over. He kept repeating: Bssss Bssss Bssss, after we said it was a bus. What is it about huge vehicles that little boys love so much?