Summer Vacation Ends

We have had a lovely summer!  The weather has been amazing, Mimi visited, we've hit lots of local attractions, made it to Italy, added a dog to our family, etc.  Here are a few pictures of what we have been up to as we prepare to go back to school, and a typical daily routine.

We just love Jose!  He has been a fantastic addition to our family and I think I can say he loves us.  I've been working with him a little bit on some simple commands.  While he is quite well-behaved at home, he does get excited around others.

Mimi introduced Zach to Zorro while she was here.  Of course, he wanted a costume so he could dress like Zorro.  Mimi did not disappoint.  This costume arrived shortly after she made it home and it has been a big hit.  He has plenty of room to grow into the full body stuff, and even friends that come over dress up in it too.  Thanks Mimi!

Last Saturday, we were invited over to a friends to pick currant berries.  Unfortunately, Clara and Charlie were not feeling well so it was just me, Zach, and Jose that went.  It was fun, and our hostess had made a delicious pie with the berries that our gathering shared.

I do not have pictures of it, but I did meet up with friends at SkyPark for a last hurrah before school starts.  The kids had a blast, we had some ice cream, and ended the fun by witnessing a child carried out to an ambulance in a neck brace.

The day before we started school the kids and I went on a bike ride, with Jose, to allow Zach to collect leaves.  We will do a project to compare summer leaves to fall leaves.  Of course, he had to bring a magnifier to inspect nature in general.

With the end of summer and beginning of the school year, I have decided to implement lots of structure and accountability.  Each child has a chore chart and I created a weekday schedule from waking to sleeping.  Here are a few pictures of the kids engaged in a couple of their chores.

Zach is supposed to Furminate the dog each day.  I admit that I have to assist, but he tries.  Jose is a sport.  And yes, part of the Zorro costume is generally in use at any given time.

One of Clara's chores is to vacuum all of the downstairs each day.  This was day one and she now has a new appreciation for my work!  And yes, this costume was put on for cleaning.

The kids are also required to help clean up the kitchen after dinner.  

Then we started school yesterday.  It was a big day for us.  Charlie had to get up for work at 4:30, and unfortunately Zach woke and would not go back to sleep.  Clara also woke rather early (the schedule does not require them to wake until 7am).  So, we had a great first day.  Zach did engage in some decent preschool activities but did not get as much as I had hoped.  Clara's day went really well!  After school we had to take Jose to the vet for vaccines.  Anyway, Zach fell asleep in the car and we could not rouse him.  This was after we were trying to wake him and he eventually was sleeping like this.

Anyway, we celebrated a successful first day of school with the WORST thing we could eat, McDonald's.  I do not feel too bad though as we rarely indulge in this treat.

All in all, I'm loving the structure and so glad to be back to school!