Madeline's first day of school! (Or, as she calls it, "cool.") Mommy was worried that Madeline would be shy and upset to be left, but she was not. In fact, she's doing better than I am, and on days she does not go, she spends her morning trying to convince Mommy to take her to cool. She loves it.

Cleo hurt her foot-- we're not sure how, but she would not stop gnawing on it. Now she has to wear a bootie and the cone of shame. Poor thing.

First day of school!

It's my first day of Kindergarten! I'm a little bit nervous and couldn't eat any of my breakfast.

My new teacher and me!

Sitting with my new classmates. By this time, only Mommy was nervous, I was doing fine.

Pictures lost during Mommy's trip

We got new T-shirts in the mail from Mommy. Madeline's glows in the dark, mine is pink.

Nanaw, a puppy, and a kitty.

I don't even know what to call this one. Snow Whites and the Seven Veils being rescued by a pirate fireman?

Another visit with Mommy's friends! It is always hard to catch more than two of us on film, most of Mommy's shots are just a blur. Still, there is this:



And the obligatory visit to Magnolia Pancake Haus (after the obligatory complaining about the ridiculously long wait and then the obligatory stuffing of ourselves with yummy deliciousness and recanting of previous resolutions never to return).

Mustang Island State Park.

The beach, standing by our tent. The tide is going out.

Mustang Island

We camped on the beach at Mustang Island State Park this weekend. It was fun, once we got used to it. Madeline said she didn't like this beach, she wanted to go to one without waves. The sand was very hot, so we sat in chairs to eat our breakfast.

We found out that Cleo does not like her people to be very far from her-- she cried whenever someone walked off. We had to move the car closer to the water (she was on a long leash attached to it) so we could swim.

Daddy caught this crab on the beach. He was pretty wily and pinched Daddy's arm. I was so scared I wouldn't look at it or stop crying. Can you blame me? The last time Daddy caught something in a bucket at the beach and showed it to me, I ended up with a jellyfish sting. I do NOT trust that guy any more.

There were lots of seagulls, and when Mommy dumped our dishwater, they all came swooping in to find tidbits to eat.

Snippets from Kim's shower

Posing

Reading my newest book

Madeline helps herself

I'm the big cheese

Mommy's talents

Here is a spinach artichoke souffle that Mommy made to try to keep herself from driving across town to Panera. It was yummy, and not as hard as you might think, though it used a lot of dishes.

This is the cake for Kim C's baby shower. Mommy worked on it for a long time, with me and Madeline peeking over her shoulder and making her jumpy and cranky. In case you cannot tell, it is Classic Winnie the Pooh, holding Piglet and sitting next to a pot of honey. The flying things are a bee and a butterfly.

Yum

Fourth of July dessert: Miss Kim's famous no-bake cheesecake, decorated with fresh, patriotic berries. Daddy was upset that he couldn't get it EXACTLY perfect, due to space limitations, but he did his best. With a ruler. Miss Kim, you would have laughed so hard you would have cried if you had seen him.

reptilian friend

Mommy and Daddy caught this lizard in the house! We were very, very excited. At first I wanted to name it Isabel Faith D** Lizard, but I decided that Lady was better this time. We spent hours looking at her and finally set her free in my garden.

Sleeping Beauty

Even though Mommy tucks me in very carefully each night (and I insist on a certain degree of orderliness), I have to move around a bit to get really comfortable. Apparently, someone has been sneaking in and taking my picture. A girl has no privacy around here.

Super Madeline!

From back in April.

SU Alumni night at the zoo!

Ryan with the infamous B.A.



Watching marsupials.

Gorging on junk food.

Watching flingos. Note the explorer hats.

Bye-Oh-Lin lessons

At last, a chance for lessons not conducted over the internet. Nanaw teaches while Grandtom entertains the bystanders.