Ninety Months of First-Grader Frances

Ninety Months Fun Fact:

• Disposition: Easier!  I may have said this before, but Frances has hit a really nice phase.  Less weeping, less gnashing of teeth, more cooperation and consideration.  It is so not bad.  She even suggested, her very self, that she complete a 5k.  The 5k turned out to be a wet slog which she was encouraged to skip, but still she volunteered to run a 5k!  She continues to be a cooperative student and she hardly torments her sister at all these days.  All mothers should be so lucky.

Fifty-One Months of Preschooler Chandler

Not the best picture ever, no, but I couldn't resist using the photo of Chandler in one of Beth Brooks' creations.

Fifty-One Month Fun Facts:

• Girly:  We are having a major dose of girl lately.  She wants to be wearing a dress or skirt almost at all times.  Chandler has a little friend who is going through the same thing right now.  Perhaps it's the age?
• Ornery:  I know I've mentioned this before, but she can be a bit ornery lately.  She still asks to sit in my lap (she likes my body heat), but moments later, she'll be stomping on Frances's toes with all her might.  She gets sent to her room for shrieking on a regular basis.  Not terrible, horrible infringements - she doesn't actually wound Frances, she's not destroying property or running into traffic - but, Lordy some days are rough.  And then today, she couldn't have been nicer.  I never know what I'll get.

We don't pay them enough

Chandler and I joined Frances's class at the Museum of Science.  That's Frances making a face on the very right and Chandler two kids to the left of Frances.

God bless those teachers.  Their font of good will and energy seems unceasing.  These kids are lucky to have them.  I try to help out.  Chandler and I go in every Friday morning so I can read with the kids.  That's two to three hours.  I believe a full week would have me prostrate.

The poor flowers

The girls have been more interested in flowers this spring than ever before.

This is good for the girls, not so good for the flowers.

The poor, poor flowers.

The girls have done their part to spread dandelion seeds around.  If there's a special abundance of dandelions next spring, you can thank the girls.

Stealing the Neighbors' Dog

Scarlet's a big 'un, and we weren't so much stealing as dog-sitting.  A weekend a year with a huge dog turns out to be just about right for us.  The girls sure do love her, and I think the feeling is mutual.

Proof of Life During April Vacation

Just two quick pictures to prove we braved the Aquarium during April Vacation, because Frances really wanted to go.  It was crowded, but the girls did great.

This is Frances and Chandler at the beginning of the visit, at the Shark and Ray Touch Tank.

At the end of the visit, the girls were eaten alive by a sea polyp(?), as sometimes happens at the Aquarium.

We went home to recuperate.

Oh, Happy Day!

The hair got cut!  All it took was some prodding from Pinterest, a very good tool to use in child manipulation, it turns out.

As soon as we got home from the hair salon, Frances dressed herself up as Ramona, complete with name tag.

She has received so many compliments, I dare to hope that shorter hair is here to stay.