First Day of School

Yesterday was the first day of school.  Man this summer sure went fast.  Both kids were ready for school to start but also a little anxious for the big day.  Will changed shirts about four times before deciding on the clone troopers.  Reina had her outfit picked out for weeks.  Everyone was dressed and ready in record time which probably won't happen again until the first day of school next year.  First grade and third grade, here come the Pauley kids!

Coco gets in on the first day of school pictures too, because why wouldn't she? 

My little hams.

Goodness, this kid is growing up.  He told me over the weekend that third grade is the first year of not being a little kid anymore and I have to agree with him.  After school he informed me that this year they have to take big tests (standardized state stuff) and keep a daily journal of things they worked on.  He had a great first day but was a little dismayed by the fact that there are only 5 boys in his class and he's girl-trapped at his table (surrounded on all sides by girls).   

This picture says it all, doesn't it?  A little worried but sitting patiently as the teacher starts the day.  Reina's best friend moved to a new school so she's a little adrift right now. I know she'll find her bearings and get in the groove soon.  But looking at that face makes me want to drive to school right now and sit by her side for the rest of the day.  Hang in there girl. 



Camera recap of the summer

It's been a heck of a week.  Coco came back from our last camping trip with a respiratory bug and we spent a couple of scary days (and two trips to the vet) watching her and hoping she was okay.  I know when kids aren't feeling well, I know when dogs are under the weather, I know when Glenn's feeling puny, but I don't know cats, especially little 1 lb 7 oz cats who don't eat for a while.  It's no secret on this blog that we've all grown a little attached to her and it's pretty scary watching something that tiny get droopier and droopier.  Luckily, we got her on some medicine and after forcing a few syringes of a cat smoothie (tuna water or watered down wet food) down her throat, she started to perk up and she's doing so much better today.  She's still a little quiet and she's not very playful but we are hopeful that in a few days she'll be back to climbing curtains and chasing Trigger.  

So besides sick kittens, I've also had a weird dental thing that is driving me a little batty, super busy at work (State Fair week!) and this was the last week of the summer rec program for the kids so things are a little hectic around here.  I did find some time to finally clean off my phone and put some small, blurry photos of our summer festivities on here, that didn't make the fancy camera. 

Reina's first big-girl haircut.  She loved the blowout part the best. 

Will at the annual Frontier Day's parade in front of my office, drinking a hot chocolate all grown-up like. 

Rodeo selfie.  Reina was more concerned for the animal welfare this year but they both did well cheering and our favorite is still the Dinner Bell Derby (baby horses racing to their moms)

Love Reina's 'jail' expression and Will's lightsaber/sword/rolled up poster

When Reina met Coco - taken about 30 seconds after Reina walked in the room.  "Are we really keeping her?"

A sideways picture of Coco looking out our front door.

A sideways picture of Coco looking at me. 

Well this is just getting ridiculous.  A sideways picture of Coco sitting on Glenn's shoulder as we drive to Estes Park.

Coco camping (not the the cold camping trip)

Where's the cat, anybody seen the cat? 

There she is! 

Coco and Trigger sharing a moment.

Coco fell asleep and Trigger sat there looking slightly concerned for a few minutes until Coco started purring.  Trigger then levitated off of the bed and ran out of the room. 

A peach pie that I didn't totally screw up.  One of my summer resolutions is to figure out pie crusts. 

Tootsie off of the leash and sitting in the same sector as Coco without wanting to eat her. We call that a victory.

In cleaning out closets last weekend, Reina inherited Will's #18 Broncos jersey, which she wore on Monday.  It's almost football season and it's always cat snuggling season. 

Other stuff besides more pictures of Coco

This is quickly turning into an all-Coco-all-the-time blog.  So here's a recap of everyone else while you wait for kitten pictures.  Kiddos are fine and healthy.  School starts in two weeks.  Will had basketball camp this week which he enjoyed.  His coaches filled out a little evaluation form for each camper and Will had high marks in ball handling, ability to get along with teammates, attitude and coachability.    He needed new shoes for basketball camp and four stores and a bit of grumpiness later (mostly on my part), we found acceptable footwear.  Will wears a 4.5 shoe and he's growing like a week.  At the beginning of the summer, his head fit firmly in my armpit, now he's almost to my shoulders.

Reina, what can I say about Reina.  She had her first 'big girl' haircut at the place I go to a few weeks ago. She enjoyed sitting in the chair and chatting with the beautician.  In looking through the blog, I realize that I forgot to memorialize an important event from this summer - Reina got her ears pierced.  How did I leave this one out?  The week after she finished kindergarten, we went to the mall, she picked out little blue stars and we got her pierced.  She was a trooper and didn't shed any tears.  Enough time has past now that she has traded out the little blue stars for a never-ending parade of kittens, ducks, owls, whales (?) and precious little baby deer earrings (thanks Aunt Vicky!).  I have pictures of the ear piercing extravaganza but they are on my phone and it's on the other side of the room and that's the kind of evening I'm having. 

We camped this past weekend with the Omaha Pauleys and had a great time.  Pictures coming from that soon.  Last weekend, Glenn and I did a race in Estes Park with the Fry's and we had a great time and we have pictures from that too.  We took Coco camping on both trips so by 'pictures' I mostly mean 20 snaps of a little kitten sitting on a sleeping bag.  But she was a trooper and we all enjoyed getting out of town for a few days. 

And it's bedtime. Pictures to come!