Official School Pictures (with commentary, of course)

This is Grey's official 4th grade picture. This one will grace the pages of the annual. He's pleased and I'm pleased. Thank goodness.
We don't have an official school picture from last year because they were taken on the scheduled retake days because of Ike, and he forgot to take the money in on the day. Then for Spring pics, he had the flu, and nobody wants a picture of that. So, now I can never have one of those 12 year photo frames that documents each school year, not that I have kept anything for 12 years or even that I wanted one, but it's kind of sad knowing the option is no longer on the table for Grey.

Like I was saying, here's Grey's 4th grade picture.

He will autograph for free.

Holland's picture came out pretty good, too. She always gives me a smile. We had a "not our best" kind of hair day. I actually took her to get a haircut a couple of days before, but a small, possible tornado actually came through our area, when I say area, I mean my neighborhood. It's never a good sign when news helicopters are circling above your house. Anyway, the storm blew some trees down, lightning set one house on fire, and knocked power out for about 6 hours. Undeterred, I headed to the mall to get her hair cut, but alas their power was out, too. I should have known that when I got a great covered parking spot. Long story short, (where's the entertainment value in that?) No haircut.

Also, she had a VERY loose tooth that day. I asked her when she got home from school holding it, if she lost it before or after her picture was taken and she said after. I was so relieved. We needed all the teeth we could hold onto for the picture. But if you enlarge the picture or look closely, you can see a very bloody tooth and even some blood on her lip. Only Holland loses a tooth ON picture day.

But I still like the picture and even more 'cause it captures a neat moment, bloody tooth and all.

Hometown Hoedown

The children had themselves a hoedown at school last week. Nice to see my school tax dollars hard at work. Actually, it's a fun way for the kids to get exercise during the PE hour. We certainly never did anything that fun. So, anyway the kids were supposed to put on the western duds to help get into the spirit of the event. Now, I know you're thinking, "I bet they have loads of western clothes..they live in Texas, after all." Well, I don't. Just like when I lived in Mississippi, I didn't have a hoop skirt, the recipe for mint julips, or a cotton gin in the back of my closet. Fortunately, since it was the night before, I was able to pull some stuff from the closets and put together an outfit with a western vibe to it. Let's face it, a bandana and pigtails go a long way. During the hoedown, the kids danced to the Hannah Montana "Hoedown" song and then the Cotton Eye Joe. The Cotton Eye Joe and I go waaaaay back, so when the PE teachers made the parents get out on the floor and dance it, I was so prepared.

Armed and dangerous.

Armed and fabulous.

First Day Of School

And just like that, we are back into the school days dance. I have discovered that as I have gotten older, I really like routine, and you don't get any more routine than when school is in. I don't really mind getting the day rolling before 7:00 am. It's a sickness, really.

"their backpacks were hung by the front door with care,

in hopes that the bus soon would be there...."

First day in the first grade.....I hope Billy Joe McGuffy isn't in her class....

(Veggie Tales flashback)


Fourth Grader, nuff said.

I wanted a pic with the kids for posterity.

(Excuse my attire and hair...I was gym mode.)

Holland and Ms. S.

You won't see a pic of Grey and his teacher. Those days are over. However, he does like her so far...of course, it's only been one day.

After taking two 4-hour naps, Texas awaits the kids' return.