Something other than poop stories!

Alright, let's move on to something more pleasant -- SCHOOL IS BACK IN!

Rylan began first grade 2 weeks ago and I have been informed that her teacher already refers to her as "the little overachiever". Sounds about right. She has also started ballet lessons and loves getting to dance like "a real ballerina". Can't you see what a traditional ballet pose she is striking here?

OK, to be fair, this was before the first lesson, so let's all cut her some slack.

Another exciting thing in Rylan's life the last few days was to see the bloom of her sunflowers. She planted these with her Nana in the spring and we were supposed to help her water them every day when we watered our vegetable garden in the back yard. If you were only shown this picture, you might say, "Not bad, Terry family!"


Only we never got around to planting the vegetables, so the sunflowers got a little...neglected. Honestly, Boone and I were shocked that they bloomed, but she and Keaton were thrilled to death. Don't look too closely at the actual stems/leaves/general bendy-overness/lack of vitality, okay?


In any case, Rylan has a lot to be happy about in her little world, and what better way to celebrate than by hosting an event?


I'm not sure if my favorite thing about this is:

• that it is an actual advertisement for a cat show on her bedroom door
  
• that she chose to highlight the even as both free and "a cool one" (because nothing irritates me more than a "pricey and lame" cat show)
• that she ran out of tape so she attached the flyer with a stove sticker

Boone and I haven't heard anything more in the way of details about the cat show, but we HAVE seen trophies for the cats (works in progress) on her art desk. I promise to keep you all updated.

Keaton has also had a busy couple of weeks as he started preschool in mid-August. He is going 3 mornings a week which is just about perfect for him (and me) for the time being. This was the night of the open house. I look kind of weird but Keaton is cute so, whatever.


This was the actual first day. He loves going to school but has some challenges we are working through. It's a good thing he is so good looking because he charms people into putting up with a lot of his antics. If he was ugly he'd be in trouble (more than usual).

Case in point...


He helped himself to a "small" cup of yogurt and when the whole tub came gurgling out of the container, he just used it to wax the table! On second thought, that must be his charm oozing out because he didn't get reprimanded for this one bit.

So yeah. We are chugging along. We still have Branik, I just don't have "first day of a new activity" photos of him, so he's getting left out this time around.

What?

OK FINE. Because I am an honest blogger, I will post the only photo I have of Branik the last 2 weeks. It is freaky and blurry and he has blood and syrup and a sticker on his clothes, but this is how he looked tonight before dinner.

That's all I got. Senor Nosebleed Cross-Dressing Cousin It de la Syrup. So sue me.

In fairness to Branik I will also post what his older siblings looked like today. Also freaky/slightly disturbing. But very real, which is my whole goal with blogging.

The most embarrassing thing about these photos is that now you will all recognize Boone and I in our disguises when we go to Democratic events. Busted.