the old man turns 35

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DA!!

(like the "35" candles, don't you?)

Sandy's first week of school

Sandy, our tiny 4 year-old sweetie is now going to school "like a big girl" at Darley Primary School. Mrs. Henry is her teacher (a sweet old lady who doesn't take a lot of nonsense) .

The Friday before school started we met up at Fountains Abbey with a few of the British girls who will be in her class. Harriet, Emogene, & Ella were a few of her friends who, with Sandy & Molly, proceeded to "accidentally" fall in the streams. (Why do they always do that when you've not brought a spare change of clothes?)

Monday was Labor Day, and Sam and Sandy both had the day off. We went on a family bramble-berry-picking walk and got over 3 gallon bags filled with wild blackberries! Sandy rode her bike the whole way there and Molly ate every berry she picked! I am now the proud maker of a gorgeous batch of English Bramble-Berry Jelly... (and I have no pictures to prove it.) Here are the sweet peas having a sister cuddle after all their hard work.

Tuesday: come on, how cute is she in her uniform? Of course, Molly had to pose as well. Sandy carried her book bag and led the way to school.

The way home with only Molly made us at bit sad
~did we just graduate to a new class of parenthood?

It must have been a good first day
-Sandy came home with two bloody knees!

(Sam just told her to run faster next time.)

Wednesday:


Thursday: oops... We got Sandy a pair of trousers that were too long, so she did a repeat performance of Tuesday's uniform.

Friday: Here she and Molly are in their pretty checked dresses... and then we walked outside. So here they are with their winter coats on!

It was near-freezing. It was raining. And until my car gets out of the shop, it will continue to be a long, cold, wet,
(1 mile long) walk to school.

~xoxo~