Welcome Frida!

We are dog owners again! Some neighbors brought home a golden puppy this summer and I started to get the itch. We contacted some breeders and recently found an available Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy (same as our previous dog Tatum).

Lucian and I drove to meet her and her siblings thinking we were one of 3 people interested in her. Turns out we were the only ones ready! We named her Frida; a nod to the painter Frida Kahlo and a childhood nickname of mine, Frida Dita.

We made the long drive over Labor Day weekend to pick her up, splitting over two days with a stay at a water park hotel! We stopped in Madison on the way home so she could meet her biggest bro:)

She is now 9 weeks and is settling in and adjusting to home life. My parents spent last week with us to help make her first days nice and easy. It was great.

Claire loves her and is very good with commands, controlling her and pitching in. It really seems she was meant to have a dog.

Off to School!

Kyle started a Pre-K program this year. He is excited and doing well. He was always with me when I picked Claire up and begged to go on the playground equipment and play with the classroom toys. He is in heaven now that is allowed and learning a lot about following rules and having more structure to his day. His teachers say he is so polite and very enthusiastic about school.

He and Claire attended the same school for one whole day. His first day was her last. She was a wonderful big sister making sure he was doing ok and playing with him on the playground. That night she even asked me in a very concerned way "Who is going to play with Kyle tomorrow?". I assured her that he would make friends.

Claire is in full day Kindergarten this year! She knows the drill and seems very confident riding the bus and finding her way around the school. I hope it's a fantastic year for her.

Kyle did cry again on her first day saying how he wants to ride the bus. Luckily there is a field trip coming up for him where he will get his chance:)

Camping

We tried our hand at camping a few weeks ago. Camping is not my thing, I'll admit. I resisted this kind of trip for a while, but the economics of it are hard to argue with. Claire lost a tooth the night before we left.

We loaded up the van with gear and the 5 of us and headed to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

We all slept in a giant tent. 

We made s'mores.

And explored the coast of Lake Superior. It was a long drive. My two take aways: 1).You can't reserve a camping spot in a National Forest. I would only like go to grounds where you can reserve a spot. (For a while). 2). You only need half the food you think you do.

I will try it again, but much closer to home.

Although I packed a bin of toys, this is how the kids spent their time. Throwing rocks, making food out of sand and playing with sticks.