Today was a great day even though we had to overcome several obstacles .  In the beginning, Drew was happy because he had a new back pack, so that put all of us in a good mood. However, yesterday we barely made it to my school in time for the 9:00 a.m. two hour "short version" of Kindergarten.  As a result,  Gramma Rosie announced that today we were going to be on a school schedule and we were going to use the "No Huddle Offense."  First, she woke us up thirty minutes earlier than usual to get us used to an earlier wake up call.  Then, since it was raining outside, she and Grampa Jimmy decided to take us to the Kingswood play structure as kind of a dress rehearsal for Friday.  Gramma Rosie said she wanted to make sure we had our act together.  The first thing that went wrong sent Drew into a meltdown.  Someone mismatched his socks and he refused to wear one short and one long sock even thought they were the same color.  This caused a ten minute delay and Gramma was mulling about the person who set us up for failure by mismatching the socks.  After that, would you believe it, Kingswood changed their opening time to 11:00 which Gramma Rosie said would interfere with Drew's nap time and put us an hour  behind in our new schedule.  Drew and I were jumping around ready to play, so Gramma Rosie decided to take us to McDonalds' play structure.  Then things started to smooth out: Drew learned how to climb on the ropes and I helped him get to the top by making myself into a stool for him to step on.  We stayed on schedule, Drew went down for his nap at noon and Grampa Jimmy headed to the golf course.

After he woke up, Drew did have one more melt down when he couldn't get his back pack on by himself.  Gramma forgot to say, "Let me know if you want help." Instead she said, "Here, let me help you."  Big mistake!!!!! He had a big fit and climbed under a table so no one could help him.

Gramma Rosie loves taking pictures of us at the beach. We had a wonderful time picking up garbage along the beach, wading in the river and looking for a suitable place to unload and unwind. At the end of the day, Drew and I put on our backpacks and practiced for our new school.  We are ready to be successful.

Today was my first day of school, so since Mommy had a meetings in Toronto and Daddy was busy with the football team, I had to rely on my grandparents.  First, I didn't realize that Gramma Rosie was so inexperienced in picking out a Kindergarten girl's first day wardrobe.  She and I didn't agree on what was appropriate, but we finally reached a compromise and she said from now on, we would pick out my clothes the night before. Then I didn't want to wear my new rain jacket and I was willing to risk wet leggings in order to wear my matching purple sandals.  From there things got tougher as Drew was starting to get the idea that he was't going to school and he didn't have a back pack.  Anyway, I had a great morning with my new teacher and new friends while Gramma Rosie and Grampa Jimmy were dealing with an unhappy little brother who was crying because he wanted to go to "AJ's School."  The grandparents took him to Tim Hourton's for Tim bits and then to the play structure, but he wasn't really happy until he got to come in to pick me up and I let him wear the back pack.  Gramma said she had forgotten how our daddy acted the same way when Uncle Kerry went to school,  and she said we had been amiss in not preparing Drew for my first day of school.  Personally, I think we had enough trouble just getting out to the car and to school on time.  This was our practice run and we barely made it by 9:00.  Who knows what will happen when I have to be there Friday at 8:00.  Stay tuned, I might be advertising for more organized grandparents.

Yesterday, after Grampa Jimmy mowed the lawn and Drew took his nap, Gramma Rosie and I decided we were ready for an adventure, so we loaded up Grampa Jimmy and Drew and headed for the festival.   It was educational because Drew and I learned how to milk a cow but Drew kept saying the cow was doing a big poop.  I tried to explain but Gramma Rosie said, "Let's just quit talking about it." The next problem was Grampa Jimmy was appalled at getting hosed for the entry fee and the rides, but Gramma Rosie said Drew and I were worth it and took our picture with $25 in ride coupons.  Of course the picture was taken before Drew threw a fit every time he had to get off of a ride. He said, "I'm not getting off." Then Gramma Rosie dragged him away kicking and screaming, she seemed oblivious to it all as she picked him up and carried him to the next spot. I told her that Mom always gave us choices like "behave or time out" but Gramma Rosie trudged on with a smile on her face and said something about "this wasn't her first rodeo." Drew and I wanted to participate in the midway but Grampa Jimmy said he was maxed out.  I think next time we go to a carnival, we need to make sure we take Uncle Kerry with us.  I'm sure he would have backed us.

Finally, Gramma Rosie and Grampa Jimmy are back in New Brunswick to pick up the slack offered up by our busy parents. Our stop for today, was a tour of the new "Y." We got off to a rocky start because Drew and I were excited and Gramma Rosie was afraid we would be tossed out before  the ink dried on Mommy's admissions check.    She finally got us to use our slow feet and our indoor voices so no one would think we just fell off the turnip truck with no upbringing whatsoever.  Despite our rambunctious start, today was a banner day, because Gramma Rosie didn't have to put on her happy face; in contrast, she was beaming from ear to ear as I took her through our new day care/after school program. The new "Y" has all the things that Gramma Rosie thinks are important:  A real gym where they put up equipment just for kids so we can explore our imagination, make good use of our energy and prepare us for our future athletic careers, a real playground with all sorts of equipment, moving vehicles and climbing apparatus, a big spacious classroom with sand and water tables, craft tables and all sorts of activities, and a real warm swimming pool where we have swim lessons once a week.  Most important, the teachers had real smiles on their faces, not the kind that come from just wanting a pay check.  People here seem real happy.  Added to that, Drew loves this place and when we got ready to go, he said, "I'm not going."  Gramma Rosie swept him up and hustled him out before they had a chance to see that he is, as Gramma says,  a little "determined."  I think that's another name for stubborn.  Al in all, it was a great morning and after a great lunch and Drew's nap time, now we are off to the festival to ride some rides.  Later, alligator.

Gramma Rosie kept me so busy while I was in Columbia City, Oregon, I did not have time to keep up with my post.  So, here are a few of my favorite pictures from out summer trip to her river house.  As you know by now, Gramma Rosie goes to all the garage sales and buys, buys, buys.  When Drew and I arrive at Gramma Rosie's summer camp, she keeps us so busy we pass out and night and it takes us weeks to recover.  We rowed our rowboat, zipped around in Grampa Jimmy's big boat, played in our fort, swam in our pool, swung on our swings, rode all the trikes, bikes scooters and cars, went to the Children's Museum and the World Forestry Center, made cake pops, watered flowers, picked blueberries, played with our great grandpa, charmed our Aunt Maria and Uncle Kerry and showed off for our cousin Laine and his girlfriend.  That was a lot to shovel into ten days, but we did it.

We were very busy yesterday

Gamma Rosie and I are making a music video which could get Gramma into trouble. Yesterday we used some locations, backdrops and props without signed releases; as a result, Gramma Rosie said our short film might not be released until the Sundance Film Festival or until she's carefully out of sight on a flight to the Himalayas, whichever one comes first. I want to go on record here and now that Gramma gave me permission to break a few rules with the promise that I wouldn't repeat the performance without supervision or permission. All actions were done for the purpose of artistic expression, and while I was the performer, Gramma Rosie was the Choreographer and director, so any complaints must be filed with her if you can find her.

After working in the studio for most of the morning, we headed off to Staples to buy a few supplies. I got some neat workbooks and Drew latched onto another set of bathtub paints. After supervising crafts with both of us and then seeing us paint bathtub graffiti, Gramma Rosie said you couldn't pay her enough to home school us, so if you've given that any thought, forget it. She said go ahead and send us off to the great unknown when we are four and let the teachers earn their money.

THE GIRLS ARE BACK IN THE KITCHEN

Last night we slept like logs and woke up happy as new seedlings. Gramma Rosie and I were cooked out after Dad and Drew's birthday week, so Grampa Jimmy and Drew had eaten nothing but a boring diet of cheerios for the past three days. Needless to say, they were very happy this morning, when suddenly, the girls were back on their game. Gramma Rosie and I returned from our hiatus and pulled out all the stops. The boy's smiles lit up the kitchen when they heard the sound of rattling pots and pans. After we made and served our special French Toast, we took group pictures. Mom, Dad, Uncle Kerry and Auntie Maria don't know what they're missing. Our French Toast can compete with any vegas rendition.