Samantha—aka Saimee (Say-me), Essie (es-see), and mostly Hermonie. Since the end of the summer Samantha has read nothing but Harry Potter. She has read the 3rd book four times (that one is her favorite) and she is slowly reading the 5th book with Scott (so he can edit). Before bed she often asks for me to braid her hair so it will be wavy the next day. Ironically I have the perfect Hermonie wavy hair and I straighten it most days. She has offered to trade hair, but we haven’t figured out how to make that one work yet. Although Harry Potter has been great fun for her imagination, I think I am ready to see her reading other books again. Her birthday is in 4 months and she has been planning her Harry Potter party. I am not sure what is really involved, but she has been making props over the last month and it seems pretty elaborate. 
Jacob—is our second grader. He has the same teacher Samantha had in second grade so we expect great things from him. I finally started Samantha and Jacob with a piano teacher this summer and it has been fun to watch them progress. Jacob obviously has a natural talent and is catching up to Samantha. He wants to play everything turbo fast, and I constantly have to remind him that not everything sounds good that fast. The biggest problem with going fast is that it is really hard to fill a half hour of practicing every day. He lost his first front tooth a week before school started. It was super cute! But I never took a picture. The next week we were at the pool and he knocked his other tooth out. I took a picture right away. Ironically it is the second tooth that is growing in. At this rate I will get the one tooth missing picture after all. 
Joshua—is a smartee. A few weeks ago he got to be King for the Day at school. He wore his crown all day at home and then snuck it in his backpack and took it back to school the next day. When I picked him up from school, he was wearing his crown again. I wonder what the teacher thought about that. He loves that kind of attention. One of his favorite tee-shirts is the one I brought back from Washington in April; it says “Future President!” Matthew—is really coming out of his shell. Granted both twins are plenty noisy and rambunctious at home, out in the real world they are a little more quiet. In Sunday school they just sit like perfect angels and never talk (well maybe not always). Well with the start of school that changed for this guy. His Sunday school teacher says that he completely changed.
He is constantly raising his hand and wants to talk and answer questions. Apparently he is the same way at school. Funny story: When we were getting ready to go to the beach a few weeks ago he was dressed ready to go, but I mentioned he needed to bring an extra pair of clothes. 10 minutes later I found him double dressed with underwear and all over his swim suit. I tried hard not to laugh, but he got the hint and took them off.
Alexander—our little boy. He decided that he didn’t need his crib anymore. I was ready to keep him in there forever after all there was no rush to put him in a bed. He could climb in and out anytime he wanted, and that is what he did. He started climbing out of his crib after we put him to bed and I would find him in the guest bed in his room. It only took one fall before Scott pulled the toddler bed out of storage. I haven’t seen him use his crib since.
The other day Alexander really needed a hair cut. He did a great job last time sitting still, but I was short on time so it seemed easier to buzz. After all it will grow back. Well I hope it grows back fast, I miss his hair. He looks cute, but I swear it made him look younger. I thought hair cuts made kids look older.
He really is talking these days. His favorite phrase is “What?” He will say it over and over and then once he comprehends what you are saying he repeats back what you said. He is a little parrot. The kids have fun telling him things to say.
He has discovered the world of Thomas the tank engine. I cleared out a lot of toys a couple of years ago and since we had plenty of Geotrax that is the train system that won. We only kept a few trains, but those are like gold around here. He loves the books and insists on a story every time he goes to sleep. He tries to take them with us everywhere, but I have already lost 2 library books, so now they stay home.
