Basil

After school, Kiera and I cut the basil from our yard. We put on aprons and started to wash the basil. My job was to take the basil off the stem and rinse it and Kiera was to put it in the salad spinner to dry it. She told me it would be better if the basil got in the water in the "dish thing" to wash it, and she proceeded to dig the dish pan out from under the sink. She said it was like a bath for the basil.

Then the marathon pesto making began, but not before I took....

...this pic of the two of us (where I look bad)....

...and turned it into this GREAT shot!

A Visit from Gavin and Erin

We had a great (yet short!) visit with Gavin and Erin this weekend. They were in town to go to a wedding and made a stop at our house. We had two great meals (a steak dinner and pancakes) then they were off. We are looking forward to going to visit them in South Carolina sometime soon!

Pancakes

Kiera and Dave made a big batch of homemade pancakes this morning. Why she put on her "bay-ling suit" instead of clothes this morning is beyond me. We all had second helpings then froze the rest for a quick pancake breakfast during the week.

Hotel Pool

Kiera loves to stay in hotels because most of them have pools! She and Dave swam, jumped and splashed, then did it all over again! It's always nice when Dave gets to see her in the pool, because usually it's just she and I at the pool.

Love Dave's face!

Kiera's First Day of Preschool

Today was Kiera's first day of preschool! We woke her up at 7:15 and she said, "I want to stay in bed by myself for a little more." She would barely eat breakfast (good thing they get a morning snack!) Both Dave and I took her to school. She walked right in and was happy. We left after a quick hug. I was crying, worrying that she would be bad or hungry or someone would be mean to her...but her teacher called my cell at lunch time to tell me Kiera was having a great day and doing well in school. That was just what I needed to hear. I picked her up after my school and she was happy to see me. She jumped right into my arms for a hug and happily chatted about her day..."A boy was whiney, but I wasn't whiney. I made friends a friend that is a girl. I saw the fish. 22 is the number of the day. A boy didn't know his numbers. I ate all my lunch. A boy is Jack." She seems excited for tomorrow...I hope that continues!

Her "first day pics" are real doozies...

Walking into school

So precious seeing her name on the flower!

Lake County Fair

On our way home from New York, we stopped at the Lake County Fair. It was a great time to stretch our legs and avoid rush hour traffic. Kiera's favorite animals were the horses and guinea pigs. She was afraid to milk a cow because she thought the cow would go to the bathroom on her. She went on a pony ride with a horse named Madison.

Future Thanksgiving card?

Pony Ride

We rode on a tractor from the parking lot to the fair and back

Dorm

Tyler is all moved in! It went quickly, because he has two sets of parents. We didn't get to spend too much time in his dorm room because he had to go right to football. We didn't get sad leaving him, but when we got home and went into his room, we both got a little teary eyed!

Didn't he take a great pic?

Ty's bed (they are lofted)

Dave set up all of the electronics

The other side of the room

Ty and his roommate Jordan doing the "U" for U of R

One of the dining halls

Dave, Kiera and I were walking around campus, when Kiera said, I see Ty.

At first we didn't believe her, but there he was!

The football stadium (with only one set of bleachers!)

Front of the library

Back of the library

Ty's dorm

One last pic before we say good bye!

Rochester, here we come!

We enjoyed a "last supper" together as a family before Tyler went to college. We went to Moosehead, of course, and sat on the patio. We all had the usu...walleye hoagies with fries for Dave and Ty, with chips for me. We came home to pack up the car for today's adventure. Dave is such a great packer...all of Ty's things fit and there is still room for our overnight bag and for Kiera's toys. I bought some "new" toys at a garage sale, and I hope those keep her occupied for the four hour tour (we all know how she is on the way to Chicago!) Ty is feeling super excited and a little uncertain. He spent last night visiting his friends and this morning he is having breakfast with another. Rochester, here we come!

Good one of Ty...

Good one of Kiera...

So-s0 one of both...