All you need is love.

Valentine's Day 2013: Love is the answer.
Though "plastic hearts full of Skittles" is also an acceptable response.

What We Think of School

Me: What was your favorite part of the day?
Roxi: Chasing boys at recess.

Me: How are you, Gib?
Gib: I'm sad.
Me: Why are you sad?
Gib: I don't want to be going home. I like kindergarten.

Getting Schooled

Kindergarten and 3rd grade ... well played, kiddos.

Paddlers Beware

Rob:  ... and rule #4 about canoeing is don't stand up in the boat.
Gib:  Rule #5 is don't put your hands in the water.
Rob:  Well, I wasn't going to add that, but OK.
Gib:  Because there could be a narwhal in the water.

Clearly

Spooky!

First Snow

The official count was 9 inches of the white stuff. Rob had to employ a hacksaw to get the cars out of the alley; trees were down everywhere. School administrators, however, were unfazed. Several snowmen were built at school that day.

This Is Really Corny

First Day of School

Second Grade Big Girl (pictured with her aptly named principal Mr. Schooler – really) and Pre-K Tough Guy (pictured with best friend and equally tough-as-nails Luca)

Autobiography

Fashion

Just Beachy

Snore No More

Gib is larger than life in many ways, but one of those ways had us concerned – his snoring. Several months of guidance from an ENT later, and it was apparent that his adenoids needed to go. Today was the big day.

Gib was a model patient:

The operation went perfectly. Afterwards, the doctor reported that Gib's adenoids were enormous. Perhaps our boy will stop snoring like a 50-year-old grizzly bear now ...

Gib took the whole procedure in stride and was very happy to get his post-op popsicle:

Gib was hungry when we got home: yogurt, jello, applesauce, oatmeal, pudding, mandarin oranges and a hard-boiled egg (which he dipped in the pudding, naturally):

Hooray for happy endings, and hooray for adenoid-free Gib.

Bunny Love

King Gib IV

Rob and I had our parent-teacher conference at Gib's school this morning. We were given a rave review – soaring academically and socially, a delight to have in class, a leader to his peers, everything a parent could want to hear. We are super proud of our little man, not least of which because he seems to have finally mastered the art of getting to the bathroom in a timely fashion.

Outside of preschool charm and restroom excellence, here are a few of Gib's latest accomplishments: moving to the older group in his music and gymnastics classes, advanced tape distribution (it is sticky around here), expert splashing during swim lessons, nap dropping (so much to do, so little time), enthusiasm for whatever new activities are thrown at him, nude running (some things never change) and reading. He surprised us with that last one just a couple of weeks after his 4th birthday.

Speaking of his birthday, here is the Gibster at his school celebration last month, soaking in the majesty of finally being 4:

No Surprise

"I've decided I want to be either the president or a principal," said Roxi. She paused to think for a moment. "It doesn't really matter as long as I'm the ruler of something."

Honest Assessment

While putting Roxi to bed:
Roxi: What are you going to do now?
Me: I have some work to do.
Roxi: What kind of work?
Me: Well, I have an article to write tonight ...
Roxi: BORING. You should do something fun with Roxi instead.
Me: You crack me up.
Roxi: Whatever.

Fancy Sunday

And yes, those are new glasses.

Thanksgiving Sentiments

Halloween, Part Two

Wherein Roxi the Clown and Gib the Perpetual Pumpkin go door-to-door with neighborhood chums.

Wherein I learn that face paint seems like a good idea on the front side, but ends up smeared everywhere but the appropriate faces within a half hour.

Wherein Roxi shouts things like "Let's go, peeps!" and "It's all about the candy, girls!" ... and Gib gets really excited about scoring two small bags of pretzels.