Off to School or...

When did they get so big???? A heads off to fourth grade and X heads off to Kindergarten!! They both reported having good first days and they didn't kill each other in Latchkey after school. A was worried about having to play with X after school. We assured him he doesn't have to play, but he can't be mean to him. We'll see how long that lasts for...

Here are some photos from today. Each year they get a paper cone filled with school supplies on the first day of school. (It's a German custom that we borrowed into our multicultural family) Much to D's dismay- you don't get a cone until you start kindergarten (but honestly, it was just one of many many things that displeased her this morning) Then some first day photos....

Of course, the first day of Kindergarten requires many more photos, including some shot "on location". X rode the little day care bus from his new day care to school. B was able to meet up with him in the parking lot of the school to take the first day photos. Surprisingly, the parents were allowed to follow the kids in so we have some in his classroom as well.

Really?? It's 2009, NOT 1909

I interrupt the normal cuteness to get up on my soapbox 

Those of you who know me regardless of whether in real life or in online form know that I am a diversity educator and am fairly outspoken about issues surrounding race.  (I know you are all thinking -what? outspoken? no way!)  In particular, I want to provide food for thought for people who don't have to think about race at all if they don't want to (yes- that's the White people out there) and help parents and teachers become more knowledgeable about what ALL young kids need to grow into anti-racists.  And along those lines.....

It is hard enough to raise daughters to feel confident in who they are in a world where there is but one (White) standard of beauty but when crap like this is being put on store shelves it is maddening to me.  Tell me in that whole production company that no one realized this might be a bad idea and then no one at Costco thought maybe they shouldn't stock this product at all.  That no one realized the message that was being sent is beyond me, but this happens all the time.  This is but one of thousands of messages my kids- and all kids- will internalize.  The messages that some of us are less than others of us.  And that is a message no child should ever learn!!!

http://www.antiracistparent.com/2009/08/18/costco-and-the-lil-monkey-doll/

Get Down with Your Bad Selves!

Last weekend B's cousin got married. D wasn't shy about shaking her groove thing and getting X and K to groove along with her.

So I've Been a Little Busy Lately, But

Here are the rest of the vacation photos.

On the other side of the street, we found the less calm waters of the Pacific- a very different experience than Mission Bay.

X still wanted to dig holes and fill them with water, though

D was less than thrilled about being in the water on this side. She spent most of the time running up and down the beach

Outside of Disney California Adventure. We tried to pose the boys with the "A" since it's the first letter of their names (X is a nickname- X's real name also starts with A) but of course everyone wanted in on the action

K isn't quite sure how she feels about the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. However, she (and D) loved It's a Small World (a ride that I think was originally a medieval torture device)

On the firetruck in ToonTown

Trying to pull out King Arthur's sword in Fantasyland

D couldn't wait to drive her Lego car at Legoland

However, there is no way I am giving her the keys to any car soon. Luckily, there was someone to pull her off the wall repeatedly while she "drove"

Loving the ride at Legoland

How am I supposed to pedal this thing when my feet don't reach the pedals?

In the brig. I wonder how long they will let them stay.

Of course, it didn't take them long to figure out how to escape

Back at the Fountain in San Pedro

Awwwww!

During the fountain show- they had figured out where to stand to get sprayed by the fountain

I just love this photo

PLEASE SIGN- Build Families, Not Barriers Petition

The USCIS and the CDC have issued new protocols for the testing of TB in immigrant populations.  While the desire to protect US citizens from being exposed to TB is certainly a need, there has been an unintended consequence to the new protocols.  Children legally adopted by US citizens are being denied their visas.  There are several families in China and Ethiopia now who are facing the horrendous decision to leave THEIR (both legally and emotionally) child in an institution for up to 9 months or face financial ruin to remain with their child in country.  All medical evidence indicates that children AT LEAST up to age 7 are NOT contagious, EVEN if they have active TB AND after 2-4 weeks of treatment NO ONE is contagious.  While we applaud the efforts of the government to protect us, it should be noted that these rules do not apply to citizen children who live abroad, even if they live in TB epidemic areas and there are not rules to prevent someone with active TB from entering the US on a tourist visa.  Please consider signing the petition- it only takes a second and while it may not matter to you- it might allow a child to join their family (and get appropriate medical care) instead of spending another year in an orphanage.  Please forward this on- the more people who voice their concerns the more likely to get a solution that protects both the child and the country.

Build Families, Not Barriers Petition

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Vacation Photos Round One

At the La Brea Tar Pits in LA. Seriously- he is the size of this bone

A new friend

Riding ponies in Griffith Park. We had her on the "slow" ponies but honestly, I think she would have been fine on the ones that run

Why do people live here? It took 2 hours to drive the 18 miles from the park to the hotel

At Tankland in LA. If this is our first line of defense we are in big trouble.

Does this come in pink? Maybe with sparkles?

Playing in the fountain in San Pedro

More fountain fun

A enjoys the musical fountain

Why do people live here, Part 2? A wildfire as seen from the freeway on the way to San Diego.

On the beach at Mission Bay

How cool is my new suit (which is really 2 suits combined- the top is a 2T and the bottoms are 12 months, otherwise they wouldn't stay on)

X much preferred digging in the sand (which makes me glad I packed some toys so that I wasn't forced to purchase $3 shovels and $5 buckets)

K is not sure about the beach- she loved it, then hated it, then loved it.......

First lesson for white momma's- that sand ain't coming out of her hair anytime soon......

One Quick Photo

Before I go to bed since I am working at VBS in the morning and will have 10 kids (age 12 months to 4.5 years) all wanting me to entertain them. I promise I will post the vacation photos tomorrow (well, tomorrow-ish)

This is D's first ride on a rollercoaster. We are at Legoland and she was most annoyed that she did not make the height requirement for most of the rides. We were with another family who has 3 kids. Their oldest, G, is 6 weeks older than A, their daughter, R, is 9 months younger than X and their youngest, H, is 2 months older than K so D was kind of an odd man out. She was very frustrated when G, A, R and X could go on the rides, leaving her stuck with the babies. But this one she was tall enough to ride. I think she is enjoying it