Veta was so excited for her new leather purse/bag!

I love the changing of the seasons!  It’s incredible to me how quickly the temperature can change here in Idaho.  August 31 was a miserably hot day, but September 1 was cool and beautiful.  Since then, we’ve only had beautiful fall days.  School has started for both Veta and Hazel.  Veta is in fourth grade now and is looking so grown up!  She tells me that her new teacher is the nicest teacher she’s had so far, even though they are learning about algebra already.  Veta has also already had homework and extra credit opportunities.  The first weekend of school we made an abacus and did a little paper on the meaning of her name.  I certainly hope that this first week wasn’t an indication for how busy the rest of the school year is going to be!

Hazel was thrilled that I was able to find a backpack
that was a perfect size for her little shoulders!

Last Friday was Hazel’s second day of kindergarten.  I drove her to school the first day and hung out with her for about an hour and a half in her classroom until she seemed comfortable, and she refused my offer to pick her up after school.  She wanted to ride the bus with Veta!  Hazel refused a ride to school again on Friday morning.  Apparently, the bus is fun to ride because not only does she not have to sit in a booster seat, she doesn’t even have to wear a seatbelt!  I am so thankful that Veta is such an attentive older sister!  I know I can rely on her to take good care of Hazel so I don’t have to worry about Hazel’s new independent attitude.  Hazel also loves her teacher.  When I asked Hazel how she liked school, she told me it was amazing!  She has made some new friends and loves just about every aspect of kindergarten.  Hazel is especially excited to advance to learning while sitting in the school desks.  Sitting on a large alphabet rug with the rest of her class (which is how it goes for now) doesn’t fit in with her ideas about how school is supposed to be.

Gemma loves to play in the girls' Barbie houses
and often will rearrange the furniture in them!

Gemma is walking quite well now.  She will crawl occasionally since her walking is still a bit slow, but she seems to prefer to walk.  In addition to her developing balance, her new four teeth on top have finally broken through, allowing her to bite and chew all sorts of new foods.  Gemma watches very carefully during meal times, and if something is offered to her that she didn’t see me eat first, she adamantly refuses to open her mouth for a bite!  Gemma has loved every vegetable and fruit that I have fed her, aside from strawberries and bananas.  Those get spit out quickly.  She also loves barbecued chicken and hamburgers…well, any food cooked on the grill, really.  Gemma has learned how to play Barbies, and I often hear her making her Barbie “talk” as she makes her jump around.  Veta and Hazel are both so very good about including her in their play.