School

Everybody but me is back at it this week. KyKy left early today for morning practice before school. The Madster and 'Nika went out to the bus stop at 34th and Columbus we've been going to since 1998. This is the first year since we moved into the house that KyKy isn't climbing on that Emerson bus. She's joined the crowd of kids that have moved on to bigger and better things I guess. In 5 more years there won't be a Stocking at that bus stop anymore.

It'll be interesting to hear what KyKy and Madster's impressions are of their teachers. K is in a whole new school so we don't know any of the teachers, and since all of our friends kids are going to South, we can't get the dish on any of the Southwest bunch. The Madster is getting a whole new batch of teachers who are new to Emerson. They left a good impression on us after we met them at the school open house. We're hoping she has a great year. 'Nika is with some veterans who have been at the school since we started sending the kids there, so she should be fine. This week TOYH starts her final term at St Kates. 3 plus years into this slog and the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel is getting much brighter.

We were able to get stuff done around the house despite all our social engagements. On Sunday, we went to a little get together up in Vadnais Heights for our nephew's birthday. Monday, my sister Terri and her family stopped by with their bikes and a foreign exchange student, so we took a little tour around Lakes Calhoun and Harriet. Lovely day for a ride. In between these things, TOYH finished up the Madster's bedroom. She is now sleeping in a north woods cabin. The Dreadful Man came down, and with the help of The Madster, painted a scene on the one big blank wall of her room. On the one hand, The Madster wanted her room to look like the inside of a cabin. On the other, she wanted wildlife painted on the wall. Her solution? Paint the wall as the inside of cabin where the animals have broken in to eat the food. So there's a black bear and a raccoon munching away at the stores. Pretty clever, I thought. I spent the weekend painting trim on the outside of the house. It was looking pretty raggedy and white trash, so it got a power wash, prime and paint job. This was only the trim on the first floor, mind you. At the upper reaches of the second floor there's some peeling paint that will have to be dealt with eventually. I'm thinking, "Hire somebody." Unless I suddenly get ambitious and rent scaffolding and a truck to transport it, it's just going to have to wait.