Kindergarten starts

Claudia started Kindergarten this month at Wedgwood Elementary.  She goes full-time (6 hours a day).  She was super excited to go and not shy at all.  Neely & I dropped her off for her first day and we were choking back tears, but she just gave us a big smile and waved.  At first she was a little bored because they were just learning routines, but now that she's into the actual learning, she's having a ton of fun.  She has already made a few friends (although can't quite remember their names) and is super excited about learning.  She wants to practice reading and math every night.  We're most impressed by her ability to write her own story by just sounding out the words.  We need some major translation when she's done, but I love that she is not intimidated and just goes for it.

I started my new job at Immune Design as a Quality Control Research Associate in August.  We have an oncology immune-therapeutic drug in clinical trials and my job is to test it to make sure it's perfect before it goes to the patients.  I'm really enjoying myself because I have good coworkers, a decent commute, and it's fun just to be back in the lab again after almost 2 years away.  Glen has been in charge of the kids since he's not working right now.  He's loving his time with them and is getting a little exercise by walking Claudia to school every day (0.8 miles each way) pushing them in a double stroller.  We've had an amazing summer in Seattle with beautiful sunny weather for almost 4 months straight.  We go to our pool as much as we can, several times a week.  Teagan has no fear and will jump off the side into Glen's arms.  Teagan in general is must more stubborn than Claudia ever was.  She gets very particular about things, like she wants the diaper with Pluto on it, not the one with Mickie.  Her PJs have to have an animal on them or else she rips them off, and she sometimes refuses to change out of them.  She has no problem throwing a major tantrum is she's not happy and she can cry SO LOUD.  But, she's also very cluey because she's always trying to keep up with Claudia and play big-girl games.  Her speech and vocabulary is amazing for her age (23 months) and she's putting together full sentences.  She can also play quite independently, in fact, she gets very possessive about her toys and does not like to share.  Her favorites are to play dolls, kitchen, Legos, trains, and coloring.  She is particular about her food too.  She likes rice, cereal with milk, broccoli, and apples (no skin, but whole, not cut up).

Claudia and her cousin Asher.

Teagan taking a dip in Asher's bathtub.

First day of Kindergarten!

My stubborn girl who refuses to take a nap and then falls asleep at the dinner table.

Pool time!

Family day-trip to the Olympic Peninsula.  Game Farm and then playing in the river.

Mom & Claudia day at the Seattle Center and Space Needle.

The girls both love the movie "Frozen" and "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" is Claudia's favorite song.  Notice the progression: happy, Claudia puts her hand over Teagan's mouth, then Teagan body slams, pinches, and then pulls hair.  A typical day in our household.