First Day of Preschool

Meanwhile, in other cousin hijinks, RHCR and Monkey started preschool together this week. They were the only children arriving at 8:59:45, (school begins at 9) further proof that a tendency toward night-owlism is genetic and to be taken very seriously.

Granola bars, the breakfast of champions.

I didn't tell him to hide it, he just did. Future model.

I did have to ask him to smile.

Believe it or not, this is actually the picture submitted for his 'All About Me' project. I actually had printed out wallets and a single of him smiling nicely, but his teacher didn't have one for RHCR so she took this one and is going to split it up. Naturally I had just printed this particular picture out because I thought it was super goofy and funny... never intending it to be his first 'at school' picture.

New Cousin

Monkey has a new cousin!! Aunt A and Uncle M (married in October, not May) had a little boy, MJ, on July 26. We are very pleased to welcome baby MJ to the world, although Monkey is somewhat more pleased when it isn't HIS mommy who is holding him. New phrase of the month: "Mommy, why don't you put their baby down? Give their baby back, Mommy." (Mr. Z is allowed to hold babies all day, apparently.)Mr. Z took this picture quite deliberately, to make a 'complete record' of the day. Apparently future generations will be more interested in how little bbq Monkey ate instead of what the new baby looked like. ;)

Our State Fair is a Great State Fair

As you may have heard, our State Fair recently experienced a tragedy. It seems like we should say something, but it's hard to find the words to describe something so close to home and yet impersonal. We are very sad, and very proud to be Hoosiers.

Friday, Monkey and Mrs. Z went to celebrate the last day of summer before Monkey starts preschool by spending the day at the Fair. The weather was great and we had a good time. We'll be back on Tuesday night for the horse pull.

The annual pork burger meal, where Monkey followed tradition and ate 2 bites of the burger but all of the apple sauce and many of the chips.

Mrs. Z paid $1 for an up close and personal introduction to calf digestive distress. Poor cows.

Monkey loved the piggies. Total highlight.

The aftermath of piggy petting. Unidentified fluid leaking around the pen. Classic.

Mrs. Z couldn't explain why people kept yelling 'Boiler Up!' as we rode around on the Purdue train at the fair, except to say that in our family we say 'IU'! The Boilermakers on the train were very kind, let us ride for free, and did not question our matriculation credentials.

IU recruiters, please take note: you are going to have to step up your game if you'd like to enroll this promising young student. The calliope is no match for trains.

FFA tries to recruit him to agribusiness. There are big trucks!

Little Hands on the Farm:

Men at Work

Just two guys, taking a conference call.