Numero tres

Potty training is going very slowly, but I am happy to report that Ruby went for a 3rd time today, at school, hence the spanish title of this post.

Back later with more tales of Ruby's and my schooldays.

Hot Fun in the Summertime

I hate to speak too soon but the hellish days of summer may finally be over. And they have been hellish! August was the hottest NC month on record by a wide margin. Every day but one was 90 degrees or higher - several times it was 100+. It has also been the driest August in recorded NC history - we are in a extreme drought. But then I look up the weather forecast in Baghdad and realize things could be so much worse (if I were hypothetically in the Army or something) - but it's getting hot around here!

We were still able to have a lot of fun this summer. In July we took a short trip to Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington. This was the first time Ruby had been to the beach since she was 5-months-old and she loved it. She played her heart out and still had enough energy to chase all the seagulls off the beach.

We also took a two-week trip to Michigan to see my family. Unfortunately we couldn't see much of my brother's family but it was still a great trip. We had a great time staying with my mother, getting stuffed with good food every night, and highlighted by celebrating her birthday with her. While we were up there we noticed that NC was baking and we were glad we were able to miss the heat wave - but turned out it was just getting started!

A couple weeks after returning, Kirsten started back teaching full time. This is the first time she has taught in a school since November of 2004, so it's been a big change around here. Ruby started attending her pre-school full-time in July in prep for Kirsten's return to full-time work. Ruby is doing well and her teachers report her Spanish language skills have noticeably improved - muy bueno! However, the pee-pee issue has regressed. Ruby is currently not interested in working on her toilet skillz. We still only have one tinkle at home and one at school. Right now we're not pushing it, just offering the opportunity. Looks like it'll go down to the wire (she must be toilet trained by January to continue at Mi Escuelita). Stay tuned!



Today I decided to make a post because we are finally getting some rain and fall weather this weekend. I no longer have to be hunkered down in the basement acting as though it's a nuclear winter outside. With college football season here as well, things are on a definite up tick! But about that Michigan football team...Go Heels!