Entropy

Dear Family and Friends,

With no promise of this being a regular occurrence, I thought it might be nice to send a catch-up letter.

We had the pleasure of spending the first few days of August with my Aunt Eileen. Carlos treated her to a game of backyard bowling one perfect California evening, which convinced me that we have altogether too many soccer balls. ;) On another day, we visited LACMA, a Rodin sculpture garden, and La Brea. LACMA had a huge Picasso exhibit--more Picassos than you’ve ever seen in once place--so it was a very special treat. Unfortunately, it is a protected collection and pictures are not allowed.

Excavations only occur in August

Kirk finally got a new bbq; our old one, which survived a tornado in Indiana, didn’t survive this last move. We have the most beautiful backyard at our new place! (Yes, that’s a picture of Carlos sulking, but let’s all pretend he’s contemplating deep, earth-shattering ideas.)

Just in case you’re worried that Carlos really *doesn’t* have any fun (as he claimed in the above picture), take a look at this… Whipped cream pies in the face (he finds this hilarious), cardboard inventions, and losing 5 (!) teeth… I told him and his buddy Aidan that it now takes both of them together to make a complete set of teeth. J

Then it was time to go back to school. For me, my first day was August 6^th with students on the 10^th. This year I’m teaching 7^th grade English and Drama, 50/50. It’s been crazy, but I have great coworkers. This is Bev Gonda, the 8^th grade English and Drama teacher (and my inspiration!). That was our “we survived the first week” pic, #dazed. The kids helped me set up my classroom, and it was *so labor intensive* that Carlos zonked out under my desk (no, those are not real injuries to anyone but our little hypochondriac, LOL).

Carlos started 4^th grade at Oak Hills Elementary and Arianna started 8^th grade at Rancho Pico Junior High. She’s been taking private flute and piano lessons since January, so she decided to take band this year. Kirk has already had to take the forgotten instrument to school, #karma. And Carlos is going to begin playing the saxophone in his school’s music program. Here is his explanation of how math can help you limit enforced naptime during the summer.

Carlos has been doing weekly vision therapy since March, and it’s really reduced his eye strain from a visual processing disorder that makes letters move on the page for him. His last day of therapy was yesterday, and he will soon be appearing on the optometrist’s website as their official poster child (he was paid with a Chipotle burrito, his dream come true, LOL). We’ll let you know when the pictures and videos are up for public enjoyment.

Well, there’s not much else to tell unless you’re dying to hear about homework and lesson plans. This coming week I get to join my parents in France for a very extended Labor Day Weekend, and I’m super excited for that. Pics to follow, hopefully.

Loves, Lauren