Keeping Up With the Joneses

It’s been quite awhile since we sent in an update, so the first news is that our address has changed, yet again. We have not moved; we just happen to live in an area that can’t seem to make up its mind. Our street address is the same, but our town name and zip code are now: San Tan Valley, 85140.

The first day of school this year was the earliest ever: August 3rd. We are pleased that Melanie was able to start Kindergarten at the school where Emily teaches. Her class, unfortunately, does not get music, but they do get P.E., library, and Orchard (computers), which she loves. She has had so much fun making new friends and learning. She learned how to tie her shoes by the end of the first week of school. In case you were wondering from the pictures, yes, she is missing her front teeth. She knocked out one the day before Easter, and the dentist had to pull the other one a few weeks later. Her 5th birthday is this week, and she also gets to be the star student and teacher's special helper, so things are pretty great.

The Bee is growing so fast. She always has something to say, but there is a lot we’re still working on translating. Here are some ones we know: Sass-sass (princess), poo-pock (juice box), Beechess (Beatrice), fip-fop (flip-flops), muttan (muffin), Goopy (Goofy), Mimi (her blanket’s name), Gackon and Nomnick (her friends, Jackson and Dominic), and Menny (Melanie). She loves to jump on the trampoline and of course, she loves getting into whatever Melanie is doing. She turned two at the end of June and we had a fun party at Red Robin with Scott's family.

We have just returned from a truly fantastic weekend in the Pacific Northwest. Dale bought tickets to see Keane as a birthday gift to Emily, and the show was in Seattle on September 10th. For anyone not familiar with Keane, their music is mellow yet intense, spiritual yet edgy, emotional without being emo, and pretty much awesome in every way. We were accompanied to the concert by Dale's brother Darin and sister-in-law Charla and had a most excellent time. The next day we four headed down to Vancouver and Portland to enjoy the company of Dale's sister, Jessica and her family, as well as an evening of Comedy Sportz (family-friendly improv comedy franchise. Emily was chosen from the audience to participate in a skit and is still glowing from her moment of fame.