Nine!

The girls gave Silas a nine-fingered salute for birthday #9.

AYSO

Silas enrolled this fall in the American Youth Soccer Organization -- his first sports team.

AYSO focuses on positive coaching and enjoyable games.

Silas has gone from not wanting to play for fear he'd be the worst player on the team, to running his heart out and taking shots on goal.

The team (The Green Machine) is 2-2-2 so far, and Silas is having a great time.

The Preschool Blues

Tess started out strong in preschool. 

Early on, I tried to put a dress on her, and she demanded "my red shirt with words on it." 

Unsure what she meant, I asked what the words said.

"It says, Tess is going to preschool!"

(It says: "Building Blocks Preschool Program.")

Lately, however, Tess has become nervous about going to preschool.

She claims to be "too sleepy" to attend, and around 8:00 a.m. she crawls back into her bed and pretends to fall asleep.

We have called her bluff by allowing her to sleep -- as long as she sleeps "on the way there." 

Tess keeps her eyes shut all the way to the school, and then "wakes up" and marches into the classroom.

Once the day is over, she admits that she had a great time.