shaking hands with the teacher

Jenna let me steal her picture of Sara shaking hands with her teacher, Estrella, at the end of her school day. They get the kids to shake hands and say "good morning/buenos dias" in the morning and "good afternoon/hasta manaña;" when they leave in the afternoon. Sara has been a bit shy about it, but her teacher told her she needed to look at her and say it, and she did it! I'm such a proud mama.

Sara loves her school. Here's what she says, "I love my school."

She apparently talks to other kids (!) and also likes to draw a lot there. She almost never draws at home. Curious. She really, really loves school.

field station visit

Sara & I went to visit Mike at his field station in the Chiracaura mountains in Arizona. He was right, it wasn't hot (we were up in the mountains) and it was lovely. More butterflies than I've ever seen in one place, except maybe Costa Rica. Sara, as the only kid there, got to rule the roost & engage in plenty of quality kid stuff without those pesky other kids getting in the way.

Mike in his lab. As you can see, science is a very serious undertaking.

Mike at the field site where he does ant stuff.

Yes, ladies & gentlemen, that is a DOUBLE rainbow.

Quality kid stuff: running amok

Quality kid stuff: walking with a stick

Quality kid stuff: whomping things with your stick

Qaulity kid stuff: sassy walking with your stick

Quality kid stuff: pill bug!

Pill bug!

Quality kid stuff: throwing rocks in a river.

Georgetown railroad

Quick trip to Georgetown, 45 miles away, to ride the train.

Sara took this picture.

first day of school

It finally arrived! Sara took it all in stride and tackled it like she'd been going her entire life. Mike was able to end his field season earlier then expected & drove home yesterday so he could be there for the much anticipated day.

And I even convinced her to wear a dress!

Pics from our trip to see Mike at his research station soon.