My sweet girl

No idea where these pictures were taken, or if there was a reason, but I just had to include them somewhere.  This is the sweetest girl on the planet.

First Day of Hebrew School -- Samuel

Turning 5 and starting public school brings a whole bunch of first experiences with it.  In addition to starting kindergarten and starting organized sports, Samuel also started Religious School this year.  Instead of hanging out with Torah for Tots, he has now graduated into the big kid realm of religious training.  Luckily, as you might see in the picture below, bagels and cream cheese is part and parcel of the deal.

 The first day of Hebrew School was held at Mitchell Park in Palo Palo Alto.  The kids played games, ate bagels, and started to learn each others names.  In these pictures, Samuel is sitting with the other kids in his Hebrew School class, and his teacher, Morah Leah.  His class has since added three girls to the mix, two of them twins, but he started out on this first day with all boys. 

2007 seems to have been a very boy heavy year.  Only one out of the four kindergarten classes at Samuel's school, is, in Samuel's words, "packed with girls." 

Shira's first day of preschool at MVPNS

Shira was mightily disappointed when she didn't get to go to kindergarten with Samuel, but getting to go to preschool at MVPNS made up for it.

 She loved getting her backpack ready with her water bottle, though she did wish she could put lunch in as well.  Samuel excitedly told her that "the Mommies" bring the snack, which is much better.  He also started filling her in on her need to make sure I would make pumpkin muffins when it was our turn to provide snack.

 

Holding the book The Kissing Hand so we can return it on the first day

 Walking into preschool

 

 Already got her red apple name tag on, and staking out a spot on the swings

 Guess where she spent a good portion of her first day

 

 What a smile!