y. :-)I guess it's time for me to finally send out an update on the family -- it's been a while!
Well, we're all ready for Christmas around here. Robert has created a nifty North Pole theme on the front lawn, and the girls and I have decorated the inside (and the girls have redecorated, and redecorated, and...).
Robert and I have wrapped up another semester, and Zara is lamenting the fact that she won't get to see her friends on winter break for two whole weeks. She is loving kindergarten and learning so much. She is making friends left and right (her biggest strength), reading at a level 6; and we are fortunate that her class is the smartest her teacher has seen in 20 years - we know it's beneficial for her to be surrounded by other brilliant kids who want to learn!Raina is running, jumping, copying Zara, and talking like crazy. She says at least one new word every day, and she knows many hand signs for other words she can't say yet. Our favorite words she says are, "Ayne" for train (and Shane, from The Upside Down Show), "ink" for drink, "elp" for help, "dah-dine" for Einstein (as in Baby Einstein), and "sisis" for Sissy (Zara).
The girls enjoyed a recent romp 
in the backyard we thought we'd share with you. The pictures tell the story of Raina's first adventure in Leaf Pile Jumping.
in the backyard we thought we'd share with you. The pictures tell the story of Raina's first adventure in Leaf Pile Jumping.Please subscribe to the Martinez Times blog, and we will keep you updated!
Raina watching Sissy's technique very carefully....
Here we go!....Going....
....Going.....
....Gone!
(Yes, that little tuft of hair and feet sticking up indicated Raina's landing point after her first leaf jump. Neo gave her a 9.1). :-)
