What You Never Want to See

So I decided to take apart Collin's room downstairs and ready it for painting. He doesn't sleep down there at all. It is pretty far away from the rest of us, and I think that's his primary reason for not sleeping in there. He says he doesn't like sleeping there because it's such a mess.

And that mess is always Jack's fault. Not.

Oh, Collin also hated the fairies on the wall, left over from when Malena had a fairy garden room. I took those off when I realized they were causing a problem. However, taking them off did not make him want to return to his room.

So I'm redecorating. Anyway, we cleared everything out. And found...

A mouse hole. This is actually the picture after we stuffed it full of steel wool.

EEEK! Doug says, "We live in a concrete house, there should never be mice!"

I say, "There's the hole, honey. It tunnels from underneath the house. Go figure that out." I personally think that the foundation wasn't properly sealed to the outer walls. When there is a lot of water around the perimeter of the house (the ground was not properly graded away from the house), it leaks into the house. From the bottom of the wall.

At any rate, I stuffed some steel wool into the hole and put some D-Con in there for good measure. Hopefully that will be the end of the mouse tales.

I did take the opportunity to line the kids up and harangue them on the dangers of eating downstairs, though. All while pointing to that little mouse hole.

Again. EEK!

First Day of School: Jack

Yes, it's time for first graders to go to school. Jack is so excited.

Don't you love the socks-and-sandals action? Yup, that boy takes after his mama.

He got to meet his teacher yesterday, and she gave us a "tour" of their daily walks...to the playground, back in, how to stand in line. Very informative and Jack was just hanging on every word. Even better: she gave him a little baggie of fishes, because he is "of-fish-ially" in first grade.

Cute!

Back to School in July: Collin

Having school start in July is a little like going surfing in December. It can be done, but it just feels a little...out of season.

This is our first year on year-round school, so we're just rolling with the punches. Collin is back to school today, and Jack will be back to school tomorrow (pictures tomorrow to follow, of course)!

He is not wearing a backpack because his shoulders were burned  this weekend while swimming (what do you mean, did I put on sunscreen?). And, in case you're wondering, the shirt says, "Always be yourself / Unless you can be Batman / Then be Batman."

Have a great week!