olivia...

I am so enthralled with my class this year  that I decided to introduce them one by one.

This is Olivia.

I said something to Miss King (Kindergarten teacher) about how shy and quiet Olivia is and she said "OLIVIA???"  So we shall see... 

Last week Olivia got married...oops...I mean Aunt Courtney got married...but I am sure Olivia felt it was as much her day as the bride's.  Mom Amy is on the left (obviously).

I asked Olivia what the best part of the WHOLE wedding was and as you can tell from this pic, the answer was "the dancing" and apparently Olivia has some "moves" and really...that dress was made for some dancing!

THE glasses...

...I asked Olivia if the glasses were to make her look smart or for sassiness...duh!  Sassiness, of course, and it also appears that anything from the store Justice is just way too cool and reason enough to wear...didn't know about Justice. 

Of course when interviewing a first grader I didn't want it to be just a fluff piece so I went in for the hardcore question..."do you ever fake cry?"

Apparently she can and does but when I asked her how that usually worked out for her, she said "not so good...I still don't have an ipod".  Really Mom and Dad...you are strong people...I almost went and got her one.

I asked Olivia what she wanted to be when she grew up and without hesitation she answered "a zookeeper".  In recapping the duties of a zookeeper, animal poop "naturally" came up and she said that she would be okay dealing with that because she has been watching Dad pick up dog poop for years...who says training doesn't begin at home?  I think she will be a natural...and so does Topher.

I also found out that Dad cooks the most at their house but Mom cooks better.  Dad's best "dish" is dinosaur chicken nuggets and Mom's best "dish" is chocolate waffles...from scratch Mom?

...and with that we temporarily say good-bye to Olivia.  I'll get back to everyone about the "shy" thing.

Oh yeah...I almost forgot the most hard hitting question of all...who is the most annoying member of your family (see...I dig deep).  
And...the answer was...Sharpay and Max (the family dogs...HA!)


Next up: Harley (he begged me!)

"i'm retiring"...

...said Malcolm the bunny.  Almost nine years ago Mrs. Lois Peterson asked me if I would be interested in a year old lop for my classroom.  Without hesitation I said "YES!"  Malcolm has been a faithful classroom pet ever since and has provided hours of enjoyment and entertainment to many first grade classes.  His first class is entering high school this year...oy vey!

Now Malcolm is ten and according to his vet (that he sees on a regular basis now)" lops don't live to be ten".

Malcolm is now fighting the years and receives two oral doses of arthritis meds a day, four doses of eye drops a day, glucosamine chondroitin and immune support supplements.  Of course, who doesn't take glucosamine?  Plus he has some funky fur issues that he gets treated for once a week.

So...the time has come for Malcolm to lay back, take a breather and spend his days with four dogs and a cat surrounding his cage watching his every move...only mildly less chaotic than a room with 20 kids!

Well, I had to have a classroom bunny so the search began.  I contacted rabbitrys all over Indiana and in my obsessive multiple animal ways found TWO new additions to Room 7.
I thought about naming the little boys Mike and Dave...and then thought better of it.  So here they are...

Francis

 (yes, after the new Pope)

Francis is a 10 week old Velveteen Lop whose ears will get to be 15 inches long and yes, the breeder assured me that Francis will provide hours of entertainment stepping on his own ears.

He is exceptionally lively and has tons of personality.  He eats, eats, eats and poops, poops, poops.  We are undergoing potty training as I write!

He is kinda getting the hang of it and is providing lots of entertainment for the dogs.

Who doesn't love a wide-bodied bunny.  He feels just like velvet!

Topher

Chris/topher

Topher is an 8 week old mini lop who is actually gray but photographs brown-ish.  He will be the smaller of the two.  Potty training of any kind seems to allude this little guy but his cuteness makes up for it.  He is a snuggler.

Loves a good drink.

So soft and so cute...

...but very shy.  Spends a lot of time in his little rabbit hole but comes out to rub noses with my dogs.

If there is one thing we Connor gals like to do, it is to take credit for our cleverness, SO... before Daughter Molly chimes in, I will admit that she came up with the names...Mike and Dave still would have been a good choice.
They will be in place in Room 7 for the opening of the school year. 

Malcolm...you will be missed but enjoy your retirement years.