Family Mellmann

Waiting at the "bus stop" in our front yard. This summer Joerg bought this bench for the kids; it makes the perfect bus stop as we wait for Katherine's bus.

Patrick gets his teeth cleaned, too. I love simultaneous dental visits!

Katherine gets her teeth cleaned.

We are still having a great time learning about breads (and other baked goodies). This time, it was J örg's turn to take the class. He took Beauty and the Baguette, and look what he made! (Trust me, they are as yummy as they look.)

Today is Katherine's first day of Kindergarten. She gets to ride the bus (by herself...which is very important to her) and she's very excited. She says she will miss us while she's gone, but I suspect her day will be filled with so much new stuff that she won't have the chance.

I took another baking class. This one was about baking with 100% whole wheat. We made a bread, which I braided, and scones with chocolate chips and cherries. The breads from the whole grains class, a couple of weeks ago (which are very German-style breads), continue to be a winner with Joerg. And the basic breads from our first baking class are popular with the kids, for sandwiches and dinner rolls. But I learned a lot about wheat chemistry and how the bread-making techniques are different with whole wheat versus all-purpose flour.

From swim lessons to camping, amusement parks to dress up, it's been a great summer. I thought I would put up some more pictures quick before the snow starts to fall! (I can't believe that school is starting and summer vacation is over.) Today we spent the afternoon at the local swimming pool - the last day. The pool closes for the season after today. It was a beautiful day. Tomorrow Patrick goes back to school and on Wednesday Katherine will start. What an exciting week. Enjoy the latest batch of pictures .

A beautiful day on the bike path.

Katherine gets a dress rehearsal on the school bus. School starts next Wednesday!