It wasn't really the first day of school yet. It was the night before Labor Day and the Tal's were here before departing for home. Sarah and her friends (and Zo'ar) were watching this as Ben and Gilad and Omri had a card playing pajama party..

Labor Day, Suzanne and Sarah decided to emulate phone operators of old as they chatted away (but not to each other).

The next day, I met with Pablo Debenedetti chair of chemical engineering.

But none of this prepared us for the first day of school as much as making a sandwich for lunch and getting Ben to turn off the tv as Jane appeared for the back to school pictures before the trip to Kaylen's grandparents for the group pictures before they headed off to school for grade 10.

Back at home, Suzanne was ready as Ben started down the driveway and they made their way to see John Shea and Leong at the bus stop. Ben seemed happy as the Dimaggio's appeared and he and Nate stared at the tree which seemed to amuse Laura and the younger kids but they had to leave the tree soon and get to the bus for the real first day of classes.

Suzanne took the camera and got pictures of her students

but we don't know their names.

To celebrate the start of the new school year, I took Friday off and drove to Lambertville to meet DrLen. We went to lunch at the Cafe in Frenchtown where I had this bean burger and he had this muffin and finished his soup before I realized that this cappuccino picture needed flash off which amused DrLen less than the rice pudding with lots of raisins and cinnamon. After recording this sign for my collection, we wondered if the Lions box was for glasses before crossing the bridge to Pennslvania to see the signs of the people who live by the canal and aren't happy with how things work.

Back at home, Suzanne and Ben were reading in the hammock.