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) IMG_0683 were watching this IMG_0684 as Ben and Gilad and Omri IMG_0685 had a card playing pajama party..

Labor Day, Suzanne and Sarah IMG_0686 decided to emulate phone operators of old as they chatted away (but not to each other).

The next day, I met with Pablo Debenedetti IMG_0687 chair of chemical engineering.

But none of this prepared us for the first day of school as much as making a sandwich for lunch IMG_0688 and getting Ben IMG_0689 to turn off the tv IMG_0690 as Jane IMG_0691 appeared for the back to school pictures IMG_0692 IMG_0693 IMG_0694 IMG_0695 before the trip to Kaylen's grandparents IMG_0696 for the group pictures IMG_0697 IMG_0698 IMG_0699 IMG_0700 before they headed off to school IMG_0701 for grade 10.

Back at home, Suzanne IMG_0702 was ready as Ben IMG_0703 started down the driveway and they made their way IMG_0704 IMG_0705 to see John Shea IMG_0706 and Leong IMG_0707 at the bus stop. Ben IMG_0708 seemed happy IMG_0709 as the Dimaggio's IMG_0710 appeared and he and Nate IMG_0711 stared at the tree which seemed to amuse Laura IMG_0712 and the younger kids IMG_0713 but they had to leave the tree soon IMG_0714 and get to the bus IMG_0715 for the real first day of classes.

Suzanne took the camera and got pictures of her students IMG_0716 IMG_0717 IMG_0718 IMG_0719 IMG_0720 IMG_0721 IMG_0722 IMG_0723 IMG_0724 IMG_0725 IMG_0726 IMG_0727 IMG_0728 IMG_0729 IMG_0730 IMG_0731 IMG_0732 IMG_0733 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 IMG_0734 and he had this muffin IMG_0735 and finished his soup IMG_0736 before I realized that this cappuccino picture IMG_0737 needed flash off IMG_0738 which amused DrLen IMG_0739 less than the rice pudding IMG_0740 with lots of raisins and cinnamon. After recording this sign IMG_0741 for my collection, we wondered if the Lions box IMG_0742 was for glasses IMG_0743 before crossing the bridge to Pennslvania to see the signs IMG_0744 IMG_0745 of the people who live by the canal IMG_0746 and aren't happy with how things work.

Back at home, Suzanne and Ben IMG_0747 IMG_0748 IMG_0749 were reading in the hammock.