This Past Week...

Silas and I had our first week at Classical Conversations. We both really enjoyed both the academic challenge and the camaraderie. It's going to be a good fit for us as we homeschool...

Silas did his first class presentation on the first day. He will do one every week...

We did several experiments at home this week to walk through the scientific method, which Silas learned about on Monday at CC...

One of our experiments was stacking books on eggs. Silas loved that one. We also used the scientific method when we mixed colored water and learned about measurements...

It pretty much turned into a free-for-all water play activity by the end...

This week was also the Pumpkin Festival. We love this every year. We went on Wednesday and spent the evening riding rides with friends...

I took the kids again on Thursday for the kiddie parade (they dressed up and walked in it, hence the angry bird hat Simeon is still wearing!) and they all got to ride one more ride...

Yes, it turned suddenly cold this week!  After leaving the festival on Thursday we went up to church for our young adult thing. The kids watched a movie while I led a small group. It was another late night, but it's what you do when you don't have babysitters ;)

Friday we went back to the festival to meet the characters. They were having Anna and Elsa and Olaf this year and I knew Lieren would love it...

 

She did!

Blaise told us he didn't really like the guys but then later changed his mind and said it was fun to meet them. 

Saturday morning was the parade. It always feels like the longest parade of all time. It helps that we sit with friends. These little ones, though, loved every minute...

And now it is late Sunday night. Another week starts soon!

Getting It Done

We have a sick little girl here tonight. So sad she will have to miss her first full day of preschool. But brother says he is ready to go alone and will tell their teacher that sister is sick. 

We had a sick baby boy this weekend too. But he hung in there for all our weekend festivities anyway. 

We celebrated daddy's birthday yesterday. 

Today Shane and I took our first step toward leading the premarital class at church. It meant our kids were in their classes for two whole services. They did awesome. 

I had a friend come over this afternoon with lots of questions about the twins she will be having this winter. So many unknowns in her world right now. Four years in, I remember those days well. We preached to each other today; God is faithful. And we made a laundry survival plan for her. 

I am also in the middle of painting a bathroom. 

And am counting down the days till women's Bible study at our church starts. 

Sometimes people ask me how I get it all done (especially the Bible study part). 

Well, it takes a husband who is deeply committed to it. And after that, it looks a lot like getting it done amidst real life. 

Like writing homework while the kids play at the park (which sometimes means a visitor at the computer)...

And at times it is studying in the wee hours with a little friend...

And somehow, it all seems to get done. 

First Day of Preschool Treasures

School has Started!

We were counting down...

Now here's where reality comes in! I took these on day 3 because the chalkboard wall had to sit a couple days before we wrote on it ;)

Shane and I put lots of finishing touches on the school room on Sunday night so it was exciting for all the kids to come down and see. Exploring our new room on the first morning...

Our room. We still need to do some things (including get different chairs and a cabinet that closes up so I can hide away all the madness on the silver shelf that's to the right of the chalkboard wall). 

Some things that have been fun about school: 1) We spend a lot of our time right here...

2) You can have a play store to learn about money and wear your new Halloween costume that just came in the mail if you want...

And 3) After taking a field trip down to the creek with Daddy, your clothes might get all wet so you can just come back in to finish handwriting only wearing your Angry Birds slippers...

Today is only day 4. So there is a lot more to learn and a lot more to process. But I have to say, through tears this morning, that homeschool is saving me. Our move this summer was hard. It's been a long and lonely transition. Most people I talk to say they think I am crazy for homeschooling. And there were days I thought maybe I was.

But 3 days in, I am thankful for one space where I don't doubt God is working.  I am so grateful. 

And in a lighter way, I am grateful for Shane, who let me and helped me make the room so fun to be in. 

Last Year/This Year

Vacationing

One of the joys of vacation is that you can fall asleep poolside at 2:00 in the afternoon on day 2. 

I always love how hard our kids play when we're here. We came to the same place last year and this year is even better so far. I declared this morning that we may need to come back here for the next ten years. It's just a perfect spot for our family. 

I can't believe I am sitting here with Blaise asleep. He hasn't fallen asleep with me holding him in a long time. Just going with it and not worrying about routine is one of my favorite things about vacation. Dinner was after 7 last night, we have thrown out any food rules, had s'mores at a bonfire yesterday, and stayed up way late to watch a movie by the pool. It's great!

Road Trippin'

Seven and a half hours in the car yesterday.  The theme was movies, snacks, and iced coffee for me!  Ha!  The kids did awesome and we only stopped twice. 

One of my favorite parts of the trip was when Blaise asked me to play tigers with him. I reached back and we imagined his tigers eating and swinging and going through little daily routines. Not easy to do when you're driving, but still fun. 

Lieren and Sim were quietly happy in the back. They snuggled their blankets and held on to treasures they brought in their backpacks. 

Silas was a huge help, handing out snacks and setting a general happy heart attitude the whole time. 

And unlike the couple who leaned over to me during lunch to reassure me that "they do grow up, you know", I kinda had a day where I hope they don't.