We Were Frozen

It was one of my most favorite Halloweens ever today. We had school this morning, carved a pumpkin (I had grander plans but one proved to be enough) around noon, then headed out to trick or treat at 3. 

Silas was General Grievous from Star Wars (I admit I didn't quite realize how scary looking it was!), Blaise recycled Red the Angry Bird, Simeon was Captain America, and Lieren joined in with the majority of girls across the world as Elsa...

We have had the sweet tradition of spending Halloween with the Friends the past several years. But this year we decided to keep our tradition in a bit of a different way since we now live in a neighborhood where we want to be part of special days like this. 

Our kids just couldn't seem to understand a Halloween without their friends. So we met downtown this afternoon to trick or treat the businesses. We've never done this before and it was a lot of fun! A bit chaotic, as always with our gang, but still fun. 

Some of the places had little games for the kids to play...

It was very sunny and pretty out...

But it was very very cold. Thus, Elsa looked like this by the middle of the afternoon activity...

I sent my mom a text with her picture and she wrote back with a comment about "so much for the cold never bothered me anyway". I laughed so hard!

We got home and promptly got ready for little trick-or-treaters to come visit us. Our kids were super excited as they have never been on this side, handing out candy before!

Shane went to get us pizza for dinner then he took Silas and Simeon out for more trick-or-treating. Elsa was done with the cold and our Angry Bird wanted to stay home too. I was more than thankful to stay home out of the crazy wind. So we we sang and danced to the Frozen soundtrack and gave out candy to those who stopped by our door. It was a fun, fun night. 

Now we have more candy than we'll ever eat. And some really good memories. 

We Have Some Leaves

Sim's World

Beyond Plan C

Some days just aren't what you planned. 

Plan A was for Simeon and Lieren to be at preschool and for the other boys and me to go play with a friend. But rain last week forced our preschool field trip to be rescheduled for today. 

On to Plan B. I was going to join in with the field trip while Silas and Blaise spent the morning with a different friend.  But Silas had a pretty bad headache last night and at about 10:30, I realized he had a fever. 

So then Plan C was just for all of us to stay home. I figured (correctly) that Sim would prefer to miss the field trip if I wasn't going. But when the kids woke up (much later than a normal day because I assumed we weren't going anywhere), I could tell Lieren was disappointed to miss seeing the animals on the farm. So we moved on to the next plan, I threw clothes on the kids and grabbed the breakfast I had set out the night before for them to eat in the car. Thankfully I had planned for an early morning so had clothes set out, cereal on the counter and yoghurts in the fridge ready to go. 

So this sweet girl was off on her own for her first field trip. So proud of her being brave...

I then took the three boys to the store.  After a quick run through, we drove Simeon back to preschool to meet his returning class and finish the last hour of school with them. He may not have wanted to do the field trip, but I felt like the consistency of being there today was important. 

Now Silas, who still doesn't feel that great but doesn't have a fever, and Blaise and I are enjoying the gorgeous weather at the park till we head back to the preschool for pick-up. 

I felt like I needed to sit down for a minute. But I don't get much time with just 2 kids so I'm off to push them on the swings!

They Called It Recess

Our First 1st Quarter

This week marked the 6th week of CC for us. There are 24 weeks total spread out over the year so in a way, this marks the end of our first quarter. 

The end of the first quarter. One fourth of the way done with kindergarten. 

I am a bit reflective about it tonight. 

Because in so many ways, I just can't believe what it looks like now that we're this far in. 

To be honest with you, back in August, there were some serious days when I was ready to just sign the kid up for school. Our move took its toll on me and I didn't get as much accomplished over the summer as I had hoped. I couldn't even picture what life would look like. 

But then I went back to the assurance that I really believed God was calling us to this so I decided that we probably could at least get by. I mean, Silas was already reading so if I just did some reading lessons every week, a few math lessons and went to this Classical Conversations thing, he would at least get a science experiment and art project every week. I thought we could probably make it. 

Now not that many weeks later, we're more than just making it. I mean, I actually make lesson plans for each week! We cover reading, math, science, history, English, and Latin.  And we have a weekly routine. And we have a community of people who are walking the same journey with us. 

We've finished the kindergarten math book. 

Silas can skip count (recite the times tables) all the way through the 11s. 

He is learning some great facts about American history and can answer simple questions about them. He shows a profound interest in history in general. 

Reading is where he excells by far and handwriting is where he needs the most encouragement. 

I love most of all that schooling at home is bonding my heart deeper to my kids. We are making memories. 

I was thinking the other morning as I had 4 children singing and doing the motions to the CC timeline song, this is what we'll talk about when they're about to go off to college. Remember those days?

And we'll probably all still remember the words. 

Just Another Sunday Night

Lots of laughs...

And donuts...

Must be college students over to our place tonight!  Somehow the children are now sleeping through the mayhem just feet from their rooms.

On Our Own Again

My parents and sister were here for a visit last week. I am certainly going to miss them this week...

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

She was singing all through rest time. And this is what I found when the kids got up...

Can't you just picture the scene in the movie?

At the Airport

Pick me up, I'm a suitcase, they said...