Leah's Family

In school Leah's class was drawing their families. This was Leah's narration of her picture, care of her lovely teacher.

Leah “My uncle Shaun, my other uncle Brian, my aunt Jenay, my aunt Angela, my dad, me, my sister, my brother, my mom, my grandma, my grandpa, my baby sister, my toddler sister, my grandma’s cat with a tail, my grandma’s cat without a tail.”

HA! First, I think it's fantastic that she included some of her extended family. But I think this is funny most of all because she included the CATS! And of course, the one without the tail. Those details are evidently very important. :)

Hazel 6 weeks

Hazel was in an uncharacteristically amiable mood this afternoon so i decided to snap some photos. Enjoy!

The New School

Last year homeschooling was the right thing for our family, no question.

But I've always said that we homeschooled because the spirit led us to it, and this year the spirit led us someplace different.

And it's wonderful.

(Am I a terrible parent for forgetting first day of school pictures?)

The school has a rose ceremony each year, welcoming the first graders into the grades, a big transition from kindergarten. Each child comes with their family (Jeremiah was already sitting with his class) The teacher, Mrs. Keyser, announces their name, and the family gives them hugs and they get to walk through the arch, and greet their first grade teacher, who gives them a rose (and a hug) and they sit in the chairs of honor ;) Several of the teachers played music and everything. Mrs. Keyser then read everyone a story about Jumping Mouse. and then the first graders got to lead the school back from the playground to the building. It was great. And despite the look on Leah's face in the first photo, she thought it was awesome afterwards, and treasured her rose.

 Then it was Cubby Day at kindergarten. School began for the little ones the next day, so everyone got to come in, put their things in the cubbies, and then play. This room is seriously dreamy. THERE IS A TREEHOUSE for crying out loud! And blocks, and a balance board that they use as a bridge, or a boat, or to balance on. I wish my kindergarten were 1/2 this magical.

That first day was so full and afterward I suggested the kids rest quietly for about 30 minutes before heading out to play again. The kids found books and sat down to read except Jeremiah, who totally crashed in the corner of his room. At 2:30 in the afternoon. This was his first nap since he was 3! He worked so hard that day and was exhausted.

And if you're wondering how Anna is taking being home without her 3 best friends to play with and entertain her, I think this should answer your question:

 

All in all it has been a completely wonderful experience, so different for us than traditional public school. The kids look forward to going, talk about what they did, share it with each other, teach each other songs, dances, skills, and information. They help each other practice Spanish and German, the TWO languages they learn at school, they talk about their gardening class, handwork (knitting, cross stitch, crochet, embroidery, etc) Music, Art, and surprisingly they only talk a little bit about recess. 

I cannot tell you how grateful I am for this experience. Whether we stick with public school, or choose to home school again, we are loving the new school and can't wait till monday. :)

The Fairy Woods

 I promise I will post a little about our new school later. It's amazing.



 On Thursdays the kids get out at 1:30, which is fantastic to give the kids a little breathe before they finish out their week strong. The school is on Spring Creek Trail, and the kids in all grades go on weekly nature walks to the "Fairy Woods". So on Thursday after we picked the kids up from school we took a little walk to the fairy woods to see what the big deal was about. The school is in it's 3rd year, and so for the past 2 years the kids have been coming. Building. They've got 3 or 4 structures that are constantly evolving. They are built out of fallen trees. One is a 2 room log cabin essentially, and pretty sturdy. We enjoyed playing, building, and re-constructing what was already there. It was a great relaxing afternoon and a great way to spend our time together.

 

 This is where I spent most of my time, leaning back on a couple logs of the "log cabin" and enjoying the view, and the sound of busy and happy children all around me, with Hazel contentedly sleeping in her favorite spot, on me. :)

 

 And who doesn't just want to jump into those arms and give Anna a big ole' hug! She's such a sweetheart.

The New Lemonade Stand

You know that quintessential dixie cup of crappy lemonade that adorable little kids sell to passers-by?

Yeah, my kids don't do that.

That's boring. Boring kids sell lemonade. My kids wanted to do something different, something unique, something awesomer than lemonade.

Plus, the kids across the street were already selling lemonade so they sort of cornered that market.

No, my kids decided to sell apple slices... just picture it, you drive or walk up to an adorable little girl at a little table with a bowl full of fresh, browned apples that had probably been touched by a million little hands in the process of being prepared.

YUM.

They wisely decided to listen to their mother and not sell apple slices.

I recommended milk and cookies.

BOOM. I had them at cookies... and chocolate... and sugar... and licking the bowl.

So Hayley, our adorable little 12 year old neighbor helped Leah and Colette and all the neighbor kids bake some chocolate chip cookies. They set up their table, easle, and cooler for the milk. And of course anyone who helped got one cookie free...

Hmm... where did all the cookies go?

Never fear. Mom thought ahead and suggested a double batch.

 

So, they sat outside for a couple hours, sold a couple cookies and ate the rest. It was adorable. Hazel and I joined them for a while. She was hoping for a cookie, but she didn't have a dime, and she didn't help so she couldn't get a free one.

Bummer.

On a side note. The night before Leah and I stayed up talking while I fed Hazel. We discussed this plan to make and sell cookies the next day and how much she should charge. In the weeks previous the neighboor boy had made a killing selling rocks. Yes, rocks. Mostly to my children. They emptied their money bags to buy ROCKS. Anyway, if he could sell a rock for a quarter then surely a fresh hot chocolate chip cookie was worth at least $100. Just kidding. I suggested she sell her cookies for a penny, that way even the kids who didn't have very much could still buy one. Since her customer base was primarily their small group of neighborhood friends, average age: 6.  She thought about that for a moment and then said "But mom, if I sold them for a penny I'd have to sell 100 cookies to make a dollar!" I said. "why yes, you would" but inside I was thinking "I never taught you that, I didn't know you knew currency". Then we dove into quarters, and then into an entire lesson on fractions. At 9 o'clock at night. This is homeschool for us. Too bad they started school the week after. Maybe next year again!?

Hair Salon

 Leah was "sitting on anna's lap" while anna did her hair. Anna was not very gentle. I do not think Leah will be a repeat customer.
 
And yes, that is a laundry basket full of clean laundry upturned on my bed waiting to be folded. Just keepin' in real people.

Company Party 2015

We went to The Summit for the Otter Box company party a couple weeks ago. We went bowling, ate good food, and Greg and the kids played a bunch of lazer tag.

Hazel Overload

I haven't been very good about posting lately. As you can imagine by days are full of snuggling, sometimes out of sentiment, and primarily out of necessity because this little beauty doesn't like to be put down.

 

See. I told you.

So first things first, a Hazel Photo Overload. Because she's adorable when she's not screaming.

 She hung out with us while we went bowling at the company party.

 She makes some seriously funny faces.

 The double chin AND wrinkled forehead. I can't help myself. She is adorable.

 This is back when she was still all squished and rolled up like a ball.

 And can we talk about her growth for a minute? This girl eats like its going out of style and she is growing like a... like a baby i guess. These pictures show it perfectly, this is her at 1 day, and 1 1/2 months. Only 6 weeks and she has become a chubby little bundle of softness that blows my mind.

Ok, Now I'm going to go snuggle my baby before I blink and she's 17.  :)