Sissy With No Trainers.

While Katie was here, we decided to let the kiddos ride bikes and scooters at the top of the driveway. Before I know it, Sissy took off on Samuel's bike without training wheels! Crazy. I guess all those summer hours watching the kids ride has really paid off. She has loads of fun now speeding along on her Barbie bike.

Kate's Visit.

My long lost Katie (who got married and moved to Pittsburg a number of years ago) came to visit about a week ago and stayed three nights. We had late night girl chats, time with the kids, trips to Target, the pediatrician office and Trader Joe's, and did a lot of cooking. So basically, she joined me
for everyday life. She brought s'mores makings with her and we microwaved the treats. The kids thought they died and went to heaven.

Jude and Micah played really well together.

Samuel (in typical Samuel fashion) convinced Kate to play Mancala with him. Boss was a huge help.

Kate and Samuel did a little lunch prep - ants on a log. Always a hit in my house.

Samuel prays at mealtime, and this moment, he was also praying before dessert.

 

 

 

 

Gymnastics.

Juliet is finishing up a month of gymnastics and she has loved it. She has learned summersaults, handstands and backbends. And for once, this actually exhausts her. This one is really hard to drain energy completely.

Getting ready for a back bend.

We've told each kid they can choose one sport/activity per year. We will see what next year brings for Sissy...

School of McGladreys in Session.

We started homeschool this week with the kiddos - Sissy started kindergarten, Jude first grade and Samuel third. I know I am making the right choice by keeping my kids home this year, but I'm not going to lie - it's very hard. I didn't actually think educating three kids at the same time would be easy, but I thought it would be easier. I will be praying through what ways I can be pulling back (Samuel's curriculum this year feels like way too much, well, curriculum). That being said, it is always really cool to see my kids blossom in academics. It's also cool to custom fit their education to their needs. Today, I shaved off a book from Samuel's schedule, saved Sissy's handwriting for another day and handed the dreaded Singapore math over to my compliant husband - for the rest of the year. Then when Samuel had only a couple of subjects left and everyone was pure chaos, I threw caution to the wind and headed to the climb park to burn their energy. We'll call that phys. ed for the day. I'm learning that I have to pray through each day and be ok letting things go some days and upping things/subjects other days. We are trying out a 4 day school schedule and seeing how it works. Here are some pictures.

While the olders were schooling, Boss was stealing Colin and my breakfast.

This kid wakes up so grumpy - I will look forward to the day that he grows out of that. He will, right?

Boss also sat on the tractor while the others were schooling. Colin is watering our newly budding winter garden - I'm so excited!

Here is Jude doing his pattern blocks.

This is his photo for the first day of school that will be forever memorialized in his scrapbook :)

Samuel starts each school day with his Bible memorization and readings.

Samuel's first day of school photo - it was afternoon when I took it, so terrible shadowy light...

Sissy loved cutting ever so carefully around her number of the day. She loves school!

Here's her school photo.

She also did coloring and gluing - both of which she also loved. I started her on handwriting letters - she "writes" onto a tray of salt. Tactile stuff is pretty important for this age, I hear.

Sissy is currently doing a month of gymnastics in West Linn. She loved it!

Salt tray.

Swimming With the Wagners.

On August 25th, we had a Bible study reunion of sorts. A few girls met for this Bible study since Samuel was around 1 (now he's 8 1/2) and now that Bible study had finished, the Wagners invited all the families over for a BBQ/swimming gathering. My kids were counting the days until they could go there.

This may have been Boss' favorite part of the whole evening - popsicles.

This look reminds me so much of Colin as a child - many of his pictures look like this. How serious!

John is always so great with the kiddos - he wasn't feeling good that day, but he still managed to entertain the littles in the pool.

This is generally what my kids do to the Wagners - climb all over.

Jude went ahead and jumped over kids into the pool.

Sissy worked on her backfloat.