homeschooling - week 1

Samantha still loves the sandbox. Her imaginative, creative, pretend play has matured so much this summer. She now brings me cups and bowls of sand and motions to me to drink or eat. She is feeding stuffed animals and baby dolls, comforting babies, going "places" just like her sisters . . . it's been great to watch this emerge, as always, and see that she is now included so much in her sisters' play.
This is Monday, August 24, our first day of kindergarten. Before going outside, we had worked on math and handwriting, saving history and reading for later. But, it was not enough! After riding her bike and playing a little while, she asked, "Mom, can't I bring my math outside and do more? I will get Samantha's little pink chair and table and bring them outside." Oh my! The week has been like this: she completed 32 lessons in math! (There are only 160 in the year!) and much more handwriting and reading than I planned. On Tuesday, she said, "Mom, I want to home school first grade too." Well, one year at a time.
This is what Lucy thought of the day . . . she needed a break! I really love watching her little personality and disposition emerge. Most days, I am surprised by her! But, one thing is certain: she adores both her sisters!
My greatest challenge, as I planned for Anna Kate's school day, has been the two little girls. What will they do so that I can teach Anna Kate? And how will I structure our day so everyone gets the time and attention they need? Thanks, especially to a friend who is one year ahead of us, I learned about preschool activity bags. I gathered our more educational toys together and put them up for school time - that way, they seem new to them. But I am also creating some.
So, how did everyone stay happy and busy together on this day? Rice! Seriously. Rice! I had an I Spy bottle filled with rice and lots of little things to find, as you turn the bottle. Then, we had rice in bowls with cups and scoops and spoons and things to hide. It was incredible how long they enjoyed themselves!
As a side note, let me say, I would do these bags even if we weren't homeschooling, especially living in a place where we do spend many of our days inside. They are inexpensive to put together, which means that we can have new and different things (much more exciting than the same old indoor activities!) to do all the time. I told Dave, "I wish I had thought of this when Anna Kate was little. All those snowy, cold days spent inside working to find something to do!" So, for moms of little ones who need something to do, these are great fun!

full and funny, sometimes

Life around our house is, well, full . . . I have had a challenging time deciding how to respond to strangers who say to me, "Wow! You have your hands full!" Like what I have is a bad thing . . . for a while I would say, "Full of good things!" and smile politely. Last time someone said that to me, just days ago, I said, "Aren't I blessed?" It is so interesting to hear other people's commentary on my life. . . .

Anyways, I really signed on here tonight to share a couple of funny things with anyone who is reading . . . During our book time at bedtime, Samantha, all on her own, came over to my ear and whispered sweet (literally) nothings in my ear. It was so cute! Other things Samantha is doing - jumping on command (and not!), eating carrot sticks (her only other fruit or vegetable in her diet is applesauce and raisins and corn, so this is great), talk-talk-talking, singing Happy Birthday (which started in Colorado and I've forgotten to share the news!), and lots of other things . . .

Anna Kate said to me, as I tucked her in, "I can worship Jesus, too." Well, YES YOU CAN!

Anna Kate has successfully taught herself how to ride a "big girl bike" with no training wheels. Actually, she taught herself right after we returned home from Colorado. But I keep missing the opportunity for a video. Will try to get that soon.

Lucy is growing! We had to visit the doctor last week (she's fine!) and she weighed 31 pounds and measured 38 inches . . . "Almost a perfect square," said our favorite pediatrician! So fun! She loves to be led by Anna Kate and to play with Samantha. She can be quite a little fireball, which you might miss if she doesn't know you well. She still loves horses and swings and pink bear . . .

Rocky Mountain National Park

One weekend, we packed a lunch and headed to Rocky Mountain National Park, outside of Estes Park. It was definitely cool in the mountains, and we left right before the sky turned black. Good timing, I guess. Here are the girls eating lunch before we head out.
One of the girls (especially Anna Kate) favorite thing to do is to climb all the rocks we come across. At the end of this first trail, she, Lucy and Dave took a break at the top of a rock.

Of course, Daddy took us to a stream to put our feet in. Samantha got totally wet. The other girls mainly chilled their feet.
The delicate work of drying off feet, while keeping them out of the dirt, and putting shoes and socks back on!
At the end of our trail around the lake, we had to capture the mountains.

the train at city park

We rode this train this summer. The girls loved it. It would go around the track three times; along the way it went through a tunnel and along a little creek.
The girls rode one time in the caboose and one time in the yellow cattle car.
On this particular day, they rode in the yellow cattle car.
Samantha really liked the train. But I have never seen her sit so still and so quiet for anything. Big eyes, taking it all in. She loved it, though; she really did. "choo, choo" She can identify a train in the distance that I hardly hear.

catching up (months later)

Dave's family came to Ft. Collins for the fourth of July. It was a great visit. And, I must say, Ft. Collins does a great job celebrating - the fireworks were excellent. Anna Kate watched all of them with Daddy and Grandpa and Aunt Sarah. Samantha woke up and watched a little from her bedroom window. And Lucy, first she sat inside the apartment on Grandma's lap with her face covered, then they moved to the little storage "closet" under the stairs in the apartment. Grandma and Grandpa spent the night with us. The next day, Daddy took us to Spring Creek Trail, which he rode to class every day for four weeks. It was a great walk.

Daddy and Samantha hanging out on the patio.
One of our favorite parks in Ft. Collins is Inspiration Park. The play structures are incredible, though we had a difficult time keeping track of everyone! And there is this great water area. Even on cloudy days, Samantha would play in the water. Anna Kate learned to do the monkey bars all by herself, all the way across this summer, and she had two big blisters to prove it.

Aunt Kelly and Uncle Rodger's wedding

After three long days in the car, we arrived in Denver, Colorado, to begin celebrating Kelly as a bride! There was lots going on, but here are some highlights!

The ladies had lunch at a yummy French restaurant one day. Here's Kelly, bride-to-be.
Emilie and Kathleen (I wonder what they were talking about . . . )
Yes, even Anna Kate and Lucy (who did not want her picture taken) went. They were great!
A chocolate fountain and champagne for a shower for Kelly . . . The girls stayed long enough to sample! Yummy! Here's Aunt Hannah helping Lucy.
Samantha at the rehearsal dinner . . .
One of my all-time favorites . . . This is where Kelly and Rodger got married, in Golden, CO. And the night of the rehearsal, I snapped these adorable pictures!
And look at those mountains! Ah, it's been good to be back in the southwest and in Colorado.
At the rehearsal dinner, with Aunt Sarah.
The day of the wedding . . . Anna Kate loves dancing! It was chilly, so the girls and all of us, kept our sweaters on!

Samantha's curly head! She was a champ - the girls ate through most of a box of gummies by the time the wedding ceremony ended! And some lollipops . . . You have to do what you have to do . . .
Aunt Emilie made Lucy's hair pretty and out of her face with this braid!
Daddy with his girls! We had a yummy lunch!
The bride and groom! It was a great day!

catching up . . . some funny things in Albany

Sweet, little Lucy! I do so like her hair out of her face, so I can see that pretty face!
The girls, playing "wedding." Interesting, eh? And, yes, those are dish towels around their waists and baskets on their heads!
We were supposed to be practicing and getting ready for Aunt Kelly's wedding, but somehow we must have gotten distracted.
Lucy put this outfit together all by herself! It's an interesting take on fashion . . .