Samantha's Sixth Birthday

Samantha Joy turned 6 on October 25. Wow! 

Our littlest girl is not so little anymore. 

She's in kindergarten this year, a whiz (right now) at math; she loves to build, move, jump - she's almost always on the go. She's a great friend to Will and her sisters. She's strong; she surprises me with her tenderness sometimes and her physicality. This year she loves orange. She only wears cotton leggings and shirts (not dresses or shirts that remind her of dresses, can't be too long or too baggy). Even though it's already cold at night, she's still sleeping in shorts and a t-shirt! 

She's taking gymnastics once a week and swimming lessons, too. 

First Day of School

Everyone started school on Wednesday, September 4. 

This year, Lucy is completing second grade at home with me.

 Anna Kate continues at a small, Christian school, in the fourth grade!!!!

 And Samantha is completing kindergarten at home with me, too.

The Last Hurrah

We met our super dear friends at the Utica Zoo for a fun-filled day before school started!

 The day before school starts for Anna Kate is always "forms day," where we drop off supplies and ensure that everything is in order for the start of school. After making our visit to the school, we stopped at the park to play . . . .enjoying the fleeting moments of free time.

Even Will wanted to help push the girls on the merry-go-round.

I know 4 months is a long time to take a break, but here are some highlights. . . . 

We missed strawberries and blueberries but made it home in time for raspberries and friends.

We spent some time with Dave's sisters, brothers and their families in Denver.

Again this year we went to Wildwood for a Cru Summer Project. Since we leave Albany five weeks before the school year finishes, we bring school work with us. To celebrate the end of a great school year, we walked to the Boardwalk and enjoyed ice cream together. We even walked home in the pouring rain.  

This year our dear friends from Albany came for a few days to visit us in Wildwood - what a treat! And a highlight. How sweet is this picture? the girls and their friend, holding hands and walking on the boardwalk - sweet! 

we swam and swam and swam at the ocean one day during their visit  . . . . boogie boards, sand castles, 

And then the boys did this on the couch

All the kids hanging out together 

I didn't take this picture of Dave at Robin's house, but I love it! 

The women staff, staff interns, and deaf interpreters for our Summer Project - a great team! 

Our students and staff

 Will at Robin's lake

Will fell in love with our friend Robin's dog, Kelly. He thought Kelly was his to take home one night, and even left crying because "where's my dog?" I thought it would be over in the morning, after a great night's sleep . . . . nope, "where's my dog?" was my good morning greeting from my little guy.

 The last couple of years in Wildwood, we have spent Father's Day morning at the fantastic Cape May Zoo. After visiting the zoo, we enjoy a picnic together. 

We had the great joy of celebrating the marriage of one of our former students in May, before we left for Wildwood. Hannah is a graduate of Sage College and was the force behind getting Cru started there. She's such a joy and her day was beautiful. Here she is with a crew of Cru students we love. 

Happy Easter! We hosted 11 RPI students for Easter dinner. What fun! 

The girls looked fabulous in their dresses we picked out while Heather and Decker were here 

(I love that they matched!) and Will was sporting the sweater vest!

The week after Easter was Anna Kate's spring break, so Lucy took it off from homeschooling too. We spent a chunk of Monday at the eye doctor's office, Tuesday morning we went to choose frames, and by Thursday, she's looking like this: 

Heather and Decker visit

Before Heather and Decker arrived for their spring break visit (where it was still winter), Will potty-trained! Hats-off to one of the easiest kids for us to potty-train! I was sure it was going to be difficult, and so I kept putting it off. What a pleasant surprise that he's "taken to it" very easily.

Despite the "late winter" snow storm soon after H & D arrived - inches fell!! - we trekked out to the Plaza and Museum at the end of the week. It was cold but most of the snow was gone! 

Will was attached to Decker always.

 March Madness at the Sheehan house looks like this: