Preschool Is Back On

With the big kids back in school it was time to start up our co-op preschool. 

Little Miss was so excited to start this up again and have mommy as her teacher. We have

 one kiddo from last year that joined us again, but the other 3 kiddos are new. We have a great 

group of kids. They are so sweet and get along amazing well. 

 For the week that I had all the kiddos we spent a lot of time learning about one another and learning each other's names. Their absolute favorite activity was painting. I gave them a leaf stencil and they got to use sponges to stencil fall leaves on to their paper. I am loving this group of kids and I am grateful that I am able to teach my daughter and spend more time with her. 

A Post by Midge

For some reason Midge hasn't gotten any homework for 5th grade. We want her to get ready for the demands of middle school so we have started assigning her math and writing homework. On of the requirements for her writing homework is that she post on the blog. I think it will be a good way to journal some of the things that are important to her and help her with typing, grammar, and writing.

I got my new violin a week ago. I am paired up with a cute boy. My friend Alli says I should say." I'm single!" Ha ha ha ha! I learned how to play guitar style on the violin. The boy is younger then me, but is taller and he is 9 years old. He had blond puffy hair.CUTE! I went home and practised. I am learning to play twinkle twinkle. I like my teacher a lot. He played for us and he plays really good and super fast.

Hut 1 Hut 2 Hike

Leo is playing on a flag football team. He is on a 4th/5th grade team, and he is the only 2nd grader. His coach is in our church and he is the only coach that refuses to play on Sunday. Leo is the same height as several people on the team, but there are definitely some big boys on the team. They are so nice to him and I am glad that he is having such a good experience and is learning some new skills.

 Leo tells us the games are boring compared to soccer because he is a linebacker so he is on the defensive team and he only plays 2 quarters so that all the boys can have a chance to play. Therefore there is a lot of time on the sidelines.

 When he is out there he does a great job of racing after the player with the ball. I love flag football because the kids seem to learn more about the positions and rules. Plus tackle football injuries scare me. Leo has one girl on the team and it has made Midge consider playing. We think with her speed and endurance she could do really well. Plus the guys on the team are really nice to the female player, I have been very impressed with how she is just one of the team.

 Leo has really good instincts and often anticipates where a player is going to go. The thing we are trying to teach him is to run through the entire play. Sometimes he seems a team member in front of him and assumes that he is going to get the flag and he backs off, but Ken is trying to get him to stay with the ball in case his team member misses the flag. 

The Mimi and Papa Pumpkin Patch

This weekend we traveled to Mimi and Papa's House for General Conference. While there we made a trip out to their garden to harvest some Cinderella pumpkins.

 Little Miss was so excited. Everything was princess veggies.

 While there we found a few visitors to the garden. We didn't see if they would turn into princes.

 Each kiddo got to pick out their favorite one, or two, or three...

 Midge was delighted to be able to drive the tractor by herself. 

Fall Creek

Last weekend was a sweltering 96 degrees. Okay nothing like some of the rest of the country has been dealing with, but for us Oregonians it was a little too hot. We decided to take the kids to a spot some friends told us about. We spent the entire afternoon playing and had a relaxing time. When we drove back we were actually cool.

 The water was cold, but it felt really good. 

 The best part for the kids is they were able to catch over a dozen crawdads. 

 Our kids are so lucky to have a dad who loves to play with them as much as they love to. The whole day he was swimming in the water, catching crawdads, he even tried skin boarding.

 Little Miss wanted to be like the big kids so Ken caught her baby fish to play with. She loved it, one of them she loved a little too much, but we were able to release the rest when we left for the day.

 Baby Huck played so hard. Water, rocks and his entire family as playmates is his perfect day. By the end of the day I was standing with him in an inch of water and all of the sudden he fell forward because he was too tired to stand up any longer. Needless to say by the time we put him in his car seat he was asleep within seconds. 

There was a section where the water had a gentle current the kids could ride through. They made friends with a group of boys and had a great time floating through on the boogie board. 

First Day of School

Our little Midge went into 5th grade this year. The great part is that she is with the same teacher and same group of students as last year, so there was no anxiety for her. She is even in the same classroom as last year. This made the first day of school so easy for her. When we were planning her first day of school outfit she kept telling me I just want to be comfortable mom. I wish they made her sweater in my size I would love one for myself. 

 Little Miss wanted so desperately to go to school with the big kids. 

She wore her backpack all morning.

 Our boy Leo is going in to 2nd grade and seems to really enjoy his teacher. I really hope he has a great year. Last year was a little rough because he has an intense teacher. He did fine, but I would love for him to have a teacher that he loves. He wants to grow his hair out and to be honest I don't really know what I am doing with it. I cut all of my boy's hair but I really only know how to do one basic cut. Justin Biber's hairstyle is not something I am experienced with. Anyone who knows what they are doing and wants to offer me some tips would be greatly appreciated. 

 Regardless of my messing with his hair he still looks so stinking cute.

 Little Miss insisted we get there to see morning meeting. Everyday the entire school meets in the gym and sings a song together. Then they go over announcements. 

It is one of my favorite traditions at this school.

 This is Midge's beloved teacher. Mr. Bonar.

 Huck went with us to drop off the kids, all he wanted to do was sit in the big chairs.

 Here is Leo trying to act like that crazy woman over there taking pictures isn't his mother. Sorry sweetie I can't resist. I love you...

 Don't worry I am setting aside money for your future therapy.