Snow angels - with Oreo to play in the snow!
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Let it SNOW!!!!
After about an hour of snow fall I decided I should go get the kiddos from school. My 30 minute round trip ended up taking about 4 hours!!!! Craziness. We parked in a nearby neighborhood and walked home. Grateful for the warm cozy house and crazy hill for sledding (and sweet neighbor who brought over warm pumpkin bread!)
Snow angels - with Oreo to play in the snow!
Snow angels - with Oreo to play in the snow!
Here is comes - the snow is starting!
She had a front row seat around 11am for the start of the snow
The snow started falling - hot chocolate and PBJ for lunch
The snow started falling - hot chocolate and PBJ for lunch
Thursday, January 23, 2014
What she does at tea parties -
Reading Bowl
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
Champions
A great way to start the year...
We had some neighbors over for The Game last night and it was a roller coaster of a good time. The cold temps made it perfect for sitting by the fire (or jumping up and down near the fire) and I was glad my neighbors were atleast willing to cheer on the ACC and enjoy a good fight on the field. I love a good game and the Seminoles didn't disappoint! Go NOLES!
We had some neighbors over for The Game last night and it was a roller coaster of a good time. The cold temps made it perfect for sitting by the fire (or jumping up and down near the fire) and I was glad my neighbors were atleast willing to cheer on the ACC and enjoy a good fight on the field. I love a good game and the Seminoles didn't disappoint! Go NOLES!
Christmas happenings
Christmas came and went like a needed breath at the end of a long swim. We embraced the time and loved well in the simple things with my sweet five.
Lucy helped me make a menu for the days around Christmas and we cooked and ate well. We played in Daddy's new hammock, walked the dog and rode a new bike through the neighborhood. We made 27 (or 72) rubber band bracelets with Lucy's new bracelet maker, played with dolls, many games of SPOT IT!, fed a new fish, threw the baseball with a new glove from Grandpa, finished reading the Two Towers aloud and relived the most recent RUSH tour live DVD.
Children went to grandma and papa's and played with cousins and grandparents (returning with no broken bones and only one minor finger burn from fun with sparklers). Mom went to work. Dad graded endless papers. We slept late, talked and tickled, giggled and sang "What does the fox say?" more times than I ever wanted. seriously.
Grandma brought the kiddos back and got some hugs for the road before heading to see Big Papa.
We watched a hawk in our back yard, picked up sticks, mulched leaves and Daddy did lots of home improvement projects. We are grateful for the time - as always. Wish it could be more, wish it could be soaked up better (thinking of 100 things I didn't do or wanted to do AND people I would have loved to talk to, had over, hugged) but learning that years flow on. Learning to embrace and fall forward into the time ahead ... one day at a time.
Lucy helped me make a menu for the days around Christmas and we cooked and ate well. We played in Daddy's new hammock, walked the dog and rode a new bike through the neighborhood. We made 27 (or 72) rubber band bracelets with Lucy's new bracelet maker, played with dolls, many games of SPOT IT!, fed a new fish, threw the baseball with a new glove from Grandpa, finished reading the Two Towers aloud and relived the most recent RUSH tour live DVD.
Children went to grandma and papa's and played with cousins and grandparents (returning with no broken bones and only one minor finger burn from fun with sparklers). Mom went to work. Dad graded endless papers. We slept late, talked and tickled, giggled and sang "What does the fox say?" more times than I ever wanted. seriously.
Grandma brought the kiddos back and got some hugs for the road before heading to see Big Papa.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Lucy's Sushi
For Christmas Lucy got all the ingredients and kitchen ware to make sushi - she was super excited about trying it all out and tonight we feasted Japanese style (with a little cheese, sausage and crackers thrown in). She might need a little more practice making it all stick together but she did pretty good and we all shared in her excitement and fun. She says she wants to open a restaurant - Lucy's Sushi...
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Merry Christmas 2013!
Sunday, December 22, 2013
With anticipation for Wednesday
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Displaced
"Hey - That curly headed dog you call punkin is sleeping in my bed - whatcha going to do about it?"
Let her sleep.
Let her sleep.
Pondering these things...
Samuel and Lucy are super excited about Christmas break and can't wait to sleep in (probably all the way to 7:30 :), do all things Christmas-y and see the grandparents. They have both worked hard this semester and been challenged in new ways with their work. First and Third grades are challenging years but they are tackling their work, learning and excelling.
Samuel was chosen as one of the final 8 out of all 3rd and 4th graders in his school to compete in a Reading Bowl in January. He's been working hard and I'm glad his mind for story and literature is blossoming and growing. He's also worked hard at Math this year and I'm so glad to see him tackle difficult things and not give up - especially when his Math is all in Spanish.
Lucy's reading has taken off this year and reading some of the chapter books we usually read aloud - like the Boxcar Children. She has particularly enjoyed the added component of Social Studies to First Grade - she's learning about Thomas Jefferson and Harriet Tubman. She loves to draw and create and especially likes making lists for herself at home so that she doesn't forget thing (Things I want to cook one day, What I need to do on Saturday morning so that I can watch a movie tonight, What I need to do this afternoon).
All of these school accomplishments are wonderful and I know they have YEARS ahead of them (lots more challenges, chances, failures, difficulties and triumphs) but the things I most treasure are the seeds of character and faith I see popping up, sometimes at the most unexpected times in small glimpses. Sometimes I can wonder what is being planted - what is beginning to grow in those hearts - what will last - here are a couple of glimpses, brief moments in time that I treasure and I'm grateful for the opportunity to see and continue to wonder at the grace of God at work in the mess of life.
Samuel -
Earlier this fall we went to a dear friend's house and my three played with her three (her #3 and mine are two peas in a pod). There had been some trouble with an older neighborhood girl who was being rude/mean to her daughter and on our visit she was being rude to the girls. I found out Samuel stood up for his little sister and friend and made sure they were safe - I see seeds of courage and justice in him.
I was encouraged to hear there is one boy at school who doesn't seem to have any friends, is having a rough time at home - but names Samuel as one of his only friends - seeds of compassion.
Soccer - he was a maniac on the field - always, everywhere - NEVER giving up and always giving 100%. His team mates didn't always share his drive and they didn't win a game but despite all of that he was always trying, always working, always getting better. Seeds of perseverance and determination.
Lucy -
On one of our trips to FL (in the Honda with three kids, dog and bike on the back) Lydia was having a hard time in the last few hours of our trip and screamed continually. We were all enduring the weary cries and in the midst of me thinking - what are we going to do? - Lucy began to pray outloud for her little sister. Seeds of faith and compassion.
Lucy loves to make things/cards/goodies for others and multiple times this fall she has taken time to write a card, color a picture or run a goody down to a neighbor. She also shares with her little sister - she gave her a quarter and a penny when we went to the aquarium the last time so that her sister could have a souvenir. Seeds of generosity and gratefulness.
They are all three a joy to me - even in the seeming chaos and disquiet of my house. I love their laughter, I love to hear them play and wonder, I love to see them learn new things. In the weary time of evening when I think I can't go any more - I remember these glimpses into the people they are becoming and I'm humbled knowing He is at work in them (and me).
Samuel was chosen as one of the final 8 out of all 3rd and 4th graders in his school to compete in a Reading Bowl in January. He's been working hard and I'm glad his mind for story and literature is blossoming and growing. He's also worked hard at Math this year and I'm so glad to see him tackle difficult things and not give up - especially when his Math is all in Spanish.
Lucy's reading has taken off this year and reading some of the chapter books we usually read aloud - like the Boxcar Children. She has particularly enjoyed the added component of Social Studies to First Grade - she's learning about Thomas Jefferson and Harriet Tubman. She loves to draw and create and especially likes making lists for herself at home so that she doesn't forget thing (Things I want to cook one day, What I need to do on Saturday morning so that I can watch a movie tonight, What I need to do this afternoon).
All of these school accomplishments are wonderful and I know they have YEARS ahead of them (lots more challenges, chances, failures, difficulties and triumphs) but the things I most treasure are the seeds of character and faith I see popping up, sometimes at the most unexpected times in small glimpses. Sometimes I can wonder what is being planted - what is beginning to grow in those hearts - what will last - here are a couple of glimpses, brief moments in time that I treasure and I'm grateful for the opportunity to see and continue to wonder at the grace of God at work in the mess of life.
Samuel -
Earlier this fall we went to a dear friend's house and my three played with her three (her #3 and mine are two peas in a pod). There had been some trouble with an older neighborhood girl who was being rude/mean to her daughter and on our visit she was being rude to the girls. I found out Samuel stood up for his little sister and friend and made sure they were safe - I see seeds of courage and justice in him.
I was encouraged to hear there is one boy at school who doesn't seem to have any friends, is having a rough time at home - but names Samuel as one of his only friends - seeds of compassion.
Soccer - he was a maniac on the field - always, everywhere - NEVER giving up and always giving 100%. His team mates didn't always share his drive and they didn't win a game but despite all of that he was always trying, always working, always getting better. Seeds of perseverance and determination.
Lucy -
On one of our trips to FL (in the Honda with three kids, dog and bike on the back) Lydia was having a hard time in the last few hours of our trip and screamed continually. We were all enduring the weary cries and in the midst of me thinking - what are we going to do? - Lucy began to pray outloud for her little sister. Seeds of faith and compassion.
Lucy loves to make things/cards/goodies for others and multiple times this fall she has taken time to write a card, color a picture or run a goody down to a neighbor. She also shares with her little sister - she gave her a quarter and a penny when we went to the aquarium the last time so that her sister could have a souvenir. Seeds of generosity and gratefulness.
They are all three a joy to me - even in the seeming chaos and disquiet of my house. I love their laughter, I love to hear them play and wonder, I love to see them learn new things. In the weary time of evening when I think I can't go any more - I remember these glimpses into the people they are becoming and I'm humbled knowing He is at work in them (and me).
I've got my eye on you
Monday, December 09, 2013
Christmas Dance Show
"All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth!"
Lucy's first ever dance show was this past Saturday. I got to help out back stage and watch from the side so the video is a side view but she is front and center with pink hat and stripped gloves. She loved it and we enjoyed seeing her dance!
Lucy with her class on the far left
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