Columbus Day Fun

I considered another field trip like last year, but it was just too much for this year.  And the kids had dentist appts mid afternoon so it would have been a rush to get back. 
But we had such a great day.  It was great to have nice weather to be outside a lot.  
We did a little school review then headed out for bike rides around the neighborhood.  It was my first time to go with them again since the baby came.  He can ride in an umbrella stroller now.  It felt good, I felt good and it was nice to do something active with the kids again. :)  And wow, now we are in a real neighborhood and the kids are so confident on their bikes.  It was great!

I loved the chance to chat with them as we went on our way.  Lily blew a weed she found to make a wish, and told me that she wished she "didn't have a sin" and "didn't disobey", which was really helpful for me to see and know because she has been hard lately (I am hard too!).  It was sweet to have that little glimpse into her heart.  God is so faithful to show me these things.  The mouths of my babies who I usually think I am in battle with, break me.  So helpful.  Another day last week, I am struggling with being frustrated with them.  And Lily starts singing, "Lord, do not be far from me.  Come quickly to help me."  It's a song they sing at church, psalm 71:12 (love it, bless the kind lady who teaches them).  And just such a good reminder- we are all the same, struggling with sin and our attitudes.

We had to strip down a little.  It got hot!

 The kids liked this one larger cul de sac that they rode around over and over.  It has a few small puddles so they called it the "water park".

 We came back and played in the yard.  Mike was flagging our sprinkler system and they ran in to get suits on and just played and had the best time together.  I mean childhood, its so great!  They were covered in grass and laughter.

This guy started this a few weeks ago.  I'd forgotten about it!  The open mouth kisses!  Oh, my heart! 

 The kids were pooped from biking and running around outside, so we bathed and had room time.  They both fell fast asleep and had the hardest time waking up for the dentist. So sweet.

 I SEE YOU WHILE I'M SLEEPING, UNCLE WILL!!  

My bro slept/sleeps with his eyes open- Lily inherited his skillz. ;)

 And fun play time with Daddy last eve! We played the guitar and did airplanes.  

It is pretty fun to see the big kids love on & enjoy Benjamin.

 

Favorite Day

Wednesdays are my favorite day of the week this school year.

We have speech and TKD, then OT and TKD at the start of the week so we run around both afternoons. I don't think any of us especially enjoy it.  Altho, its fine.  Peter certainly enjoys speech and OT.  But I think he's just tired by time its TKD.  And it all just feels a little tense.

I've realized this week that I need to soak her in... its our last weeks together, just the two of us.  And I need to make sure we are in the best possible place for both of them before we rock this boat with a new one.  We'll start packing next week so it could be our last week of a slightly orderly routine.

{Sometime we run out to do other things, but yesterday we just sat at OT.  She thought we should do Sudoku.  I tried to tell her it was for grown ups, but she wasn't convinced so we worked on it.  It was good number writing practice and she liked 'taking turns' to do it together.  I did thoroughly enjoy the physical closeness so that was the selling point for me.  I wasn't able to "solve" the puzzle.}

 Then it progressed to this... fill my love tank.

  I need to work on my selfie skills to cut the double chin.

But Wednesdays are our free day.  I can feel my body relax on Wed mornings, after Peter gets out the door.  ;)  Its nice to head to sewing class.

I took in the snack today.  It was sorta fun to make them.  I don't bake often.

After school on Wednesdays, we just get to play.  It feels like we really should do what I want to do... just play!  It took a little extra encouragement today, but then they got in the zone.  Peter was telling Lily how to phonetically spell words and then Lily was typing them on the iPad keyboard, connected to nothing.  It was sweet. 

And there was some of this... 

 Then "sleeping"...

 I have time to cook dinner, and then we do homework.

We can now do it all in one night.  Which maybe isn't totally ideal, but its what needs to work with our schedule.

Doing Y this week.... making it the end, altho it hasn't gone in order.

Each week, he has to read a Y poem, find and circle all the Yy's.  

Write Y and ys.  Write your name- first and last.

Cut out or draw and color pics of things that start with the letter of the week.

Then phonetically write the word you've cut out or drawn.

Thankful for the "break" that Wednesdays are!!

Crafts, Tooth, Trucks, and Hook

Its a long stretch to connect those four things.  But here are pics about each of them.  :)

In an attempt to think of a free Valentine craft, Lily and I painted pine combs and gumballs pink and glittery.  I was really excited about the idea but then felt like the were just ok, not great, kinda "meh".  

But we put them on the mantle anyway.  Kinda fun. 

 The kids made and painted these Valentines holders at the free Home Depot build.  

It was my first time to join them for one.  It was lots of fun.

We got our Valentine from Valentines.  Thanks, Nee Nee!

 Peter has a loose tooth!  Wiggling it during craft time.

The science/nurse person in me thinks its really cool.  He's gotten this little gap in a matter of weeks to make room for the new one.... so cool.

 Peter finished his dump truck from Maw and Paw.  He is thrilled!

Remember Halloween?  Well, its still one of the kids' (and Mike's!) favorite things to play.  They pretend they are Peter Pan, Tiger Lily, and Captain Hook nearly daily.  If you ask Peter his favorite thing to play, he'll say Captain Hook.  The child in my sweet husband LOVES it as much as they do.  I think its his therapy.

The play set is the pirate ship.

 Hook sent Pan down the plank.

 Hook chasing Tiger Lily and Pan trying to stop him.

 One final pretty pic... :)

Thankful for a fun low key weekend full of family time and outside time!

What We've Been Up To...

* Saturday Soccer 

 * A Surprise Visit by some folks we LOVE

Uncle Will is SO fun!

I couldn't decide which of these I liked best so had to include them both :)  I love the excited smiles!

*New Spiderman Jumpers and New Sneakers 

(maybe a little weird to include shoe pics but I thought their little feet and shoes were so cute!)

This is the pic I'd emailed to Mike after we got them...

 * Lots and Lots of Bike Riding!!  
Peter has been doing SO well.  His confidence on his bike has really improved.  He rides loops and loops independently around a circle at our pool parking lot!!  Yay, Peter.

I've learned that another secret to getting him motivated to do stuff is to pretend or imagine he is in character.  He and his bike ARE Lightning McQueen.  Lily is Mater on her tricycle. 

 Lightning is sharing a secret with Mater.

 *More Bike Riding

(I love Peter's subtle little dimples at the corners of his smile)

 Goo and Pop got them these sweatshirts when they visited Cornwall, England this summer.  

I love them!!

 how cute are they looking at each other.

* Friend-Sitting

Two of Lily's little friends came to visit while their mommies had other things going on.  

They were really cute together.

 Peter felt a little unsure of his place in the mix with the girls and with his usual playmate occupied.  

I hadn't thought of that aspect for him.  But was thankful to have that insight to pay a little extra attention to him.

 Necklaces :)

 *Cutting and Crafts

Lily and I made a run to get some new art supplies.  

We picked up some of that foam paper for cutting and the kids love it (I even do too!)

 But the clean up is a bummer ;)

* More Pretending

I am loving our schedule this year.  I reservedly decided not to do the Women's Bible Study this year for several reasons.  Is it OK to post those reasons?  It may be a little vulnerable or revealing or uncomfortable or something... but one of the main reasons is that I didn't want to watch others who are pregnant be pregnant.  (Just keeping it real.)  Its just too painful to do again.  Its easier to trust God with where we are (which is great!) without putting myself in a position to weekly look to the side at others.  The other reason that seems more acceptable to share & so I most often use in person and is EQUALLY important is that next year will be K and so its the last year of our life that my kids have the option to be at home together all day long.  So we are going to savor that.  We have the rest of our lives to run around.  Peter does his therapies on Tuesdays and so we have Thursdays at home.  

Its just been so good.  I am so thankful.

Here, they'd taken the pillow cases off our pillows and put their legs in them for sleeping bags. :)

 My closet is often their "elevator".

Taking the friends in... 

and out... 

 *Huggin', when I'm not fussin'.  Cause there's plenty of that too.

*Puzzles while Pete is at "work"

*Dinner with Friends  

 Peter got a Buzz Lightyear costume from Aunt Becky for his bday.  Its been a big hit!!