handsful

Yesterday, we spent the day in the woods.  It was a fabulous day for it, partly sunny and around 75 degrees.

I’d been organizing this trip for weeks, and all the work was so worth it.  Our big kids – along with a few kids from our local homeschool group – set off for the Outdoor Education Center, run by our parks and rec.

They started with a few ice breaker games, like bandana tag and a name game.

It was serious business, trying to snatch those bandanas.

Next came learning to trust each other with “trust leans”.  They learned the terminology they would later use with the more advanced activities.

Problem solving with team work.  How to get all the kids up on to this rocking platform without the sides touching the ground.  Abbey has no problems letting her opinions be known.

It took them two tries, but they got it.  And, were very pleased with their team work!

Yes, I had the littles with me the whole 4 hours.  They did great, watching the big kids and exploring the various plant and wildlife.  It helped a lot that one other mom stayed with us, Lainey and Dylan just loved Shyla.

Time to get serious, and suit up for the fun stuff.  The 4 guides we had were fantastic, always emphasizing safety.  Each child had to have 3 separate equipment checks before they were cleared.

everyone in the vicinity had to wear head gear…don’t they look cute?  I had to helmet-up, too.  I looked goooood.

The kids rotated between two activities – zip line and centipede.  The centipede was a series of boards put together like a ladder…but, it moved all over the place.  The boards had foot holds on them.  They were also hooked to ropes while doing this, and then belayed down.  All 4 kids made it all the way to the top, no problem.  This is Abbey.

Payton, making me think he’s scared.  He wasn’t.

Ethan

and, Marley

Lainey, finding another use for the hard hat.

Dylan, finding another way to look cute.

Time to zip…Ethan was quite nonchalant about the whole thing.

Whereas, Payton struck a pose.

Abbey has perfect zip-line form.

Marley smiled for the camera.

It was a wonderful day in the woods.

I just couldn’t stand it any longer.

We will have been in this rental home for a year next month.  We’ve been good, and hadn’t put a single nail hole in the wall.

Until today.

I decided it was time for a change.  ANYTHING would be better than the blank walls I’ve been staring at.

My first thing…

I admit, I stole this idea from my hair stylist.  She had canvas’ spray painted with chalkboard paint in her shop, with funky and inspirational messages on them.  She said she changes them often, on a whim, when something interesting occurs to her.  So, I made my own.  And, my first message sets the tone for the new board.  It’s MINE.  :)

Other canvas’ are being worked on now, too.  One that all the kids will have their brushes on, and another that involves all of their HANDS.  Easy to guess, huh?

This one isn’t so artsy, but I decided I wanted the kids to have something more than magnetic letters to play with on the fridge.  So, I bought some magnet sheets and cut them into different size strips, bits, and half circles.  They all love them, even the big kids.

I like seeing what they come up with!  Lainey has discovered that she can make a few letters and even numbers.

No pictures, but we also have 5 caterpillars eating and growing in a little cup…soon, they’ll cocoon and we’ll put them in our butterfly tent.  We’ve done this many times with the big kids, but I’m especially excited to see the littles experience it for the first time.

We don’t know how much longer we’ll be here – I am quite anxious to be in our own home.  But, all in God’s timing.  Until then, we’ll make it as much our own as we can.

our resident duck whisperer strikes again.

Two homeschool moms in our area must love to dance, because they’ve devoted a lot of their time to arrange fun dances for homeschooled kids in our area.  Abbey has enjoyed two of these so far, and tonight was Marley, Payton, and Ethan’s turn.  The Cherry Blossom Ball is their first dance.  They were excited, but a bit nervous too.  Randy is out picking them up right now.  I can’t wait to hear how it went!

Don’t they look nice?!  And, so grown up.

** Update:  They had a BLAST.  Marley’s comment:  “When is the next one?!?”  And, our boys were two of only FOUR boys.  They quickly realized that being nearly the only boys in a whole room full of girls isn’t such a bad thing ;)

Since our zoo trip on Monday, this is the only picture I’ve taken.  I was walking (probably running) by the window and the colors stopped me in my tracks.  God sure does paint a beautiful picture, huh?

This week has been one big ball o’ crazy.  Really, it has.  Everyday has had at LEAST 2 appointments/places to be/etc. and most days had more.  Thursday was the biggest juggling act, thankfully Randy was able to help out with that day.  This weekend, we’ve already had dinner with new friends (thanks, Bolt family!).  Saturday is the church BBQ and then Marley, Payton, and Ethan’s first dance that night.  Sunday is church, and then our much-anticipated family photo session that afternoon (no, I don’t have all the clothes yet, thanks for asking).

I’m a bit of a homebody…I like those days with nothing on the calendar.  Nowhere to be, no reason to check my watch.  Those days are rare lately.  And, with Dylan’s surgery looming (4/26, in case you forgot), I can see those “normal” days coming to an end at least for a season.

Looking ahead, Monday is a nothing day.  Whoop!  Can’t say that about the rest of the week, though.

So, all this to say, life ain’t slowing down anytime soon so I’ve just gotta pull the camera out more often to capture these days.  Like the country song says, one day I’ll miss all this.  The house will be quiet, and I won’t have anyone asking me to take them anywhere. I’ll read books, wash MUCH less laundry, drive a vehicle that seats a normal amount of people rather than 11, and will probably go a whole day without wiping up a spill.

These days are hard, I’ll be honest.  But, I wouldn’t trade them.

Today was an official Field Trip day for Generations Christian Academy.  We did not wear matching t-shirts or name tags and we did not walk in a single file line…like the million other school children we saw today.  Another perk of homeschooling, maybe?

Our friends, Kelley and her daughter Kylie, joined us today.  It was actually their idea to go to the zoo, and Kelley clued me in on getting a nature center membership that covered this zoo, plus a bunch of other in and out of state places, for a year.  There was about a $30 difference in price for a year, vs. a one-day ticket for our whole family.  That decision was a no-brainer!

Some pics from today…

This is how the littles enjoyed the zoo.  Randy’s dad and Kathy gave it to them yesterday as an early birthday present.  JUST in time for our zoo visit…how nice!  We got a ton of comments on it, and others asking where we got such a cool wagon.  My only complaint? It needs a brake…it’s hard to keep it from rolling on a hill!

Here comes a seal…Dylan loved how they kept swimming right by the window!

I don’t remember what they were looking at here?!  A bear, maybe?

Speaking of bears, they tried out the polar bear cave.  He was snoozing on a rock and didn’t seem to mind sharing.

Liking his first US zoo visit (we did the Safari zoo in China)

Another zoo fan!

Photo op!

Favorite thing I overheard today?  “Hey, that kid looks just like Justin Beiber!”  Heh heh…

Learning about chimpanzees…

and, posing with a monkey.

We stayed till they closed, and then drove the long 1 1/2hrs home.  We had a great day, but this momma is worn out!  I’m so tempted to call in “tired”  tomorrow ;)  Think I can get a substitute on this short notice?