F-L-O-R-I-D-A

Well summer is almost over and we are enjoying the last of it at the beach.  By God's kind providence we got hooked up with one fabulous vacation.  Long story short but we didn't really know much about the place we would be staying.  It is SO MUCH MORE than we could have asked for (or afforded!)  I thought I would try to blog some of the pics while I am here because I know it will be back to busy life as soon as we return.  So here are the first few days of vacation.  (For sake of time I am resisting the urge to edit these even though I really, really want to!)

David had a class to take in Atlanta.  So we spent one night there.  What's the first thing kids do in a hotel?  Jump on the bed of course! 

Dinah has joined us on the trip.  So she and I took the kids to venture the big city while David was in class.  We hit up the OK Cafe (best milkshakes!), Centennial Park, Grant Park, and even Ikea.  We were worn out!

The hubs loves to read.  Seriously, he brought all these books.  Maybe he forgot we have 3 kids and vacation isn't quite what it use to be.  But I hope for his sake he gets to enjoy a few of these.

Nothing says good morning like pancakes (or pan-a-cakes as my kids say) from GIGI.  She makes the best pancakes ever.  It's only one of the perks of bringing her along. :)

Enjoying the view.  Or maybe spying on people.  I'm not sure which.

And since we are actually in "session" Anna Kate is still doing some school.  I'm pretty sure she could get use to the view.  It's slightly better than the laundry room wall.

Ready to hit up the beach.

All greased up and ready to go.

My boys.

My boy loves the boogie board.  He worked this thing until he was out of breath.  It was absolutely adorable.

That's all for now!

11 days down, 169 to go!

School has started and here are some things we are learning:

1. Sidewalk chalk makes a great a break

2. Teaching moments can be fun -

a true "building one another up" experiment from 1 Thess 5:11

3. Counting bears are more fun when swimming in water.

4. Copying ideas from your sister works out great - thanks Bec!

5.Everyone likes to paint.

6. Second graders still like to build & play with blocks.

7. Being old enough for Kindergarten,
does not mean you are too old for big pink bows.

8. Packing peanuts do not make good snow angels
and are almost impossible to clean up.

Kennedy has glasses - a little story

Kennedy has glasses. Kennedy loses glasses. Dad offers reward. Glasses are found. Money is given. Kennedy has glasses. Kennedy loses glasses. Dad offers reward. Glasses are found. Money is given. And push repeat a couple of more times and this has been our experience around here lately. Until the other night, when Kennedy lost glasses. Ms. Becca was babysitting. No reward was offered. No glasses were found. Everyone searched all over the whole evening. No glasses were found. The next morning the search continued. No glasses were found. Lectures on "responsibility" were given. Finally around lunch time a certain 5 year old in the house "found" the glasses. She went right to the guest bedroom, looked way back in the closet, under clothes and viola - there were the glasses. Pretty suspicious huh??? The mystery was solved when she returned the missing glasses and asked "where are my dollars?"

Watch out kindergarten...here we come!

Like every other parent I swear it was just yesterday that I brought Anna Kate home from the hospital.  So I am not sure how 5 years have passed and she's old enough for school.  But the inevitable has happened and this week we faced the reality...Kindergarten.

For a few reasons we've decided to give homeschooling a try.  If you ask Anna Kate why we she is homeschooling she'll say, "because my mommy will miss me if I go to school!"  At least that is what I just overheard her tell a new neighborhood kid.  I can't lie, that is true (though for sure not the only reason). But it is a joy to have her here and I do just love being with my kiddos (on most days!)

This was our first week.  Actually we started on Wednesday to ease us in...because I'm lazy smart like that.  But so far, so good.  We have both thoroughly enjoyed our first 3 days.

We decided to use the little nook in our laundry room for her school area.  She loves having a place of her on.  And as an extra bonus I have gotten my laundry done in record time this week.  It's kind of hard to ignore when you are working right beside it.

A few pics from the morning.  She was super excited to start and also super excited that she could wear any dress she wanted to.  

The infamous "front door" photo.  It was irrelevant we weren't actually going out the door. :)

(Does this look like Rebecca as a kid or what - look at those arms and legs!)

I insisted on braids.  It just seems so "first-day-of-kindergartenish."

I LOVE this pic (even if it's blurry) because it reminds me she's still her daddy's little girl.

And one with the teacher. :)

Can you tell she was getting over the poses and letting her true self shine forth? 

And finally to work.  We are taking a "nature" walk each day.  It's really just around the block but she is finding items to draw/write about in her nature journal.  So far it's been a big hit.

 

So far so good... 3 days down and 177 more to go!

First day if School

School Started this week. We started at home on Monday then Rylee had her co-op on Tuesday.

Here is Monday Morning

Last year we started some first day of school traditions one being going out for breakfast. This year we went to Long's drug store and sat at the counter.

The other is a painting a self portrait.


I'll let you guess whos is who

We also had some projects to do for Rylee's co-op so we started on some fun ones.

Then on Tuesday we all took Rylee to her first day of real school. She was so excited. Up and ready really early with her new backpack.

Rylee loved it she said it was even better than she had imagined!