And the WINNER is...!!

Another Christmas season has come and gone, but we are still basking in the warmth and glow of the holiday spirit. Thanks to all who played along with our Christmas quiz this year! Here are the answers for those who want to check their work (click on the image to make larger)...

And the winner of the random drawing is....

JOANNE PERRY!

You will be receiving your prize in the mail! :)

Honorable mention goes to:

First to turn in their quiz answers:

BECKY PHAM

Person with the most correct answers (only missing 2):

LARRY THOMPSON

We hope you all had a magical Christmas season! Until next year...

"See you after school!"

I just love this little girl. Every morning she wakes up with a smile on her face. She is always happy to go to school, and she stays on task when getting herself ready for the day. When I drop her off in the loading zone at school, usually there are at least 3 or 4 kids piling out of our van... But as she walks away, Addie always turns around and gives me an "air hug". She keeps doing it until I make the same motion back. It's a little thing that she made up, and it just reminds me of her sweetness. She gets kind of nervous when she's gone all day, but I love how bravely she faces the world. I had to snap a picture so that I won't lose the image of her little 6 year old love, even when she is no longer jumping out of the van saying, "See you after school, Mom!"

A New Year is Beginning!

This is it! The last year that all three kiddos will be at the same school! We had a fantastic summer vacation, but the school bell is ringing and we are ready to go back. :)

Avery is most excited about being the oldest on campus. They are doing things a little different this year for 5th graders, and the students are switching classes for Lit, Math, and Science. That makes her feel like it's "practically middle school". I, on the other hand, am super grateful that we've got one more year of elementary for her!

Owen is staring 2nd grade. We have heard fantastic things about his teacher, so I am really hoping he loves school this year. He wasn't so excited last year...he would rather stay home and "learn in his jammies". But he is looking forward to seeing what's up with a new class. And it's always fun to see his quiet side come out like it does at school - because we see a very different side of him at home usually. ;)

It's 1st grade for Addie! I can't believe that my youngest is now the same age that I used to teach! She seems so little still. Addison loves school and can't wait to get back at it! She is also over-the-moon happy because her bff, Katie, is in her class this year. We'll see how that turns out... hopefully they can keep the chatting to a minimum. She loved her Kindergarten teacher so much, her new teacher has a lot to live up to... Addie was also very opinionated when it came to her first day outfit! She saw this shirt in the store and "just had to have it". I love how fitting it is.

We are so lucky to have awesome teachers at our neighborhood school. Grateful for all the time, energy, and thought that they put into my kiddos. It's fun to go in and volunteer, and now that I'm subbing, I get to spend quite a bit of time at the school. I will miss the slower pace and outdoor fun of the summertime, but life can't be all fun and games, right? Can't wait for another great year!!

Meet the Teacher Day

Meet the Teacher Day

Meet the Teacher Day - checking the class list

Meet the Teacher - Avery wouldn't let me "walk her to class" on the real first day. :)

Avery and her friends comparing summertime muscles. LOL!

First Day Back!

This is Owen's goodbye. "Bye, Mom."

And Addie tried to hold it together...but started bawling and I had to extricate my arm from her grasp so that I could leave. I was sheepishly the last parent to leave the room. Oh man, I was one of those! 

We were all happy and bursting to share by that afternoon.

We enjoyed chatting about their day with some caramel chocolate chip cookies Successful day!

Best Buddies

For the most part, Owen and Addie are best buds. That doesn't mean that they don't argue or deliberately bug each other at times, but it is always short lived and they are quick to pick up like nothing happened. This year at school they have been able to have the same recess schedule. While they don't always play together, I know that each of them has appreciated having the other as "an option" and quiet support on the playground.

 

Tonight, while I was making dinner, they were busying themselves with a made up game. I wasn't really sure what was going on, until I heard them run through the kitchen, out the back door, and Owen was yelling, "Quick! Grab your parachute!" That's right, they had used their imaginations to build a world where they were on a plane that was crashing into the ground, and they had parachutes (fashioned out of school backpacks and beach towels) to save themselves. They needed the trampoline to provide the "flight" through the air...Occasionally Owen would yell, "NOW! and the jumping, or rather "free fall", would begin.

 

I just love little kids' imaginations...and the friendship of siblings. :)

Hatching their plan

Parachutes Ready!

Flying through the "sky"

A Day at the Lake

We are so lucky to live just minutes away from such a gorgeous lake. We had some good friends that moved away this summer, so we went up earlier this month to spend an hour or two together before they left.  The kids had so much fun splashing around and getting wet.  We've been blessed with warm enough weather that this cool, mountain-run-off lake water actually feels refreshing (and not just excruciatingly cold). Addison was not so fond of the rocky beach, but things brightened up when the picnic lunch was pulled out! It was a fun-filled morning, followed by a well deserved afternoon nap.

 

Those mean rocks on my feet!

 

Trying to get a cute "Kid Picture"...

 

And the photo op was over at this point...

Camping in Style

This summer we went on a super fun "camping" trip with our good friends! We had such an awesome time. The kids were so excited, even though they couldn't figure out why we weren't bringing out tent.  We stayed in this nice, old cottage in a campground.  I have to admit, I felt a little spoiled that we had a shower, bathroom, and even kitchen appliances - since all the other people in the park were using Biffys. But, with 2 young babies in tow, we figured this year should be a little easier. :)

 

The park we stayed at was beautiful.  It was on the water with trails and even a playground. We roasted s'mores, splashed in the water, played games, and even got a little sunburn.  We stayed up late and brought way, way too much food. And, surprisingly in this area, it was so hot outside that our biggest problem was keeping our cottage cool enough! We had a blast and took lots of pictures to remember it.

Our "little" cottage

 

Avery "surfin'"

Avery and Cassidy playing in the rocky sand

Owen and Jason eating lunch at the beach

Avery and Myles spent hours playing on this huge piece of driftwood.

Owen roasting his s'more

All the kids and men out for a hike... I find this picture hilarious!

Playing a little Frisbee

 

Addie relaxing on the driftwood

 

I love spending time with Darci!

Little Si

At the beginning of the summer, we sat down with the kids and made a list of all the things that we wanted to do before Fall came.  A few of the fun activities included going to see the trains in town, visiting the local candy shop, sleeping in the tent, flying a kite, and going for a few hikes.  Avery had wanted to hike Little Si all summer. So, on a Monday night near the end of summer, we headed up the mountain.  Of course, by the time Jason got home from work and we actually got to the trail head, it was already getting late.  We hiked for about an hour and realized that it was getting quite dark.  Avery desperately wanted to keep going, but we finally chickened out.  Hiking down the mountain with 3 little kids in the pitch black did not sound like fun, not to mention slightly dangerous. We sat down for a few minutes to eat our sack dinner, but the mosquitoes were so thick that didn't last long either.  We made it back to our car...it was very dark.  Maybe we will try it again next summer (on a Saturday)!  The kids were great little hikers.