The Young and the Priceless: 2018

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

First Day of School 2018-19!

First day of school on August 6!

Our one-room schoolhouse subjects this year:

Bible: right now we're doing My Brother's Keeper sibling love study

History: Mystery of History Vol 1

Science: Everything You Need to Know about Science Homework

Read-alouds: started with Cricket in Times Square

The 2nd and 3rd grader are doing together:

Math: Abeka Levels 2 and 3

Grammar: Interactive Grammar Notebook from TPT

Spelling: Flash Spelling Grade 3

Music Theory (conglomoration of resources)

Latin: Prima Latina

Writing: IEW Bible Heroes

Our big 3rd grader also got braces on the first day of school and handled it like a champ.

Russell is using Drawn Into the Heart of Reading grades 4-5 for reading.

Meredith is using All About Reading Level 3 for reading.

The little girls are doing a circle time together with me this year, which includes read alouds, calendar time, crafts and songs and name-spelling activities. It's about a half-hour every day, and they're loving it!

Big kindergartener this year! Paige is using A Reason for Handwriting, Abeka math K5, and Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.

Daphne has a shapes, letters, and numbers book, and is learning scissor skills, in addition to joining in the rest of the activities!

I'm just here for the coffee! Or rather, because of the coffee ;)

Extracurriculars:

Russell: guitar (new this year and he's enjoying it), a social/communication class, and Royal Rangers, and a writing class

Meredith: ballet, piano with Mom, and Keepers of the Faith, and a writing class

Paige: ballet, possibly an instrument (TBD), and a kindergarten class 2x/mo

Daphne: a preK class 2x/mo

This, in addition to church activities and CC activities, of course! We're keeping busy but enjoying it!

CC Moms' Retreat

Had a fun and fulfilling and relaxing retreat in Blowing Rock with 14 of our lovely CC mamas for this school year at the beginning of August. That was maybe the 4th time I've been away from my kids overnight since Russell was born. It was a much-needed getaway!

Drove up with these friends:

The cabin was beautiful! More like a mansion. I took this picture because I knew the kids would be tickled by this bear table!

We spent a lot of time in prayer and Bible study, but we also went shopping! We got some of Kilwin's famous ice cream; the salted caramel was delish.

I thought this was a meaningful quote:

Lunch on the last day at a cafe with a beautiful garden:

Sunset over the mountains:

It was a nice reset button before our school year started.

Monday, September 24, 2018

Paige and Daphne's Birthday Party!

Paige and Daphne had a joint 5th and 3rd birthday party at the beginning of August. It was held at a play place with a really large indoor playground set, plus a toddler set, and an area for snacks/cake. It was inexpensive, indestructible, and fun! We ended up having 24 (I think?) of their friends, including siblings, there. Couldn't have asked for anything better!

July Memories

Other random July fun was had as well!

Grandkids' Day at the BC pool with Mimi:

Russell did a "Coding with Sphero Robots" summer camp at Apple - he really liked it!

Russell's sweet friend Tate stayed with us for a couple of days while his parents were on a deacons' retreat. They had a blast - really, all the kids did!

...and that should close out our July memories! It was a great month!

Swim Team Banquet

It was a lovely celebration on NC State's campus! There was a catered dinner and our kids each received a medal to commemorate their first year as Imps.

Paige Turns 5!

Spent the morning of Paige's 5th birthday (July 18) at a children's museum with friends (Toby and Ethan):

Spent the lunch hour opening presents and eating the "fancy" cake Paige chose herself:

And spent the evening as she requested: playing family board games and catch, and jumping on the trampoline together! This girl loves some together time.

Other loves at 5:

--Toys: Squishies and Beanie Boos

--TV/Movies: Moana, Shimmer and Shine

--Food: mainly any kid snacks ;) or fruit

Skills:

--Has been riding a 2-wheeled bike for 9 months or so

--Can swim across the pool and jump in from the diving board

--Can do a front flip on the trampoline

--Is cheerful, bubbly, outgoing, and all-around fun!

We love you, Paige!

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Gone Fishin'

Russell and Meredith took 4 fishing classes over the summer, together with some of their CC friends. Each class taught them fishing techniques, as well as the types of fish that live in Jordan Lake. By the last session, Russell was doing everything himself, from baiting to casting to taking his fish off the hook. Meredith preferred to do only the fishing part :) But they both loved it and had a great time with their dad and their friends!

Fourth of July

We visited a historical home for the fourth of July, where there were Revolutionary War crafts, musicians, a tour, and a rifle demonstration.

Oh, and free ice cream!

In the evening (after a massive thunderstorm), we set off some fireworks and lit sparklers. The kids loved it!

Russell's Birthday!

Russell did not get a birthday party this year. He chose to meet friends at a splash pad, have cupcakes, and - the big highlight - he went to his first buffet the day before, with only "dudes" (Pops, Paw Paw, Jason, and Russell).