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Monday, November 16, 2015

Fall Variety

This fall has been crazy-busy. Things have finally slowed down, and I'm finally feeling like I'm "recovering." Last week I felt achy for several days, and I'm glad to be feeling more rested this week.
 
So...
 
We enjoyed a few nature walks this fall. They're scheduled in our curriculum for Fridays, and it is really amazing how such a simple activity is a great learning time for the boys!
 
Wade inspecting a roley poley at one of our local lakes.
 
 
This was an adventure! I was turning around to check on Wade, and he said, "Mom, there's a snake!" I almost stepped on it as it was slithering across the path. Woops! We all backed up and watched it cross and get into the grass.


 

Garrett pointing at a swarm of bees on the blossoming bushes.

 
We saw a couple more snakes down by the water!

 
My little buddy with his Kitty.

 
On to everyday life...
 
Wade enjoys helping me crack eggs and mix the eggs for breakfast. He does a great job!

 
A structure the boys made from magna blocks.

 
SOCCER! Whew, it was a big commitment! We had Tuesday and Thursday practices for Garrett right at 6pm, and both Garrett and Wyatt had games/practices on Saturdays. This was from the end of August until Halloween. It was a good experience for the boys, and they learned a lot! Wyatt developed a little battle cry when he was playing and was super competitive!


 
Wyatt and Wade had a grand old time playing together during G's practices....filling their hats and pants with grass and dust, dumping water over their heads, rolling up in blankets, making dust piles, gathering flowers to give me, picking berry seeds off of trees....

Wade loves his "Mommy Time" when we do his preschool curriculum. He loves to paint.

 
Another nature walk, this time to another lake, and it had rained so much recently that the walking path was a swamp! We investigated and were outta there pretty quick.

 
Wade has enjoyed sleeping behind the rocking chair sometimes at nap time...so precious.



Another camping trip to Reverend's Ridge! G & Wy loved playing with walky-talkies.


 
...campfires were a huge hit...
 
 
...and don't forget the s'mores!


 
...fishing! They caught a lot of fish!


 
I love this fence in front of this store!

 
A gorgeous lookout spot.

 
A nice hike.



 
Jim taught the boys how to build a campfire and Garrett was so excited to successfully build his own!

 
Yay! He did it!

 
Wyatt loved playing "statue of liberty" like I and my sisters used to do on camping trips.

 
Yummy breakfasts together. Sunrise sandwiches made by Jim!

 
Exploring the campground...looking for leftover firewood...

 
Now this was a sweet fishing spot! The boys had this "hideout" under the trees near the fishing poles. Garrett said he wants a hideout just like this in the backyard. :) If only our trees were this mature...


 
LOVE this shot!

 
And on to Garrett's birthday... the 8 year old got a new bike with gears! He was so excited.

 
We went to Mimi's, a favorite restaurant...

 
...and opened gifts and cards. Wyatt and Wade got G some gifts at the Dollar Tree, and he loved his finger lights!


 
Chocolate Chocolate cake was on the menu!

 
Fun cards from family were opened the next day. He loved them! Happy birthday, big 8 year old!


Monday, November 09, 2015

End of summer & beginning of school

At the end of summer, Garrett and Wyatt had a lot of fun putting together a Kitty Motorhome, and a stuffed animal vehicle! Garrett drew a TV in his for the lucky animals, and gave them fishies for snacks. Wyatt had all of the Pooh characters in his, because he and G have been loving listening to the original Pooh stories on CD.
 


 
First day of school! They got to stay in PJ's and I made them Jim's favorite sour cream coffee cake recipe from his family cookbook.


 
We'll see how they grow this year!

 
Wyatt gives the coffee cake a thumbs up.

 
The boys were totally happy to get to watch a Hooked on Phonics DVD while eating a patriotic yogurt snack.

 
First day of Wednesday school! This was Garrett's second year, and Wyatt's FIRST! He is liking his Kindergarten class where he does a lot of art and music, and G got all of his first choice classes: Piano, Martial Arts, Survival Cooking, Sculpture, Oceanography, and Mechanical.

 
They agreed to take a nice picture if they could do a funny picture afterward...

 
Meanwhile, Wade and I had a GREAT day bumming around together! We went to a park, took a little walk...

 
went to the library where he got to listen to the story line and play with activities...

 
went home and made snickerdoodle cookies...


 
had a picnic lunch...

 
played ball...

 
and then BOTH actually slept, in Mama's bed no less, and woke up refreshed and happy!


 
I'm looking forward to lots of Mama Time with Wade on Wednesdays. We went to BSF for the first couple of months, but I realized it's just too much for me to do right now so we'll be having more Mama Time this year!