Just Beachy!

Once again, another summer joy!  We had a fabulous day with Gamma & Popsey at the beach!  We always look forward to this summer fun and without a doubt, it was another enjoyable time!  Playing at the beach was exciting and fun for the girls. It was hard for the day to end!  Joys of summer.....Ahhh, having our toes in the sand!

Dirt doesn't Hurt!

We were inspired by a science experiment we had read about.....collect some soil and "investigate".... we investigated, got dirty, got the garage dirty, and had a lot of fun..... We sound crawling bugs (as Tessa called them), rolly polly bugs, roots, small rocks, a piece of plastic.....it lead to some fun conversations, then we of course had to color a picture about it.  Tessa wrote about it her field journal as she calls her note book.  Ella was just excited to play in the dirt! ...as usual!  

Days at Lorene's House

Tip Toes in the Garden....The girls are growing like the crops! I am truly speechless about the thankfulness that I feel when I reflect on the time that they have at Lorene's house. It is comforting each day of the school year to know that they are being cared for, loved, taught, and nurtured at their home each day! They learn so many lessons and have wonderful experiences that contribute to their whole being. "It does take a village" and we are such thankful parents when it comes to the influences in our girls' lives. With the passing of another school year I am reminded of how quickly it does indeed pass. I make it a point daily to pause and say many thanks for our situation and for the many blessings that come from our family and friends. God is good! The girls love to walk barefoot through the garden, picking strawberries, helping cut lettuce, and getting dirty in the soft soil. Simple Joys, Simple Moments, Blessings without a doubt!

She Did It!

It was one of those Mommy moments where you say "I guess she was really ready!" We were all home as a family playing in the yard. Kevin and I asked Tessa if she wanted to try her bike without training wheels? She could not reply YES! fast enough, she took off running for the garage. In no time, handyman Daddy had the training wheels off! She "suited up" tennis shoes (daddy's rule) and helmet (Mommy's rule) and she was off. Kevin taught her so well that in no time, she was off and pedaling. She does have a bigger bike now which is bigger so we should be working up that one in no time....maybe next week! We just wanted her to learn when she had a shorted distance from bike to the ground. We are so proud of her and how she was VERY ready to be off and running....or off and pedaling I should say! Yeah Tessa!....another milestone you have mastered!

Look at that Smile!

Very determined! Off she goes!

Such a celebration....A moment to hold on to, with the hopes that the days when she is driving down the same drive way will come slowly! XOXO

Make Up Time

The girls love the treat of playing with make up. They wanted me to make their faces look like "a kitty cat"....we it started off that way, then they wanted to try....I had to laugh at them having so much "girly" fun. Cleaning their faces was not so fun, "can I have a dry towel to wipe my eyes?" it took some scrubbing, but I am certain the will attempt it again some time! They both wanted to be certain that I took a picture to show Daddy!

Coca-Cola ....Open Happiness

I had the awesome opportunity to take some students to Atlanta on an amazing field trip. Erin and I took 25 students and 4 parents to Atlanta for 4 days to follow up from our project based learning from this school year. Tony joined us for the trip which was a bonus! We studied the Coca-Cola company in many areas of the curriculum and this was a learning follow up. It exceeded our expectations! It was a joy to see the World of Coca-Cola, Aquarium, Stone Mountain, City Tour, Zoo, Medieval Times, Olympic Park,a high ropes course, 4-D movies ....the students were wonderful the entire time. I certainly missed Kevin & The Girls, and I loved the sound of Tessa and Ella running down the hall to greet me when I returned. I will also enjoy the comfort of our bed tonight, sleeping on the charted bus last night was not the most comfortable experience! I am thankful for the joys, safety and memories of the trip. It is a daily joy to teach with Erin and to take students to meaningful learning experiences. A trip I will not forget, we have 335 photos to look at to remember the times we shared. I am extremely thankful that it went so well and that it was so "happy"!

Family Walk Round 3 ~

The annual family walk is simple, family, fun. It marks the official start of summer! We look forward to the evening every year and are thankful for the simple joys of the time together with our family and our dear friends. We walk, enjoy dinner, and popsicles! Each year marks as a reminder of how the kiddos have grown over the year. Each year we have less "stuff" to haul on the walk. This year we were down to one stroller, and then Ella walked the remainder of the walk. Next year? Will we need a stroller?....the kiddos are growning and we are once again thankful for the joys of this special tradition!