Like Fish in Water!

Here are some wonderful pics of our summer at the pool.  Lil G and Smunchie are getting to be great swimmers.  Lil G is ready to swim in Level 4 and Smunchie has moved up to Level 3!  They had such a great time this summer at the pool and we are so sad that the pool season has come to a close.

A Trip to the Zoo

We are so incredibly blessed to have family here in town.  Our kids get to see both sets of grandparents at least twice a week!  Earlier this week, Lil G and Smunchie went to a local zoo with their grandparents "Opa" and "Gogie" (Paul and Kathryn).  How wonderful that they had this experience with two people who love them so much!

First day of First Grade

It's that time of year again!  Time to start up the schoolin' again.  This year, we are trying out Sonlight curriculum.  My reasoning for it was all over the map but it boils down to the following:

1. It is Christian based.  This is important to our family, since we try and make God the center of all that we do.
2. It is complete.  For the most part, I do not have to supplement the curriculum.  Sonlight does not dictate which Math or Handwriting program you use, so I picked those on my own.
3. It is literature heavy and writing light.  Lil G is still mastering reading but he ADORES the written word.  He struggles some with writing so I wanted a curriculum that would challenge him without frustrating him.  Time will tell but it looks like it will work for that.
4. It is fun and flexible!  This is important, because one of the reasons that we homeschool is to increase our ability to be outside and enjoy fun activities.  Plus, given that I work one day a week, I wanted to make sure that we can get a good education without feeling haggard trying to get everything in.  Sonlight offers a four day a week curricula, so that makes it easier for this mama to homeschool.

Today was our first day of school and it went so well!  Lil G and Smunchie worked so well together, with her doing her "work" (aka- doodling and playing), while G did his copywork and such.  They both listened to all the read alouds together AND answered all the reading comprehension questions!  Science was a big hit, learning about different types of animals and constructing their own "science journals".

Plus, we got done with majority of our school by 11am and headed to the park to play for three hours!  Win-win!

Love these little people so much and I am so happy that I am blessed to be their mama and their teacher.

Fun Run Fish

Well, we managed to miss all the Fun Runs this summer.  All except the final one!  The kids both ran great.  Smunchie was so proud of her trophy.  She kept telling her brother, "It's so lucky that we BOTH got trophies!"

No one tell her that everyone got one.  Please.

Smunchie running

Getting her trophy

Lil G running 

Posing with their trophies

Lil G's New Hair

A couple of weeks ago, Lil G decided that he wanted a new haircut.  And, not just any haircut.  Not Luke Skywalker hair.  Not even a buzz cut.

He wanted a Mohawk.

Well, given that it is his head and he has a right to choose how his hair looks (within reason!), I took him to the barner for his new look.

And, I must say, he looks pretty cute.  Although, I do think the new hair ages him some. 

Before

During 

Camping

A few weeks back, the Fish family went to a camp out event at the Sugar Grove Nature Center.  we roasted hot dogs, made s'mores, looks at the start with big telescopes, and spent a lot of time playing.  here are a few pictures from the event.

Smunchie did a great job climbing up a tree..

She needed just a little help getting back down.

And here's little G playing in the creek and flying down the zip line.

Yum, s'mores!

And here are both kids making funny faces in the tent.

And finally, the whole clan.

Lil G heads to Disney World!

This year, Lil G was a very lucky boy.  His maternal grandparents (Papa and Tutu) decided that it was high time that he go to Disney World!  It was a BIG deal because he went for a long trip (a whole week), rode on a plane, and went with just his grandparents!  The travelers flew out of Chicago, so Lil G also got to see his Aunt, Uncle and cousin.  They went out to dinner and swam in the hotel pool.

 He had a wonderful time.  Papa and Tutu came back tired but very happy to see such an excited, sweet little boy.  We're so blessed to have such involved family that lives around us.