Catch-Up #4: Cuteness

 All right, so I just couldn't leave off without a few shameless 'isn't my baby adorable?!?' pictures.  Because she really, really is!

Not much to say here, she's just cute!

Almost ten months old in this one.  According to her life is an absolute riot!

Too cute for words.  We are in serious trouble when it's time to say no.

This one cracks me up because it really shows her personality.  Life's a party, just ask her!

What do you mean, you don't want me to learn how to climb the stairs?!?

Little curls starting to show up . . .

Ten and a half months old, looking like a hot mess, but loving hanging out with Daddy!

 We are just so blessed to have this little angel in our midst.  I pray for her birth mother all the time I hope she is at peace knowing that her daughter lives the charmed life of the utterly adored.

Catch-Up #3: Life

In other news, it's been a big couple of months for us!  My parents were here for a visit (they come all the way from Western Canada, so it's kind of a big deal when they make it out), Leia learned to crawl and Jake was baptized! 

Leia and Grandma hanging out in the morning.  Not sure who enjoyed this more!

Chase busy building bird houses with Grandpa.

The whole crew!

Leia chilling with Grandpa.

She's crawling!

Jake, with Pastor TJ right before he was baptized.  The day was extra special since his friend Savannah Lynn was being baptized, too!

Watching his video testimony, waiting to be dunked.

Jake and Savannah at the family party afterwards.

Nothing says 'Happy Baptism' like ice cream cake!

So many cool memories made this past couple of months . . .

Catch-up #2: Homeschool Highlights

Since we're moving really soon (just over three weeks now -- yikes!) we have been focusing on getting through our main curriculum and cutting out a lot of the extras (read:  we've been having much less fun as of late).  We have, however, managed to squeak in a few notable moments . . .

This was really fun.  For some extra practice with fractions, they were given 'recipe' sheets (found in a Math Art book).  Each recipe added up to one teaspoon and they had to fill in the missing fraction, measure the amounts out in colored playdough, then blend to make a new color and note what they discovered.  They had a blast doing it, and although I think it was just fun for Jake, Chase really got a lot out of the activity.

We spent most of February studying Lewis and Clark.  One day they went into the back yard and collected 'specimens' to draw and describe for President Jefferson.

A field trip to the Shenandoah Caverns.  Our guide was amazing and went out of her way to make sure the kids learned a little geology while we were there!

Route 11 Potato Chip factory.  A quick stop, but really fun to watch the whole process of how they make the chips.  Of course there were samples, which really improved the experience . . .

The cherry blossoms came early this year, so we spent an afternoon in early March painting them. By making the background and trees out of watercolor and then adding acrylic with q-tips for the blossoms, we got a kind of layered effect that looked very cool when finished.

Mandan boats!  While reading about Lewis and Clark we learned about bull boats and decided to try making a model with wet paper bags as the buffalo hide and tag board as the willow frame.

When they were finished we painted them with sealer to make them water tight.  Very fun project!

The boys found an ipad app for Leia.  The child lives a charmed life.

Another field trip, this one to the Richmond Zoo!  We had a great time enjoying the Spring weather!

All right, so we HAVE done some cool stuff.  Good.  Now I don't feel so badly about all of the slave driving that's been going on around here.

Catching Up #1: Valentine's Day

All right, so someone was joking about my quarterly blog the other day and I decided I had better get my hiney in gear and get caught up so that I'll start blogging again without having a panic attack over how far behind I've gotten!  So, here goes a series of  'catch-up' posts . . .  Tracking back to Valentine's Day, I just have to say that my kids were totally blessed and also got to BE a blessing.  They started out with a ridiculously fun Co-op Valentines Day party at the House of Bounce in Manassas, VA.  For you local readers, that place is the bomb.  Nicest staff ever, comfy couch area for the parents, free soda/coffee for the parents.  Awesome.  So they got to go insane with fifty-some odd of their closest friends, stuff Valentine boxes and eat themselves into a candy coma on the way home.  Not too shabby considering Valentines Day isn't even meant for kids, if we're being honest.

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Leia, all dressed up for the party -- can't you just feel the enthusiasm?!?

Valentine box chaos.

Silly guy, having a great time!

The only time he stood still long enough for me to snap a picture!

So after all of that fun had come and gone, we set to the business of Valentine making.  Together with a few friends, we made a ton of Valentines to take to a nursing home in the area.  We were actually able to go right on Valentines Day and attend a little party they were throwing for the seniors.  The kids had a blast handing out cards and then helping to serve food and punch at the party and the residents were just thrilled to have them.  This is the second year that we have done this on Valentines Day and I have every intention of making it an annual tradition -- so good for everyone involved!  We were so busy visiting that I didn't get too many pictures, but this one will give you the idea . . .

Somehow none of my own kids even made it into this shot, but you can see some of the others handing out their cards.

The hit of the party -- the ladies were just thrilled to coo over her and pat her hands and feet.  She's such a patient girl, she just hung out and let everyone goo over her at will.

In summary, if you are looking for something easy and meaningful to do with your kids, swing them by a nursing home -- the residents will be thrilled to meet them!