Our Visit from Arizona Grandma and Grandpa

We had a great visit with the Arizona Grandparents. We swam in the hotel. We went to the apple orchard. We shared all our school activities with them. We enjoyed seeing them.

The Apple Orchard

We were suppose to go on a Homeschooling field trip with friends but due to the rainy weather it was moved to the afternoon. We couldn't go in the afternoon so I packed up the kids and braved the weather, which was just cloudy and windy.

Our Newest Bike Rider

Yesterday, Carson, our neighbor, encouraged Mia to get on this little bike that my mom just brought over from one of their neighbors. Within minutes she was riding. Failure for Mommy! I have tired a couple of times and it ended in tears. But that is the relationship I have with my oldest daughter. So all evening long she rode that little bike getting better with each try.



Then today, Daddy took off the training wheels off her big bike and she took off zooming. She makes turns with no problem and was even allowed to go around the corner with the big kids.

A Great Gift from the Girardins

Other than learning to ride her bike and doing school,
changing her doll's clothes is all she enjoys doing these days.
Thank you!

Morning Calendar

I've been wanting to keep record of what we do at school but we are so busying doing it I never have time. The new schedule is working out, except I have to find a place for Ben's English. Math is taking longer than planned and he wants more time for math. Here are some videos of the kids doing morning calendar routine stuff. I hope to record the songs from week "A" and "B". I enjoyed watching the video when Ben and Mia were Joe's age doing songs. They were so little back then.

A New Use for a Bouncy Seat

Now that Charlotte has no use for sitting in her bouncy seat, she is trying out new ways to use it.

First Day of School

We started our first day of school on Monday. School is on the main floor this year. We hope to start working on the basement in October or November. Ben started 2nd grade. He will be studying the Middle Ages for History and Earth Science and Astronomy for Science. He also will continue phonics, language, handwriting, logic, math and reading. Mia started Kindergarten. She got her shots from the doctor on Tuesday. She has started Math and Phonics. She also is continuing to work on her handwriting and reading. Joe started preschool. We are studying a letter a week. The kids are working together more this year. We have time scheduled for Ben and Joe to read together or use the computer and Mia and Joe are working together on a number of activities. This has helped greatly. Our Fridays will be used for catch-up or art and music, mapping, and logic. It is wonderful to be back full swing into things, but we'll miss the summer.

Mia and Bear - 5 years

Charlotte and Bear -7 months

A Minute to Win It CHALLENGES

We have been watching Minute To Win It on NBC this summer. The kids have really enjoyed watching it and have enjoyed trying to complete the challenges at home.

Who Is the Fairest of Them ALL?

Charlotte Cleaning Her Feet

When eating in her bouncy seat Charlotte insists on eating while sitting upright, not reclined. She had green beans and made quite a mess, but I should not be distraught because my daughter is a self-cleaner. She went right to work making sure there was not a drop of green beans left on her feet.

Charlotte Crawling

This was taken two weeks ago.
She has become a much more proficient crawler since then.

Happy 5th Birthday, Amelia!

My beautiful daughter turned 5 years old today. Her day started off with presents from her brothers and sister. She got a mini Fancy Nancy ballet doll and a Hello Kitty shirt for the Fall. Then we enjoyed cinnamon rolls for breakfast. After Charlotte's morning nap we went to Target to finish spending some birthday money. She got a doll trunk with three outfits for her American Girl Doll. Ben worked on spending some of his birthday money, too (yes, he still has some left over). Then he treated his brother and sister to Icee's.








After a delicious dinner of hot dogs and BLT salad, Grandma and Papa came over with Amelia's doll cake that Grandma made.

Our First Trip to Chicago

On Saturday we took our first trip by train to Chicago. It started with a rocky start but turned out to be a great day. Charlotte was a great trooper and the kids had a lot of fun and firsts. We started driving to Cary to meet Grandma and Papa to catch the 11:08 train to Chicago. We stopped to get gas so we were a little rushed but we made it to the train station 10 minutes before 11. Grandma and Papa were not there but they only live 3 minutes from the station so no big deal. Well, as we saw them pull into the parking lot we saw the train down the track. It was only 11 am. We got on the train and my parents hurried but just as Grandma reached the back of the train, it took off. We couldn't understand why the train would arrive early and leave early. Well, due to the air and water show in the city they added extra trains and we just happened to catch one. Grandma and Papa hopped on the 11:08 right behind us and met us in the city. Unfortunately, trying to catch the first train re-injured Grandma's knee. A little disappointed at first, the kids quickly enjoyed the sights of the train.








We arrived in the city and as we waited for Grandma and Papa's train, we took a bathroom break and enjoyed some Garrett's popcorn. Charlotte had only taken a 5 minute nap up until this point. The boys went to the Lego store where Uncle Rick met them. He is a short walk from there. The girls went to the American Girl store. Within minutes of entering Charlotte fell asleep in the tray of her stroll. While she slept, Mia explored. She had already decided she wanted the Elizabeth doll, the best friend of Felicity. So, we explore that area and then looked at all the other dolls. Mom and Dad bought the doll for her birthday. She used her money from AZ Grandma and Papa to buy the toy doll that belongs to Elizabeth. And IL Grandma and Papa bought her Elizabeth's holiday outfit and a doll carrying bag.




When we were finished Charlotte awoke and we met Uncle Bob's girlfriend, Julie, who took us up to Uncle Bob's apartment. He lives across the street in the Hancock building on the 79th floor. Uncle Bob had to work. So, the boys walked to meet us there and we got to watch part of the air show above the planes. And Amelia opened her doll and loved her.


Then we all took cabs to the Rainforest Cafe. It was too loud and the kids didn't care for the thunder and the lightning. Probably should have went somewhere else that was more "Chicago" but it was close to Uncle Rick's apartment and we visited his place after our meal. They did sing Happy Birthday to Amelia and they took pictures with the frog.



After Uncle Rick's, we finally managed to catch a cab and all eight of us crammed in. We lucked out and made the express train back to Cary. Charlotte finally took another nap and the kids got to enjoy a train ride with their Grandma and Papa. It was a great day and the weather wasn't too hot.

Charlotte and Bear - 6 months

Charlotte Sitting

Charlotte has been sitting for about 2 weeks now. And she is crawling/creeping where ever she desires. This video was before nap so she was a little grumpy.

The Mia and Joe Show

Here is an original short film performed and written by Joe and Mia. Enjoy!

Ben the Baseball Star

Well, the baseball season is over. The playoffs started Saturday morning. The team has improved this year but still lacks in fielding skills so when they won the first game we were surprised. And when they won the second game (against the season's first place team) we were even more surprised. But then they painfully lost the third game and their hopes of first or second came to an end.We figure because there was no double elimination with their record they placed fourth technically. As you can see he doesn't care. He is proud. He has a trophy and a medal and a certificate for the most improved player and a batting average of .529. And he wants to play again next year, maybe with Daddy as the coach.

The Girls Sitting