Last Preschool Graduation

Last night Henry finished Preschool!  Hard to believe my baby is going to the "Big School" next year. 

He has learned so much this year!  He can write his name, count almost to 100, and read all his letters. 

Henry is so excited to be in Kindergarten next year!

Thankful!

These past two weeks have been an exercise in faith, prayer, gratitude and thankfulness.


It all started on Thursday, October 2nd.  I had taken the day off work in order to accompany Grace on a Field Trip.  The trip was scheduled to start around 10:30 and I had an hour or so free between a dentist appointment and having to be at school.  I debated what to do with my time and decided to start with Starbucks.  While I was in line I got a call from her school.  Grace wasn't feeling well.


When I arrived at school I discovered that she had a fever and was feeling awful.  She complained that while singing in chapel her vision when black, her ears started ringing, and she felt both hot and cold at once.  Her teacher elaborated that her face went white and then green.  By the time I had Grace at home her fever was 103.


Friday we went to the doctor and her lungs were clear.  We were told to wait it out.  She would likely peak on Sunday, feel better on Monday and should expect to go to school on Tuesday.


Friends and family were praying for Grace and she was getting better over the weekend.  Monday Grampa stayed with her and she seemed to be well on her way to recovery.  Sometime Monday night or Tuesday morning that trend changed.  By Wednesday she was worse than ever and I was praying.


Wednesday we went to the doctor and discovered it has progressed to Pneumonia.  Praise God the diagnosis resulted in a prescription for strong antibiotics and a clear path for recovery.


After a week and a half of illness, Grace was finally well enough to go to school on Monday, October 13th.


The 11 days Grace was home gave me many moments to pray for her health and recovery, to offer praises for modern medicine, and to be so grateful for a boss that understands that my family needs me.  David didn't hesitate when I let him know that I was going to do my best to work from home for the duration of Grace's illness.  Thankfully I chose a career that allows me to work from home and that has flexibility to work the hours that are possible in any given week.

Children's Museum

Each year the Smithsonian sponsors a Day at the Museum where people can get free admission to a participating museum. 

Last year was the first time I had heard of the program and I took advantage of free tickets to the Sonoma Coubty Air & Apace Museum. It is tiny but the kids enjoyed it. I was very grateful for the Smithsonian's program because without it I never would have thought of taking the kids to this museum. It is only a few miles from our house and it is home to of the first planes to repond to the 9-11 attacks. 

This year I opted for the Bay Area Discovry Museum in Sausalito. The girls have gone here on field trips but I have never been. 

When we arrived we were greeted by a gorgeous view of the Golden Gate Bridge. 

That was enough to make my day just about perfect. 

The kids really enjoyed all do the activities. Henry's favorite was the gravel pit. 

He spent quite a bit of time digging. He especially loved the "vest-es". 

Grace is easy going and loved everything.  Cooper really liked the fishing and crabbing. 

I think we will definitely go back again. 

And I think we are going to start spending more time near the bay. The drive stinks, especially coming home, but there is something so renewing about that beautiful, shining water. 

Shadows.

Next steps!

Now that he can balance a two wheeler, Cooper was ready to try out Grampa's motorcycles. 

He has got the driving down pretty good!

It is just the stopping that is a little difficult!

Freedom!

Cooper John is one happy boy. Tuesday evening he taught himself how to ride a two-wheeler. 

Last summer he was almost there but then we didn't really try again. He has been begging us to teach him but u guess he got tired of asking so he taught himself. 

He has spent every spare moment on his bike since then. 

Friday morning I realized he spend so much time riding he didn't finish this week's homework. I guess it is time to teach him about doing his work before his play. 

Saturday afternoon Jason and I took the boys to the park so they could ride in the back parking lot. 

Everyone had fun. 

Weekends!

Friday night was the annual Father-Daughter Campout at FBC-WCA. Jason and the girls went for dinner and campfire but chose to come home to sleep since harvest in on and Jason had to work on Saturday. 

While I had the boys to myself, we chose to have a Mother-Son date night. The boys chose In & Out and Baskin-Robins. I added the park. 

There was the normal bickering about which park, park first v. Ice cram first, etc. But overall it was nice to have a night with just my boys. 

The next day it was me and 6 kids!  Grace had brought home her best friends Hannah and Ashley whose dad couldn't make it the the Campout.

We made m&m pancakes, scrambled eggs, and breakfast burritos for breakfast. Then we cleaned the chicken coop (and gathered the egg), cleaned and organized the pantry and freezer and lazed around all day. We were all happy to see jason around 4, of course I'm sure he was happy to have a long week finally over. 

Other fun things last week, Henry started taekwondo!  He has been watching practice for 2 years and we felt it was finally time for him to start.  He went to a few orientation classes and really progressed already. Friday we went to his first Tiny Tigers class and he loved it. Mr Hauth have him a uniform and he is looking forward to wearing it next week.

Also, our chickens have started laying eggs!  Monday we got our first little brown egg. 

I'm pretty sure it is one of the Rhode Island Reds who layed the first egg. She likes to hang out in one corner of the nesting box and that is where I found it. We've gotten eggs every day this week wzcept for Tuesday. Thursday made up for it when we got 2!  So exciting to go out there in the afternoon and find an egg in the nesting box!

Added:  taking the boys for ice cream or frozen yogurt is a regular thing when the girls are at the Campout with Jason. Here is a picture from the same night 2 years ago.