Sooo, I'm behind. Like REALLY behind on documenting, and I was thinking about just skipping it all and starting fresh from where we are, but I couldn't, so I'm going to attempt to catch up! It will be a very sporadic catch up, but that's the best I've got. ;) We completed six weeks of school, took a week off, and got started back. Completed another six weeks and are now relishing our week off. It's all going very well! Everyone is enjoying their extra activities and life is moving fast!! There's 12 weeks of academics in the books for us. We will complete one more six week cycle before Christmas and then just two more before we wrap up the year! I can hardly believe how quickly time is going.
Grayson is still a math whiz. Loves it and will work ahead most weeks. He has almost completed book one of two, so he's excited about that. He's also beginning to get an intro into multiplication, which makes him feel super big! ;)
Ada is loving the phonics this year and is pretty much reading anything and everything she wants. That's something she is absolutely passionate about. She really really gets into books, making our Five in A Row journey even more enjoyable!
We of course had to celebrate our 12th day with a dozen donuts! :)
As I mentioned, our Five In A Row journey has been just as enjoyable as I hoped! They have both gotten into the different countries, art, literature, and cooking that we have done with our story books. I honestly have enjoyed it also! It's been so fun to take a story and dig deep into it. We have traveled from the Appalachian Mountains to Europe, and soon will dive into Chinese culture. It's been a wonderful experience and has given them time to develop some fundamental skills before we begin the third grade curriculum My Father's World offers.
Cursive has been fun. Ada has mastered her name and really has beautiful penmanship for a 5 year old. She's definitely the book worm and artistic one. Grayson is taking to it well. His name, of course, is a bit more complicated so will take us some time, but he's giving it his best effort this year to work on his writing!
Scouts continues to be a big part of their life. Ada has recently become a Daisy Girl Scout and has loved every minute of it! Grayson has moved on to a wolf den and is enjoying really getting into the handbook and completing activities this year. Looking forward to some exciting events coming up in the new year, Thinking Day for Ada and the Pinewood Derby for Grayson! :)
Every Friday, we spend outdoors or digging into a science topic. These have been particularly fun, because Grady participates and the two big kids are very suitable for hands on and exploration. They really enjoy these experiences, as do I!
Grady is proving to be a very motivated, enthusiastic learner! He loves to be involved and have "school work" while the big kids work. He is in a wonderful 3K class at our church, and is very much enjoying it. And as far as I know, he's being a good boy! ;)
We continued, this year, with the private homeschool art classes that Grayson attended in the spring of last year. He thoroughly enjoyed them and she has eagerly waited her turn to attend. They make wonderful creations and have learned a ton about the elements of art...elements that mama just can't teach. Art is definitely not a strong subject for me! ;)
They each get the opportunity to play one sport of their choice. Ada is still LOVING gymnastics! She appreciates the challenge, enjoys the beauty and grace of the routines, and is not intimidated by a little (ok, a lot) hard work! Grayson is in soccer this fall. He is enjoying it and really seems to be learning a lot. And he finally, in the rare company of both grandmas, scored his first goal of the season!
Library days are fun for everyone!
Five in a Row has taken us on many adventures! We have been in bull fights, had tea parties in England, planted Mr. McGreggor's garden, hunted owls in the night, traveled around the world to make a pie, and so much more! It's been fun and we have learned so much! :)
Most recently we have taken our annual apple picking trip! Such fun, even in the rain! We enjoyed making apple butter, apple pies, and even were able to freeze some pie filling for the holidays! We had so much fun making stuff this year, now that they are at an age to help, there will be many many more apples coming home with us next year!
We have had an opportunity to participate in some service projects and zoo classes with some of our best buddies! It's so wonderful to have a friend close by, even if it's a rare get together, that time is so cherished, by the kids and adults! :)
As a family, over the last several months, we have also taken on the large task of physical fitness and healthy eating. Chris and I are both in our 30's now, and the kids are definitely growing up. It's our goal that they see us work hard to take care of our body, what we are eating and how we are treating it. The big kids, too, have gotten very involved! They are trying new foods and we all enjoy a family bike ride and jog immensely! It could be some of our happiest times with one another! Just being outdoors and taking care of ourselves together! I want them to understand and value the importance of taking care of this one body way before they are 30! ;) We certainly don't make perfect food choices, with the occasional desert, but it's been fun to explore lots of new, healthier eating options for the family. And I can't even describe how it's changed my life! That's definitely a blog for another day...;)
So there we are, running through each day, barely hanging on! It's going by incredibly fast! And after what proved to be a very difficult few weeks..and still is some days...the grief our family has felt is beginning to soften and our lives are beginning to feel happy and normal again. We still get sad from time to time and it's very difficult not to imagine what would be happening now if our little one was still with us. And I'm sure as we journey through the next several months of what would've been, there will be difficult days. I heard one of the best messages and so timely, Sunday, at church. To paraphrase, She basically said that grief is because of love. It's an emotion we must be willing to feel if we are willing to love. She also touched on how we must be grateful and thankful for the gifts that are given us, no matter how temporary...they don't belong to us, they are simply a gift. We are not the owners, we are only entrusted with this temporary gift. And that's what I needed. I am so willing to feel this grief each and every day, as a result of having experienced the love. It's difficult to explain to someone that you loved a child you never met, but you do, and that love, that incredible amazing love, is so beautiful. And despite the grief, I am eternally grateful to have loved THAT little one, if even just for moment. I have no idea what the future holds, but I am so thankful for these precious little ones here beside me, their dad, and the life we share. I love them with all of me and I am forever grateful to teach them, mother them, love them and lead them through this, oh so temporary, life, that seems to go by so fast. I have so enjoyed writing our story, celebrating their victories, learning from their mistakes, growing in The Lord together! These years will forever be my favorite. And I look forward to so many more adventures and so much more love together!
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