A Few Changes

So we had a big week with our first week of homeschooling.  All went well and we both truly enjoyed being home and working together.  Siena did great and has an incredible foundation for us to build on.  This week was review from last year and setting the stage of expectations for this year.  She had her first day of community classroom on Thursday and she enjoyed her class of 6 and her teacher, Ms. Anna.  

 When you homeschool, there is time for field trips so we visited the Discovery Center and both kids dressed up.  Carson enjoyed dressing up like Daddy and reading X-rays and they both climbed all over the firetruck and dressed up as fire fighters.

We have begun a new chapter as soccer parents which has taken up our Saturday mornings. We are quite a sight with our camping chairs, stroller, soccer equipment, water bottles, diaper bag, and the kitchen sink.  However, the July weather has cooled to a tolerable August and the kids are having a great time and improving quite a bit after only a few weeks.

And then there is the baby....what can you say about the youngest who is screaming to be heard - literally.  She has been out eating Carson and chowing down on everything.  She couldn't get enough watermelon the other day and devoured 4 slices by herself.  And this evening she shocked us by talking 5 steps alone towards us!!!  We are ecstatic and hopeful this will encourage her to use her feet more and her knees less. 

Summer at Home

After traveling from Guatemala to North Carolina to Kansas, we finally spent July at home but our calendar has remained full, as always.  The kids celebrated with a new kiddie pool in the backyard and try as we may, we could NOT keep Allegra out. She may swim before she walks with the eagerness she has for water. 

 We hosted our annual 4th of July BBQ for our small group and we all dressed accordingly in red, white and blue.  But to follow tradition, we got rain, as we do every year but luckily it stopped long enough to finish up the last of our fireworks before bedtime.

We went to the playground a handful of times and weathered the heat but the kids didn't mind as long as snacks were involved. 

Carson took swim lessons for the first time and he was lucky enough to have his best buddy, Clark, by his side.  The two made lessons interesting for their instructor but they both learned a lot and passed!!!

And then we had family from Kansas.  The house was stuffed full of cousins, dogs, presents and fun.  We had a great time beating the Tennessee heat with people we love.

 

We have done a few service projects with our small group such as delivering goodies to our local fireman and police officers to say thank you.  The kids got a tour of the fire station during an incredibly strong rain storm.

And we have opened up a new chapter in our lives: soccer.  Both Siena & Carson are beginning competitive sports this fall and have had their first few practice.  It has been quite a change from our small town athletics to an organization that is run like a well-tuned machine to make sure that everyone practices at the right time and that the upcoming team gets the field next.  The kids are adorable and are really enjoying themselves and the hype around going to soccer.