Soccer, Sickness, and Stories

Soccer season is upon us. It only last two months, but it is very time consuming when all four play. I feel like we have a new home away from home, but they sure are cute out there kicking the ball around!

Edana's shot is a bit blurry. Sadly, I haven't seen the boys play yet. Aidan missed his last game due to sickness, and I've had to coach or run kids other places during Declan's. I will get to see a little of his tonight. Pictures will follow! Edana's
is very good! Rileigh's team may need a new coach... I forgot how hard it is to get little girls to play nice with each other. She is doing great though. I'm noticing improvement with each game. I have a few others who are learning and improving as well. That is always fun to watch!





Last week, three out of four kids were sick in a span of two days. We decided that a fun learning trip was needed after being stuck in the house. Where did we head? The NWA mall of course! Edana kept track of the time that elapsed in each store. Aidan measured the distance, in steps, between stores. Declan checked price tags and figured out the change that would be needed, and Rileigh searched for shapes.

After all that learning application, we had a whole lot of fun! The play area at the mall has been a long time favorite...especially in the middle of the day on a week day. We were the only ones there of course.

Despite all the sickness and playing around, we still managed to stay on track with our lessons and earn our first 6 week break. We kicked off our week off last night with a "publishing party."  A friend who taught 5th grade for many years gave me this idea last year when I was having a hard time getting Edana to write. 

Both of the oldest two had narration for their first units, so we put her idea to use. It was great! See how proud they are?

Edana wrote a short story about a brother and sister who enter a world where everything is made of candy. (It was such a great idea that Declan wanted to hear more).

Aidan wrote and illustrated a silly story about two clowns who work at a circus. They both did a wonderful job!

Revival of the Bloggist?

Where on earth have I been?? Oh yes, this is where...

Okay...that may be a little vague.

 

However, its true. Most of my days are spent at home or church. This fall it would be appropriate to the soccer fields, but that will only last a couple of months. Thank you, Jesus!

 

I realized that I've been busy taking care of everything else that I've totally let this go. Some may think that is no big deal. I am taking care of all the good things, and this is just a blog, right? Not really. This blog is important for several reasons. It is an interactive diary of sorts, a record, of my family's growth. It is a place to share all the stuff that won't fit on facebook, and its an opportunity for me to develop my writing. Therefore, I am intent on rekindling my blogging passion.

 

 

Its been two years since I blogged last. As you can imagine the kids have grown a ton! Even the pic on my header is out dated. We'll have to get around to family pictures soon, I hope. Who knows, we may even have them done for Christmas photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edana is at that, "don't blink or you'll end up with a teenager" stage, complete with new hair.

 

Declan had to write three sentences about himself the other day. They were, "I have a good imagination. I am smart. I play a lot!" That is a pretty great summary of himself.

 

 

 My Aidan Jeffery, is so big. He will be 8 in a week and two days. He is already tall enough that he comes just above my shoulder.

 

Miss Thang! AKA Rileigh Cait has grown the most noticeably as she was only two when we moved back to NWA.

 

Jeff and I are long finished growing. I have shrunk quite a bit, but hopefully not in height! All our growing now will be spiritually or muscle growth. I'm planning on both!

 

We've added a few members to the family. Thankfully, I didn't have to give birth to them! Meet Wemmick (anyone know where his name came from). He is Edana's dog, and sometimes mistakenly thinks he has me for a back-up. I will honestly tell you our relationship is one sided. The lounging felines are Luke (on the left) and Cinnamon AKA Cinna (on the right). Luke is Aidan's cat. Thus the name. I voted for Toothless, but he had to have a StarWars name. Cinna is, well, we think he belongs to Bailey. I'm not sure that Shawn knows that, so he lives here. He has picked Rileigh and I as his girls. Until recently we thought he was a she. Then we realized she had boy parts. Surprise! Guess we didn't look closely enough. Ha!

 

  To say life is goo would be an understatement. To say it is full would be likewise. We are thoroughly enjoying this new stage. The kids are somewhat independent, yet they need us in new ways. Its great to be able to really discuss the Bible with them along with many other just day to day things. Its also pretty great to take a nap with Rileigh while the others quietly entertain themselves. This girl loves a good nap!