THE OFFICIAL BACK TO SCHOOL PHOTOS

Today was our first day back to school

for the 2013-2014 school year.

Overall, we had a pretty good day.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

NOT-BACK-TO-SCHOOL CELEBRATION

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to connect with other local homeschool families for a 

"Not-Back-to-School" Celebration. 

As you can see, we had quite a crowd!

This is only about half of the crew that gathered at a local park.

I think we had 30 kids roughly.

We came prepared with several organized games, but mostly the kids just played.

It was nice.

Tug-of-war

Games in the basketball court.

Scavenger Hunt Buddies

The new normal has Travis hanging back from the crowd, rather than in the thick of it.

Scavenger hunt find.

Showing off some treasures.

um?

Potato sack race..almost everyone had left at this point,

 but we still wanted to use them.

The kids had a great time and are looking forward to more meet-ups in the near future.

Happy NOT-back-to-school!

SOME ADVANTAGES

Last week we had a LONG overdue playdate with some friends of ours.

It had been rescheduled..um..3 times?

So, when the forecast called for rain we said, no problem-game on.

When we started driving to our meeting point and it was pretty much  pouring...we were hesitant,

 but pressed on.  

Keep in mind this was an outdoor playdate at a meeting spot about halfway between our homes.

I got to the park first and it was still raining pretty good not to mention the playground was SOAKED and riddled with puddles.

An advantage to having a super-sized van..

we were able to eat our lunch in the back in comfort.  LOL.

An advantage to having a rainy (it did clear up, for the record) playdate..

we had the whole HUGE park to ourselves!

I have to admit, I am getting rather sick of taking pictures with my phone.

I take far less.

Sometimes not even taking any at all.

I had intentions of taking some pictures of all the kiddies..but alas!

It didn't happen.

Oh well.

DUM.... DUM DUM DUM

Notice the ring on that finger?

Yup!  Lord willing, another wedding in our near future!

Congratulations,

 Steven and Kira!!

Seasons

It has begun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

We have a new member of our household.

Meet Smally.

Michael received some gift cards to a pet store for his birthday 

and last week Mike took him to pick out a new pet.

Smally is a Chinese Dwarf Hamster.

See that wheel?

We now know that hamsters are nocturnal and "squeak, squeak" is all we hear all night!

He is pretty tiny and easy to take care of.

Completely Michael's responsibility.

So far, so good.

9

9 months today.

Baby boy is in that frightful stage of exploration where he pulls himself up on everything imaginable but doesn't know how to stand solo yet..thus resulting in lots of bumps and bruises.

He has full reign of the house.  We have taken to closing the bathroom door again.  Why is it that kids gravitate to the bathroom as soon as they are able to move independently??

He is 19 lbs 12 oz.

I know that because we had to visit the doctor yesterday.

He has bronchitis.

Our official 9 month visit is next week.

He has a ton of teeth, so we really have to be careful what we give him as he doesn't chew all that well yet.

Still mostly nursing with some food, baby as well as table, mixed in there.

He is becoming more vocal..(he says Mama, but I don't think he really knows what he is saying yet ;) )

EVERYTHING goes in the mouth.

I vacuum at least once a day, but now I need to be even more vigilant for little crumbs or scraps of paper etc. throughout the day, because its a sure bet that little boy will find them.

He also loves his brothers and sisters.

He gives them such big grins when they go to play with him..especially Michael. 

Happy 9 months!