February Memories

I love how homeschool field trips are so much more affordable and less busy.  We took the opportunity to go to the zoo since this was Pumpkin's first time.  We took along Bud's best friend who treated everyone to all the cotton candy and Icee that his money could buy.  He was definitely a favorite person that day!  Pumpkin got to see her zebra and giraffes and Bubby seemed pretty happy in the stroller so long as I kept the snacks coming.  We were there from 10 until nearly 3 and SO exhausted by the end!

Arizona State University had an open house that we attended one weekend.  The kids had fun playing games such as chess and making their own mazes.  They learned how lie detectors worked and  even  what makes chocolate so addictive.

With all the learning that happens daily around her, our Pumpkin has turned into quite the sponge for a 3 year old.  This is her spelling her name as her sister uses the tiles to work on her spelling list.  

Bug has had to work on her vision still and part of that involves doing puzzles.  This was not her favorite thing as her eyes had troubles seeing part from the whole but with her improved eyes she found puzzling has an addictive nature, the snap of interlocking pieces - and now she's a convert!  This is did completely on her own, 200 pieces.  I'm proud of her persistence!

Pumpkin HAS TO follow in big sisters footsteps and we bought a few little ones for her.  She wasn't satisfied with the challenge and went and did this 100 piece one all by herself and has since put it back together on her own everyday.  

Coop has gone well and we've done everything from our mini Olympics, to a Valentine's party, and learned about the Native American people and attempted hoop dancing.

Some of the moms caught pictures of the older coop doing their thing.  Bud was pretty pleased with his density experiment.

We attended the annual McCormick Railroad park Special Kids day and had a blast.  Bubby definitely loves the food there, but it getting so that he likes trying some of the games.  Animals are always fascinating but generally from a distance.

Chips, popcorn and ice cream ... all this little man's favorited!

The girls HAD to love on all the animals and of course Bug had to climb.  I love her tenacity!

The kids amaze me and I'm so grateful that I have the blessing to be able to homeschool and share in their adventures so regularly!

January fun

Routine is wonderful to return to after the holidays.  We missed our homeschool coop friends the most.  The following shots were taken the coop before Christmas where we decorated our own ornament and baked gingerbread cookies.

The other children are kind, often sharing their food with Bubby as they have their snacks.

I had to include the picture above because Bubby has grown comfortable at the coop, the other children are no longer strangers and if they have some gingerbread he feels they should share, he won't hesitate to let them know!

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"Huggles" still occur often which is getting harder despite our king size bed.  The kids are just too big!  Occasionally we get in a hike on Sunday's with Baba.  Bubby does well with some motivation, we can see him getting stronger each day.

WE have a new respite worker, Ms. Mary.  She's wonderfully grandmotherly for Eli and all the children and as soon as she arrives Eli takes her hand and brings her to the backyard to get his daily swinging in!

AZ on the rocks is still a monthly thing that the oldest two love!  Keila has a daredevil inside and works hard and harder on different walls.  Isaac is working on his fear of heights and while bouldering is still more appealing, he did make it to the top.  I love how these two are working hard on individual goals.  They were tuckered out so we HAD to get some milkshakes to share!

Isaac and I managed to catch the early morning lunar eclipse.

We also caught a performance of Romeo and Juliet which Bug loved and Pumpkin tolerated well for a three year old!

Weve also joined Pizza Hut's reading program that gives free individual pizzas if the kiddos meet their goal.  For Bug she is to read daily from her readers while Bud has been reading biographies.  We've been working with Bubby with phonics and hope he will be reading before he's speaking.

Family fun in Fountain Hills where we watched Native American hoop dancing and played in the park.

While I may be behind in posting it is fun to relive these memories and hope they will be relived again.