You know it's spring when the eyes are itching, house is sneezing and the allergy medication is all out. Many of us have been fighting extreme allergies this season, but we hate to complain as the outside comes to life with greenery, color and that dreaded hay bailing in farm country.
The kids are now all out of school and LOVING IT!
Our summer list of to do's are still being edited which is always a fun way to prepare for the one day trips and longer ones too. Earlier in May, Addison went to the Mercy Me concert with her girlfriend Annie. We watched Baylee's 1/2 brother on a Saturday and have already had trips to Edaline Dairy for cones. (That soft serve craving still exists since the cruise...) Baylee had her first dentist appointment and Myriam has been preparing for her first ever tap dance recital.
It's been busy, but satisfying watching memories being made.
Here is a picture glimpse to the tail end of Spring...
Ski to Sea May 28th, 2017
The girls and I, plus Annie, decided to hang out in the sun Sunday afternoon while cooling off with gelato, listening to Uncle Jason play his drums and watching the first place team paddle into shore. Fairhaven is Addison's happy place as she loves to walk around and explore. These girls did awesome walking LOTS, even back up the hill to our hot car.
June 4th, 2017
A couple months back my dear friend Linda confidently ran 17 miles alongside Jackie who was training for another marathon. We, as amazed girlfriends, decided for Linda that she was going to run in her first marathon since she was fully capable of keeping up with pace. That gave her five weeks to properly train for the North Olympic Discovery Marathon; a goal to run since she turned 40. Of course, one cannot run alone so many others signed up and had a gorgeous sunny run alongside the Port Angeles waterfront. Helped that we fueled up well the night before with everything bacon at the Coyote BBQ Pup including the warm peanut butter brownie with real bacon crumbles on top. If you are in the area I highly recommend eating here.
This was such a worshipful run for me as my running playlist beamed songs of hope and praise every step along the way. I'm sure people thought I was crazy as my hands sometimes went up in the air, my outside singing voice was heard and cheers for other runners most likely belted since
I couldn't hear anything but my worship.
Thanks to our official cheerers, Mandi and Melissa, we had encouragement along the way and a few of us ran the last five miles with Linda to keep her spirits up and feet moving.
Love these ladies!
June 7th, 2017
Charlie had an amazing first year not having Mom barking orders and forcing him to do school work. I can't be more pleased, and shocked really, with how well Chuckles did with both adapting to a new school schedule and keeping up the grades. He sang beautifully with his class at the last chapel even if him and James had the giggles. On the last day of school he collected all his missing sweatshirts then together we grabbed a Subway lunch celebrating his launch into fourth grade.
June 8th, 2017
Oh Nellie, this gal is moving out of Preschool and into full days of Kindergarten. Myriam got to celebrate her last day of school with ice cream sundaes, photo booths and allowing Mommy into her classroom to watch and play. Thank you Teacher Ashley for being a caring, attentive and patient teacher!
What can I say...Monkey see and why yes, Monkey will do.
These two darlings are starting to grow a playful relationship filled with much curiosity, laughter and of course, naughty no no's. From music hour to getting the wiggles out, Myriam (known as "Mimi") and Baylee have been having lots of fun inside and out.
June 12th, 2017
I seriously can't believe Teacher Jeff stuck it out this long with us!?? When we started Mp3 Addison was going into Kindergarten. She was not talking to very many people, if talking at all, which presented itself the opportunity to teach in a safe environment at home. Those first few years we were completely off campus with our school work having weekly phone calls to check in with Jeff. Teacher Jeff was so incredibly patient with Addison when he would ask about what she was learning and get nothing but breathing back in the headset. Eventually, she began to use few words to now seeing Teacher Jeff on campus and in his classroom having purposeful conversations. Addison had three years on campus where she had her weekly contacts in person and even having Jeff as a teacher for a couple classes.
Jeff has become somewhat like a family member as he followed our adoption with Myriam, was apart of Traci's cancer journey allowing us to teach from Portland and recently, staying in touch through our foster journey. Homeschooling was never my first choice; was never my desire. But, for every kid you teach, train and parent differently. Tim and I always agreed that it would be year by year in this teaching agreement. Charlie joined Mp3 and for that time was exactly what he needed. Homeschooling gave us precious time packing up in minutes to visit Auntie in Portland. If the kids would have been anywhere else for school it would not have been as easy as it has been over the last seven years. The flexibility was a gift to our family.
Addison and I brought Jeff a gift this Monday afternoon. It felt like we were breaking up. We had group hugs and shared memories of the earlier days. Doesn't take much to get me crying and yes, the tears were present Monday, but to Teacher Jeff and all the staff at Mp3, we said/say thank you. The grace you showed our family and patience with me getting the monthly reviews in "on time" truly were blessings to us. It will be weird not seeing you all next year, but for us, the homeschooling season had it's purpose and now is done.
There goes Spring and here comes Summer. The bike tires are pumped up and ready for causing the streets, the swimsuits already worn to splash in the creek. We are ready for some downtime and playtime!
Jeff has become somewhat like a family member as he followed our adoption with Myriam, was apart of Traci's cancer journey allowing us to teach from Portland and recently, staying in touch through our foster journey. Homeschooling was never my first choice; was never my desire. But, for every kid you teach, train and parent differently. Tim and I always agreed that it would be year by year in this teaching agreement. Charlie joined Mp3 and for that time was exactly what he needed. Homeschooling gave us precious time packing up in minutes to visit Auntie in Portland. If the kids would have been anywhere else for school it would not have been as easy as it has been over the last seven years. The flexibility was a gift to our family.
Addison and I brought Jeff a gift this Monday afternoon. It felt like we were breaking up. We had group hugs and shared memories of the earlier days. Doesn't take much to get me crying and yes, the tears were present Monday, but to Teacher Jeff and all the staff at Mp3, we said/say thank you. The grace you showed our family and patience with me getting the monthly reviews in "on time" truly were blessings to us. It will be weird not seeing you all next year, but for us, the homeschooling season had it's purpose and now is done.
There goes Spring and here comes Summer. The bike tires are pumped up and ready for causing the streets, the swimsuits already worn to splash in the creek. We are ready for some downtime and playtime!
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