co-op happenings

We are absolutely LOVING co-op this year.  It is one of the best decisions we have made for our home school.  Both girls participated in a feast this past week where they sampled foods from the countries we have been studying.  We made Native American hasty pudding and green and oolong teas (Japan).  They also sampled Swedish Apple Cake, Wild Rice and corn bread (North America), seaweed (Japan), Danish cookies, pottage soup (Great Britian), potstickers, English Parkin, pompion and shortbread cookies and baklava.  The girls both tried everything and discovered some new things I would have never thought they'd enjoy.  Boo loved the seaweed, LE loved the green tea.
They are both participating in theater and getting ready to perform for the co-op in December.  They have made so many new friends and we started participating in park days on Wednesday afternoons after the boys nap.

Fall Fest '14

This past weekend, we went to an area fall fest at a  church for the kickoff to Halloween season for our kiddos.  Of course,we don't have costumes ready or even decided upon at this point, but the kids did a good job of creating ones out of the dress up closet.  R2 does have his costume, the dinosaur.  HR decided to be a crossover costume and stole the head when R2 became too hot to wear it.  He looked like a creature right out of the cantina scene in Star Wars.

belated birthday present

Yes, that's a motorcycle and yes, it's a beemer.  Ben got his dream motorcycle this week.  He has been drooling over one for years and he found his dream bike this week in my hometown.  Happy Birthday, Daddy.

Nursing Home Outreach

Our Legacy Group (life group) has adopted a nursing home that we plan to visit once a month to host a game night.  It is part of a study that we have been using called the Barefoot Church Primer.  We wanted to do a meaningful outreach and one the kids could participate in, as the kids outnumber the adults in our group.  I was told the gentleman playing with HR NEVER talks, but he started talking to Hank and participated in the evening.  It was a great night for our family and I am pretty sure the residents of the assisted living facility enjoyed themselves too.

big boy beds

The day came today, and we no longer have a baby bed in the house.  HR has been sleeping on R2's toddler bed and R2 has been camping in his sleeping bag on the floor for weeks.  I found Cargo beds on CL that are very similar to the girls with a trundle bed.  We spent this weekend swapping out Ben's office and the boys' rooms (office was bigger) and are in the process of creating a Star Wars rooms for two padawans.  HR looks so tiny in his big bed, and R2 thinks his room is "not cool" b/c it is not complete.  The furniture purchase put us over budget for the month, so painting and decorating will be budgeted next month.  They do love their beds and their freedom.  HR has started waking up with R2 at 6 am, that part I could live without.

Community service project #1

Our church  has been inspiring us to be more intentional and being aware of needs around us, which has inspired us to help others more.  My hope is when we see a need that the kids will step up to help fill that need.  This past month, we heard of a young boy in the area who had been a patient at Dell Children's Hospital and wanted to collect crayons, coloring and activity books in honor his birthday to donate to the hospital.  We were able to collect five bags of crayons and books to donate from my fitness classes and friends.  The kids were invited to deliver them to the PFL police department.  The kids were rewarded with an opportunity to sit in the patrol cars and get a tour of the police department.
Hopefully it will be the last time they are in the back part of a police car.

Pumpkin Patch field trip

This month, we went on our first field trip for the school year with RRHOME, our home school group.  We ventured to Elgin Christmas Tree Farms on a Monday morning.  We spent the morning decorating pumpkins, a hayride, petting baby animals, running through mazes, creating scarecrows and playing with friends.
The gym recently hired two new instructors that gave me the freedom and peace of mind (along with Ben's new pay raise) to give up classes and be able to secure a substitute when opportunities such as these arise.  I am so grateful for the job I had the past three years, but I am even more grateful that I get to focus on the most important role God has given me in raising and teaching our children.  We have been able to get all of our school work done by Thursday afternoon piano lessons for the past two weeks, which has given us off all day on Fridays to attend co-op and rest before our weekends.  The first time that has happened since August.

Mommy/Daughter Date

Daddy suggested Boo and I get out of the house and take a Mommy/Daughter date to get pedicures.  Before our planned trip, I had discovered gel manicures and mine was in need of an update.  I decided to just get a pedicure, as the spa only had time to do mani or pedi, and I wanted to make sure Boo could get her choice too.  She had so much fun, as did I, but I think she was in heaven.   My cousin Anna had recommend Plum, which was a little more than I can afford on a regular basis, but it was a great relaxing time for Boo and I.  We also had a quick bite and a trip to Toys R Us to cash in a gift card that has been burning a whole in her purse.  

more Epoch weekend photos

big man on campus

Congrats to my amazing husband, an awesome daddy and apparently really loyal, hard worker for his team.  Yesterday, he received a promotion and a 20% pay increase.    We are so proud of you, Daddy.