May {in Pictures}

[Early May, Aunt J opened her new Spring line at Jeanne Oliver Designs. We worked the celebration poses for a nice part of an afternoon.]

[The day after getting about 8 inches of nearly mid-May snow, the girls enjoyed the quick meltdown with snow coats and rain boots in our mini-driveway-pond.]

[The spring seeds were sprouting, but "who knew" which sprouts meant what fruits and vegetables! The girls helped me make garden row markers--they painted the food; I did the "writing." One tomato by AF.]

[Onions by H.]

[Pumpkin, broccoli, radish, carrot, lettuce, and peas]

[The garden is nearly all "marked" now.]

[Espi has been getting his hands dirty with welding. I gave him several old camping spoons and asked for a flower. Now that he's warmed up, a trellis please!]

[We had a camping weekend indoors.]

[We had plans to play games inside the tent one night. However, H told me to stay away, stay out repeatedly. Finally, she let me in to find notes everywhere saying "Wellcum! Wellcum!"]

[...finally, followed by a magna doodle message: "S[ur]priz! Wellcum to the ca[m]p site" with doodled streamers and balloons. H knows how to make a camper feel special.]

[We played "War" until sleeping bags called.]

[H and AF started swimming lessons. This is H's third time, AF's first.]



[Doesn't see look like a classic, 3 year old, swim student? She even gives a quick head shake "no" when her teacher asks if she'd like to go next. It was the first day.]

[The girls want Rapunzel hair. Not sure how long this is really going to last, but their locks sure look cute when they are not tangled.]


[H finished her kindergarten year at Options last week. She drew, colored, glittered, and messaged a card for her teacher.]



[H's teacher handed out awards during kindergarten graduation and shared each child's wish for a future career. H was awarded "Best Penmanship" and wants to be an "artist" when she grows up (which was a surprise to me). Please pardon my lousy video skills.]

[H and her 15 classmates each Thursday this year]

[Summer play is coming soon around this house, as we are wrapping up homeschooling this week. Yay!]


[This weekend, H and I finished our fourth reading of our ancient version of Black Beauty. She has kept coming back to this pick throughout the last couple years, enjoying the adventures of this special horse.]

[some of H's favorite pictures from the story]

[As H was brushing her hair and getting ready for bed several nights ago, looking into the mirror she said, "I look like Grandma M...when she was younger. I really do." The camera was close; I'm glad I could catch this following expression from her.]

[We attended our local Memorial Day Observance with my sister and her family.]



[Post ceremony, we walked the cemetary to find some marked graves of fallen soldiers. I think AF's face says it all about how meaninful that day was for each of our children, but little by little, I hope our children will come to truly appreciate and respect the lives that have and do protect our country's freedoms.]

[So long May; June hear we come!]

Dreaming Through

"...[look] for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory..."

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Unless noted otherwise, inspired by a pinterest board and Titus 2:13. The last photo has been in an inspiration file for many years. I wish I knew the source and artist. It was too pretty not to include.

Exercising {As a Mom}

There is nothing strenuous going on here--just waking up with a little stretching, sit ups, push ups, jumps. I couldn't resist asking H to snap the moment, though, with AF and AD bouncing, running, and swirling around my attempts.

Every Other Tuesday

A friend of mine mentioned several weeks ago, "Public, private, and homeschooling have their pros and cons." Having been educated in public and private and having taught in private and public settings and am currently homeschooling the girls, I would definitely agree. Whichever choice we make for our child(ren), intentionally "filling in the gaps" is so important.

One of our attempts in this regard for H's kindergarten year was meeting regularly with another homeschooling friend and her children, which pleasantly turned into several friends and a small herd of children by the end. Every other Tuesday morning, we shaped our time with subject themes, such as African American history, St. Patrick, or Easter, and each of us moms created/chose an activity to lead.

I think I can speak for all the moms here by saying, it has been a really fun year of learning how to make our together-time meaningful and enjoyable.

I captured a taste of the year when I brought the camera on "'Easter' Tuesday":

Our meeting place: one of the lady's small, friendly, neighborhood rec center

Starting time: 9:15

First: listening to the "Good Friday" and "Easter morning" versions in The Jesus Storybook Bible.

Second: relays outdoors


[The youngests, 1, 2, and 3 years old, stay close to moms while the big kids show their coordination.]






Third: making homemade "resurrection eggs"


[Judas betrays Jesus for money.]


[Jesus was found in the garden by soldiers and Pharisees and was bound as a criminal.]

Fourth: making "resurrection crescent rolls"--Jesus is the marshmallow here; He's oiled, spiced, and carefully wrapped for the hot oven-tomb...



...and as time passed, we read a different version of the Easter story and created scratch art crosses...




...until "3 days" passed, and "Jesus'" tomb is found empty!...and quite delicious.



Finally: we finish our time with picnic lunches and the rec center's playground.

For H and AF, I have been so thankful for this regular group of children with which to learn, try, and play. Also, it's another place where they can learn from other teachers' perspectives...and so can I.

Just 3 Days Ago

Just 3 days ago, we wore shorts for a very warm Mother's Day hike in the foothills of Littleton.


Today we woke up to snow, and by 6:30 this evening we were bundled up, drudging through slushy wet to relieve heavy laden branches from a couple inches of the stuff. They are saying we should expect 4-8 inches total. Seriously!?


[A few snowday in May activities: listen to The Magican's Nephew, radio theater version, while coloring and painting; make forts and investigate & organize a nature treasure-box collection; take Little Man to the beauty salon to snip off about 2 inches of curl or fuzz, depending on the moment in the day]


***Thursday, May 12 update:
Woke up to at least 7 inches of snow. Espi and Hanna took on the heavy laden branches this time after breakfast with brooms and large ice scrappers in hand. We will not be leaving home if we can help it today, and we anticipate grand puddles of slush and mud to follow, for they are calling for temps in the 60s for the rest of the week and weekend.