August Happenings

We spent August getting back into normal life after the loss of Grammy. A normal routine and schedule helped with everyone's grief.

The kids did a summer reading Bingo challenge. Each time they all completed a bingo, they got to draw a reward. One of the rewards was a visit to Sugar Llamas for fresh mini donuts. We were all big fans. Those donuts disappeared so fast!

We also squeezed in a few playdates before school started. Elisabeth and Ilona continued with their song writing/performing.

We also got to spend an evening with the Dalmans. We ate dinner together and swam. 

The girls had fun building with the magna tiles. I love their creativity. 

Helping your best friend move ACROSS THE STREET FROM YOUR HOUSE is a good way to spend a Saturday. 

We spent a day at the Discovery Lab with the Shondelmyers the day before they went back to school. The kids played for hours and hours. 

These giant foam blocks are always Samuel's favorite thing to play with at the Discovery Lab. He always builds elaborate buildings and houses with them. 

The other kids like to join him. 

Katherine falling asleep on the drive home is always a sign of a really good day. 

Katherine joined American Heritage Girls this year, and she's been having fun in her class. They got to decorate crowns during class one evening. 

And she started back at dance. She's taking a ballet/jazz class this year. Of course, she had to wear her recital costume to her first day in her new class. 

We spent a few afternoons at Kidsborough with the Pashkovets. 

Our church hosted a "Big Drop" for the kids where they dropped watermelons, gallons of milk, etc from the top of a crane. 

The highlight of the night was ice cream. 

The kids had the opportunity to catch an extra scoop. 

Samuel has been saving his money and researching rabbits in hopes of one joining our family soon. Some of our friends have a pet rabbit and invited us over to their house to play with him. 

They have lots of other critters too. Katherine adores the ferrets. 

Our new co op started in August. Nathan had to investigate a crime scene for his forensics class. 

Katherine joined in on PE for a couple weeks until her preschool started. The scooters are always a hit during PE. 

These super creative kids wrote a song and put on a concert that was Mario Brothers themed. It was adorable. I've still got the lines stuck in my head- "We've got some good, good news. Bowser doesn't marry Peach mm, mm. But we got some bad, bad news. Mario is stuck on the moon. Nobody cares."

Along with our summer Bingo challenge, I also gave the kids a reading challenge to reach a goal of minutes spent reading during the summer. Their reward was a "Yes Day" (with a lot of boundaries involved). We celebrated their yes day at the end of August. 

They asked for unlimited screen time, Steak and Shake for lunch, and some pool time in the afternoon. 

Their other big request was to each choose a carton of ice cream from Braums and eat it straight from the carton. 

At the beginning of the school year, Katherine was added to our chore board. She's easing into chores, but is a pro at unloading the dishwasher. Just don't ask her to clean her room, ha!

Our Trail Life and American Heritage Girls troops met at Turkey Mountain one evening. The boys hiked, while the girls picked up trash for a service project. 

Katherine had to have some dental work done. I thought she was adorable with the laughing gas. She said it made her feel silly. 

The jeep at the dentists' office always has to be in a picture during dental visits. 

Super Heroes to the rescue!

Katherine had a back to school/meet the teacher night at her preschool that included snow cones. She is SO very excited about starting Pre-K. She has wonderful teachers and great friends in her class. 

Samuel and Elisabeth had to research an African animal for their geography class. Elisabeth thought her meerkat was so cute. 

We had a meeting at the library, and Katherine requested a pirate picture next to the ocean background in the kids' area I love her pose!