Elisabeth's Birthday Sleepover

 For Elisabeth's ninth birthday celebration, she requested a sleepover with four of her best friends. She chose a sweet group of girls who all are already friends, so it worked out great. She was so excited about her party. She wrote a schedule andd hand delivered it to each of the guests. 

The girls arrived at 5:00 and enjoyed some playtime before dinner. Elisabeth received a 3-D pen as a birthday gift from Papa, and it was the hit of the party. All the girls took a turn with it. 

Such sweet, excited girls!

Elisabeth asked for hot dogs and cheese balls for dinner. 

After dinner Elisabeth opened her gifts from her friends, and then they played a game of Among Us. The boys wrote all the tasks on Friday afternoon before the party started. I don't really understand it, but the girls all seemed to have a good time playing. 

Sarah and Elise gifted Elisabeth with a bow and arrow set, so we walked across the street to Kidsborough to try it out. 

I had a surprise for the girls, so Elisabeth and I wrote a quiz about how well her friends knew her to earn clues about the surprise. 

The surprise was matching pajamas for all the girls! Elisabeth didn't ask for much for her party, so it was fun for me to spoil the girls a bit. 

After the quiz, it was time for birthday cake. Elisabeth chose my all time favorite cake for her party. I was more than happy to get it for her. 

After cake the girls played ghosts in the graveyard in the backyard.

There were lots of screams. 

Then they came back and changed for bed. 

It's such a blessing that Elisabeth has such a wonderful core group of friends who encourage and spur her on. 

It's not a sleepover without a movie! Elisabeth chose Ice Princess as her pick for the night. 

Then the girls stayed up even later chatting and playing games. I finally told them they had to go to sleep at 1:00am. 

They were up early the next morning ready to play. 

They enjoyed donuts for breakfast and then played some board games until it was time for the girls to go home. 

Overall, it was an exhaustingly, wonderful sleepover full of sweet memories. 

First Day of School 2023

We arrived home from the beach late Sunday afternoon, and turned around and started our new school year the next day. It's hard to believe that this is our fourth year homeschooling, and I'm still often surprised that the Lord led us down this path. But I'll always be grateful for the unexpected blessings that came from the pandemic and led us to homeschooling. We have all fallen in love with it, and I know I'll never regret spending these precious days with four of the most important people in my life. 

The kids always complete a first day of school questionnaire. 

We had a soft start with our math curriculum the week before our vacation, so we were already in a good rhythm with it. Nathan is doing Algebra 1 this year. He's growing up quickly. 

Ever since I had children, I've dreaded the day my last baby would start Kindergarten- until we decided to homeschool. I'm so grateful to have her home with me each day and not dropping her off at school for 35 hours a week. 

We are excited for a wonderful year of growth, learning, and maturity. 

It's not shocking that Katherine is thriving in school so far. She's been a joy to teach. 

The kids were especially excited for the return of co-op. 

Katherine was at preschool last year, so this is her first year to participate in classes. She in music, PE, and Fun Class. 

Elisabeth is taking Medieval History, Wild Animal Crafts/Crazy Concoctions, Land Animals Science, and PE

Samuel's classes are Mock Trial, Medieval History, Land Animals, Middle School Science, and PE

And Nathan is taking Medieval History, Mock Trial, Middle School Science, and PE. 

Co-op is our favorite way to spend Thursdays. 

I got to be in a few of their classes on the first day. Elisabeth played animal charades. 

I also always do a little survey with the kids at the beginning of each school year. It's interesting to see how their answers change and stay the same each year.  

Nathan's

How old are you?

12

What is your favorite color?

Blue

What is your favorite food?

Tacos

What is your favorite TV show/computer game?

Quarterbacks

What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas

What is your favorite thing to do with Mom?

Cook

What is your favorite thing to do with Dad?

Play Madden

What is your favorite thing to do with Samuel?

Play football

What is your favorite thing to do with Elisabeth?

Play outside

What is your favorite thing to do with Katherine?

Play puppy

What are you most excited about this year in school?

Mock Trial

What are your most nervous about this year in school?

Math

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Work at Intamin

What is your favorite movie?

Iron Man

What is your favorite toy?

 RC airplane

What is your favorite thing to wear?

Champion Clothes

Who are your best friends?

Daniel, Caleb, Wyatt, Brett, Liam, Caden

 

Samuel's 

How old are you?

10

What is your favorite color?

Green

What is your favorite food?

Pizza

What is your favorite TV show?

Dude Perfect

What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas

What is your favorite thing to do with Mom?

Eat dinner

What is your favorite thing to do with Dad?

Build stuff

What is your favorite thing to do with Nathan?

Play football

What is your favorite thing to do with Elisabeth?

Build Legos

What is your favorite thing to do with Katherine?

Play tag

What are you most excited about this year in school?

Mock Trial

What are your most nervous about this year in school?

Science test

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Engineer

What is your favorite movie?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

What is your favorite toy?

Nintendo Switch

What is your favorite thing to wear?

T shirt and shorts

Who are your best friends?

Leon and Asher

 

 Elisabeth's

How old are you?

9

What is your favorite color?

Yellow

What is your favorite food?

Spaghetti Carbonara

What is your favorite TV show/computer game?

Big City Greens

What is your favorite holiday?

Fourth of July

What is your favorite thing to do with Mom?

Go to the mall

What is your favorite thing to do with Dad?

Go to amusement parks

What is your favorite thing to do with Nathan?

Play spike ball

What is your favorite thing to do with Samuel?

Design stuff

What is your favorite thing to do with Katherine?

Play Duplos

What are you most excited about this year in school?

My crazy concoctions class

What are your most nervous about this year in school?

Multiplication tables

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Singer

What is your favorite movie?

Ice Princess

What is your favorite toy?

Legos

What is your favorite thing to wear?

T shirt and shorts

Who are your best friends?

Sarah, Elise, Sophia, Audrey, Ainsley, Kinley, Nora, Ilona, and Adelyn

 

 Katherine's

How old are you?

5 and a half

What is your favorite color?

Blue

What is your favorite food?

Mac and Cheese

What is your favorite TV show/computer game?

Ever After High and Bluey

What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas

What is your favorite thing to do with Mom?

Go out and eat donuts

What is your favorite thing to do with Dad?

Go to Cherry Berry

What is your favorite thing to do with Nathan?

Play horsey rides

What is your favorite thing to do with Samuel?

Read Humphrey

What is your favorite thing to do with Elisabeth?

Play Ghosts in the Graveyard

What are you most excited about this year in school?

Punch cards

What are your most nervous about this year in school?

That I won't learn anything

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Singer

What is your favorite movie?

Cinderella Story

What is your favorite toy?

Beads

What is your favorite thing to wear?

My fance dress

Who are your best friends?

Laura, Avery, Kyla, Tessa