August Fun

Our August mainly consisted of a beach trip,  a special girl's birthday celebration, and starting a new school year. We did end up having a few other things happen this month too.

One day at the beginning of August I got a terrible headache. I tried to manage with our normal activities, but I got really sick when we were leaving the kids' gymnastics class. I told the kids that I needed to lie down and asked them to entertain themselves and take care of Katherine for me. I could hear them from the kitchen making a lot of noise and then they knocked on the door and brought me lunch since they knew I wasn't feeling well. They made me a salad and strawberries and even brought me a treat. They are the best! I never want to forget their kindness and thoughtfulness on that day.

I took a good nap and woke up feeling much better and was able to eat the best lunch I've ever had. 

Katherine's gymnastics started back in August too. She was very, very excited about her first class. She's enrolled in the five and six year old class this year. Her coach last year recommended it even though she's young. I think she was a little nervous to be with the big kids, but she's doing a great job. She practices gymnastics all day long. 

Our August also included our first ever COVID quarantine. The kids were exposed at a church event, and after a lot of thought and discussion, we decided to quarantine. The worst part was we had to reschedule Elisabeth's birthday party, and she had to spend her birthday in quarantine. She cried a few tears, but we assured her that all her planned celebrations would happen just at a later date. 

We tried to make the most of the quarantine, and honestly, we didn't hate it. I told Matt that it's not a terrible thing to cancel all our plans and spend a whole weekend with our family. Because the Olympics were happening, I had the kids plan a Baugher Olympics for Saturday (to distract from the rescheduled birthday party). They planned all the events, made score cards and (edible) gold medals. 

They started the day with a shooting competition.

It was followed by archery, 

and a foot race. 

Then we went upstairs for a gymnastics competition. 

After naps, we socially distanced at the pool for a swimming competition.

Then we came home for a celebratory dinner of All American hamburgers and hot dogs and Olympic torch cheetos. 

We finished off the night with a movie night watching Cool Runnings. I'd say it was a successful first ever Baugher Olympics. 

The next morning, since we couldn't attend church, we hiked Turkey Mountain. The kids had fun, and we only had a couple of "my legs are tired" complaints from the littlest hiker. 

I wouldn't want to do it every week, but I could handle a quarantine weekend every once in a while (minus the stress of contacting all our party guests to reschedule a birthday party). 
 

SEVEN YEARS OLD

 Elisabeth Kae, 

You are seven years old and growing into a beautiful young lady. At seven years old, you are friendly, a leader, helpful, thoughtful, passionate and an all around fun girl. You are a gift to be around, and I'm so glad you are ours. 

The biggest character trait I've seen developing in you this year is your helpful and thoughtful spirit. You regularly have a desire to help and serve others. If I'm doing a project- planning a project, decorating, cooking, organizing, you ask if you can help me. I also see you actively looking for ways to be a blessing to others. You write kind notes to others, run to get a hurt friend a band aid, are eager to teach Katherine or any other Little Ones new things, and ask constantly how you can help. You can't wait to be old enough to babysit and crave being given new and bigger responsibilities. I know God is going to continue to use your servant heart as you grow. 

Since you were little, you've always been a social bug, and friendships are very important to you. You have some really sweet friendships that have lasted your whole life and continue to make new friends despite being homeschooled this year. You crave social interaction and friend time and ask all the time to invite a friend over. Your good friends right now are Sarah, Kaydence, Addisyn, Audrey, Ainsley and Makinley and Ilona. What has surprised me lately is how well you get along with friends who are significantly older than you. Several of your friends- Ilona, Aviana (from gymnastics) and Emma are older, but you get along and play perfectly fine with them. You can also happily play with younger kids too. All around, you have a friendly, enthusiastic personality and other kids are always drawn to you. 

You are excelling at school right now, even though you always say you wish you could go back to real school so you could have more time with friends. I've always known you've had strengths in language and verbal things (since you've been talking non stop since you were one, ha!), but I've been impressed with your math skills over the past year. You're working ahead in second grade math this year and whizzing through it. 

You're working hard in reading too, and we've had a some big gains this year. You're working on gaining confidence in reading. I think that's your biggest hang up. We've had some frustrating moments, but I've enjoyed teaching you how to read and seeing your progress. You're a bright girl, and I'm so proud of how well you do academically. 

Your current passion right now is gymnastics. You love it so much and work hard each week during your class. You cartwheel around our house and daily are performing gymnastics shows for us. You've perfected a cartwheel on the high balance beam (without a coach spotting you), a back bend and a back walkover recently. You work hard on your gymnastics and impress us all the time with your new tricks. You're also taking an acrobatic dance class this year, and you told me it's your favorite dance class you've ever taken.

Since we've been homeschooling you, I've noticed huge gains in your ability to play independently which is a skill you've always struggled with. Lately, you've been begging to take a break with school or hurrying to finish, so you can go to your room and play. You've been playing a lot with the Little People and princess figurines and the princess castle. You also like to play with your American Girl dolls. You love listening to audio books too. You listen to them in bed every night and while you're playing, eating, doing chores during the day too.  Your favorite series are the Penderwicks, the Vanderbeekers, Little House on the Prairie, Beverly Cleary books and the Land of Stories. 

While you are happy to play by yourself more often now, you still very much desire interactive play with your siblings or friends. You are always practicing and performing plays and shows and dances with your siblings. Whenever you have friends over, you're usually playing princesses, pretending to go on trips or having sleepovers. 

You've pretty much outgrown bows which hurts my heart a little that you're growing up. You do like headbands, so I get away with some bow wearing if they're attached to a headband. You always ask to wear your hair down or in a simple ponytail if down isn't an option. You wear comfy clothes and are pretty low maintenance but are happy to dress up in a fancy dress for church. You're enjoying having your ears pierced and change your earrings regularly. You're a girly girl who loves pedicures and makeup and dresses, but you'll just as happily wrestle and play with the boys. You're a well rounded girl!

You're still a pretty picky eater. Your favorite foods are spaghetti and meatballs and spaghetti carbonara. Some other of your favorite foods are apples, scrambled eggs, pork tenderloin, pretzels, and popcorn. You're much willing to try new foods these days, but still have a picky palette. You always, always want to help me cook and bake and you're such a big helper to me!

We had the honor of praying with you to receive Christ right before your seventh birthday. Your dad and I are so proud of your decision. You told us you felt like God was calling you to become a Christian after listening to songs at Gospel Night at church. You told us you wanted to be a Christian so that you can tell others about God. I know God will to big things with your others- focused heart. 

Elisabeth Kae, I hope you always know how proud of you I am and how much I love you. You're the surprise baby God knew we needed in our family. You help strengthen and hold our family together. I love you more than you'll ever know, and I'm so very grateful to be your mom and get the privilege of watching you grow up.

July Fun Part 2

We had even more summer fun the last half of July.

Caden invited Nathan to spend the day at his house one day, and when his mom brought Nathan back that afternoon, we realized that they had come up with a scheme to get Caden to spend the night with us. He even packed his toothbrush, ha! I guess their scheming paid off, because he got to spend the night. That's what childhood summers are about, right!?!

We try to make it to a Tulsa Driller's game once a summer, and we made it happen with some of our favorite friends. 

The kids played and rolled in the grass, and ate treats, and didn't watch much of the game, but they had the best night. The adults had fun too- also not watching much of the game, ha!

The girls asked for a picture by themselves. 

So, of course the boys had to have one too. 

Summer playdates with the neighbors never get old. They played a lot of school this summer. 

At the end of July, Erica, Mindy, and I went on our annual girls' weekend. This was our fifth trip together. I'm so glad we thought of the idea and work hard to make it happen every year. It's such a refreshing, fun, soul filling weekend. I love these dear friends. And I also love the yummy food and shopping spree that goes along with our weekend. 

The day after I returned from my girls' weekend, Matt and I sent our biggest off to camp for the week. That was a big milestone for us! He was so very excited about it, that it was hard to be too sad.

And he was going with two of his best buddies. Knowing those three boys would be together for the week eased a lot of my worries. I thank God for his friendships often- especially that week. 

I missed him so much! 

I don't think he missed me that much though. He had a great week and can't wait to go back next summer (with Samuel!)

The kids all missed Nathan tremendously. Everyday, the girls were asking when he would be home, and they talked often about how much they missed him. Their reunion on Friday was the absolute sweetest. I hope and pray they keep their sibling bond throughout their entire lives. So special!

He even used his spending money to buy them gifts. Goodness, I still get teary thinking about his precious heart and love for his little siblings. He is the best big brother. 

We spent a lot of time at the pool in July. One day while Nathan was at camp, we had some friends join us, but they were all girls, and Samuel was feeling left out. He played by himself and built this elaborate home for the sea turtles. He was so proud of it! I love his creativity. 

Samuel has also been working hard at karate over the summer. He has earned several new strips and is about ready to test for his yellow belt. He's growing to love karate and is very focused and determined each week. 

We ended July with a fun summer day at a water park with my cousin Lindsey and her kiddos. We originally planned a weekend in Weatherford with them, but had to rearrange plans because of some COVID interruptions. The kids had a fun afternoon playing with their New Mexico cousins. We can't wait to see them again soon.