This March, Samuel turned 12! I can't believe how fast he's growing up. His birthday fell at a busy time of the year for us, but we squeezed in as much celebrating as we could. He asked to go to Olive Garden for dinner, so we made that happen. That kids loves Italian food and cheesecake for dessert too!
After dinner, he opened his presents from family.
On the morning of his birthday, he asked for French toast for breakfast. Katherine made him a whole breakfast tray to celebrate. We had pizza for lunch, and then that evening he left for the Count It All Joy campout. We picked up donuts to share with his troop at the campout to celebrate.
As soon as he got back from the campout, the Flamings visited, and we also had plans the following weekend, but Sam really wanted to do a little celebration in Kidsboro with the Pashkovets, so we scheduled a last-minute afternoon playing yard games. All the kids helped him to feel really special. We played gates, ultimate tag, and ate frozen smores with some of our favorite people. It was the perfect way to celebrate our boy.
Samuel, we're so proud of the man you're growing into. I love your determination, uniqueness, and willingness to work hard to achieve your goals. Your creativity and out of the box thinking will take you far in life. I can't wait to spend your thirteenth year watching you grow and learn.
Life is so full and busy in this season of life, and I'm soaking up all the Springtime fun!
Katherine's sweet friend Noelle was home from college for Spring Break, and she had to see her. Noelle is so sweet to take the time to visit with her whenever she's in town.
For Samuel's birthday this year, he asked for a room makeover which involved painting his walls. That meant that the tree Matt painted for his nursery (he painted it twice because we moved when Sam was a baby), was going to get covered up by a fresh coat of paint. We had to document it before it was gone.
Matt and I always joke that we picked the perfect kid to do a forest theme for his nursery. He's definitely our outdoors kid. I can't complain or be too sad to say goodbye to the tree. It did last for 12 years!
Our March Keepers of the Faith meeting was learning first aid. The girls practiced how to handle different emergencies and made a first aid kit as their homework.
I catch this girl reading all the time, and I love it! She has grown so much academically this year. It's a joy to watch her grow and learn.
We finished The Bark of the Bog Owl in book club (a retelling of David and Goliath), so of course we needed slingshots for our end of book game day.
Elisabeth asked to host an end of season party for her basketball team, and I can never say no to hosting a good party. She planned all the food and tried to fit the basketball theme as much as possible.
We ordered pizza for dinner, and Elisabeth planned several games- a ball toss, a few word games, and a "what's in the basketball bag" game.
She made some good friends this year. We're all hoping they'll get to play together next year again. NOAH basketball was a wonderful experience for our family this year.
These kids pulled out the kinetic sand one morning and headed into baking challenge mode.
They're getting to be pretty good sand bakers.
Is there anything cuter than a sleeping puppy???
The middle schoolers spent an afternoon playing pickleball. It was a beautiful afternoon. The boys had a great time.
With the warmer temps, the kids have been playing outside more often.
A friendly wiffle ball game with a side of history :)
Homeschool doesn't get any better than this. There are so many things I love about homeschooling my kids, but reading outside to them as they play all together probably tops the list.
Elisabeth researched and presented on the Oregon Trail for her history class. She worked really hard. Presentations are her favorite part of any class.
Katherine started her third soccer season with Alimghty, and she ended up with the best coach this year- her dad! They're going to have a great season together. I love watching my sweet, kind Katherine turn into an aggressive, competitive girl on the field.
We never travel for Spring Break, but we usually manage to fill it with several exciting activities.
The first weekend of Spring Break, Matt and Samuel attended Trail Life's Count It All Joy campout. The trailmen completed a simulated mission to rescue missionaries. It was an exhausting weekend, since after the training, the mission began at dark on Saturday night. After all, you can't rescue missionaries in the daylight.
Sam had an incredible weekend. He couldn't stop talking about it for days afterward. Matt was exhausted and cold, ha!
Matt and Samuel napped for a few hours when they got home on Sunday, so they could be rested for our visitors who arrived that evening, the Flamings! We always look forward to their Spring Break visit.
The girls played so well together.
They visited from Sunday-Tuesday of Spring Break and it was filled with board games, Jackbox, learning new video games, eating, chatting, jumping on the trampoline, and relaxing. We never left the house, and soaked up every minute we could be together.
The goodbyes on Tuesday night were so hard. There's just never enough time! Thankfully, before they left, we scheduled our next visit which is only a couple of months away.
Thursday of Spring Break was birthday party day. Katherine went with Kyla and friends to Urban Air and out to lunch afterward. She had the time of her life with her little best friends.
That same afternoon, Elisabeth attended Grace's 11th birthday party. She had a blast catching up with all her friends during Spring Break.
We had an unexpected free day on Friday, so I took the kids to the Gathering Place and Discovery Lab. Elisabeth got to be a volunteer for a funny, little magic show.
The kids split up into teams and played hide and seek, and Sam and Elisabeth hid in this same place forever! Katherine and Nathan walked past them so many times and could never find them. It was hilarious. I can't believe they were so patient to wait so long.
The rest of Spring Break weekend we spent with the Evetts who came up for a quick weekend visit. Spring Break 2025 was a good one!
