First Grader at Work

 It's back-to-school time, and for Naomi, the commute to school has decreased from 11 miles (last year) to a few steps to the sunny, big room at the back of our home.  Here she is at her new desk, finishing up her math meeting...
 

 ... The brothers join her for math because the manipulatives are so fun!

Later, while Ezra naps,  Naomi and Johnathan do a science experiment with magnets.

I snapped this photo during a quiet moment while Naomi worked and the boys found fun books to read.  It is not staged... but it didn't last long!  Few moments are this idyllic when the Boaz kids are learning.  But we feel the noise, planning, work, and craziness are worth it!  We are learning A LOT (and not just the kids!).

Off to School

 Johnathan is off to school this year, going to an afternoon Pre-K program at St. Thomas Early Learning Center.  We're so excited for him and we love that he'll be spending his afternoons three days a week interacting with his little class, doing lots of fine motor activities, and getting tons of exercise in the coolest playground we've ever seen - full of trees, bridges, a pond, and a huge sandbox. 
Here is Johnathan at the end of his first day, getting a tricycle out of the garage and riding it on the paths.

Toddler Test

How can you tell if your baby has crossed over into the infamous stage of toddler?  Just take this simple test to find out!

1.  Does your baby toddle?

Yes

2.  Does your baby think toilet paper is a fun toy?

Why, yes!

3.  Does your baby vociferously make his opinion known? 

Definitely yes.

4.  Does your baby help himself to a box of Rice Krispies in the pantry and generously spread them all over the floor to celebrate the discovery that he can fix his own snack?

Uh, you get the picture!

If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, then congratulations!  Your baby is now a toddler!  Better strap on those cabinet locks again.

Fortunately Ezra has plenty of "supervision"... and siblings to help him clean up!

Family Pictures

Birthday Splash

 It's time to party in honor of Naomi's, Johnathan's, and Kevin's July birthdays!  This year we made a splash with pools, the slip-n-slide, water balloons, squirt guns, the water table, and lots and lots of nachos.

What a fun time we had with some sweet friends!  Boaz Birthday month is officially done!

Birthday Girl

This is the face of Naomi at 7.  Enthusiastic, creative, imaginative, busy, precious... and sprouting new teeth at an alarming rate!

Happy 7th birthday, Naomi Grace!

Happy Birthday, Johnathan!

Let Boaz Birthday month begin!

 Johnathan is now 5!  He had a fun day... breakfast was pancakes by Daddy, his stocking and gifts including his new "armor of God" Bible.

 For Johnny's birthday, we thought we might try out the only place to miniature golf in town - a glow-in-the-dark course.  But when we got there, Johnathan decided that all that darkness wasn't up his alley, so he chose bowling instead.  Having never bowled with the kids before, we had a fun adventure putting on the shoes, experimenting with different colored balls, and seeing just how slowly a ball can roll and still reach the pins!

Dinner that evening was Johnathan's current favorite, hot dogs, and a lemon-flavored Cars racetrack cake.  Happy 5th Birthday, Johnathan!