Back to School

"Back to school" came in baby steps this year.  First reading... then add math lessons... next we tried out our new language curriculum....  and then history, science, spelling, and handwriting.  By starting school like that, I was able to figure out how to juggle a kindergartener, a 2nd grader, a very active two year old, and baby Abby!  We are full speed ahead now, and soon we'll add Awana, ballet, football, swimming... looks to be a busy fall! 

 

Here are some pictures of the big kids' "Back to School" dates with Mom...

 

Johnathan started Kindergarten!  We celebrated with breakfast at IHOP.

 Naomi kicked off her second grade year with lunch at Jason's Deli.

And the little ones do their own style of learning.  Ezra doesn't like to miss out on what everyone else is doing - even math assignments.  And Abby helps by taking a morning nap.  She's also working on her goal of grabbing stuff and putting it in her mouth.  

Pool Party

Popsicles, splashing, and lots of fun at a pool party hosted by the Wickershams!

This was Abby's first dip in the pool.  The frown about the slighty cool temperature was soon replaced by a happy baby.  She likes the water!

Playing with Grandpa

Grandpa Stata flew out to meet Abigail...

 ...and PLAY!  He and the "big kids" wrestled, leg wrestled, arm wrestled, thumb wrestled, played "Who Knows the Most About the Olympics?", quizzed each other on geography, played Guess Who and Headbands, rode bikes, played Star Wars and trucks, and had a grand time at the pool.

I think Grandpa may need a nap when he flies home tonight!

Charlotte Mason Would Be Proud

Thanks to Johnathan's keen powers of observation, our morning bike ride turned into a nature walk.  He spotted a cicada just hatching (don't think "hatching" is the right word - emerging?) from its larva-stage shell, or something like that.  Hmm... I think we need to pull our Johnathan's copy of Ranger Rick and brush up on our cicada life-cycle terminology!                  

We watched for a while to see if it fly away, but we gave up as the temperature crept higher.  Since it was gone later, we assumed it made it safely to its new home in the tree.

Miscellaneous Memories

A few more pictures to round out our fun time with the Colorado Boaz family:

Yummy seafood on Galveston, like these soft shell crabs

The Boaz brothers had tremendous fun hunting hogs (even if they didn't find any!)

We have to chronicle all the time Sarah and Abby got together - riding in the back seat, hangin' around inside while the big kids went to the beach, rode bikes, or went swimming, because they probably won't remember this!

And a trip to the Blue Bell factory.  We'll remind Sarah someday that her first taste of ice cream was the best.  Yum!!

In the Aquarium Pyramid

We finished up our time at Moody Gardens in the Aquarium Pyramid.  We loved the seals, shark tunnel, and penguins.

I love this picture of Kayla from the creative mind of Randy Boaz!  (No sweet nieces were actually harmed in the making of this picture)

At Palm Beach

Day Two in Galveston:  Palm Beach (but not a real beach - just the waterpark at Moody Gardens).

 The intrepid explorers took off down the rushing river, with their even more intrepid dad.  It takes a brave man to take two semi-comfortable-in-the-water kids and one nervous 2 year old to a water park!

They had a lot of fun while Abby and I stayed cool inside!