Happy Halloween!

Our crew this year!

 Daddy was in charge of Adara's Rey costume. :)

Determination

Big sister started piano lessons, so this one has recruited Daddy to teach her too.  She spent got ready for school fast this morning so she could have time to practice.  Then, she wrote this note.  

I've been saying for awhile that she's going to teach herself to read by sheer force of will.  She wants to be able to read so bad, but I haven't taught her anything intentional (though I do spent a lot of time spelling out words for her), and I think at school they are still working through basic letter sounds.

[I eam dun with this port uv stoor wrs. Wil u ..?.. nexst]

"I am done with this part of star wars.  Will you teach me the next."

October highlights so far...

We stopped by the church property one afternoon to play, and ended up on a work crew. ;)

biking to school 

Saturday morning soccer

Tagging along on Daddy's retreats has been a fun thing for us this fall.

I went on a field trip with Emily's class that involved walking around Dartmouth campus and learning about the sculptures.  Life is funny.

The neighbors are hard at work on their pirate theme for Halloween, and gifted us some costumes as we were passing by.

Soaking in all these warm fall days...

We took the kids to the new Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, which just opened this month, for dinner & to hear Reckless Breakfast.  

Picnic with Alden at the church property.  

More September highlights....

making fruit salad after school

CCEF New England boat ride & cookout at the Pastures campground

Boston Lot adventures

Dates with Alden while our girls are at school

Starting piano lessons.

Jay Peak for Labor Day

Going back through some fall pictures and catching up on the blog....

We went with the Eshbaughs to the Jay Peak trail running festival.  This was SO FUN.  We ran up a mountain, rode the tram, climbed on rocks, played at a water park, and laughed a lot.

Adara turned SIX

Jeez. How did this HAPPEN?  It seems like last month I was telling a friend how much I was loving the girls being 4 & 2 because they were old enough to really play together, and she said, "I know, and wait till 5 & 3, it's even better!"  Now at 8 & 6(!!), they are best friends, and even pretty good at letting their little brother into their circle.  I am so grateful for and proud of these kids.  

Age five was a huge year for Adara!  I love that her fall birthday gave this 'extra' year to have her home with me.  She grew so much - really changing from a preschooler to a kid. She was a leader in her preschool class, became more able to understand herself and show compassion to others, and is so much fun to spend time with. She's strong, adventurous and capable - this year she learned to ski, swim, ride a bike, and water ski!  We sent her off to kindergarten with full confidence that she was ready to fly.

 

 

Birthday breakfast - bagels with candles. 

  

Her birthday fell on a Wednesday - outdoor classroom day - so her teacher invited me to join them. Chocolate cake baked over the fire and singing happy birthday around the tree circle.  I love this little hippy school. :)

Birthday cupcakes and trying out her new makeup set with friends after school.