Groves at the Lake

We hadn't been together with all of Alasdair's family in a long time, so we planned way ahead and long drives were made... and it was so nice to be in the same place for a few days.

Grammy's 90th

We celebrated my beloved Grammy turning 90 last month with a family reunion at Kimballs.  My cousins came in from all over the country to spend the weekend together.  

  

Last Days of School

 Adara finished preschool on Tuesday, and Emily finished 2nd grade on Wednesday.  I'm thankful that they both had great years this year, teachers they loved and who really appreciated them.

biking to the school cookout

classic... Adara decided not to participate in the class song at the end... while Alden left the audience to join in the performance. 

Adara got a letter in the mail today with her teacher assignment and invitation to an orientation pizza dinner.  She told me with an eye roll that she doesn't need to go because she already knows her teacher, doesn't really care who's in her class, and isn't nervous at all about Kindergarten.  And she hates pizza.  That kid. ;)

And, Alden took his first nap at the pool this week, so it must be summer.

Emily Claire, age 8

You know those seasons where suddenly your kid is so grown up?  This girl has been taking my breath away lately. She's growing in independence and confidence, lately she's really taken to reading on her own (thank you, Junie B. Jones;) and to riding her bike around the neighborhood to visit friends. The birthday notes from her classmates all describe her as silly, fun, kind, and smart.  She's disliked math this year, but after finding out she scored high on an advanced standardized test, has decided again that math is her thing. 

She's had some big challenges this week (learning she'll have a teacher next year that she was scared of, and some things that pushed outside her social comfort zone) and I have been SO proud of how she's handled them, really listening as we talked her through things, and working to have a good attitude.  As I write this, I'm listening to her giggle hysterically with her siblings in the other room.

reading her own bedtime story on the last night of being 7

assembly line making "fruit-erflies" for school snack, then birthday pancakes & bacon

love when they know the best gifts for each other

I asked what she's hoping for this coming year: learning to cook

This little engineer has been hoping for months for a 'snap circuit' set

her birthday was on the last day of school

ice cream with friends

She chose Harpoon for family dinner because of the giant chess set.  It was a perfect summer night for eating outside.

May

Well, it looks like I just post once a month now.  :)  No major events in May, but it's been a slower month for me at work and I've really been enjoying the extra brain space to focus on the kids, and the time to breathe.  Now if it would just stop raining....

Celebrating finishing the Pentateuch at Bible reading time.

Look at how good her drawing is getting!

First ice cream, after Garden Day at school.  I think it was 50* and raining but that didn't stop us.

No words for this.

Teaching the neighbor to play baseball.  Last week it was lacrosse.  She's a good sport. ;)

Watching a random elementary school baseball game in the neighborhood.  Again, 50* and rainy.

Long awaited movie date with friends!

Hanging out at the Sunrise farm.  We miss the old farm, but the veggies are still good. :)

Alasdair's personal & writing retreat at Killington

Spring!

Adara's very last Romp & Stomp.  I was nostalgic (she's been going since she was napping in the baby bucket seat!), but she's pretty over it and spent most of class playing outside by herself.

Rainy afternoon at the library.

Have I mentioned the rain?

Fancy dinner with friends, celebrating Noah as a young leader in the Upper Valley

Adara learns to kayak.

This crew.  Love them.

First bike ride to school with these tough guys!