Happy Birthday Abria!

Wasn't I just blogging about Abria's birth?

This Wednesday Abria turns 4, and we kicked off the celebrations with a birthday party on Saturday for her friends. Our house was full of little girls (and one little boy who didn't seem to mind at all). At this age, parties seem easy: we made a few crafts, ate some cupcakes and ice-cream, played a game....and then it is all over. Abria seemed a little overwhelmed by it all at first. Everyone went upstairs to play and she stayed downstairs to cuddle with me and hang out with the other parents. However, once the crafts/cake/games got going, she got right in the swing of things. In fact, she was overjoyed with being the first child to win a prize (imagine that!). Happy Birthday Abria, you are wonderful, happy and delightful child.

First Day of Camp!

Unfortunatley we were running late and so I didn't get a great picture-not even centered! However, Alette was a bundle of excitement to begin a week of camp at a local YMCA. She was a little nervous once we got there and saw all the other kids, but was confident enough not to want me to stick around. I had a much harder time! I guess it is the curse of being a homeschooling mom, I am so used to having my kids with me all the time that it felt weird to leave her in the care of strangers. Needless to say, I worried and thought about her all day. She has had a great time and has come home everyday full of stories and exhausted. Perfect! I've been reminded that my children are in God's hands and although my job is to nurture, challenge, teach, and protect, ultimately, He is in control.

Ironically, the week is much more tiring with only one child at home! Normally the girls and I spend some portion of the day either in 'school' or out together. Obviously there is a lot of interaction, but I've realized that if Abria doesn't have Alette to talk to, I am her only receptive audience. I've had my ears yakked off this week!

Summertime!

Our good friends, the DiMarcs, have opened their pool and thus summer has begun! It was a cool, cloudy day and the water was COLD but both girls were eager to go to their first swim day. I made it very clear that I was not going to participate (at least actively in the water) but would give all sorts of encouragement from the sidelines. They spent nearly 3 hours in and out of the water, I honestly thought they would chicken out once they felt the temperature. We are looking forward to many more hours with our friends.

Away she goes....

Sort of! Alette outgrew her bike that had the training wheels, and desperately wanted a new bike. I refused to put training wheels on a new bike. Andy has taken her out a couple of times to a local park to learn. She's fallen a lot, but thankfully is always willing to get back on. Part of the struggle is she is scared of going 'too fast' and thus cannot get enough speed to balance smoothly. Ironically, I'm the cyclist in the family and yet cannot help her. Andy is way more patient. I tend to get annoyed and start to nag instead of encourage. I figure my turn will come when she needs to learn how to ride in a paceline or use clipless pedals.

The Wedding of the Century

Yes, I realize that many people, including some dear friends and relatives, have gotten married this century. However, for my girls, this was Auntie Laura's wedding and that meant they were flower girls! Like other parents, I took a million pictures of the kids and only a few of the happy couple. It was a wonderful weekend-Laura looked gorgeous, the weather was fantastic, and the kids had lots and lots of play time together. Happy kids means happy parents.

The cousins were inseperable.

Passing the time between pictures and the ceremony by catching bugs.

When it came to the actual ceremony, the girls took their role very, very seriously. As you can see, Alette got a little tired of waiting for Abria.

Homeschoolers' Day Out

Abria is captivated by the story.

Alette and McKenna figure out how to make the balance work.

Alette and her group work at a center.

Abria works on the balance. Every Wednesday, we join up with other families for our church's homeschool co-op. It's a great chance to hang out with other kids and moms, and to take some great classes.

Sunday Afternoon

Nothing says spring like an afternoon in the park!

T-Ball

It's t-ball season again! Alette is on the same team as last year and having a great time. Next year, she will have to join the softball team, something she has already decided against! Abria and I hang out at the adjacent playground with the other little kids. When the weather is nice, it is a great way to spend the afternoon!

Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge

We took last Friday off from school and headed out to Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in Medford. Combine beautiful sunny weather with two girls who love animals and you have the perfect day out. The girls loved looking at and learning about the various rescued animals. Alette was given a disposable camera as part of a 'picture wildlife' initiative at the center....we'll return in May to pick up her photo album. Abria was slightly jealous until I let her use our camera, and then we ended up with a lot of pictures of the ground. Thank goodness for digital.

Alette practises her 'princess pose'...she knows she is a beauty!



It was perfect weather for hunting eggs-thanks to Pop-pop, each year has gotten a little more challenging.



We had a great Easter day together with Pop-pop, Grandma Terry, and Grandma. The girls wore their favorite dresses (actually the flower girl dresses for their aunt's wedding), hunted eggs, got yummy chocolate treats and just enjoyed hanging out with family. After two egg hunts, there is now a crazy amount of chocolate in our house...something Andy and I are going to have to remedy :).

Spring Gardening

It has begun...our annual attempt to grow things. We start out with good intentions but by mid-summer I am defeated by the heat, humidity and bugs and simply let everything die. Maybe this year will be different?
And yes, the girls are wearing ballet clothes!

One of our favorite activities

I love homeschooling for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons is the flexibility it gives our family-so on a nice spring afternoon, we went for a neighborhood walk. I wanted to buy new barrettes but the store is a little further than our typical trek; however, bribed with the promise of a donut, they willing put in the extra effort. On our way back we stopped at Rutger's U, ate donuts and ran around the grassy lawn. Alette also took along her notebook to document our afternoon with drawings/maps and notes.

My Bunnies

I love that trying to get a posed picture is impossible. I wanted to get an Easter picture....but the girls were so goofy. They couldn't stop giggling and kissing each other.

The Palmyra Nature Center

We have been enjoying classes at the Palmyra Nature Center for years...this spring has been especially wonderful as the weather has been terrific for getting outside nad exploring. Last week we had a lesson on 'Signs of Spring'. The girls saw turtles, woodpeckers, snakes and butterflies. We gathered all sorts of small twigs and flowers to make a bracelet. Abria seems to be in the midst of a 'fancy' phase as she insists on wearing bows/ribbons/jewelry everywhere.

Sunny Spring Days!

We have loved the fabulous weather this spring! We took advantage of above normal temperatures and headed to the park last Sunday afternoon. Both girls are continuing to practise their biking skills. Alette says she is 'almost' ready to give up the training wheels.....I would love to see her take this step but know that she will not be pushed into anything. Abria is getting too big for the tricycle and jumped onto Alette's bike anytime she wasn't using it.

Knocked Out

Abria rarely takes a nap anymore...sigh. However, she is fond of going upstairs to 'sleep'-which means she really just wants to have her favorite blankie and soother. However, this time she truly fell asleep, on her chair of all places. In fact, she was so exhausted we couldn't even wake her for dinner and she slept right through to 7am!

A Break in February!

I've decided that February is the perfect time to take a family trip. Andy had the week off work so we headed down to Washington DC, and then to Williamsburg, Va. No crowds, sunny weather, cheap admission for homeschooling families....what else could we want?
In DC we had the chance to meet up with Zeb, his mom Barb, and Xander, at the National Zoo. Despite the cold, we had a great time being outside and seeing different animals. That night we got together with Great Grandma, Zeb, Laura, Xander, and Lisa for dinner....such a rare occurence!
After breakfast with Great Grandma the next morning, it was off to Williamsburg. We were looking forward to a suite, only to discover it was a studio suite-large, but one room nonetheless. However, since the hotel had an indoor pool....there was no way we could easily switch, without making two girls very, very unhappy. Seeing as they easily conked out both nights, sharing a room turned out to be very easy, and not that different from being at home.

Williamsburg, Va

Super cute colonial hats-but at $25 each, we just took photos! As you can see, we had perfect weather for exploring the historical district.


Once the girls learned we were taking a carriage ride, they refused to wander away from the area for fear we would miss our turn. It was a short, slow ride around the town and one of the highlights for the girls.


Both Alette and Abria were remarkably interested in the different stores, homes, and tradespeople we saw. However, by the end of the second day, the chickens proved far more fascinating.


The maze at the Governor's Palace was a highlight for everyone and we could have spent all day playing there!

Go Tribe!

Andy loved being back in his old stomping grounds, William and Mary. The girls meanwhile, were happy for the chance to collect weeds, flowers, and sticks. Ironically, everyone in our family but Andy, now owns a William and Mary shirt.