Jack's Curriculum Night

Jack's school has an open house they call "Curriculum Night" every year where parents come in and the teacher talks to the parents about what the kids are learning that year and about how their classroom runs. The kids then get to show the parents around their classroom and show them all the projects they have worked on since the beginning of the school year.

Jack did wonderfully and was very proud to show me all his work. One of the neat things Jack's 1st grade class is studying is insects. They have all sorts of "pet" insects, including catapillars (now in cacoons), ladybugs and they each get their own "meal worms". Each of the kids got to name their meal worm and Jack named his meal worm "Bob". I thought it was fitting even though I could not see Bob in his cornmeal-filled home, but I assume the name suits him well. Jack was very proud to take a picture with his meal worm.



Jack has adjusted to going to school full days, eating lunch at school, and his new teachers and classmates. While he still has many challenges, he is improving every day. We have great hopes for him this year--I think he is surrounded by people who truly care for him. I thank God every day for bringing Jack's aids and teachers into his life and for helping create the "village" it takes to raise him.

Vanessa's Annual Sock Hop

Every year, Vanessa's school holds a Sock Hop and so we all get our poddle skirts on and jitterbug to our hearts content. Jack doesn't particularly care for the loud music and kids running amuck in the gym, so Mike and I decided to divide and conquer. It was Girls night out and Guys night out. I took the girls to the sock hop--matching poodle skirts and all (Yes, I made them--no one sells toddler & baby-sized poddle skirts!) and Mike and Jack took a trip to the pet store to get Sassy's nails trimmed! Fun!

We had a great time and fun was had by all.

Josie, Vanessa & friends

Josie being a little anti-social.

Vanessa and Garrett

Colette with her boyfriend, Mario (6 months older)

Vanessa and friends

Colette dancing away from me

Colette and Mario sharing some popcorn

Jack checking ou tthe frogs in the pet store!

Until next year!

Mike's Birthday

Here's Mike with the Jack, Vanessa & Josie blowing out his cake on his birthday. Due to contagious diseases and ill-scheduled soccer games, the only family that could make it to Mike's birthday was Aunt Bern & Uncle Shawn! Oh well! We had a nice time anyway. :)

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

For 41 days every year, Mike and I are the same age. That day has finally arrived. I am no longer the "older woman" for the next 41 days.

Mike insisted that I not buy him anything for his birthday, so the kids and I made something we could give him that did not cost a dime!

Late Summer Dinner at Grandmom and Pops

After a wonderful day at the fish hatchery, we went over to Grandmom and Pop's for a scrumptious dinner. We had delicious pasta and meatballs and yummy, yummy cookies and cake for dessert made with love by Aunt Eileen. It was an amazing late summer day, a slight breeze and sunshine. The sailboats were out on the river, so we took some time out on the lawn to play whiffleball and just roll round in the grass.

It's days like this that I hope the kids remember when they are older...being able to kick back and spend some quality time with their cousins and Grandmom and Pop at their house by the river.

The pictures are Colette and Josie heavy, but they just happened to be the ones who stayed near me and so they were the ones who got photographed the most.

A Day at the Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center

It was a lovely day in the Portland/Vancouver area today. We spent a wonderful afternoon at the Columbia Springs Environmntal Education Center with the family. It contains a wonderful trail, a trout hatchery, and outdoor classrooms, not to mention just a nice serene place to be on a Sunday afternoon.

We had a wonderful time and I think the kids even learned a little!

We got there before Grandmom & Pop, Aunt Eileen & Declan, Uncle Charles, Aunt Tiffany, Olivia & Audrey, so we took some pictures while we were waiting.

Here comes Jo!

Jo greeting Pop to give him 5 kisses!

Here we are heading for the trail head.

Making our way down the trail.

Not more than 1 minute into the trail, the kids found this HUGE slug. Yuck!

How pretty is this? The natural light coming through the trees was so heavenly.

Sassy girl


Olivia

Audrey

Declan

Cousins feeding the fish at the hatchery


Here are shots of the outdoor classroom. It was very interesting! A few of the samples came from Missoula, Montana!!! I went to high school just south of Missoula in Stevensville where my parents still reside and Vanessa was born in Missoula :)

Woodpecker holes

Tracks!

Rocks from Mt. St. Helens

Jack really enjoyed the outdoor classroom.

These rocks are from Missoula from a flood.

It was a great day! Thanks Grandmom & Pop for inviting us!