Today We...

Today we....
Woke up
Did our chore charts
Piled into the car
Went to Chic-fil-a for free Breakfast Wednesday
Went to Goodwill (in search of Unfortunate Events Book 7- no luck.)
Met up with friends at Pirate Park
Listened to "City of Ember" in the car.
Snacked on the yummiest chocolate cookies
Came home and had lunchables around the table
Played legos and cars all afternoon
Played "Sorry" and "Operation"
Observed our caterpillars for five minutes
Practiced spelling words for second grade
Celebrated Caity making snickerdoodles for the first time- and boy were they yummy!
Watched the next segment of Anne of Green Gables.
Cleaned the house for dad to come home.
Read books.
Barbecued Hot dogs.
Messed up the house again while mom was at Youth Group.
Fell asleep fast (except William of course, he is still wiiiiide awake playing with his transformer.)

All in all a really good summer day.

Tuesday, Zoo Day

Today I took my animals to visit the animals at the Oregon Zoo. We got a zoo pass for Christmas, and it is just nice to go whenever our hearts desire.

Sunday I wrote down "Zoo Day & Visit John at work" in my planner. As soon as the kids saw that, it has been a count down. This morning, everyone woke up happy and got busy finishing their work so we could make the nine o'clock train. We stuffed ourselves with peaches 'n' cream oatmeal, packed some water and snacks, left the stroller behind (let me re-emphasize: WE DIDN'T NEED THE STROLLER. I don't know why that was so liberating to reach this new stage of parenting, but it was...), and we were on our merry way.

I took the above picture so I could have a "before/after." I really was really skeptical about the outcome of the day. Yes, my kids were excited to go, but surely by time we got home they would be miserable and I would be carrying all of them. 

However, that wasn't the case, they were actually happier with more energy after the whole day adventuring! Again- another first. Our fun-stamina is increasing, people.

While we were waiting for the MAX, the kids each wanted their picture taken. Of course, I obliged. It really is fun capturing the way they are now, since they always seem to be changing!

Always deuces. ha ha.

Riding the MAX with my kids is like riding the MAX with a bunch of monkeys. They have to swing and climb and switch seats constantly and it always stresses me out thinking they are going to die or something.  In their defense- they did pretty good this time! Granted, the restraint it took was clearly torturing them.

When we got to the zoo, we all just played, hustled, observed, and explored everything together. It was so nice not having a stroller so I could focus in on everything with the kids. It was seriously the best day hanging out with my favorite friends.

This exotic bird exhibit was randomly a highlight. We had just finished a "Birds Take Flight" show, and were in the bird-finding-mood. It was like eye-spy. There were so many beautiful and strange looking species, it was a lot of fun.

Matthew was really digging the giraffes. We were trying to go speedy quick through this part so we would have time to see the bats (per Wills' request) before the reptile show, and Matthew was not having it. So whenever the kids would say, "Alright! Let's go quick!" Matthew would just look at them like, "I don't think so..." and they would slink back and grumble, but also kind of laugh because it is rather funny that a two year old rules the roost around here. When he was ready, he casually walked away and said, "OK- I done, bye giraffe, (sigh) we can race now, Taity and Nonny. I will win though, OK?" #fourthchildmuch?

This isn't the best picture of Matthew, but he really loves it, so I have to post it here so he can look at it again!

There was a snake encounter show and Johnny was so fascinated. He asked the presenter about fifteen questions. "How long is it? What's the longest Boa Constrictor ever in the world, even Africa? What other colors do they come in? Whats its name? Why is it named that? Could that snake kill me? Why isn't it living in the environment." They he would whisper more questions into his brothers' ears. Ha ha.

Toward the end, William was just "so tired." Caity offered to give him a piggy back ride! It was so cute. Everyone really did so good on this trip.

Next, it was back on the train to visit Dad for lunch. 

(I was most looking forward to this part!)

He looked so handsome in his work clothes. :)

It's always good to see that Dad of ours! We had a little picnic on the river while the boys ran up and down the stairs.

John dared the kids to run through the fountain. Caity and William skimmed by it, but Johnny went all in, and says (often) he has no regrets. He was pretty pleased with himself. 

Next we headed back home. Johnny and William had a competition to see who's side of the train had the most people, Caity read "Big Nate," and Matthew almost fell asleep. We were a happy crew.

And we made it!!

We started cooking dinner, and then walked to the park.  I knew the park was pushing our limits a little, but the kids were so insistent. It might have taken us an hour to walk a quarter of a mile- Ha! Despite being tired, everyone stayed pretty positive, for which I am grateful. I have a feeling everyone will sleep good tonight!

Little Snapshots

Well! Summer is in full swing around here! It has been a full time job getting a routine in motion and consistent. There has been (a lot of) push back, but I have stayed strong and it seems like each day goes smoother than the day before. I have to say, my very favorite a part of the day is about thirty minutes before dinner time. I review the day and think of all the good things we did together and accomplished.  The kids are always so happy at that time, and there is this strong sense of satisfaction in everyone's countenances. We've played hard, but we've also worked hard. It has been good. I have genuinely loved having the kids home for summer.

Today I had a thought. I realized I would miss little unexpected things about my life right now. It is weird stuff like how Johnny organizes his desk, or what Caity stores on top of her dresser for display, or seeing the kids' job charts on the walls with stickers and meticulously filled in boxes.

Just little things I see every day, but some day I won't. So I took some random pictures and here they are:

 The view from William's bed.

Matthew not wanting to do his jobs for the day.

William putting away stuffed animals in his closet.

The view from Caity and Matthew's bedroom door. Caity reading "The Great Brain."

The view sitting on Caity's bed, Matthew marking off his chart.

William marking off his chart (those little hands!)

Matthew so proud of himself that he actually did his jobs! (And the shoes, again- ha!)

Last Day of School 2018

SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMER!!

I seriously counted down the days this year. I really look forward to having the kids home for the summer, and this time was no different.  As much as Caity and Johnny love school, I feel like the day to day of the school year can wear them down. By the time it ended, I could feel how much they needed a break and a refuge in home life.  This year was new school, new friends, new social rules, new "normal." I'm so proud of how well Caity and Johnny handled the transition and challenges. Watching them make friends and excel despite their reservations was so rewarding as a mom. That said, boy am I happy to have those kids back!

^I really love this picture of Matthew! (Shoes and all, ha!)

William and Matthew were so excited for Caity and Johnny to get home so we could celebrate. They waited patiently, but eventually convinced me we needed to wait at the bus stop.

Johnny and Travis were "so done with first grade!" They came off the bus (the first ones off) running and hollering "SCHOOL'S OUT!! YEAH!!" They ran, they chest bumped, the parcour-ed all over the place. They were a happy pair.

Then, the rest of the kids filed off one at a time, and about ten feet behind everyone else, I saw Caity's silhouette slowly make it to the bus exit.

Caity was a little more heart-broken and emotional. There were tragic tears and a genuine I-can't-even-go-on meltdown. She felt "despair" and said she would even do third grade all over again so she could have the same class and same teacher. She worried about all her friends and who would help them with different things while they were apart. It was really sweet. I always hated saying good-bye to friends at the end of the year, so I could totally relate.

Isn't she the sweetest though?

And here is me trying to get a picture of all my kids!

Johnny. "Get one of me dabbing and getting major Michael Jordan hops!"

I know it's blurry, but this one of William!!

Travis and Abbey came over for our end-of- the-year bus cake! I completely forgot about this tradition (started by my mom) until Caity exclaimed the night before how excited she was for it! I had to improvise with what I had on hand, but I'm glad we got it together- it was so fun, especially with friends. the banner said, "Welcome Summer!"

OK, this next part I am really excited about! 

This year year we had our first annual "Be the Light" Award Ceremony. The concept being: as we look out for others, build our talents, choose to grow and keep pushing forward through challenges; we become part of the "light" in a sometimes dark world. Jesus Christ is the light of world and as we try to live and love as He did, we can be "lights" too. I often challenge them to be intentional lights to their friends, classmates, and strangers. This was meant to be a celebration to honor their efforts doing that.

I made three certificates for each child, and we had a big presentation with a spotlight, music, applause, prizes....it was really so much fun.  It was so sweet seeing their faces light up as soon as they realized I was talking about them, and also how excited they were for each other.  

They would each get up and give a little acceptance speech. Sometimes they were funny (Johnny's always mentioned underwear on his head, Caity did a british accent for her's, William would do silly dances in the middle of sentences, etc.), but sometimes they were very sweet and sincere. Johnny got up and talked about how he felt when he read his first chapter book, and when he was reading "Narnia", and how he wants to finish the Book of Mormon this summer, you could just tell he was genuinely proud of himself. Then, as he got down- he said, "Oh! And thanks to Mrs.O for her reading charts and my mom for not giving up on me even when I didn't want to read." MELT MY HEART! Ever since he got the award, he has really identified as a reader, and I really love it. 

When Caity talked about having a "Growth Mindset," it was touching for her recognize how she maybe defined herself by all the wrong things and about how changing the way she viewed situations she was able to overcome things that seemed too hard at first. "And what do you know, all those mess ups and failures actually helped me in the end be a better Caity, so I just want all my brothers to know; yes even you, Matthew, just don't give up! Learning takes time and not getting everything right the fastest all the time!" I mean, seriously? I know I'm biased here, but I just can't get over these sweet moments.

The not so red carpet (I used what I had!)

Johnny's awards:

Rapid Reader (For learning how to read this year and moving to chapter books.)

Super Friend (Even though he was sad to leave his friends; and people weren't nice to him at first, he kept trying and now, they are some of his best friends!)

Never Giving Up (There were days he really didn't want to go to school or do his homework, but he always figured out a way to keep going and keep trying.)

Caity's awards:

Editor and Chief (For working so hard on her writing and using it to light others' day, and even starting her own book company.)

Kindness Queen (Volunteering to work with friends with special needs and always being kind even when there was drama with friends.)

Growth Mindset (For learning to accept failure as way to grow and challenge herself.)

William's awards:

Inside Out (For learning how to recognize his feelings and express them in a healthy way.)

Hug Attacker (For giving spontaneous hugs.)

Play Master (For over coming his fear of friends and babysitting co-op, and being a leader for fun games that involve everyone.)

Matthew's Awards:

Best Laugh (For laughing easily and for a long time and making everyone around him laugh.)

"I not Baby, I Maffew" (For growing up into a toddler and making sure everyone knew it (insert all the crying emojis.))

Houdini (For learning to escape for anything ie- nap time, car seat, diaper, house...)

Friday night was date night for John and me, then we came home and had a movie night with the kids and had popsicles. It was a great start to summer!