Report cards and learning!

It has been the end of a term and the beginning of a new one! Everyone is doing well, learning and growing, challenging themselves academically and socially. It's good to see and hear about.

Plus, Sergeant has turned 9 successfully! We have decided that everyone needs to stop growing up. Right now! He is going to be having a birthday party with friends on Friday, and it sounds like everyone is excited for that. They have no school that day so they can all assist to help with the preparations! I'm sure they'll love that! He's also decided that he wants "that cake we made from Germany" so I get to do another Black Forest cake this week. I'm definitely not complaining, though! It was so so yummy!

Hubby is officially on leave right now! It was a really nice day spent running some errands, hanging out with Monkey and I, picking up things for projects and to prepare for him going away for a few weeks. He dropped her off at preschool and did a few extra errands while I tackled some more of my online studies, and we team worked pickup.

Swimming lessons are finished for a couple of weeks, and I have everyone signed up for a new session starting in April in Edmonton, but it was a place that they could all do it at the same time, so I'm happy with that! Makes it easier when I'm flying as solo parent. Plus it frees up our after school play time and piano practice time.

Yesterday we ended up with a very full house. Smarty texted from the bus to see if a friend down the street could come over and Sergeant asked if another friend down the road in the other direction could come over, so they did. Then Sergeant went to the friend's house for a bit and Smarty's friend called his parents to see if he could stay for supper. So there was another chair at the table and another voice for conversation. It was a good time.

Then we walked to the mall down the way for a prescription pick up and some fresh air. And some complaining, but that's normal! Today after supper I was super mean and made the kids clean up the toys in the basement and then we went out. It was cold and grey all day but the sun decided to shine right before dinner time, so we enjoyed some fresh air. Walked through a few trails, played at a muddy park, and came home. Lots of water in those boots!

Spring break is next week! And before we know it, it'll be Easter. I'm making a trip down to see family with the littles for that weekend since we live so much closer now. I feel really good about that decision and the kids are super excited too.

How was the time change for all of you? That first week was absolutely brutal here! I think we are still adjusting to it. Slowly getting readjusted, but there is a lot of tired going around! 

Use the Force!

I am enjoying the way that Facebook brings memories of past years back to look at. This morning I was greeted with a short little video of Girlie playing with Daddy with the boys chuckling in the background. I though I would share it here too.

The Force sure is strong with this crew!



Isn't that adorable??

As I'm sitting here we just finished a family game of UNO (the boys wanted payback for me winning twice last night) and guess who won? Again? :D

Just a quick, short one today. Have a good night!

Learning Curve!

I have been losing track of the places we've visited! This last week was Norway, the week before was Bermuda. I have started a new blog specifically for food/crafting, so I'll update food travels there later this week. My first post can be found here.

It's been busy as always here at home. Sergeant started archery as an extra curricular through the school and he signed up for a couple of tournaments. His first was a week ago and he did well. They focused on sportsmanship, the experience of competing, and helping with scoring. It was certainly cool to watch! He has another one this Saturday, and he's pretty excited for it.

This round of swimming lessons is finishing up this week. Last one for the three bigger children, then maybe a little break and sign them up again. Get at least one more session done before school gets out. It is wonderful to watch the kids' water confidence skyrocket, boys getting more and more confident in the deeper water, Girlie too! Monkey is fearless in the deep end as long as she has a life jacket. I'm so incredibly pleased with how they all are doing. They are taking instruction from their instructors well, and incorporating it quickly. Exactly what a parent hopes to see.

I received a message from one of Smarty's teachers earlier this week. Just to let us know how much she appreciates him and his contributions to the class. That he exhibits respect for everyone, that he's kind and thoughtful, and responsible. It was so nice to hear those words, and to have that communication with the teaching staff.

Girlie is continuing to astound her teacher with reading and vocabulary, just plowing through the site words that they have for each reading level. At the end of the day, we've found it difficult at times to get her to talk openly about her day, simply because she says "I don't know" or "I don't remember" so the first thing I ask her now is "what did you read today?" and then she usually starts going on and on and on. It's so good to hear how she feels about certain story lines or different characters!

Monkey is practicing writing her name more and more. It's not terribly legible, but it's better than it was a few weeks ago. Seeing that improvement, and knowing she wants to keep going shows a really strong determination. I have a feeling that she'll be, much like Sergeant when he first started full time school, disappointed and sad when she doesn't instantly know how to read after the first day!

So Monkey is started Kindergarten in the fall, and I'm staring an online program tomorrow! It's a good shift and change in my focus, and I feel that the timing is right. I'm grateful that I'll be doing this program now, at a place where we have so many wonderful supports, and when Monkey will be starting school. Hooray for learning new things!