Just being cute

We have had two great days in a row. I moved the kids' normal morning chores to before breakfast, and what an improvement to our day! Yesterday was one of our best schooling days ever. Everything went better than I could have ever hoped. We got our religion, math, handwriting, reading, and read alouds done well before lunch. Anna & Jonah had silent reading during quiet time and then we read Ping and learned a little about China. To top off the day, we read poetry at tea time and Anna read a ton of books to Eli while I folded laundry. I need to make a note of this day just so I remember that days like this are possible.

Speaking of Milestones....

This is Anna's first attempt at running away from home. She packed her bags determined to leave me and return to Texas. I prudently suggested she wear a coat for the long trip, and she did take that advice. She made it all the way to the yard and around the house before stomping back in to her room. Phew! Check that milestone off the list, too.

4yo Boy + Scissors = Buzz Cut

Jonah's self-styling... Mark's styling...

Here's the sad story. Friday morning I walked into the kitchen and noticed a lot of tiny scratches on the floor. My heart stoped beating as I thought, What Did They Do??? I bent down to touch the scratches and realized that the scratches were really blond hairs on the floor. Puzzled, I wondered if Sarah was pulling out her hair earlier that day. I swept and dustbusted the mess and then went to find Anna & Jonah to see if they had noticed Sarah doing something weird with her hair. Out of the bathroom popped my beloved Jonah sporting a new do. Yet another childhood milestone met.

Resurrection Class

I think I've been replaced as our homeschool preschool teacher. Today Anna decided that she was going to teach Resurrection Class. When she said that, I thought she surely couldn't mean resurrection. She must be using the wrong word. Well, I eavesdropped on her class (that's what all the good moms do, ya know), and she did mean resurrection. She told the boys all about Jesus dying on the cross and rising again. Then.....drum roll....she even had them do crafts!!!!! She made them each a cross to color. She wrote their initials on their crosses and drew a picture of Jesus on their crosses. Isn't that just too funny? She hung up all their pictures from school during their recess. I don't know how she learned about recess??? You can see the crosses in the picture below. The other pictures are just free expression. They must have had extra art time in class.

Birthday Girl

The big day has come and gone. I think Anna had a wonder filled day. She opened her presents right away in the morning and was surprised to discover that Grandma Linda had given her two things from her list. Shocker!! She wore her birthday dress all day (and again today). In case you have to ask, her birthday dress is the dress that Ellen made for her. Mark took her on a lunch date, and he brought her a rose when he picked her up. Isn't that super sweet? Then, Anna & Jonah had a playdate with their (only) friends in our new town. The girls came after school and stayed for dinner and cake (or supper as the 4yo frequently corrected me). The kids only have one friend each, but their friends seem like great kids. They are 6yo & 4yo sisters, and luckily, the 4yo is a tomboy. They even have a 2yo brother, so Eli will be able to get in on the playdate action when he's older. We are very blessed to have met this family and even more blessed that they like us!!

Bookend girls, boy sandwich

So, the picture is blurry, but I thought it was still a cute shot. You can see our bookend girls and our boy sandwich. I'm too cute with words. :) Sarah was very excited to be on the couch like a big kid.

6 years, 364 days

Here she is showing off her new earings and the adorable matching outfits. Now we just need to schedule Felicity an appointment at the American Girl store to have her ears pierced too.

Tonight I said good night to my sweet 6yo baby girl. Tomorrow I will say good morning to a sweet 7yo. Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday she was toddling around like Sarah is today. Both girls received lots of extra kisses today as I waited for my big girl to turn another year older.