April in Paris & Disneyland

We just got back from a long weekend in Paris and did a day at Disneyland. It's a 5 hour drive there and back, so they had lots of time to work on their reading list. Since Graeme is almost done, I need to take a look at the next level, but it seems like it is part of the core...anyone use Sonlight for that next level in reading?

We stayed at the Park & Suites, which I would recommend. It had two bedrooms (doubles), a sofa bed and a kitchenette, so it has plenty of space for our family of 6. It was relatively nice and had a complimentary breakfast each morning. It would have been nice if it had a pool, since it was so cold, but we weren't there long enough for it to matter. It was 5-10 minutes from Val D'Europe and DL-Paris  and had a free shuttle service, but we didn't use it. So, excited to see a MALL! Had some fun in Zara. I was hunting for some sweater UGGS for the girls, but the outlet there had almost no kids boots, and it was starting to get late.

At Disneyland Paris, we had lots of fun on the rides and checking out the Pink Castle - which you can walk through! Adventure Land has some really neat caves and grottos to walk through (and get lost in) and the Swiss Family Robinson felt bigger than California, but that could have just been me. We only stood in line once for a character, and Legend really wishes it had been Mouse - which we didn't see at all until we got to the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show - classic and entertaining show about what America is not like anymore. He got a stuffed one, but I think he would have really enjoyed it, since he adores Mouse. An interesting fact about DL Paris - they don't embroider your name in Mickey hats. In fact, the staff looks very much like you are crazy and has to ask many different people to verify, but no Mickey personalized hats to be found. :(

2013 Reading List | Graeme & Heidi

Graeme and Heidi have had a fantastic time reading these past few years and they wanted to share their current reading list and at the end of the list (when they are done) they want to come back and review each book (I will add these later). Heidi caught up to Graeme last year and they are doing the same reading list, which makes my job easier. 

For their "school readers" we are using Sonlight's grade 4-5 readers. They started them in late November, and we don't really follow the schedule, as they tend to complete them at their own pace. Some days they do a whole book, while other weeks it may take a bit longer to complete a book. Isn't it like that with every book!

More Stories from Grandma's Attic 

The Whipping Boy

The Children of Noisy Village

Ralph S. Mouse

Betsy & Tacy Go Over the Big Hill

Henry and Ribsy

Encyclopedia Brown

Marco Polo

The King's Equal

McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm  Heidi is here currently

Socks

"B" is for Betsy

Lumber Camp Library

Emily's Runaway Imagination  Graeme is here

Ginger Pye

Misty of Chincoteague

Frindle

Along Came a Dog

Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West

Reviews to come....

Life, Liberty and 113 degrees

So, it has been a little while since I posted. Almost 4 months. Is that a sentence? It's been hot here. Not a lot new there.

In that short time frame we found a house. Bought it. Moved in. Etc. We're just trying to unpack and get settled in. Graeme just finished 2 months of Summer Swim team. In the prelims, he came in 13th out of 50 5-7 year olds in the freestyle. He rocked it! I can't swim the butterfly and he makes it look effortless.

One of Graeme's swim meets....note the hard core Mohawk and Amber necklace. His swim teacher liked it, so he wanted to give her one as a thank you. The necklace, not the mohawk. It was sweet.

Not in the water yet (looking down in the water - 2nd in line behind the dude squatting)

Backstroke - top of picture.

He's in the closest lane in this one (freestyle).

A brief (thankfully) Star Wars obsession thanks to Aunt Cacie.

The two older kids love to help Kaatje try to walk. She enjoys it.

When I can't find Kaatje, she has usually curled up in her favorite chair just sitting there all by herself.

Heidi is a great big sister. :)

See, I love it when Heidi reads to me. Note the stools. Kaatje is sitting on Grandpa Jimmy's handmade stool and Heidi is sitting on Grandma Be Be's.
Well, it's official. I LOVE blackberries.

Playdate with a friend at the new house.

Blue Lily

So we had a wonderful photography session at a local hot spot for special occasions by an awesome photographer recommend by my dear friend Rachel. We sooo needed a family picture!

Here are some of the shots....and I actually have to CHOOSE which ones to frame. Who can choose???

Aren't they ADORABLE....

One of my favorites of K

Back on the home front...

Valentine's Day Playgroup party

One of our "wheels day" playdates at our house.

One of our couple friends had a wonderful idea for Valentine's Day date night....a kid trade. We were both able to go out that weekend and have a few precious hours of good conversation...and our kids had a blast playing together.

Two cuties born just days apart!

More of the cuties mastering their sitting techniques....

The two Hs doing what they do best....pretending!

Daddy & H at the zoo on our favorite animal...the carousel!

Our mommies group has signed up to host a Music Together like class every week at the park. The kids LOVE it!!

Been a while...massive updates

Seth's parents and brother came out for Christmas. We all had a good time enjoying the weather...and opening gifts. We had to bag up three bags of previously loved toys to give away to make room for this year's generosity.

H as a moose, courtesy of Uncle Kirk.

G loved the rifle that Grandpa Jimmy got him...here he is trying to figure out how to load the caps.

A dish set and a Rubix cube...two happy kiddos. :)

Grandpa John and Baby K

H loved her purse. It's a big hit with the gals when they come over for dress up.

In January, the baby started sitting up by herself. I love progression even though I know it's supposed to happen and she is doing everything in a typical way, it is still amazing to watch.

The kids and I went back to Illinois in for almost 4 weeks...I wish I could say it was all fun....but I was working the whole time. We called it typing. H still tells stories of mommy having to go "type." We actually moved the store into our MUCH larger space AND worked on taxes....AH!

Here is a little of what Bon and I worked on....

While we were slaving away....the kids had a blast playing in the snow!

Uncle Ethan took the kids sledding - WF style. :) He couldn't find a sled, so he hooked up the top of a wheelbarrow to the 4-wheeler for a rocking good time. The kids loved it!

Some families like to play games together, have a meal together, share a laugh...mine engages in family play(dough) night....what can I say, I come by my love of playdough honestly. Yes, the kids made playdough with grandma. We wouldn't dream of making such fun shapes out of the canned stuff. LOL.
















A little taste of the snow storm....and there goes Grandma Bebe's awing....


















Uncle Ethan and friends....


















Great Grandma Harriet and friends, F is posing...



















Grandpa Jimmy and Grandma Trena and friends....
still posing....and a great picture of the sprained wrist of little I
























And who wouldn't love it when their big sister reads to them....