Monday: Andy rubbing Alexis's back while she does school.
Waiting to get Tilly's cast off.
Cutting off the top part.
Cutting the underside. We've never seen a cast taken off so it was fun.
Afterward we went to a friend's house who also homeschools. Thomas demonstrated how he could pogo stick while eating his sandwich.
Talea shows me her baby all swaddled and wanted a picture.
Thomas is doing school in the background. He has several AP classes online.
The view off Willis Gap by our driveway. Kylie wanted a picture before she left but didn't get one so I took this. Come visit and see for yourself. It's way prettier than this.
Tuesday: Talea trying to get a butterfly to climb on her finger.
I called the kids to come for history and Talea came running with her workbook. When I asked if she could go play with Andy so that I could just teach the middle kids she burst into tears. She threw the cutest fit to do school, saying, "But I wuv doing school."
Andy was sad we didn't have time to do our "Fall that's all" party before the kids left for rehearsal so we had popcorn and read books to make him happy.
Wednesday: Saying good bye to me as I leave for the temple.
Can't believe I'm back at the Raleigh Temple. It's 2.5 hours away and schedules months out so I won't be able to go very often but a couple of months ago I made sure to get an appointment this week because my family always goes the week of my dad's death anniversary. It was so nice to be back. It was also the anniversary of my divorce being final. Can't believe how much my life has changed in one year.
Driving home from Raleigh.
Our "Fall That's All" party!
Alexis taking everyone from Samuel on up to YW, activity days, and Wizard of Oz rehearsal.
It rained for 2 days straight and when I went to check our rain gauge it was overflowing. It said 6" but on the news that night it said we got 7.5" so far and it rained all night so I'm assuming we got at least 8.
While the older kids were gone Talea and I put up a few last decorations like our witch.
Tilly wearing the fall outfit that used to be Makenna's.
Thomas made butterfingers for our party but they rushed off before we ate them so the older kids ate them when they got home.
Thursday: Finally a day of sunshine and cooler temps after being muggy for 11 days. These 3 played in the woods while I did school with the middle kids and I put lunch on the table for them for when they came out of the woods.
I love Alexis' beautiful piano playing and miss the older kids.
Tackling a neglected garden box. We thought it'd be a good day after 8" of rain.
All done!! Now we need to do the one behind it next time it rains.
Stopping to hold the skink.
Alexis picked pokeberries to make ink.
Friday: Happy to do school. Like I said, she loves to do workbooks and flies through them and cries when it's time to stop.
After lunch we went outside for recess and ended up working/playing some.
Sam and Kenna are catching walnuts that kids were throwing off the roof.
Thomas and Kaitlyn doing an Oz dance on the shed roof.
Now all the kids are wanting to dance on the roof and throw nuts off.
Meanwhile I cut a dead limb off the dogwood.
Back to school. I love seeing kids contentedly reading a book I assigned them in the hammock for an hour.
Meanwhile we did botany outside.
Tilly sketching a flower.
We stopped and watched a grasshopper munching a leaf.
I love how interested Andy was while Kait pokes her head into the picture like she always does. :) It's only a matter of time before she's camera shy, haha.
After school we hiked through the front woods and Thomas showed us his fort and city. This is his secret stash spot where he keeps cool acorns.
After dinner Thomas went back out to read in the hammock and soon found his bottom on the ground.
Andy demonstrated what happened.
Then quickly found a game to play with the holey hammock.
We had the Gomez's from church over for dinner and popcorn and had a great evening with them.
Bad picture, but they're super fun.
Saturday: We went outside to work after lunch but then all just sat around carving wands or playing with dolls or talking for a bit. Makes my heart so happy.
We burned 3 huge brush piles and put on our Fall That's All music while we worked. Here Talea is singing along into her microphone stick.
We took turns tending the fire, picking up millions of walnuts, and taking a quick break. During Kait and Kenna's break they sat on the shed roof and carved wands.
Foil dinners!
Tilly sticking her bread in butter and then stuffing it in her mouth.
Talea and her 2 boyfriends in her primary class with her teacher, Charlie Brown. :)
He's an awesome Sunbeam teacher. She's so lucky to have him.
