Home Learning and Halloween Prep

We are getting ready for Halloween! We are going to be a family of flying squirrels - we are just waiting for Edison to buy in!

We celebrated Grand Daddy's birthday!

A tiny taste of semi-normalcy - kids on campus this past week for school picture days. We took the opportunity to modify the Senior Handprint Wall tradition with these plywood boards. I went into school a few days to prep them, trace out the numbers, paint the numbers on, etc. And then we were ready for the big moment of having our seniors come put handprints on and sign them. It was a real treat to be part of it and know we could at least to THIS for our seniors.

While I was at school, Nana was having some special grandmother time with the kids, which definitely involved homemade apple sauce and baking cookies.

Reed and I did a run/bike ride while Edison swam - we are trying to make the most of the last of our sunny autumn days.

Meanwhile Charlotte did more baking (from scratch!) with Bryn and Harper on the early release Wednesday. She was especially pleased with their hard work and her ability to ride her bike there.

Squirrels - at it again. It's a regular nighttime routine at this point!

Our neighborhood goes all out for Halloween. It's been fun to see it take shape on our morning walks.

Charlotte and Reed were very motivated to decorate our house, too. So we pulled the Halloween box down from the attic and they were very creative putting everything out.

We also find time for school - so much school! Its actually been very rewarding to be part of it and the kids are thriving in this environment and we get to spend a lot of time together!

Call used Charlotte and Bryn's bitmoji house for a counting/equations activity in Reed's first grade class. So cool!!!

And Charlotte is doing awesome in her math class - it was so fun to receive this special note from her teacher!

Love seeing the boys with their heads bent together on our morning walks.

Creative pumpkin art with Ms. Phipps!

And family swim time at Aqua Club continues into the fall!

Sunny Fall Weekend at the Cabin with Friends

We had a restorative and invigorating weekend with friends out in Plain. It was 75 and sunny and the fall color was stunning. Our Saturday hike was to Lanham Lake near the Stevens Pass Nordic Center. The hike was just right for the kids and through some nice woods. The lake itself was so low it was stagnant and didn't have good beach access, so we hung on the logs. 

After lunch we met at Lake Wenatchee for an afternoon of water play. I can't believe this was October! Definitely appreciated every second of sunshine we were able to soak up.

The kids took the floats all the way to the island - very impressive!

 We had a really awesome campfire Saturday night and the kids had epic hide and seek battles in the woods. After packing up and cleaning, we drove to Barclay Lake near Baring and did a hike Sunday morning, too.

It was foggy and cool, so we probably should have hiked east of the mountains, but Barclay Lake had its own mystique and we even got to see a wedding happening at the far end. It was 2 miles and pretty flat - so a great one for the kids. Plus, it was beautiful. Must do again!

OCTOBER - Home Learning 2.0 - One Month In

Reed had to gather leaves for a school project. We took the time for a nice morning walk, enjoyed it so much we are trying to make it a regular thing. The sunrise looked stunning over the lake due to the smoke - which wasn't so bad this time as to keep us indoors, thank goodness.

Steve took Edison and his friends on a bike ride from our house across 520 to Bellevue to celebrate the end of their first month of school. It was a blast - the boys were perfectly exhausted at the end.

Charlotte has been playing with Bryn and Harper a lot - this is their make believe doggy game.

We're playing games before bed now which has been a lot of fun.

On this morning walk we counted over 300 spider webs covered in dew. 

Reed and I got our exercise on the trail while Edison and Charlotte were swimming.

Friday's morning walk - one day he will actually go inside ;-)

Charlotte and Bryn are collaborating on a Bitmoji house. On Friday the families got a tour!

Girls' Weekend on Hood Canal with Rachelle and Rebecca

Getting in the spirit and feeling hopeful. Three houses out of four at my intersection have Biden/Harris signs!!! 

I spent this past weekend with Rachelle and Rebecca out at Rachelle's cabin on Hood Canal. Love these ladies. Also - we are ladies who move! Five-mile walk, yummy lunch, two-mile paddle board, appetizers, sunset stroll, amazing dinner from scratch from Rebecca. Sweet!!!

And its back to home learning... viola / screen breaks in backyard / little boys to the beach while big kids are at swim practice / beautiful weather this week. Can't complain!