Weekly Wind Down {Puppy Delivery, Hot Days, Snots, & a Slow Week} May 8-14

Sunday was Mother's Day.  Mike stayed home with the two youngest girls who had snots and coughs and I went to Missouri to have lunch at Andrea and Vance's and also to collect my little Zayden from Theo's birthday party.  Mike built me a solid stand for my porch swing that I had from our Missouri house.  Lauren and Lance had given us a metal one but it took a turn this spring and couldn't be repaired.  

We brought along one of the lab puppies from Andrea's to meet it's new owner at our house.  This saved both Andrea/Vance and the new owner a couple hours of driving each and the kids were excited to love on Coco for awhile.

After Coco left we played outside awhile and Mike made a yummy supper of meatloaf and the works.

Monday was a day at home and a day of outside and rest.

We took school outside in the morning and tried to soak up as much vitamin D and sunshine as we could.

Lots of fresh fruits and veggies this week - eat those vitamins.

Isn't she just a pretty thing?

Ameliya finished her reading workbook.  Congratulations, Mia!

Monday afternoon I had all the children lay down for a nap.  The coughers were a lot better, but we'd had a busy stressful few days and I thought it would do everyone some good to rest.

Zayden had baseball practice Monday evening but that was the only thing on the calendar.  I kept the others home.

After supper Mike and Natalee worked on math.

Tuesday Natalee had early morning therapy.  We did a bit of school, and then headed out to the new inclusion park in a nearby town for mom's group.  I'm not very good at taking pictures during mom's group.  A husband of one of the mom's went on his lunch break and brought back popsicles.  The children were delighted and, though we don't do dye on the regular, we try to relax here and there.  It was very hot and the cool treat was very welcome.

We came home mid afternoon for rests and to cool down.  Mia had a soccer game Tuesday evening.  It was still warm but with a nice breeze and very tolerable.

Wednesday morning Evalynn had gymnastics.  I visited with a mom I hadn't met before during her class.

It was a pretty steamy day, so we got a couple hours of play in outdoors but then came in to cool down.

Water table in the shade sure helps the little ones keep cool.

Zayden had practice Wednesday evening, but we didn't have any games so it was a nice early night at home.  This was a good week for recovery and relaxing.

Thursday Ameliya made a new baked brownie oatmeal for breakfast.  

Everyone was happy to try it out. 

It was a hippotherapy day.  Ameliya also had speech.  The other four children took scooters, chalk, and roller blades to play on the cement during hippotherapy and Natalee got to ride on the sensory trail outside.

We were surprised mid morning when one of the maintenance employees came by to tell us he was there to replace the door.  We knew they were going to do it at some point, as we'd requested it (the old one was in bad shape), but it's always a pleasant surprise to have a project get done.

We're thankful for every upgrade the campus makes to the home and continue to try to be good stewards of it while it's under our care.  They let us choose the new door within a budget, and we chose one with built in blinds.  There is no overhead lighting in the living room and having that big door window to open every morning brings in so much light!

Off to baseball we went Thursday evening.

Xavier playing catcher.

I let the kids play after the game while Mike loaded the van and Xavier finished up his coach chat and getting his things together.  They loved the old metal slide over the new plastic one that was next to it.

His biggest fan.....

Evalynn tries to talk to Xavier while he's catching and I know it takes a lot of concentration for him to not turn to her.

When we got home Thursday evening we just didn't want to go in.  So we didn't.  The kids played till past dark outside.

Friday everyone slept in a bit, and that's okay.  It's the time of year when the children are in and out with their school work.  Some choose to do their daily reading on the porch swing, or a subject on the back patio.  I love this time of year.  Zayden finished his reading workbook.  Congratulations, Zayden!!

I worked quite a lot Thursday and Friday on learning a new music curriculum.  This entailed some training videos and organizing some material I printed out.  While I was at the table working, Evalynn got out the supplies she wanted to use and sat down near me to work.  I love watching her brain.

Before I released the children to the wild, they presented their state projects.  I let them all choose a state and didn't give many guidelines as to what they needed to present.  It was just for fun as a way to wrap up our state unit. 

Much of Friday was spent outdoors.  We logged over 6 1/2 hours outside.  Evie had to have a quick couch nap to be able to keep going, though.

Mia had a soccer game Friday so off we went to the fields in the sunshine.  Bubbles keep Evalynn very happy at sporting events.

Ameliya scored a goal!  Way to go, Mia!

We picked up a Wal-Mart order after the soccer game that included two take and bake pizzas.  Supper!  LOL.  The kids played outside with Mike while I got them cooked and then we ate outside, too.

I tried to bird watch.  Birds aren't too interested when there are children in the yard.

Evalynn has been doing a better job this week of sitting down and playing imaginatively for longer periods of time.  I love to see that.

Saturday was a modge podge day, but not an idle one.  

Playing quietly again.

I tried to make myself an iced coffee with coconut milk because our Wal Mart doesn't have oat and I was being lazy about going into Hy Vee.  Not a fan.

Xavier had ball practice at 9 a.m.  The girls and I did a bit of shopping.   

Ameliya's pretty drawing she made to mail to a friend.

After practice, Mike worked on the lawn.  Xavier, Ameliya and I went to the greenhouse to get some plants.  We spent the late afternoon/early evening planting the front flower bed, some pots, and the grow bags I bought to try out.

Evalynn chose a pot and flower of her own and she's very excited to water it everyday.  It shall never be thirsty!

The extent of our "garden."  This isn't where I thought we'd be this year.  I honestly thought we'd be on a piece of land of our own being a little more "homestead-er-y" than we are.  But here we are.  We can choose contentedness.  

We were all so dirty we made mud in the shower.  The children had to come in one at a time as the shower was available because there was no where I wanted such dirty little beings to sit while they waited their turn.  Ha!

After 5 hours outdoors I did make everyone come in for supper and to get cleaned up Saturday evening.  We spent the couple hours before bed doing a quick clean to host guests on Sunday and make it appear that we hadn't neglected our home.  LOL.