Weekly Wind Down {First Baseball Game, Co-op Share Night, First Soccer Game} April 23-29

Sunday we went to worship.  After, Natalee and Xavier had VBS practice and then Xavier had baseball practice.  A full day.  I spent time prepping for our final co-op of the year.

We were up and out early Monday for co-op.  My K-3 class polished our music presentation for share night and completed our self portraits to display.  To wrap up our preschool I brought large motor toys for the kids to play on and we read some books about birds together.

We visited Aunt Annette before we headed back home.  

Evalynn and I took a walk after we got home.  She collected pine cones in her hoody pocket which was fun for me later.

Retrieving the bat he "accidentally" threw on the roof.

Mike took the kids to Xavier's baseball practice (everyone wanted to go along) and I stayed home and made tacos which everyone was very ready for when they got home.

Tuesday was a slow start to school but we got it going.  As I was making lesson plans and looking back through last week's lessons I was just taken by how lovely Zayden's cursive writing is.  We've really like the Rhythm of Handwriting cursive book if anyone is looking.

Tuesday evening brought soccer practice for Ameliya and Xavier's first double header baseball games.  We're so enjoying hanging out with our new friends, the Fross', as our kids' ages align almost perfectly and we cross paths often at the sports complex and at church activities.  Their oldest two sons play on the same team as Xavier, and so does Jace, so it was a regular ole party at the ball field.  

The boys lost one game, won one game, and had a big time playing on the new university field.  It was a lovely night for baseball.

Tuesday's late night brought another slow start on Wednesday.

We got our school completed, Natalee made a big batch of cookies for youth group, and then I took Xavier to baseball practice.  I read my book in the sun while he practiced and then Mike and I switched and he did youth group duties while I went back home with our youngest three.  Wednesday night Mike got a call that his dad wasn't feeling well and he decided he wanted to go to Missouri so he left home about 10:30 and spent the night and Thursday with Papa George.  

We got started on school Thursday, but left mid morning for hippotherapy.  

Mia, Zayden, and I got all our history read while Natalee had her session and Xavier helped Evalynn with her preschool - all outdoors in the glorious sunshine.  Mike came back into town just in time to grab our pizza carry out and we ate before heading out to our co-op Share Night.

Share Night was a resounding success!  What a blessed two years we've had with this group of families who have become dear friends.  We got the news this week that our co-op is disbanding, which is a hard thing to acknowledge, but we're trying to be very grateful for the two years we got.  We're praying about what next year looks like for us and searching out our options.

Back to share night....

The opening song was so sweet.  Please catch Evie at 38 seconds look at her little friend and say, "my grandma's here."  Grandma and Grandpa Tallman came all the way from Missouri! and Aunt Annette came over, too.  What a joy to have people in the crowd for us.  As evident by Evalynn's "stage whisper" we were proud to have them there.

Our sweet little preschooler was happy to have her moment on stage...

Ameliya and Zayden were in the K-3 group.  Their share for their lit class is first on this video, and then our performances from music class are in the middle of the video.  We had so much fun preparing our music presentations.

Their dance for their PE performance was absolutely adorable.

Natalee and Xavier had three very detailed presentations for their class shares.

I loved their dances from PE and appreciate all of the effort that Tami put into their class this year.

Their ASL/Music Appreciation presentations were really fun and highlighted their class so well.

Sara gave them such an independence in their STEAM class and I was so impressed with their project and what they accomplished.

The entire co-op program is here:

After the program we showed the art projects and displays to Grandma, Papa, and Aunt Annette before they headed out and we loaded our things up.

My K-3 art class displayed our "bubble blowing selfies"

and our mixed media hot air balloon projects.

My preschoolers displayed their birdie handprints and their painting with feathers posters. 

(took these photos of their projects as I was packing our things up to go to share night)

It was late when we got home, later yet for Grandma and Papa for sure!

Friday started slow - seemed to be a theme of the week - but we worked through school with cheerful attitudes.  The day was nice and we spent a lot of time outside and then went to Mia's first soccer game.  The temps dropped fast! and we were ill dressed for the wind and rain that blew in.  Mia played hard and had a good time and I'll cheer for that, even in the cold rain.

She got to do the opening rock, paper, scissors for which team got the ball first.

Love you Mia!

Saturday was gray and rainy with intermittent sunbursts.  We cleaned house, washed bedding, and righted ourselves after a busy week!