A Week in Review...

We started school last Monday.  Things went pretty well.  Only the spider in the window stopped us for a short time.

The biggest challenge I see this school year is adjusting to the new math curriculum for the Professor.  We're using Harold Jacobs Algebra instead of Math-U-See.  It's not quite as user friendly but we just have to get use to the layout, wording and method of  delivery.  If it doesn't end up working for me, I'll have to pass it off to Josh and if it still doesn't work then we will switch back to Math-U-See.  But Harold Jacobs is what all the veteran math teachers in our community swear by.  We'll see.

Josh and I managed a date night last weekend to Langley to see the movie "The Game Stands Tall."  We had dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory afterwards.  That was yummy!  Our 16th wedding anniversary is this coming weekend and that was our gift. 

We saw a hot air balloon on our drive home.  I think it was having trouble finding a spot to land.

 I had a power shopping trip at Value Village the other day.  The Professor had grown, again, out of all his pajama pants.  So a quick trip and $60.00 later had me toting a bag of pajama bottoms for the Professor, shirts and pants for the Scientist and two outfits for Blossom.  All in the span of about 40 minutes. 

This is how the boys feel about shopping.  

And this weekend I'm preparing for a large Boy Scout Court of Honor.  This is the big one after summer, summer camp and all those activities that earned them merit badges and rank.  I've been working on it for the last 5 weeks.  Thankfully my boys were able to squeeze in a Scoutmaster conference on the last day of the deadline.  And they barely secured my last two board of review slots that same evening.  How appropriate, the Advancement Coordinator's sons are the very last ones to make rank on the day of the deadline.  Well, no one can say I'm out to get my own boys ahead of anyone else.

A scout to tenderfoot and a tenderfoot to 2nd class.

Next week we throw another ball into the air,  weekly piano lessons.  I'm looking forward to hearing those boys play again. 

Frangrance Lake Hike...

The whole family went on a hike Sunday the 7th.  We brought a good friend along too.  We were motivated to help these boys check off the 5 mile hike requirement in their Boy Scout books. 

I'm the planner, so I picked the hike with the help of a friend in Ferndale.  I read about the hike but just couldn't visualize what 1000 ft. of elevation gain in 2 miles really looked or felt like. 

Oh!  Let me tell you, I now know what it looks and feels like! 

Granted I didn't have 25 lbs of pack and baby on my back but I did have 3 liters of water and our snacks.

It was a tough hike. Just look at the Architect in the pictures.   Maybe the coming down was even the hardest part.  I think the Scientist had the most fun and we thought it would be the hardest for him. 

The lake was pleasant but not mind blowing.  I think the most interesting part was seeing all the people hiking out as we hiked in.  So many babies in backpacks and dogs enjoying the hike. 

When we neared the top I kept asking the people as they would pass "we're almost there, right?"  
"Oh ya!" They would say.  "You can do it!"

Blossom did amazing.  Half way through we stopped at the lake, had snacks, fed the baby and got back on the trail.  She took it all in stride like, "yep, I do this all the time."  Then she fell asleep on the hike down.

Ok, ok so I did the hike.  And in 3 hours I would like to add.  But that's not something I would repeat again anytime soon.  My legs, hips and feet were not happy with me. 

September Starts...

Three weeks without a post - usually means I've thrown another ball into the air and I'm working on keeping it up with all the others.  
This ball was fall activities starting.  Football, Cub Scouts and Speech Club. 

 Cubs in a race.

First football game of the season.

Each one has it's own logistical challenges which are magnified with a little one in tow.  And then I picked up knitting again because the weather is turning cooler.  Fall always makes me want to knit.   Which is crazy because I have plenty to do getting ready for school and sitting down doesn't help me do that. 

 Knitting for Blossom

 So, I took a break from knitting for a few days while Josh was out of town on business and I completely reworked the school shelves.  Out with the old and in with the new.  We are ready! 
The 2014-2015 Homeschool year officially starts next Monday in the Johnson house.

Yes, I'm worried about the bottom shelves and the little one.

 

 Blossom Updates -

• She's almost 9 months old  
• Been with us 2 months 
• Identifies us as "her" people
• Has the pincher grasp down and can feed herself a Gerber Puff.
• Scoots backwards on the floor during tummy time
• Can now roll over easily from back to front and does this everyday in her crib. This creates the challenge of the diaper leaking.  I have to figure that one out.
• She zooms around the "Around We Go."
• Starting to say the beginning sounds of book and dog when referring to these. Starting to say the ending sound of water.  Starting to figure out the signs for more and finished.  Understands soooo much more when we talk to her.  
• I'm starting to baby proof the floor level in my home.  Oh, what a job!
• I just realized the other day that we will be the ones to teach her "no."  :- /
• And thanks to some borrowed, some hand-me-downs and some bought used.... we are cloth diapering 90% of the day but not at night.  Pretty good!

Just trying to give her the best and stay on budget.  She brings us so much joy!