Parade of Candy

This past Saturday morning we were all up early and made it into town to have breakfast at a local cafe before the Colorado County Fair and Rodeo Parade started at 10. The kids weren't too sure at first but once they realized that almost every single float or car in it was throwing candy out, they sure enjoyed it! We made it home with a big bagful of candy. After the parade, I hit up the farmer's market that is out every Saturday and took home some fresh kolaches, squash, and okra. I fried up the okra that night to go with the roasted chicken I had going in the crockpot. Yum!

Mattie enjoyed waving at everybody and dancing to the music!

'Murica.

Too soon

Hailey has been "lunge crawling" here lately and can get where she wants to go. And now there's this:

What do you think you're doing?

No. No you are not.

Nuh-uh. Stop it now.

You are only 6 months old! You can't do that yet!

How in the? What in the? I am not ready for this.

Dog. Digging. Dirt.

While the kids were out playing nearby, Bella started digging one of her holes to try and catch a mole. She makes quick work of our sandy soil.

But then she starts to grow tired and stops to take a break.

And that's when Levi moves in! He quickly took advantage of the pre-dug hole to do some construction site work with his trucks.

"I'm getting my work done, mom."

New Children's Museum

A perk of homeschooling are the field trips we can do whenever we want! The Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center, which is an extension of the Houston Children's Museum, opened this past Memorial Day. There was no way I was going on opening weekend or during the summer. I have been excited for the time period when schools have started back and before the students start going on field trips, so we could visit several museums when they are a little quieter. Hailey had an early morning check up in Katy, so I planned the day so we could come here afterwards. It's located in Sugar Land at the old Imperial Sugar building. We also met up with another boy that was in Levi's preschool class last year. His mom is homeschooling him too. We all had a blast! This museum is pretty small, but it was perfect for my 3 and 5 year old. We easily killed 2 hours there and could have stayed a little longer but it was about 12:30 and we were getting hungry.

Mattie was watching a screen that makes it look like you are riding the scooter in the streets of Vietnam.

My mad face painting skills while rocking a stroller for a baby that wanted out of it.

Homeschooling the Gap Year

Due to his late summer birthday, I kept Levi home this year instead of starting Kindergarten. I talked to numerous people to gather thoughts and opinions and really debated what to do. In the end, I went with my gut to delay him. I'm not worried about how he'd do in Kindergarten, but more so for first grade and later when school really gets serious. He's smart and loves to learn but he is not one to sit still and stay at a desk all day. I'm pretty sure his teachers will thank me later. So instead, for his "gap year" as I'm calling it, we're doing our own version of Kindergarten at home. I'm not following any curriculum (I did look into several) but instead doing our own thing. We started when the local school district started so we can follow the same schedule for the most part. A couple of weeks in now and we're both doing great! I am able to be a lot more patient with him (it's a miracle! God must be hearing my prayers to grant me more patience!) and he is learning a ton and absolutely loving it. He can't wait to do school each day. We only do a couple of hours at a time but that is plenty for us and we get a lot done. So here is his "first day of school" picture.

Mattie always hangs out at the table with us. Some things she can do too or I modify for her. She's even completed a little "Same or Different" workbook that she enjoyed working in. And how she picks up things! Whereas Levi seems to be a visual learner, Mattie is definitely auditory. She listens to everything I tell him and I hear her repeating it later. Her preschool teachers told me last year that they always called her the valedictorian of the class because even though she was the youngest, she seemed way ahead in some of her critical thinking and reasoning skills. She really is one smart cookie.

This is when she spelled "Mom" on the fridge from hearing Levi say it. 

Sleeping Beauties

Mattie crashed at 7:00 after getting home from her week with Gigi and Pawpaw. This is so unlike her I had to take a picture. She actually fell asleep watching TV.

And this beauty (who still does not sleep through the night) loves her pink bear. She always reaches for it when I put her down to cuddle with, chew on, or use as a pillow. I think it's funny because Levi has the blue version of this bear that he still sleeps with (plus 2 back ups). Mattie has this pink one too but she constantly changes what animal or doll she wants at night.

Hailey's Main Men

Of course, Daddy is number one. She and Daddy enjoyed some quality time together when the older two were visiting the grandparents a couple weeks ago.

And these two. He loves her so much and her him. If the way he is with her is any prediction of how he will be as a father one day, then Levi will be a great one! My handsome little man - all the little girls were goo-goo for him in his preschool class last year and he was completely oblivious. He just wanted to play superheroes and ninjas with everybody. I hope he stays that way for a long time!