My Little Techie

Last night Sasha asked Dathan "Dad, will you log me out of swimming classes?" hahaha

on an unrelated note the other day Sasha announced "I want to live only here. Because you guys make the best food!" Well, ok then.

Malia's Poems

Malia's homework was to write a poem based on the groupings of rhyming words given by the teacher. I thought she might need some help, but all I had to tell her was to put just on line of the poem per written line. She came up with the lines themselves completely alone. She only needed to write one, but she enjoyed it enough to write two. Not bad for first grade.

The Earth
Birds fly in the sky.
The wind blows by.
The sun is bright.
The night is a big sight.
Look what I found!
I live in the ground.

Outside
I am flying.
I am crying.
It is night.
I am filled with fright.
The birds sound,
all around.

Kitty Kitty

Sasha has decided she is a cat. A cat named Cherry Blossom. Kind of cute considerng last week's kitty was named ice-cream-chocolate-bar-sunday-cat.

Yesterday she stripping her clothes off and I asked her to please keep them on since it was kind of cold. She was really serious and replied that she couldn't... because "I am a cat. Cats don't wear clothes!" of course, silly mama.

Don't forget and call her Sasha... this is quite insulting, don't ya know.

Walton Arts Center

Don't tell the kids... but we just ordered pictures to a show based on the Eric Carle book series. It is done by the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. Black lights and puppet like creatures. It looks so cute. Here is a picture of the show-



I love that they are old enough to go do things like this as a family. It has been more of a one parent-one child thing in the past... so it is awesome to be going as a family.

Pumpkin Patch

Malia is lucky enough to be going again today with her class. I had planned to go, but Sasha isn't feeling well so we're going to stay home. Here are some pictures from when we went though.

On the hayride
Eliana ready to get going


She fell in love with this "white" pumpkin


Everyone liked it, actually.


Enjoying the ride


"actually, mom...." Her expression cracks me up here.


We got to actually wade through a field and pick our pumpkin


Eliana spent most of the time running leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of us


Or pulling the wagon




Of course she needed the occasional rest


I don't think any of those orange pumpkins quite compared to the "white" one.


Sweet sisters


Thinking she may have found the perfect pumpkin




She might be sick of the camera, I can't quite tell...


Looking for the perfect pumpkin


Goofing off in true Sasha form...


Found her perfect pumpkin


In the end Eliana went back and found the gray pumpkin and asked if she could buy it. We found out that the seeds are not nearly as good as the typical pumpkin's are. It also had tougher skin and flesh.

The whole way home they contemplated whose pumpkin was the best... their reasoning was hilarious. I am really enjoying these girls lately, they are so much fun!

Eureka!

Waiting for Daddy while he's in a store


Experiencing salt water taffy for the first time


Ana's "pose"... my camera sees a lot of this one right now. haha.


Malia checking out the paintings




Waiting for Daddy again (haha)


Sweet Sasha matching a bench... don't get that opportunity every day

Busy Week!

We had such a fun and busy week with Malia out of school.

We went to the pumpkin patch, Eureka Springs, Fun City (kind of Like Chuck E. Cheese plus a playground), and the art festival. Not to mention lots of little activities like picnics, parks, and libraries. Tomorrow Malia has a party to attend with some friends and then we're back to a regular school week.

I'll post some pictures in the next few days of Eureka and Pumpkin Patch. The girls got to actually go out and pick them off the vine and then we scooped out and roasted the pumpkin seeds. It was the best pumpkins we've got yet. Eliana fell in love with this lone greenish-gray (or white as she calls it) pumpkin variety I'd never seen before.

Eliana is Reading!

I honestly thought it was going to be harder than that. Eliana hasn't realy had the internal drive to learn and write her letters. She's picked them up over the years, but she didn't actually seek them out with interest.

We got her on readingeggs.com, which she had so much fun with. She really liked it. Then we started working on basic principles and some of those little easy readers "Sam sat on cat" and such.

She took right to it, no struggle at all. I'm insanely proud of her, and she is just beeming after reading US a book for a change.

Paka & Rochelle for President!

The other day we were listening to NPR and I was explaining the presidential election to the girls. Upon learning that Barack Obama has a daughter named Malia and a daughter named Sasha, Malia announced from the back seat that SHE wanted to vote for Barack Obama. Eliana quickly followed, agreeing. Sasha replies "I'M gonna vote for Paka & Rochelle".

So apparently my Dad and his wife can expect at least one write in vote.

VANTISTIC!

That is what our van is.

The other day we got a new toy, so I told the younger two they could play in the back of the van while waiting for Malia to get out of school (we have to get there early to get a parking space).

From the back I hear Eliana announcing "This Van is VANtastic!" and giggling wildly. It was so adorable.

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?

Sasha "Caaaaan't"

I think she has read and watched enough Charlie and Lola, because I swear she sounded british in her response.

"He can go like a bee.
Mr Brown can BUZZ
How about you?
Can you go BUZZ BUZZ"

"I caaaaan't"

"He can go like a cork...
POP POP POP POP
He can go like horse feet
Klopp klopp klopp"

I caaaaaan't"

It was hilarious. She didn't like the book, but I read to the end because it was just that funny.

Who Remembers Apple Cider?

I remember apple cider. When I was a kid it was in a big barrel in the grocery store, and you could buy one of their jugs or bring your own. You filled the jug yourself. As a kid, I do believe this was half the fun. It was GOOD though. For years now since they've moved to more sterile means of packaging, I've been sadly disappointed with the cider available. It tastes like apple juice, unfiltered. I don't really lke apple juice.

When we lived here before there was rather rough little building right across the Missouri border. Right next to the liquor store of choice for our sad, dry, county. On the roof of this building was a big sign "Apple Cider". Seemed promising. We decided to drive up there yeesterday to see if the place was there and if they, in fact, had apple cider.

Unfortunately, the little shack is now a Ford dealership. I didn't ask, but I'm pretty sure Ford doesn't have apple cider. If anyone has any tips, tricks, or recipes for the apple of my childhood... please let me know. I have cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and orange peel... I just can't seem to get the ratios right.

I know, I know

I've been reminded a few times about my lack of upkeep on the blog lately. "catching up" seems impossible, but I am back and will try more often.

The girls are all good. Malia has this week off school and Dathan has M, T, and W off as well. We have so many great activities planned, but Malia started feeling under the weather at the Library yesterday, so we're not sure if we will really get to do all we planned.

Eliana's Results

Eliana's EEG shows partial seizures in her Temporal lobe, especially the left side. There was some concern about a structural abnormality but the MRI put that to rest.

The Neurologist at Children's Hospital has suggested we start her on a drug called Keppra. It is apparently the kindest to her body. October 1 we will get to meet her "real" neurologist who is at the local Children's clinic.

epilepsy.com on Temporal Lobe Epilepsy & Partial Seizures.

Some of you know by now...

Eliana is staying home this year. She didn't have a great start with her teacher, and there was some issue with her teacher not returning my calls and emails to try and work through it. Not only that, but when I kept her home with those calls in to the teacher the teacher basically ignored us on campus as well. After 4 days of it I got in touch with the principle and was able to get a meeting with the teacher that way.

In the end it just seemed that her teacher was a lot harsher than Eliana was used to and Eliana read her as "angry" most of the time. Coupled with her teacher's disinterest in reaching out to Eliana- it just seemed the better option for now.

You know though, I think it is actually really great for Eliana to be the oldest at home for those hours each day. I'm seeing some really good change come from it already so I think this is going to be a great thing!

Malia for Change

Malia came home yesterday complaining that her entire grade level had to miss 5 minutes of recess because of the loud students. I empathized but left it at that.

Today she came home and said that it happened again and was griping about how unfair it was. Malia has a hard time dropping something she sees as an injustice. So I told her that she could complain to me, but that it wasn't really going to change anything. (basically politely asking her not to keep griping)

Her eyes bugged out of her head and she said "I could write a letter to try and change the rules!" And she did. She hates to write as much as I do so I was really impressed that she sat down and did it.



Mising Reeses
1. is not fair to kids that are quiet
2. it makes me not like school
3. can't we change the rool's?
-Malia Camacho

School Started!

The oldest two Camacho girls started school!


Malia seems to have adjusted wonderfully. She LOVES school... and LOVES her teacher. We got a teacher fresh out of school... veyr optimistic and energetic. She also seems to be more progressive in her methods- which I love. It couldn't be a better fit for Malia.

You know how most kids come home from school talking about fun projects or friends they've made? Malia comes home excited to tell me all about the processes she is learning. She loves the processes, rules and overall structure.



So, on Eliana's first day she had drawn a picture for her teacher. When we got to school it was crazy with kids and parents and the teacher annoucing all kinds of directions. Eliana got really clingy to me because she couldn't get the teacher's attention to give it to her. Once she was able to give it to the teacher as she had planned it out though, she was over being clingy and went to her desk and started coloring. She gave me the "secret wave" that let me know I could go and I did.

I went and had lunch with Eliana on her first day. I went up behind her and said hi and she turned around and smiled huge and said "HI MOM!" and then turned back around to eat her food. Obviously she was taking it all in stride.

I will say that in watching Eliana's class I was surprised. They were all wiggle beans. I was so worried that Eliana would be singled out for not being still or quiet enough, and she ended up being one of the most still and quiet students in the class. What a relief to see.

I am sure I will have a lot of posts in the future about their adventures at school. Hopefully, it continues to be a positive experience for them both. Sasha is a bit lonely. She really misses her girls and wants to go school to. Poor thing.

Eliana's EEG

Just to update, Eliana's EEG results came back in. The EEG did show seizure activity. The neurologist at Children's who reviewed it suggested an MRI and meeting with a neurologist in person. So we have it scheduled for Septemeber 5th at Children's Hospital in Litle Rock. We really won't know anything more until then.

That is the update. I'll keep everyone posted!

Road Trip Home

As some of you know, the way home was sketchy. Poor Sasha was sick, so we were stopping constantly. When we stopped for the night she kind of just laid there playing her DS, even though her sisters were having a bal with Lego (a family favorite)





She was feeling quite a bit better by morning, though not quite 100%. We decided to take another group picture- this time with a mirror instead of the timer.


The next day we stopped at a tourist cave spot on the way home... I guess one that Jesse james used as a hide out at some point. It was a blast.

Cool stones to look at-




"exhibits"


In this one you can see in to the main entrance of the cave


Sweet Sisters


Goofy fun in the gift shop




There was actually a motel there that we intended to stay at... but that proved to be a terrible idea. After finding a 2nd bug in the beds of the room, we asked for a refund. I don't care if it is 9PM... I am just not that strong.

The area was beautiful though, otherwise. It would have been wonderful to stay right there. Here are a couple from the playground. It was nice to (intend) to stay somewhere that they didn't have to sit quietly in a hotel room all evening.




We stayed at a hotel right around the corner and came back in the morning for "gem mining" that was closed already the day before. The girls really really wanted to do this so I tried to make it happen.




"I found this one"






You know, not long in to Missouri the scenery started to feel like home... I love this region, it is so pretty. (Before you say anything, I just held the camera up and pointed it out the window... didn't even look)


Then this one is just 15 minutes north of home.


We had a great trip... even with illness it was a great road trip.

Michigan

I intended to keep up the blog while in Michigan, but you can see how well I did. We did so many great things that I didn't get pictures of, and I still have a ton of pictures. You can see them on the smugmug account.

When we first came to town we spent my brother's day off with him... the girls not only had fun- but are officially productive blueberry pickers. I miss reasonably priced blueberries, it was awesome.

It was so cute, at first Sasha was asking someone after every one she picked "is this one blue enough?" She seems genuinely curious, doesn't she?



Eliana took the blueberry picking very seriously.


Comparing (of course)


We also went to build a bear, which of course was a HUGE hit. Malia got an elephant named Emily, Eliana got a yellow "gem bear" named Lemondrop, and Sasha got a purple "gem bear" named Indigo (and she's a girl). For a week after getting her Sasha said that every 10 minutes "Her name is Indigo, and she's a girl"Hopefully more pics coming soon. I ran out of batteries and took the rest in my brother's camera.


If that wasn't enough for one day, we also went to an indoor play house. The girls were exhausted by bedtime.

Friday and Saturday I didn't pictures of... I was catching up with old friends and I was just having to much fun. This is one picture I got- the (nearly teenage) boy on the end of the sofa I've known since he was a wee little baby.


After that the days kind of run together for me... so I'll just share a few of the highlights.

The "musical fountains" in Grand Haven


Sasha spinning (long shutter)


Sasha made a new friend (she's also fond of Garden Gnomes)


The girls loved riding around in Paka's golf cart...


Sailing was a highlight, as it always is. I think my kids get the water gene from both sides. They are completely comfortable for hours on a boat. Hold on to your hats, lots of sailing pictures.




Eliana spent the entire time eating, and was in love with the "hammock for food"


Eliana cracking herself up on Paka's lap


Sasha crashed out in the cabin, practically on top of her DS


Even Malia caught a nap.. I believe it started as a hug. haha.


Eager to take off


One of the few times I've seen Eliana get nervous, isn't she CUTE?


Paka's are the greatest (Paka=Grandpa)


Sasha's chair (and don't forget it)


Sasha started out by saying "Paka is a pirate and we are his mateys" and within an hour had promoted herself to Pirate. At one point Paka offered her his lap and she said "I'm a pirate and pirates don't sit on laps" Apparently, they don't eat pizza either.

Eliana looking for more snackies


It wouldn't be complete without a few pictures of the Marina.


I...uh... wouldn't mess with her.


"Hey mom, take a picture of me"


"no me!"


hmmm... I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't have woke her up after that sail...


Isn't this the hugest tree trunk?!




At some point we went to a bounce house that allows adults to play along with the kids. I think the grown ups had more fun than the kids. haha


We also went dune riding, which the girls really enjoyed. http://www.macwoodsdunerides.com/
I didn't take my camera, so I don't have many pictures... but here are a couple group shots during a break (thanks Dad for the pics).




We also ate our weight in s'mores...


...especially Eliana.


They also got to plant a cherry tree while we were there. I think they really loved doing this with Uncle Zach!