PUMPKINS!

Fall wouldn't be complete without a trip to the pumpkin patch.

Being solitary on the hay ride






Jumping from piles of hay


While there were different corn maze ideas...


There was also cooperation


And victory!


And, of course, pumpkins


posing


Pumpkin goo!


buddies.

Elementary Harvest Festival

LOVE the great activities the school sponsors! Right now they (the elementary, not the middle school) are offering (low cost) Christmas present shopping with proceeds going to the PTO. The kids buy a present and it comes home wrapped- super sweet way to give them the empowerment to truly surprise everyone in their family.

Every Monday they have a school "gathering" where kids are recognized, and each week a different class is given an opportunity to perform for the school. Super cute, and so many opportunities to be on stage.

One recent activity was a wester themed harvest festival. SO adorable, complete with faux mustaches! We had such a riot, the older two girls running around with their friends all independent like- which is why I mostly have pictures of Sasha :)

Sasha and the best teacher she could have hoped for <3


Sasha in "jail", haha- they actually paid tickets to be put in jail. It was a pretty creative idea.


lol


Eliana(with chocolate on her face) and her sweet friend


Sisters :)

First Overnight Field Trip

Malia went on her first overnight field trip to Ozark natural Science Center and rediscovered her love of hiking now that her joints aren't giving her as much trouble.

On another note, seriously? Overnight? In 5th grade? Man, talk about a nerve wrecked mama. She had a wonderful time though, and I'm so glad her school arranged it.

I love these shadow pictures she took:

School Update

Well, the girls continue to prove themselves on the school front. Parent teacher conferences were a success, and the one thing that EACH teacher said about my girl was "she is such a hard worker!" As I told my girls, that was absolutely the best review I could have heard. And how honored I am that each teacher, without discussion, was able to rave about their work ethic. Good job, girls!

They have all made a name for themselves with their teacher as responsible, helpful kids. They get chosen to do extra jobs and help other kids out. And then, on academics, they are all straight A students. They took to this transition with flying colors. I seriously couldn't be any more proud of them than I am after their first quarter of the school year.

Both the younger two have a Christmas play here shortly, and I will post pictures.




Dress as your favorite book character day :) American Girl Kanani (Eliana) and Max the kittie (Sasha)

American Girl Show

Trying out her fake Kaya braids


Dress rehearsal


Big time :)


This is the other little girl who had to have hair braided in. She was such a sweetie, and Malia really enjoyed her company.


With the kaya doll


All in all, despite the annoying daily ritual of mama trying to get her fake hair braided in "just right," she truly enjoyed the experience!!

You can see more pictures from their photographer at: http://www.snapshotzbylisa.com/amgirl2011

SCHOOL!

"I made a new friend on the bus. One of the rules on the bus is not to eat, and she eats her snacks on the bus. Can you believe that? She breaks rules just.like.me!" ~Eliana

Eliana: "this boy in my class thinks Sasha is evil"
Sasha "that's because I hiss at him."

My Grandpa

For those who don't know, I went to Florida last weekend to see my grandfather off to his light. We took him off life support on Friday, and he took his last breath on Sunday evening. His body was still so very strong. I stayed by his side day and night. I guess I hoped for a magical turn of events, but also just trying to see to his comfort.

I admired my grandfather for his strength and ability to live life. He didn't just live his life, he owned and directed it. He hated to sit down, and on the rare occasion we could get him to enjoy recreational activities he would constantly look at his watch. There was so much to do, and he wanted to do it all. He worked long hours helping at St Thomas Episcopalian Church, the church home he so loved. He also worked long hours with the Coast Guard.



The day that changed everything he was on a ladder in his garage, and he hurt his knee when he fell off. Sadly, nobody thought to check his head for injury. I've now lost both him and my grandmother the same way- blood clotting in the brain following a fall. They eventually found it and went in to relieve the pressure, but it was just too late and he never woke up. Seeing him in the hospital that way I just knew that it would have offended his sense of dignity to live on in that way, and as hard as it was to say goodbye, it became clear he would have wanted us to let him go.

I know he didn't wrap everything up in this lifetime that he wanted to, we all thought he had so many more years with us and no doubt he did too. We all had so much more we wanted to say to him. In the end I hope he knows that we were there and that we all loved him.

School

The girls just concluded their first week in school. I think, so far, it is off to a great start. Sasha cried last night when she found out there would be no school today, and has mentioned a few times today that she would rather be in school. It seems to be a really good match for her so far.
Malia has a bit more of an adjustment, 5th grade requires more self-reliance, more organization, and can be a little more socially pressing. That said, she is enjoying the learning process and stepping up to the challenge.
Eliana seems to like it. Her teacher seems like a great match for her, and Eliana comes home with a smile on her face. All in all I think we all survived and thrived in our first week of this new schedule. It was surprisingly easy for me to adjust to the 6 am mornings and quiet house, of course napping each day this week had to play a role in the easy transition.

Wishing them many more happy school days to come :)

Bigger Girls

All officially another year older. 6, 8, and 10 :) Every year just gets better and better.

Backpacks

The girls new backpacks for the new school year :)

Owl is Eliana's, Leopard print is Sasha's (she is madly into animals right now) and the letter "M" is Malia's.










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