I remember when boy {man} was small enough to hold like this & now he’s holding my baby. Such a good Uncle.

Timmy spilled a jug of lemonade and says to me, “Mom try to look on the bright side now the house smells like lemons.”

Timmy singing Amazing Grace to Grace.

Grace singing to her baby dolls.

Timmy wants to be a scuba diver. And a doctor and a vet and a builder and a panda feeder.

All my kids playing monster running around the house. Including Lydia. I just love it. So precious.

She said her baby was hungry too!

Hmm well we spent another Monday at a water park. I know it’s just so hard being a homeschool kid. Our coop group rented out the whole place for just our kids. It was so much fun.

That’s Timmy being the life guard. He was so proud of himself. Now he’s added life guard to his long list of what he wants to be when he grows up.

Monday was also Solar Eclipse day so we took a break from Our Body theme and learned about space. Even Grandpa got in on the fun. We learned that it takes the sun 25 days to fully rotate and the Earth just 1 day. Pretty amazing stuff. 

Grace was so ready for this special occasion. 

We read the final pages of our Peek Inside the Body book and then started on our blood lesson.

This was a very effective lesson. Red water beads for red blood cells, ping pong balls for white blood cells, red craft foam as platelets, water for plasma and ice for germs.

Grace did her math tracing #2 and a rectangle and Timmy did Lessons 2 & 3 in his Horizon workbook. Then we practiced Left from Right.

We did a water bead experiment using a timer to see how fast they grew.

On Tuesday we visited an assisted living facility where an animal rescue shared information on snakes, owls, opossums, alligators and turtles.

On Wednesday Timmy had his first marine biology coop at the turtle rescue. He learned all about sea turtles and was given a pretend turtle to measure and do an X-ray to find out what his injury was. Timmy’s had a shell scratch from a boat motor. Me and the girls explored the hospital while he was in class. Really such a great program!

When we got home we had a little art session on how to draw a turtle.

Our “PE” was a huge deal this week. Timmy learned to ride his bike without training wheels! 

On Thursday we went to storytime and checked out some more books. Lydia just loves being part of the big kids.

We had yet another water day because Florida is basically on fire. We have such an awesome group of homeschooling friends. About 30 of us showed up for a picnic lunch.

For this fun project I printed out body parts for the kids to cut and paste in the right places on their body tracings. I traced them on wrapping paper. They did an awesome job and they were really into it.

Our writing journals came in the mail so we started our bible verse copy work. I’m so excited about this.

We reviewed Timmy’s sight word flash cards and he knew 11 of them. Then he worked on spelling them with his letter blocks.

Gracie did her bible words letter match puzzles. 

This week was also their very first choir practice. 

We ended our Sunday with more bike riding and mouse trap.

Lydia waking me up with kisses on the lips.

Gracie telling me I’m not being very kindful – new word.

Timmy making Tim a friendship charm, out of playdoh, cut in half one him one for Timmy. He tell Tim that it’s for when he really misses him he can look at it and think of him.

Grace putting all her purse change in the donation container at petsmart for all the kitties. All on her own.

Timmy wanting to help fix the window of the car in front of us. Tim says well we don’t know them. Timmy says I don’t care if they’re strangers I need to help them fix that window if I can.

Lydia smiling at Father Lopez and giggling.

My kids start begging to get back to school come August so this year we started 2 weeks early. 

Daddy seems to think back to school clothes for homeschool is insanity but I think he’s wrong obviously.

I love this kindergarten boy so much!

& the Pre-K princess!

We had a great first week. But who wouldn’t when you start your Monday at a water park! I was so nervous to take all three to a water park solo but we did pretty good. Timmy & Grace stuck together like glue so it made it easy to keep tabs on them. I seriously nursed Lydia on the lazy river 😂😂 & of course ran into someone from high school. I couldn’t tell if she thought I was totally awesome or very much insane.

When I told the kids to take a break from the slides for a picture this was the best I could get. I’m working on not trying to document every aspect of the day with a picture but it is so hard. And half way thru day 1 of my attempt to snap pictures less here I was snapping away. 

We did some All About Me worksheets. Classic back to school stuff.

We had some music time with our new instruments and our new DJ – Alexa. Seriously I did not think there would be any use for this Alexa thing but I was wrong. She plays all my jams when I ask her to which is nice, no cds, no iPhone needed during music time. Works great.

Our unit study for the next 2 weeks is Our Body. So during music I had Timmy and Gracie teach Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes to Lydia. She loves being part of the crew.

We went to mass for the assumption of Mary celebration. So precious to see my husband kneeling and praying with my kids. I can’t love him more in those moments.

We opened up our Shape & Learn Playdoh gift. Which was perfect because it has a feelings face that fits perfect into our theme. Gracie made a beautiful happy face with a side pony.

Then we read the first two pages of Peek Inside Your Body. So much information. The second page taught about poop and Timmy could not handle it at all. He thinks it’s so gross.

The parts they liked were finding each other’s pulse, looking for veins and learning that it only takes 60 seconds for blood to travel through your whole body. 

We ended the day at the park with our friends. And lucky for these kids the ice cream man stopped by the park. Smart guy. 

I shared my ice cream with this beauty ❤️

She was so happy to swing. I think we are going to make this a regular afternoon thing so we can keep in touch with our friends who are in public school.

Timmy did his first lesson in his Horizon math workbook. It starts very easy with reviewing counting to 10 and Grace is reviewing numbers as well and her shapes.

On Thursday we took Lydia to her very first story time and checked out some books. She so loved it and they sang itsy bitsy spider which is totally her jam.

The next to pages of our Body book talk about bones and muscles. My kids are obsessed with muscles thanks to ninja warrior. So it was very interesting to them. Some interesting facts they learned were that babies have more bones than adults and how fast our brain stores information. We played a memory game so I could show them that their brains remember things without them even knowing it. I had them find each other’s spine and we learned that the largest muscle is their booty and largest bone is the thigh bone.

After we made a skeleton with straws and playdoh.

They asked to do puzzles so I thought I’d see if they were ready for real puzzles. Boy was I surprised. They put together 4 puzzles no problem. We might be ready for the really small pieces now.

I surprised them with a visit to a pottery studio. They were so happy to be painting statues. I ended up booking a field trip for our homeschool class to do a canvas painting class.

Every night Daddy is reading to them from their kid bible start to finish. I’m not sure how long it will take but I’m really enjoying the refresher of all the main events in such simple words. It’s my favorite part of the day. All my kids snuggled in my bed and listening to the words of God. A picture would never be able to show the beauty in those moments. There’s just some things a camera can not capture.

I really feel Jesus tapping me on the shoulder lately with my picture taking obsession. It hit me right in the face the other night at sunset. If you’ve ever tried to capture a sunset on camera you already know it’s impossible. The eyes see it so much better. I’m missing the true beauty when I stay behind the camera to get that perfect picture, just so I can look back on it later rather than see it first hand. My kids are so amazing to me, no picture will ever suffice for what’s real in today’s everyday moments. 

I’m going way off topic here but someone posted that Being Instagram famous is like being monopoly rich. How true. We are a world obsessed with attention and I don’t want to be that. My worth is right here in this house with these little people, who deserve all my attention.  

Well tomorrow is field trip Friday! We are going to Flying Panda trampoline park and I’m not gonna take one photo. Not a one.

I hope this year is full of the happiest moments and lots of special memories. I am so blessed to be afforded this extra time with my kids by homeschooling. Blessed to have a husband that believes in me without a doubt and a community full of awesome moms to do this together with.

School starts Monday. We are so ready for our homeschool routine. Here’s some simple sweet memories.

Swimming with our cousins celebrating Jacksons 1st birthday.

Timmy says he’s big enough to put his own sunscreen on.

I really can’t deal with how cute these divas are.

Um Timmy lost his first tooth. Really took my breath away when he told me his tooth was loose. 

He wrote the tooth fairy a sweet little note.

Lydia had a breakfast date and was clearly famished.

Timmy gave Grace a manicure. He’s such a good brother. Treats her like a princess.

Lydia’s very first hair clip!

Lydia’s first pedicure. I love these little toes.

Teaching Aunt Toria how to win Candyland.

Lots of Barbie playing.

Beach Days!

& Nights!

They did some baking. We went bowling with friends, we went to the science museum and worked the day at Home Depot.

& SeaWorld with my favorite BIG kids. Sam is a senior this year. I can’t believe it.
But that’s a wrap kids. Time to get back to work! On Monday I officially have a Kindergartner!

I am the luckiest mama because I really do have the best baby. She’s so happy and easy going. 

Here’s my little DIY first birthday photo shoot. And for $0.00 I totally love them.

This month has been full of fun new things. She’s giving high fives, playing peek-a-boo, saying hi & bye. 

Lydia is still in my bed. Spoiled. & she is still nursing. I tried a milk bottle, she laughed.

She is not quite walking. She stand up without holding on but that’s as far as she’ll take it. She’s in no rush.

She’s an eating machine and the grocery bill feels the burn. I’ve graduated to Sams Club for fruit and snacks. It’s the only way to keep food in the house for more than 2 days.

She got her first set of wheels.

She’s ready to be one of the big kids. She just loves when they are running around and she tries so hard keep up.

I love this picture of her.

Gracie’s birthday had a part 2. Memaw suggested this awesome PonTiki place and I thought it was a gra at way to give Grace her own little celebration since this was the first year she had to share her birthday with Lydia. 

Si we took the kids on their first boat ride. And what a blast. It felt like actual vacation and it was only a hour ride. 
A little sunset cruise with Bob Marley music and endless beer and wine. Dreamy.

The kids loved it. Just living the life sippy their mini water bottles.

The boat captain even let them drive.

Then he took us to a sand bar and we went swimming and both my crazy kids went down the slide off the back of the boat. I was a nervous wreck. I love the look and feel of the ocean but mmm scares me to death. Grace learned to swim like a week ago and with no life jacket she’s jumping off the boat telling me she doesn’t need me. Poor kids are gonna realize very soon that their mother is a neurotic crazy person. I mean my 5.5 year old is still in a 5 point harness car seat and I can tell if that’s normal 😂 Safety first kidsssss 

Here’s the adults soaking it in.

Happy Birthday to my sweet everyday tiara wearing ballerina princess. I hope all your birthday dreams came true.

My princesses are ONE and FOUR! We really had the best day ever celebrating these little girls.

I picked You are my Sunshine for the theme and I worked so hard on all the little crafts to make it extra special.

I made this Sunshine wreath for the front door. 

I made this sign with the girl foot prints and it’s so sweet I’m gonna move it to their room after the party.

The Sunshine cups I ordered from oriental trading and I put all the little guests names on the back.

For party favors I ordered these Star sunglasses also from oriental trading and tied a thank you note to them.

I painted the these wood letters from Timmy’s first birthday {😭} and added glitter and a bow. It basically felt like kindergarten in this house with all the arts & crafts.

My mom made flower letters of the girls first initials. I’m going to put these above their beds.

I painted this photo booth on a cardboard box. So easy.

Even the fireplace got decorated. I stuffed the pinata with ring pops and balls.

 
I attempted to recreate Gracies first birthday picture with Lydia. Pretty close!

The smash cake for Lydia I made myself clearly. My sister made Graces cake and it’s like a delicious piece of art. Someone needs to give this girl a dose of confidence to open her own cake bakery business.

We had some extra desserts for really no good reason other then they were pink and yellow so I had to have them. The birthday hats were so adorable. Of course a crown for Grace.

We had an endless amount of food and I did not take any pictures other than the cereal display. My little sister made this, so sweet. We had fancy donuts, all kinds of bagels, egg cups filled with bacon or sausage with crescents or tatertots as the bottom, all the fruit, & muffins. 

My mom made this “horseshoe” flower game played with glow in the dark necklaces instead of horseshoes. The winners got butterfly marshmallow snack bags.

We had a little coloring station for any artists that came to the party.

And the best part, the water slide present from Memaw. Only the best.

And a mini pool for the littles birthday girl and her crew.

The kids had so much fun. Nothing beats an old fashion pinata. I feel like these are such classic birthday memories.

Even a water balloon fight broke out!

Gracie and her best friend! I can’t tell you what a joy it is to raise my kids with my best friend and her girls. It’s a gift. 

CAKE TIME!

& alllllll the presents. Seriously Christmas morning type madness.