Cooking

I have always been passionate about cooking with the kids. I see it as a beneficial activity with an emphasis on math, taking turns, following directions, etc. The kids are always eager to help and have never turned down an opportunity to scrub up and help.

Recently I have taught them how to make their own PB&J's, egg salad sandwiches, and french toast. I honestly think they could recreate these if left to their own devices (except using the hot stove) and I am quite proud of them. Theo, age two, peels his own hard boiled eggs, peels his own navel oranges, and can crack eggs without breaking yolks. We often joke if Theo were left on his own in a forest, he would be the one to find food.

Last week we made our own pretzels and that was a fantastic activity since they were able to roll out their own dough and shape their pretzels.

My goals for Georgia this summer are to teach her how to measure and to graduate from just pouring, stirring, and dumping in premeasured ingredients. Theo's goal is to not eat the ingredients before we are done making them!

Too Long

It has been way too long since I have posted. I want to post, intend to, and then get distracted by our baby or daily household chores. We moved in June, and our summer has been swallowed by life.

Since we moved to a better school district, I am unsure if we will continue to homeschool for the long haul. Georgia is three, soon to be four, and I am choosing to homeschool her for this year of preschool. Next year I think it will do her good to be in a more structured setting for preschool. I don't want her to be at a deficit when she begins kindergarten (with the inability to sit still or understand classroom norms).

So there is where we are at...some homeschool and public school plans on the horizon.

Backyard Play

We enjoyed a rare, warm, spring day here in Seattle. Theo was thrilled to rediscover his playhouse and spent many hours opening and closing the door and drawing on it with his chalk.

Georgia spent her time trying to catch bugs in her bug catcher. She is obviously wearing and displaying her self dressing skills.

Pizza Making

We love to bake and pizza creating is a fun part of our routine. We tend to make homemade pizza at least 2-3 times a month and really should do it more often. The kids enjoy kneading their dough and then decorating their pizza's.

Easter Egg Hunt

Today was the Bunny Bounce at Woodland Park Zoo. We took the kids to their egg hunts in 43 degree weather (with a very cold windchill which brought the temp down to the 30's). Note to self~do not do this again, the weather was just too cold. The kids found some eggs and received marshmallow peeps and a few chocolates for their hard work.

After the hunt, we went out to lunch with Leah's family and Leah gave the kids Easter baskets filled with candy, eggs, books, and toys. She is such a spoiler and the kids love her family to pieces. After lunch we shopped around the mall and then they came over and ate a spaghetti dinner at our home. Jon played video games with Thom, the kids napped (Theo is a bit under the weather), and Leah held the baby and chatted with me. Our teens went downstairs and watched Sixteen Candles and hung out together. It was a relaxing day :)

Tomorrow we plan to scavenge for eggs, open baskets, eat brunch at Briana's, and order take out dinner with Brian. Brian and I are rooting for Chinese take out but Jon is resisting the idea. I just don't feel like cooking and eating a traditional Easter meal.

Cousins

Here are our "cousins." Theo and Haywood are 3 weeks apart, but Haywood has eyes for Georgia (and all her big girl activities) right now.

Siblings

Since I am an only child and love to see my children enjoying one another, here is a photo of 3 of our youngest. This was taken three weeks ago, when Augustus was 10 days old. Do you see the joy on Georgia's face and the curiosity on Theo's?