Anderson Arctic Adventures: June

Many more adventures this month... Rilie started preschool, Sunday dinners, road trip to Everett, summer break...

Rilie's first day of school...

yes, I cried.

This is by far, the most unprepared I've been for preschool. We're heading out the door and I can't find his shoes! I found one shoe outside and soaking wet from rain. I threw it in the dryer for 15 minutes. It helped... a little. Missed-matched shoes and we were off to school!

First stop, reading corner.

Teacher shows him their picture chart for choices, while two kids are playing with puppets.

(He's in a class of 8 kids)

His favorite place: Play ground!

The next week, he started riding the bus. Even though this was the second week, I still felt a sucker punch to the gut watching him leave. Of course, he loved it. His first ride on a yellow bus (or really any bus). He was mad when I picked him up at the end of the day.

Still working on getting up early. Rilie has always been a night owl. No matter how many times I rotated it, it still posts this way.

Other fun pictures:

Jackson's bear-hiny...hehehe

Sunday dinners,

Nick and I have enjoyed having friends over for dinner on Sundays. We've only missed hosting a few.

Rebecca and Kahlan

This friend is my life saver!!

She and her husband offer to watch our kids all the time, and they enjoy it! She was with me the first week of my surgery: cleaning, watching kids, listening to my drugged-induced philosophies, etc. Even on HER birthday!! I tried to make that day about her, but I passed out for three hours... in my living room... and babbled in my sleep. Not many newly weds with their first baby want to join the royal rumpus of our family.

I keep telling her I'm bringing her to AK with me, we just need to convince her husband.

More great people: Rebecca, Kahlan, Andrea, and Kael.

More great people... I'm sure you recognize them!

Kael is rocking the mad-scientist look.

Another Anderson family over for FHE.

(our ward is full of Andersons and they are ALL related to each other).

Hot dogs, watermelon, FHE lesson, and a small version Frisbee Golf.

They brought over cannery lids. They worked great for our small course (AKA front and backyard)

Enjoying the summer sun!

Baking yummy treats:

Dad was out of town, so I made MY chocolate chip cookies.

We like them!

Whip Cream Fight!

Jackson is coming up with some Zany faces!

Homeschool:

I went to an amazing homeschool conference in April. It really changed the way we homeschool. They talked about being a mom first and the rest will come easier. They talked about what we might feel are "distractions" really are valuable life lessons... just in a different category from academics. They talked about home-centered education and the balance required.

This led to some soul searching for our family, which led to some dramatic changes. Nick and I attended an orientation for a private co-op that follows the Classical Method. We both fell in love with it, but I kept coming up with reasons why I could continue with our current co-op. I've been following the classical method on my own, as best I can. But, it is intense. This co-op provides weekly training for me (during their class time), motivation for the kids (they play games based on previous week's work), as well as an outline that brings the balance we've been looking for. I'm so grateful for Nick and his encouragement to join this new group!

Wrapping up the school year, we learned about the discovery of America.

Aztec and Conquistador masks

Sleeping baby:

Our Garden:

Our Alaska Peas, we've definitely learned a lot this time around. Alex has learned not to jump over fences supporting the peas (we lost 6 stalks). He felt awful, so I didn't need to add to that lesson. He tried burying the roots, but it didn't help. I've learned metal wires are better than this flimsy netting! And, don't water in the late afternoon/early evening, mold will grow on the ground around your plants. Only water in the morning or early afternoon at the latest!

My Mother's Day flowers!

I need to take pictures of our garden at our friend's home. The corn, zucchini, and cucumbers have sprouted. The onions, potatoes, and carrots are even bigger! We weed them about once a week.

Road Trip to Everett!

This is Great Grandma Judy. We enjoyed visiting her! She is a wonderful gardener and loves children. She was very happy to have babies running around her home.

Moses Lake! Our favorite stop when heading west.

Shooting each other with rockets!

Grandma's House!

Her garden is full of gnomes and other hidden statues.

The kids loved finding these!

Her neighborhood was full of CATS! Rilie was excited and frustrated all at the same time. The cats wouldn't let him near them. This was the only cat that would let him pet them. Currently, there is nothing that makes him happier than a kitty cat.