First Day of Co-Op

We have begun school people! That's right, we have dove into our first official year of school and very excited. We are enjoying learning Proverbs and how the Lord wants us to be wise. We enjoy phoneme segmentation (so far) and love sorting and building with pattern blocks! Another new this year, is joining a co-op! We are very excited to make new friends, have a little independence and doing some fun projects. Being new to this area we thought this would be a great outlet for all three of us and a way to meet some other families and make new friends. The first day both kids did GREAT! They had a great time, loved the Mommies who teach their class (oh, and Mom had fun with her new friends too.)

 Keely, my dear little girl. You have such a spark in you. Dad and I both love how sweet and compassionate your little heart is. Yet, you have an edge about you that let's us know you are fearless and a leader. We see how specially made you are by our Creator everyday and are trying to guide you to His way. You enjoy writing making sure you get it just right. As you are learning to read you take your time and we love your excitement when you put all the words together. We love you sweet girl!

 You loved your first day getting to be with your new friends, Haven, Ellie and Gracie. You and Haven seem to have a special bond, both a little shy and quiet but then you and Ellie seem like you want to stir things up. It will be so fun to see how the bonds of you girls develop. I'm so happy you are making friends who share your same love of the Lord. 

 Brayden boy, how you make me laugh. You can be such a ham, enjoying making those around you laugh. You have a sweetness in you that is so endearing to my heart. Giving Mama kisses at random. You are sensitive and we know you like to take your time and when you are ready you can tackle anything. We have been so surprised at your excitement to read alongside your sister. Writing was a challenge just a few months ago and now you work at it with such patience and grace. Your heart continues to grow in love of our Savior. You enjoy reading so many stories from the Bible and want to understand all that we share. God has made you so unique and we see His love in you.

 Brayden your first day was GREAT! You were brave letting Mom go to my class and staying with your Mom teacher like a big boy. You had strong muscles stirring applesauce for your "A" day. You waved by Mom as you passed me in the hall letting me know that you felt so comfortable with your new friends. You loved your day and we were so proud of you for being so brave!

Keely and Brayden you are such a special pair. You both love each other so much looking out for one another. One of your favorite things to do is playing princess and cowboy (sometime princess and princess.) Even though there are days moments that we have to be reminded to share, be kind and use pleasant words with one another, your bond is special. You are brother and sister. You were placed in this family and God chose you two to help look out for one another. I pray your bond continues to grow and that you not only stay brother and sister in this family, but you will be brother and sister in Christ.

 Love you both and what a great start to our year!

VA Beach

It's the end of summer and we took this crew down to Virginia Beach for one more rodeo of summer sand, sand, sand fun. Truly enjoying some relaxation, being in the sun, and catching some waves. (Get ready for photo overload)

We have been getting our share of practice catching with Dad at home and wanted to take the fun to the beach. Nothing better than throwing the ball there on the sandy beach!

 My brave, fearless little girl. This year at the beach you wanted to expand to the fun of body boarding and you were a success! I love that you do not fear the ocean and are always willing to try. If you get beat up you jump up and casually say "I'm ok" with a great attitude to try again. With lots of practice you were out there watching and catching waves. It was a blast to watch you ride in on your little octopus with each wave you braved.

 And even you my brave little boy. You may take a little more time to be ready to take an adventure (like your Mama) in your time you are ready to give it a go. And Brayden boy, you too were just awesome catching the waves. Although the ocean did get the best of you a few times, you too brush it off and tried again. I pray you keep that great attitude to not let things get the best of you.

 Keely just couldn't get enough of riding the waves. Even more making sure Mom and Dad were watching your every move and getting more and more brave getting a little further out in the ocean each time you ran out (making Mom a bit more nervous each ride too).

 I just had to get this shot of my little surfer dude. Although we are taking on this life of country living, there is definitely a beach bum in each of us. 

 And this little surfer girl, made for the beach life!

 We were informed that these two are ready for big boards, maybe next summer...

 We were walking by a gas station where a fire truck was filling up one night. Brayden wanted to go give a high five to the firemen. We got to talk to them for a while and they invited us to the fire station and take a tour. Both kids were beside themselves getting to sit in the fire truck and see where the firemen live when they are working.The firemen were just awesome, and by far the true heroes of our country.

 Those fire hats were no joke, very heavy according to these two.

 All equipment is ready to go, these guys have to be fast if they get a call.

 Check out those jackets!

 Almost fits Keely, almost

 Climbing throughout all the trucks at this station was a big highlight. They had one with a driver in the front of the truck and one in the back. This is the one that holds the ladder that can go up to 100 ft!

 Our awesome tour guides!

Thanks to Virginia Beach Fire Station 11 for giving us an amazing tour! If you ask either one of these two, they will now tell you they want to be a fireman/woman when they grow up. 

Our last day we ventured to Cape Henry to see the lighthouse standing near the first landing of the Jamestown settlers. We were pumped to see our first lighthouse and we were quickly disappointed to find out you needed to be at least 42" to go into the lighthouse. Our little ones didn't quite make the cut. 

We had such fun taking a last rendezvous to the beach. So thankful to the Father above for blessing us to live so close to adventures like these.

 All Glory to God in moments of work, moments of rest and moments of fun.