Picnic in the park

Today Sylvia and her friend Lexi decided to have a picnic in the park. Sylvia baked blueberry muffins and packed coloring books, and they just hung out for a little bit on a really beautiful day.

I placed an order for some popcorn kernels, some spicy microgreens and a micro green growing kit from our friends at Finding Eminence Farm, and I enjoyed some beautiful poached egg avocado toast with micro greens this morning for breakfast.  So yummy and pretty!

Sylvia is hanging with her cousins this week, and they are having lots of fun. Sometimes the girls will send us videos and pictures. 

Last weekend, Mom and I checked out the chickens. They are kind of like teenager chicks now. The roosters are starting to try to crow.

The Gordman's in Columbia City is having closing sales, so Erin, Tessa, Annah, Sylvia, and I went over one afternoon last week.  Caeden wanted to go, but there wasn't enough room in the car. So, Sylvia and I shopped for him.  He was pretty stoked about the things we picked out for him, including this denim jacket and Kodak shirt. Uncle Travis explained to him what 24 exp. meant.  

I walked the track with Dawn while the sun set like this around us tonight. Wow!

I came home to these 3 with scripts in hand, acting out the entire show of Guys and Dolls. They even recorded 48 minutes of it. 

There was also some Wii boxing and N64 wrestling.  

There is no "new normal"

I am really emotional today.  Jeremy brought in the mail this morning, and there was a box addressed to me.  I opened it and found these Disney World scented candles that Dawn sent us to remind us of the wonderful memories of our vacation there together!  I bawled.  

All ready to try a Zoom piano lesson with Carly...

It did not go so well...No fault of hers, but there was trouble getting a good connection and it wasn't really video.  And the audio was awful...when she played a song with the pedal it sounded staccato.  Next week we will try a different platform.  It was really wonderful to see her, for sure!  It just proved that live video is not an option for all 16 of my students.  :(

Jeremy did the grocery run today.  He also got carry out from Moe's--our first food pickup since the stay-at-home order.  I forgot to order queso though, so that was a big bummer.

Snaps

Took a walk with Sylv and Caed this afternoon.  These buds on this tree are such an awesome color!!!

Sylvia wore her crafty jeans and we took some pics on the stairs of the church.

I wanted to get a picture to replicate this one...

Tried to get a pictuer of Sylvia, but someone else wanted in too...

Walking home

Sylvia spent some time skating.

I used the sidewalk chalk.

This afternoon, Sylvia put in the Barbie Island Princess dvd singalong version, and she and Caeden sang along.  Too funny.

Ridgeview's production of Guys and Dolls was supposed to open tonight.  Sylvia has dreamed of playing the part of Adelaide since she was a little girl and first saw the movie.  She choreographed the entire show and had taught all the dances to the cast. She had chosen costumes from the closet at school, from Amazon, and had gone to the theatre warehouse with Mr. M.  She had spent countless hours listening to and practicing the music.  So had the whole cast.  When Mr. M realized he had no other choice but to cancel the show, he called me and asked to tell Sylvia personally.  She and everyone knew it was coming, but it was really kind of him to let her know himself.  He said he will for sure do Guys and Dolls for the musical next year, but he will have to re-audition and re-cast it. Sylvia cried.  Caeden was disappointed, but knows he should have more opportunities through his high school career.

This evening, even though she hadn't practiced in 3 weeks, Sylvia put on a dress and lipstick and sang through Adelaide's Lament in her bedroom.  I was glad to be her audience, and I cried. I hope someday she will get the chance to play Adelaide.

There was no school today, since there were parent-teacher conferences last night and this morning, so Sylvia and I picked up Isabella and had breakfast at Fort Jesse Cafe!  

Later today, Sylvia's much researched and desired birthday present was delivered.

She is so excited to learn to skateboard!

Sadie Hawkins Cupid Shuffle Dance

I got home just in time today to see Sylvia and Briley off to the Sadie Hawkins Cupid Shuffle Dance.

They looked so cute!

Caeden made it to most of the dance when Jeremy brought the wrestlers back to school after an exciting day at Sectionals--3 guys, Coby, Billy, and Evan made it on to State next weekend!

The reports were that no one was dancing and enjoying the dance, and the slow songs were country songs that my kiddos don't appreciate.  They made the most of it and had a good time though.

Caeden and Kamoni have gone to church together their entire lives, but are just recently getting to know each other.  I love that they have become such good buds!  They play Fortnite together regularly, and sit in the front row with the crew at church.  Today they decided they need a picture together in the foyer after church.

Moving Day

Jeremy and I took Annah back to Greenville today. Her roommate, Tori, got a job as an RA in a different part of the dorm, and invited Annah to move with her.  So we helped them move most of their things from their tiny 10'x10' room into a bigger space.  They did such a great job sharing their tiny space last semester, but they will really appreciate their new home!

Clearing out the former room...

Their one little closet...

They bunked their beds and put their dressers underneath to save space.

They did get it all cleared out, and two new students will be moving in soon!

Artwork they will walk past several times a day...

So much more space in the new room!!!

We just hauled everything from the old room to the new, 

and they spent the rest of the day organizing it all.

It was such a blessing that big strong Daddy was along to move the furniture, bunk the beds, and carry the heavy things!!!

Each of the girls gets one of these great wardrobes in the new room!  I think they're awesome!

Two windows and built-in shelves around them.

By late evening, they were getting settled...

The new semester actually doesn't start for 2 more weeks.  The girls are moved in ready to start their Interterm courses tomorrow.  Annah will be taking Education 101.  This week, she will have class on campus from 8-3 every day.  Next week she will be observing a music teacher in a charter school in St. Louis from 7-2 every day.  She will have 3 college credits and 30 hours of observation after completing the course!