Saturday Market

A little one-on-one time with my favorite two-year-old:














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Plum chutney

Woo hoo!


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Little mister

3 months old...














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End of the Oregon Trail

Last week we went on a field trip to the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Oregon City. The trip was organized by the homeschool group so we got a great rate and the Center had activities planned for us. It was great that cousin Emmett came with us! (he is being homeschooled this year).


Gemma loved the "store" where you had to choose what you wanted to bring with you on the trail:


The older 3 kids did butter-making and candle-dipping:








After the activities there were different stations with games, letter writing, etc. The kids loved the dress-up station:





When the tour was over we all got to stay for a picnic lunch and lots of play with the other homeschool kids:


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International Man of Mystery

Ready for Italy/San Marino/Vatican City!



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Mariposa at school

Every school day, which is usually M/T/W/F, Bunny takes Gemma out of the school room for "preschool" and I get some one-on-one time with my 1st grader:


She is really enjoying math, and she tolerates phonics and religion. :o)


But her favorite subject is snack time!


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The big one-oh

My little girl turned TEN earlier this month!!

First, on her actual birthday we had a series of celebrations at home, all dictated by Bunny of course. Birthday parade upon waking up. For breakfast: doughnuts, Froot Loops, and fruit. Lunch was tuna sandwiches. For dinner, chicken nuggets, Mac/cheese, and burritos. Then came presents time!





We give our kids three gifts: something they want, something they need, and something we think they'd like. (I read this idea in a magazine years ago, and it works great!). Here is something we thought she would like:


We were right! She also got clothes (pjs and a tunic) and an iPod nano. For her birthday dessert she chose fudge bars:


Then the next day we had the all-family party, full of fun like all family gatherings are! She had a chicken theme party including an egg-shaped cake:


Lots of presents! She loved them all!



It wouldn't be a family dinner without the kids jumping on Uncle Brian:


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First day of school

The day after Labor Day, we started school! It's always bittersweet: getting back to a schedule is comforting, but not doing kid-stuff all day can be frustrating! (or in my case...not being able to check email and do chores!).



I plan out Mariposa's work in my Catholic school planner. The planner also gives a "word of the week" in the coming Sunday's gospel, and all the saints' feast days. I also keep track of any school-type things that Gemma might do:


Here is a glimpse of James' first week of work:


...and Bunny's:


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Nap time

I must've dozed off on the couch a little bit this afternoon....


It's been a long week. At least my nursie wasn't exposed. Or maybe it was, and James was a gentleman for not drawing it. I don't know which.

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Forest Hills Farms

A visit to Anna's farm!











On the blueberry picker:





Anna and I were the only ones who put our picked blueberries IN the bag...the rest didn't make it that far.


She has apples on her farm, too!





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What kind of bird is this, Erica?

Some kind of raptor. We figured you would know! Small, and there were 2 of them. These pics are of the same one, though.


About ready to take off:


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School supplies

Helping with the school supplies drive a few weeks ago...


The kids did a great job of sorting...even Gemma could help with that!


After sorting, we filled backpacks according to the lists provided by the schools. The kids liked personalizing what would go in each backpack.


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