February 2013

We have re-instituted chores (we took a break as the school year got busier and busier).

Here, I had to be sneaky so she wouldn't see me with the camera and think positive thoughts - she was in trouble for spreading cracker crumbs ALL over the den floor and couch while I was busy with another child.

 I love to hear, "Mom, me and Kaitlyn are best friends!"

 Alee has found life again outside the tv. And although she still gets her daily dose so I can get some things done outside of naptime, she has found toys and crafts again - and we have had fun. And she's in charge. :)

We've been working on learning letters (this week is "e"...which we haven't gotten to yet! yikes - the week is almost over...maybe today), so we've found fun ways to learn them. Mostly I just point it out everywhere I see it - in books, on signs, etc - but we throw them spontaneously into our playtime...nothing planned, just fun.
Pinterest has great ideas...I just don't have make time for most of them. :)

"Jump on Kaitlyn's letter! Find the little a with the hook. Find the big D for David....etc"

Our best idea yet has been shooting the letters with the dart gun (dry erase on the window).

The highlight of February was going to Charleston for the South Carolina Elementary Honors Choir that Seth was chosen to participate in this year. The guy in the picture below was the clinician (I'd never heard that word before!) - he directed the choir - he was AWESOME. Watching the rehearsals was as fun and entertaining as watching the performance on Saturday. (His name is Rollo Dilworth and he composed two of the songs they performed.)

 Can you find Seth? Brown shirt - stuck between two girls. 

(of course - he can't get away from being surrounded by girls!)

 We all went down to support him.

We explored Charleston a little while he was rehearsing and then afterwards on Saturday.

(Arther Ravenel Jr Bridge - largest suspension bridge)

Fort Moultrie

Grammy and Granddaddy came down to see his performance too, so they came along for the fun afterwards at Fort Moultrie and then lunch at Subway.

The girls especially loved this little park we stumbled across down near the battery.

So, while they played, I practiced photography. 

Hazel Parker Playground - if you're down by the battery park where it meets the water and you turn left to go back towards Charleston, this park is on the right - practically across from rainbow row.

 Personalities coming out for the camera...

 

Nowhere close to professional, but I enjoy trying, and black/white children playing/park photography is one of my favorites. I like to practice swinging photos - it's harder to get it in focus than you'd think!

He really wanted to go in there and play whatever soccer-tennis game the big boys had going on. I told him we'd try it out sometime at home -  maybe it'll make our summer list. Anybody up for a game of soccis? :)

Natalie's been sick for most weekends this month - but we finally have started to mend (with a very expensive antibiotic...ear infection...figures...still can't hear, but at least the fever's gone)

Poor Natalie...

Oh, yeah, and I had a birthday....not really a big deal, barely even happened this year. But at least I got a new picture to update the worse one on my driver's license.

The mystery flowers (turns out they're from my brother Will) - the girls pretty much assumed the ownership as soon as they saw them.

like my apron? My mother in law made it for me. 

I only have one very worn out one...and I want a collection of several cute handmade aprons...the collection has begun. :) This will be my baking apron - for all the flour that ends up on my pants.