Bailey Family

It feels like summer is half over since June is ending, but really, we're just 3 weeks into our 10 week break from school. We haven't had the "perfect" activity-filled summer I had in mind, but I guess they've had fun so far. I've focused more on the daily schedule as opposed to the activities, and it's helped a little, but it still feels like summer's flying by and we're getting nothing done. I guess we are flying through books. We read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland at the end of school/beginning of summer. Now we're reading through The Borrowers together. Trying to decide which will be our next family chapter book? Any suggestions?? We've had more friend time...which I'm not sure I like, but I guess I'll get over it. Just because I'm content to see my friends once a week at church and occasionally twice a week doesn't mean they are happy with that. Am I weird that I just wish they...

The end of the school year was filled with end of the year testing, allowing my kindergarteners extra time at "stations" where I'm pretty sure one of them used up her teacher's entire stash of paper making random books, cards, pictures, puppets, and everything else she could piece together! Kaitlyn must have made 4 books.... I like to do my girls' hair (gotta get a little creative when you have 4 girls with different hair types and colors to work with) - otherwise the whining & drama will drive you nuts! (and we're not even in teen years yet) Some of them have started venturing into learning to style their own hair -  Kaitlyn has learned to braid her hair and has tried to do twists (2 pieces - it's easy, but you have to do it just right to get it to stay and not untwist when you let go). Her first original hairstyle is "the braid twist" -  (essentially it's pigtails - one braided and one twisted) And becau...

Kindergarten Graduation Kaitlyn's on the top row Natalie's on the 2nd from top row for her class I feel like we had a really great year and all the kids, the twins especially got teachers that matched what they needed so well.  Fortunately, "The Bailey's" as we're grouped by most of the school administrators and other teachers have a GOOD reputation - and they better keep it that way! :)  And I have been at school so much in the past month!  Kaitlyn's teacher said, "Everytime I turn around you're up here again." :) The kindergartners sang a handful of songs (Smile by Uncle Kracker, for example)  and then each teacher had a slideshow in her classroom of the year.  (We of course had to divide and conquer since we had two classrooms to cover this year.) flashback video The videos from their performance are all on Rob's tablet, so I'll get them off later. But as a flashback, I wanted to play ...

After a few years of on and off hearing issues, Natalie was scheduled for surgery for tubes (to fix that problem) and the removal of adenoids and tonsils (b/c they were bigger than they were supposed to be). She recovered quickly - and probably could have gone back to school sooner for energy/feeling well, but we had to make sure she was ok without heavy pain meds. Upsides: She can hear better. She doesn't snore anymore. She got a singing barbie and a new stuffed animal and full-service for 1 week. She was allowed ice cream more often than usual for 1 week. She missed a week of school. Hopefully, we can avoid constant sickness next winter! Downsides: Nothing sweet tasted right for a week. Her throat and ears hurt a lot afterwards. She missed her first field day (she got to see a part of it, but not the rotation) She also missed a week of school when an awards ceremony and other fun stuff was going on (we tried our best to schedule around stuff, but there...

I meant to post this earlier - but better late than skipped. (notice the girls were featured in the last post and "the baby" before that...so it's clearly his turn) The weekend after the girls' dance recital, Seth participated in a (simple, not completely formal) chess tournament at his school - and tied for first.  (The tournament consisted of untimed games, but the tournament itself had an ending, so he and another kid from his school finished with the same number of points from wins/losses/draws.) Then this week we got his braces "updated" - he got something called a forsus (it's like the "new" rubber bands people used to put in the back of their mouths) He broke it the first night with a yawn. Thankfully, it can be put back together without a visit back. And lastly, he got his medal for participation in the SC honors choir earlier this year There you have it - smart, musical, and on his way to a perfect smil...

Carolyn took Jazz/Ballet She danced to "I dream of Jeannie/Genie in a Bottle" remix & "One Jump Ahead" (from Aladdin)   Kaitlyn and Natalie took Tap/Ballet (same class) They danced to "The Greatest American Hero" & "Sunshine Day" (Brady Bunch) This was the twins' first recital and Carolyn first 'real' recital (The year before last she had a recital with the rec center dance class but the recital was just her class showing all they'd learned the past months, not a memorized song on stage with many other classes. And last year her 'fake' recital was on a Sunday so she only got to do the dress rehearsal anyways.)

Ok, you're right - it's not really graduation when she'll be returning to our preschool group in the fall, but that's what we called the end of the year preschool party. Alee and 3 other friends met together (with moms!) each week during the school year. She learned about animals, foods, things that go together, shapes, weather, bugs, and bodies. Mostly, she learned to take turns and sit through books and activities and cooperate. (Funny, as I post this - about 2 weeks after preschool ended, her level of cooperation and attention span has plummeted...here's to hoping preschool in the fall will bring it back!) See that last picture? (I took that 'offer of help' so that I could look at it and remember she does care about and like people and is not always so contrary and grumpy!) :) *My friend Mary (who was in charge of this preschool party) made the 'diplomas'...I should have put Alee's handprint on it first because I wrote t...

Our "Playroom"   (the biggest room in our house that at one time in history was a 2-car garage that got closed in) - has always been changing - I don't think it has stayed in the same arrangement for more than 2 months since we moved in 3 1/2 years ago. (It's become much more than a playroom) Here's the last 'before' arrangement  It wasn't awful - I mean, I constantly fought it to stay clean,  and in pictures, things like carpet stains and completely smudged up flat paint walls were somehow hidden. But in real life, you'd walk in the room and it looked....well, like it was the most used and at the same time the most neglected room in the house. Here was our thought process.... Myth: If I organized it well enough, no one would notice the carpet stains, smudge/drawn on flat paint, etc. Fact: this room was unmarketable and needed new paint and flooring. Decision: Might as well take care of it now and enjoy the money and wo...