On a roll...

Vanessa brought home a leftover cabbage plant at the end of last school year. She ended up growing a nice head of cabbage. She was determined to make it into something and kept requesting to try cabbage rolls. The day before the new school year started, we committed to all kinds of baking and cooking, cause she had also wanted to make pancakes for breakfast.

We started the day with Vanessa making chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. Then Zane made French Toast for lunch. Then Vanessa made cabbage rolls for dinner, using sausage, hamburger, onion, rice, seasonings and tomatoes. It was quite delicious!

Last of all, Vanessa made banana muffins for the start of school. What a day of great food!

(The picture is of leftovers cause we forgot to take a picture of it when it came out of the oven!)

We do it!

How we still have all the pieces to this puzzle is beyond me, but Hendrix loves completing it, just like his older siblings did. We talked about the picture on the box and he jumped right on it, looking for edge pieces, trying to complete his favorite parts of the picture, like the balloon, frog, sun, tree, etc.

Sometimes we used nouns and sometimes we used color words to focus on parts of the puzzle. But each time we successfully pieced pieces together, Hendrix was sure to praise the action "Good job, Mommy! You did it!" or "Yay! I did it!" If I handed him a piece that might work, he would shout "Thank you, Mommy!"

We make a great team!

We did it!!

Impromptu Visit and Play

We are very thankful to have spent time with Aunt Julia! "Impromptu" seemed to be the theme for this visit.

This Holton line of cousins played adventure games. They all seemed to fit into and understand their part in the game, inventing each impromptu action and the script as they moved along and discovered new things in the backdrop in which they played. It was like they picked up where they left off the Saturday before. It was quite enjoyable to watch.

When Moments Present

Where is Zane? I don't know. He must've been doing his own thing.... But when moments like this present, how can we resist?! This photo may have exploded with Zane's added cuteness . . .

VBSes of 2018

The kids enjoyed NW VBS in June, the week leading into our summer vacation. Vanessa loves catching up with old friends at NW. And she has school related friends who go to the evening session. Zane brought his best friend Anderson.

 V and Z scored extra points dressing like an animal. V = toucan. Z = lion.

Then we had Guide's VBS at the end of July, just before V's b-day. Zane brought his good friend Emerson each night. They had a blast!

 V making use of leftover tape, to no surprise.

Animal House

The Boys of Summer

Waiting for pizza

Picking up things in the yard for Daddy to mow

Cause Hendrix craves snuggles with his sibs and the house is really cool in the mornings

"I want it!"

Hendrix is very observant and if he sees his brother and sister playing a game he thinks is cool, he jumps right in and says "I want it!" 

Not only is this phrase popular when playing games with siblings and friends, but he uses it a lot all the time. I told him he couldn't have cookies for breakfast and he stomped his foot down and stuck out his lips for the double pout and murmured "But I want it."

An 11-Year-Old Vanessa

She just may stay 10 in my mind a while longer. It took me a while to remember that she was 10. I'm not sure how long it will take me to accept she is 11. I think about how she's only 5 years from the same age as when I started dating her daddy. Crazy!!! And her daddy is breaking in her car for when she's ready for that.

We're entering what can be scarier years with a daughter but I find comfort knowing she is a very strong and confident girl. Her friends gravitate to her because they feel safe with her. She befriends the unlikely because she wants everyone to feel included. Although saddened to watch other friends get sucked into the cycle of cliques, she prides herself, with consistent encouragement, to not fall into any particular clique.

One of our most interesting impromptu (and noteworthy) conversations recently revolved around types of parenting. She was describing a young boy who she believes has parents that are "totally free-range parents". Amazed at her explanation and use of terminology, I was flattered to learn that she believes we are parents that are in the middle of the spectrum -- right between helicopter parents and free-range parents. I asked her how she learned so much at such an early age and she said she's watched YouTube Kids videos on parenting styles. :-) Now my mom friends are all quizzing her to hear how she would label them. I've asked that she change the subject so she doesn't unintentionally offend someone with her personal opinion. :-) But how blessed are we that she falls back on this learned info to understand our rules and boundaries for her?! She still makes mistakes but she seems to take the discipline relatively well because I believe she is starting to get why parental involvement is vital.

She's into video games, sports, music and academics. She's been testing out different appearances. She told me recently, after her mascara smudged under her eyes (she doesn't need makeup but she is exploring a tad) that she kind of liked the dark look under her eyes but she will wait until 7th grade, since that seems to be a 7th-grade look. ;-)

I thank God for her and our time with her. It all happens so fast that I don't want to miss any of it. No day or time is promised to us, but I can embrace the moments as they present. I feel so blessed by that. Happy 11 years, Vanessa Marie!

All My Boys

(coded picture)

All my boys working together. They make an awesome team. 

Cultivating

Zane offers to help with the Avery Learning Garden. This year he's representing his Cub Scout Pack by helping. We came home with pumpkins, tomatoes, and cucumbers from helping! I love his desire.