My Magnus Opus

Arianna opening presents

Arianna celebrates her 6th birthday tomorrow. Today is the last day she will be 5. I told her tonight at bedtime that I will see her when she is 6.

We celebrated her birthday with friends and family this past weekend. Here are the pics of her opening presents. She was so excited!

We are going to Williamsburg next week for a homeschooling field trip. Yaya got her a dress to wear in Williamsburg and Aunt Leigh got a matching dress for Chrissa (formerly Sara, her American Girl Doll)

Nana got her this beautiful gown.

Yaya got her some dragonfly earings with her birthstone.

Arianna is laughing at the card from Chris and I. It played the Chicken Dance song.

Here is the dresses that Chris and I got her for Williamsburg.

Her cousins Abigail and Robin got her this princess piggy bank.

Nana got her some Fancy Nancy books.

She was very excited to get a DS from Mommy and Daddy!

She got this Fancy Nancy game from Nana.

Pirate Daddy watching the gift opening.

Ari in the gown that Nana bought.

Thanks for all of the presents everyone!

My Five Year Old

While laying in bed with Arianna tonight, I was sharing with her what I loved about my five year old. I will list what I told her in no particular order.

The way she is willing to give her toys to her friends. She has taught me so many lessons about giving.

How brave she is. She is not afraid to try new things. She loves danger.

How she helps me day to day.

How smart she is. I love homeschooling her.

Her hugs. Today at gymnastics she came over and just gave me a hug for no reason. I told her that I love those hugs. Arianna doesn’t give many hugs to many people. I am honored that I am one of her few people that she is affectionate with.

Her giggles.

These are just to name a few. I cannot believe my baby is turning 6 tomorrow!

I asked her what she wanted to do during her 6th year. She said go to Monkey Joes and Chuck-E-Cheese. She has her priorities straight!

Hanging with Family

I was trying to get a good picture of this crew hanging out on the steps. It is hard to get four kids under 4 to smile AND look at the camera all at the same time!

From left to right….Katelyn, Layla, Graceson and Ryan

From left to right…Graceson, Layla, Robin and Ryan

Graceson liked my stair baskets, he pretended they were choo-choo trains.

Robin loved Pandora, she kept saying she was going to take her home. This upset Ryan because he didn’t want her to take his dog:)

A Cherished Memory

We went to visit my Dad for Valentines Day. I was in for a major surprise when I arrived at my Mema’s house. Daddy wanted to take me and the kids out for lunch (without Mema). This is the first time since the stroke in Sept. 2008 that I have been out with my Dad. He has only been to doctors and hospital visits since his stroke. It was a bit scary getting out at first. His skill level changes each time I visit and so I have to adjust to where he is at. It is a difficult balance to make sure I allow him the autonomy and pride of doing things for himself but making sure I am there to help when it is needed. We did not take a wheel chair with us. Nope, he used his walker to get everywhere we went. Wow!!!!!

We went to my Uncle Andy’s restaurant which I haven’t been to since I was young. My Grandaddy and I used to always go there together when I was little! I got to make some new special memories with my Dad.

Unfortunately I didn’t get a very good picture, but it will live forever in my memory and hopefully in my kids memory as well!

Valentines Day Festivities

Ari made valentines with Pixie Sticks in them. Ryan’s valentines were fun dip.

The dogs even joined in on the festivities. Goliath came in the kitchen with a heart stuck to his nose. He probably thought he was sniffing out some candy and got the heart stuck there.

We went to a Valentines Party with some of our homeschooling friends.

We talked about characteristics of love and learned some history about St. Valentine.

We played a game where we split up into two teams. Then you had to move hearts out of a bowl with tweezers. The one with the most got a point for their team.

Ari and Carden played against each other.

Ryan and David played against each other.

Sweet Eden and Ms. Jennifer watching the games.

Lots of energy from all of the candy and cookies:)

These were Ari and Ryan’s valentines. Ari decorated her box. Ryan didn’t want to.

They played a game where you had to get the hula hoop all the way around the circle without letting go of each other’s hands.

The kids enjoyed getting letters, lollipops and gifts in the mail from their family. Below Ari is playing with a knitting loom that Nana sent for her.

Chris and I traded babysitting with friends for Valentines Day. We went out one night and then they went out the next. We went to Bahama Breeze and enjoyed some of their yummy Paella!! Then we went to the bookstore and hung out and talked.

How did you celebrate Valentines Day?

Homeschooling Moms

On the nights that the men have midweek, us homeschooling Moms get together for a playdate. I cherish these times. It is a time of inspiration and encouragement. Our kids enjoy spending time together too!

After last month’s playdate, some of us went out to eat at IHOP with all of our kids. The waiter asked us if all of these kids were ours, we had 3 adults and 8 kids. Funny thing is that half of them were Wendy’s:) Ryan loves Wendy’s boys, Gabe and Ethan. He really looks up to Gabe! Gabe is so good with him.

Girls Night Out

When Chris was out of town, my friend kept Ryan while I took Ari and 2 of her friends out for pizza. The girls had so much fun! They ate more pizza than I did. I think each ate at least 8 slices.

More Snow

We have seen more snow than usual this year. The kids have enjoyed playing in it. Arianna will stay outside until she is an ice cube literally. Ryan gets cold pretty quickly and wants to come in to get warm. I am looking forward to Spring and warm weather…especially nature studies, gardening and enjoying the great outdoors with friends.