Wordless Thursday

-Bethany

Summer Reading and Playing

Unfortunately, the months of March thru May were insane.  I always say that but, really!  Work projects were at a height and the lake project required a lot of time and efforts.  I made a commitment that I would quit some activities for the summer and slow down our life.  My parenting involved too much, "you go do this while mommy finishes working" or "hurry and get here and do your homework so we can go here."  Too much.

We are in our third week of summer and although our live remains active (it always will), we've slowed down immensely, played at home a ton, and spent quality time reading.

One of my favorite bloggers, Do Say Give, created a classical reading summer book club and it has been a turning point in our family.  The book club centers around classic books that inspire imaginations, challenge the children with better vocabulary and syntax, and promote wholistic values and ideals.  The kids can't believe their luck when I stop in the afternoon and say, "Let's read a couple books!"  For months, I've been reading the shortest book possible at bedtime.

The books have pushed the kids into content that I would not have expected them to enjoy.  They rate the book with a thumbs up, thumbs down, or smiley face.  Many reads are wildly thumbs up or smiley face and our together time has been invaluable.  Sometimes Palmer reads on his own, but I want the point of this summer to be focusing on each other so I am more often reading together to both kids.  The dynamic creates calmness in our home and also has inspired new ideas.  Rick and I were recently invited upstairs and treated to four plays that the kids had created, each with dialogue and costume changes.

 

Serious Davy Crockett Palmer. 

Little sisters doing some poolside reading while the older siblings are in a swim meet.

Overall, our days have centered around day camps, VBS, swim team, swim time, and at-home playing while I continue to work part-time.  This might be the first time that summer hasn't seemed overwhelming as I try to juggle kids and work at home.  Rick has had a lighter travel schedule and we've had many happy evenings up at the pool together as a family.  Happy thoughts to more summer time of the same!

-Bethany

Wordless Wednesday

-Bethany

Lake Project and Memorial Day Weekend

As previously mentioned, we took on a new house project this spring.  This particular project had a lot of sentimental value and meaning because we did a first phase of renovation for Rick's family lake house.  This house has been in his family since the seventies and Rick's grandma has lived here full-time for the last ten years with Rick's dad living in a different house across the street. When Rick and I first started dating, we used to bring friends to the lake house and use it as such, but more recently, it has been "Grandma's house".

 

Grandma Grace (Grace's name sake and now known as GG) moved into a nursing home this spring.  The house was in worse condition than we realized when she was living there.  At the age of 92, it's hard to take care of the daily maintenance when you live independently.  The place needed a good cleaning and updating, floors replaced, decades of cigarette smoke eradicated, and overall sprucing of both the interior and exterior.  Rick and I decided it was important to keep the lake memories alive for future years, so we took on the project.

It's not a final product, but updated enough for anyone to feel comfortable coming and staying for a few days.  We also plan on doing short-term rentals when we are not there and try to earn some income during its vacant days.

Here are some before and after shots of the first phase of the project.

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

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AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

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AFTER:

Moving day with this motley crew:

On Memorial Day weekend, we welcomed the staging and settling in help of Aunt Samantha and then greeted Rick's family with a big reveal on Sunday afternoon.  They had been kept in the dark during construction so that they could be surprised when the fist big phase was done.

 Grace and Blakely:

 Mud bath special:

 Rousing game of chess:

We are looking forward to so many memories in the future.  Come on down to the lake anytime!

-Bethany

Grace's Dance Recital

Grace may not have loved her soccer debut last spring, but my goodness does she love her dance class.  Her studio is the sweetest place: the dress code is traditional and appropriate and recital costumes are classic and sweet.

From time to time, the class is open for a demonstration instead of regular recitals.  Here was the last open session:

The "real" recital only happens once a year.  Instead of the big four-hour production like some studios, Grace's studio paired three young classes together for a quick 15-minute show.

Quick run thru hair and makeup:

Back stage with Grace's class:

The show couldn't have been more perfect.  The girls LOVED being on the stage (my gal was VERY proud for the attention) and the audience was more than happy to enthusiastically applaud their way thru three performances.  (The director was so smart to cue the audience that instead of giggling at the adorable tiny dancers, instead loudly applause because that's what the dancers on the stage want to hear.  SO SMART.)

Grace was greeted after the show with what any 4-yr-old would want: flowers, candy, and a giant stuffed flamingo.  Paparazzi time.

 

Palmer was especially proud of his little sister...

And the amazing instructor, Miss Sarah:

-Bethany