Walk of Hope

This weekend, Kayli and I participated in a fundraiser walk sponsored by Families Blessed With The World's Children. The money raised through this event, went to an organization called "Half the Sky"...http://halfthesky.org/en This organization acknowledged research that shows how crucial it is to a young child's growth to be held, rocked, talked to, played with, smiled at, sung to... Children who lack these things often fail to thrive.  They decided to begin a program designed to "enrich the lives of orphaned children in China." They "provide model programs and caregiver training designed to offer loving, family-like care to children of all ages and abilities." It is their goal to "ensure that every orphaned child has a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future. "
The t-shirts we wore during the walk, had the following phrase printed on the back...“All the children who are held and loved will know how to love others….. Spread these virtues in the world. Nothing more need be done.”- Meng Zi, c. 300 B.C.
We were more than happy to support this cause!
We were encouraged to bring a wagon or bike decorated like a dragonboat...we spotted Kayli's dragon costume in the basement and decided it would make the perfect wagon cover. Then, we strung up some hand made paper lanterns, and voila...

the early morning rain stopped just in time for the walk and cleared the skies for the rest of the morning, just long enough to complete the walk and all the other fun activities at this event...

there were BUBBLES...

Chinese Yo-Yo's...

Chinese "jump rope"...

T-Ball...

Tattoos...

New friends...this little cherub just arrived from China, awww, so cute...

there was a limbo stick that lent itself to all sorts of imaginative play...

there were these fun dragon boats to play with...

the kids had a ball with these "boats!"

there was a raffle drawing...

Woohoo, Kayli won a bucket of cool stuff!

there was a kids craft table...

 there were prizes for the best decorated bike/wagon...the contenders...Tai:

Jessica:

Kayli:

 Lily got the blue ribbon...

BUT... everyone got a "Big Winner" sticker, and called this day a Success!

A New School Year Has Begun!

2nd grade here she comes!!! My sweet pea is starting 2nd grade, and on one hand, I find myself wondering how the years keep flying by! On the other hand, I think I know exactly what's happening... 
Your kid starts school, you take pictures, you smile, wipe a tear from your eye, then BAM, suddenly you've got your first "assignment/ "family project" to complete, and it's due the next day! Then, you realize that you've got daily assignments to complete, yes, you and your sweet pea, well, you...leading your sweet pea, through word lists, number games, kid-of-the-week posters, which require every crayon, marker, glue, tape, piece of paper, you have in the house, all the while simultaneously making/eating dinner, feeding/walking the dog, answering phone calls, opening mail/paying bills, other household chores, and...finally, done, but oops, it's now 10:30 p.m. and sweet pea needs to be in bed, but what about the bedtime story? What about the clothing choices we should have made for the next day? What about that homemade, healthy lunch and classroom snack that needs to be made and packed in the appropriate containers? What about that long, leisurely calgon bath I was supposed to seamlessly slip into this schedule? There's always tomorrow...and then it starts all over again, and the year progresses with each day bringing new things for mom to think, do, plan, remember, forget, from day to day!
Each day, the evidence of learning comes home in the backpack, in packs of papers! Oh, how we labor over the decision of what to keep, what to throw, and what needs to be sent back! So, you stick it all in a drawer and...next thing you know...the school year is done! What? Wait? I think I've got a system figured out, but heck, it's summer now, and we can be foot-loose and fancy free again, and forget all about "systems"...until August hits again...WAY TOO SOON, and I have another year to try my luck at fitting everything in, and figuring out how to do IT ALL... in record time. That's where the years are going!
Here's to another busy, but fun school year...

There was a special night to come up to school for a frozen treat, and a chance to meet the teacher and see the classroom...

the 2nd grade classrooms have an "All American" theme...

1st Day of School...Kayli got to have her favorite white powdered donuts for breakfast!

we actually had time to spare this first morning of school...we'll see how long we can keep that up, haha...

unloading supplies...

but wait, is this a bracelet I see? for meeee? How did she know I love jewelry???

and an "official" name tag...

I just know I'm going to love this teacher!

HELP, I'm trapped!

Poor Sprinkles, we've got to work on those "problem solving skills!" She went behind the hot tub, walked around the side, and was met with this obstacle...

heeelp...can somebody move this statue please?

Summer "Field Trips"

Well, here we are, starting a new school year, and once again, it feels like the summer has flown by! I have to say, though, that we did soooo much this summer! We started off the summer by putting a giant calendar on our garage wall and filling it with activities we wanted to be sure to include in our summer fun!

we included "wish lists" on the side... Kayli's top choice being "eat at IHOP", mine being "make a digital scrapbook" both of which we accomplished!
We went on some great "field trips"...

my favorite was this old fashioned school house, we got to visit, and pretend to be students...

then, as we drove past cornfields, I just couldn't help belting out in my best car singing voice "the corn is as high as an elephant's eyyyyye!" and Kayli wanted to know what that meant, sooooo... I pulled the car off the side of the rode, and showed her...she loved seeing the corn UP CLOSE!

We just love a freeflowing schedule!

So, we also made sure to do lots of freeflowing, hangin' out, kinds of activities like...

blowing bubbles on the back porch...

finding pools for my mermaids to stay cool in...

there were plenty of evening "royal walks" around the neighborhood with our Princesses Kayli and Sprinkles...

then there were leisurely visits with "Grandpa"...

there was the trip to the "glaze-your-own-pottery," by day...

and Kayli performing magic shows, by night...

there were "stay-inside days"...(the heat got unbearable!)

and "venturing outdoor days"...

entertaining friends...

and spending time with Aunt Suzanne...

while Mom hosted a "Girls Weekend!"

Kayli even showed her support of nuns by participating in a peaceful picket line with her Aunt Suzanne. I custom made her button that proclaimed "Peace, Love, and Nun Support"

and, there were trips to the library, and staying up late, and sleeping in, and staying in our jammies for most of the morning, and ohhh what a fun filled summer it truly was!