September 2017

Twin Lakes

Jon and Koen spent a boys days out together at a small amusement park called Twin Lakes. Koen had received an advertisement for it at the end of the school year in July and had been ever hoping to go there since. It sounds like it wasn't a busy or crowded place and they had a good time together.

While the boys spent a day together, we girls decided making and decorating princess cupcakes would be enough to make our girls day special. I think we watched Tangled too.

Start of the New School Year

Koen started Year 3 early September. This is his first year wearing a tie. He was greatly looking forward to his new teacher, Mr. Marshall this year.

Koen's class also begun swim lesson this year as one of their PE classes. We were pretty excited for that because really, none of our kids have much swimming experience.

Koen was excited enough about his new swimwear, he put it on immediately. I think it somehow made his chore more fun. By the wear, swimming suits are known as swimming costumes in the UK.

Hadley started school a bit later than Koen. She started in Reception (which is Kindergarten, but started a year earlier than in the states.)

Rather than immediately beginning with full days of school, she went in for half-days for about a couple of weeks before staying all day.

Personally, I didn't feel that set up was needed and would have preferred her immediately starting all day. She too wished she could have started as early and for as long as her big brother. Many of the children in Hadley's class have been attending preschool since they were 3 and I imagine, wouldn't have had difficulties jumping straight into full days as well.

Hadley has two main teachers: Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Pickup. They each take a turn teaching the class for half of the week. She has a full-time assistant teacher as well, Mrs. Clipston.

  

This blackened piece of work is that of some trying-to-be-big girls. Hadley and Macie were trying to warm a piece of bread in the microwave. From the living room, I noticed I had heard the microwave going for some time and suddenly realized that I needed to hurry to the kitchen.

The girls were happily sitting on the counter besides the microwave, unconcerned about the smoke coming from it! I quickly stopped the microwave, got the girls down and found this charred piece of bread. The opened doors and windows did not help the stench in the house and it felt like it took a while to disappear.

I remember being very grateful that this had happened not long after our landlord made a visit... rather than have him come by to find his house smell like a near, burning disaster.

Self-Reliance Day at Church

I didn't photograph this activity very well, but it was a neat ward activity that our church put on. They offered small classes in a wide variety of subjects to help people learn skills and gain ideas on how to become more self-reliant. They had activities for children, teenagers and adults.

Children were able to make money boxes, plant watercress heads to grow and take home, and learn about nutrition.

The local firemen and policemen came and let anyone see inside their vehicles. You could dress up as a policeman and also shoot water out of the fire hose. I took a turn at spraying water out of the fire hose myself and find it neat to feel just how powerful they are. The children and youth loved running underneath the water as well.

Other classes offered included, gardening, finances, mental health, physical and nutritional health, survival skills (which included skinning a rabbit! - that was a popular class) and I'm positive several more classes.

I think the event as a whole was quite successful. I wasn't able to enjoy many classes myself as I tried to help in other areas and Jon had to be away at work this day. If they do an activity like this again, I hope to be able to attend more classes.

From Koen's face, you see there was face painting too.

Macie and Jon had a "sword fight" with very flimsy twigs as Koen and Hadley played in the park after school.

Treetop Walkway

We've visited this place before and I like it enough to want to go more. It's a beautiful wooded area with a park, plenty of paths and a walkway the goes up high into the trees.

These two held hands voluntarily and were buddies.

At the end and top of the tree-top walk.

  

  

  

   

I can't remember which, but one of the kids insisted we line up like this.

Maybe it was by Hadley's request since she was the photographer for this photo:

Macie looks so small in there.