A Lesson on Plants

To learn about plants, the girls have their own spider plants, and we have experimented with what happens when plants don't get enough water or sunlight. Spider plants are great because they grow "spiderlings." (I am sure there is a name for the little plants they grow, but I have no idea what to call them.) The girls picked a few of the "spiderlings" and we soaked them in a cup of water to stimulate root growth. When the roots were substantial, we planted them in new pots and gave them a generous drink of water. I am pleased to report that our new spider plants are flourishing, and the girls have three more "spiderlings" in a cup of water on the windowsill, waiting for their own pot of soil! Now if only our pineapple plants would start to produce fruit!!!

Playing with Friends

We always love having friends and family over to play. One afternoon, Kaden stopped by to play. This young man is so much fun, and so well behaved. He is always a joy to be around. The weather was perfect this afternoon, so we played outside and checked out the fully-bloomed magnolia tree. (This tree is a magnet for tree climbers, and is great for the kids because the limbs are so low to the ground. It makes for some fun photos.) We took a walk and ate popsicles before Kaden had to leave. We look forward to playing again soon!

Another Typical March Day in Illinois ???

Well, the weather last month was SO atypical for Illinois. We traded our winter coats for shorts, sandals and sunglasses! We were so excited to get back outside and take daily walks. The girls even found a new favorite spot to do their schoolwork -- on the top of Essie's doghouse. We'll enjoy the beautiful weather, and enjoy the extra days outside!

Megan loves to push the stroller (or shopping cart at the grocery store).

Sweet Emily loves hats!

Baby feet ...

... and a pair of sandals!

Popsicles on the porch swing in March??

Practicing handwriting on the doghouse.

Hunt for the Gold

Ellie came over for an overnight the night before St. Patrick's Day. When she got to our house, the three girls had a scavenger hunt to find an after-school snack. They followed a series of clues until they reached the "gold" in the refrigerator. 

After the scavenger hunt, we played and danced and ate, until bedtime. The next day we went to girl scouts, played at the Stronghurst park and took a walk down to the creek, where the two older girls kicked off their shoes and waded in the cool water. I wish I had gotten a photo of Megan's big find! When Emily and Megan were wading, Megan found two four-leaf clovers -- on St. Patrick's Day! Unfortunately, we put the clovers in the cup holder of the stroller and I forgot about them. The next day, when we got the stroller out for a walk, I rediscovered the wilted clovers. 

Here are a few photos from their hunt!

Eli at 9 Months!

Nine months . . . already? It seems like just yesterday we were meeting this sweet boy for the first time. Everyone tells us how HUGE he is for his age, and he IS our biggest baby! Starting out at a humble weight, he has grown much more quickly than the girls. At his 9 month check-up he was almost 21 pounds. Neither Emily nor Megan hit the 20 pound mark until they were 2 years old. But, he is also taller than they were at this age. His healthy appetite is a culprit for his great growth. Among his favorite foods are yogurt, pears and peaches, pizza, macaroni, green beans, spaghetti, cheese, and -- his favorite, by far -- ice cream!!!! 

Eli is also our most active baby. He gets where he wants to go, and chases the girls wherever they go. Among his favorite activities are baths (actually, any activity that includes water), taking walks, pounding on the piano and walking. And, big news -- little Eli is sporting his first pearly white! 

A big thanks to Dawn Hughes for taking time out of her busy schedule to snap some photos of Eli!

Puttin' on the Armor of God

Emily and Megan have been studying the Armor of God in their youth group. Last week they came home with some "armor" they made. Here is Emily with her Belt of Truth, Sword of the Spirit, Breastplate of Righteousness and "Helmet" of Salvation. 

THANK YOU to all the dedicated volunteers  who spend so much time creating meaningful lessons for the children. THANK YOU for sowing seeds!

Story Time

Reading is a big part of our school day. We have been on so many adventures through books. Before the girls could read, like most parents, we read a lot with them. It is so much fun to share in the reading fun with Eli. This book (BIG Little) was a baby gift (from when we had Emily) from my old boss at the hospital. It is a fun beginning board book, along with it's buddy books -- Yummy YUCKY and Quiet LOUD!