Lately

Last night Zeek made dinner for the first time - Tater Tot Casserole. He did a great job, and we are looking forward to him cooking more meals. 

School has been going so very well. The wall chart system of checking off classes as they are done has been working best for us.

We're doing even more extra reading - Poems, an excellent Easter Advent story, Usborn Educational books, and a story about a knight name Sir Farts A Lot who's trying to defeat a booger. That's what I've heard anyway - Greg is reading that one to him.

We found a Language Arts program that we really like. While we've cooled off a bit with Institute for Excellence in Writing - just for the purpose of slowing down and not being so intense about 2nd/3rd  grade - it's been harder supplementing daily lessons off the internet and of our own random materials. It's nice to have direction and see some good solid learning and progression at an age appropriate level. 

We also recently ordered the Science program from the same company. Although, we own at least four different Science curriculums right now, none of them quite hit the nail on the head for our learning or life style and preference. Hopefully, this new program will be as fulfilling as the LA. 

Right now, we are loving school like never before. I am actually disappointed we don't do it on the weekends, and I am not looking forward to not having a full school day in the summer. We didn't even take a Spring Break week.

We did have a Spring Break Day, in which Jaymee (who was on her real Spring Break from school) joined us early on a Friday. We went to TL for breakfast. Then we went to the Muppet Show Movie. Then we went to Sir Bounce A lots. And finally, Smart Cow for ice cream. 

It was a super fun day, but I sadly noted that these "kids" aren't loving the Auntie/Mom escort to a day of fun the same way they have in past years. I'm now the nerdy parent who shouldn't talk or make any sudden movements around them. They don't want anyone to know they're with me. They roll their eyes and look sideways at me. Soon, I will be escorting them to the front doors of their fun days out, allowed only to pick them up and drop them off at their next destination. 

It's Crazy how grown they are and how they don't want or like me to be in the picture one single bit. 

Well, maybe a tiny bit, still.

We had R&E's new puppy, Duke, for the past week while they were on vacation. 

It was a lot having four dogs, although, he is very sweet and nice to have. After I brought him back to their house last night Frank seemed really sad. Poor guy. He really liked having a pup around. 

I'll have to make up for it with LOTS and LOTS of snuggle time. Don't mind if I do! 

Yuki finally had surgery on her teeth a week ago. She's doing SO well. She had three extractions and a full cleaning done. 

Now, she lays around with the other dogs on floors rather than curling up (no doubt to protect her hurting mouth) on the couches and beds. She's initiating wrestling matches, playing and having fun on her own throughout the days. She's much more comfortable. It's kind of sad that we didn't even know she was in so much pain all the time. We're very glad she's not anymore.

There are more things going on. Like a leak in the foundation of the house, all thanks to this terribly record-cold winter. And Ralph the Mouse's incredible miracle story. And Zeek's writing and lego building. And all our camping preparation and excitement. And the video game we're creating with Tony. And of course, more on our adoption journey progress. 

But I'll have to use that list to compile more posts in the future. For now I'm off to work out and read before everyone wakes up for the day. More coming soon. 

Family Adventure - Milwaukee WI

This weekend we went to Milwaukee.

It was kind of spontaneous.

We wanted to meet Cousin Courtney's twins.

And have a little family adventure.

We went to the Domes for the first time.

They were incredible.

Especially this time of year, when it's still SO cold.

Each of the three Domes have a different (warm) climate.

The first we went into was a rain forest.

With live bugs, birds and plant life indigenous to the rain forest. 

We could not get enough.

It felt like summer.

We walked through, looking at every single thing.

Just soaking up the "sun".

I think the rain forest was all of our favorite.

It was SO perfectly warm and beautiful.

The second dome was the desert. 

It too was beautiful.

Surprisingly, we weren't as into the desert as the rain forest. 

I would have thought ANYTHING warm would do. :)

It was still very neat to see though.

While I love cacti and succulents

my favorite were the Birds of Paradise. 

I enjoyed photographing with my phone, obviously. 

The third Dome was called "garden".

They were featuring a G-Scale train exhibit through out.

It was really gorgeous. 

I could not get enough of the green, trees, flowers and warm sun...

Afterward we went to lunch.

Greg was a little worried to parallel park because 

he didn't want to touch the rims on his low profile tires. :)

We ate at Ian's, and Greg fell in love. 

Then we went to Cousin Courtney's house for some baby lovin'.

 

We met, cuddled and cooed over Stella and Mateo 

while they napped through hours of our visit. 

It was the perfect day.

Zeek's Art Studio

From the early morning, throughout the day, into the evening- pretty much any spare time Zeek has he's drawing or making something. From his own matchsticks and dynamite, to books about dragons and fire worms, he loves to draw, sculpt, paint, glue, tape, write and create. He's always been a little artist. 

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a book at the library that is filled with art lessons. As I got into it I learned that it also instructs how to provide an "art studio" for your kids or students. This peeked my interest. As I read more I learned how awesome and inspiring it is for kids to have a space that is set up just for creating. 

So came the daunting task of reorganizing our craft/laundry/dog/mud room. Since the dogs have recently transitioned to being free in the house at all times, I knew I could delegate what has always been their kennel room to something different. And since I pretty much only use the room to store my card making, drawing and painting supplies, I decided to downsize my own stash and make the room Zeek's Art Studio.

I'd like to say this was no big deal, but until about half way through the project I had no idea what I was getting into.  

Once I had gotten things stripped down, sorted, and cleared out, 

Zeek and I went to Walmart for storage containers and desk lamps. 

Then it was just a matter of setting up the room. 

It was amazing how much stuff we had tucked away 

that was just begging to be used, for years. 

Now, it is all out on display for him,

along with some of the things he's already made.

There is cork board for pinning,

and canvases with easels for painting.

There are two desk areas.

  

We demo-ed the roll top desk we weren't using

and turned it into another space. 

It's good to have extra room for friends

or maybe a brother or sister. ;)

The closet storage space has been optimized.

And Zeek is loving it!

He spent most of his day in there yesterday after 

I revealed the finished product to him.

He ate his meals, listened to his music and stories,

watched his show on his iPad, 

and of course, created away

I'm grateful we have this extra space available to use for this.

I think it is priceless.