We decided to start our school year the day of the solar eclipse. What better day to start than one that involves such a great study in science? :) And what a fun day it was. In fact, as we studied aspects of the solar eclipse on Ava's very first day of school ever, she told me, "This is the best day ever, Mommy!"
Some cute first day shots (there's a bunch more at the end of the post...haha)
We watched live NASA coverage on their website for awhile and learned all about solar eclipses and saw neat pictures.
When it was set to happen (at 93% totality) in the Denver area we headed outside with our pin hole viewer to see the shape of the eclipse.
Hard to see in a picture, but you get the idea, and the girls thought it was fascinating to see the little sliver appear on the paper.
Our neighbor had a pair of safe glasses to view the eclipse that she let us borrow so we could all take a look and not burn our retinas.
I pointed my camera up and took some shots and the the eclipse showed up in the shots (ghosted), but really rather cool, I thought.
The kids also noticed the eclipse shapes on the ground made by effect of the sun shining through trees. After finding them on driveways, they ran around the cul-de-sac looking for the eclipses in other spots (on cars, houses, chairs, etc).
We enjoyed chocolate chips on mini marshmallows to make little "total eclipses"
We drew eclipes with sidewalk chalk
The girls added some very interesting notes and pictures to their nature journals. It was cute to see what each of them drew and Kayla was like a sponge and her journal writing reflected just how much she soaked in.
That evening we had eclipse oreos for a treat.
And another blast of First Day of School 2017 pictures because they are just so cute.
A fun start to the beginning of what promises to be another fun year!
We read a lot around here. Kayla's reading chapter books. Currently I am reading a St. Martin de Porres chapter book aloud to the girls. Chris and I are reading The Imitation of Christ together. Chris is reading a World War II novel by Jeff Shaara. You've seen my book list so have an idea of what else I'm reading. And we go to the library at least once a week to find new titles for the girls to devour.
You better believe we are stoked to jump on board with the summer reading program at the library in a week or so!!
2. Sophie Can Use a Spoon...
...mostly properly. She looked like she could be ready the last couple weeks, so I let her try. And she's pretty darn good at it. Not much mess for mom to clean up. WIN with that accidental perfect timing for "spoon training".
Yeah, yeah. The video doesn't show her greatest work. But you she's got form and she does actually get more on the spoon than this video shows. She just doesn't perform as well under pressure, I guess.
3. Lilacs and Family Walks
I love lilacs. We used to have wild bushes of them that grew in the empty lot behind our house growing up. In addition, we had a bush or two that grew in our yard. And I grew up in Spokane where lilacs are "the" thing. There's a lilac parade and everything each year. So....when I say I love lilacs, I mean it. They bring back wonderful memories and their scent is delicious. They grow well here in CO apparently, because lots of people have them. I want a bush SO BAD, but we're renting, so I'm trying to be patient. But I totally stop and unashamedly smell and admire any that I see on our evening family walks. Give me all the lilacs! Mmmmmm!
The girls picked up on my habits...
4. School is Out
Well technically according to the Charter School we go through, we have one more day (Monday), but Kayla has been done with most of her school books since the end of April/beginning of May, and we finished Math last week, so this week was our "fun week" of lots of extra hands-on experiments and projects and we're DONE!! I officially graduated her from First Grade to Second Grade today. To celebrate, we had a "field day" and went to a local park with a water feature and had a picnic afterwards. Yay, Kayla! We're proud of you, baby!
card games to promote math skills
Her second semester goal for school was to learn how to tie her shoes. We only ever use shoes with shoelaces when we hike, so it hasn't been much of a priority, but she made it her goal, and she conquered it.
Making a stethoscope to hear our heartbeats!
Elise is interested in school too (just in time to start Kindergarten in the fall) and is making leaps and bounds in copying her letters.
5. Exploring Local Parks and Meeting New Friends
In the last few weeks, we have visited several different parks in our area and set up a few playdates. I'm part of a Denver Catholic moms group as well as the Blessed Is She group where I've been able to connect with many other moms locally. Can't wait to meet up with more, but here's a few pictures I snagged of the girls exploring some fun new parks.
6. Sophie at Bat
One of Sophie's many favorite outdoor activities recently is "playing" Tee-ball. It's cute.
I snagged this for free on Craigslist to keep her a from running out in the street constantly while her sisters ride bikes. She plays for awhile before she wants out so she can ride her little bike and then play tee ball and eventually play her little game of "Make Mom and Dad Chase Her Out into the Street". I daresay I would have paid $15 or $20 to get the thing just to keep from having to constantly haul the preggo self into the street when she makes a run for it. Oh, this age. They are so mischievous.
7. Flower/Herb Garden
I can't get my lilacs yet, but we did do some planting of a little flower and veggie and herb garden. The girls were thrilled to help pick out flowers and veggies to grow in our little plots.
Kayla wanted to buy some of those little fawn statues for the girls desperately. Sorry, sweetie....they are cute, though. There was also a doe that she wanted to get for me....
Elise really wanted to buy that moose for Chris. Deer for all the girls, and a HUGE moose for Dad. Lol.
