my FAVORITE day with the kids + more to catch up on in March...

The weekend following Mercer's birthday, we had a relatively open Saturday.  He had a baseball game in the morning and a birthday party to go to right after.  That was it. 

My favorite day as a family of 4 was when we brought Isabella home & Mercer met his sister for the first time.  Here's how my 2nd favorite day as a family of 4 went more recently:

- Mercer's team didn't win their baseball game, but HE did well.  (he earned a game ball for a pretty astounding play for his age group).  I didn't get to see it, however, as I was down on the playground with Isabella.  She and I were having a blast, though.  Simple fun:  turning over a concrete block and finding worms.... lots and lots of worms.

- I took Mercer to Andretti (the same place Todd took him and a few of his friends to race for his birthday the previous weekend / shown in the previous post).  He played games and used up some of his game-card to include me on 2-player games / use a bunch of credits to hop into the photo booth with mom (so sweet!)

-  We ran some errands and went back to the house afterwards where Todd was just starting some yard work.  While we worked, the kids played together -- NO FIGHTING.  Mercer was trying to teach Isabella how to play baseball too.  He was definitely being an awesome big brother.

- Later, while cleaning the pond -- JACKPOT.  Todd uncovered some salamanders and some tadpoles!!   This little girl was in heaven!

(I was pretty happy too.  At school, I unloaded our class pet -- a bearded dragon -- on Friday & replaced with 3 tadpoles on Monday.  I'm planning to start a Frog Blog to track their progress through their metamorphosis.  Stay tuned.)

- Finally, we went bowling as a family and everyone (including Isabella) got at least one strike.  no kidding!

This was the 6th or 7th "Mercer Fun Day" in a row (he's having a great year at school this year)!  Isabella fell asleep after bowling on our way to the restaurant, so she did not eat dinner with us - instead - slept on Todd's shoulder the whole time.  We got a chance to really focus on Mercer during dinner and let him know how special he was / how proud we were of him for earning another "Fun Day."












It was a really really great day!!  xoxo

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~














We had one final hoo-rah for Mercer's birthday:   checking out a Globetrotter's game + the pre-game experience down on the court.  There were parts of the on-court experience that was overwhelming.  When we decided to do this (a couple of months ago) we did not know that Mercer has been dealing with a sensory processing disorder called Proprioceptive Dysfunction. *more on this later*

So, he did not seem to enjoy the on-court experience as we hoped he would.  It was crowded, loud, and chaotic.  But, there were a couple of times when he seemed to have fun:  when he was one-on-one with a Globetrotter.  (whew)  He still has fun trying to spin a ball on one finger.

Once the game started, he really seemed to enjoy the game and the antics that the players conducted on the court, though.  Overall, it was a good experience.

Back to the issue mentioned above:  we met with an Occupational Therapist who worked with Mercer to help him learn to ride his bike.  He rode his bike with her within 1/2 an hour.... but with us, he's given up.  We'll keep trying.  We did learn a lot from her, however.  When asking her about OT and about things we've noticed... she gave us a lot of tips.  She's not sure that he needs to see an OT on a regular basis, but suggested that we incorporate a few things into his routine to help him feel his sense of place within his surroundings.  He has a need to crash into things a lot.  He plays rougher than most kids.  He has some sensitivities to loud noises and overwhelming situations.  All of these are because of a sensory issue.  We are just starting to explore this new discovery;  It is helpful just to know a little bit more about what's going on. 

Isabella has started a new sport:  soccer!  We tried to get her into ballet, but we waited too long (should have called in January instead of February). So - she's giving this a try.  At first she seemed to like it (and she has some natural ability to run and kick / "dribble" as well as aim and kick the ball where she wants it to go).  But, during her 2nd game, she did not want to go out onto the field at all -- even with the permission of the league for Todd to join her.   (she said she got scared... there were a lot of people yelling and cheering on the kids.)  who know?!  She is young, but she sure loves playing in our back yard... and she NEEDS to run around to get some of that energy out!!!

Here's Isabella exerting some of that energy.  I went inside for 10 seconds to grab my flip flops and look who shimmied up a tree -- on her own!?!  (She was so proud of herself!!)  

I was caught hanging out in the trees recently too..... the kids in our upper school (grades 7-10) went zip-lining as a team-building event.  I got in on the action and had a BLAST doing it.  I've always wanted to try it.  It was a lot of fun!  (the place where we went had 4 levels of obstacle courses / zip lines.  I made it through the first 3 levels -- which surprised me that I'd go that high.  (the photo here -- I was at least 30 feet in the air -- having zipped across the parking lot well over the length of a football field.  I want to do this again (but in the rainforest sometime!!)

The head of our school allowed kids to duct-tape him to his car for a fund-raiser for our science team / for our booth & equipment that went into the science festival.  (crazy dude).... but - there are other ways that we have some crazy / fun stuff going on at our school:  check out this Easter egg hunt for our upper school students.  It's in the style of Hungry Hungry Hippo! (the kids are on moving dollies.  They push themselves out to the middle and their team-mates pull them back with the rope that's tied to the dolly!)

Here's a more "normal" egg hunt picture from our school.  For the little kids, eggs were hidden in / around the Imagination Play Room blocks.  Isabella found a few & was happy enough with what she got, although other kids got an entire basket full.  


She did the same at our neighborhood egg hunt... happy with the scant few that she acquired.  Yay for now, as that will certainly change.  

(Here she is in a combo soccer uniform (socks and shorts) + spring top.  It's the closest we could get to dressing her up, as she did not want to remove her soccer clothing~


Mercer - like last year - had baseball during the neighborhood hunt.  instead of having him try to come at the very end & get upset that he did not get to go to an official hunt... I took him to one that the county put on.  There were at least a thousand kids there + zillions of pieces of candy thrown across a fenced in softball field.  I'm grateful that we did not try to go as a family & Isabella attend a hunt for her age group.  It was chaos.  I had complete anxiety about being able to find Mercer in the end -- as all of the other crowds of parents who waited at the gate on the other side.  Never again!  (He was happy with his candy stash, but we'll have to figure out another way for him to get his Easter hunt fix.... this is not it)

The Easter bunny visited our house, so a little bit more candy (and toys) entered our lives.....

It was down to the wire, but we did get in some egg dyeing (on Easter day).  We invited a friend over -- Isabella's "crush," Sean.  :)  

It was fun to have company over after church to share in an Easter meal together.

Here are some post-church pictures... as well as my *favorite* spring picture of Isabella by the pond.  

Look closely - her tongue is sticking out.  TYPICAL SASSY ISABELLA!! 

PS - Mercer made another amazing play this past week in baseball -- one I DID get to see from the playground. (He chased down a runner and tagged him out.  I texted Todd to make sure I saw this correctly.  Yes... but he wasn't listening to the coaches (Todd and a guy named Tony).  He was supposed to throw the ball.)  :) In the end, Todd said - OK - he made the out.... whew.... Mercer is FAST!!

Quick update on Mercer's birthday + a couple of random things.

Today was the end of Mercer's celebration week.    (but - we actually have an experience gift he'll get to go to in a couple of weeks, so his birthday is not technically over~)

On Tuesday, Mercer turned 8.  Todd took him lunch and brought cupcakes for his classmates.  Later that evening, we took him out for pizza - his choice - and he opened some gifts.  (here he is with a "tinker" crate he received from Grandma in NJ.)  

Tuesday night was very rainy, however, and it was a school night so we couldn't do too much.    We *really* celebrated today - several days later.  







Mercer had a small group of friends come over today for pizza and "racing" cake.  The real party was at a nearby entertainment venue, however, we wanted Isabella to be able to celebrate a little bit too.  She had a good time hanging with the boys.  She was laughing, eating pizza, cracking toot jokes along with them.  

After cake and ice cream was consumed,the boys went to Andretti Karting.  

Mercer - now that he's 8 - can officially drive mini go-karts at this place. Since it's sort of pricey, the # of friends was limited to a handful, but he and the boys played some arcade games while they waited on their race.  

They all raced together.   It was hard to tell who won because they basically kept running laps 'til time was up.  But - Mercer said he came in 3rd and said he had a great time.   

(Here's a shot after the party was over.  The "racing" cake - once cut into it - exposed the checkerboard pattern of white and chocolate cake!)  

Mercer can also ride in the back seat of the car WITHOUT his booster seat.  He proudly walked that into the house on his last day of being 7.  

Tonight, Mercer participated in the Presentation of Colors ceremony at Cub Scouts.  Between karting, eating cake, and being allowed to carry the flag.... it was a pretty good day for him!

As promised, here are the pieces of artwork I made in my encaustic workshop last weekend.  In one of the pieces, I focused on embedding things in the wax and trying to create layers.  For the other piece, I worked on building up the wax to create a lot of texture.  I've never tried this medium before, but I liked it.  Maybe I'll get to continue to work in this medium in the near future?     

Hopefully things will level off enough to have free-time to create.  Hopefully.

More new things......

As shown on the previous post, Mercer (and Todd) tackled making a car for the first time for the Cub Scout / Boy Scout pinewood derby.  They worked DILIGENTLY on the car for weeks -- making little bits of progress almost every night (there was a lot of layering with the paint job on the car).    His is the navy and silver racer on the left (#8 car with a 26 sticker for the derby).   Next shot are all of the 2nd grade cars (Wolf den).

We had no idea what to expect... had no idea how long we were going to be there.

We were there all day because Mercer's car did pretty well & had to race again towards the end of the event, but it was actually a lot of fun!  







Check out these creative cars.  There were were a lot of interesting designs with the "real" cars as well as an additional category called Renegade cars.  

Out of the group of 2nd graders in his Wolf, den, Mercer placed 3rd.  The kid on the right, Langdon, got 1st of the 2nd graders, but - once the cars were pitted against all grade levels, he took 3rd overall.

Mercer (and Todd) were pretty excited to have placed their first time in the derby!  Todd was already scheming on how to make Mercer's car faster for next year~  

Isabella flirted most of her way through the event with one of Mercer's friends seen here (He's the same kid that is seen in the last post @ basketball too)... she could not get enough hugs from this little boy, Sean. He was very patient with her, thankfully.  (Otherwise - I'm not sure how she would have made it there all day!)




















A "season" has ended.  We have been going to the sweetest little Montessori school for ~ 7 1/2 years.  Mercer started there as a baby.  There was a little bit of crossover with both Mercer and Isabella attending at the same time before he started Kindergarten.  Isabella has been there for almost 3 years.  The end of January marked the end of our time with them.  It was a tearful departure, honestly.  The sweetest woman, Ms. Angela, in the infant room and I both shed tears.  They are like family - so it was tough!

February 1, Isabella started coming to the daycare at my school.  There is a significant cost reduction for her to come with me.  Many people point out that we also get to spend a bit of quality time with each other in the car.  We have already played countless number of games of "I spy" and have sang no less than a thousand songs so far this month!  (or so it feels like it)   The drop-off in her room has not been going so smoothly.  She has been crying and clinging to me each morning.  There have only been a couple of times that she's walked right in with no fuss, but it's mostly been pretty tough.  Often on the drive in, she says she doesn't want to go to my school. She wants to go to her (old) school.  But - when I pick her up in the afternoons, she seems happy.   
One perk of teaching at the same school.... I get to check in on her while she's napping (during my break).  I sometimes see her from my window of the science lab because she has recess at the same time I have one of my classes.  And - I got to pop in on her valentine's day party.  

This school takes things up a notch from our sweet little Montessori school. My new school has a computerized / cell-phone device check in & out system.  This system also charts her naps, food, and can offer a report of what she did that day.  Sometimes, there are also photos that show her participating in an event.  One of the other steps up:  she's got homework.   Spanish words every day to practice are uploaded to the website.  She also had a diorama due after her first week there -- complete with a rubric for he presentation.   YIKES!   The enrichments will be great for her, though.  She gets to go to a real music class, real art class, a real martial arts class, a PE class (on top of daily recess) and a computer lab every week.  (at this age, they play PBS kids, pull up dances for the kids to do an teach agility with a mouse / keyboard)

On my end, I'm hanging on.  The first two weeks, I was given the freedom to have fun and get to know the students.  I had to start teaching "for real" beginning February 1st -- the beginning of our new semester.  I have not dug into anything too major in my biology or life-science classes thus far.  Some of what I've been doing is trying to wrap up the topic (DNA) that the other teacher left-off on.  I'm putting my own spin on it -- for the upper level students -- we're looking into cloning and talking about biotechnology ethics which I think are both interesting.  

These two courses will be my biggest challenge.  The chemistry class, I have to dig in a little more on too because it's deeper than the chemistry I did in my other physical science course.  Honestly, I'm catching up the chemistry class on some fundamental subjects that they have not been exposed to yet - that they should know.  My three physical science classes.... are thankfully no problem to prep!  : )

I do like how laid-back the structure of the classes are, however.  It's very conversational and less teach / lecture.  There will be more hands-on work since it's a Projects-based-learning school... I've been working with the students on the type of project we are to develop for science that ties into the larger upper school project.  There's a model of teaching called the flipped classroom.  I found a series of online science text books (that are free).  I can use these textbooks as a framework for what I'm teaching /having the students read at home.  We can then have discussions in class, work on projects, and do labs.  Fingers crossed I can keep up with all 4 subjects!!!

Isabella and I are both on a school break.  Our break also coincides with Mercer's winter break at his school.  He's at a sports camp this week, however.  While he's doing that, I'm using this time to do some fun stuff with Isabella each day-- things that a 2nd child may not get to do that the 1st child did.  We are going to toddler programs at the library, tumbling at a local gymnastics center, etc.   I used to take Mercer to these same things.  Here's a photo of her painting pottery at Just Kiln' Time yesterday -- a new experience for both of us.  Isabella wanted to make her "mad" face -- luckily, there's a little bit of smile in there.   
I am excited to try something else new this coming weekend:  an encaustic (wax) painting workshop.  (I'll update the blog with an image -- if there's one worthy of posting.)  There's a really cool layering and depth that can be achieved using wax as a medium.  I've been intrigued by encaustics for many years & am happy to give it a try soon!

I don't think I'll be blogging as regularly as I have been.  We'll have to see how it goes with the busy teaching schedule (prepping 4 courses + architecture elective) and hanging with our active kids~

This is our new season!

A new year.... some new things are happening

Yes - lots of new things have happened / are happening in the New Year!!

1.  New Year's eve... Isabella has her first dentist appointment.  (At this dentist, they take a first visit photo.)  

She did well for the most part, but she questioned every single little thing that the hygienist did.  The appointment took a really long time and Isabella was all over the place.  The hygienist said that this was a first:  she conducted her exam with Isabella standing up part of the time, sitting down some, and sort of chasing her around.  The dentist said all looks well, but her upper teeth are pushing out a little bit because of the pacifier that she uses at nap / at bedtime and we need to wean her off of it.

We're a step ahead of him.  We were waiting 'til all of our travels were done & were going to start tackling this on New Year's Day.

2.  Later that evening, we went to the square for the first annual "Square Drop"  / NYE party.  We did not stick around 'til the drop - as it was too late with the kiddos - but we heard it was memorable (not in a good way).  We walked up, checked out the scene, played glow-in-the-dark putt-putt, and walked home waaaay before midnight.

3.  On New Year's Day - we made a resolution for Isabella / with Isabella (just like we did with Mercer 5 years ago) to give up her pacifier.  Just like we did for Mercer.... we gave her the option of throwing her pacifiers away in exchange for a big present.  Well, of course she took the present!   (A Doc McStuffins medical kit - backpack, tools, and prescription pad that actually helps her to learn her letters.)

When Mercer exchanged the paci for a present.... he asked for the paci a couple of times.  We told him it was gone and he seemed OK with it / moved on.  Isabella on the other hand, has not been OK with this "exchange."  The first several days - she cried loudly and begged for her paci.  She even rummaged through the trash several times!  At daycare, she rummaged through her box of personal items 'cause there used to be a loose paci in there every now and then.  She is smart and STRONG WILLED and she was determined to find a way around the deal she had made with us~

For a couple of weeks at daycare and at home she announced she did not need a paci because she was a big girl.  But - whew - she DID sleep much better with it!  Eventually she stopped asking about it or even talking about it, but unfortunately her sleep patterns have been messed up.  It's been 3 weeks so far and she's still not sleeping through the night consistently.  We've definitely regressed in that area.  It's been tough on us and tough on her.   Hoping that she starts sleeping through the night again.  That's been the hardest part of all of this... sleep patterns~ ugh!

4.  Into the new year, I spent a ton of time wrapping up lessons and organizing materials for the school where I had been teaching part-time for 1 1/2 years.  (JFCA)  I took a full-time teaching job was handing over the baton to another who was to take my place.  It was actually hard to let go.  I felt horrible leaving the students in the middle of the school year, but seriously felt like the opportunity to go to this other school -- one that I have been interested in Mercer attending -- was something I needed to try.  My school administrator was awesome.  She encouraged me to take the other job and felt that God opened this door for me / my family... and that He would provide another teacher to take my place.  Shortly after the new year, she was correct!  The man who was taking my place - an engineer who was interested in teaching a year ago was not able to make that transition in his career until the exact time that I was transitioning to another school.  It really is pretty amazing how that worked out!

The first 2 weeks of the year was spent transitioning and even co-teaching a little to say goodbye to the students and usher in the new teacher.  He did well with the students and I felt at peace leaving that job.  There was only one day of "down-time" between my last day of teaching at one school and hanging out at the new school cleaning out my room and meeting with the other Upper School team members.

I'm in over my head (much like I was 1 1/2 years ago when I started teaching 8th grade Physical Science (Chemistry & Physics).  I have 3 8th grade Physical Science classes at my new school, but I also have 1 10th grade Chemistry class.  1 9th grade Biology class.  and 1 7th grade Life Science class.  I feel comfortable with Chemistry and Physical Science, but the other two.... I'm very nervous about!!!

Each teacher is also required to teach an elective 3 days a week.  I'm doing an Intro to Architecture class.  I know the material, but it's still another "prep" to do most days.  YIKES.

Isabella will start going to daycare with me there February 1st.  We can save a great deal of money each month to have her go with me.... and... she's with me in the same building every day.  We'll have to start getting up earlier each day to get to school on time, but it may save some time in the long run not having to pick up kids at multiple places.  

The plan is eventually for Mercer to start going to the school there either in the fall or maybe jump in a little before the school year starts in the summer in lieu of camps?  (it's a year-round school.  I'll have 11 weeks off total each year.  Every month or two, the kids and I will get a week or two off.)

5.   On my first official day of work, I was driving in and all of the emergency lights on my dash lit up.  I pulled over and flipped through the manual which encouraged me to take my car to the dealer immediately.  I had just taken it in for a tire rotation & oil change that very weekend and was ensured all was well.  So - they told me to come after work / they'd check it out.  I stopped off and had it hooked up to a machine that tells you what the error code is:  wow - it was the hybrid battery.  The "big" one!  I was already dealing with a lack of control (Multi-functional Display Unit had gone out 6 months ago and we couldn't fix with a refurbished model).... so... this was the 2nd major component to go - but not one I could live without.  So, we had to act fast and get rid of the 11+ year old car.  I traded it in on a newer (2014) Prius.  Same thing I've been driving and am comfortable with. I guess I'll have to wait on that "dream" car -- a convertible.  Oh well.  I have more reliable wheels & that's important -- especially seeing that one or both of the kids will be making the 35 minute trek each way with me.

The earlier part of the day -- my actual first day of work -- started out nicely:  helping make up bags filled with toiletries and hand-made scarves to hand out to neighboring residents in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.  

The school where I'm working is kind of crazy (so far in my first week).  I'm sure I'll have more to post about it later.  I'm just getting up-to-speed.  But - have to admit - what a nice way to ring in my first official day:  serving others.  

Fingers crossed the rest of the year will be as rewarding!!

6.  We had our first snow of the year.  It was pretty light (and thankfully happened Friday evening / Saturday - so no one was stuck on the road).  

But we were able to scrape some snow off of cars, basket ball goal base, and a few other flat objects in order to make several dozen snowballs.  It was fun for a very short time.  The snow made us snuggle up with a fire in the fireplace, however, which was a nice change.

7.  Mercer also started something new in Cub Scouts that he's never done:  Pinewood Derby. It's been pretty cool to see him and Todd work on building a car together. We'll post pics of that on the next blog post, as they're a week away from the actual event where all of the boys race their cars.  Should be exciting!!

And - some things that aren't new, but still took place......

We held our annual Soup Night.  (15 years since we started it!)  Things have changed a bit over the years since bringing Isabella into our home.... when she was in her first month here (Jan 2013), a friend hosted a soup night for us instead of us hosting one.  Then, when we started it back up in Jan 2014 - we had "co-hosts" helping with purchase and prep of ingredients.  In 2015, we cut it back to 2 soup nights instead of 4.  We did the same thing this year, but we also hosted a "private" one in honor of a friend who we used to work with.  So - we had 3 this year.  Even though it's changing, it's still nice to gather with old friends over a bowl of soup~ 

The little boy in the photo that Isabella is hugging is a little miracle.  He's a year older than she is.  He is much smaller than she is because he was born way too early - he was a little over 1 lb when he was born.  When he's not cringing from being hugged by our precocious little girl, he has the BEST smile.  

Our visits with him are spaced apart too much / we don't get to see his beaming parents or beautiful smile as much as we'd like.  But - when we do, he is a reminder that life is frail and life is precious.  




























Into the new year, Mercer wrapped up his basketball season.  He did pretty well -- picking up more skills than from the previous year.  The thing that was nice that the coach said:  each player was able to score this season (unlike players on the other teams).... and he got compliments from other coaches on how well the boys listened to and responded to instruction.  Our boys ALMOST went undefeated.  

They lost 1 game the whole season.... only by 1 point.  Overall, it was pretty good!


Happy New Year to you and yours.....