This & That

Our school year is off and running! (Furgus likes to keep a careful eye on the students :)
I'm teaching 1st grade, Kindergarten and Pre-K this year with lots of field trips planned.
Micah's starting Nursing school in less than 2 weeks and we're enjoying as much time with him as we can as the next 2 years will be full time work AND full time school for him. I'm apprehensive about the amount of work he's taken on, but so proud of his attitude of faith and determination. Even financially, he's planned as well as possible and where he sees (sometimes very scary) gaps in incoming money and expenses, he says, "God's got it. We'll make it!" I'm so blessed to have that guy! Let's see. Updates:

Our little bird, now named Brighten, is growing into an insufferable pest due to all the attention she's received from the boys since her hatching. She'll be our tamest bird by far, although her mixed parentage has made her a bit of a mongrel.

I found Zephan a new shirt which I think fits him nicely as he moves his 2's in just a couple of weeks.

The Clubhouse is coming along nicely...it has a roof now! Micah's trying his hardest to get the door up and siding on it before school begins, but time is getting away from him with school preparations and working overtime.

I've had a few fun craft times with my boys, including beading their Converse, making breads and fun snacks, and doing this to the big boys' socks:

"Why?", you may ask? Because their Sensei spends 10 minutes each class correcting the boys on their right and left feet. I kept hearing, "...now, step forward with your left foot. No, Malachi, your OTHER left." So, I brainstormed and got out my tempera paint and alphabet sponges. Worked great! Sensei LOVED it!

And our first field trip of the year was at the beautiful Oregon Gardens for Homeschool Day. It was gorgeous.

I wish I could have taken more pics, but my little guys need both of my hands. They're such good little guys, but with so many ankle-bitters running around, it's easy to lose track of mine!
It was a great day of hiking, friends, and afterwords we went to House of Dragon, Solomon's favorite restaurant, and shared a couple of Sweet and Sour Chicken lunch specials. Zephaniah's fortune cookie said, "You deserve respect and you shall soon get it."
The kid already shows signs of being a future Mafia don, all he needs is encouragement from a stupid cookie.