1st Day of 1st Grade

     I can't believe that our little guy is in 1st Grade already!  Isaiah started at Sunrise Elementary School in Kimberly this year, and he is loving it!  It is so wonderful to know that he gets on and off the bus every day with a HUGE smile on his face.  :D  (And as an added bonus, Isaiah does a GREAT job working on his homework in the evenings.)

- becky

First Day of 4K!

Today was Mallory's first day of preschool.  We're so proud of her, and we can't believe that this day is already here.  We all dropped her off, and Isaiah and I stayed for chapel.  She looked so cute sitting with the other kids!  Mallory, I now know that you can sit still and upright for what is very nearly the length of a regular Sunday worship service.  And Isaiah, you were quiet the ENTIRE time.  Thanks for showing me what you are capable of, kids!  Ha!

Isaiah and I have been lost all day.  (We don't start school for a few more days.)  We've just been wondering aimlessly around the house, not really accomplishing much of anything.  We can't wait to pick her up and see how her first day of school went!

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm

The Grisha Trilogy, book 2

written by Leigh Bardugo

Well done, Ms. Bardugo.  This book is ridiculously amazing. Bardugo succeeded in improving my vocabulary, that's for sure. Her word choice was excellent! Good thing I read on an eReader because it made looking up words to see what they mean a lot easier - ha! I'm having trouble deciding if I like this installment better than Shadow and Bone. I definitely liked it - at least - as much as book one in the Grisha trilogy, but maybe even more. 

The suspense throughout the book makes it an emotional page turner. Alina is such a lovable heroine. She reminds me of Elisa in The Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy. Siege and Storm shows Alina coming to terms with the responsibility her gift as the Sun Summoner gives her. She's learning to lead, and it is impressive yet realistically written how she gives commands, and is met with some resistance. I also loved how Bardugo was able to write the Darkling into the book, even though he wasn't actually present...oh, but was he?! He is most definitely a villain that you want to read more of... ;) I'm super confused which team I'm on, though because of Nickolai. Team Mal? Team Darkling? Or Team Nickolai?!?! *swoons*

I can't believe I have to wait an entire year for book 3. *sobs hysterically*

- becky

Hulk! SMASH!!!

Our kids L.O.V.E. the Avengers.  We are super excited that there is a new Marvel's Avengers Assemble cartoon on the Disney Channel.  And did you hear about the Phineas and Ferb Mission Marvel special coming out in August?!  Isaiah insisted we set the DVR for it.  Of course, we did.

This video of Mallory's "Hulk! SMASH!!!" is too cute.  I'll try to get Isaiah on video and post his later.

Avengers Assemble!
becky

When I grow up...

I love talking with my kids about what they want to do when they grow up. Mallory tells us that she wants to be a teacher like Mommy. *proud* Isaiah says that he would like to be a worker and build big buildings. I think that would be a perfect fit for him. (Over the past few months, he has gotten into that little boy stage where he tries to take things apart or unplug stuff.) Tim always tells me that he wants to retire on a lake where there is fishing-a-plenty.  I know. #shocker

But what about me? What do I want to do when I grow up? And when is my next grown up stage? I don't think I want to wait all the way until retirement. 

Don't get me wrong; I really do love teaching. I enjoy watching my students faces as concepts click in their minds. The smiles on their little faces as the come into each day make my heart smile. But I just feel like I somehow, ever so slightly, missed something.  And then it hit me.  A ton of books hit me.

If you know me at all, you know what my passions are. I love Jesus. I love my family. And I love to read. 

I know. You think I'm going to say that I want to write a book. WRONG. I want to read books. And I want to tell you what I think of them. So, it looks like Avid Reader Becky wants to become Book Critic Becky. So, as soon as I can find some time - ha! - I'm going to grow up and get right to it. 

- becky

One Day...

I'm thinking that these pictures will come in handy for a slide show one day.  

Oh, and look.  She finished a pear.  

- becky

Help Has Arrived!

When we put our house on the market, my mom came to help get it ready for Open Houses and showings.  (You can read about that visit here and here.)  This past summer, she was gracious enough to come help us pack and get ready for the move.  While she was here, we took some time out for fun stuff, too.  I've promised her ONLY fun, and NO WORK when she comes back this summer.  

Love a photo bomb, especially by such a cutie!

 We were sad to leave the pear tree in our back yard.  We couldn't resist a little fun - and picking it dry - in the days before our move.

Fun with the kite

- becky