First Day of School

Since I've practically neglected this blog, I thought I would give a little update. We have a kindergartener and a 3rd grader in the house!

Jazz hands. Don't ask. I don't understand myself.

Silly faces.

And the hula girl.

Someone was really excited for her first day of school! Jonah is attending from 8-12:30. He's there for language arts (reading, writing, spelling), specials, lunch, and recess. I'm teaching him math, history, and science at home. Lydia is attending school all day. It seems that the majority of the kindergarteners  walk to the school door each morning by a parent; my daughter leaps out of the mini-van and runs in with her big brother. She's waited for this for a long time!

Those Silly Spring Pictures

I couldn't resist. I typically pay no attention to picture day at school. In fact, I'm a little annoyed by them. And I certainly make fun of those silly spring pictures that allow parents to pick out the background color including swirls, stars, and the child's name in big bold colors :)

Since I didn't order any spring pictures of Jonah, they sent me a small proof. I thought it was adorable. Sure, it's something I can do myself-- and frankly, the quality of my pictures are better, but there was something endearing about the fact that it was just a typical day at school. He even has one of Mike's Taylor tie tacks (is that what they're called?) pinned right above TAYLOR. Can you see it?

He's so cute.

Jonah-- second grade :)

Silly Scooter Kids

S. Carolina

We returned from Spring Break on Wednesday and had a fabulous time. Our kids are great travelers. It's so fun to see the world through their eyes. You can see pictures here.

Israel

Some of our Israel pictures can be found on my photography blog!

New Website!

We have a new website and blog! Check out our new website, follow us at our new blog, and make sure to update your bookmarks!!!

Cousins!

I have our first Hawaii photo session up on the photography blog. They put a smile on my face.

You can see them here.

If you like what you see, leave a comment on the photography blog. It helps get my business in the top tier of Google searches.

Mele Kalikimaka!

I just posted Hawaii pictures HERE!!! Check 'em out and leave comments on the photography blog. It helps my business!

Thanksgiving

alert: wild grandmas

it just makes me smile

I inherited a piano. The piano that I played as a little girl. The piano that my mom played on as a little girl too.

Jonah started lessons in September. I couldn't be more proud.

The World's Best Grandparents

football & friends

We tried soccer with Jonah when he was in preschool. It didn't work. He tackled the other players instead of kicking the ball and emptied his teammates' water bottles on the sidelines. I spent the majority of the games yelling at him from the other side of the field because he wasn't doing what he was supposed to do.

Since that time, we've been a little nervous about typical organized sports. His OT, Miss Kim, has always discouraged us, explaining that his ability to think about plays while trying to fulfill his sensory needs, wouldn't really work. He'd end up doing what he wanted to do on the field and not really following the coaches' plans. It made since to me so Tae-Kwon-Do has been his sport, and we haven't felt the need to do anything "typical."

Until now. Jonah really wanted to play football this year. I was nervous about it. He's on a team with a lot of this friends, and I told the coach beforehand that the best place for him was on defense. If he could just run after the kid with the ball and pull his flag, then I thought he would do well.

Jonah successfully managed his first football game today, and we couldn't be more proud! He did what he was supposed to do. He was appropriately aggressive. He tried hard. He didn't make bad choices. And he fit in with all the other boys!

Happy Day

We took a few quick pictures before going to see the orthopedic doctor because...

Lydia gets her cast off today!!!

Celebrating Lydia

Lydia turned five last week. We opted for a small party with Pop and Grammy. She spent a few days deciding on the perfect restaurant. Can you guess where we are?

I realize I never blogged about her broken wrist. She gets her cast off on Thursday. She hasn't complained ONE BIT.

She is my little blessing, my sunshine, and my pride and joy. I'm so proud of the girl God created her to be.

In typical Lydia fashion, she was a little shy when we were singing to her-- represented by her trademark tongue in bottom lip.


While we were asking her to choose a restaurant, we were also asking her what kind of cake she wanted me to bake for her. She LABORED over the decision before asking for the "cookie cake" at the grocery store bakery. Okay. That was easy.


Fancy Nancy Colorforms from big brother.

We love you, Ray-Ray!

Vaca

I just posted our vacation pictures on Facebook. You can view them here: It just takes too doggone long to upload them to Blogger!

There's one story that I hope I can articulate. Jonah and Lydia went tubing for the first time. They both enjoyed it. On our final boat trip we asked Jonah what he wanted to do one last time. Did he want to get on the jet ski or go tubing? He wanted to ride the tube by himself.

He knew that a "thumbs up" was the signal for going faster. Throughout his whole ride, he had his thumb up in the air. That, alone, caused me to giggle. Ashley's sister was driving and was pretty timid about going too fast for him-- especially after Lydia had bounced six feet in the air before diving head first in the water moments before!

So during his inaugural solo ride, he was sitting in the tube with his thumb up in the air as we were cruising through the lake back to the dock. After about five minutes, he put his thumb down...but wait... it was back in the air. Oh no. It was back down again....then it was back in the air!

His eyes were closed from water spraying his face. I could tell that it was probably a little hard to breathe because of the water spraying, but he just kept switching back and forth between a thumbs up and a thumbs down.

At this point, we were all giggling at his determination and desire for a fast, adventure-filled ride. Suddenly he leaned over the front of the tube. Oh no. Was he going to vomit? Jonah doesn't have motion sickness. What was wrong?

STOP THE BOAT!

He sat up tall and held his left arm in the air with his elbow a little bent.

He was giving us a signal. What did it mean?

Wait. There were hand signals printed on the tube!

He was leaning over the front, reading the hand signals! In the midst of trying to get a breath while water-- as he said later was "stinging his eyes,"-- he was reading the tube to give us the proper hand signal :)

Totally Jonah.

As he climbed back on the boat with a big smile on his face, we asked what his hand signal represented.

GO BACK TO THE DOCK.

Of course it did.

Calais Virginia

We spent the week at my sister-in-law's parent's lake house. We had a delightful time. I was just going through this week's pictures and had to show this one right away. I love it. We miss her already :)

our dancer

Someone has a dance recital tomorrow night...

He's Published!

Check out the top article.

a sneak peek

I thought I would give a little sneak peek via my personal blog. The Falders spent some time with the Chicago Smiths this weekend. We love our cousins!

I can't wait to show you more... :)