Randomness before Thanksgiving

Can you believe it's the end of November because I sure can't.  I used to say the days drag, but the weeks fly, but these days, the days fly and the weeks pass by at super speed.  Life is crazy.  We did get a little breather at the end of Dan's first quarter.  Actually he had so much of a breather, that he's having trouble getting back into the 5-9 groove - 9-5 is so much easier :). 

 

Reports cards were good.  Everyone (including Dan) made all As with 1 B.  Allie's teacher resigned recently.  She's had a sub for two weeks and won't have her new teacher until the second week in December.  It's really effected her school work.  I don't think we'll be seeing the AB honor roll this quarter for her.  She's all over the place with her grades.  As things are evening out with Jaelyn, it's making me consider homeschooling all three next year.  I must be insane :).

 

I'm sure there's more news I've missed, but I can't think of anything else out of the ordinary.

 

We had planned to go to Busch Gardens for Thanksgiving to see the lights, but it's starting to feel a lot like winter.  The predicted 31 degrees was just too cold to chance.  Instead, we went back to Abingdon Thanksgiving Tradition and went to Medieval Times.  It was a lot of fun to cheer for our knight and eat with our hands.  Caden even loved the roasted chicken this time. 

 

 

This service dog cracked me up.  He was a good sport to wear his crown :).

 

I decided to put up our tree today.  It was a little bit crazy, but it's up.  I'm excited about Christmas.  The kids have never woken up in their own beds on Christmas morning.  My parents are coming to visit after Christmas.  It's going to be great to stop for a week or so and spend time with them without having to load up and drive for 2 days there and back.  Unfortunately, Dan won't be able to stop, but hopefully he'll be able to take some time off.

 

 

Guess what song!

Sent from my iPhone

Good Day Thanks to Broken Glasses

I was sad that we didn't get to visit the Botanical Gardens while my parents were here.  When Allie's glasses broke a week ago requiring us to go into DC to Ft. Myer to fix them, we seized the opportunity to make it a day trip to sight see.


 

The mums were beautiful!

 

I bet this 1000 chrysanthemum display is gorgeous now that it's had another week or so to fully open.

 

The Botanical Gardens is on the end of the National Mall near the Capital.  We didn't go in it, but we did pose for a picture out front ;).

 

I love all the birds hanging out on top of Grant's statue.

 

I've developed a love of sculpture gardens.  This one was outside the Hirshon Museum.  There's another garden next to the Natural History Museum, but we were to tired to visit it on this day.  Next time.

 

 

The kids also seem to really enjoy looking at the sculptures.  They do, however, have issues with all the naked people :o.

And last but not least, we finished up our afternoon at the Natural History museum.

 

 

 

I'm glad Dan was able to take off a Saturday to have fun with us.  It's exactly what we needed!!!

Missing Grandma Molly

 

Today marks 3 years since I held my Grandma's hand and said goodbye.

Randomness

Dan worked last weekend and I had to get out of the house with the kids.  We went to Leesylvania State Park to collect fall leaves for a leaf man project.  It was chilly and super windy, but we had a wonderful time.  The park is really pretty.  We'll have to go back.  There were miles of hiking trails.

 

The kids volunteered to pose for this shot.  It's not quite as cute was when they were 2, 3, and 4, but still sweet.

 

 

I don't think I ever shared this picture.  My mom is clumsy and tends to trip and fall when walking in a straight line on smooth surfaces.  We have a step down into our living room, and I was worried about her falling.  Jaelyn made a sign to hang from the ceiling at eye level, and I left a message on the floor in painter's tape.  It worked because she always watched her step.

 

 

Today is day 44 of homeschooling and officially the end of the 1st quarter.  I am so glad to be 1/4 of the way through.  It has been rough and tough, but we've done it.