Field Day!

This year the twins had their first field day at their elementary school! 

They had been once before they attended as students, to cheer on their siblings, but covid robbed them of their kindergarten and subsequent year opportunities. = (  

William was in Kindergarten the last time he had one! Suffice to say, it felt very much like a 'first' for all of them.  And it was a first for me, in that I was a volunteer this year!  And, since Emily was already out for the summer, she also helped. = )

I was a co-leader at one of the water stations.  We started with the fourth graders (who had time to run 2 rounds) and slowly decreased in age until we got to the Kindergartners who managed only a few rounds by the time the round was over. lol.

I couldn't tell you if William's team won or lost, but they did enjoy getting all wet!

I also don't know about the victory among the third graders, but I think they all had a fun time!

Because I was helping run a station, I wasn't able to get around to take other pictures, but one of the twins' friends mom sent me a picture from the ice pop station! = )

The day wore out poor William, and he came home and slept for a couple of hours, then had an early bedtime, particularly for a Friday!

Musical Performance

A month before the little ones were due to perform their musical performance at the High School auditorium a note came around asking for volunteers to help set up.  Seeing that the big girls were due to end their day at 11am, I thought sure, I can help set up, no problem, I just might have to leave early.

As the day approached, we learned that the grades would be ascending during the duration of the concert.  This meant, that if they ran too far behind, I would be missing William's to leave and gather the big girls. = (

All the same, I did help set up, and took a picture of an Alto Xylophone (since Emily is an E flat Alto Saxophone player. lol.)  Our job was putting signs up on the seats so that the classes would know where to sit!

The ukuleles also made an impressive arc!

Kindergarten and first grade both took a long time to switch from their seats in the audience to their places on stage.  I was very concerned that I wouldn't be able to stay for William.  Luckily, by the tiem they made it to third grade, the kids transitioned much faster! 

Grace and Juliet's grade sang a song and then played a song!   Grace and Juliet were hidden from my view by the ukulele players, so I only successfully got pictures of their singing.

William's class played instruments and then did a dance.  The dance was very quick, and full of movement, so I wasn't able to capture him in dance, just playing the xylophone with Weston.  = )

They finished the performance with plenty of time to spare, I even had time for the auditorium to empty and help clean up the signs!  Then, off to pick up my big girls on their last day of school!

later days

edit: written 6-16-23 and backdated for continuity. 

Fun Run!

For the fun run, 3rd Graders were asked to wear purple, and 4th Grade Red.

Grace had no problem assembling an almost solid purple outfit, with matching bow!

Juliet said she had a tougher time, but she didn't clue me in until it was time to head out the door, so she wore a kind of purple shirt. = )

William's wardrobe is predominantly green, and a quick check the week before, showed me that he had no red to speak of.  At the thrift store I found no shirts that were on the 'clearance' color, so I picked a half off one that I thought he might re-wear because of the characters. While shopping, I found a shirt, with the clearance tag, somewhere completely random!  With the saved dollar, I bought him a pair of red socks too! = )

I only took one picture of him during the run, and was so pleased with the product!

Grace and Juliet were running during several rounds, so it was much easier to catch a short of them running. = )

Break time with some sidewalk chalk!

The music was loud and fun and it was sunny and it was an exciting time for the kids!  I have no clue whether or not they reached their goal, since we didn't get a follow up. = (

When the twins were in Kindergarten, they did the fun run in the fall, so this was their second time to join in the run, and William's third or fourth time!

later days

edit: written 6-15-23 backdated for continuity.

Grace and Juliet visit the Michigan History Museum

One of the most impressive museums that I've ever been to is the Michigan History Museum near the Capitol in Lansing.  

Alice went when she was in third grade, for an entire week!!!  It was something I was excited to visit with each of my children in turn, and we had even paid for Emily's experience, but Covid just wreaked havoc on all of those plans.

In any case, Emily and William would not have been able to go, even had we not homeschooled, but I was excited to revisit the center with the twins this year!

I'd forgotten about the parking line, since their credit card reader doesn't work terribly well.  But I got parked and stuck my visitor sticker that I'd grabbed from the school on my lunch.  When I went to put my name on it, I didn't turn far enough for my arm to have ample room to write, and sure enough, I became a  Crockov just like Alice! lol.  It was a cold, slightly wet walk to the door.

My group consisted of both of my girls and Ava.

Beautiful atrium!

I feel like this picture might one day become a checklist. = )

Grace, rocking out.

A vehicle that would fit our family!!!

A Baader-Meinhof moment, when I saw the Victory Garden apron, after Billy and I had just been discussing it the day before!

Juliet:

Grace:

In the group elevator that is bigger than William's room!  It's probably the size of our big bathroom, if you pulled out the tub and toilet and sinks and closet!

I have a sweet picture of Alice in this very spot, but our guide was talking and wasn't able to recreate it with the twins.

So clever!

Apparently, a significant amount of wood came from Michigan, when they rebuilt Chicago after their famous fire!

A tree's life covering so many human events!

Grace

Juliet in her pink hoodie.

Juliet

We didn't get to do this tour as a group, but it would have been cool to follow each 'story' through the stations, and get a real glimpse of history from a youth's prespective.

Looks like many of the houses in Waxahachie!

This is such a cool museum.  I told Billy we need to go on a beautiful Sunday (when it's free entry) so that everyone is out enjoying the weather and we can see the museum as a family!

I still lament the lost trips with Emily and William, but will just have to go as a family, and soon!

later days

edit: written 6-16-23 backdated for continuity.